best van to travel around australia

• How to Play Video Games as You Travel the World
• 21 Unusual Places to Visit in Poland You Must See
• The Best Cenotes in the Riviera Maya
• The 7 Best Vacation Destinations for Nature Lovers
• VTOMAN FlashSpeed 1500 Review
• Discover the Maya eSIM: Our Exclusive In-Depth Review
• Work With Us

Guide to Driving Around Australia in a Campervan

Want to drive around Australia? Have enough money for buying or renting a campervan and keep the fridge stocked and the petrol full? Have a good sense of adventure and a willingness to put a few hours behind the wheel? Well, if you do, you’re all set for an Australian adventure.

Before we had kids, Micki and I had the amazing opportunity to spend six months driving around Australia in a campervan that we had bought and outfitted ourselves.

By the sixth month, we had put over 25,000 kilometers on that campervan, driving from Adelaide in South Australia, up through the untamed Outback in the center, then up to Darwin in the north, before crossing over to Cairns, and finally down the east coast of Australia to Sydney.

Even after spending years bouncing around the globe, it was an unforgettable adventure and still one of our favorite travel highlights.

A guide to driving around Australia in a campervan

Australia is the perfect country to drive a campervan or RV, since it has huge spaces and plenty great RV resorts, or Holiday Parks, as they’re often locally known, in nearly every town.

I think that an Australia road trip is probably the best way to see the land down under, especially if you want to see more than just the big cities and get to know the real Australia.

The funny part about our Australia roadtrip was that our first campervan turned out to be a massive lemon. Sure, we only bought it for a few hundred dollars from a hostel where a previous backpacker had left it and managed to sell it for $50 more than we paid (once we realized it wouldn’t pass a safety inspection). In case you’re wondering, we actually sold it to a guy fixes cars, so he profited as well once he fixed it up.

The great part about the whole scenario was that the original van was stocked with tons of extra goodies.

From an extra camping tent and sleeping bags (helpful when we rented a 4×4 and stayed on Fraser Island ) to boogie boards, a portable table and even a nice propane stove that, by the time our trip was complete, we had gotten good use out of nearly everything. So, when we bought our next campervan, for about 20 times the first, we had it totally stocked up without spending an additional penny.

Even better, we bought a queen size mattress for the back, and even a TV! It was a real luxury to curl up in bed at night and watch a some true Australian TV. We were addicted to the first season on Australian Idol (and were cheering for the eventual winner, Guy Sebastian).

Australia road rules and such things as road trains

Initial problems aside, driving around Australia was a breeze. Well, that is, once we figured out that not only did we have to get used to driving on the left side of the road, but we also had to change gears with our left hand (ours had a manual transmission) and things are reversed from what we’re used to in North America.

Since the gear shift was on the steering column, you have no idea how often we turned on the windshield wipers by mistake. It even became a running gag during our trip.

If you’re interested in buying a used Australia campervan , you can check out Gumtree. Not only do they have thousands of Australian campervans, they also have tons of used camping supplies as well to help get you fully outfitted for your own Australia roadtrip.

I’m also not going to lie and say that we didn’t almost get into trouble a few times coming off traffic circles (which weren’t used much in North America then). Not having lane markers when you’re first trying to remember to drive on the left can be problematic in itself, but after doing a few circles you kind of revert to what you’re used to when you finally straighten out, which wasn’t a good thing if you’re a right lane kind of person.

Outside of that and, oh, the one lane bridges, you should be fine. Just remember to look at what’s coming before you drive over them.

Oops. Did I forget to mention having to get off the road when those giant triple trailer trucks they lovingly refer to as road trains pass you by in the Outback?

That’s not really a law, but if you value your vehicle (and consequently your life) it’s not a bad idea to get out of their way. To say that back trailer sways a little is like calling Uluru a little rock in the Outback, and those road trains don’t slow down for anything or anyone. Don’t worry though, there aren’t that many of them, and it’s a nice change of scenery from the miles and miles of unchanging desert scrub.

Oh, did I mention the kangaroos?

Well, you’ll see those for yourself if you drive through the Australian Outback like we did. They’re awesome to see hopping in the distance and don’t worry, you’ll see plenty of them. Just realize that they have no natural predators in Australia and there’s just as good a chance as them jumping into the side of your Australian campervan as you hitting one. You have been warned!

We also learned it’s a bad idea to drive most places in the Outback at night. Between the hopping kangaroos, the swaying road trains, wandering cows, an errant camel or emu and an abundance of wild rabbits in certain parts of Australia, unless you know the area well, it’s best to stay completely off these roads after sundown. Of course, if you’re on the coast or in one of the major cities you should be fine driving at night.

The realities of driving a campervan in Australia

All kidding aside, driving in Australia is easy once you have a few things down pat. Roads in major cities are well marked, and Australia is similar to most countries in regards to road rules and signage. Just realize that each Australian state has its own road rules. You can check them out here if you’re curious.

Since 85% of the Australian population is within 50 kilometers (31 miles) of the coast (see our recent post on things about Australia you didn’t know here ) there are many places to stay, eat and most importantly, refuel, during your Australia road trip.

Once you get into the Outback, things are a little more spread out, so you need to make sure you have some spare gas with you or have a good estimate of how far your campervan or RV can make it on a tank. Luckily, there are usually signs saying how far the next available gas station. Trust us, you don’t want to get stuck in the Outback without fuel.

Outback safety tip: If you run out of fuel, or your campervan breaks down in the Outback, stay with your vehicle and wait for the next vehicle to pass by. The blistering heat is your biggest danger so stay hydrated. It might take hours, but someone will eventually drive by who can help you out.

It’s also important to realize that smaller towns that only have one gas station could close as early as 4 pm.  We spent the night parked in a gas station lot, because we didn’t have enough fuel to make it to the next town, more times than we care to admit.

If you’re looking for the cheapest gas in an area, or even how close the nearest petrol station is, you can grab the Motormouth app . Similar to North America’s Gas Buddy app, their Australian user-based system continually lists the current gas prices around the country. It’s also handy when that red light on your fuel tank starts flashing, and you need to refuel your campervan or RV immediately.

Even more importantly, since the Outback can get quite hot in the day and cool at night, you don’t want to get stuck without water and food. Make sure you have lots of both when you drive towards the Red Centre.

It’s more than likely you’ll be starting your journey from one of the major cities, so make sure to stock up on everything you’ll need at one of the big supermarkets. The farther you go from the big centers, the more costly food becomes and picking up essentials at gas stations is going to hurt the wallet more than a few spoiled or unused food items.

RV Resorts, Holiday Parks and campgrounds

I can honestly say that Australia has some of the nicest campgrounds we’ve seen anywhere in the world. Though the cost of some of the Australian campervan parks can be a little pricey, lots of campgrounds come fully provisioned with hotel quality swimming pools, multiple hot water showers and restrooms, huge cooking areas complete with lots of barbecues and even dedicated outdoor TV viewing areas for those not so nice evenings. Some even have trampolines and miniature golf for the kids.

Our favorite campgrounds in Australia even featured our own personal shower and washroom area as well as a private cooking area. Staying in those campgrounds was like having a very welcome addition to our campervan, giving us extra room to hang out as well as letting us cook our meals far from our beds. It was also cool to pull into your spot and find out what the little half building next to your pad contained.

Important!  Australia has reverse seasons to the northern hemisphere. As such, Christmas vacation for Australians lasts two months and nearly everyone is out camping and enjoying the heat in December and January. If you’re planning to be in Australia during these months, I suggest you book your campgrounds far ahead of time, otherwise you’ll be parking on the street or in parking lots.

One of the biggest campground companies in Australia, with 180 campgrounds scattered across the country, is  Big4 Holiday Parks . They’re among the priciest of the Australian campgrounds however they also tend to have the nicest amenities.

If you want to rough it a bit more, you can also find campgrounds throughout Australia’s National Parks. You can search for campgrounds across all the national parks  here .

For a list of cheaper campgrounds around Australia, check out Explore Australia’s campground list here and the Findacamp site has a great list as well highlighting some of the cheapest campgrounds in Australia.

Buying and selling a campervan in Australia

If you’re looking at buying a campervan in Australia, there are certain months when it’s easier and cheaper to buy a campervan in Australia than others. The same goes for renting a campervan. Australia campervan hire can be surprisingly affordable off season, or during the shoulder season, especially.

December and January are busy across the country, and finding a rental won’t be easy or cheap in these months. If you want to rent, consider going in the shoulder seasons of October or November and February or March. You’ll miss the crowds and added expenses but the weather should still be great.

If you’re considering buying a campervan or RV, you also need enough time to pick out your campervan and enough time to sell it. There are tons of options out there from used buying and selling sites to dealerships. You can also check out local hostel bulletin boards (even if that didn’t work out so well for us).

When it’s time to sell, you can place an ad or even bring your campervan to one of the local swap meets that specializes in selling vans, campervans and RV’s from other travelers. There should be one in every major city.

Just note that there are better and worse times to buy and sell your campervan in Australia depending on the city you’re in. April to July tends to be the worst time of year to sell your vehicle in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, however those could be great times to buy one. December to June is also bad in northern Cairns and Darwin, and both Brisbane and Adelaide can be tough to sell in year round. We ended up buying our campervan from a local in Adelaide, since there weren’t that many travelers selling theirs when we were there.

Vehicle Registration is valid for a year in Australia and usually requires an address. We just used our hostel’s address to sign up and it went pretty smoothly. Depending on the year of the vehicle and where it was initially registered, also note that some vehicles require a safety inspection before they’re allowed to be registered to someone else, so make sure the vehicle is roadworthy before giving over the money.

Final thoughts on driving an RV or campervan around Australia

Already have your Australian campervan fully stocked and ready to roll? All you need to do now is pick a route and set a timetable.

Are you going to drive The Great Ocean Road in the south past Melbourne and enjoy beautiful beaches and light houses?

Dreaming of jumping crocodiles and pristine canyons? Maybe driving from Darwin down to Katherine Gorge is the trip for you?

Want your area a little less crowded? How about having a quiet wilderness adventure on the west cost in Western Australia?

Still too crowded? How about checking out the Red Centre and experiencing the wide open spaces of Australia’s outback while you take in iconic sites like Uluru and the Devils’ Marbles?

Too remote for you? How about checking out rainforests, the great barrier reef and gorgeous stretches of beach as you live up the beach bum lifestyle in tropical North Queensland?

Maybe the mainland is too much for you? All that space giving you pause. Maybe you should check out Tasmania’s rural and natural beauty and check out Tasmania’s sleepy towns and secluded beaches.

No matter where you go or which route you decide on, taking a road trip around Australia in your campervan, RV or even just a van will be a memory you’ll keep forever and no matter how long you go for, there will always be something new to see on your next adventure.

Safe travels!

Got a tip about driving a campervan around Australia? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us an email or leave a comment below for everyone to read.

Such a comprehensive post! I am Australian and do love reading about how people from other countries see our country. Rural and remote Australia is especially beautiful – the isolation is a great experience, but really, its all about the views. We love the Northern Territory so much we have camped up in Darwin for about a year to check it out further – such beautiful desert! We have spent many months doing road trips in Australia, although it is such a big country that there is always more to explore. Thanks for the post 🙂

This van is so cool, I would like to go to australia trip and wanna get a outstanding experience of my life

This is great. You made me nostalgic for the road trip we did around New Zealand in a campervan. I can only imagine how cool this must have been in Australia. The only knock I have about the experience was that I think I saw more of the New Zealand road not the scenery being the driver.

This will make sure to help us enjoy our road travel in Australia this year with my friends. Thank you for sharing this informative blog with us.

Great tip, I sure everyone will enjoy their road trip with this information. Thank you for posting.

Nice post. You look really comfortable. I’d like to start traveling soon as well xD.

Haven’t been to Australia since 2005 and heading back with 4 kids this time! Is it worth waiting until we arrive to check for local deals for Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays, Fraser Island, Scuba Diving or should we order before we leave?

Mathew, I would look now into the times you want to go and make sure it’s not busy or a holiday. If it is, it’s best to book in advance, otherwise you can wait until you get to Australia to book things and see if they’ll give you a better deal. If there’s 6 of you all together then you might be able to get an even better deal by contacting them directly rather than using their online forms.

Nice post! How did the van do on the west coast/in land, did you have any trouble with gravel roads?

The van worked well pretty much everywhere we went across Australia however we did run into problems along the Oodnadatta Track in South Australia. The problem is that it had rained heavily the two days before we attempted it and we were well advised to hold off an extra day just to let it settle a bit so we did. The dirt and gravel track was definitely a little slippery in sections but the biggest problem is that the red mud clung tenaciously to the underside of our van and it hardened into super tough clay.

We were probably carrying hundreds of pounds more in weight by the time we arrived in Coober Pedy and it took a lot of work to get the majority of it off the camper van. 5 months later, when we sold the van, you could still find a chunk of that Australian red mud stuck in odd places.

So, other than the rainy season, I think it’s fine to drive most vans along Australia’s gravel roads however it’s never a bad idea to talk to a local if you’re unsure of the quality of the drive and leave your name and travel itinerary with someone in places that are off the grid so someone can track you down if you get lost or stuck. As we were told a dozen times, the Outback can be a brutal place if you aren’t properly prepared or outfitted, especially in the hot season.

Awesome! its very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing. I really appreciate you guys.

great article… thanks for sharing this article with us.

we had a campervan and loved driving around in it – pulling up anywhere, and falling asleep to wake up in the morning to see where we were! It was so well set up that we slept in places such as overlooking the beach, or even near waterfalls. Cant wait to get another campervan so we can keep exploring Australia in places that motorhomes cant go 🙂

thanks for the Australia guides really helps me a lot..thanks for this post

That is pretty cool that vans can be stationed at campgrounds. I need a van that fits at least 8 people. I’ll have to rent something so that all of my friends can pile in and travel the U.S.

I’m reading this article and i really hope to be visit Australia!

Wow! This is incredibly amazing. I’ve always wanted to try travelling using a campervan. I’m planning on renting one through the site that I found. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go out soon.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Our Wanders

Our Ultimate Guide To Plan A Road Trip In Australia

Are you planning a road trip in Australia? Are you crafting your most ideal Australia campervan itinerary? Not sure where to start?

No wonder. Australia is a huge and faraway land that’s likely very different from where you live. There’s so much to see (too much, it seems). Your Australia road trip might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

We’ve been there. We visited Australia on a three week campervan trip for the first time. Since then we moved to Sydney and continue exploring this vast country on road trips and camping trips. We are here to help you plan a road trip in Australia.

This post is your guide to road trip Australia, with lots of first-timer questions clarified, tons of tips and possible itinerary ideas.

Whatever you do, road trip Australia

The very first thing: Australia is one of those countries that are just meant for road trips and campervan trips (more on that debate later). It has cool cities, but it’s the landscapes that impress the most . We had the best wildlife experiences on the road, as well.

But beware, distances are long, so make sure you plan an Australian road trip itinerary that’s not all about being in the car and driving . If you want to see places that are very far from each other, it might be worth flying between them instead of driving.

The most important questions to consider when creating the best Australia road trip itinerary

You won’t see everything within a few weeks (even within a few months). We get it, Australia is a faraway dream destination, and you want to visit all the sights that are on your bucket list.

But Australia is almost as big as the continental USA, distances are long, and some regions are not that ideal to visit in certain seasons. So you need to set priorities, and plan a road trip itinerary that fits you the best and leaves time to actually enjoy the places you end up visiting.

Do you need help planning the best itinerary for your trip? Hire me as your personal travel planner.

Here are some questions to consider:

Which places interest you the most?

Do you want to spend time on beaches? Diving? Hiking? Observing wildlife? Do you want to visit cities? Most visitors typically want a combination of these.

Our opinion is that while Australian cities are attractive, they are no match for the natural beauties and wildlife in Australia . If you like visiting cities on your travels, don’t miss them. If you’re more nature-focused, dedicate a few days to the cities and spend the rest of your time in nature.

Bucket list destinations in Australia

Here are the typical bucket list items for each region – just in case you think your bucket list is too short:

East coast:

• Great Ocean Road
• Blue Mountains
• Royal National Park
• Whitsunday Islands
• Fraser Island
• Great Barrier Reef
• Daintree National Park

Western Australia:

• beaches and ocean drive of Esperance
• Rottnest Island
• The Pinnacles
• Ningaloo Reef
• Karijini National Park

Southern Australia:

• Kangaroo Island
• Lake Bumbunga
• Limestone Coast & Blue Lake
• Eyre Peninsula
• Flinders Ranges

Northern Territory:

• Litchfield National Park
• Kakadu National Park
• Kings Canyon Rim Walk

And we missed out Tasmania – which is also Australia, yet a different world and countless more bucket list items.

When are you visiting?

Any time of the year can be good, but for different places.

Sydney and Brisbane are great destinations all year, tropical Queensland and the Northern Territory is best between April and October (Australian summer is the rainy season there, with floods and hurricanes), Victoria and Southern Australia is between October and April (Australian winter months are chilly there).

Western Australia is so large that it has several climates: the southwestern region has temperate climate with four seasons and rainy winters, the northern region is tropical with a wet and a dry season.

Christmas and Easter vacations are very busy, you better avoid them.

How much time do you have?

If you only have a few weeks, we recommend choosing between the east coast (Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland) or Western Australia. Maybe you can add a bit of the Northern Territory or Southern Australia to any of the two routes. Maybe, if you have 3+ weeks.

Car or campervan?

Let me ask the same question in a different way: would you sleep in your car, or do you prefer rooms with four walls? If you’d like to try out the campervan life, you couldn’t find a better place than Australia. That’s what we did, and we liked it very much!

But it’s not for everyone. You have a small living space (though you’ll likely spend most of your time outdoors), and you make compromises on comfort.

But an Australia campervan trip is the most flexible and most budget-friendly way to explore this country . It means countless free and paid options to spend the night, and also countless opportunities to see wildlife. Australia is safe, the highways and main roads are good, and it’s usually warm outside, so you don’t need to worry about heating.

However, the word “campervan” can cover a range of vehicles . From small converted mini-vans that are suitable for only two people to large family-sized motorhomes and RVs with full amenities. But all of them have two things in common: they are suitable for sleeping, and they offer some opportunity for cooking. Cooking supplies are often provided if you rent the campervan.

Campervans usually have two separate batteries: one runs the engine, and the other runs things like interior lights or a small refrigerator. So you don’t need to worry about the engine not starting the following day, because you keep the interior lights on for too long.

How to choose the campervan that’s suitable for you?

Let’s pretend you’re in for a campervan trip in Australia. Exciting! But from all kinds of small and big, simple and luxurious campervans, which one is the best for you? Well, only you can decide that, but let us help with the most important questions.

You need to choose the size based on two criteria that are equally important: how many people are you traveling with? And how large of a vehicle are you comfortable driving?

Our car was a converted minivan that was just enough for the two of us and our stuff. But driving it was no different than driving a larger kind of car. We didn’t aim for luxury, but it didn’t cost much more than a regular car rental would have.

Should it be self-contained?

Self-contained vehicles have some sort of toilet onboard. It can make things easier if there’s no running water (or any other kind of toilet) where you camp, but you’re also in charge of dumping your waste. There are dedicated dump points for this purpose.

In our opinion, you don’t really need a self-contained vehicle in Australia. (Unless you stay out there in Nowhere). You find plenty of public toilets, especially along the densely populated east coast, even if there’s no running water (composting toilets). Most of them are nice and clean, and they are all free.

This is a dumb question to ask in Australia, by the way, since all public toilets are free to use, even in the cities. (Coming from Europe, it was not at all obvious to us.)

Should it be 4WD?

It depends. Australia is the country of extremes. But I doubt you need a 4WD for the full length of your road trip in general . Certainly not for a campervan road trip.

The most famous attractions are usually easily accessible, and no 4WD is needed if you stay on the main tourist path . However, if you’d like exploring off the beaten track, well, that’s another story. You can truly get off that beaten path in Australia, and certain mountain roads or desert roads require high clearance 4WD vehicles. Sand islands, like Fraser Island, are also in this category.

But again, in a few weeks, you’ll likely have no time to leave the main tourist route, and the most popular campervan itineraries for Australia don’t require 4WD vehicles.

Check your specific route, and if you’re in doubt, contact the rental company to make sure your car is suitable for what you want to use it for, and it’s allowed to be taken to those roads/regions. Your other option is to sign up for a tour to visit those off-the-beaten-track attractions.

Any extras you need

When choosing the right campervan and the company to rent it from, you better consider whether you need any extras. Like one-way rental, an extra driver, insurance cover, unlimited kilometers, navigation, bedding, towels, camping chairs …

They may or may not be included in the rental by default, and adding them can significantly change the overall price, especially one-way rental at certain companies.

Sample Australian road trips

There are people who drive all around Australia, but most of us don’t have that much time. Whether you plan a regular road trip or a campervan road trip in Australia, here are the most scenic routes you can choose from:

East coast: Cairns to Brisbane (~2 weeks)

One of the most popular routes for a 2 week road trip in Australia. It’s well-developed and fairly busy (by Aussie standards). The best time to do it is between April and October.

Daintree National Park is likely inaccessible in the wet season.

Highlights: Daintree National Park, Great Barrier Reef, Captain Cook Highway, Mission Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Fraser Island, Wooroonooran National Park, Noosa National Park & the Sunshine Coast

East coast: Brisbane to Sydney (3-5 days)

This is a shorter drive with mostly beaches (wonderful beaches!) on the way. It’s ideal for those who dream about a coastal campervan tour in Australia, with lots of fabulous beach stops.

You can combine this route with either the drive from Cairns to Brisbane, or you can drive down to Melbourne, with a stop at Jervis Bay. This area is enjoyable all year.

We actually combined this drive with the one from Cairns, and the one to Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. (It was a long drive.)

Highlights: Byron Bay & the Gold Coast, beach hopping, Sydney, Royal National Park, Blue Mountains

Great Ocean Road: Melbourne to Adelaide (a few days)

The Great Ocean Road is often mentioned among the best scenic drives in the world – and for a good reason. It’s likely included in any campervan itinerary for Australia, and we recommend taking your time and doing some hiking along the way, as well, to see the best of it.

The best time to do it is from October to April.

Read our guide to the Great Ocean Road!

Highlights: Twelve Apostles & Port Campbell National Park, Great Otway National Park & Kennett River Koala Walk

Through the Australian Outback: Adelaide to Darwin (~2 weeks)

This is not a typical first timers’ Australia road trip itinerary, but it runs through some uniquely Aussie landscapes and gives access to the famous Red Center. You can drive it all year, but Australian summers are extremely hot in the desert.

Highlights: Uluru, Kings Canyon, Kakadu National Park

Through the Nullarbor Plain: Adelaide to Perth (~2 weeks)

The Nullarbor is famous for being a long, straight route without a single curve. Adelaide and Perth are two of the lesser-visited cities, but whoever ends up visiting them ends up falling in love.

If you’re road tripping Australia for the first time and only for a few weeks, it’s not the best choice. But if you have more time, it can be combined with another long drive along the western coastline.

This area has four seasons, so it’s best to avoid Australian winters (from June to August).

Highlights: Cape Le Grand National Park, stargazing, cage diving with sharks in Port Lincoln

West coast: Perth to Broome (~2 weeks)

This is a remote and sparsely populated area, with some very special attractions on the coast and inland. It’s a tropical area, and the wet season (between November and March) is best to avoid.

Highlights: Ningaloo Reef, Perth, Karijini National Park, Shark Bay

Where to stay on your Australia road trip

If you prefer a room with a bed, hostels can be the most affordable option, and you find many across Australia. However, the fact that they are the most affordable places with four walls to stay doesn’t mean they’re cheap. Even a simple bunk bed in a shared room costs about 60-80 AUD/night.

Obviously, cities and more densely populated areas offer a larger variety, and you’ll be left with few choices or nothing at all in more remote regions.

Search for hostels here!

Condos or apartments

For those who’d like to have privacy, or their own kitchen to cook, you can find apartments on Booking.com or condos on . They seem to be a luxurious option compared to hostels, but if you travel with a bigger company, the price for a condo might be nearly the same as booking a separate bed for each of you in a hostel .

Campgrounds and holiday parks

However, the Aussie way to travel around is staying in campgrounds, holiday parks or free campsites. Those are your options on your Australia road trip with a campervan.

We were switching between free sites, campgrounds and holiday parks during our road trip, and it’s never a problem to find one nearby. On this note, having a campervan doesn’t mean you can pull over anywhere you fancy, and sleep in your van. This kind of “freedom camping” is not allowed anymore in Australia, at least not in the inhabited areas.

If you choose one of the more remote caravan routes in Australia, free night stays might be easier to find, but you still need water and electricity from time to time.

The average price for the simplest unpowered site for a campervan ranges from 40-70 AUD/night, depending on how fancy the park is, and where it’s located. Holiday parks are usually more expensive than campgrounds, and beloved beach areas, like Byron Bay, are also expensive. So is living in your van really a budget-friendly option? It could easily be, especially if you’re not alone. The campervan is both your car and accommodation, and also, you can spend many nights at free sights.

The advantage of campgrounds and holiday parks are the great amenities and the beautiful location. We often camped on the beach or right behind the beach, we enjoyed large and well-equipped outdoor kitchens, and clean, spacious amenity blocks. Some had coin-operated washing and drying machines, too, so we could wash our clothes. Some had private pools for guests. Sure, they can be pricey, but they actually outshined quite a number of budget hotels and hostels we’ve stayed at during our travels throughout the years.

Free sites for overnight stay with a campervan

Then there is free camping. There are lots of dedicated free sites where you can stay overnight: parking lots, public parks, rest areas, gas stations. Some hotels (mostly backpacker hostels) allow travelers to stay in their backyard overnight.

These sites differ greatly in the offered amenities though. Most of them have public toilets, but definitely not all of them have showers, drinking water, picnic benches, or even running water. Some free sites are located in nice areas, others are parking lots along the highway with no scenery (but constant noise).

We tried a lot of these free sites, and we were very happy with them. We didn’t expect a lot from them either, the point was saving some money.

How to find the free overnight sites?

With WikiCamps. Honestly, we’ve never paid for a mobile app ever before, but the WikiCamps Australia app was well worth that couple of dollars. What does it offer? All the information about the free and paid sites, campgrounds and holiday parks.

Its greatest strength is the insane amount of information about the free options. Because holiday parks have a website, anyway, but who would tell you that there is a rest area 2 kilometers from where you are, it offers toilets and drinking water, and you are allowed to stay there for 48 hours? WikiCamps will.

We could search for places to stay based on our current location. We could filter them based on tons of different criteria: free site or not, and what kind of amenities it offers. People can comment on the sites, as well, and that’s incredibly useful. That’s how we figured out whether the site is clean, crowded or noisy. There are lots of recent comments about sites along the best campervan routes in Australia.

We also found detailed information about showers in the comments. Free sites offer different kinds of showers (or not). Some are free, some are coin-operated. Sometimes you need to pay and ask for the key at the gas station. All this information is available in the comments.

Since a lot of people use this app, we found comments written some days ago about any site we were interested in. It made our trip so much easier! And this was the main reason we didn’t feel disappointed about any of the free sites: we got what we expected.

What to pack for a campervan trip

Of course, you’ll have your luggage full of clothes and stuff for the perfect holiday. But what is that you need for a campervan road trip specifically? We have good news: not much.

The most important things are usually included in the rental (or can be added easily): cooking supplies, bedding and towels. There are some items though that’s not, but they’re incredibly useful:

• Headlamp : better than a flashlight, because your hands are free. We often cooked our meals with our headlamps on when it was dark. Free sights are often not lit well.
• Hand sanitizer : even the smallest vans have their own water tank, but you better use water sparingly if you stay at free sights with no running water.
• Wet wipes : the quickest way to clean anything in the van
• Dishwashing liquid and sponge
• Toilet paper
• Chargers and spare batteries : campervans usually have an extra battery to use for the small fridge, indoor lights or charging whatever you need to charge, but the bottleneck can be the number of charging ports.

4 tips for driving in Australia

Have an offline map

You often have to survive without internet and even cell coverage in Australia. So even if you have a local SIM card with a data plan, download an offline map in advance. Maps could cost you a lot of data, anyway.

Avoid driving during the night, at dusk and down

In addition to the usual risks of driving at night, you have a special reason not to do it in Australia. Those super cute animals, like kangaroos, wallabies, wombats or possums, get active after the sun goes down. You can see many dead kangaroos by the road, and this should be a warning sign. And no, it’s not only risky for the poor kangaroo, but for you, too. Some kangaroos are big enough to cause serious damage to your car in case of a collision.

Don’t attempt “4WD only” drives in a 2WD

It’s unlikely that you need a 4WD car in general, but certain roads require it. Take that seriously.

What else could we say? Enjoy your trip and don’t ever forget to keep left. 🙂

Related articles:

10 Best Central Coast Beaches, NSW, Australia

Coogee To Bondi Walk, The Best Coastal Walk In Sydney

The 21 Most Instagrammable Places In Sydney

Disclosure: Please note that affiliate links are used in this post, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Which are the best lesser-known hikes in North America?

Sign up to get your free e-book and join the community:, by beata urmos.

Bea is a travel writer and the co-founder of Our Wanders, an adventurous family travel blog. She’s been traveling for more than 10 years, seeking outdoor adventures, fairy tale castles and unique experiences. She's passionate about sharing all she has learned along the way, and she's an expert in planning trips of any length. She’d love to help you plan your own amazing trip, too.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Beginner’s Guide to Travelling Around Australia in a Campervan or Car

Written By Bastian Graf

The best way to see Australia is on a roadtrip. If you’re planning a trip and are thinking about renting or buying your own vehicle then read on. We’ve put together a full guide on do’s and don’ts, top tips and expert recommendations for travelling around Australia by road.

Download the full guide here

Download your full copy of the Beginners Guide to Travelling around Australia, with campsites, extra road trip itineraries and tips from the team.

Getting on the road

The best way to see Australia is on a roadtrip. If you’re planning a trip and are thinking about renting or buying your own vehicle then read on. We’ve put together a full guide on dos and don’ts, top tips and expert recommendations for travelling around Australia by road.

How to choose the right campervan or car for you

To buy or rent? That’s the question…

Top tips for selling your vehicle at the end of your trip

5 best places to visit in Australia in a campervan

• Survival Tips for Living in a campervan

Australian Driving tips: Rules of the road

• Show your vehicle some love

Fridge vs. no fridge – lots of space vs. not so much space – proper campervan vs. station wagon … decisions decisions decisions .

Buying or renting a car or campervan for the first time can be pretty daunting and with so many options out there it’s sometimes a little confusing to decide on what the best option for you is. Read on for top tips and expert advice on how to find the right vehicle for you.

Station wagons

These trusty vehicles are cheap, reliable and most importantly easy to pick up all over the country.

• Travellers who are more than happy to bunk down on a mattress in the back of the wagon or to sleep in a tent.
• Travellers on a budget – they are cheaper vehicles to run than vans or campervans.
• Groups of mates who are travelling together (this is a great way to save on the cost of petrol)
• People who prefer automatic vehicles (over 85% of station wagons are auto)
• People who are planning to mix it up between camping and staying in hostels.

Cost: Travellers Autobarn offer station wagons to rent from $35 a day, or you can buy one for about $3000 – $5000

We recommend campervans for:

• People who have some extra cash to spend on a vehicle
• Travellers who prefer their home comforts such as fridge, kitchen sink and gas stove.
• Travellers who are planning on sleeping in their vehicle every night and are looking for a little more room.
• Travellers who are confident with driving a manual

Cost : Bag yourself a campervan for anything between $9900 – $16,000 or rent one from $45 a day.

We recommend vans for:

• People who can be flexible with their budget and are happy to spend a bit more
• People who are planning on spending most nights on their trip sleeping in their vehicle
• People who planning on roadtrippin’ for a couple of months
• People who are happy to drive a manual

Cost : Pick up a van from Travellers Autobarn from around $4000 – $8000 or rent one from $35 a day

We recommend 4WD’s for:

• Travellers who have some cash to spend
• Travellers who are looking to head off the beaten track
• Groups of 2 – 5 who are planning on sleeping in hostels and motels at night.
• Experienced drivers who will be confident handling such a big and powerful car
• Nature lovers who want to explore the most remote parts of Australia.

Cost : A 4WD from Traveller’s Autobarn will cost you between $6000 – $10,000.

Once you’ve decided on the vehicle that’s right for you and your trip the next decision you need to make is whether to buy or rent your vehicle in Australia.

Below is a list of some important factors you need to consider before you make the call:

• How long are you going to be travelling around Australia for?

This is the most important factor to consider when you’re debating whether to rent or buy your campervan or car. If you’re only planning on hitting the open road for 3 – 4 months (or less) then we recommend you rent. The benefits of doing this are:

• They come equipped with all the campervan essentials you need
• 24 / 7 roadside assistance
• Toll free service number
• Access to free campgrounds

If you are planning on staying in Australia for as long as possible then buying probably makes the most sense for you. If you are travelling in Australia for a year or 2 then it’s likely you’ll have to find work at some point and having your own vehicle will help to open up lots of possibilities for you – especially if you are planning on doing the farm work that’s essential for getting your 2 nd year visa.

• How much money do you have?

  At the end of the day, it all comes down to how many dollars you are willing to spend. If you are a backpacker with cash to spare (lucky you), then renting is an easy option that offers no worries, no hassle and extra security.

If you are working to a tight budget then we recommend you take the time to shop around for a good deal on a vehicle. Don’t forget to consider how much you will get back when you sell it at the end of your trip.

• Looking for complete freedom?

If you want to come and go as you please, you want the option to change your route whenever, paint it, bump it – then buying your own vehicle is for you.

There are a number of benefits to renting your vehicle but if you’re really looking for the ultimate freedom out on the open road then owning your wheels is the way forward.

• What kind of traveller are you?

If the idea of breaking down on the side of the road in the outback and having to flag down a stranger to tow you to the nearest local garage is your idea of a nightmare then owning your vehicle might not be for you and renting gives you extra security and minimum fuss if something happens.

On the other hand if you’re adventurous, confidant and more than happy to deal with unplanned scenarios then buying is the way to go.

When it’s time to pack up your bags, dust the sand off your flip-flops and start wearing all white to show off your awesome tan it’s also time to sell your vehicle on.

But what do you need to consider?

• Where will you end up selling your vehicle? It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. April to July is probably the worst time of year to try to sell your vehicle (as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth will all be very quiet). Avoid trying to sell your vehicle in Darwin and Cairns between December and June, and Brisbane and Adelaide can be difficult all year round.
• Registration and paperwork . The more registration you have on your vehicle the more attractive it is to a prospective buyer (we recommend at least 3 months)
• How much time do you have? Don’t leave it too late to try and sell your vehicle before you head off back home as it can take 2 – 4 weeks to sell your vehicle on. That’s a lot of time to spend worrying that you might not sell it!

What is a buyback guarantee and why does it matter?

We also let you return your vehicle to any of our locations – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin or Perth . Too easy!

If you do manage to sell it on yourself for cash then no worries – just give us a call to let us know.

Another added bonus is that you don’t need to worry about any of the paperwork as we handle all of that for you.

• The Great Ocean Road : Epic beaches, great campsites and breathtaking sunsets.
• West Coast Adventure in Western Australia : Complete wilderness, outback and epic beaches
• Tropical North Queensland : Rainforests, the Great Barrier Reef and the chance to experience true Aussie beach bum life.
• Tasmania : Rural and natural beauty, amazing landscapes and secluded beaches
• The Red Centre : True outback experience and living in cultural landscapes in the heart of Australia

For some wanderlust inspiration and information on other epic road trips and check out our ultimate guide to the best roadtrip in Australia here.

Survival Tips for Living in a Campervan

Travelling around in a campervan is a brand-new experience to lots of people, so we thought we’d put together some tips to ensure that your trip around Australia with Travellers Autobarn is the ultimate, stress free road trip!

Plan a rough route

Australia is enormous and you won’t be the first backpacker to look at a map and underestimate how long it will take you to drive from one place to another. But, while you still want to keep some degree of spontaneity during your trip, it’s ideal to have a rough idea of where you want to travel to, the route you want to take and how long it will take you to get there.

Have a rough idea of the places you want to stop by and visit, or the route you want to take before you set off.

Once you have hired your campervan it’s likely that you will be departing from one of Australia’s major cities, so we recommend that before you hit the road you stop by a large supermarket to stock up on all the essentials (and we don’t just mean beers and sausages for the barbie!).

Buying food and supplies from petrol stations and small local stores on the journey can hit your backpacker budget hard.

Buying cheap petrol

One of your biggest outgoings is going to be cost of your fuel. One of the best apps we recommend is MotorMouth . It’s really handy for finding the cheapest petrol on sale in your area. And don’t forget, having the air-con on all the time will eat into your fuel tank – so if you’re trying to save some money settle for opening the windows instead.

Campervan Maintenance

Remember that you are responsible for the campervan while it is in your possession. This means that you should treat it like it was your own vehicle, carry out basic maintenance checks every 500 km. Basic maintenance includes checking things like the tyre pressure and coolant levels.

If you’re driving a campervan then make sure you know the height of the vehicle and be wary of driving into car parks, under bridges or low-hanging branches if you aren’t sure.

Bushfires are a common occurrence in Australia, they can be really dangerous – so always make sure you adhere to the guidelines.

We recommend that you visit or download the dedicated bushfire website or app  for each state that you are travelling through (particularly in summer).

If you start a campfire then you must always make sure it is completely out at the end of the night and have at least 10 litres of water nearby in case it gets out of hand.

With the freedom of the road comes a little responsibility, and you should be aware of the paperwork that goes hand in hand with owning a car in Australia. The registration of your car, or the ‘rego’ as it is more commonly known, refers to the set of registration papers that every car must-have. These must be renewed every year and are specific to each state.

Each of the 8 Australian states has slightly different rules – if in doubt check the state website:

• New South Wales –  Roads & Traffic Authority NSW (RTA)
• Victoria –  VicRoads
• Queensland –  Queensland Transport
• South Australia –  South Australian Government Transport, Travel and Motoring
• Western Australia –  Government of Western Australia Department of Transport
• Northern Territory –  Motor Vehicle Registry
• Tasmania –  Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources
• 
Australian Capital Territory –  Rego ACT

If the unfortunate happens and you do come to a standstill surrounded by clouds of smoke coming from under the hood then stay where you are and wait for someone to pass by.

In Australia, it’s not uncommon to drive for hours without seeing another person. So the safest thing for you to do is to stay with your campervan or car. Leaving to look for help could mean that you spend hours or even a full day walking around under the scorching sun and in soaring temperatures before you come across help.

Always carry enough water and food.

The hotter it is, the more water you need.

It’s recommended that you carry at least 4 – 5 litres of water a day, per person . You also need to think about carrying some extra water in case you break down and are stuck overnight. Most large supermarkets stock 10L bottles of water – so make sure you stop off to pick up as many as you need.

It’s also crucial that you pack some non-perishable food to keep you going should you break down – think cereal bars, nuts and dried fruit. We recommend that you try to avoid snacking on salty snacks – it’s just going to make you even thirstier and could speed up dehydration.

Watch out for Skippy!

When you’re driving be aware that collisions with kangaroos, cows and other animals often occur on outback roads, particularly at nighttime, dawn or dusk. If you are pulling a night shift at the wheel then try to ensure that the passenger next to you stays awake and alert to help you watch out for any animals on the road.

Avoid unsealed roads

Although many of the roads in the outback are in good condition, you may suddenly find yourself driving on an unsealed road (such as a field or a gravel track).

If you have hired a campervan or car from one of the big cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Perth, then you might find that the insurance policy you took out does not cover you when you’re driving on unsealed roads. Make sure you read the small print.

To put it simply, a campervan road trip is the only way to see Australia. Speak to the team at Travellers Autobarn for more information and to book your campervan today . 

Or, if you want to read more of our exciting  Guides by Travellers Autobarn , come and hear what we’re talking about! Don’t forget to check out our latest deals & specials on campervan hire in Australia .

About the Author

Bastian Graf

Bastian is the Sales & Marketing Manager here at Travellers Autobarn. He holds a Master of Commerce in Marketing and International Business Management, and 20+ years experience in campervan hire, road trips and travel.

Sign up for deals and road trip itineraries.

Our travel guides, guide to free camping in australia, guide to buying a campervan, guide to budget camping in australia, guide to family camping in australia, guide to camping in australia, guide to western australian road trips, best east coast road trips in australia, beginner's guide to travelling around oz, best road trips in australia, guide to backpacking in australia, find your nearest travellers autobarn location, other guide blogs.

Guide to Road Trips in Western Australia

Unforgettable East Coast Road Trips

Beginner's Guide to Travelling Around Australia

Our Campervans

Chubby Camper

Seats 2 • sleeps 2.

Kuga Campervan

Seats 2-3 • sleeps 2-3.

Hi-5 Campervan

Seats 2-5 • sleeps 2-5.

Solar panel

Hi-Top Campervan

Stationwagon

External Table

Sign up for special deals and awesome road trip itineraries!

Data collection policy.

Destination:

• Creative Shop

Work With Us

Who are faramagan.

After 6 years of long distance, Darren and Lauren quit their day jobs to live the day dream. Far am a gan translates to “where am I going” from the Scot’s language, Doric. A phrase muttered several times a day by this travelling twosome as they avoid adulthood one adventure at a time. Through this blog they document the tales (and fails) from their experiences, offering a refreshing and unfiltered approach to travel in the hope they inspire others to embrace adventure.

Yes, I agree with the privacy policy .

Follow the adventure

How to Travel Australia in a Campervan – Tips, Costs & More

This guide covers everything you need for travelling Australia in a Campervan. From costs to campsites, routes to road trip tips and all the highlights and hidden gems in between. 

After travelling New Zealand in a campervan , we knew Australia was next on our bucket list. For us, campervanning in Australia is the best way to explore this epic country, the van life community here is unrivalled and the scenery makes those long road trips oh so worth it.

It can be challenging at times (hello crazy wildlife and insane temperatures!) however, armed with this guide you’ll have all our top tips as well as those we’ve learned along the way from locals and other campers. 

Below is a quick summary of everything we’ll cover:

• Reasons to travel Australia in a campervan
• Best time to visit 
• Rent Vs Buy – which is best?
• How to choose the best campervan
• How to find cheap campervan hire in Australia
• Cost/how to budget
• How to find campsites
• How to keep cool
• Cooking in a campervan
• What to Pack

REASONS TO TRAVEL AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

• Save Money Let’s start with the obvious – Saving dollar! When we priced up accommodation, plus flights, transfers and transport then dining out on top, campervanning worked out cheaper as you have your own kitchen and bedroom on wheels!
• Freedom & Flexibility: travelling Australia in a campervan provides the ultimate freedom to go wherever you want, whenever. You won’t be tied to hotel bookings, check in or out times or transport schedules. You can also change your travel plans on a whim, staying longer when you love a destination or moving on when it’s not your vibe.
• Family Friendly: We loved travelling Australia in a campervan as backpackers, so returned in 2023 with our toddler. A massive reason we chose a van again, was that we won’t have to unpack and repack all our stuff everyday checking in and out of accommodation. It’s also becomes a familiar environment so getting little ones to sleep or nap is easier compared to a new bed each night. The endless fresh air all day is a bonus too! It’s also easier to cook budget and family friendly meals or have snacks with you at all times as you’re literally travelling with a kitchen on wheels.  
• Meet the locals: Staying in typical tourist accommodation, does mean you often only meet typical tourists. Australians LOVE camping, so we found meeting locals was easy (especially families) and they loved to share tips and recommendations. You’ll meet locals in one campsite who recommend another hidden gem or shortcut and so you never want your Australia campervan trip to end.
• Scenery: Travelling in a campervan allows you to immerse yourself in some insane natural beauty – from rainforests to deserts, cities to beaches. Not to mention, Australia offers some of the best stargazing spots in the world. As well as the star gazing capital –  Coonabarabran in NSW other sites include Uluru, Perth Observatory and Kangaroo Island .
• Wildlife: We’ve found this is a huge reason preventing people from travelling Australia in a campervan – the wildlife! For us, it was a massive bonus. We woke up to baby ducklings below our van, koalas above our van, kangaroos fighting next to our van and our toddler nearly brought a wallaby into our van. We had zero interaction with snakes or spiders, so please don’t let the wildlife put you off.
• Minimal packing:   There is nothing worse than having to travel all the way back to your hotel room because you forgot your raincoat/Mossie spray/ snacks/camera. With a van, you have everything you need, with you at all times. This is a MASSIVE bonus when travelling with kids, especially! Have we persuaded you yet to travel Australia in a campervan yet?

THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

Firstly, it’s important to recognize Australia is MASSIVE! It covers approximately 7.7 million square kilometers (2.97 million square miles) making it the world’s sixth-largest country. 

Thanks to it’s vast landmass, you can expect diverse landscapes ranging from deserts to tropical rainforests but this also means very different climates and seasons. For us, this made travelling Australia in a campervan like travelling several countries in one so here are our top tips to decide when and where to visit.

Best Season To Go Campervanning in Australia

The first thing to note when travelling Australia in a campervan is that the seasons are flipped in comparison to Europe.

• Summer: December to February
• Autumn: March to May
• Spring: September to November
• Winter: June to August. 

As mentioned, the country is enormous, (nearly the same size as Europe) so remember different states also offer different seasons – just to make planning your road trip even more challenging. For example:

• Victoria: Victoria has a temperate climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers, particularly in Melbourne. We even experienced zero degrees in Victoria which we’d never expect from Australia! 
• New South Wales (NSW): NSW has a varied climate, it’s temperate along the coast ( Sydney ) but arid inland (known as the Outback). Coastal areas have mild winters and warm summers. For wildlife fans, prime whale-watching season is from June to November with peak months usually in July to October. Nothing can compare to witnessing these majestic creatures migrate from the comfort of our wee campervan, coffee in hand. A truly unforgettable experience! 
• Queensland: Generally, there are two main seasons – wet and dry. Overall it’s a tropical climate with wet summers. Brisbane enjoys mild winters and hot, humid summers. In Cairns expect a more tropical climate and try to plan your road trip to avoid the wet season as flooding is common.  Although we found this time of year, the best time to enjoy the Cairns waterfalls in full flow as they dry up in the dry season so it depends on what you hope to experience.
• South Australia: South Australia has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Adelaide, the capital, enjoys a pleasant climate but if you want to experience the biggest art festival in Australia,  Adelaide Fringe Festival you’ll need to visit between February and March. 
• Western Australia: WA is HUGE – we’re talking 2.5 million square kilometres so you can expect a very diverse climate. From tropical in the north to Mediterranean in the southwest. Perth has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers. In Perth, February is the hottest month, with an average high of 31.6 °C, and July is the coldest month, with an average low of 7.9 °C. Coming from Europe the flipped seasons took us a while to get our head around!
• Tasmania: Tasmania has a cool temperate climate, with mild summers and cold winters. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year. We travelled Tasmania in a campervan during April and May. During this time the seasons where transitioning from Summer to Autumn so temperatures were pleasant ( around 12°C to 20°C.) We found the West Coast to be be very wet and grey, but nothing compared to home in Scotland. The East Coast was warm enough we could swim in the sea, but not too hot that we struggled to sleep or keep cool in the van with our toddler. 
• Northern Territory: NT features a tropical climate with a wet season in the summer, characterized by high temperatures and monsoonal rains, especially in Darwin. Don’t let the heat put you off however, we have tips for keeping cool in your van later in this guide. 

RENT VS BUY FOR CAMPERVANNING IN AUSTRALIA

Now you know when to go, your next step of travelling Australia in a campervan is finding a van, more specifically whether to rent or to buy.

There are definite pros and cons to each, which we’ve summarized below based on our own experience and of many of our friends who also enjoyed campervanning in Australia.

Buying a Campervan in Australia: Advantages

• It’s yours: This means complete freedom to make it your home on wheels. This is particularly important if you plan on living in it full time, or working and living in it for an extended period of time.
• No Road restrictions: By buying a campervan in Australia you won’t be restricted to only sealed roads. Many rental companies enforce this rule due to insurance. So if you want to truly get off the beaten track, you’ll have the freedom to do so in your own van without the worry of losing a deposit or expensive fines from your rental company.
• You Blend In: We actually witnessed this in Nimbin, near Byron Bay where locals were shouting at a couple in a campervan “to go home.” In some areas vans are not welcome due to the mess, overtourism and poor infrastructure. To be honest, we get it to some degree. By buying a campervan in Australia your van won’t be adorned with massive logos or advertising. No one will know if you’re an Aussie or a tourist. 
• Save Money: If you plan on travelling Australia in a campervan for a month or two, then rent. If it’s longer, it will be cheaper to buy your own.

Buying a Campervan in Australia: Disadvantages

• Selling it again: This is the hardest part about buying a campervan in Australia – selling it again! Ask yourself: do I have time to  find, buy, road trip then sell a van within the time frame allocated?  The supply and demand of campervans majorly fluctuated depending on the time of year. You may have more success selling your van at the start of the season (Spring/early Summer) as there is a higher demand, but then this is when you’ll likely want to be travelling. 
• Cost: Although buying a van may work out cheaper long term than renting, the breakdown fees and repairs can be more expensive. In a rental van, you simply phone up the helpline and you’re either given a replacement vehicle to continue your trip or its fixed at the side of the road. With your own van, (depending on your insurance) you will need to fork out (and figure out) repairing it. This could mean weeks off the road and thousands in fees. We didn’t fancy that headache, so again this fuelled our reasons to rent a van for our Australia campervan trip.

Renting a Campervan in Australia: Advantages

• If you’re limited on time & Money: Whether you have five weeks or five months to explore Australia in a campervan, you won’t want to waste a minute stressing about trying to sell your van or sitting in a garage waiting on repairs. With a rental, you can make the most of your time.
• They come equipped: Buying a campervan in Australia also then means buying utensils, bedding and more. With a rental, they usually come equipped. When we travelled Australia in a campervan with our toddler, the company also provided a baby car seat, towels and useful extras such as tea, coffee, camping chairs, washing up liquid, etc. This can save you both time and money!
• Enjoy the discounts & Support: As Australian campervan hire is super competitive, many have arranged exclusive deals with campsites to encourage their customers to stay there. For example, we received a discount of 10% in certain campsites if we showed our keyring with the rental company logo on. One rental company we used sat us down with a huge map and explained a few highlights, top tips and hacks. While another we used had its own app with discounts and campsite recommendations. This again, saved us time (and money!) from figuring it out for ourselves.
• Help is always on hand: Although we’d experienced van life in New Zealand, we still didn’t feel brave enough to take on our own van and preferred the safety net of having the rental company on speed dial. From 24/7 roadside assistance or just general advice. 
• Less Commitment: Travelling Australia in a campervan (both as just a couple and as a family) was an excellent way to test the lifestyle. By renting, it meant we had the freedom to travel, without being tied down to a single vehicle. You could choose different companies and campervans depending on the state (for example, we travelled Tasmania in a different van as it worked out cheaper than taking one across) and without the commitment of ownership. 

Renting a Campervan in Australia: Disadvantages

• Beware of the Small Print: There will always be small print with an Australian campervan hire. Many require a large deposit (or security bond) this will majorly impact your adventure funds. There is also the risk of dodgy rental companies who have kept the deposits for unfair reasons. There may be additional fees for cleaning, returning the fuel tank empty or restrictions on how many kilometres you’re allowed to drive. Don’t worry, we’ll help you find a reputable company! 
• Restricted Access: This will vary depending on the rental company (we had zero restrictions in Tassie compared to mainland Aus) but some companies won’t allow you to use unsealed roads. This will restrict where you can drive and camp. 
• They Look like Rental Vans: I know it’s vain, but due to the turnover of users, rental vans usually have the most basic, grey, boring interiors to minimize damage and dirt. The exterior is them emblazoned with logos, contact details and colour which can ruin those holiday photos and attract unwanted attention. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VAN FOR CAMPERVANNING IN AUSTRALIA

Based on our tips above, you may have now decided to rent (like us) or opt for buying a campervan in Australia. 

Regardless of your choice, we have a few tips to make sure the van go for for is suitable for your road trip, expectations and travel style. 

1. Will you be using free campsites?

Free camping in Australia is permitted, but there are restrictions. In most states, your campervan must be a self-contained vehicle. This means your campervan has a toilet (even if its just a portable one) and access to water.  If you don’t have this and are in a free campsite that specifically requests self-contained only, you can be fined. The laws are SUPER strict to protect wildlife, the infrastructure and local communities. Please be a responsible traveller when campervanning in Australia and only use free sites if you are self contained, unless they permit otherwise. 

2. Are you old enough to drive in Australia?

This only really applies to renting, but it can affect your insurance when buying a campervan in Australia too. Generally, Australian campervan hire companies only accept drivers over 21 (some accept over 18.) If you are buying a van, some insurance companies may not insure you unless you have a International Driving Permit (IDP). 

3. What’s best a campervan, a motorhome or a 4WD?

Even the most experienced drivers will find campervaning in Australia tricky at times. Darren has been driving for 10+ years but with narrow roads, road trains, wild weather and kangaroos galore, it’s not a challenge for the faint hearted.

That’s why we chose a campervan – motorhomes (sometimes called RV’s) would be too big to drive, park up and pay for fuel! As we didn’t plan on heading deep into the outback, we also didn’t think a 4WD was essential. The campervan we chose was compact but well equipped. 

We also found (particularly in Tassie) phone signal can be limited to call for help or research routes. 

4. How many people are you travelling Australia in a campervan with?

Please learn from our mistake here. When we were campervanning in Australia the first time, we opted for a 3 berth campervan. This is because we wanted a little extra space for storage, to work and because Das is 6ft 4 so he could stand up. We also spent a lot of time in the evenings cooking and working, so preferred extra space. 

When we returned to Australia with our toddler, we assumed 3 berth would be fine again – after all, we were 3 people. Technically, 2.5. What we failed to calculate was HOW MUCH STUFF A BABY HAS! Despite being the same kind of van (a kuga campervan) the layout was also slightly different with the kitchen at the back and bed behind the driving seats. This felt much less spacious when it was the opposite way round in our other kuga. 

If you’re a group of friends all contributing to the cost then you may want to go for a bigger van as you can afford to. Baring in mind, more people means less space. 

You can watch the video below for a full van tour – cribs style! As mentioned, we opted for a Kuga not only for travelling Australia in a campervan, but in New Zealand too.

HOW TO FIND CHEAP CAMPERVAN HIRE IN AUSTRALIA

Step one: travel off-season.

Do not expect to find cheap campervan hire in Australia from December – February. This is peak season so the added demand comes with added cost. If you can, experiment with dates. Even by starting your road trip a week or two earlier can affect the cost. As we’ve travelled in both Winter and Summer, we believe you shouldn’t let the weather dictate when you go if it means you can save some serious dollar. Opt for the off-season for the best deals as you’ll also find campsites cheaper and less crowded. 

Step Two: Compare

We’re Scottish so naturally, bargain hunting is in our blood. When trying to find cheap campervan hire in Australia your next step is to use comparison sites. You can filter by dates, budget, berth and more. 

For Australian campervan hire, we recommend the following comparison sites:

• Motorhome Republic
• VroomVroomVroom

Step Three: Haggle

After a solid week of scrolling through the sea of Australian campervan hire companies we narrowed it down to three which were all similar in price. However, there slight pros and cons to each, for example one charged one way fees, another offered the baby seat free of charge, the third had a cheaper security bond and less excess.

We then emailed the companies directly, explained we were on a mission for cheap campervan hire in Australia and they’d made it to our top three. We then requested their for their best and final offers but the bargain hunting didn’t stop there. 

Step Four: Booking The Best Deal

If you plan on travelling Australia in a campervan, do not miss this last step. BEFORE booking direct, take your quote (that you got direct from the company) and take it to a third party.

We contacted Rat Pack Travel who claimed to “beat any quote” and explained after comparing and contacting directly this was the best deals we could find. They went above and beyond to ensure we booked with them. They managed to secure a deal that was nearly $200 cheaper than what we could find after weeks of research and contacting directly. 

They also offered customer service via whatsapp, easy deposit and payment plan and had round the clock customer care in addition to our hire company’s customer care. 

Although this may seem time consuming, it is definitely worth it if you want to find cheap campervan hire in Australia. For our first trip we used Traveller’s Autobarn (who we also used in New Zealand) and for the second time campervanning in Australia we went with Cheapa Campa (owned by Apollo, booked via Ratpack Travel.)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

Despite our best efforts at research, we found over and over again, there is one thing no one discusses about campervanning in Australia – COST!

This is likely because there is a massive amount of factors that determine how much you’ll spend. For example, the first time we travelled Asutralia in a campervan we were backpackers who cared more about our wine fund so opted for more  free sites. Second time round with a toddler in tow, we needed paid sites with access to playparks, decent showers etc. 

As a general guide, as of our latest trip in 2023 this how much we’d recommend budgeting for travelling Australia in a campervan. 

HIRE: $150 per day

This is the approx hire cost for a 3 berth high top campervan. The cost will depend on campervan size, time of year, duration of your trip and additional extras. 

FUEL:   $2 per Litre

This will vary depending on the day and state. There are a few handy apps and websites you can use to check fuel prices and find cheap fuel near you. For example, Fuelprice.io which shares fuel prices in almost real time at 9,700 petrol stations across 230 Australian towns/cities. Or, Fuel Map which shows gas stations nearby as well as prices and you can track how much fuel you’ve used each day like a diary.

CAMPSITES: $0 – $50 per night 

This could technically be $0 if you’re in a self contained vehicle and skip the home comforts for free campsites only. From all the paid campsites we used it averaged at $40 a night. These campsites had kitchens, laundry facilities, showers, playparks, toilets and sometimes even swimming pools and restaurants. 

Expect to pay more near major cities or famous attractions. Privately owned campsites (not chains such as Discovery Parks etc) will also be cheaper.

FOOD / DRINKS: $150 per week

We planned our meals to keep costs down (more on that later) then did a big weekly shop in Woolworths, Aldi or Coles which averaged $150 a week for three people. This was breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. We did eat out occasionally, usually for lunch as it was cheaper and we are partial to a shiraz or seven so this was more expense ontop. 

ACTIVITIES: $0-$100000+

It’s so hard to put a price on this. One of the many joys of travelling Australia in a campervan is that many of the activities are free – beaches, hikes, waterfalls, wildlife watching etc. However, if you want to visit the more famous attractions, join a tour or spend time in the cities then it can get super expensive.

Budget Tips for Campervanning in Australia

• One Way Fees: If you are finishing your Australian roadtrip in a different location than you started, rental companies add an additional fee called a “one way fee.” This is usually around $150-$200. Travel in a loop to avoid this. 
• Save on Fuel: Daz the excel enthusiast created a rough route, calculated the total distance, then worked out how many km to the litre of petrol we would get. This gave us an approximate budget for fuel prior to travelling Australia in a campervan. As mentioned you can download fuel apps to compare prices as they vary per town and per day. You can also join fuel reward schemes to earn discounts.
• Save your receipts: Another way to save on fuel, is to save your receipts as some supermarkets like Woolworths or Coles offered a discount off your fuel (usually around $0.04 – $0.06 per litre). 
• Plan Your Food Shop: Shopping for groceries is insanely expensive in Australia so plan your meals and also your food shop for when you reach larger cities. Small towns have convenience stores such as IGA which were crazy expensive and very limited on choice. 
• Avoid Tolls: Tolls soon add up when you’re travelling Australia in a campervan so use Google Maps and set your route to “avoid toll roads.” 
• Additional extras: Even if you have found a cheap campervan hire in Australia or a bargain van to buy, keep in mind the additional extras on top. This includes insurance, ferry transfers, break downs, food, fuel, campsites and parking fees plus any attractions on top.  

AUSTRALIA CAMPERVAN RELOCATION

If you are short on time and money you can still travel Australia in a campervan thanks to this sneaky tip. 

Australia campervan relocation is essentially when rental companies or garages have an imbalance in their fleet. They may have too many campervans in one city or region and not enough in another.

To address this, they offer special deals to customers who are willing to relocate a campervan from one location to the other. Sometimes its free, sometimes its at a seriously reduced rate (sometimes as low as $1 a day.)

Australia campervan relocation is an excellent way to save money while still getting to experience van life. The biggest disadvantage is that there is usually a strict deadline. The vehicle needs to be in the new location by a certain time and date.

If you are happy to travel via these deadlines, here are a few companies to look into that offer campervan relocation in Australia: 

• Coseats.com 

You can also contact the rental companies directly, as many offer relocation through their own websites. 

WHAT IS THE BIG LAP OF AUSTRALIA?

You’ve maybe heard of the big lap. If you really wanted to explore Australia in a campervan, this would be the ultimate road trip as you drive the entire coastline. The total distance is approximately 14,500 kilometers (around 9,000 miles!!)

The time it takes to drive around Australia and complete the loop depends on various factors. This includes your driving speed, stops along the way, road conditions, and detours to explore specific regions.

In reality, at an absolute minimum you’d need three months to complete the big lap of Australia. However, some people take a year plus! 

BEST PLACES TO VISIT AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

Now its time to get to the fun part – planning your route for campervanning in Australia!

Unless you’re planning on the big lap and have all the time in the world, it’s easier to choose a particular state or route and take your time than it is to cram in too much and whizz through it all.

There are eight states  with each one offering a very unique experience for campers. As a very general guide we’ve summarized a few highlights for each one to inspire your travels of Australia in a campervan. 

New South Wales Highlights

• Sydney: Even though we were on a budget, we  loved our 4 days in Sydney  (We even squeezed in a bargain show at the Sydney opera house!). The Bondi to Coogee walk is particularly impressive.
• Free camping: As a tip, we found the most free campsites in NSW. One of our favorites in particular was called Lake Wallace . It had showers, an incredible view and SO much space. It was one of the biggest free campsites we came across while campervanning in Australia and the sunrise here was an incredible start for our Blue Mountains day trip – another highlight.
• Whale Watching in Eden: We loved this small coastal town, not only because the campsite there ( Eden Gateway Holiday Park ) had an outdoor swimming pool, but also because it’s one of the best places for whale watching in Australia.
• Beaches: A few of our favorite beaches included Jervis Bay (also famed for whale and dolpins), Toowoon Bay and the beaches around Narooma . 
• Byron Bay: Yes it’s super touristy but we loved every minute here. We even tried our first surf lesson and partied until 4am. We camped here during Australia day weekend so it was particularly busy, but a definite highlight from our time campervanning in Australia as there is a massive vanlife community here. 
• Watagans National Park: Heading inland, we loved this area. Not only is it an excellent spot for stargazing, but we went on some epic hikes where we met huge monitor lizards and even an abandoned plane in the forest which made for some epic photography opportunities. There were also many free campsites here such as Gap Creek Campsite and Watagans HQ campground.

Victoria Highlights

• Melbourne: We lived in Melbourne for 8 months in 2019, then returned here for another three months in 2023 so we might be a little biased, but it’s our favourite city in the world. For food, for the people, the nightlife, the street art – we love it all. 
• Great Ocean Road: No trip to Australia in a campervan would be complete without a drive along the famous Great Ocean Road . We’ve done it three times – each time in a different season so we’ve learned some epic top tips for camping on Great Ocean Road if you’re planning on taking a van along this world famous road trip. We’ve found it the best place to find koalas in the wild and the great ocean road waterfalls are out of this world.
• Day Trips: There are endless day trips from Melbourne   which we loved so much we camped afterwards. These include: exploring the Yarra Valley (you’ll need to camp after all the wineries!) exploring the stunning landscape of Wilsons Prom, meeting the penguins of Phillip Island and hiking in the incredible Grampian Mountains . You could spend months camping in Victoria and would never get bored (but you might get a little cold if you’re there in Winter!)
• Mornington Peninsula: For another breathtaking drive, follow the coast from Melbourne via Frankston which will take you through the picturesque Port Phillip towns of Mt Eliza, Mornington, Rye, Sorrento and Portsea. We even took our campervan on the ferry across to Sorrento. There are so many things to do in Mornington Peninsula , in particular we loved the Peninsula Hot Springs and enjoying the art and wine at Point Leo Estate . 

Queensland Highlights

• Cairns: Many people associate Queensland with crocodiles and creepy crawlies but we found it a tropical paradise with white sandy beaches and incredible wildlife. We used Cairns as a base, as there are so many epic day trips from Cairns that you’ll never want to leave. Highlight include snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the Kuranda markets, the stunning road trip from Cairns to Cape Tribulation (where the reef meets the rainforest) and finally, the stunning Cairns waterfalls   dotted throughout the region.
• Whitsundays: Heading down the East Coast you will find Airlie Beach, which is the gateway to the Whitsundays. We left our van on the mainland and instead enjoyed a sailing trip around the Whitsundays so we could enjoy the mind-blowing Whitehaven Beach.
• Gold Coast: The city itself is quite surreal as there are literal sky scrapers on the beach. We found a great campsite in the centre of the city and just steps from Miami beach called Ocean Beach Tourist Park .  
• Noosa: Home to stunning beaches and hikes as well as fab foodie spots and stylish shops. It is surfer territory so we found the area quite welcoming to campervans.
• Fraser Island: There is so many things to do on Fraser Island , but as it’s the the largest sand island in the world, we didn’t brave driving our campervan there. You can camp on Fraser Island, but 4WD is essential or visit with a tour like we did.  It is home to the famous dingos and 75-mile beach.
• Magnetic Island: Another highlight from our time campervanning in Australia as there are so many things to do on Magnetic Island (including camping with koalas!)

Western Australia Highlights

• No crowds: When it comes to campervanning in Australia many people don’t make it to the West (including us!) as it’s HUGE and sparseley populated. Western Australia takes up a third of Australia’s land mass but only 11% of the country’s population. This makes it ideal for vanlifers who want peace away from the crowds.
• Bucket list Destinations: Home to Perth , one of Australia’s most vibrant cities, stunning Rottnest Island where you can selfie with a quokka and camping with the kangaroos at pristine Lucky Bay.
• Pinnacles Desert: We’d also love to visit Nambung National Park as the Pinnacles Desert sounds out of this world. You can drive or hike through the unique rock formations as well as wake up to incredible sunsets here.
• The Kimberley Region: This remote and rugged area is known for the Bungle Bungle Range with bee-hive shaped domes, the majestic Mitchell Falls and the horizontal waterfalls at Talbot Bay . We’d love to fall asleep under the stunning starry skies here one day! 
• Margaret River: Famous for world-class wine, stunning beaches and lush forests, this region certainly sounds like our kind of place. The region boasts picturesque surf beaches, such as Surfers Point and Yallingup, and the stunning Boranup Karri Forest.

South Australia Highlights

• Barossa Valley: After completing your Great Ocean Road trip in Victoria you will enter South Australia, home to Adelaide but most importantly – Barossa Valley also known as wine country! We set up camp then hired bikes to enjoy as many wineries as possible but with over 50 in the region, we’d probably need a few months here!
• Robe for the seafood fans: Fish fans need to head to Robe   for some of the best seafood Australia has to offer. 
• Kangaroo Island: Use the sealink ferries to take your campervan across to Kangaroo island. Often referred to as “Australia’s Galapagos,” it is a wildlife paradise where you’ll find kangaroos (duh!), wallabies, sea lions, and koalas in the wild. The island also boasts pristine beaches, and the iconic Remarkable Rocks.
• Hahndorf:  One of the reasons we loved travelling Australia in a campervan is stumbling upon random little places like Hahndorf , Known for being Australia’s oldest German settlement. Walking around here we genuinely felt like we were in a German village it was a quirky experience we’ll never forget! 
• Flinders Ranges: The Flinders Ranges are famous for their rugged red-tinged peaks, deep gorges, and unique geological formations. Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheater, is a popular spot for hiking and exploring ancient Aboriginal rock art and enjoy insane stargazing at  Arkaroola International Dark Sky Sanctuary . It’s only five hours drive from Adelaide to Ikara-Wilpena Pound, or embark on the ultimate road trip along the Explorer’s Way .

Northern Territory Highlights

• Uluru (Ayers Rock): Perhaps the most iconic natural landmark in Australia. This massive sandstone monolith, known for its vibrant red color, rises dramatically from the surrounding desert landscape. Witness the changing colors of Uluru at sunrise and sunset, explore the base walk to see ancient Indigenous rock art, and learn about the cultural significance of this sacred site to the local Anangu people.
• Kakadu National Park: Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights within the park include ancient Aboriginal rock art sites at Nourlangie and Ubirr, the stunning Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls, and the opportunity to see a wide range of wildlife, including crocodiles, wallabies, and various bird species. The park is also known for its cultural significance and offers a chance to learn about the traditions and heritage of the Bininj/Mungguy people.
• Darwin: As the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin is a vibrant tropical city known for its multicultural atmosphere, outdoor lifestyle, and proximity to natural wonders like Kakadu National Park. Learn more about Australia’s Indigenous culture, and enjoy the beautiful waterfront areas along the Timor Sea.
• Top Tip: As a tip, we never actually made it to The Northern Territory during our time campervanning in Australia. This was partly because of time, but also because we were in a rental van. Many rental companies do not allow you to go on unsealed roads which were common here and the red dust will stain all your belongings, body parts and vehicle a lovely orange tinge so be warned!

Capital Territory Highlights

• Canberra: Fun Fact – this territory only exists due to Sydney & Melbourne squabbling like siblings over who gets to be Australia’s capital. It is home to Canberra , the country’s capital and to be honest, very little else. It is roughly half way between the two cities but during our time campervanning in Australia we didn’t have time to squeeze in a visit and many locals told us not to bother. Let us know if you do and if it’s worth the detour!

Tasmania Highlights

• Best Road Trip Ever: we LOVED exploring Tasmania in a campervan but highly underestimated the size of this island. We only had a week here but realised it’s not much smaller than Scotland so had to squeeze in alot in a short amount of time. Allow longer if you can, as there are many highlights such as:
• Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park: This stunning national park is renowned for its rugged landscapes, pristine lakes, and diverse wildlife. Cradle Mountain, one of its iconic peaks, is a favorite for hikers and photographers.
• MONA (Museum of Old and New Art): Located in Hobart, MONA is a unique and unconventional art museum known for its contemporary and thought-provoking exhibitions. The museum itself, carved into a sandstone cliff, is an architectural masterpiece and like no other art gallery we’ve ever been to!
• Gordon River Cruise: We highly recommend booking exploring the pristine wilderness of the Gordon River. Most cruises stop at Sarah Island so you can learn about the history of this notorious place and gain insight into the harsh conditions faced by convicts.
• Freycinet National Park: Alongside The Bay of Fires, this area was one of our favourites. Home to the iconic Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park is a haven for hikers, campers and families. 

ESSENTIALS FOR CAMPERVANNING IN AUSTRALIA

Due to the country’s unique terrain, invasive wildlife and diverse landscape, you need a few niche items for travelling Australia in a campervan.

In addition to our  road trip essentials , we have also created a detailed camping packing list , which again you can download and use offline – perfect for when you’re campervanning in Australia and have no signal!

As a tip, we use our Osprey backpacks in the van instead of suitcases as we find they take up less space and are easy to store out of sight when needed.

We put together an  entire guide on why these backpacks are the best  and even  a full video review – we’re that obsessed. 

Where to Buy Camping Gear in Australia

Missing anything from our camping checklist? Here is where to find the best equipment for campervanning in Australia:

• BCF : We needed a mosquito net for our van and found staff here so helpful. They explained how to fit effectively fit the net on our rental campervan without causing any damage. 
• Bunnings : It’s like an Aussie B&Q,it has a huge selection of camping gear, BBQs, tarpaulins, Gazebos and eskies/cool boxes.
• Camping World / Tentworld : If you can’t find what you’re looking for in the stores above, you’ll definitely find it in here.
• Kathmandu : Ideal for all things outdoors including camping stoves, backpacks and clothing.
• Facebook Groups / Gumtree : If you are only travelling Australia in a campervan for a few weeks, don’t buy new. Instead use Facebook Groups or search local Market Places or Gumtree. Cheaper and better for the environment!
• Big W / K-Mart : You’ll find these budget stores all over Aus. They have a huge selection of sleeping bags, cool boxes, camping chairs and more. We purchased our sunshades that we used when parked from here as they were the cheapest, we could find and we couldn’t fault the quality.

Looking for a free camping checklist?

Sign up to our monthly newsletter now to receive our free camping checklist along with our latest posts, travel tips and discounts!

The  camping checklist  download link will be sent to your email address.

The number one essential for campervanning in Australia is insurance! Some insurance won't cover you on unsealed roads, while other incidents such as flooding, flat batteries, and running out of fuel etc can result in expensive call out or excess fees. So, make sure your insurance is correct and up to date when travelling Australia in a campervan!

MEAL IDEAS FOR TRAVELLING AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

We know travelling Australia in a campervan isn’t cheap. That’s why we try to save as much money as possible by cooking up a storm in our wee kitchen on wheels. Lucky for you, we have SO many guides and top tips to help you save money on campervan cooking all while ensuring you are not limited to boring pasta. Although we found most campsites had kitchens, we understand some people in a campervan may only have a little camping stove so our recipes are ideal for those limited on time, space and equipment as all meal ideas are quick, cheap and easy.

Not to mention we have an entire cookbook you can download and use offline to save you scrolling the internet when hanger strikes!

The Best Camping Recipes

• One Pot Wonders: If like us, you are campervanning in Australia with kids or simply only have one ring to cook on you might appreciate our one pot camping meals – they require minimum ingredients, time and washing up but promise big portions and flavour!
• For Vegetarians: It can be tricky to store meat in a campervan, so we swear by these vegetarian camping recipes. They are all super quick and easy, perfect after a long day on the road! 
• For Campervans: Before you begin, we recommend our cooking in a campervan tips  with storage ideas, recipe suggestions and more.
• A Recipe for Disaster: Finally, if you fancy a giggle we have a whole series of cooking videos on our YouTube . Please be warned these were made after a wine or two in New Zealand so we can’t promise you’ll learn much but it might inspire a camping recipe or two.

Why not take a copy of our campervan cookbook?

• Recipes with ideas for breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Digital E-book so you can download instantly
• Use offline on your phone, tablet, laptop or print off
• Recipe ideas without the need for bulky cookbooks or Wi-Fi

Price: £7.99

How to find campsites when travelling australia in a campervan.

With limited Wi-Fi and a country the size of Australia it can feel overwhelming trying to find campsites. Luckily for you these are our 4 tried & tested methods for finding clean, safe and affordable places to sleep each night. 

We have also created a more in depth video which explains each of these methods in detail as well as a few favourite hacks to finding campsites while campervanning in Australia.

1. Use Camping Apps

There are a tonne of apps you can use to find campsites, showers, water points, petrol stations, toilets and more. Here are the main apps we recommend while travelling Australia in a campervan:

• Wikicamps Australia | $7.99 | Apple / Google
• CamperMate | Free | Apple  /  Google
• Travellers Autobarn| Free |  Apple / Google  

Campstay | Free | Apple / Google

2. Ask Locals

If there was one thing we learned from camping in Australia its that locals LOVE to recommend shortcuts, hidden gems and share their secret camping spots.

Although some areas are quite remote, we found by popping in to local coffee shops or chatting with dog walkers you are bound to learn a tip or two about the local area and where your next night’s sleep will be. When campervanning in Australia, we always found the best campsites  were the ones only locals know about so don’t be scared to ask!

3. Facebook

Each state has camping Facebook groups dedicated to camping and vanlife fans. These groups are ideal for locals and tourists alike to share their favourite spots:

• Low Cost And Free Camping Australia Wide
• Camping in the west. WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• Free Camping Aussie
• Campsites in QLD & Northern NSW
• Free Camping Around Australia

From Facebook to an actual book. Millenials might roll their eyes but internet or phone coverage can be extremely limited at times when travelling Australia in a campervan. That’s why we recommend keeping an Australia camping guide like the one below handy so you have a back up when your phone battery dies or you’re stranded without signal and sleeping arrangements.

Book detailing campsites of Australia.

How to save money on campsites in Australia:

• Read our guide: We have an entire guide to camping in Australia that covers our favourite campsites, tips for free camping and more. Start there!
• Visit in the shoulder season: We found campsites to be anywhere between $25 – $70 during peak Season (December to February.) but around half price in the Winter (July-September) From all the paid sites we used when travelling Australia in a campervan, we averaged at $40 a night.
• Book more than one night: When camping in the tourist hotspot of Byron Bay we found a “5 nights for the price of 3” deal. These are common throughout Aus and a great way to save money in popular locations.
• Book directly: Although we love the convenience and comparison tools on third party sites, there is often discount codes or special offer pages when booking direct. You won’t find these deals elsewhere!
• Join a loyalty scheme:  Through our campervan rental we received a Top Parks & Discovery Parks G’day Rewards Keyring. This gave us 10% off ALL of their campsites as well as earn loyalty points & money off local attractions – every penny counts!
• Use Unpowered Sites: If you’re equipped for it, unpowered sites are usually cheaper than powered sites. When campervanning in Australia we mixed things up and only used a paid, powered site every three or four days. The remaining nights we used free campsites or unpowered sites.

Want to know our favourite campsites from our time travelling Australia in a campervan? Our camping in Australia guide covers the BEST free and paid sites for each state we visited. From the campsite with koalas roaming wild to the one with a swimming pool and kangaroo neighbours - we spill our fave secret spots!

HOW TO STAY COOL WHEN TRAVELLING AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

As a Scottish redhead, it was never going to be the wildlife that I feared in Australia but instead, the heat. Especially as we began our Australia campervan trip in Summer when high humidity and heatwaves were common.

Luckily for you, we sweated it out and even I survived with thanks to these have 10 tips for keeping cool in a campervan in Australia . While some may seem like common sense, we learned ALOT from locals and other camping pals we found on the road. I highly recommend a read, even if you are not travelling in Summer as Australia in general is quite a cosy camping destination.

TOP TIPS FOR CAMPERVANNING IN AUSTRALIA

• Before of Wildlife: Firstly, try and park up at your campsite for the night around dinner time (5-6pm.) Driving at dusk is a major risk when campervanning in Australia due to kangaroo activity. Always store food in sealed containers to avoid critters invading and  read up on the correct first aid prior should any bites occur. Finally, be a responsible traveller and never feed the wildlife as this can encourage aggressive behaviour not to mention mess up the natural eco-system.
• Forbidden Free Camping: Do not risk free camping if it’s forbidden, or there is signage for self-contained campervans only. If you do, you can expect an expensive fine. 
• Don’t fuel Bush Fires: Portable BBQ’s or a wee campfire under the stars may seem harmless but unfortunately bush fires are super common. You’ll also find controlled bush fires in certain areas, so don’t be alarmed, these are created safely on purpose to prevent more devastating fires. If campfires are allowed, follow the rules, use established fire pits and always fully extinguish before leaving.
• Drinking Water: It should be common sense but before embarking on a huge drive or before parking up for the night always check you have enough drinking water. Some campsites only have rain water which isn’t always safe to drink, this will be called “potable water.” so you’ll need to bring with you.
• Fuel Planning : Keep an eye on fuel levels, as petrol stations can be far apart in remote regions. Carry extra fuel containers if needed, and use the apps we mentioned above to track locations and prices.
• Park legally: Darren actually got fined for this so beware of this particular parking rule when travelling Australia in a campervan. Legally, you MUST park facing the same direction as traffic in the adjacent lane or line of traffic. It’s a rule in the UK but not one you get fined for if you break it, in Aus however they strictly enforce it. 
• 4 Wheel Drive: Whether its red dust, driving on the beach, unsealed roads or flood risks, areas are marked for 4WD only for a reason.  You will not be covered by insurance if you take a rental on these roads (not to mention how long emergency vehicles and breakdown vehicle will take to access you) so only enter them if you are well equipped and experienced to do so.
• Caravan Free Roads:  On a similar note, some roads are so narrow and corners so tight that campervans or caravans are prohibited entirely. These rules are for your safety and others on the road. 
• Keep It Clean: Instead of just leaving a campsite as you found it, aim to leave it even BETTER than you found it. We love the Aussie ethos of “pick 3 for the sea” and  ensure any campfires are definitely out before leaving. 
• Navigation Tools : Finally, invest in good navigation tools and maps, as GPS/phone signal can be unreliable in remote areas. No one wants to be lost in the outback when campervanning in Australia so save your route offline before you set off. 

We trust that our guide to travelling Australia in campervan has ignited your wanderlust, debunked any misconceptions and answered all of your questions.  We genuinely believe that opting for campervanning over traditional accommodations, like hostels, has enriched our journey with countless cherished moments. There’s a reason we keep going back for more and taking our children along too! Whether you crave heading off the beaten track to bask in the country’s remarkable scenery, want to connect with welcoming locals, or fall asleep under the stars – there is so much to love about having your own home on wheels (even for a week or two!) We’d love to know your  favourite campervan spots and any ingenious tips for touring Australia in a campervan so more of our readers can embark on an awesome Aussie road trip! 

Sharing Is Caring Share this content

• Opens in a new window

You Might Also Like

Best Camping Grounds – South Island Of New Zealand

The Ultimate Guide To Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival

10 Tips You Need For Cooking In A Campervan

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Global Gallivanting

The ultimate backpacker’s guide to buying a campervan in australia.

Thinking of Buying a Campervan, Car or Motorhome in Australia? Here’s everything you need to know.

One if the best ways to have the ultimate Aussie adventure is with the freedom of your own four wheels. If you are planning to travel in Australia for a while then buying a campervan or motorhome can be a really great and cost effective way of getting around Australia.

Buying a campervan was the best decision we made in our time in Australia, so I wanted to put together a guide to help you if you’re also thinking of doing the same.

Why a campervan is the best way to travel around Australia

Australia is one huge country, most people don’t realise just how huge it is until they arrive. It’s also an expensive country to visit and with such huge distances you need to plan how you are going to get around this huge country to make the most of your time and money.

While internal flights will get you from A to B the quickest, they are costly and mean you miss out on seeing a lot of this amazing country.   Organised tours are also an expensive option and the backpacker favourite, the Greyhound bus , trundles up and down the major East Coast cities but offers little chance to explore off the beaten track.

For the ultimate freedom and flexibility to explore Australia how about driving. Exploring in a campervan is a really popular way to explore Oz. Nothing beats the thrill of the open road and Australia sometimes feels like it was just made for road trips!

From the epic East Coast Australia road trip route , to driving the stunning Great Ocean Road , and exploring the incredible Outback or just getting off the beaten track, having the flexibility to go wherever you want whilst saving money on transport, accommodation and eating out. A campervan is the ultimate way to explore Australia!

So should you rent, relocate or buy a campervan in Australia?

Renting a campervan in australia.

The time you are spending in Australia (and the money you have) will determine whether you will be better off renting or buying a campervan.

If you are only visiting Australia for a couple of weeks then renting is obviously the easiest choice and requires little upfront costs and organisation. Drive Now.com.au is the best place to compare rental prices and options from all the major companies and make sure you’re getting the best deal.

But renting a campervan could cost at least AUD$50 per day, if you are going to be in Australia for more than a 6 weeks then, considering the cost of renting over that duration, it’s probably worth buying your own.

If you have come to Australia for year long working holiday then I would definitely recommend buying a campervan in Australia. Although you will need some cash for the upfront cost of buying a van, a bonus of owning a camper van is that you can park up at free campsites, cook up some food and sleep under the stars or in the van and this will save you a lot of money in the long run.

A campervan is your accommodation and transport in one, allowing you to save considerable money on hostels, bus tickets and eating out and also giving you the ultimate freedom to explore.

Plus, if you can sell your camper at the end of your trip for the price you bought it for then you’ve had free transport and accommodation for the duration of your trip, only paying out for fuel (and maybe factor in some repairs too if it’s an older vehicle!)

In my opinion buying a campervan is the best, and most affordable, way to experience Australia.

Did you know, there is another option. If you are flexible you could  relocate a vehicle for free or $1 a day . Companies need their vehicles in another location and offer you free or very discounted hire if you relocate their vehicle to a specific destination.

There is a  time limit  on these deals so this may not be the option if you want to take your time seeing the sights, but I whizzed down from Cairns to Sydney in a week and only spent $7 on the campervan hire and got a free tank of fuel thrown in.

How to Buy a Campervan in Australia

So now I’ve convinced you that  owning a camper in Australia is awesome , here is how to go about buying a campervan in Australia.

Thinking about buying and owning a car or campervan in Australia can seem confusing and costly at first. But for me, exploring Oz in my own campervan was a highlight of my year in Australia and a worthy investment that enabled me to see a whole lot more of the great big land down under.

What to Buy?

Think about what sort of trip you want to undertake and what sort of vehicle would be most suitable for what you want to do. You could buy a car for anything from $1000 or a basic campervan from about $4000 upwards depending on age and amenities.

Buying a car is the cheapest option, will be the easiest to drive and the most economical on fuel. A car won’t offer you much space to sleep but backpackers on a budget have been known to travel around Australia sleeping on the backseat of a hatchback or in tents.

Station Wagon

A station wagon (you would call it an estate car in the UK) is a cheap option that would allow just enough space to  put a mattress down in the back to sleep on  but if you are on a long trip and expect to be living out of the vehicle then it may get a bit claustrophobic.

Utes (similar to pick ups) are hugely popular in Australia and are usually 4WD and consist of a 2 or 3 man cab and a large tray. Many ute owners customise the tray into a covered sleeping area giving you room to spread out and sleep. The 4WD capability to also a bonus that allows you to really explore off the sealed roads.

4 Wheel Drive

If you’ve got your sights set on an epic Outback trip or just want to explore more off the beaten track then you might want to consider buying a 4X4.

A 4WD vehicle however, isn’t as cheap as a regular car and lacks the space of a campervan, but buying a 4WD vehicle and a camper trailer, or even just a swag or a tent, might suit you if you want to explore the outback wilderness.

I didn’t realise at first  how limiting it was to be stuck to sealed roads.  Looking back I probably would have spent a bit more to get a 4WD vehicle to have the ultimate freedom to go anywhere and not worry about getting stuck.

Buying a car or 4×4 and caravan could be the perfect solution if you want plenty of living space and facilities but also want to freedom to be able to unhitch the caravan and take the car off independently for more adventures.

Campervan or Motorhome

Campervans and  motorhomes can come in all shapes and sizes from a basic van with a mattress in the back to a flash motor home complete with shower, toilet, fitted kitchen, TV and all mod cons.

There is a huge difference in cost so your budget will probably determine the size, level of comfort and facilities that your campervan will have but buying a campervan is the best  all round option for touring Oz.

Meet our campervan Gloria!

We choose a 1990 Ford Ecovan that had been converted into a basic campervan called Gloria! She had a proper mattress and storage in the back and for $4,000 came complete with all the camping gear we needed and 9 months REGO.

She was white at first but later ended up with a funky zebra print paint job. Something I would only recommend doing when actually buying a campervan as I assume your rental company would frown on these kind of ‘improvements!’

Where to Buy a Campervan in Australia

So you’ve just arrived in Australia, eager to start your road trip adventures and your looking for your own set of wheels. Where do you start?

Backpackers Car Markets

For the greatest choice in one place when buying a campervan in Australia head to the huge  travellers car market in Sydney’ s Kings Cross where hundreds of cars are bought and sold by backpackers.

There are plenty to look at and if the owner needs to leave the country in a rush you could get a great deal and many vans come complete with all equipment and camping gear you could ever need.

Beware that many backpacker vans have covered huge distances and not been looked after very well so the mechanical soundness of some of these vehicles may be questionable.

Private Sale

Buying privately is probably your cheapest option when buying a campervan in Australia. You can find private sales and even post a wanted notice for free on sites like  Gumtree , local newspapers or hostel notice boards.

I bought my campervan from Gumtree and there’s often many vehicles listed but it requires a bit more leg work than going to a dealership or car market. You will usually get a better deal by negotiating a private sale but if you don’t know what your looking for there’s no come back and there is always the risk that you could end up with a dodgy wreck.

If you can’t tell if a car is in sound mechanical condition or not you should get a mechanic to inspect it for you but this will cost extra.

Buying a campervan from a dealership is probably the easiest option but not the cheapest. A reputable dealership will sell you a car that has been serviced and is in good shape, complete with warranty. Buying from a professional dealership offers you more reassurance that your vehicle will be more reliable.

Car dealers sometimes offer a buy back guarantee for when you’re ready to sell which takes the stress out of selling when your trip is over but the price is usually far less than you paid in the first place and the campervans are more expensive to purchase in the first place too.

What to look for when buying a campervan in Australia

Of course, if you are buying a older,  second hand vehicle you run the risk of it not being as mechanically sound  as you would like, possibly leading to costly repairs.

When buying a campervan it’s a good idea to make reliability and safety your priority, buy the best vehicle you can afford and do as many checks as you can before buying.

The lower the mileage the better, take the car for a test drive, ask the owner lots of questions, ask to see any service records and check for oil leaks, black exhaust fumes or any strange engine sounds, knocks or creeks.

I’m no mechanic so check out this useful  guide to buying a campervan for your Aussie road trip !

Buying a campervan or second hand car is always a bit of a gamble.  If in doubt about the mechanical integrity of a van its best to  hire the services of a qualified mechanic  for safety and peace of mind.

Also make sure that the vehicle you are buying has the necessary paperwork needed, check the registration certificate and the road worthy certificate if applicable. Also make sure no finance or unpaid fines are owing on the car.

Paperwork, Rules and Legislation when Buying a Campervan in Australia

It can take a bit of time getting your head around the different legal requirements and paperwork associated with buying a campervan and owning a vehicle in a foreign country.

It doesn’t make it any easier as different states in Australia have slightly different rules covering the legal aspects of car ownership. This can be confusing at first so it’s always best to check with the relevant state for the most up to date information.

It’s also a good idea to make your familiar with the  rules of the road  which can vary by state and often come with   hefty fines.

Driving License

Most of the time you will be able to drive on your driving license from your home country but if your driving license is not in English then it’s best to   obtain an international driving license  before you leave.

Registration (Rego)

It is a legal requirement that all vehicles driven on Australian roads  MUST be registered  and a hefty fine can be issued if you caught driving an unregistered vehicle.   The cost varies depending on the type of vehicle and the state in which it is registered.

The Rego needs to be renewed every 3, 6 or 12 months. It is well worth buying a campervan with a long rego because this can be pricey ($100’s a year)

In Australia all cars must be covered by  compulsory third party (CTP) insurance,   the certificate is commonly referred to as the “green slip”.

CTP insurance provides cover if a driver is involved in an accident in which people are killed or injured. The compulsory third party insurance is usually part of the vehicle registration process but, again, the registration process and specifics differ from state to state.

The good news is that the  REGO also covers the tax and third party insurance . So unlike in the UK where you need to pay road tax and then insurance for each driver, in Australia it is  the vehicle that is insured   rather than each individual driver  so anyone can drive it without paying extra insurance premiums.

Transferring Ownership

Make sure that when you buy the vehicle they hand over the paperwork as both the buyer and the seller need to sign the registration form. Once the vehicle has be purchased  the registration must be transferred into your name within 14 days  (except in Tasmania and Western Australia, where the limit is 7 days).

Keep in mind that most of the time you will need to have an address and sometimes be physically in the state where the vehicle is registered to change over the ownership but don’t worry you can use a hostel or even a campsite for the address.

It’s not really worth considering changing the state of the registration of the vehicle as it can be costly and expensive. We traveled from Melbourne, via the  Great Ocean Road , to South Australia to register our campervan at the offices there and used a campsite as our ‘address’.

Luckily when it came to renewing the rego we did that easily online without having to be physically in South Australia. The new owner must also pay stamp duty, which is calculated on the value of the purchase of the car and a registration transfer fee. You can find more  information about transferring vehicle registration ownership here.

Do you need a RWC (Certificate of Road Worthiness)?

Roadworthiness or roadworthy checks, like as the British MOT, are not required on a regular basis in Australia. However, the specific rules vary in each state.

Some states require a vehicle to have a RWC, or safety certificate, usually only when a car is being sold, or registered in that state for the first time or after being written-off and repaired but some states require one annually.

It’s a good idea to check the requirements, see  a useful breakdown by state for when a RWC is required here  because if you buy a car with a RWC, and the state it is registered in requires it, it could be very costly to get this done.

Vehicles registered in Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland do currently require an RWC. But vehicles registered in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia don’t need RWCs which could save you money.

Obviously you have to assess the safety risk of the individual vehicle for yourself, but before you buy check the up to date requirements and rules for each state before parting with your cash.

When we were looking to buy our campervan in Melbourne most of the vehicles advertised for sale did not have a RWC, meaning that, as the purchaser, we would be liable to get this done within 14 days in order to transfer the vehicle and registration into our name.

Knowing that we could be liable for hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get the RWC done we decided this was just too much of a risk and therefore we bought a vehicle that was registered in a state, like South Australia, that didn’t require a RWC.

Costs for REGO also differ from state to state and some states allow online renewal of REGO, very useful if you are travelling all around the country, and some don’t. Vehicles registered in  Western Australia are popular with backpackers   because they don’t require a REGO, and are easier and cheaper to re-register.  Registration can be done online or over the phone without the need to even visit the state.

Selling your campervan

Allow enough time to sell the vehicle before your visa expires or your flight home to get the best price. It will be  easier and quicker to sell the vehicle in the state in which it is registered  and in a major city, especially  a popular point of entry for backpackers  like Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.

Think about the season as well,  if it’s the middle of winter most backpackers will be up in Cairns or Darwin and not so many people in chilly Melbourne will be interested in buying a campervan there.

Make sure all the legalities and paperwork are present and correct. Your vehicle will also be easier to sell if it has a  good amount of REGO left  on it to make life easier for the buyers.

Make the car look presentable, give it a good wash and take some photos and create an informative and appealing flyer to put up in the hostel or advertise online on  Gumtree .

If you’re running out of time then a backpackers car market may be a good bet to sell up if you need to sell and leave quickly.

So that’s everything you need to know about buying a campervan in Australia! I hope my blog has helped you and that you have an awesome Aussie adventure – a campervan is really the best way to do it!

Read More Australia blogs:

• Buying a Campervan in Australia: Is it worth it?
• Campervan Relocation Deals: How to rent a campervan in Australia for only $1!
• The Ultimate Backpacker’s Guide to traveling Australia on a Budget
• Tips for an Epic Australian Road Trip 
• The Backpacker’s guide to a working holiday in Australia
• How I saved $15,000 on my working holiday in Australia

Want to work and travel in Australia?

Subscribe and get a FREE Complete Guide to a Working Holiday in Australia

Top 10 Tips for a Working Holiday in Australia

How to see uluru on a budget.

Related posts

A backpacker’s travel guide to sydney, a backpacker’s travel guide to cairns, the 5 best backpacker hostels in melbourne, australia, 12 comments.

I like your tip to check over everything you can before buying a campervan. Like you said, second-hand cars can be a gamble, but doing a thorough examination can give you the advantage. Taking the car for a test drive, examining the engine, and looking for wear are good things to do before deciding on a caravan. Thanks for the article!

Thanks for the tips Hazel and glad you liked the article 🙂

Great explanation. It’s making me excited to give this campervan adventure a whirl. Now I just need to find a companion for those long open roads…

Glad you liked the post, exploring Australia by campervan is amazing and I’m sure you could find a travel companion along the way – there are many backpackers hostels where its easy to meet other travellers. Have a great trip! 🙂

Great article. One thing not mentioned is that if you are purchasing a 2nd hand vehicle then it’s useful to get a REVS Check or PPSR Check to ensure that the vehicle you purchase doesn’t currently have any money owing against it, or hasn’t been previously written off or repaired or stolen. It’s worth spending the money for the peace of mind it offers.

Thanks Joe, this is a useful tip

Thanks for sharing this informative article. This article helped me in buying a campervan for my family trip to the USA. I searched for many sites to get knowledge about campervan hiring and I found this article very informative. Its worth spending money on buying Campervan for the trip as it is comfortable and safe as well.

Thanks Shayra, glad it helped! Traveling the USA in a camper must be amazing!

I learn so much from you as well! Thank you so much for sharing your helpful information. Keep it up.

Nice idea to buy it for traveling around !

[…] you plan on traveling Australia for longer (perhaps on a working holiday visa) then buying a campervan offers the ultimate freedom and flexibility and can be a really cost effective way to explore Oz […]

[…] on how long you will be in Oz you can rent, relocate or buy a campervan. Renting would cost at least $50 a day with gas being around $1.50 a litre, more in the […]

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Yes, send me the newsletter.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

The Rookie’s Guide To Travelling Around Australia In A Van

• Facebook Instagram
• Now Week Month

Seeing Australia from the road is a rite of passage for many travellers. Whether you fork out the big bucks for a camper with the lot, or bum it in a beat-up station wagon, a home on wheels is one of the best ways to discover the country’s hidden gems.

Here’s a few things you should know before hitting the road.

Buy or rent?

Renting is a popular option for travellers who want to get a feel for the #vanlife lifestyle – can you hack it without a shower, toilet or air-con? A lot of people say that, if you’re not travelling for more than three months, renting is the safest option – everything comes set up and you’re (sometimes) covered if it breaks down. The most popular rentals you’ll see on the road are from Travellers Autobarn and Jucy Campers.

If you decide to buy, make sure you suss things like the vehicle’s service history and kilometers, fuel type, battery or solar set-up, water storage and bedding situation. Don’t buy the first car that fits your aesthetic goals or settle for the cheapest bomb on the market, take your time and select wisely – it will be your house, after all.

A post shared by The Brick (@dasbrik) on Nov 7, 2017 at 8:48pm PST

Find your wheels

Finding The One isn’t an easy process, you’ve got to test drive a lot of frogs before finding your proverbial prince. Trawl through online classifieds sites like Gumtree using the key words and price range you’re after. And do some research before you start searching – even the mechanically inept can be adequately prepared with a little Googling. A great place to start is The Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia, albeit focused on ye olde’ grey nomads, they’ve got sweet info that can help any van-traveller.

Where are you headed on this adventure? Are you hitting the east coast, with its picturesque beaches connected by plentiful sealed roads? Or do you want to dodge potholes and tear down corrugation to see the untouched corners of west coast ? If your heart is set on a van, then know that there are some things it won’t be able to hack; if you can’t miss an off-road adventure, you’ll need to find something with 4WD capabilities.

Farewell creature comforts

Overall, the nomadic lifestyle is worth the lack of creature comforts, but there are some luxuries not to skimp on. Make sure your van has fly screens over its windows, an awning to hang under on hot days and, most importantly, a comfy bed.

A post shared by Scott Brownlee (@scott_brownlee) on Jun 4, 2018 at 10:22pm PDT

Save your pennies

Keeping a van going takes a lot of dosh – especially when you’re remote and petrol can cost as much as $2.50 per litre and a loaf of Tip-Top is $5. And if – heaven forbid – anything goes wrong with your vehicle, you’ll need to ensure some emergency funds.

Plan, plan, plan

Planning might seem like a waste of time when you’re living on the road, but you’ve got to give yourself room to enjoy where you’re going. If you’re on a schedule, driving 500kms a day to only spend an hour at the beach is a total waste of time. Pick your destinations wisely, do a bit of research and come to some realistic conclusions before settling on an itinerary.

A post shared by Donde Esta Doris ? (@dondeestadoris) on Nov 7, 2017 at 6:46pm PST See Also Destinations , Food & Drink , Places to Stay , Tips & Guides The Ultimate North Western Australia Itinerary: From Broome To The Pilbara

A quick search of the #vanlife hashtag will show you cute VW’s parked on the sand at sunset. But, the thing is, it’s not that easy – you can’t just pull up where it takes your fancy and set up camp for the night. Rangers won’t hesitate to knock on your window at 2am to tell you to move along.

Download apps like WikiCamps or Campermate to find legal camper locations in your vicinity.

Life on the road is a fantastic reminder of how little we need, but you do need to pack smart. A lot of items you’re used to getting with ease won’t be easy to find – including vital things like clean drinking water.

Make sure you’ve got the essentials – like insect repellant, torches, toilet paper, medication before you set off. YouTube and blogs like The Vanlife Diaries are a great place to find inspiration for what to take and how to store it in your van.

(Lead image: Silvio Bergama / Unsplash)

Rays At The Hedland Hotel: A Slice Of Palm Springs Comes To WA

Immerse Yourself In The Beauty Of Australia’s Landscape At The ‘Our Country’ Exhibition

The 1,100 Jaw Dropping Drone Show Over Uluru

The Ultimate North Western Australia Itinerary: From Broome To The Pilbara

PSA: A Restaurant Dedicated To Halloumi Is Coming To London

Singapore’s Hotel Jen Debuts Asia’s First Robot Butlers

Discover the breathtaking beauty of south australia’s southern ocean drive road trip: the ultimate getaway for cooler months.

VW’s New Camper Is The Van Life Choice Of The One Percent

The Definitive List Of Road Trip Rules For Your Summer Getaway

The Top 8 Stops To Make On A West Coast Road Trip

The Top 8 Stops To Make On A Coastal Queensland Road Trip

5 Beautiful Secret Camping Grounds Less Than Two Hours Away From Sydney

Exploring Australia with a campervan is a classic road trip. Many areas of this vast country are remote enough that to really enjoy the quiet splendor of the Australian landscape you need to be relatively self-sufficient. And Australian campervan holidays are not only a popular option for those visiting from overseas, but native Australians are also renowned for loving the campervan and caravan circuit.

However without proper planning, traveling in a campervan can be more expensive than you might think. When an offer came to “see a slab of Australia for free” by virtue of winning a free six week campervan rental, I was over the moon. Although I had never traveled extensively in a campervan before, I figured it would be a fabulous and inexpensive trip. Sadly though, those six weeks were among the most costly of all my full-time budget travel thus far.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. During my 6-week adventure, I learned a lot about how to plan an itinerary, keep the cost of an Aussie campervan holiday low, and how to budget for it next time around.

Here is a guide to planning and budgeting for your own Australian campervan adventure.

Planning Your Campervan Route and Itinerary

Before you even choose your wheels, it is best to plan what you want to see in Australia. It is a huge country, with varying climate and road conditions. Some stretches of road (for example through the Outback or across the Nullarbor desert) involve huge expanses where there is absolutely nothing — no petrol stations, no food, no services, no power, no mobile reception, and no water. Some campervan rental companies will not allow you to travel on these roads at all, and even if you are allowed, you must be well prepared.

Be wise about how long you plan your Australian road trip to be as well. Unlike Europe — where you can drive for a few hours and end up in a different country — in Australia you can drive for days between cities. It is best to allow more time than you expect you will need, so you are not under the gun to get to the finish line.

Climate in Australia

An important part of choosing your route is to understand Australia’s climate. Being in the southern hemisphere, summer is from December-February and winter is from June-August. However, although some states may have snow in winter months, winter is not necessarily cold everywhere; the temperatures in the north are warm to hot year-round, and summer in the south can still experience temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius.

The ideal time to travel in Australia tends to be the spring and autumn seasons for their all-around moderate conditions. This helps you avoid Australia’s climatic extremes; summer in the north can see impassable flooded roads and fierce tropical storms, while winter in the south can be cold enough for snow to fall (which means chilly camping conditions).

Just to confuse things further, Melbourne is known for being a city of “four seasons in a day” — quite literally. So it is best to research the climate along your desired route in order to be properly prepared.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is a great resource for researching Australia’s climate.

Choosing Your Wheels

Campervans are typically utility-sized vans that are outfitted with the basic essentials for you to be self-sufficient: beds, sinks, crockery, cooking facilities, and a fridge. Depending on the size of the vehicle, you may also find toilet and shower facilities, but these are often reserved for larger motor homes. Alternately you can choose to go with an even smaller vehicle than a campervan (such as a station wagon, minivan, pop-top, or 4x4), and supplement it with traditional camping gear.

Your choice of vehicle will be dependent on how many people there are in your party, where you want to go, your budget, and the level of comfort you require.

To Rent or To Buy?

Many campervan and other car rental companies offer an option for you to buy or purchase the vehicle. If you buy it, a buy-back guarantee often comes with the price, so you may be assured that you are not stuck with a vehicle you can’t sell at the end of your trip. The buy-back amount varies, but is often around 50% of your purchase price. More often than not, you will fetch a better price by selling privately, but the buy-back guarantee can provide peace of mind in case you are in a bad location to sell or run out of time.

The general guideline for the cost-effectiveness of renting versus buying is as follows:

• Less than eight weeks: It is almost always best to rent, no matter what vehicle you choose.
• More than eight weeks: It is more cost-effective to purchase a car, minivan, or pop-top vehicle.
• More than 16 weeks: It is more cost-effective to purchase a campervan or small motor home.

Tips for Renting a Campervan in Australia

• Book well in advance, as this form of travel is popular and vans are reserved well in advance.
• Be prepared to drive standard; most campervans have manual transmission.
• You drive on the left-hand side of the road in Australia.
• You usually have to be at least 21 years old to rent a campervan.
• Although it is common to pick up and drop off your vehicle in different locations, check with your rental company to ensure they have a drop off location at your desired final stop and confirm if there are any extra fees to do this.
• Weekends are slow in Australia; don’t expect the rental company to be open for pick ups or drop offs; call in advance to check.
• Insurance charges vary from company to company; some have mandatory charges while others do not.
• Advise the rental company regarding your desired itinerary. There are a number of roads that rental companies will not allow you to travel on, including unpaved or remote roads. At other times of year, some roads are impassable or require a special vehicle with a snorkel. The rental company should fit you with a vehicle that is appropriate for your planned route and time of year.
• Equipment and conveniences included with the campervan vary. Make sure you have everything you want. Be prepared to supplement along the way with creature comforts like extra blankets for the cold climes, or a coffee pot for your morning cup.
• There are stretches of road in Australia so remote that rusted out broken-down cars are simply abandoned at the side of the road, eerily making you wonder what happened to the owner. Make sure your vehicle is solid (especially if you buy it), so yours doesn’t become one of the rusty statistics.

Camping with a Campervan in Australia

The expense of camping surprised me. I figured that with a campervan, I had free accommodation at my fingertips. But you cannot camp inside city limits, or at the side of the road, and sometimes even rest areas are off-limits for overnight stays. So unless you do some “renegade camping” (in which you should be prepared for a knock on the window at 3 a.m. by a police officer telling you to move along — or worse yet waking up to a ticket), you will often have to pay to park your wheels for the night.

Luckily due to the widespread popularity of campervan and motorhome holidays in Australia, caravan parks are everywhere. Powered campervan sites will cost you up to $40/night, and un-powered sites can cost up to $25/night. (See below for some tips on powered versus un-powered travel).

Caravan parks and campgrounds are a fabulous way to meet other travelers. Caravan parks give you access to showers, laundry, cooking facilities (sometimes cooking in the van can be cramped), and a variety of amenities that vary from park to park. Campgrounds also vary dramatically in amenities depending on the location.

By contrast, after a few nights of saving money and “renegade camping,” I was terribly lonely. Shy of going to a café or pub (and spending money, which is counterproductive), there is no way to meet people if you camp alone. This, combined with the hassle of finding toilet facilities in the middle of the night and the stress of being asked to move or awaking to a ticket, makes renegade camping pretty unattractive, even if it is free.

The good news is that with some research and networking with fellow travelers, you can find your share of free — or inexpensive — camping spots. To find the good stuff, you often have to buy a book, but a books will pay for itself in the long run. Camps and Caravan Parks offers a series of books profiling camps and caravan parks.

Powered Versus Un-powered Campervans

Your campervan will likely have a function to provide electrical power to a fridge, lights, and some outlets so you can enjoy your creature comforts. This power source is usually recharged when you drive over 80km/hour or so for a few hours. But if you wish to stay in one place for a few days, if you are driving smaller distances or through the city, you may end up eventually losing power if you don’t plug the van into a power source.

After staying in the driveway of a new friend of mine for a few days, I lost all supplemental power in the campervan. Most of the food in the fridge spoiled, I could not run the water, and I was unable to charge my computer. Traveling after that time became an exercise in ensuring that at least every third night I paid for a powered site.

Powered sites come at a premium at caravan parks, costing an extra $2-15 per night. So when you don’t need the power or have a full battery from highway driving, you can avoid the charge by choosing an un-powered site.

The Cost of Fuel Down Under

The farther you get from the city, the more you will pay for fuel. I paid anything from $0.98/liter to over $1.50/liter in a 6-week period and current petrol prices in Australia have recently increased but can easily be found online. Of course, with your entire home on wheels, you can expect to pay considerably more for fuel than you would to drive just a car.

Expedition Australia has a terrific tool for calculating the cost of fuel for your campervan trip , including a widget that calculates your cost based on your estimated kilometers and vehicle type. The site also offers a spreadsheet download to calculate the cost of driving around the vast country.

Australia is best seen from the road, which explains the popularity of Aussie road trips among both travelers and locals. And with proper planning and budgeting, your own campervan holiday in Australia can be incredibly fulfilling without emptying your wallet.

Nora Dunn is a Professional Hobo and widely published international writer, digital nomad, and a major social media influencer on a wide range of topics of travel on the cheap since her endless travels began in 2007. Find out her current whereabouts at www.theprofessionalhobo.com .

No products in the cart.

Planning a Trip Around Australia by Van

Updated on: March 2024

Life is a journey, and van life lets you explore places at your own pace.

Planning a trip around Australia is no easy task, but it is without a doubt the best part of all planning!

Are you planning on travelling around Australia? Here is our round-the-country road trip itinerary.

Vast distances

How did we decide on the travel itinerary.

Our road trip itinerary was literally built with a map of Australia in hand and Google Maps on the computer. Defining the best starting point, which roads to travel, how to fit the best times to pass through each state, avoiding extreme temperatures and periods of high flow in very touristy places were some of the things we considered.

Something to point out is that several times we had to convince ourselves that, even if our plan was to GO ON A TRIP AROUND AUSTRALIA, we are not going to visit ALL OF AUSTRALIA. When it comes to Australia, there are some places that even the hardiest adventurers won’t be able to reach. Whether off-limits for wildlife protection, military manoeuvres and sheer inaccessibility, there are certain places that we are just not going to get to. Cape York and some other remote places are an example of that.

The truth is that all these variables form a challenging puzzle to put together. In addition, it is necessary to accept that the future is uncertain and that, no matter how much we plan the best route, we will always be susceptible to changes. We are also aware that over time our desires change, opportunities appear, and we want to be open to any changes that need to be made during our Australian road trip.

In saying that, we designed our best estimate of the route, which passes through Australia’s six states and two territories over 1 year of travel.

The adventure begins on the Northern Beaches in Sydney, New South Wales, where Dani and I lived before jumping in the van. From there, we plan on going to the Blue Mountains for a few days and then travel north and follow our big lap to amazing places. You can see below our planned road trip around Australia.

What do you need to consider when planning your route around Australia?

Driving at night and kangaroos.

We do not advise driving at night due to the large number of kangaroos that will jump in front of your campervan. If one jumps in front of your van, it will not only cause damage to your vehicle, but you could also kill or injure the animal.

Kangaroos are often hit by cars and need to be rescued. If you see one on the road, check its pouch for a baby kangaroo if it is safe to do so! There are several kangaroo rescue centres around Australia. You should always google their phone numbers and addresses if you need their help.

If it’s late, a good advice is to stay at caravan parks or just park at free camping spots and leave your next adventure for the next day.

Australia is a vast country with many different climate types. The outback covers three-quarters of the country’s land which means that most places are semi-arid, with sparse rainfall.

The enormous, dry middle of Australia , which includes Alice Springs, is hot year-round, with temperatures around the high 30’s to 40°C (104°F), during the day but can get very cold at night. Visiting Central Australia during winter is an adventurous and rewarding experience. The daytime temperatures are comfortably warm, and you will have warm clothing and bedding to go through the night in the red centre.

The southern half of Australia , including Tasmania, has warm summers and mild winters.

Further north , seasonal variations lessen. At the Top End , which includes Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land, has a tropical climate with just two seasons: the dry season (which runs from May to October) and the wet season (stretching from November to April), with its monsoon rains and occasional tropical cyclones. Each season lasts for about six months.

Covering an area as large as the United States of America or the entire European continent, Australia’s landscape is highly diverse; it ranges from the dry Outback to lush rainforests. It also includes 36,000 km (22,300 miles) worth of coastal land!

The Best Way to Travel Australia is by Campervan

Hiring or buying a campervan , other than being the cheapest way to explore Australia, also allows you to do it at your own pace, be spontaneous, change plans as you travel, stop wherever you want to for as long as you wish.

The best way to enjoy an adventure-filled day is to have your home wherever you park it, with a kitchen right behind the driver’s seat. You can pull into any stunning location and make lunch while soaking up views of all that nature has offered you during this grand journey! It doesn’t get more convenient or affordable than this.

Wade & Dani

Hi! We’re Wade and Dani, We’re currently travelling around Australia in our 2017 Mercedes Sprinter Camper van and sharing our best experiences, stories, reviews and adventures as we go along. Make sure to check out our socials

• Sell my car
• My Shortlist

Sign up / Sign in

• New to Carsguide? Sign up
• Welcome back! Sign in
• Edit Profile
• Find a Dealer
• What car should I buy?
• Instant Cash Offer

Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Family focused reviews and advice for everything family car related.

Off-road for beginners and the experienced, plus camper trailers, caravans and motorhomes

Utes, commercial vehicles and tow tests

We make it easy to compare design, practicality, value and more

Buying used? Here's what to look out for and buy smart

Your thoughts could drive you to more than just your next destination 🚗💬

Buying guides

Our experts pick the top models

• People mover
• Convertible

What's happening in the automotive world

Get to know the personalities behind the team every week

The stars of the latest big events

The most interesting hints of what's to come

What's been recalled and why. Are you affected?

The latest and future car tech from around the world

We're here to help you with any car issues

Looking for tips on how to carry or travel with your family?

How To, off-road tips and adventure travel destinations

Not just utes. Detailed advice for you - the tradie - on what car is right for you and your job

Looking for an answer? Our automotive experts are here to help

If you're wondering, we've probably got the answer

Unsure of your car's maximum towing capacity? We've listed all relevant models here.

Wondering how much air to put in your tyres? Our database has the answer

Everything you need to know to keep you and your family as safe as possible

Helpful advice before you finance your next car

Tips for getting the right insurance and how to make a claim

Everything you need to know when sizing up your new car

• pricing + specs

adventure guide

• Trips and Trails
• Camper-trailer Reviews

family guide

• Family Advice
• 7 Seat SUVs

tradie guide

urban guide

• Armstrong Siddeley
• Asia Motors
• Aston Martin
• Austin Healey
• Automobili Pininfarina
• Corsa Specialized Vehicles
• EV Automotive
• International
• Lamborghini
• Mercedes-Benz
• Mitsubishi Fuso
• Pininfarina
• Rolls-Royce
• Vanden Plas

SPONSORED BY

Grey nomad vehicles: five best options to travel Australia

• Ford Ranger
• Ford Everest
• Toyota Land Cruiser

Nissan Patrol

Mitsubishi pajero.

• Ford SUV Range
• Mitsubishi SUV Range
• Nissan SUV Range
• Toyota SUV Range
• Ford Ranger Reviews
• Ford Everest Reviews
• Toyota Land Cruiser Reviews
• Nissan Patrol Reviews
• Mitsubishi Pajero Reviews
• Adventure Advice
• Ford Advice
• Mitsubishi Advice
• Nissan Advice
• Toyota Advice
• Adventure advice

Grey nomads are a peculiar bunch – yet at the same time, they’re quite normal (whatever ‘normal’ implies in this day and age).

Formally defined, according to the ABC, as “Australians over 55 years old who travel for an extended time — from weeks to months — and cover more than 300 kilometres in a day across semi-arid and coastal Australia”, grey nomads are really a microcosm of society, they’re just a bit older than some of the rest, that’s all.

By the nature of their rambling lifestyle and sub-culture, grey nomads do a lot of travelling, and if a person, a couple or indeed a family does a lot of travelling, then a comfortable and capable vehicle is an absolute must.

Note: I will be referring to 4WD variants in this yarn, but you’re just as likely to see 2WD versions kicking around in grey nomad circles.

So, what grey nomads vehicles are preferred by the grey nomads themselves? What could be regarded as the best grey nomad vehicle? Well, read on. (Note: Before you rush headlong into the Comments section, scream-typing “Why is my [insert your beloved 4WD here] not on this list?!”, please consider that any ‘Top’ list is a fluid thing, as absolute specifics are near-impossible to pin down. This list is, however, based on my extensive experience and that of my well-travelled colleagues and friends, as well as the many grey nomadic folk I know. Enjoy.)

Toyota LandCruiser 

This stalwart of Australian 4WDing has long been a hit with grey nomads who drive on- and/or off-road for several reasons, and those include, but are certainly not limited to, its drivability (ease of use and comfort); its capability (in general driving terms, as well as for hauling heavy loads); its reputation for reliability (which is undeserved or has lapsed in recent years, some say); and its inherent fixability if something does actually go wrong. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, and you suffer vehicle-based strife, then you should be able to find or source Toyota parts without too much hassle – or at least that’s how the ol’ oft-repeated story goes.

There is a major trade-off though: the LandCruiser is expensive, and that’s even in used form. Just ask anyone trying to buy a second-hand Cruiser about the dreaded and unofficial ‘ Toyota tax’, i.e. the persistently high re-sale value of any Toyota that’s for sale, generally a Cruiser.

There are plenty of Cruisers being used as grey nomad vehicles, but which Cruiser variant is the preferred choice of those over-50 adventurers who rely on a reliable, capable and comfortable long-distance tourer to tow their grey nomad caravans? Well, any kind, really. Take your pick: 80, 100, 105, or 200 Series... You still 60s kicking around too.

Another Cruiser bonus: you can build up and customise your ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s awesome aftermarket industry – think ARB, Ironman 4x4, TJM, and the like.

You’d better hurry because the current model year Cruiser, with the 4.5-litre V8 twin turbo - diesel engine (200kW/650Nm), may represent your last chance to buy a new V8 version.

Towing capacity is listed as 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked).

Price: Expect to pay anywhere from $14,000 for a 1998 GXL (with 458,000km on the odo), to more than $80,000 for a new base-spec 200 Series and more than $120,000 for a top-shelf 2021 Sahara.  

This beefy well-respected 4WD wagon is another of Australia’s favourite touring vehicles and can be seen everywhere on the nation’s roads, and parked in caravan parks, or set up for camping.

In Y62 Series 5 guise, it’s more than suitable for the nomadic lifestyle and it has proven itself time and time again as one of the most comfortably capable when called on to tow grey nomad caravans, or grey nomad camper trailers.

Our recent road-test reviews have proven that any criticisms of the 5.6-litre patrol V8 Patrol’s fuel consumption being outlandish are off the mark because the big Nissan actually uses about the same as its rival, the diesel 200 Series – and the 298kW/560Nm Patrol costs considerably less to buy than the Cruiser does.

As with the Cruiser, the Patrol can built up and customised as an ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s great aftermarket industry (ARB, Ironman 4x4, et al).

Price: Expect to pay anywhere from $19,000 for a 2010 Patrol ST (4x4), through to more than $100,000 for a new top-shelf 2021 Ti-L.

Toyota Prado

It’s the Cruiser’s less macho little bro, but the Prado is still very popular because of its rock-solid reputation as a capable and comfortable touring vehicle.

Easy to drive and with a dependable 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the 150kW/500Nm Prado may have less Insta appeal than a 200 or 70 Series Cruiser, but it holds clear advantages for those of us who prefer to spend the lion’s share of our time in the real world.

The Prado is – surprise, surprise – supremely well catered for, in terms of the sheer volume of aftermarket gear available for it.

Towing capacity is listed as 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked).

Price: Expect to pay from $15,990 for a 2010 Prado GXL (4X4), through to more than $90,000 for a new top-of-the-range 2021 Prado Kakadu.  

Ford Ranger/Everest

The Ranger has long been the standard against which all other dual-cab utes are measured, and its wagon stablemate, the Ranger-based Everest , is no different in its section of the market.

Both are refined, comfortable and capable, and make great platforms as on- and off-road touring vehicles.

The Ranger – with either a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (147kW/470Nm) or a 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine (157kW/500Nm) – makes for a solid and nice-driving unit.

Same goes for the Everest, though because it’s a wagon, it lacks the Ranger’s utilitarian flexibility. But, no worries, because it more than makes up for that with its smoother ride and handling.

The Ranger and Everest have become more and more prevalent on our roads in recent years and it’s not difficult to see why they appeal to grey nomads who crave comfortable and capable touring vehicles.

A refresh though not desperately needed will be welcome.

For hints or tips on how to deal with any vehicle-based strife or to help find the best vehicle for you, have a good read through the ‘Ask the guide’ section of carsguide.com,.au, and hit the forums.

The Ranger has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked).

Price: Expect to pay from $11,500 for a 2010 Ranger XL (4X4), through to more than $78,000 for the top-spec 2021 Ranger Raptor 2.0 (4X4).

The Everest has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked) for all new Everest variants except Trend 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel (RWD / 4WD), Sport 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel (RWD / 4WD), and Titanium 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel (4WD), which each has a listed braked towing capacity of 3100kg.

Price: Expect to pay from about $37,000 for a 2017 Everest Trend (4X4), through to $74,000 for the top-spec 2021 Everest Titanium (4X4).

Though Mitsubishi is tipped to cease production of its Pajero altogether this year, this no-nonsense 4WD wagon still holds ample appeal for grey nomads and other tourers – and that’s why there are plenty of them around, on the blacktop, out in the bush and on our beaches.

While not the most exciting off-roader in the market, in terms of looks or performance, the 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero (141kW/441Nm) nevertheless has a legion of fans due to its simple, no-fuss and gutsy approach to life on and off the road. It’s not the heaviest hauler around (tow capacity is 3000kg), but it’s a gutsy unit.

It’s easy to drive, very capable and very functional and – bonus – the 4WD Pajero also has Mitsubishi's supremely effective Super Select II 4WD system.

The 2.4-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero Sport (133kW/430Nm), though light on in terms of towing capacity (3100kg) compared to segment rivals and dual-utes and general standard packability, still makes an appealing proposition as a tourer.

Price: Expect to pay from $21,000 or so for a MY2010 Pajero GLS (4X4), through to approx. $63,000 for a top-spec Exceed (4X4).

Related content

Stay up to date with the cars guide weekly newsletter

Related cars for sale.

::price:: ::priceSuffix::

Cars guide stories & articles.

Toyota HiLux 2024 review: GR Sport - off-road test

21 September 2023 · Tom White

GWM Tank 500 2024 review: Hybrid

28 March 2024 · Byron Mathioudakis

Nissan Navara 2024 review: Pro-4X Warrior - off-road test

19 March 2024 · Marcus Craft

Suzuki Jimny 2024 review: XL off-road test 

10 March 2024 · Marcus Craft

Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series 2024 review: GX 2.8L cab chassis - GVM test

22 March 2024 · Mark Oastler

Chevrolet Silverado 2024 review: 2500 HD LTZ Premium

14 March 2024 · David Morley

GWM Ute 2024 review: Cannon-XSR long-term | Part 1

11 March 2024 · Mark Oastler

Mitsubishi Triton 2024 review

1 March 2024 · Andrew Chesterton

expert guide

Toyota C-HR GR Sport 2024 review: snapshot

27 March 2024 · Chris Thompson

Mitsubishi Triton GSR 2024 review: snapshot

26 March 2024 · Andrew Chesterton

Toyota C-HR Koba 2024 review: snapshot

25 March 2024 · Chris Thompson

Kia Picanto Sport 2024 review: snapshot

25 March 2024 · Tom White

Skoda Karoq 2024 review

28 March 2024 · James Cleary

SsangYong Rexton 2024 review: Adventure

27 March 2024 · Mark Oastler

Mazda CX-5 2024 review: G35 Akera Turbo Petrol AWD

25 March 2024 · Emily Agar

SsangYong Musso 2024 review: XLV Ultimate

12 March 2024 · Emily Agar

Related cars for sale on cars guide

Road Trip Around Australia

Around australia trip planner.

Build your own road trip around Australia or embark on one of our three suggested routes and itineraries with our Around Australia road trip planner. Maps, best camping, prices, top sights, awesome photos, drive times and distances, it's all here!  So, buy or hire a campervan from the departure point of your choice  and hit the road for an adventure of a life time!

Three Routes Around Australia

1. the circumnavigation around australia.

17,100 km | 244 hr drive time | 3 months or more

This road trip can be started and finished from any point you choose, but it misses the central desert region of Australia with Uluru, the Olgas, and Coober Pedy. 

Itinerary from Cairns (example) Cairns to Darwin – 3,260 km | 9 - 15 days Darwin to Broome – 1,900 km | 7 days Broome to Perth – 3,200 km | 14 - 19 days Perth to Adelaide – 3,700 km | 16 days Adelaide to Melbourne – 1,500 km | 7 - 12 days Melbourne to Sydney – 1,200 km | 5 - 10 days Sydney to Cairns (East Coast) – 3,500 km | 5 weeks

2. Our Favorite Road Trip Around Australia

18,100 km | 258 hrs drive time | 3 months or more

This is our favorite drive around Australia because it includes the central desert region and our beloved Uluru while missing out some of the less interesting stretches between Cairns and Darwin. You can start this road trip in Cairns and end it in Adelaide, or start in Adelaide and end in Cairns.

Itinerary from Cairns  

Cairns to Sydney (East Coast) – 3,500 km | 5 weeks Sydney to Melbourne – 1,200 km | 5 - 10 days Melbourne to Adelaide – 1,500 km | 7 - 12 days Adelaide to Darwin – 3,760 km | 9 - 15 days Darwin to Broome – 1,900 km | 7 days Broome to Perth – 3,200 km | 14 - 19 days Perth to Adelaide – 3,700 km | 16 days

Itinerary from Adelaide

3. The I-Don't-Want-to-Miss-a-Thing Road Trip Around Australia

20,300 km | 293 hr drive | 4 months or more

If you're like us, and don't want to miss anything, this road trip around Australia includes not only Uluru in the central desert region but Broken Hill, Mungo National Park and the rural regions of New South Wales. You can start this road trip in Cairns and end it in Sydney, or start in Sydney and end in Cairns. 

Cairns to Sydney (East Coast) – 3,500 km | 5 weeks Sydney to Melbourne – 1,200 km | 5 - 10 days Melbourne to Adelaide – 1,500 km | 7 - 12 days Adelaide to Darwin – 3,760 km | 9 - 15 days Darwin to Broome – 1,900 km | 7 days Broome to Perth – 3,200 km | 14 - 19 days Perth to Adelaide – 3,700 km | 16 days  Adelaide to Sydney – 1,800 km | 7 - 14 days

Itinerary from Sydney

Build Your Own Road Trip Around Australia

Click the route to bring up the link.

Driving Around Australia

Vast Distances

Australia is larger than you might think - as large as the USA without Alaska and three quarters the size of Europe. It is also extremely diverse with everything from snow-capped mountains to lush tropical forests, the outback desert and rolling green pastures. If you fly from city-to-city, you'll miss all this.

The Best Way to Travel Australia is by Campervan

The best (and cheapest) way to experience Australia is to hire or buy a campervan and take a road trip. That way you can set your own itinerary, be spontaneous, take the road less travelled, and stop where you want for as long as you want.  With a kitchen in the back, you can pull into a stunning location, make lunch and soak in the views. It's the most convenient, affordable and memorable way to dine. And at the end of an adventure-filled day, your home is wherever you park it. 

Australia's Friendly Nomad Community

You will soon discover the camaraderie of the campervan community - kindred spirits who like to get off the beaten path, who appreciate the beauty of Australia, and are eager to share a few tips and their favorite camping locations with you. As Edith Wharton once said  "One of the great things about travel is you discover how many good, kind people there are." 

Traveling around Australia is a popular thing to do when you retire here, so much so that these travelers are known as the 'grey nomads'.

Kangaroos and Driving At Night

We strongly advise against driving at night due to the volume of kangaroos that will jump in front of your campervan. Not only will you damage your vehicle, but you'll injure or kill a kangaroo. When you see a dead kangaroo on the road, check its pouch for a joey when safe to do so. Kangaroo rescue centers can be located at Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Darwin, Katherine and many other towns around Australia. You can find  wildlife rescue phone numbers here . Offer it water but nothing else until you get it to a rescue centre. You might save a life! 

Outback Driving Etiquette

If a truck approaches while travelling the outback roads, it is polite (and sensible) to pull over onto the side of the road and wait for it to pass. The trucker will thank you for it and you’ll protect your windscreen from flying rocks. 

Sign up for amazing offers exclusive access for offers and promotions

Campervan hire depots, airlie beach.

Heart of Reef Shuttles, 48-50 Carlo Drive, Cannonvale, Queensland 4802 Phone: 1800 216 223

20 Noble Avenue, North Gate, Queensland 4013 Phone: 1800 216 223

440 Sheridan Street, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Phone: 1800 216 223

273 Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Victoria 3058 Phone: 1800 216 223

23-25 Erskine Rd, Caringbah, Sydney, NSW 2229 Phone: 1800 216 223

Do you have any questions or need additional information?

View The Range

HiTop - 2 Berth

Navigator - 4 Berth

Ultima - 2 Berth

Nomad - 3 Berth

Discovery - 4 Berth

River - 6 Berth

Platinum River - 6 Berth

Motorhomes For Sale

• All Locations
• New South Wales
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Try Before You Buy
• The KEA Story
• The KEA Difference
• Certified Dealers
• Dealer Profiles
• KEA Partnerships
• Our Services
• Our Warranty
• Modifications and Refurbishments
• Insurance Repairs

Helpful Guides

• Buying A Motorhome
• Travel Inspiration
• How To Guides
• Motorhome Reviews
• Ownership For Beginners
• thl Roadtrip App
• Contact Us Free Call 1300 720 020

See and experience everything Australia has to offer by a camper

Here are the tips and tricks to help you plan your next trip, guide to travelling around australia in a motorhome.

Travelling by campervan is one of the best ways to see and experience everything Australia has to offer. There’s nothing like the feeling of packing your camper and hitting the open road, following your bliss and enjoying the freedom to go and stay virtually anywhere. 

Rent a van to travel in, or make the leap to own your own motorhome, and you’ll be joining thousands of Aussies who travel the country each year.

There are many things to consider, and planning the routes to take will be an important start to your adventure before you’ve even headed off. Decide whether you should rent or buy the camper you’ll travel in, and what places and activities you really want to see (and which ones you don’t). Find out what road rules are important to know and where you can stop for the night. And remember to leave no trace as you travel around Australia’s parks and reserves.

These helpful tips and tricks will set your next road trip up for success.

Plan your routes

Being able to just get in the campervan and head off on your Australia road trip is the dream, but sometimes it takes a bit of planning, especially if you’re wanting to travel in peak times when you’ll be sharing the road with more people.

The good news is planning your route is all part of the fun. Think about where you want to go and what you really want to see and do as you travel. You may also find it helpful to think about roughly how long you’ll want to spend at each destination too. Leave extra time in case you get given a good tip you can’t miss, traffic is slow or you get chatting along the way. Aim to take a break every 2 hours and swap drivers if needed.

When you travel around Australia, you’ll start to see there are large stretches of rural outback and they can look the same if you’re not familiar with them, so it would be very easy to get lost if you don’t have a plan of where you’re going. 

It’s very important to note down where you’ll stop for gas and supplies too. The last thing you need is getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with no fuel or not enough food to get you through.

Unless you have a fully equipped vehicle and a reason to be there, stay on motorhome-safe roads, and avoid dirt roads or unsealed roads if you don’t want to get stuck, especially if it’s wet.

Buy or rent a vehicle

How long you want to travel around Australia for, and how often, will help you decide whether you should look at hiring a campervan or if you should look at motorhomes for sale.

If you’re planning on getting away on a road trip that'll last less than 3 months, renting may be a better option, and our KEA motorhomes are available to rent through Maui , Britz , and Mighty . When you rent a campervan, it comes fully equipped, includes roadside assistance, and you can travel for as long or short as you want. 

If you’re looking to travel Australia over a number of months or even years, then buying may make more sense in the long run. You can always rent a campervan first to try before you buy and see if it’ll be a good fit with your lifestyle. 

Stock up the motorhome

Always make sure you have plenty of food and water onboard. Gas stations and shops can be few and far between, so whenever you get the opportunity, stop and fill up the tank and the cupboards. It’s handy when you pull up to a campsite and not have to head out for food, or when there aren’t any shops nearby.

Visit local markets as you travel and stock up on fresh produce and delicacies, and if you like relaxing in the evening with a glass of wine, stop in at the cellar doors.

Hot weather means carrying water is really important. Make sure you carry enough water, and food, per person - at least 4-5 litres of water a day per person is a good rule of thumb. Have extra for emergencies and overnight. 

Australia has unpredictable weather in some areas, and even on hot sunny days, it can turn quickly, so have the “just in case” items too like good hiking boots, warm clothing and waterproof jackets.

Use an itinerary

Itineraries help you make the most of planning your road trip. If you start with a pre-prepared one, you’ll have a good idea of travel times and what you can fit in. You can either stick with that one, or use it as a guide to plan around the things you really want to make time for, like those ultimate bucket list stops.

Using an itinerary means you can stick to a set route and safe roads, and keep to a timeline if you have somewhere you need to be, like a pre-booked tour. But keep it flexible so it’s not so rigid it takes the joy out of travelling - road trips are about the freedom to go at your own pace.

Make sure you include stays at powered sites every couple of days to keep your motorhome interior charged up and running as well as to dispose of waste and top up your water tank for the shower and sink.

Follow the rules of the road

For a safe trip, make sure you check and follow the road rules for each state you’re in. 

Australians drive on the left hand side of the road, and give way to the right - that includes roundabouts and intersections. Even something as simple as honking your horn in a residential area may get you a fine.

Check the speed limits regularly. Different streets and towns may have different limits so it’s best not to assume, even on the open road.

Australia doesn’t allow phone use when driving (though some states do allow hands-free), so put the phone away while driving. The same goes for alcohol - Australia does have breath testing so save it for the end of the day when you’ve finished driving and parked up for the evening. 

If you’ve been driving Aussie roads for a while, all of this will be familiar. It’s worth noting though that a camper is not that much harder than driving a car. You may want to invest in accessories or upgrade your vehicles tech with reversing cameras and monitors to make parking and reversing a breeze. 

Check the forecast

Australia is famous for its blue skies and sunny days, but not all areas are hot, and some states experience tropical rain and cooler nights.

It’s a good idea to check what weather you can expect for the season and state you’re heading to, and plan your trip around the type of weather you find comfortable. For example, if you don’t like really hot weather, plan your trip for cooler months or head to areas where the temperatures aren’t as harsh.

Make sure you carry sunscreen, sun hats and appropriate clothing to keep the sun off you. Even on cloudy days you can still burn.

Know where you can park for the night

Australia is very camper-friendly, but there are some areas where it may be culturally insensitive to park up, or use the land in a way which isn’t seen to be respectful. It’s always good to get accustomed to the Aboriginal beliefs around land and sea before you travel.

There are also areas where you can’t just park anywhere, and there’ll be signs in place highlighting the restrictions. If you do happen to park in a restricted spot, you run the risk of getting fined. 

Make the most of the parking at the beautiful National Parks instead, or stay in the many great camping grounds and holiday parks across Australia. Check out the thl Roadtrip App for finding campsites and other hidden gems along the drive. 

Mind the wildlife

There is so much beautiful wildlife to enjoy, but in some areas they can be free roaming. If the wildlife is near roads, they likely won’t have any road sense, and may dart out suddenly, so do be careful when driving.

Remember to leave no trace , take your rubbish with you, take care with campfires, and respect their home.

Choose the right motorhome

Each motorhome is set up a little differently, and which one you ultimately travel with will depend on a number of factors. What kind of travel do you want to do, how many of you will be travelling, can you get up into a bed over the cab, do you want to have guests come and visit, what can you comfortably drive? All of these are important considerations when choosing the right motorhome for you.

Decide if you are happy to use campground facilities, or if you would rather have onboard facilities, particularly if you are travelling in outback areas, and remember to check you have enough room to pack your luggage, outdoor gear and supplies.

Use a navigation app

A navigation app helps make short work of planning, includes tips to help make travelling easier and offline maps that let you access them when you don’t have coverage or data so you can find your way, or plan the next leg when you’re off-grid.

It lists dump spots, campgrounds, petrol stations, and handy ‘how-to’ motorhome advice, and you can tap into the discussions to get great advice from other travellers. 

Thinking of buying a motorhome for your travels?

Check out our other helpful guides. 

• How to choose the right motorhome
• The best time of year to buy a motorhome  

Get more advice for travelling in a campervan with KEA Motorhomes. Come into a branch or visit us online .

Stealth Camping In A Van Around Australia

A campervan is one of the best ways to travel.

But it’s not always easy to find a safe, comfortable, and affordable place to sleep for the night, especially near cities and towns.

Whilst nothing beats a night in the forest or at the beach, stealth camping can be a convenient way to stay in places that are not specifically designated for overnight camping.

This is us stealth camping at the botanical Gardens in Melbourne after the Aus Open tennis.

The goal isn’t to be deceptive like some people think, but rather avoid attention, sleep peacefully, and leave no trace behind.

There are a few basics to stealth camping. Over the years, we’ve come up with some ways to find a good stealth camp spot for the night – and we’re sharing them all!

Let’s start with a pretty important question…

Is It Illegal To Stealth Camp In A Van?

Well, it depends on where you are.

In Australia, the laws around sleeping in your vehicle differ between each state and territory as there is no overarching federal law:

While these differing laws are frustrating, it’s easy to understand why they are there.

If camping was legal in every popular tourist spot, everyone would probably want to camp there and amenities like toilets, bins, and shared spaces would be overrun.

The best way to avoid a fine is to be informed on local laws when you travel.

Note, laws around sleeping in your car may be different for anyone intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.

Our Guide To Stealth Camping In A Van

Stealth camping can take a bit of trial and error.

Sometimes it’s easy, but other times you’re driving around and around at night trying to find somewhere to sleep.

We’ve been there, so we got some strategies that help us find a good spot for the night.

Here are our 11 tips for stealth camping in a van:

1. build a stealthy van.

If you ever plan on stealth camping, it’s a good idea to design a stealthy van. For example, we have flexible low-profile solar panels so they’re harder to see, we concealed our shore power outlet inside the van, and we made black-out window coverings (not curtains though) to stop people peeking in (and not for the front windows because this could potentially draw more attention). Our van isn’t 100% stealth as we do have a skylight, but we’ve done what we can to draw less attention. And if you park strategically, everything is even less noticeable!

2. Plan For BEING Stealth

If you plan on stealth camping on your trip, consider how the outside of the van looks. For us, we intentionally don’t have roof racks, an awning, bikes, stickers, etc. on the outside of our van. Of course, we would love to have these things, but we have prioritised being inconspicuous as it gives us peace of mind because we stealth camp a lot when travelling.

3. Arrive Late And Leave Early

Your stealth parking spot should be for sleep only. Wherever we end up stealth camping, we always aim to arrive late (preferably just or after it’s dark, although not too late) and leave early (ideally before people normally start to wake up). This way, there are less people around to notice your arrival and departure. And early morning starts are good for the soul anyways!

4. Set Up BEFORE Arriving For The Night

It’s tempting to get ready for bed at your camping spot, but brushing your teeth in a carpark with lights blazing isn’t exactly stealth. Instead, set up for the night somewhere nearby including eating dinner, preparing the van, and turning off all the lights. We call this getting into “incognito mode”. That way, you can take all the time in the world to wind down for the night before you drive to your final sleeping spot.

5. Scout Your Sleeping Spot In The Daytime

Whenever we plan on stealth camping, we always try to scout the location when it’s still light. That being said, we know it’s easy to get sidetracked adventuring and end up arriving at your destination well after dark. But, where possible, scout your spot in daylight so you can assess everything around you. That way, you’ll be able to see anything that might increase your chance of getting spotted.

6. Avoid Getting Out Of The Van Once You’ve Arrived

When we stealth, we avoid getting out of the van once we’ve arrived. We climb through the van rather than opening any doors and make sure we are ready for sleep before we arrive, including a quick bathroom stop. Needing the toilet overnight is one of the worst parts of stealth camping. You don’t really want to be dashing out of your van in the middle of the night to a public toilet. Getting a toilet on board is a great solve, but a She-Wee or a pee bottle of course works too!

7. Always Look At The Parking Signs

Sometimes we find ourselves in places with parking restrictions, usually when we want to be near the hustle and bustle. Wherever you end up, always make sure to read the street signs. This includes any time restrictions, overnight rules, no parking signs, or street cleaning times. As annoying as they are, rules are rules so make sure to follow them to avoid a fine!

8. Blend In

To avoid detection, we try to find places that have at least one or two other cars nearby because it’s easier to blend in. Better yet if there’s another work or commercial van nearby. However, we avoid parking near other campervans (although it’s fun to be around other campervaners, it could potentially draw more attention to you when you stealth camp).

9. Consider Your Parking Direction

If the opportunity is there, try position the van strategically. For example, if you are near foot traffic, maybe park facing outwards to reduce visibility into the van. Or, to hide your out-of-state number plates and any condensation, parallel park between two cars. In some cases though, it might be less noticeable to just drive straight into a parking spot rather than reversing, such as when arriving late at night.

10. Add Decoys

To look more like a work vehicle (and not a campervan) we add “decoys” on the dashboard like a measuring tape, random papers, a hat, or a clipboard. We recently got a car magnet that says, “Paws On Wheels” to stick on the outside of the van and blend in more like a work van.               

11. Trust Your Gut

When it comes to stealth camping, trust your gut! We’ve driven away from the “perfect spot” when something didn’t feel right, even if that meant a bit more driving when all we wanted to do was snuggle up in bed. Always have an exit plan and a back-up location (or two) just in case.

How To Find The Best Spot To Stealth in a van

While camping in a national park is unbeatable, sometimes you just want to be in and around the city. So where is the best place to park overnight in town?

These are our top 5 favourite places to search for when stealth camping:

1. car dealerships.

No one would look twice at a Renault van that is parked next to a Renault dealership. So we often look for Renault or other car dealerships like Toyota or Ford when arriving in a new town. It’s easy to blend in and we usually feel right at home. It doesn’t work everywhere because the dealerships are usually in larger cities, but it’s a good place to start!

Stealth camping near bars has become a recent favourite for us. It’s pretty normal for people to leave their car overnight at a bar and just get a taxi home, so there are usually cars around all night. Having lots of different cars around helps hide the van so we’ve slept really well when we’ve done this. Cheers to a good sleep!

3. Small And Mid-Sized Apartment Buildings

Because apartment buildings are so densely populated, there are often lots of different cars parked around them. We usually look for mid-sized apartment buildings that have street car parking – not the big apartments because they commonly have internal parking, but also not too small either because they don’t offer enough anonymity. Just be aware that residents might be able to see the top of your van (i.e., solar panels, fans, rooftop decks) which could be a bit of a giveaway that you’re inside.

Gyms are commonly in or near shopping centres or strips, so there are often always various cars around (especially if the gym is open 24 hours). We have an Anytime Fitness gym membership and often stealth camp near the gym when we travel. So long as we park near other cars, it’s usually pretty inconspicuous. And you can just roll out of bed and head straight to the gym for a workout in the morning (and a hot shower afterwards!). 

5. Parks Or Sporting Grounds

If you find the right one, parks and sporting grounds can be a great place to stealth camp. They have the added bonus of being a good place to exercise in the morning or have a picnic breakfast. However, if there are a lot of single family homes around, you might stand out like a sore thumb, so be careful when choosing one. Try find one with apartments or stores surrounding it to help with blending in.

Try for something like this.

And not something like this.

Other places to keep an eye out for:

· car mechanic/repair shops.

Like with the dealerships, car mechanic shops usually have lots of different cars parked around them. Adding a van to the mix is just another car so can you blend right in.

· Shopping Strips

Around shopping strips, there are usually lots of cars and not many people paying attention. We’ve found that usually makes for a peaceful night’s sleep! You just have to watch out for mall security.

· Industrial Areas Or Construction Sites

It’s normal for a van to be parked near construction sites or industrial areas, especially one with a clipboard on the dash. Pick and choose the location wisely though and don’t block any access points.

· Hospitals Or Health Centres

In smaller towns, district hospitals or health centres with street parking can be a good spot. However, be respectful about it and avoid getting in the way of any emergency services.

What To Avoid When Stealth Camping

Although stealth camping offers a lot of freedom, there are a few things to be mindful of:

Don’t Disturb The Locals

Our golden rule is “Don’t disturb the locals”. This means being quiet, never leaving any mess behind, and not parking right outside someone’s front door. If you don’t disturb anyone, no one should care if you’re stealth camping!

This is a permit zone and right outside someones front door, so we wouldn’t be stealth camping here.

Leave No Trace

When it comes to stealth camping, it should be like no one knew you were ever there in the first place. Park thoughtfully, collect your rubbish, and save any grey water for a proper dump site.

Avoid Parking On A Main Street

While we like to park near other cars, we avoid parking on the main street in town. Instead, we usually opt for a side street off the main street. Otherwise, there is too much traffic, which is noisy and can increase the likelihood of you getting spotted. And it doesn’t make for a restful night!

Avoid Overly Residential Areas

While the suburbs may be more peaceful, we still try to avoid them — particularly if there are single family homes on both sides. It’s really hard to blend in because most people know their neighbours’ cars, so a random van appearing might be suspicious. Instead, we try to find apartment complexes or parks with street parking.

Don’t Stay Too Long

Although it would probably take an observant person to notice your van, avoid parking in the same spot more than once. We always move parking spots when staying in town for a few days so that we are in a completely new location each night.

Don’t Park Next To Vehicles That Look Like Campervans

While we love making friends on the road, we try to avoid parking near vans that look like someone is living inside. That is because we are doing the same thing! And two of the same could potentially raise suspicions. Instead, we opt for parking near other cars or work vans.

Avoid Parking Outside Certain Organisations

This is probably a bit obvious, but pay attention to avoid accidently parking outside places like police stations, courthouses, law offices, council buildings, school zones, government facilities, and anywhere that might have patrolling security or cameras. You might be pushing your luck otherwise!

Safety In Stealthing

Crime prevention is always something to consider when stealth camping. Your campervan is your home, and you are usually carrying everything important to you inside. It’s a good idea to invest in security measures, like an alarm system, cameras, internal locks, and hidden storage.

We also try to be aware of where we park and avoid leaving any valuables within sight. We try cover all our windows and always lock the van when we leave it. Overnight, we put the keys in an easy spot to grab at night and have a getaway plan so we can quickly drive away if we need.

Free Camping

Although we love stealth camping, we always look for a free campsite first — mainly because camping in nature is better, especially as it doesn’t have the risk that someone is coming to knock on the door in the middle of the night!

We use a few apps like Wikicamps and Hipcamp, and there are Facebook groups like Vanlife Australia. But actually, our favourite way to find a free campsite when we travel is with the Camps Australia Wide book — it’s old school but it comes in very handy when you have patchy internet or forget to plan ahead.

We got this book from a friend (thanks Ang!) and never travel without it.

Sleep Well Whilst Stealth Camping

There are so many wonderful places to explore in Australia, from the national parks to the coast.

But sometimes stealth camping in a city is simply the best option on your adventure.

People seem to get so cross at people trying to LEGALLY sleep in their van on the street.

Maybe it’s because they’ve seen other campervaners abuse the trust of communities by leaving trash or setting up camp on the nature strip.

But that isn’t stealth camping!

The keyword is stealth.

Stealth camping is about getting rest overnight when travelling and leaving without a trace.

While it’s taken a while to find a strategy that works for us, we love the freedom and lifestyle stealth camping offers.

Just make sure to check the local laws and regulations to avoid that early unwanted wake-up call!

This information is for general purposes only and is not intended legal advice. Always check the relevant state or territory laws or seek professional legal advice. 

Installing Havelock Wool Insulation In Our Van

+61 2 9875 3609

• Campervans for Hire
• Motorhomes for Hire
• Vehicles for Sale
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Adelaide
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Brisbane
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Cairns
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Coffs Harbour
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Darwin
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Dubbo
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Gippsland
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Melbourne
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Perth
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Sydney
• Travel with your pets
• Recommended Itineraries
• Things To See And Do
• Places to Stay
• Driving in Australia
• Testimonials
• Privacy Policy
• Call +61298753609
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Hobart
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Canberra
• Campervan & Motorhome Hire Townsville

• Places To Stay
• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Western Australia

Top tips for travelling Australia in a motorhome

Travelling Australia in a campervan or motorhome is truly one of the best and safest ways to experience everything our nation has to offer. A self-drive trip also offers a lot of freedom, as everything you could possibly need is already in your vehicle.

Here are five of our top tips to make the most of your motorhome experience.

Plan, plan, plan

We love spontaneity when it comes to adventures, but sometimes travelling around Australia requires some planning – especially during peak times. The things we recommend looking at in advance are; the motorhome or campervan, a general route and accommodation at caravan parks or other paid camping areas, which can get booked out during peak periods.

If you need a helping hand, we have some great itineraries here . It is also good to write a list of everything you need to pack before you go so you’re ready to pick up your RV and go!

Make use of travel apps, like the Let’s Go Motorhomes app

Let’s Go Motorhomes has a handy app that is full of useful features including maps, campground and accommodation options, petrol stations, public toilets and grocery shops. It also flags any road warnings and deals in your area. The app is available from the App Store and Google Play for free. Google Maps is also great as you can access a route offline as long as you’ve searched it before going out of service. There are also apps you can download that tell you the price at all petrol stations in the area so you can find the cheapest fuel.

Break up the drive

When road tripping, you should aim to take a break at least every two hours. This keeps you, and everyone else safe while on the road. When planning your road trip route, ensure you’re considering time for breaks when looking at the distance, and you are mapping out places to take a break and swap drivers if you need.

Chat to other travellers

Other travellers are the best source of tips and tricks for life on the road. When you’re at campsites, make sure to chat with your neighbours and ask them about the best things to do and see in the area – you never know what insights they might be able to offer.

Always carry food and water

Always ensure you have food and water on hand. Firstly, it is super handy when you can just roll into a campsite and not have to make a mad dash to the shops, but it’s also handy if you head somewhere where there aren’t any shops. The best thing about Let’s Go vans is that there is plenty of storage so you can stock up on food and bottled water before you hit the road. All of our vans come equipped with a fridge as well.

What are your tips for travelling in a motorhome? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook or Instagram page.

Related Posts

You have probably worked out that Australia is a very big country. Our passion is…

Holidaying in Australia doesn’t always come cheap, and while it may be easy to justify…

Planning a family motorhome escape these school holidays? Here are our top tips that will…

The ultimate guide to getting around Australia

Oct 24, 2023 • 9 min read

A road trip is a highlight of a visit to Australia, but there are other great ways to travel too © pixdeluxe / Getty Images

Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, with very different regions and climates. Deciding where to go – and how to get there – requires some major planning.

At first glance, flying and train fares in Australia look expensive (and a lack of competition does mean there are few bargains), but when you compare car rental, insurance, fuel and accommodation costs, a flight from Sydney to Perth suddenly looks a little more appealing.

If you don't have time to spare, you're likely to rely on internal flights to cover large distances – an alternative is to focus your trip on one region.

When deciding on the best way to get around Australia, weigh up how much time you have, what level of luxury you require and the carbon footprint you want to leave behind.

If you're short on time, you'll need to take internal flights

Flying is the only way to do more than one state on a shorter stay. Australia's main domestic airlines service major cities and key tourist sites – like Yulara for Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park – with regular flights. Major players are Jetstar , Qantas  and Virgin Australia .

Traveling by long-distance bus is a great budget option

Australia's extensive bus network is a reliable way to get between towns and cities, but distances are often vast, so be prepared for long days or nights. Most Australian buses are equipped with air-conditioning (essential in summer), comfortable seats and toilets; all are smoke-free, and some have wi-fi and USB chargers. Ask about hop-on hop-off fares, which give you more flexibility. Some operators also offer discounted fares for seniors, students and children.

The main bus companies in Australia are Greyhound Australia , Firefly Express , Integrity Coach Lines (in Western Australia), Premier Motor Service (NSW) and V/Line in Victoria, which runs a mix of buses and trains.

Another way to get around by bus is on a tour. Some offer the whole package, including accommodation and meals; others are less formal options to get from A to B and see the sights on the way. Popular outfits running coach tours include AAT Kings , Adventure Tours Australia , Autopia Tours  and  Untamed Escapes .

Explore Australia on an epic train journey

Long-distance rail travel in Australia is something you do because you really want to − not because it's cheap, convenient or fast. That said, trains are more comfortable than buses, and there's a certain "romance of the rails" that's alive and well in Australia. The most notable long-distance rail journeys in Australia are the Indian Pacific between Sydney and Perth, the Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, Great Southern between Brisbane and Adelaide, and The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin via Alice Springs.

Intra- and inter-state trains operators include Queensland Rail , which runs the high-speed Spirit of Queensland service between Brisbane and Cairns; NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra; and V/Line within Victoria, which links up with coach connections into NSW, SA and the ACT.

Road-tripping in Australia is an amazing experience

Whether you're focusing your visit on one state or several, exploring Australia by road is the ultimate way to discover this vast nation. For 4WD or motorcycle adventures, you'll also need specialist skills, guidebooks, maps and equipment. 

Choosing whether to hire a vehicle or buy one will depend on the length of your stay and how far you’re traveling. Here are the pros and cons to consider in the hire vs buy debate:

Hiring a car or camper means you've got a reliable vehicle

For a shorter trip, car rental is probably more cost-effective – you’ll get a newer, safer and more reliable vehicle. If you have any issues, you get roadside support, and your costs are fixed at the daily car hire rate. Large rental companies have offices in major cities and airports, and most require drivers to be over the age of 21 (sometimes 25). It’s slightly more expensive to do a one-way hire.

Campervans are also available for rent, which would cover some of your accommodation costs. You still need to pay to overnight at campsites or find designated spots where you can free camp. Australia-based companies that hire campervans include Apollo , Britz , Hippie Camper , Jucy , Maui , Mighty Campers , Spaceships  and Travelwheels . To compare car hire deals, go to CarHire.com .

All the usual advice applies for car and van hire. Read the contract. Understand the small print, including accident excess cover (you can buy your own separately, but you may need to put down a large "holding" deposit with the car hire firm). Make sure all your drivers have the appropriate driving licenses and travel insurance. Always thoroughly inspect the vehicle before leaving and note any pre-existing damage. Given the scale of Australia, you should ask for unlimited kilometers as you’re most likely going to travel big distances. Find out if you can take the vehicle on unsealed roads.

Buying a car or a van might be best for longer trips

Buying your own vehicle gives you the freedom to go where and when your mood takes you and may work out cheaper than renting in the long run. The downsides of DIYing are the admin costs and repairs.

When you buy a vehicle in Australia, you need to transfer the registration (Aussies call it "rego," of course) into your own name within 14 days. Each state has slightly different requirements. When selling a vehicle, you need to advise the state or territory road-transport authority of the sale and change of ownership name. If you just don’t change the registration or give the vehicle away, you’ll still be liable for subsequent fines and future rego certificates from the new owners.

Sellers are required to provide a roadworthy certificate when transferring registration in most states. If the vehicle you're considering doesn't have a roadworthy certificate, ask for one before you agree on the price. This can cost $100 but will save you money on unknown repair costs. Road transport authorities have lists of licensed vehicle testers. Note that registering a vehicle in a different state from the one it was previously registered in can be time-consuming and more expensive, something to be aware of when planning to sell at the end of your trip.

It's prudent to have a vehicle checked by an independent expert before you buy it, and state-based automobile clubs (for example, the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) offer vehicle checks. Road transport authorities (RTAs) have lists of licensed garages you can book directly. 

Five common driving hazards you need to know

There are a lot of things to think about when hitting the road in Australia. Here are five risks you need to keep in mind.

1. There may be animals on the road, particularly at night

Many Australians avoid traveling once the sun goes down because of the risks posed by nocturnal animals on the roads. Kangaroos are common on country roads, as are cows and sheep in the unfenced outback. Kangaroos are most active around dawn and dusk and often travel in groups – if you see one hopping across the road, slow right down, as its friends may be just behind it. If you injure an animal while driving, you can call the local wildlife rescue line, which is sometimes signposted along the route. 

2. Drive slowly and carefully on dirt roads in the countryside 

Unsealed road conditions vary wildly depending on the road and the weather. Cars and vans perform very differently on dirt when braking and turning corners. Don't exceed 60kph (37mph) – if you go faster, you won't have time to respond to a sharp turn, animals on the road or an unexpected pothole. A wet dirt road means mud and can quickly become impassable – something to keep in mind if traveling in tropical northern Australia during the summer "wet season" (November to April).

3. Look out for "road trains" on the highways

A lack of rail infrastructure in Australia means you’re likely to cross paths with road trains (trucks with two or three trailers stretching for as long as 50m) on the highway. Overtaking is risky. On single-lane roads in more remote places, get off the road when a truck approaches; they don’t slow down for cars. Stones or debris can clip your car as it passes, so get as far out of the way as possible.

4. Fill up with fuel at every chance in remote areas

In cities and towns, service stations are plentiful, but distances between fill-ups can be huge in the countryside – pay attention to your fuel gauge and those yellow road signs announcing the next roadhouse. Filling your tank whenever you can is the best precaution, especially if you need to take a diversion thanks to a flooded road or some other weather-related event. Electric recharging spots are popping up all over Australia, making hybrid and electric road trips a viable alternative.

5. Do not ignore tiredness when driving  

Be wary of driver fatigue; driving long distances (particularly in hot weather) can be utterly exhausting, and falling asleep at the wheel is a very serious risk. Stop and rest regularly − do some exercise, change drivers and have a coffee. Do not drive if you’re feeling drowsy.

Drive responsibly and minimize your impact

If you’ve committed to buying a car or van and driving around Australia, there are some ways to minimize your environmental impact on your journey:

• Ensure your vehicle is well-serviced and tuned.
• Travel lightly and drive slower to reduce fuel consumption.
• Stay on designated roads and vehicle off-road tracks (if you’re 4WDing).
• Don't drive on walking tracks, and avoid driving on vegetation. Cross creeks at designated areas.
• Always take all your rubbish if you’ve been camping overnight.
• Consider ride-sharing with fellow travelers where possible.

Road trip around Australia on this 3-month-long itinerary 

You have a 90-day tourist visa and want to see all of Australia, right? It’s not possible to see everything , but you can conceivably do both coasts and the outback if you’re prepared to keep moving (ideally taking turns behind the wheel with travel companions if you're driving this route). 

We suggest you begin in Perth . Drive the west coast via Albany (to the south), then up to Broome via Ningaloo and the Pilbara and over to Darwin . Turn south through Alice Springs and detour via Uluru . Continue straight down the Stuart Highway to Adelaide , then make your way to Melbourne , either inland or via the more scenic coast. Now you’ve got about a month to six weeks to get to far north Queensland via the beaches of southern New South Wales, the waterfalls inland from Byron Bay and the Daintree rainforest north of Cairns . If you skip Sydney and Brisbane (you’ll be dusty by now, and finding places to park is a pain), you can always pop back via bus or plane after you’ve offloaded your vehicle – which has just had an extra 20,000km (12,400 miles) added to its mileage.

This article was first published June 2021 and updated October 2023

Explore related stories

Architecture

Mar 26, 2024 • 8 min read

All built within the last 150 years, these stunning buildings around the world are monuments that will stand the test of time.

Feb 27, 2024 • 6 min read

Feb 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Feb 9, 2024 • 12 min read

Jan 29, 2024 • 19 min read

Jan 5, 2024 • 20 min read

Jan 2, 2024 • 11 min read

Dec 3, 2023 • 8 min read

Nov 29, 2023 • 10 min read

Nov 27, 2023 • 7 min read

How to choose the best car to travel around Australia?

The best car to travel around Australia can be a challenge to find. Especially if you have never been in Australia before. 

But, the first time for everything is always the most exciting one, right? However, choosing a perfect vehicle for your road trip around Australia for the first time can be little overwhelming. RVs? Motorhomes? Campervans? Trailers? What do these names mean? Which one is better?

What type of vehicle should you choose for your epic Australian adventure? What is the best car to travel around Australia? How to choose a vehicle for road trip around Australia ?

We spent three months deciding, comparing and researching how to travel around Australia in order to choose the best vehicle for our road trip around Australia. Just for you now, we gathered all information together so you can save time and plan your road trip instead.

Would you like to learn more about travel planning? Check our Reverse travel planning strategy!

How we broke down in the Australian Outback

Saving money while travelling belongs at the top of our priorities every time we travel. But as we learned from road tripping in Australia, there is one item on our list we never save money on and that is a car insurance. Road trip around Australia was rated as one of the most beautiful road trips in the world. Therefore there are thousands of people who drives around Australia every year. And every traveller face a dilemma, should they or shouldn’t they bought a car insurance? Is the car insurance worth the money? Full coverage car insurance Full coverage car

How much does it REALLY cost to travel in Australia?

By googling how much does it cost to travel in Australia, you will probably be scared to death to even think about going there. Why? Because the internet is full of warnings how Australia is uber expensive. And yet, there are thousands of backpackers travelling happily around Australia every year. Yes, cost to travel in Australia can be high, but just if you choose it to be. Australia probably never will be as cheap country to travel around as Southeast Asia. However, with our tips, we will help you to lower your overall cost to travel in Australia significantly. Don´t

18 Tips for planning a road trip around Australia

After living and traveling in Australia for almost three years, we put together TOP 18 TIPS for planning a road trip around Australia. Our tips will not just help you save money but they will also reveal you all things you should be aware of, so you are well prepared for all that Australia has to offer. So let´s get start planning a road trip around Australia together. Would you like to learn more about planning trips? Check our Reverse Travel Planning Strategy! Here are our TOP TIPS for planning a road trip around Australia: 1) DRIVING CONDITIONS Get yourself familiar

The best car to travel around Australia can be a challenge to find. Especially if you have never been in Australia before.  But, the first time for everything is always the most exciting one, right? However, choosing a perfect vehicle for your road trip around Australia for the first time can be little overwhelming. RVs? Motorhomes? Campervans? Trailers? What do these names mean? Which one is better? How to choose the best car to travel around Australia? What type of vehicle should you choose for your epic Australian adventure? What is the best car to travel around Australia? How to

The best car to travel around Australia - What is what?

First thing when you start deciding what is the best car to travel around Australia is to understand the different types of cars. Words like motorhomes, campers, station wagons, campervans, and RVs are all used to describe different vehicles that are available for hire. An RV, in other words, recreational vehicle, or camper are just generic terms for vehicles with special fittings adapted for camping. Motorhome, campervans and station wagons are types of RVs that are different in sizes and features.

The trick when deciding what is the best car to travel around Australia and waht car is the right choice for you is to understand your budget, have an idea of where you plan to travel, for how long and how many people will be traveling with you. Basically, you can choose from following options:

 – Standard car and sleeping in a tent

 – Car with a roof tent

 – Motorhome

 – Campervans

 – 4WD

 – Trailers

So, what is the best car to travel around Australia? Let´s look at your options closely.

 1. Standard car and sleeping in a tent

As much as we love camping and sleeping in a tent, we did not choose this option for a road trip around Australia. And we had a few reasons why:

If you already own a car, traveling around Australia, of course, can be much cheaper than hiring a campervan. But it also depends on where are you going to travel. If it rains, and trust me in some part of Australia it rains a lot, it is not comfortable to set up the tent every day/night as well as wrapping up a wet tent into a car.

Additionally, we like to drive until almost complete dark, which makes setting up a tent very difficult. Also, sleeping in a tent in the northern parts of Australia does not feel very safe because of the famous inhabitants, crocodiles. Moreover, it is not always easy to find a good soil to pitch a tent.

Last but not least, sleeping in a car at the places where no one was around just felt safer overall.

If you were thinking about hiring a car for your road trip around Australia, it makes more sense to book a campervan anyway. The rates for a car and a campervan are pretty comparable. Campervan might be even cheaper and it provides a much more comfortable way of traveling. It also comes with all the additional features and equipment like fridge, awning extensions, kitchen equipment, water tank and gas stove.

However, if you plan to travel with more people, hiring a car and sleeping in a tent can leverage your daily costs easily.

Average daily rate: $25 plus insurance

 2. Cars with a roof tent

Roof top tents are getting more and more attention nowadays. The tent is usually securely attached to the rack on the roof and when needed, it can be deployed instantly. After unfolding a tent, you gain access to the tent by lowering a ladder.

Sleeping in a roof tent has few indisputable advantages. You sleep off the ground, so you do not have to worry that much about crawling creepy animals. The roof tent can be set up easily and quickly. So you do not have to spend time with finding a good soil to pitch your tent and setting up the classic tent.

Also, mattress, pillows, and blankets can be stored inside a tent when folded up, which saves a lot of space in the car. Additionally, and this is very convenient for some, you do not have to clean your vehicle every night before going to sleep.

We were actually looking for a car with a roof tent for us for a road trip around Australia too. But after a while, we changed our minds, because roof tents can easily add the weight to the car, which means higher fuel consumption. Also when it is really windy, roof tents do not always feel secure. Plus daily rate for those cars is much higher than for standard campervans because roof tents are usually fitted onto 4WDs.

Average daily rate: $250 plus insurance

3. Motorhomes

Motorhomes come in different classes depending on their sizes and interior equipment. In general, motorhomes offer the most interior space and luxurious features. Storage space can also stock a lot of supplies. They are equipped with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and they come with an extra storage space. It is not called motorhome for anything, it actually looks like your-home-away-from-home. They are completely self-contained and can fit up to six people.

Yet, their size is often intimidating. Their length can be over 7,5 meters, which makes them hard to maneuver, especially on mountain roads. Also, parking in cities, underground parking lots or restrictive camping sites may prove to be a hassle. Additionally, after setting up a motorhome, it is difficult to get yourself around. That is why most of the travelers, also tow another smaller vehicle with them. It is just simpler to set up the motorhome and use a smaller vehicle for day trips, grocery shoppings or other necessary driving.

There is no doubt that motorhomes can add a luxurious sparkle to camping. However, the initial hiring costs, insurance, and fuel consumption are astronomically high. That is why they are off any backpackers budget. The daily rates start at $250 without an insurance.

Advantages:

– A lot of living and storage space

– Usually fully self-contained

– A lot of luxurious features to choose from

– Fit up to six people, ideal for a family with kids

Let us explain why we think Motorhomes are not the best car to travel around Australia.

Disadvantages:

– Way off any backpacker budget, expensive to hire, maintain, insure and operate

– Can be intimidating to drive, size of the motorhome is very often very inconvenient

– You will need another car for your day trips, grocery shopping etc.

– Hard to park in cities, underground parking lots and even in some camping sites

These motorhomes are usually very popular among Australian retirees, families with kids and long haul travelers.

Average daily rate: $220 plus insurance

 4. Campervans – The winner of the best car to travel around Australia

Campervans are part of a motorhome family, but they are much smaller and more economical to operate and maintain. They are very often built on a standard full-sized van chassis. Sometimes they might even come with a roof tent to save some space inside the campervan. These vans are customized to include temporary sleeping and eating facilities.

Campervan usually refers to a smaller van, two to three berth vehicle. Thanks to their smaller size, they are easier to maneuver, park and drive. It is also easier to take them for a day trip or to run errands. Travelers have often access to a refrigerator, sink, air conditioning and some of them might even have shower or toilet. These are much cheaper to hire, insure and they are much economical to operate. Check also Top 10 tips you should know before booking a campervan .

One of the best site to start looking for a campervan and copmare prices is HERE . 

With a campervan, your accommodation is already sorted. Also, most campervans have kitchenettes and gas stove, so you can easily prepare your own food and keep your costs down. Most of the campervans come with some kind of kitchen table or kitchen area so you can easily prepare your food. So there is no need to eat out if you travel on a budget. This can save you so much money because Australia is not cheap when it comes to eating in restaurants. Plus many campsites around Australia have barbecues, that are free for public use.

The campervan is a general name for smaller vans that are adapted for traveling and camping. You have a lot of options to choose from, from small cars to big vans.

Station wagon

These cars are just standard cars that have been changed inside to fit the bed or at least a mattress in the back of the wagon. They are perfect for travelers on a tight budget, who plan to mix it up between camping, sleeping in a wagon and staying in hostels. These cars are the cheapest option to hire, the daily rate starts at $35 a day plus insurance. Perfect way for people who are not planning to travel for a really long time, because the storage space is limited and there is usually no equipment inside, like a fridge.

Average daily rate: $35 plus insurance

Standard campervans

These vans are of course bigger than station wagons which mean more space for you. Perfect for a couple or maximum of three people. If you plan to travel for a long period of time, campervan will be the great vehicle for you. They are usually pretty easy to drive if you are comfortable with driving a van.

Campervans are usually more expensive than station wagons, the daily rate starts at $45 a day, plus insurance. But if you plan ahead and book your campervan early enough, you can receive an early booking discount. Also, the campervan is far better equipped. The standard fitting includes fridge, kitchen sink with kitchen facilities, gas stove, water tanks and bigger storage space for your backpacks.

Average daily rate: $50 plus insurance

Small campervans are the best car to travel around Australia

These campervans are even smaller than vans. They combine the advantages of station wagons and vans.  In Australia, it is usually a brand Toyota Tarago/Estima, that serves to these purposes.

A bed is fitted into the back of the car, but unlike station wagon, there is more storage space in a small campervan. They are well equipped, fridge, gas stove, kitchen equipment, water tanks and lockable storage space. Some of them might even have a kitchen sink.

This small van was the vehicle of our choice because we loved everything about it:

 – it has fuel consumption as a regular car

 – it is easier to maneuver and park

 – if you plan to use ferry while traveling, ferry crossing might be much cheaper in a small size campervan

 – a good compromise between a van and station wagon with enough storage space

 – it does not scream that much that we are travelers, some of these campervans have almost no advertisement on the car whatsoever

 – because it has a size of a regular car, you are allowed to park in an underground parking lots or cities/towns, just like you would with your regular car.

 – you still have one or two seats free for hitchhikers or someone else to share the daily rate

Average daily rate: $40 plus insurance

Without a doubt, the best car for road trip around Australia was and always will be and off-road car, or 4WD. Australia, more than any other country in the world, is the queen of unsealed roads. Unfortunately hiring cost are high. The daily rate starts at $150 a day plus insurance. And there is a catch – the insurance usually comes with an excess. Not many rental companies will allow you drive their off-road car without any liability, so even with an insurance, you are still responsible to some extent for any car damage.

These cars are expensive to hire, buy and run – the average fuel consumption is higher, around 17l per 100 km. However, if you plan an epic Australian adventure and you want to include some awesome unsealed roads – go for it. These are perfect for travelers who are looking to head off the beaten tracks and for those who want to explore remote parts of Australia.

However, driving in Australia, in general, is not easy and it is definitely not easier to drive an off-road car on unsealed road. People hiring these cars should be well-prepared and confident in driving. They should be very familiar with driving conditions in remote areas and on unsealed roads.

Average daily rate: $200 plus insurance

6. Trailers

A trailer is usually defined as an unpowered wagon drawn by a truck or a car. These are particularly popular in Australia but they are not really suitable for backpackers and travelers for many reasons.

The first and probably the most obvious reason is that you need a car that is able to tow the trailer. Not every car has enough horsepower to tow it. You can choose from a wide range of trailers, from a simple tent trailer to very luxurious and massive almost-looking-like-homes trailers. However, bigger the trailer, more difficult the driving and more requirements for the towing car.

There is a limit to the weight a vehicle can pull and that is the strength of the engine and transmission of the vehicle. Also, you need to remember that bigger the trailer, the stronger the rear suspension of the vehicle needs to be. A typical travel trailer can be usually handled by large SUV or pickup trucks, but if you are thinking about purchasing a bigger trailer, you will need some pretty duty tow vehicle.

Pulling a trailer is like pulling a small building behind your car, so it means your fuel consumption will raise. However, it is easier to move around after you set trailer down. You can unhook the vehicle and get around easily without the necessity of towing a trailer or fit with a huge motorhome.

Average daily rate: $150 plus insurance

Have you ever traveled around Australia? What vehicle did you choose for your road trip around Australia? What do you think is the best car to travel around Australia? Would you do any changes? What is the best car to travel around Australia according to you? Let us know in comments down below. Also, if you like the post, do not forget to subscribe to our newsletter and share the post on social media 🙂

You may also like

Top 10 things to know before booking..., 18 tips for planning a road trip..., what is the best way to travel..., email challenge, sign up for our newsletter to join our free 5-day travel planning email challenge.

A step-by-step guide you need to find the PERFECT DESTINATION for your next trip.

FREE TRAVEL RESOURCE LIBRARY

Sign up to our newsletter to get access to the free travel resource library.

Our Travel Library includes workbooks, cheatsheets, budget spreadsheets and other tools you need to plan your next trip without stress.

Disclaimer - Terms and Conditions

Nomads Around Australia

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CAMPING AUSTRALIA IN A CAMPERVAN

A nomadic lifestyle, table of contents.

• I. What is a Camper Van?
• II. Types of Camper Vans
• III. Useful Campervan Accesories (Checklist)
• IV. Advantages of Travel in a Camper Van vs Tent, Bus or Caravanning
• V. Cons of Travel in a Camper Van
• VI. Where to Camp
• VII. What is the Best Time of Year to Camp in Australia?
• VIII. How to Find a camping Spot?
• IX. Essentials for Camping in a camper van (Checklist)
• X. How Much Do Camp Sites Cost in Australia?
• XI. Free Camping in Australia
• XII. Important Staff
• XIII. Two Great Spots for Free Camping in NSW

"We’ve put together this epic guide to help you understand everything you need to know about camping in Australia in a van."

What is a camper van, "just buy a van just buy it, live in it, chuck a bed in it you can take each day as it comes. time literally has stopped for me.", john - vanlifer​, types of camper vans, fixed roof vans, high roof vans, poptop campervans (outside of australia they are also know as rising roof campervan), classic camper vans, demountable camper, don't miss out, join the van life community.

GATHERINGS, VAN TOURS, BEST VAN LIFE GEAR…

FOR NOMADS, BUSLIFERS, TRUCKLIFERS AND ALL OF YOU HAVING A NOMADIC LIFE

USEFUL CAMPERVAN ACCESORIES (CHECKLIST)

• 12v LED lights
• Fresh drinking water tanks
• Spare tyre, jack and tools
• Cooking facilities like a gas stove
• An emergency kit (that includes a couple of coldies!!!)

ADVANTAGES OF TRAVEL IN A CAMPER VAN VS TENT, BUS OR CARAVANNING

• Easy to setup when camping – This is true for both setting up a caravan or tent!
• Cheaper fuel costs than a caravan or bus
• Get to free camping sites – To get to some free camps you might have to travel off the beaten track! Unless you have a 4×4 caravan or bus, this can sometimes be tricky. Although the same can be said for a van, you can generally get to more places in a van than a bus!
• Easy to park around towns or shopping centres

CONS OF TRAVEL IN A CAMPER VAN

• Small space – A fully converted campervan is small and compact. This means living in a small space, which may take a bit of getting used to. Being tidy, packing your things away, and only having absolute essentials onboard makes things easier – especially if you’re two on the road!
• Rainy and cold weather – This follows on from the previous point, but imagine being couped up in rainy and cold weather in your campervan for three days straight!! Well, in Australia, it can and often does rain for days on end!
• If the camper is not a 4wd sometimes it’s hard to get to certain places – Although a van might give you more flexibility than a bus, if it’s not a 4WD, then you could still be limited in getting to some places…

WHERE TO CAMP

Paid campgrounds, private campgrounds, showgrounds, national parks, rv friendly towns, stealth camping.

• Have a van that doesn’t look too obvious
• Don’t sit and/or cook in the same place as you park
• Get great curtains that don’t let light escape from the inside
• Don’t park in the busy streets
• Don’t park places that have “No camping” or “No overnight parking” signs

NOMADS, BUSLIFERS, TRUCKLIFERS AND ALL OF YOU HAVING A NOMADIC LIFE

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO CAMP IN AUSTRALIA?

• Wet Season – November to April
• Dry Season – May to October
• Summer – December to February
• Autumn – March to May
• Winter – June to August
• Spring – September to Novemberx

HOW TO FIND A CAMPING SPOT?

National park campgrounds.

• New South Wales (NSW)
• Victoria (VIC)
• Queensland (QLD)
• Western Australia (WA)
• Northern Territory (NT)
• Australia Capital Territory (ACT)
• South Australia (SA)
• Tasmania (TAS)

App or website

Probably the easiest way to find a camp spot, whether it be free camping, an RV friendly town, a caravan park, or national park, is to use an app or website. There are a number of different apps out there, but you could start with  Full Range Camping.  The free version provides search options. There is also a paid version that provides offline access, a travel diary and discounts to useful products. 

You can download the free FullRangeCamping app for  iPhone here , and for  Android here .

ESSENTIALS FOR CAMPING IN A CAMPER VAN (CHECKLIST)

• Insect repellant / Mossie spray
• Hand soap – to wash your hands at rest stops
• Roadside Assistance (go with Premium)
• Mobile internet

HOW MUCH DO CAMP SITES COST IN AUSTRALIA?

National parks, private campgrounds, caravan parks / holiday parks, showgrounds, bowling clubs and pubs, free camping in australia, rv friendly towns, stealth camping.

• Looking for signs that say “No overnight camping” or similar, and DO NOT stay in that area!
• Keeping noise to a minimum
• Don’t stealth park in front of someone’s house
• Don’t be obvious when parking. For example, don’t set up the table and chairs and crank up the BBQ!

IMPORTANT STUFF

Showers and toilets in australia, bbq’s, barbeques, barbecues, compulsory third party (ctp) insurance, third party insurance, roadside assistance, two great spots for free camping in nsw, free camping bulahdelah, free camping bulahdelah details.

• Town: 100 metre walk
• Maximum stay: 72 hours
• Toilets: 100 metre walk over bridge
• Showers: No (but you can pay at the campgrounds or go to the local swimming pool)
• Telephone reception: Yes
• Other: Dump point about 1km away in the showground

Free Camping Bingara

Free camping bingara details.

• Town: 3km walk (unless you cross the river and then it’s about 2km)
• Maximum stay: 7 days
• Water: No (but you can access water in town for a small price)
• Toilets: No
• Showers: No
• Other: Dump point about 3km away in the showground

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, there are heaps of free places to camp in Australia. They are designated areas and normally have a maximum time limit to stay. Free camping in Australia can be found in RV Friendly Towns, rest stops by the highway and free camping spots all over the country. There are a few apps that you can use to find free camping in Australia like the  WikiCamps Australia app .

WATCH SERIES 1

You might also be interested in..., diy mercedes sprinter van tour that includes a bath and flush toilet | van life australia, van life australia in a vw t3 westfalia – how a couple travels in an old vw pop top van | van life australia, living the digital nomad lifestyle in a mercedes sprinter camper with shower, toilet and kitchen | van life australia.

How to find the best vehicle to travel Australia

Posted on Published: February 22, 2020

So you’ve decided that you want to do a big lap, but now you’re on the search to find the best vehicle to travel Australia.

There are SO MANY options, that it can be confusing and frustrating trying to figure out what you need and what you don’t.

So in this article I hope to help you determine which is the best vehicle FOR YOU to travel around Australia in.

We’ll look at all the available options, and then the things that you’ll need to consider for your trip. Hopefully this will help you to narrow down the choices of what type of vehicle would be the most suitable for your travels.

Best way to travel around Australia

It has to be said first, but the best vehicle to travel around Australia in, is the one that you can afford!

So with the options listed below I’ve started with the most expensive and then moving on to the less expensive.

Note: this is a generalisation. You will find some camper trailers will cost more than a motorhome, but in general, they cost less.

In ordering this list, I haven’t included the cost of a tow vehicle for the caravan or camper trailer. If you have to buy a caravan AND tow car, they could easily end up being the same cost as a motorhome.

Let’s get on with looking at all the options!

Travelling around Australia in a motorhome

Motorhomes are self-contained homes on wheels, with everything including your sleeping, cooking, bathroom and relaxing facilities. There are lots of different types of motorhomes but as long as you have a budget over $20k minimum you should (hopefully) be able to find something that suits your needs. It will be old though.

If you’re buying brand new, you’ll need to think about a starting budget of at least $100k.

• All self-contained in one vehicle
• Comfortable
• Quick to set up (i.e almost no set-up) and pack-down each time you move

Limitations

• Sight-seeing can be limited by where you can take and park your motorhome. Unless you decide to tow a smaller vehicle behind your motorhome
• High fuel consumption
• Require some skill to drive
• Not many of them are suitable for driving off the bitumen ( although some are )

Travelling around Australia in a caravan

This would undoubtedly be the most common option here in Australia. Caravan numbers far outweigh any of the other options by a huge margin.

The caravan generally offers the most comfort (and price) of the towed options, and in this caravan category I would include pop-top and expanda type of caravans.

Caravans for Couples   Pop top caravans Australia   Toy Hauler Caravans Australia

If you’ve got plenty of time to prepare, you may get inspired to buy an old caravan for cheap, and renovate it. That’s a really popular option and becoming more and more so.

• You can set up camp and then use your tow vehicle for day trips
• Generally quick to set up
• New caravans are generally self contained (toilet, shower & water tanks) but many older caravans aren’t
• Prices vary wildly – from a few thousand for an old caravan, up to $100k for a new caravan with all the bells and whistles
• May be able to be taken off-road depending on your rig
• Adds to the fuel consumption – the bigger and heavier you tow, the worse your fuel economy will be
• May be limited in where you can park when you’re passing through cities or towns with the full rig

Also consider fifth wheels – these are much like a caravan except that the tow hitch sits on the bed of your ute (so yes, you need a ute or truck). They are generally larger than caravans and have much the same benefits and limitations as a caravan.

Campervan around Australia

The campervan is a van size vehicle that has been converted into a small motorhome and seems to be the vehicle of choice for backpackers the world over.  They are generally more affordable (hence the popularity with backpackers) and small enough to be manoeuvrable.

• Many are fully self-contained (although this may be a porta-potty under the bed)
• Small enough to fit into regular car spaces
• Good fuel economy
• Good for 1 or 2 people, maybe even 3 people depending how long you’re going for and how comfortable you are with each other
• Quick set-up and pack-down
• Can be cramped inside with limited living space
• The dining/sitting area needs to be converted each night into a bed
• May be limited in off-road options if it’s not a 4×4

See our compilation of the best campervans available in Australia (these are brand new, so not on the cheaper end of the scale!)

Camper trailer around Australia

A camper trailer is basically a tent that folds out from a trailer. There is usually a kitchen built into the trailer that either opens out or slides out, but no bathroom facilities.

But then the camper trailer generally enables more off road type of travelling and has the benefit of being smaller and lighter.

• They’re light, small and generally a reasonably cheap option
• Not self-contained
• The camper trailer is more time consuming to set-up and pack-down

Camper Trailer Brands

4WD with roof top tent

Add some roof racks to your 4WD and you can put a tent up there. You have everything you need contained in the one vehicle.

• Everything is contained in one vehicle
• You’re sleeping way off the ground away from bugs, reptiles and animals
• Cost isn’t massive (as long as you already have the 4WD)
• You can go anywhere your 4WD would normally go (just have to take into consideration the little bit extra height)
• To use your vehicle for any sight seeing you need to pack up your tent
• Time taken to set-up and pack-down
• Everything is contained in one vehicle (yep, this is both a pro and a con)

Car with tent

If you’ve already got a car, then you can just throw a tent in the boot, pack an esky and a camp stove, and hit the road!

This is an option that I think so many people don’t give enough credit. If you don’t have to spend anything on getting set up, then all your savings can be used on your trip!

• The least expensive option (which is a HUGE benefit IMO)
• You can set up camp and leave the tent while you use your vehicle for sight seeing
• Everything needs to be set-up and packed-down every time you move.
• All your gear needs to fit into your car
• You won’t have an inner spring mattress to sleep on each night but will probably be limited to an air mattress or one of the mats you roll up
• You will be limited to camping options that have facilities
• Won’t be able to go off-road

Considerations

The following is a list of all the things you will need to take into consideration when deciding on the best vehicle for you to travel around Australia.

Some of the items on this list will be an easy decision for you, but some of them will force you to really prioritise what you need.

The idea is to at least narrow down your vehicle choices and even if you don’t know exactly which is the right choice, then at least you know the benefits of doing things one way or another.

What is your budget?

This will be the number one consideration for most people.

For us, it was pointless going through all the deliberation about which was the best vehicle for us to travel around Australia, without first looking at our budget. We simply could not afford the self-contained caravan that would have been perfect for our trip.

So based on our budget, we immediately cut out motorhomes. We also cut out all but the cheapest (and oldest) of caravans.

So then we had to figure out which was the best option for us between a campervan, old caravan, camper trailer or tent.

You may find yourself in a similar situation.

How many of you will be travelling?

If you’re just two people, then the world is your oyster! If you’re a family of six… hmmm that limits your choices a bit. No campervan for you guys.

What type of travel do you like to do?

Are you keen to see the more remote areas of Australia? If so, a lot of them are down long gravel roads or even off-road. Are you prepared to take those long, uncomfortably corrugated roads. Will your vehicle hold up to those roads?

Or are you happy to limit yourself to only where you can go on sealed roads?

Where will you set up camp?

The main thing you will need to think about regarding where you camp, is whether or not you need to be self-contained.

If it’s important to have a 10 minute hot shower, flush toilets and playgrounds for the kids, then you’ll probably be most happy staying at caravan parks anyway. So don’t bother with the expense of making sure your set up is self-contained.

But if you’re determined to see the remote corners of this beautiful country and would rather camp for free, then you’ll need to make sure that you are fully self-contained and have 4WD capabilities.

Does anyone have any special needs or considerations?

I’m talking about things like, if you’re two small people will you be able to lift the roof on the pop-top?

Or if you’re older, will you be comfortable clambering up and down the ladder of a roof-top tent?

How long are you going for?

If you’re planning to be moving pretty quickly, staying only a night or two in each place; you’re not going to want a campsite that takes ages to set up and pack down.

And since you’ll be packing up everything most days anyway, a motorhome or campervan may be suitable for you rather than a caravan or camper trailer that would need to be unhitched each night.

What do you already have?

If you’ve already got an SUV that can tow 2500kg, is it vitally important for you to upgrade to a newer, bigger 4×4 with all the bells and whistles?

Or will you be better off finding a smaller caravan or camper trailer that can be towed by the vehicle you’ve already got.

Other things to consider

Try before you buy.

If possible, try renting a motorhome, campervan or caravan for a week or so and see how you go.

Talk to others

Talk to friends or family (or strangers even) that have the type of vehicle or camping set up that you’re thinking about.

Reach out to bloggers online and ask them what they found to be the benefits and limitations of their own set ups.

There are plenty of 4WD, RVing and camping groups on Facebook that are full of helpful people that are more than willing to give you their opinion (solicited or not!)

Where to from here

Now that you’ve figured out what is the best vehicle to travel Australia (what do you mean you didn’t figure that out just from reading my post? :-O) you can also start thinking about all the other things you need to plan for your trip.

I’ve written a monster post about getting set up to travel around Australia which covers everything from what to pack, to how much it’s going to cost. You can read it here –> The Ultimate Guide to Getting set Up for a Road Trip Around Australia

Save to Pinterest