Find a wide selection of campervans and motorhomes for hire in Gisborne and the surrounding area. Discover unique vehicles offered by private owners — from compact campervans for 2, perfect for couples, to spacious 6-berth motorhomes, ideal for families. Flexible booking, competitive prices and insurance included.
Gisborne sits on the eastern tip of New Zealand's North Island, making it the first city in the world to greet each new day's sunrise. The city wraps around Poverty Bay, where Captain James Cook first set foot on New Zealand soil in 1769 — a moment commemorated at the Cook Landing Site National Historic Reserve. Stroll along the Tairāwhiti Museum to explore regional Māori and colonial history, or climb Kaiti Hill Lookout for sweeping views across the bay and the confluence of three rivers — the Waimata, Taruheru, and Tūranganui. Gisborne is also home to Eastwoodhill Arboretum, the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere, set across 131 hectares of rolling countryside. The Rere Rockslide, a natural waterslide carved into rock about 50 km northwest, is a favourite day trip for families. Napier lies roughly 150 km to the southwest along the Pacific Coast Highway, while Rotorua is approximately 295 km to the west. The surrounding East Cape coastline features long, open roads ideal for touring by campervan, with freedom camping spots dotted along the shore. Whether you fancy a motorhome journey through wine country — Gisborne produces some of New Zealand's finest Chardonnay — or a campervan escape along quiet coastal roads, Yescapa connects you with local owners who share their vehicles peer-to-peer, so you can hire the perfect ride and explore Gisborne and beyond at your own pace.
Gisborne enjoys warm, dry summers from December to March, making it a superb time to explore the coast by campervan. The Gisborne Wine & Food Festival, typically held in October, celebrates the region's renowned Chardonnay and is well worth planning around. January brings the Rhythm and Vines music festival, one of New Zealand's biggest New Year's events. Book your hire early for the December–February peak through Yescapa, where peer-to-peer pricing often undercuts traditional operators. Autumn and winter bring quieter roads and easy access to campsites around Gisborne, perfect for a relaxed motorhome getaway.
Gisborne is the perfect base for exploring the region by motorhome or campervan. Here are our 6 must-see getaways
Head 310 km southwest from Gisborne through the Waioeka Gorge and across the volcanic plateau to Taupō. Stop at Te Urewera for native bush walks and Lake Waikaremoana for lakeside freedom camping. Taupō offers Huka Falls and geothermal parks. Allow 5–8 days to enjoy the journey by campervan.
A short 85 km drive northeast from Gisborne brings you to Tolaga Bay, home to New Zealand's longest wharf at 660 metres. Walk the Cooks Cove Walkway for coastal views and camp at the local holiday park. This 1–3 day trip suits a compact campervan perfectly.
Just 60 km southwest of Gisborne, Morere Hot Springs sits within native bush and offers mineral pools to soak in after a morning's drive. Detour to Mahia Peninsula for surf beaches and birdwatching at the Ōpoutama wetlands. A relaxed 1–3 day motorhome loop with easy parking.
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway 170 km northwest from Gisborne around the East Cape. Visit the East Cape Lighthouse — mainland New Zealand's easternmost point — and Te Araroa's giant pōhutukawa tree. Allow 3–5 days; campervan-friendly stops line the route.
Drive 150 km southwest from Gisborne along the Pacific Coast Highway to Napier, famous for its Art Deco architecture. Pause at Morere Hot Springs en route and explore the Hawke's Bay wine trail on arrival. A 3–6 day motorhome trip with well-serviced campsite options throughout.
Cover 295 km west from Gisborne through the Waioeka Gorge to reach Rotorua's geothermal wonderland. Stop at Ōhope Beach for a swim and Whakatāne for dolphin-watching. Budget 5–8 days and book a campervan through Yescapa to enjoy freedom camping along the way.
Discover step by step how we work. We accompany you at every stage of the rental process, both owners and travellers.
Discover
Find for a leisure vehicle near you or a destination idea according to your planned route, then specify the pick-up and return dates. The perfect vehicle for your road trip holiday is waiting for you!
Connecting people
Make one or more booking requests for leisure vehicles that have caught your eye and wait for the owners' responses. Once your request has been accepted, all you have to do is confirm your booking.
Pick-up
On the pick-up date, collect the vehicle and listen to the valuable advice of the owner for handling it; you are ready hit the road with family, as a couple or with friends.
Return
Once again, with the owner complete the vehicle condition check and sign the Rental Agreement as well as exchange your travel stories. All you have to do is imagine your next road trip!
Gisborne and the surrounding East Cape coastline offer a fine mix of beachside, rural, and town-centre campsites suited to both campervans and motorhomes. Many sites provide powered hook-ups, dump stations, kitchen facilities, and hot showers. Whether you prefer waking up beside the Pacific surf or soaking in hot springs inland, you will find well-maintained pitches within easy reach of Gisborne.
Gisborne offers several spacious car parks near the waterfront that can accommodate larger vehicles. Overnight parking in public areas is generally not permitted unless at a designated freedom camping site, so always check local council signage. For longer stays, use a campsite with dedicated motorhome bays. Keep an eye out for Gisborne District Council freedom camping zones, which are clearly signposted along the coast.
We had an amazing trip! Rafaela and Carina were so kind, and we couldn’t recommend their van enough 🤩🙏🏼 The van had everything we needed for a proper “van life” experience, and you can also stay at campsites whenever you want!
We hired a motorhome from Cemil for a week to travel around Switzerland. We also visited France, Germany and Liechtenstein. Before the trip Cemil was helpful and responded to questions promptly. On the day of pick up he met us at the train station and the handover was smooth and quick. At the end if the trip it was also a very smooth transition and Cemil kindly drove us back to the airport. The van was great - very easy to drive and everything worked perfectly. All tolls and insurance were covered. We were very happy with the motorhome and would highly recommend renting from Cemil.
We had a great experience hiring this motorhome. Everything went smoothly and we had absolutely zero issues throughout our trip. Fernando kept us informed about everything from the beginning and was very friendly and helpful. He was also very flexible with both the pickup and drop-off times, which made everything much easier. The location is perfect, especially if you're arriving via Prague Airport. We travelled all the way to Hungary and back to Poland, staying at several off-grid locations along the way. We had an amazing time at Lake Balaton in Hungary and also loved our stay at the Pod Opaleńcem campsite in Świeradów-Zdrój, Poland. We would definitely recommend this motorhome hire and would happily rent from Fernando again!
Had a great time renting Dario's van. The pick-up was smooth and we were off and driving very quickly. Would highly recommend!
We went for a 7 days trip with 2 of my friends. It was an amazing time. Camper was really great - in a good condition, clean, comfortable. We did 1000km without any problems. I can recommend this car and Alvaro as a very nice owner.
1st time we have hired a Motorhome, Sandrine was a joy to hire from, answered all of our questions as newbies. She couldn't make hiring their MH any easier, Their Motor home was in perfect condition we had the unlimited Km's option and the vehicle never missed a beat over the long distances we drove, Highly recommend Hiring from Sandrine 5 Star !!
