2+1
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 3
- Sleeps
- 3
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
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Pacific Horizon Motorhomes review
A family-run motorhome specialist with a distinctly New Zealand approach to vehicle design.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Pacific Horizon is a privately owned, family-run rental business whose vehicles are designed and built in New Zealand for local conditions. Its commercial history reaches back to 1986, while the rental company named in its current terms is Pacific Horizon Travel Homes Ltd.
The business combines vehicle design with rental operations, serving both islands through its Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch bases. Reservations are made by vehicle category and Standard or Premium variant rather than by choosing a particular vehicle. The contract allows a comparable or higher-category replacement at no extra charge when circumstances outside the company's control require one.
Our verdict
Editorial review
Pacific Horizon gives considerable attention to how its vehicles work once parked. The range offers meaningful differences in living space and sleeping arrangements, with enough choice to move beyond simply matching a berth count to a group size. It is a convincing proposition for a trip in which comfort inside the vehicle matters as much as mobility.
The main trade-off is between that considered vehicle design and the decisions required to secure a particular equipment or age preference. Choosing a family is only the first step: the booking also needs to establish which version will deliver the features that matter for the trip. A fully specified quote is especially valuable here.
Good points
- Useful essentials are included.Bedding, towels, additional approved drivers and diesel road-user charges form part of the published offer. These inclusions remove several separate decisions from the rental setup.
- Pickup logistics support more than a simple round trip.One-way rentals between agreed bases and transfers from Wellington's ferry terminals give the network practical value for trips that start and finish in different places.
- Helpful handovers and personal support.Customer feedback repeatedly praises handover explanations, helpful treatment and assistance resolving problems. The team also staffs a 24/7 helpline.
Things to consider
- Vehicle guarantees can materially increase the price.On direct rentals, the Premium age guarantee costs NZ$60 per day and the separate Gasless guarantee costs NZ$80 per day. Either deserves attention in the total budget for a longer trip.
- Zero excess has a specific limit.Level 2 and All Inclusive reduce the excess to zero for the first covered incident. Contract exclusions still apply, so neither option amounts to unlimited protection against every type of damage.
Vehicle categories
Pacific Horizon Motorhomes fleet
GEM 4
Motorhome
- Seats
- —
- Sleeps
- —
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
MAX 4
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
SAM 6
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 6
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Pacific Horizon's range runs from a compact panel van to larger motorhomes with several sleeping areas. All four families have an indoor toilet and hot shower, but their layouts create quite different ways to use the space.
At about 5.9 m long, the 2+1 is the compact option. Its central bed can be arranged as a double or two singles, with a separate hammock for a child. The kitchen varies by vehicle generation: some use gas, while others have induction cooking and a microwave.
The larger families are about 7.4 m long. The GEM has upper and lower rear beds and two seating or dining areas; its lower bed can remain made up. The MAX places one double bed over the cab and uses a convertible rear area for the other sleeping space. The SAM adds an electrically operated upper rear bed to the lower rear and overcab beds, alongside two lounge areas. These are differences in how the interior can be used, not just in the number of occupants it can accommodate.
The current GEM and SAM generations described by the company use induction cooking, a microwave and diesel-powered heating and hot water. The MAX's described kitchen uses gas. The SAM's current electrical specification includes a 300 Ah lithium battery and 300 W of solar panels; those figures do not establish a fixed number of nights without an external power connection. Equipment belongs to the specified generation or allocated vehicle, rather than being a promise that every vehicle bearing the family name is identical.
Each family has Standard and Premium booking variants, giving eight variants across four families. Premium concerns vehicle age; Gasless concerns the living-area systems. The two guarantees are separate choices.
Locations
Pacific Horizon Motorhomes pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
New Zealand
-
Auckland 164 Montgomerie Road, Māngere, Auckland 2022
-
Wellington / Plimmerton 18a Ulric Street, Plimmerton, Porirua/Wellington 5026
-
Christchurch 31 Sir John McKenzie Avenue, Yaldhurst, Christchurch 8053
Before booking
Practical facts
The direct-rental conditions below cover 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Booking-channel conditions may differ; the mileage inclusion is identified separately.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Drivers must be at least 21 and have held a full national driving licence for at least 12 months. A licence not in English needs an official translation or accepted international documentation alongside it. Additional drivers are included but must be approved and documented. |
| Rental duration | Rental is charged by calendar day, including both pickup and return days. The usual minimum is seven days; a shorter rental may be accepted at the minimum charge. The minimum for trips from 1 December to 28 February is 14 days. |
| Mileage and road-user charges | The standard rates offered through our booking system include unlimited km. Diesel road-user charges are included in Pacific Horizon's published rental offer. |
| One-way rental | Returning to a different agreed base costs NZ$390. Rentals of at least 21 days may qualify for a waiver, which must be reflected in the quote. An unagreed return to another base can incur a separate charge. |
| Pickup and return times | Bases operate from 08:30 to 16:30 daily, except 25 December. Arrive before 16:00 and allow 45–60 minutes for the handover, in addition to transfer time. Return before 16:00; a late charge applies after 16:30. |
| Transfers | Airport and airport-accommodation transfers are offered on rental days at Auckland and Christchurch. Wellington also offers ferry-terminal transfers. Arrange the pickup procedure in advance. A city transfer can cost up to NZ$100 each way for up to six people. |
| Premium and Gasless | Premium costs NZ$60 per day for a confirmed vehicle-age guarantee of up to two years, subject to availability. Gasless costs NZ$80 per day for the confirmed living-area technology guarantee. Have any combined selection priced explicitly; neither price establishes what a combined booking will cost. |
| Long-rental discount | Direct-rental terms include a 10% discount for rentals of 50 days or more, subject to the applicable quote. |
| Included equipment | Bedding and towels are supplied for the occupants. Vehicles using LPG start with full gas, with no published requirement to refill it on return. This LPG inclusion does not apply to Gasless vehicles. |
| Outdoor and family extras | Optional equipment includes a picnic table at NZ$30 per rental, outdoor chairs at NZ$15 each per rental, and baby or child seats at NZ$50 each per rental, subject to compatibility and stock. A rack for up to two bicycles costs NZ$150 per rental. These direct-rental extra prices include GST. |
| WiFi | Compatible vehicles can have WiFi at NZ$5 per day, with a minimum charge of NZ$80 per rental, including GST. |
| Reservation payment | Direct bookings require a non-refundable advance payment of 10% of the total, with a minimum of NZ$250. Unless otherwise agreed, the balance is due 28 days before pickup. |
| Card payments | Visa and Mastercard payments carry a 3% charge on rental, equipment and services paid for with those cards. |
| Cancellation | For direct bookings cancelled at least 26 days before pickup, the advance payment is retained, with the NZ$250 minimum. Cancellation 25–8 days before pickup costs 20% of the net rental price; 7–1 days before costs 50%; cancellation on pickup day or failure to arrive costs 100%. |
| Changes and early return | A confirmed-booking change costs NZ$50; changes of dates or base may also create relocation costs. Shortening the rental or returning early does not entitle the renter to a refund under the stated terms. |
| Damage excess | The base excess is NZ$5,000 per incident. Level 1 costs NZ$35 per day and reduces it to NZ$2,000 per covered incident. Level 2 costs NZ$50 per day and reduces it to zero for the first covered incident. Charges for either reduction stop after 40 days: NZ$1,400 for Level 1 or NZ$2,000 for Level 2. |
| All Inclusive | At NZ$65 per day, capped at 40 days or NZ$2,600, this package gives zero excess for the first covered incident. On request, it also supplies the specified table and chairs, required child or booster seats, required snow chains, an extra linen set, NZSIM/ESIM and the specified transfers. WiFi, bicycle racks, Premium and Gasless are not automatically included. |
| Protection exclusions | Zero excess does not remove contractual exclusions. Misuse, breaches of the agreement, careless, deliberate or reckless driving, alcohol or drugs, prohibited routes, water damage caused by the renter and incorrect fuel can leave the renter liable for the full loss. Personal belongings are excluded. |
| Security for damage | The direct terms describe taking credit-card details without transferring or holding money at pickup unless an accident occurs. Without a credit card, the stated cash bonds are NZ$5,000 with base protection, NZ$2,000 with Level 1 or NZ$250 with Level 2, subject to the applicable return conditions. These are security deposits, separate from the price paid for a protection option. |
| Permitted roads | Travel is permitted on sealed roads and well-formed gravel roads. Prohibited routes include 90 Mile Beach, the road from Colville Township to Port Jackson, Ball Hut Road and Skippers Canyon Road. Driving on a prohibited route can result in full liability for damage. |
| Animals | Animals are not permitted under the published policy, except guide dogs with approval. |
| Smoking | Smoking and vaping inside the vehicle are prohibited. |
| Help during the trip | A helpline staffed personally by the team operates 24/7. For a minor repair not caused by the renter, the terms allow up to NZ$100 without prior approval if a detailed receipt is kept. Larger repairs require approval from Pacific Horizon On-Road Care. |
| Return condition | Return with a full diesel tank, refuelled within 3 km of the base, and empty the toilet cassette and grey-water tank. Failure to meet the fuel requirement can lead to refuelling and administration charges. |
Quick answers
Pacific Horizon Motorhomes FAQ
Can three adults use Pacific Horizon's 2+1?
The 2+1 is designed to sleep two adults and a child. Its third sleeping place is a hammock measuring approximately 1.75 × 0.54 m, with a maximum load of 60 kg. Three travel seats do not make it a three-adult sleeping layout.
Does booking Premium also give me Gasless equipment?
Premium is the vehicle-age guarantee; Gasless specifies induction cooking, a microwave and diesel heating and hot water without LPG in the living area. They are separate guarantees. Ask for the chosen combination and its total price to be confirmed rather than assuming one includes the other.
Can I collect in Christchurch and return in Auckland?
Pacific Horizon offers one-way rentals between agreed bases, including those cities, subject to the booking being accepted. The direct-rental one-way fee is NZ$390, with a possible waiver for rentals of at least 21 days. Wellington's ferry-terminal transfer service is not a ferry ticket or evidence that the crossing is included in the rental.
Will a child seat fit the motorhome I book?
Pacific Horizon offers child seats for hire, but the restraint and its mounting position must suit the allocated vehicle. The 2+1 has one tether point behind its rear seat. For the GEM, MAX and SAM, confirm the required seat type and its exact position before booking.
Can I freedom camp in a Pacific Horizon motorhome?
The four families have indoor toilets and showers and are offered as self-contained vehicles. The allocated vehicle still needs a valid green warrant for the intended use and occupancy, and the location must permit the stay. From 7 June 2026, the current green-warrant requirements apply; self-contained equipment alone does not give permission to camp anywhere.
Does Pacific Horizon's All Inclusive option cover every incident?
Its zero excess applies to the first covered incident, with the agreement's exclusions still in force. It also bundles specified extras on request. It is not a promise of zero liability for prohibited driving, misuse or every subsequent incident, and it does not automatically add Premium or Gasless equipment.
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