A guide to the best caravan hire companies in Australia

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Keen to hit the road this summer? A caravan, campervan or motorhome is the perfect portable dwelling to help you on your way.

Piling everyone into a caravan for a taste of life on the road is a quintessential Aussie holiday experience: the wide open spaces, epic views and sense of freedom that #vanlife provides is one heck of a ride. But before you set off, you’re going to need the right vehicle.  From budget to luxe and from small to large, consult our guide to the best caravan hire companies below to get you on the road in style this summer.

Camplify

Best for: boutique accommodation lovers

 

Originally founded in Newcastle, Camplify is the peer-to-peer vehicle sharing service that makes Van Life a whole lot easier.

 

If you are lucky enough to own your own caravan it’s highly likely it sits in the front yard unused for numerous months during the year. Catching on to this supply and demand issue, Camplify steps in to safely connect holidaymakers with caravans, motorhomes and campervans in their neighbourhood to book, while unlocking new earning opportunities for van owners around Australia.

 

The interface is seamless to navigate, making it extremely easy to find a top-of-the-range luxury motorhome with all the bells and whistles or an older-style camper trailer to get you from A to B. There are options to suit every freedom seeker (human or canine) that is looking to make a stress-free upgrade from a tent.

 

Pros: easy to navigate, plenty of options, and a great way to keep your road trip interesting.

Vintage Volkeswagen caravan
Daisy from Bowral is just one of many in the Camplify fleet.

Travellers Autobarn

Best for: budget travellers

The orange logo slapped on the side of the Travellers Autobarn vehicles is hard to miss when driving along Australia’s long and open roads. As a well-established campervan hire company, Travellers Autobarn is a ‘one stop shop’ for the backpacker and budget travellers. They are one of the more affordable options on the market – especially during the off-peak season.

 

The campervans are all factory and purpose built, and because they’ve factored in the needs of open-road living, they go big on reliability and function. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to explore Australia.

 

Pros: purpose-built, plenty of new models to choose from, and affordable.

Travellers Autobarn van at the beach
It’s hard to miss Travellers Autobarn on the road.

Apollo Camper

Best for: off-the-beaten-track adventures

 

When you need a camper you can rely on, opt for an Apollo Camper. Proudly Australian owned, Apollo has been helping travellers get from A to B without issue for more than 35 years. Choose from self-contained motorhomes with cooking facilities, air conditioning and beds for up to six people to compact campers for an authentic van life experience, or rugged 4WDs designed for adventure seekers.

 

Pros: a long established, reliable brand that offers great customer service.

Apollo Camper surrounded by greenery
When reliability is key, opt for an Apollo Camper.

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Camptoo

Best for: local camping

 

Last year, global RV sharing service and online booking platform, Camptoo, announced its expansion Down Under. The company positions itself as an Airbnb for motorhomes and campervans, providing a reliable vehicle to experience life on the road without the commitment of a DIY renovation project.

 

From fully kitted out family-friendly motorhomes to quirky converted VW campervans for last-minute romantic staycations, there are over 4,000 campervans, caravans and motorhomes to rent directly from vehicle owners.

 

Our picks include this Mojud Vintage Mercedes Bus from Coolangatta, the Cute Gypsy Wagon in Warburton, Victoria and the Spiderman-clad Art Motorhome from Perth.

 

Pros: the giant range of campervan options means you can tailor your road trip experience to your personal preference.

The Mojud Vintage Mercedes Bus from Coolangatta.
The Mojud Vintage Mercedes Bus from Coolangatta.

Jucy Rentals

Best for: road trippers on a backpacker budget

 

The bright purple and green JUCY campervans began transporting New Zealand travellers around the country in 2001. Today, they have more than 3,800 cars, campervans and motorhomes to rent around the globe.

 

There are myriad vehicle types depending on your specs and budget. For budget-conscious travellers, the El Cheapo Sleeper is perfect for those happy to travel Australia in “no frills" style. At the top of the range is The Condo: a fully self-contained option that sleeps four. It comes complete with a cassette toilet and grey water tank, plus all the classic bells and whistles.

 

Pros: a popular, affordable option with plenty of drop-off and pick-up locations.

Kangaroos surround a Jucy Van
Meet the locals in a Jucy Van.

Britz / Mighty

Best for: long-term adventures

 

Britz is the largest campervan rental company in the entire Australasia region. Their motorhome fleet is top of the line, with thousands of glowing reviews from travellers listed from all around the world. Become one of them by renting one of their 4WD, 2WD and campervan options.

 

All campervans feature AM/FM radio and CD player, fridge, gas stove and microwave, alongside plush linen and bedding, kitchen essentials and all the general living gear you’ll need. They also come with an unlimited mileage allowance.

 

Once the Britz vehicles have done their share of open-road adventures they are transformed into Mighty campers: the more affordable, youth-skewed sister brand to Britz.

 

Pros: an unlimited mileage allowance means you can spend less time kilometre tracking and more time enjoying the great beyond.

Britz Van on the bridge in Woollongong
See Australia’s most iconic sights in a Britz.

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Maui

Best for: high-end family travellers

 

Hitting the road with the kids can often feel like a daunting prospect. One that’s made a whole lot easier with a top-of-the-line vehicle that guarantees you one less thing to worry about. Maui vehicles are known for their reliability, making them a great choice for any long-term Aussie caravanning adventure.

 

Still within the THL (Britz, Mighty) family, Maui is Australia’s premium offering of two- to six-berth motorhome vehicles. Most vehicles are guaranteed to be under two years of age, ensuring the highest level of reliability, comfort and, of course, state-of-the-art features.

 

Pros: like a hotel room on wheels, you needn’t skimp on the creature comforts.

Maui luxury van at sunset
Meet your hotel room on wheels.

Hippie Camper

Best for: nomads with no-fuss attitude

 

Hippie Camper’s ethos of quality and affordability has made them pretty popular among budget conscious travellers throughout Australia and New Zealand. You may recognise these vehicles from the boho decals that line the side panels; they’re frequently seen on the road all around the country transporting travellers who are clearly having a good time.

 

Their rental fleet options are pretty limited, only catering to parties of two, three and four people. However, they’re a great option for those in need of a base camp where they can rest their head for the night.

 

Pros: living proof that great views and comfortable lodgings need not cost the earth.

Hippie Camper in the outback
A Hippie Camper will take you to the back of the beyond.

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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.