Owner Awards 2025

Meet New Zealand's 2025 Owner of the Year: Tamie and Matt from Queenstown Campervans

The 2025 Camplify Owner Awards celebrate the people who make our community brilliant – and this year's Owner of the Year for New Zealand goes to a couple whose story begins with university homework and a grandmother's legacy.

Tamie and Matt from Queenstown Campervans have built something special in the adventure capital of Aotearoa: a family-focused campervan operation that turns road trips into treasured memories. In just a few years, they've grown from one beloved van to a fleet of four – and earned a reputation for going above and beyond for every hirer who rolls through.

A campervan named Renee

Every great Camplify story has a meaningful beginning, and Tamie's started in a university lecture hall.

On how it all started...

"I work in the travel industry and knew about Camplify," Tamie explains. "But it was actually when I was studying – I did a paper on Camplify." That academic deep-dive sparked genuine interest, but it was a bittersweet moment that turned curiosity into action.

"My grandma had passed away and left a little bit of money. We went camping growing up and it was super important and meaningful. I knew that money would go towards something important."

That first campervan became Renee – named after her grandmother. "It meant we could go away camping when we wanted to, but other kids and families were able to experience that as well. A bit of a legacy."

Meet the fleet

Queenstown Campervans operates four Mercedes Kia Platinum campervans – all six-berth vehicles specifically chosen to serve families. Their fleet spans 2015 through to a 2021 model, each one manufactured by THL.

Why families? Tamie spotted the gap: "Look at the market and go, okay, what is missing? No one was really looking after the family."

Whether you pick up in Queenstown or choose delivery, you'll find these vans prepped to hotel standard. Matt – who Tamie affectionately calls "OCD" about preparation – makes up the beds before every handover.

"I always make up the beds. We have tea and coffee, chocolates, cooking oil, cleaning products, toilet paper, tea towels, bath towels... make it like a hotel," he says. "And Windex – we've got really big windows. You want to sit in the back and have a coffee or a glass of wine, you want clean windows."

The moment that stopped them in their tracks

When we asked about memorable hires, Matt and Tamie had stories that ran the full spectrum – from laugh-out-loud funny to genuinely touching.

The tattoo tribute:

"Some mid-twenties guys booked the camper for about three and a half weeks after Snow Machine festival," Matt recalls. "I'm thinking, oh here we go, it's going to come back destroyed. But they were so good to the campervan. When they came back, one guy pulled up his shorts and showed me – he had a tattoo of the campervan on his thigh. Exact replica."

How many owners can claim their van is permanently inked on someone's leg?

The family that mattered most:

For Tamie, the standout moment was helping a Make-A-Wish family. A 21-year-old with cancer had one dream: travel the South Island in a campervan.

"The family contacted us because his Make-A-Wish was to travel around the South Island. There were cancellations because doctors said it wasn't safe to travel. We didn't think he was ever going to make it."

But he did. Tamie didn't just hand over the keys – she reached out to industry contacts and personally booked activities to make the trip unforgettable.

"Kiwis can't always afford to do things like this, especially when they're always in and out of hospitals. It's just nice to support a family that really appreciated and needed that time together."

The update? "He's doing well. Fingers crossed for him."

Their top tips for new owners

Tamie and Matt have advice that goes beyond the obvious:

Find the gap: "If you've got the opportunity to start from scratch, look at the market and go, what is missing? That's what we did – we noticed no one was really looking after families."

Invest in your photos: "Have awesome images of people out there experiencing time on the campervan."

Be present and clear: "Be really clear with your listing. And don't use ChatGPT solely" – there's no substitute for authentic, personal descriptions.

For owners looking to sharpen their listings before peak season, check out our guide on how to maximise your earnings with a great quality listing.

Where they'd send you first

Based in Queenstown, Tamie and Matt are surrounded by world-class destinations. Their typical recommendations for hirers heading out:

• Arrowtown – historic gold rush village just 20 minutes away

• Wanaka – lakeside vibes and the famous lone tree

• Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound – fiordland drama at its finest

• Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook – turquoise waters and Aoraki views

Planning your own South Island loop? Our Te Anau to Milford Sound guide covers every must-stop along the way.

Ready to create your own memories? Whether you pick up from Queenstown or choose delivery to your starting point, Tamie and Matt will have you sorted.

Meet all our 2025 Owner Award winners here.

Interested in meeting the owners who almost took the title of Owner of the Year? Meet our runners-up here:

• Jono and Maree

• Trevor and Jo

• Paul

• Camila and Andy

Got an RV sitting in the driveway? See how Tamie and Matt turned a family legacy into a thriving community – and discover what your vehicle could earn.