What Are Self-Contained Campervans in New Zealand? | NZ Motorhomes
For ultimate convenience and to legally be able to freedom camp in New Zealand, you will need a self-contained Campervan. But what does self-contained mean? We'll go through what self-contained Campervans in New Zealand are in this video.
Hey guys, we're Robin and Laura, the team behind Backpacker Guide. NZ, help you plan an epic trip in NZ. In this video, we'll tell you what you need to know about self-contained Campervans for road tripping in New Zealand. First, we'll talk about what exactly does self-contained mean, then why you would consider travelling in a self-contained vehicle, how to get the self-containment certification, as well as where to dispose your waste and whether you should rent or buy a self-contained Campervan.
And stick around for the end of this video when we give you 5 Essential Tips for Travelling in a Self-Contained Vehicle in New Zealand. Plus, we publish videos all about travelling in NZ every single day so if you're new here, hit that subscribe button. And with that, let's get on with the video. Let's get straight to the big question:
What is a self-contained Campervan?
Self containment NZS 5465:2001 is the certification used to show that a Campervan can contain water waste for up to 3 days. This includes water in the form of water supply, gray water, which is sinking and shower water, and septic waste. In detail, Robin will list the features a Campervan must meet to be self-contained. A fresh water tank which holds 12L per person for 3 days A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank which holds 12L per person for 3 days. It needs to be vented and monitored if capacity is less than the fresh water tank An evacuation hose which is 3m for fitted tanks are long enough to connect to a sealed portable tank A rubbish bin with a lid And a toilet, either portable or fixed, needs to have a minimum of 3L per person for 3 days and be able to be used inside the Campervan with the bed made up. Just as a side note, per person, is measured on the amount of people a Campervan can sleep, for instance, a 3-berth Campervan needs will need to meet the minimum tank storage requirements for three people even if you're actually travelling alone. Even if a Campervan has all these features, it is not classed as certified self-contained until it has received a warrant under the New Zealand Standard for Self Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, NZS 5465:2001.
So, why use a self-contained Campervan to travel New Zealand? By storing the waste water in the van, rather than dumping it on the floor, it is much more environmentally friendly. Plus, it's safer for public health. There are also personal benefits, such as being able to use all of New Zealand's campsites for your trip. Many campsites, including the free ones, do not allow vehicles without the self containment certificate.
There are approximately 340 free campsites to take advantage of. With this, you have more freedom to explore this amazing country without having to be on a constant look out for showers, toilets and water. You are also able to freedom camp on public land were permitted. Usually, signs will indicate where there is no camping allowed.
Otherwise, if there are no signs, you can usually assume freedom camping in a certified self-contained Campervan is allowed. Local councils are often changing their freedom camping bylaws, which differ between districts across New Zealand. We say if you want to freedom camp on public land, do some research first to see what the rules for the areas are you plan on visiting in New Zealand. Because the rules surrounding freedom camping are a little bit flaky, we have a whole video on what you need to know about freedom camping linked up in the description below.
How do you know if a vehicle is self-contained? To know whether the Campervan you are purchasing or renting is self-contained, look for the sticker on the front left-hand side of the windscreen. If you have managed to get your own Campervan, that you think meets the requirements, but Campervan, that you think meets the requirements, but does not have the self containment certification, you can get an inspection and certification for around 55 New Zealand dollars if you are a member of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association.
Alternatively, there are other issuing authorities for the self-containment certification, including: any registered plumber, a company called All Points Camping, which again, we'll link to, and other Motorhome companies. As mentioned before, the vehicle needs to meet certain requirements to obtain a certification sticker, Just as a quick reminder, it needs… A fresh water tank A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank Evacuation hose A rubbish bin with a lid And either a portable or fixed toilet that can be used inside the vehicle when the bed is made up.
Does not have the self containment certification, you can get an inspection and certification for around 55 New Zealand dollars if you are a member of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. Alternatively, there are other issuing authorities for the self-containment certification, including: any registered plumber, a company called All Points Camping, which again, we'll link to, and other Motorhome companies. As mentioned before, the vehicle needs to meet certain requirements to obtain a certification sticker, Just as a quick reminder, it needs… A fresh water tank A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank Evacuation hose A rubbish bin with a lid And either a portable or fixed toilet that can be used inside the vehicle when the bed is made up.
Next up, where do you dispose your water waste? By having a self-contained Campervan it is your responsibility to empty the waste water when needed in a safe and an environmentally-friendly way. The answer to this is to use dump stations to dump waste water. There are heaps of dump stations in NZ to safely dispose of your Campervan water waste. You can ask the Information Centers for their locations. They are often also featured on most local maps, as well as camping apps. Just look out for this icon which indicates a dump station. Now, should you rent or buy a self-contained Campervan? Visiting NZ on a short trip? Well, renting a Campervan is the fastest and most convenient way to hit the road.Campervan rental companies should explicitly say whether their vans are certified self-contained. Beware, some will say they are self-contained, but this doesn't always mean they are certified. For more information on renting a Campervan, check out the link below to our essential guide to renting a Campervan in NZ.
Staying in NZ for more than a couple of months? In this case, it will be much more cost-effective to buy a self-contained Campervan and sell it at the end of your trip. This is, however, quite time-consuming, so leave yourself a couple of weeks at both ends of your trip to allow time to buy and sell. Get more information on our Travel by Campervan in NZ Guide. So we hope that's cleared up what exactly is a self-contained Campervan for you! But, as promised, here are 5 essential tips for travelling in a self-contained Campervan in NZ!
Number 1. If renting a Campervan, bear in mind that there are a lot of inclusions.
Usually all your kitchenware, bedding and even towels are included so there's literally no reason to pack the kitchen sink. However, this does mean that when buying a self-contained vehicle yourself, you might need to buy these things as they are not always included so factor that into your budget.
Number 2. Most self-contained Motorhomes in NZ use diesel, which, while they have a cheaper fuel price than petrol, there is actually a tax on diesel called a Road Usage Charge which you’ll even need to pay if renting as well as buying. It's between 62 and 68 NZ dollars per 1,000km travelled.
3. If buying a self-contained Campervan actually test that all the water tanks, toilet, etc. Works! Even if it has the self-containment certificate is still valid, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is still in working order.
4. When renting a Campervan, be aware that the season vastly affects the prices. We go through the good times to rent vehicles in our ultimate guide to renting a car video. And finally...
5. Remember to include the cost of the ferry crossing between the North Island and South Island into your budget. The larger your Campervan, the more expensive it will be. We give a general price guide in our ferry crossing article in the description below.
That's it for our self contained Campervan guide. We hope it answered all your questions, but if there was anything missing, make sure to leave your questions below and we'll be sure to answer them! And, if you found this video useful, give it a cheeky thumb up so we'll keep making more New Zealand travel tip videos for you guys. Oh yeah, and subscribe so you can see those videos!
If you're looking for places to visit in your Campervan, don't miss NZ's Biggest Gap Year where we're challenging ourselves to do 365 activities in 365 days, which is sure to give you some epic bucket list inspiration. Until next time, keep exploring!
Hey guys, we're Robin and Laura, the team behind Backpacker Guide. NZ, help you plan an epic trip in NZ. In this video, we'll tell you what you need to know about self-contained Campervans for road tripping in New Zealand. First, we'll talk about what exactly does self-contained mean, then why you would consider travelling in a self-contained vehicle, how to get the self-containment certification, as well as where to dispose your waste and whether you should rent or buy a self-contained Campervan.
And stick around for the end of this video when we give you 5 Essential Tips for Travelling in a Self-Contained Vehicle in New Zealand. Plus, we publish videos all about travelling in NZ every single day so if you're new here, hit that subscribe button. And with that, let's get on with the video. Let's get straight to the big question:
What is a self-contained Campervan?
Self containment NZS 5465:2001 is the certification used to show that a Campervan can contain water waste for up to 3 days. This includes water in the form of water supply, gray water, which is sinking and shower water, and septic waste. In detail, Robin will list the features a Campervan must meet to be self-contained. A fresh water tank which holds 12L per person for 3 days A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank which holds 12L per person for 3 days. It needs to be vented and monitored if capacity is less than the fresh water tank An evacuation hose which is 3m for fitted tanks are long enough to connect to a sealed portable tank A rubbish bin with a lid And a toilet, either portable or fixed, needs to have a minimum of 3L per person for 3 days and be able to be used inside the Campervan with the bed made up. Just as a side note, per person, is measured on the amount of people a Campervan can sleep, for instance, a 3-berth Campervan needs will need to meet the minimum tank storage requirements for three people even if you're actually travelling alone. Even if a Campervan has all these features, it is not classed as certified self-contained until it has received a warrant under the New Zealand Standard for Self Containment of Motor Caravans and Caravans, NZS 5465:2001.
So, why use a self-contained Campervan to travel New Zealand? By storing the waste water in the van, rather than dumping it on the floor, it is much more environmentally friendly. Plus, it's safer for public health. There are also personal benefits, such as being able to use all of New Zealand's campsites for your trip. Many campsites, including the free ones, do not allow vehicles without the self containment certificate.
There are approximately 340 free campsites to take advantage of. With this, you have more freedom to explore this amazing country without having to be on a constant look out for showers, toilets and water. You are also able to freedom camp on public land were permitted. Usually, signs will indicate where there is no camping allowed.
Otherwise, if there are no signs, you can usually assume freedom camping in a certified self-contained Campervan is allowed. Local councils are often changing their freedom camping bylaws, which differ between districts across New Zealand. We say if you want to freedom camp on public land, do some research first to see what the rules for the areas are you plan on visiting in New Zealand. Because the rules surrounding freedom camping are a little bit flaky, we have a whole video on what you need to know about freedom camping linked up in the description below.
How do you know if a vehicle is self-contained? To know whether the Campervan you are purchasing or renting is self-contained, look for the sticker on the front left-hand side of the windscreen. If you have managed to get your own Campervan, that you think meets the requirements, but Campervan, that you think meets the requirements, but does not have the self containment certification, you can get an inspection and certification for around 55 New Zealand dollars if you are a member of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association.
Alternatively, there are other issuing authorities for the self-containment certification, including: any registered plumber, a company called All Points Camping, which again, we'll link to, and other Motorhome companies. As mentioned before, the vehicle needs to meet certain requirements to obtain a certification sticker, Just as a quick reminder, it needs… A fresh water tank A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank Evacuation hose A rubbish bin with a lid And either a portable or fixed toilet that can be used inside the vehicle when the bed is made up.
Does not have the self containment certification, you can get an inspection and certification for around 55 New Zealand dollars if you are a member of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association. Alternatively, there are other issuing authorities for the self-containment certification, including: any registered plumber, a company called All Points Camping, which again, we'll link to, and other Motorhome companies. As mentioned before, the vehicle needs to meet certain requirements to obtain a certification sticker, Just as a quick reminder, it needs… A fresh water tank A sink via a small trap or water trap connected to a water tight sealed waste water tank A gray slash black waste water tank Evacuation hose A rubbish bin with a lid And either a portable or fixed toilet that can be used inside the vehicle when the bed is made up.
Next up, where do you dispose your water waste? By having a self-contained Campervan it is your responsibility to empty the waste water when needed in a safe and an environmentally-friendly way. The answer to this is to use dump stations to dump waste water. There are heaps of dump stations in NZ to safely dispose of your Campervan water waste. You can ask the Information Centers for their locations. They are often also featured on most local maps, as well as camping apps. Just look out for this icon which indicates a dump station. Now, should you rent or buy a self-contained Campervan? Visiting NZ on a short trip? Well, renting a Campervan is the fastest and most convenient way to hit the road.
Staying in NZ for more than a couple of months? In this case, it will be much more cost-effective to buy a self-contained Campervan and sell it at the end of your trip. This is, however, quite time-consuming, so leave yourself a couple of weeks at both ends of your trip to allow time to buy and sell. Get more information on our Travel by Campervan in NZ Guide. So we hope that's cleared up what exactly is a self-contained Campervan for you! But, as promised, here are 5 essential tips for travelling in a self-contained Campervan in NZ!
Number 1. If renting a Campervan, bear in mind that there are a lot of inclusions.
Usually all your kitchenware, bedding and even towels are included so there's literally no reason to pack the kitchen sink. However, this does mean that when buying a self-contained vehicle yourself, you might need to buy these things as they are not always included so factor that into your budget.
Number 2. Most self-contained Motorhomes in NZ use diesel, which, while they have a cheaper fuel price than petrol, there is actually a tax on diesel called a Road Usage Charge which you’ll even need to pay if renting as well as buying. It's between 62 and 68 NZ dollars per 1,000km travelled.
3. If buying a self-contained Campervan actually test that all the water tanks, toilet, etc. Works! Even if it has the self-containment certificate is still valid, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everything is still in working order.
4. When renting a Campervan, be aware that the season vastly affects the prices. We go through the good times to rent vehicles in our ultimate guide to renting a car video. And finally...
5. Remember to include the cost of the ferry crossing between the North Island and South Island into your budget. The larger your Campervan, the more expensive it will be. We give a general price guide in our ferry crossing article in the description below.
That's it for our self contained Campervan guide. We hope it answered all your questions, but if there was anything missing, make sure to leave your questions below and we'll be sure to answer them! And, if you found this video useful, give it a cheeky thumb up so we'll keep making more New Zealand travel tip videos for you guys. Oh yeah, and subscribe so you can see those videos!
If you're looking for places to visit in your Campervan, don't miss NZ's Biggest Gap Year where we're challenging ourselves to do 365 activities in 365 days, which is sure to give you some epic bucket list inspiration. Until next time, keep exploring!
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