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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Taking the route less travelled along the Great Ocean Road

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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    The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns. 

    It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach, the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.  

    Bells Beach
    Bells Beach is known for its epic surf break and is at the start of the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet 

    Split Point Lighthouse
    The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road. Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.  

    Split point lookout
    The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.  

    This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities. 

    Lorne to Birregurra 

    Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park, which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.  

    Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.  

    From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.  

    Erskine Falls
    Erskine Falls is one of many falls within a day trip of Lorne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae, helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.  

    Brae restaurant
    Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Apollo Bay to The Otways 

    Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.  

    A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.  

    Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles 

    Twelve Apostles
    One of the famous Twelve Apostles, limestone sea stacks that rise from the Southern Ocean. (Image: Ben Savage)

    The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.    

    It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.  

    The Grotto
    The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

    Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.  

    Port Campbell to Timboon 

    Timboon Fine Ice Cream
    Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

    Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.  

    Warrnambool to Port Fairy 

    Warrnambool building
    A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

    In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.  

    Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.  

    The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.    

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there

    Oak & Anchor
    The Oak & Anchor in Port Fairy.

    The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit. 

    The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip. 

    Eating there

    The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.  

    Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.