Packing time! Yes, it’s holiday, and yes, you will have lots of stuff! But don’t worry; we’ve seen it all: suitcases the size of washing machines, inflatable flamingos, a family-sized bag of marshmallows, and a third friend already squashed on the backseat… in a Nissan Micra.

Still, we always managed to make it work.

Let us show you how we do it and give you a few smart tips for packing your car, and your sanity, before and during your road trip.

How We Pack Your Camping Gear
When you rent from Rent-A-Tent, you don’t just get a random pile of loose gear thrown into your boot. Nope, we’ve got this down to a fine art.

All gear is:
✅ Neatly packed into clearly labeled boxes and bags
✅ Sized to fit easily in most rental car boots
✅ Grouped by purpose; bedding, kitchen, tent, etc. So, it’s easy to access

Whether you rent the Essential or the Premium package, it’s compact, stackable, and surprisingly space efficient.

But Wait… How Do We Know It Fits?
Confession time.

In the early days of Rent-A-Tent, we may or may not have gone undercover as interested car buyers at local dealerships.
Yes. We dressed nicely. Asked smart questions. Nodded knowingly at the horsepower specs.

Then, the moment of truth:
"Do you mind if we just check the boot space real quick?”

Next thing you know, we’re in the car park, actually loading our full Rent-A-Tent camping setup into the boot of every car on display. We tested:

Station wagons ✅
Hatchbacks (often with the backseat down) ✅
Small SUV's ✅
People movers ✅
Sedans (mostly required some bags to be on the backseat) ✅
Even the smallest cars on the tarmac (tight, but ✅)

So when we say your stuff will fit, we mean it. We’ve done the homework. In public. Repeatedly. Just don't be surprised if we have to lower the backseats.

Tips for Smart Packing
While we’ve got the gear side covered, here are some tips to help you pack the rest of your holiday cargo like a pro:

1. Pack light(ish)
Do you really need four pairs of shoes? (Spoiler: you’ll wear jandals 90% of the time.)

2. Use soft bags
Backpacks and duffels squeeze into gaps better than hard suitcases.

3. Keep your essentials handy
Don’t bury your togs, sunscreen, or lunch at the bottom of the boot. Trust us.

4. Unpack smart
At the campsite, take only what you need out of the car. Keep one box or bag “car-only” for road snacks, maps, and chaos control.

5. Embrace Tetris
Packing is a puzzle. Stand back. Breathe. Rotate that sleeping mat. You’ve got this.

Final Word: Small Car, Big Adventure
So no, you don’t need to rent a Campervan, trailer or upgrade to a Cargo Van to go camping in New Zealand. With Rent-A-Tent, everything is designed to fit your journey, including your car. Just maybe… don’t show up in a Smart car. (Unless you only brought a toothbrush.)

Ready to hit the road? We’ve got your gear packed and your back covered. All that’s left to do is drive, camp, and explore.