Every year, thousands of travellers touch down in New Zealand, ready to hit the road. For many, the next step is clear: they rent a campervan and set off into the wild. Campervan brands like Britz, JUCY, and Mighty Campers dominate the roads, and their vans are seen everywhere from Queenstown to Cape Reinga.
 
But a quiet shift is happening.
 
More and more people are choosing a different path… one that brings them even closer to nature, costs a lot less, and unlocks the real New Zealand: camping with a tent.
 
Here’s why that choice is catching on and how Rent-A-Tent is making it easy to ditch the van and fall in love with life under canvas.
 
The Experience You’re Really After
 
Let’s be honest: when people Google “campervan hire NZ”, they’re not really looking for a vehicle. What they’re chasing is the experience:
 
* Waking up next to a misty lake
* Cooking outdoors with a mountain view
* Sitting under the stars without a sound around
* Feeling connected to the land, and to the people you’re with
 
That’s what tent camping starts with.
 
Unlike in a campervan, where you’re separated by doors and steel, in a tent you’re in it. The fresh air, the birdsong, the smell of morning dew, it’s all right there. You don’t open the door to see nature… you unzip your wall and you’re already in it.
 
Save Your Budget for the Things That Matter
 
There’s no easy way around it: campervans in New Zealand are expensive. Daily rentals can easily hit $250–$400 in summer. And once you add fuel (which is among the most expensive in the world), campground fees, insurance, and ferry bookings, your road trip can start to look like a luxury tour.
 
By contrast, a tent camping setup from Rent-A-Tent gives you everything you need including a premium inflatable air tent, comfy bedding, kitchen equipment, table, chairs, and various add-ons like a portable espresso maker or nice fluffy towels all for a small fraction of the price.
 
That means more cash for:
 
* Skydiving in Taupō
* Wine tasting in Marlborough
* A Milford Sound cruise
* Great coffee and meals out
* Extra nights in magical places where you just want to stay longer
 
Tent camping doesn’t feel like a downgrade, it feels like a smart upgrade that leaves room for more adventure.
 
Go Where Campervans Can't
 
Some of New Zealand’s most beautiful and peaceful camping spots aren’t suitable for campervans at all.
 
That includes many Department of Conservation (DoC) campsites, often located deep in native bush, beside remote lakes, or at the edge of golden-sand beaches. These sites are made for light travellers, hikers, and tent campers. No noise, no traffic, just the outdoors.
 
Many places are difficult to access with bulky campervans where with a car and a tent you get the freedom to stay at truly special spots, not just the ones with a parking bay and power cord…
 
Travel Lighter, Move Easier
 
Driving a campervan can be intimidating, especially if you’re not used to large vehicles. Narrow gravel roads, tight parking, and city driving can all become stressful.
 
Tent-based travel keeps things light and flexible. You rent a normal car, compact, fuel-efficient, and easy to drive. You roll up to your destination, unpack your gear (which sets up in minutes), and get exploring.
 
No vehicle height limits, no “campervan only” zones, and no diesel refills at awkward hours.
 
Comforts Without the Clunk
 
There’s a myth that camping with a tent is uncomfortable. Modern gear has come a long way. With Rent-A-Tent, you don’t need to bring or buy anything, it’s all there:
 
* High-quality inflatable tents that stay dry and stable in all NZ weather
* Thick sleeping mats, quality sleeping bags and pillows
* Gas cooker, kitchen gear, utensils and even wine glasses
* Camp chairs, a table, jarred tea lights and a pack of cards to play a game after dinner
* Lanterns and headlamps and way more…
 
Most holiday parks and campsites also offer hot showers, cooking shelters, clean toilets, fridges, and even laundry facilities. You’re not “roughing it”, you’re just choosing to spend your nights in nature, not in a van.
 
A Different Kind of Itinerary
 
Tent travel encourages a different mindset. You don’t rush from attraction to attraction. You take your time. You stay in places because they feel good, not because you’ve paid $400 for a van sitting in a car park.
 
Some favourite tent-friendly loops:
 
North Island Slow Track:
Auckland → Karangahake Gorge → Rotorua (Blue Lake campsite) → Whirinaki Forest → Lake Taupō → Taranaki coast → return via Raglan
 
South Island Wild Trail:
Christchurch → Kaikōura → Nelson Lakes → West Coast (Okarito, Lake Kaniere) → Wanaka → Queenstown → Te Anau → back via Mount Cook
 
With your tent in the boot and your gear ready to go, the road becomes yours.
 
Final Word: Don’t Just Visit, Live It
 
Travelling New Zealand in a campervan is still a good option for many people. But if you're looking for something more grounded, more flexible, and more connected, tent camping is where you'll find it.
 
It’s not about going without. It’s about choosing the version of travel that gives more back, more freedom, more savings, and more chances to really feel what this country is all about.
 
With Rent-A-Tent, you don’t need to invest in expensive gear, oversized vehicles, or rigid itineraries. You just show up, pick up your package in Auckland or Christchurch, and go.
 
Whether it’s waterfalls in Fiordland, native bush in Whirinaki, or a lazy afternoon in Golden Bay you’ll get closer to all of it with your feet on the ground, your tent beside you, and nothing but the sound of New Zealand to wake you up.