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Camping in New Zealand with a Suzuki Jimny
A compact 4WD with rooftop tent and optional Adventure Package for camping gear. Perfect for exploring the South Island.
Hire for as long as you like — 7+ days recommended for a proper South Island road trip.
- Rooftop tent setup
- Camping gear available
- Gravel road capable
- Christchurch & Queenstown pickup
How it works
Book online
Choose dates and optionally add the Adventure Package.
Pick up your Jimny
Collect from Christchurch or Queenstown.
Explore the South Island
Drive gravel roads, camp beside lakes and mountains.
Everything you need to camp
The Adventure Package turns your Jimny hire into a complete camping setup. Add it when you book and you're ready for the South Island, no need to bring gear or book accommodation every night.
- Rooftop tent (sleeps two)
- Gas stove + Jetboil
- 12v fridge
- Cooking gear
- Camping chairs
- Picnic blanket
- Dinner set
Why travellers love the Jimny
Compared to a campervan, a Jimny gives you a different kind of trip: smaller, nimbler, and better suited to getting off the beaten track.
- Small and easy to drive
- Good for gravel roads
- Easy parking
- More adventurous travel style
Winter camping in the South Island
Winter camping in New Zealand is unforgettable. Lake Tekapo, Hanmer Springs, and Central Otago offer snowy mountain views, clear skies, and quiet campsites. Wake up to frost-covered landscapes, soak in hot pools, and enjoy some of the best stargazing in the world, including in the Dark Sky Reserve.
Our Jimnys handle gravel and winter roads well, so you can explore with confidence.
Where can you camp in New Zealand?
The South Island has thousands of places to camp. DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites in national parks and reserves are affordable and often in stunning locations. Holiday parks offer full facilities, kitchens, showers, power. Freedom camping is allowed in many areas but rules vary by council: use designated spots, follow local signs, and leave no trace.
We can point you to great camping spots for your dates and route. Use our Freedom Camping & DOC Campsite Finder for an interactive South Island map.
Example South Island road trip
Christchurch → Tekapo → Wanaka → Queenstown → Fiordland → West Coast → Arthur's Pass
A classic 7–14 day loop. Perfect for a camping Jimny adventure.
Queenstown pickup
Camping packages are only available for Christchurch pickup. Queenstown hires are vehicle-only (no rooftop tent or camping gear). Many customers start their South Island camping trip from Christchurch.
Camping Jimny adventures
What our customers say
Rated 5.0 on Google
Jimny NZ, great team to deal with.... everything was just easy! Thanks Adam and Grace Cheer Earle
Loved having the Jimny driving round NZ! It was super easy to book, they were really responsive to questions, pick up and drop off were easy and no issues at all. We'd been burned by a rental car when in Iceland by the 'or similar' when we really wanted to drive a Jimny so it was great to know we were definitely getting one through this company!
Can't recommend highly enough! Picked us up from the airport and dropped us off. They made everything easy. The Jimny is perfect for a couple to explore New Zealand. In its fun to drive and capable to get you anywhere with less worries than driving a car. For example, you have to ford 9 streams to get to Rob Roy Glacier Track, I was very comfortable doing that in a Jimny rather than a Prius. Its small which is a plus for fuel efficiency and on narrow lanes of some of the roads. We drove over 2000 miles during our two weeks in NZ and I'd pick a Jimny from Grace and Adam again when we hopefully come back!
Overall booking was easy and pick up was smooth. Grace and Adam are responsive and helpful. Having a Suzuki Jimny for my trip made the trip even more memorable and honestly loved it. Super fun to drive, felt solid and safe on the winter roads, and the 4WD gave us a lot of confidence. Couldn't find a better transport to explore New Zealand than a Jimny.
We had a great time with the Jimny a real easy fun car to drive and cheap as chips to run will be hiring again to do the Rainbow thanks guys your customer service is the best
Camping Jimny hire FAQ
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What’s included in the camping Jimny hire?
Add the Adventure Package for a full camping setup: rooftop tent (sleeps two), gas stove, Jetboil, 12v fridge, cooking gear, camping chairs, and more. Bedding is optional, ask when booking. Pick-up is via lockbox for 24/7 flexibility. See the full gear list on our booking site.
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Is bedding included?
Bedding is optional. You can add it when booking or ask us. Many customers bring their own sleeping bags.
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What is the minimum hire period?
No minimum — hire for as little or as long as you like. We recommend 7 or more days for a proper South Island camping road trip.
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Are gravel roads allowed?
Yes. Well-formed gravel and unsealed public roads are fine. Off-road tracks, beaches, and private 4WD trails are not allowed.
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Can I pick up or drop off after hours?
Yes. 24/7 pickup and drop-off is available using a secure lockbox. We’ll send you instructions after you book.
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Do you do airport pickup?
Flying into Christchurch? Pickup is at our Marshlands base (612 Marshlands Road, Christchurch), about 15 minutes by Uber from the airport — not at the terminal. Lockbox instructions are sent after booking.
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What about winter and snow?
Jimnys are capable in winter conditions. Snow chains may be required in some areas. Optional chains are $50 per booking — add them in the booking process when you reserve if you want them for alpine routes.
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What is the fuel policy?
You return the vehicle with the same fuel level as at pickup (full-to-full is typical). We’ll confirm the exact terms in your booking.
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What licence do I need?
You need a valid driver licence and must be legally allowed to drive in New Zealand. Overseas visitors need a current licence; translation or IDP may be required.
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What about bond and insurance?
A bond (security deposit) applies and is released after the vehicle is returned and checked. Insurance and excess options are explained at booking.
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Can I freedom camp?
Freedom camping rules vary by council and DOC. Check local rules and use designated areas where required. Leave no trace.