Mad Campers | Campervan Rental & Hire NZ

What Mad Campers | Campervan Rental & Hire NZ does

Mad Campers Ltd. is a New Zealand-based campervan rental company founded in 2017 by Pete, Paul, and Andy. It operates dual depots in Auckland (Onehunga) and Christchurch (Belfast Road), the two principal international gateway corridors for tourists entering and exiting the country. The company designs and deploys proprietary custom interior fit-outs across a fleet of purpose-built campervans, including six-seat models (MAD TITAN), 4WD options (MAD TRACKER), three-seat luxury vans (MAD EXPLORER), premium two-berth vans (MAD2+), non-self-contained two-person vans (MAD ADVENTURER), and a solo camper (NoMAD), supplemented by a Toyota RAV4 rental car SKU.

The business serves primarily international and domestic tourists seeking self-drive road-trip experiences across New Zealand. All campervans in the rental fleet carry self-contained certification (the "green sticker"), granting customers freedom-camping access across council-controlled zones that non-certified operators cannot offer. Mad Campers also operates as the sole New Zealand distributor for James Baroud roof top tents, adding a hardware retail vertical adjacent to the core rental operation. The company holds a 4.9-star Google rating across 250+ reviews and has been a finalist for the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Visitor Experience Award (2019) and Innovation Award (2025).

The revenue model is rental-day-based, with typical NZ campervan rates ranging roughly NZD 150–400 per day depending on vehicle size and season, supplemented by accessories, insurance products, and James Baroud tent sales. Customer acquisition relies on direct website bookings and OTA channels. With 7 employees and a small asset base, Mad Campers is a micro-operator rather than a scaled fleet player, and its community initiatives (the Mad Challenge program, Trees That Count partnership with 664 native trees planted) function as brand-building rather than scale-leverage activities.

Name

Mad Campers | Campervan Rental & Hire NZ

Legal name

Mad Campers Ltd.

Website

https://madcampers.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mad Campers is a New Zealand campervan rental company operating from Auckland and Christchurch, founded in 2017. It serves international and domestic tourists with a fleet of proprietary self-contained custom-built vans and holds sole NZ distribution rights for James Baroud roof top tents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Campervan and Vehicle Rental Services

NAICS

General Rental Centers (5323)

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Campervan Rentals (Class B / Converted Vans) (THADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Long-Term / Seasonal RV Rentals (THADAIAF), Off-Road / 4x4 Camper Rentals (Overland Rigs) (THADAIAH)

Keywords

• Campervan rental
• Vehicle hire
• Freedom camping
• Motorhome rental
• Road trip hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Campervan Rental: Daily rental rates for campervans with unlimited kilometres included. Revenue based on vehicle type, rental duration, and season. Pickup and drop-off at Auckland or Christchurch depots.
2. Insurance Excess Waivers: Three-tier insurance options: Risk Taker (included, requires bond), The Gambler (reduced excess with bond), and You're Good (full coverage). Bonds range from $1,500 to $7,500 depending on vehicle and option chosen.
3. Road User Charges: Diesel vehicles (MAD TRACKER, MAD EXPLORER, MAD2+) incur road user charges at $8 NZD per 100km, calculated on return based on kilometers travelled.
4. Relocation Deals: Discounted rental rates for customers who relocate vehicles between depots (e.g., Christchurch to Auckland at $75 NZD per day for MAD2+).
5. One-Way Fees: Standard one-way rental fees (e.g., $400 for Auckland to Christchurch drop-off), often waived during promotional periods.
6. Extras and Add-ons: Additional revenue from snow chains, hot water bottles, roof racks, bicycle racks, and other optional equipment rentals.
7. Fees and Penalties: Credit card surcharges (4%), administration fees ($40 per infringement), late return fees ($250), cleaning fees ($150-300), and relocation fees (up to $2,000).
8. James Baroud Products Distribution: As sole NZ distributors for James Baroud roof top tents, awnings and 4WD accessories, revenue from product sales and distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Mad Campers rents self-contained and non-self-contained campervans plus a rental car from two New Zealand depots (Auckland and Christchurch) directly to travelers. The fleet includes six distinct campervan models ranging from a 1-person solo camper (NoMAD) to a 6-person family camper (MAD TITAN), with daily rental rates, unlimited kilometres, insurance excess options, and optional extras (snow chains, roof racks). The company also serves as sole NZ distributor for James Baroud hard-shell rooftop tents and 4WD accessories.

Product overview

Mad Campers operates a diversified campervan and vehicle rental fleet across New Zealand, offering six distinct campervan models and a car rental option. The core portfolio includes the MAD TITAN (6-person, 7-seat, self-contained family camper), MAD TRACKER (2-person, 4WD, self-contained off-road camper), MAD EXPLORER (3-seat, self-contained luxury camper), MAD2+ (2-person, self-contained premium camper), MAD ADVENTURER (2-person, non-self-contained rooftop tent camper), and NoMAD (1-person, self-contained solo camper). All self-contained models carry the government-issued green sticker under New Zealand's Freedom Camping Act. The company also distributes James Baroud rooftop tents and 4WD accessories as a New Zealand exclusive distributor, and operates seasonal promotional programs including Mad Relocations (discounted one-way rentals) and the Mad Challenge (5% daily rate refund for completing Kiwi travel activities). Rental bookings include standard packages of bedding, kitchenware, insurance, and 24-hour roadside assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAD TITAN A 6-person, 7-seat, self-contained family campervan built on a Toyota RAV4 platform (2006 or newer) with toilet, shower, queen-size bed that lifts up, lounge-to-bed conversion, single bunk, and bench seat converting to a single bed. Available for Auckland pickup and drop-off only.
• MAD TRACKER A 2-person, 4WD self-contained campervan built on a Toyota Hilux (2021 or newer) designed for off-grid freedom camping, featuring a permanent fixed bed, bathroom with cassette toilet and shower, 72L fridge, gas stove, microwave, solar panel, 200Ah lithium battery, and 2000W inverter.
• MAD EXPLORER A 3-seat self-contained campervan built on an LDV Deliver 9 (2024 or newer), featuring a permanently made-up bed (2000mm x 1240mm), full kitchen with fridge, induction stove, hot/cold tap, outdoor rinse-off hose, 3000W inverter, solar panels, built-in TV, mosquito protection, and separate dining and sleeping areas.
• MAD2+ A 2-berth self-contained campervan built on an LDV Deliver 9 (2024 or newer), featuring a nearly queen-size bed (1900mm x 1600mm), onboard shower and toilet, fully equipped kitchenette with microwave, fridge, sink, and induction cooktop, 200Ah lithium battery, 300W solar panel, 2000W inverter, and mains hookup for powered campsites.
• MAD ADVENTURER A non-self-contained campervan built on a Toyota RAV4 (2015 or newer) designed for travel between paid campsites. Features a rooftop tent (2000mm x 1400mm, capacity 2 people), kitchenette, LED lighting, USB charging, secondary battery, and alarm/immobiliser. Does not include a toilet or shower.
• NoMAD A 1-person self-contained solo campervan built on a Toyota Sienta (2006 or newer), featuring a compact layout with 1900mm standing height, single bed (2000mm x 680mm), full kitchenette with fridge, sink and 2-burner LPG cooker, extendable hose tap, secondary battery, USB powerpoints, LED lighting, curtains, and alarm/immobiliser.
• Rental Car (Toyota RAV4) A Toyota RAV4 rental car (2005 or newer, automatic, petrol, 5 seats, 4/5 doors) for travelers who do not need a campervan, featuring alarm/immobiliser, Bluetooth stereo, air conditioning, power steering, and approximately 8L/100km fuel usage.
• James Baroud Roof Top Tents and 4WD Accessories Sole New Zealand distribution of James Baroud hard-shell rooftop tents and 4WD accessories, including the GRAND RAID XXL, GRAND RAID M, EVASION, ODYSSEY, DISCOVERY, SPACE, and VISION HORIZON models. These European-made tents feature patented automatic opening (10 seconds to erect, under 30 seconds to stow), 5-year guarantee, and ISO world standards construction.
• Mad Relocations Discounted relocation rentals offered when vehicles need to be repositioned between depots. Customers pay a reduced daily rate (e.g., $75 NZD) in exchange for picking up and dropping off at specified locations on designated dates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.9 star Google rating from 250+ reviews
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• James BaroudcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMad Campers Ltd is the sole New Zealand distributors for James Baroud roof top tents, awnings, and 4WD accessories. James Baroud is a European company with 20+ years of experience making hard-shell rooftop tents with patented automatic opening systems. Their products are used by Paris to Dakar rally support crews and carry a 5-year guarantee.
• Trees That CountcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational conservation platform connecting individuals, businesses, and community groups to fund and plant native trees across Aotearoa. Mad Campers offers customers a $10 tree donation option when booking. 664 native trees donated to date through traveler and company contributions.
• DriveSafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriver safety education partnership. Mad Campers refers customers to DriveSafe for guidance on NZ road rules and driving conditions, including left-hand driving and road safety information.
• Bluebridge Cook Strait FerryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFerry partner offering 12% discount on Cook Strait ferry crossings using promo code RVANZ. Customers must show Mad Campers booking confirmation to qualify.
• Taupo Tandem SkydivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure tourism partner offering skydiving experiences above Lake Taupo. Part of Mad Campers adventure tourism partnership network.
• NZ White Water AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure tourism partner near Rotorua offering white water kayaking experiences. Part of Mad Campers adventure tourism partnership network.
• Tongariro River RaftingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdventure tourism partner offering white water rafting on the Tongariro River. Part of Mad Campers adventure tourism partnership network.
• Tamaki Maori VillageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural tourism partner offering authentic Maori village experiences. Part of Mad Campers adventure tourism partnership network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Happy Campers NZ: NZ-based boutique campervan rental company with a similar focus on converted vans and self-contained vehicles for budget and mid-market international travelers.
• Maui Motorhomes: THL's premium motorhome rental brand in New Zealand. Overlaps with Mad Campers' higher-end self-contained models (MAD EXPLORER, MAD2+) but with a substantially larger fleet and broader depot network.
• Nomad Campervans: NZ-based premium campervan rental brand. Competes at the upper end of the self-contained market, comparable to Mad Campers' MAD EXPLORER and MAD2+ models.
• Mighty Campers: THL's budget campervan rental brand in NZ, targeting price-sensitive travelers. Directly competes with Mad Campers' MAD ADVENTURER and NoMAD non-self-contained models.
• Jucy: Founded in New Zealand, Jucy rents campervans and cars across NZ, Australia, and the US with a similar budget-to-mid-market positioning. It competes directly with Mad Campers for the same international tourist and self-contained freedom camping segments.
• Britz: Part of Tourism Holdings (THL), Britz operates a large NZ campervan rental fleet and competes with Mad Campers across similar self-contained and non-self-contained vehicle categories.
• Wilderness Motorhomes: NZ-based motorhome rental company operating self-contained and non-self-contained vehicles across both islands. Overlaps with Mad Campers' Christchurch South Island pickup capability.
• Apollo Motorhome Holidays: Australia-headquartered RV rental company with significant presence in NZ. Comparable fleet offering self-contained motorhomes targeting international tourists.

Broad incumbents

• Tourism Holdings (THL): NZX-listed parent of Maui, Britz, and Mighty, plus tourism operations across NZ, Australia, and the US. As the dominant NZ RV rental group, it sets competitive dynamics for smaller operators like Mad Campers.

Emerging players

• Outdoorsy: Peer-to-peer RV and campervan rental marketplace. While not a direct NZ fleet operator, it represents a disruptive distribution model that could erode traditional rental demand for incumbents like Mad Campers over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeR1Vcdi6aFspOB3YRgZgbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/madcampersnz
• Instagraminstagram.com/madcampersnz
• TikToktiktok.com/@madcampersnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mad-campers-campervan-rental-&-hire-nz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mad Campers | Campervan Rental & Hire NZ