Created in conjunction with Campstar
The hardest part of travelling with a dog, particularly in a country such as New Zealand, is finding somewhere that will take you both every night. By hiring a campervan, enjoying a road trip with your dog gets a lot easier.
But before you go ahead and book your trip, there’s a few things to keep in mind. Hiring a campervan in New Zealand with a dog comes down to three things: which hire companies actually take dogs, whether your van is certified self-contained, and where dogs are allowed to stay once you’re on the road. Here’s what to check before you book.
Which New Zealand Hire Companies Take Dogs
Pet policies are one of the least comparable things in campervan hire. Some brands take dogs, some don’t, and the fee and rules usually sit in the terms rather than next to the price. Here’s where the big names in New Zealand stand right now:
- Britz, Apollo, Mighty and MightyLITE: Up to two well-behaved, registered dogs or cats, with a NZ$325 pet service fee. Pets must be treated for fleas and safely restrained in the rear of the vehicle while you drive.
- JUCY: Up to two well-behaved, registered dogs in its campervans and motorhomes. You add the dog fee as an extra when booking.
- maui: No pets. Only registered guide dogs are allowed, and permission has to be arranged before the hire.
The rules are much the same across these brands. Your dog has to stay outside the branch on a lead with an adult at pick-up and drop-off, be clean and dry before getting in, and never be left alone in the van. Damage and soiling caused by pets also isn’t covered by the hire companies’ liability or excess reduction options, so any repair bill is yours.
Policies change, so check the specific vehicle you’re booking rather than going by the brand. When you compare campervan hire in New Zealand on Campstar, you can filter for pet-friendly vans and only see the ones that take dogs.
Why Self-Contained Matters More with a Dog
New Zealand’s freedom camping rules have changed, and a lot of older advice online is now out of date. These are the latest rules to follow:
- Green warrants only: Since 7 June 2026, only vehicles with a green warrant count as certified self-contained. The old blue warrants no longer count.
- Fixed toilet: A vehicle needs a toilet fixed to the floor to be certified. Vans with a portable toilet can’t be.
- Council land: Freedom camping on council land requires a certified self-contained vehicle, unless the council has set aside a spot for vehicles that aren’t. The infringement fee for getting it wrong is NZ$400.
- Fines follow you home: Brands like Britz and Apollo can charge freedom camping fines to the card you gave them at pick-up.
This matters more when you have a dog with you. Not every holiday park accepts dogs, and only some DOC campsites do, so a self-contained van gives you more places to sleep on nights when the dog-friendly holiday park is full. Check that the green warrant card is displayed in the van when you pick it up.
A green warrant doesn’t override dog rules, though. Freedom camping areas can have their own dog rules and bylaws, so check them before you park up for the night.
Where Dogs Can and Can’t Stay
On conservation land, managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), the dog rules are strict:
- National parks: Dogs can only go on conservation land that DOC has approved for dog access. Everywhere else is off limits, even briefly, and that includes all national parks. According to DOC’s dog access rules, a dog found in a national park without a permit can be seized.
- DOC campsites: Some allow dogs, as long as they stay under control. Some need a permit or a lead, and dogs can’t make excessive noise after 10pm.
- Permits: These take up to five days to process, so apply before you leave home.
- DOC huts: Dogs can’t go inside, even in areas where they’re allowed.
- Holiday parks: Policies vary from park to park. Ring ahead, especially between December and February, when New Zealand’s summer lines up with the Aussie school holidays.
Because you can’t leave your dog in the van, days spent in places like Milford Sound or Tongariro need a plan. Book a local dog sitter or kennel for those days, and save the dog-friendly days for beaches, wineries and towns. For ideas, see Shandos’s guide to travelling in New Zealand with a dog.
Quick Tips Before You Go
- Flea treatment: Make sure it’s up to date before pick-up, since Britz, Apollo and Mighty require it.
- Restraint: Pack a harness and seatbelt clip or a crate that fits in the back, as your dog has to ride in the rear.
- Towel by the door: Dogs have to be clean and dry before getting in, so keep an old towel handy.
- Book early: Dog-friendly holiday park sites go fast in summer.
Sort out the paperwork early, pick a van that takes dogs, check it has a green warrant, and look up the dog rules for each night’s stop before you drive there. Do that and a campervan trip around New Zealand with your dog is very doable.
Author Bio
Christoforus Taftian works in marketing at Campstar, a platform for comparing and booking campervan and motorhome hire worldwide. He grew up in a family that loves road trips, and has lived in Germany and Scotland.