Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to hire in Invercargill, listed by private owners and local hire businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for campervan hire in New Zealand, then book online with insurance included.
Invercargill is New Zealand’s southernmost city and the gateway to Stewart Island/Rakiura — the launch point for a Southland loop rather than a destination to linger in for its own sake. This page covers Invercargill in detail; for the wider New Zealand route, see the Campervan Hire New Zealand guide.
Invercargill Campervan, Motorhome and RV Hire
Owners list a mix of compact 2-berth campervans, mid-size camper vans and larger motorhomes with their own toilet and shower, and you book whichever vehicle suits your trip through our partner Outdoorsy.
What’s around Invercargill
Bluff, about 30 minutes south, is the ferry departure point for Stewart Island and known for its oysters in season.
Stewart Island/Rakiura is reached by ferry from Bluff or a short flight from Invercargill Airport — New Zealand’s third main island, mostly national park.
Oreti Beach is a long, flat driving beach close to the city.
Invercargill is a stop on the Southern Scenic Route, the coastal touring road through the Catlins.
Best road trips from Invercargill
The Catlins
About 1.5–2 hours to Curio Bay via the Southern Scenic Route, 1–2 days. Waterfalls, a petrified forest at Curio Bay and yellow-eyed penguins, one of the quieter coastal drives in the country.
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Ferry from Bluff (about 30 minutes south) or a short flight from Invercargill, 1–3 days. Leave the campervan in Bluff — the island itself has no roads to speak of beyond Oban village.
Te Anau and Fiordland
About 2.5 hours northwest, 2–4 days. The gateway to Milford Sound and the Kepler and Milford Tracks, a genuinely different landscape from the flat Southland farmland around Invercargill.
Where to stay overnight around Invercargill
- Invercargill Holiday Park & Motels — 5 minutes from the centre, a good stopover for the Southern Scenic Route and Stewart Island departures.
- Beach Road Holiday Park — in the scenic Sandy Point Domain.
Best time to visit
December to February is the mildest window this far south. Weather is changeable year-round, so pack for cold and wind regardless of season.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Invercargill?
The same nightly ranges apply as the rest of New Zealand — see the cost breakdown on the main New Zealand page.
Is a campervan taken across to Stewart Island?
No — you leave your vehicle in Bluff and take the ferry (or fly) across; the island itself has no campervan roads.
Is Invercargill worth stopping in, or just passing through to Bluff?
A night is enough for most people — the real appeal is the Catlins route in and the Stewart Island access out.
How cold does it get?
Weather is changeable year-round this far south — pack layers even in summer.
Is the Catlins drive straightforward in a campervan?
Yes, mostly sealed roads with some gravel side-trips to waterfalls, as part of the Southern Scenic Route.
Is Te Anau reachable from Invercargill?
Yes, about 2.5 hours northwest, making it a natural next stop if Fiordland and Milford Sound are part of the trip.
Is a campervan the same as a motorhome or RV?
Yes — “campervan”, “motorhome” and “RV” describe the same type of vehicle on this site. Different countries and hire companies favour different terms, but they’re searchable interchangeably here.
Ready to see what’s available? Search live campervans and motorhomes for Invercargill.