How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Campervan in Australia in 2026?

Hiring a campervan is still one of the most popular ways to travel around Australia in 2026. It gives travellers the flexibility to explore more of the country on their own schedule, without needing to lock in hotels or flights.

For many people planning a road trip, one of the first things to work out is the budget.

So, how much does it cost to hire a campervan in Australia in 2026?

Average Campervan Hire Prices in Australia

Campervan hire prices in Australia can vary quite a bit, and a lot of that comes down to how you want to travel. Some people are happy with a simple setup that covers the basics, while others prefer a bit more space and comfort on the road.

It’s also worth looking beyond the daily rate on its own. A campervan with more built-in features can sometimes help with other costs during the trip too. Having a kitchen, for example, can make it easier to prepare meals instead of eating out all the time, and a more self-contained setup can make day-to-day travel feel a lot easier. We talk about this in more detail in the next section.

To help you find the right campervan for your trip, budget, and comfort level, we compare a wide range of vehicles to help you get the best value.

For example, here are a few campervans available at Campervan Rental Shop

What Affects Campervan Hire Prices?

After looking at the ranges, it helps to understand why prices can vary so much between vehicles, so you can book smarter.

1. Facilities

If you’re planning something short and simple, a basic campervan can work perfectly well. You’ll have a bed, somewhere to cook simple meals, and space for your bags. It’s usually easier to drive and a good option if you’re mostly planning to be out exploring during the day.

If the trip is longer, or if comfort matters a bit more to you, a motorhome can make things a lot easier. Having things like a proper kitchen, air conditioning, or even a small bathroom can make day-to-day life on the road feel much more relaxed.

So:

• Shorter trip or budget travel → basic campervan
  
• Longer trip or more comfort → motorhome

From our experience helping people plan road trips, one of the most common mistakes is choosing a vehicle based only on the lowest daily price. Sometimes spending a little more on a setup that suits your trip better can actually save you money overall.

You can explore the full campervan range here.

If you’re unsure which vehicle might suit your trip, you can also reach out to our team for guidance here.

2. Travel Season

Timing can make a noticeable difference when it comes to campervan hire.

During busy travel periods, more people are planning road trips around Australia. As demand increases, campervans can become harder to secure and prices may rise simply because availability tightens up.

This usually happens during:

• December to February, when summer travel is at its peak
• Easter holiday periods
  
• School holidays throughout the year

If your dates are flexible, travelling just outside those peak periods can sometimes make planning easier. There may be more vehicle options available and a bit more flexibility when choosing your travel dates.

This is also why booking earlier can help if you are travelling during holiday periods, especially for popular pickup locations.

3. Planning Your Route

Planning your route before you book can make your campervan trip much easier to organise and may even help reduce the overall travel duration, which can lower the total cost of hiring a campervan.

If you’re still deciding where to go, you can explore road trip ideas and destinations here.

4. Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Where you pick up your campervan can also shape how you plan your road trip. If you start from one of the major cities, it’s usually much easier to map your way out to nearby regions and popular road trip routes.

Through Campervan Rental Shop, you can compare campervan options across several major pickup locations in Australia, including:

• Sydney
  
• Melbourne
  
• Brisbane
  
• Cairns
  
• Perth
  
• Hobart

Additional Costs to Consider

Here are a few extra costs that can come up along the way.

• Fuel
  Australia is a big country, and road trips can involve quite a bit of driving depending on your route. Fuel is often one of the main ongoing costs during a campervan trip.
• Campsites or holiday parks
  Many people stay at caravan parks or campgrounds along the way. These usually charge a nightly fee, especially if you’re using powered sites or facilities like showers, kitchens, and laundry areas.
• Insurance upgrades
  Some people choose to add extra insurance cover for a bit more peace of mind during the trip, especially for longer hires.
• National park passes
  Some national parks and protected areas require entry passes or small access fees, depending on where you’re travelling.
• Optional extras
  Depending on the kind of trip you’re planning, you might also want to add things like camping chairs, extra bedding, kitchen equipment, or child seats.

There are also a few smaller costs that are easy to forget at first, such as:

• Toll roads in larger cities
  
• Parking in busy tourist areas
  
• Refilling cooking gas
  
• Groceries and supplies for the road

None of these costs is usually overwhelming on its own, but they can add up across the trip. That’s why it helps to look at the road trip as a whole, not just the daily hire price.

If you take a look at the different campervans we offer and their facilities, it will become much easier to see what’s included and what you may need to budget for separately.

Is Hiring a Campervan Worth It?

For many people, it is.

When you look at the full trip, a campervan can be a really practical way to travel around Australia. Instead of paying separately for accommodation, car hire, and meals out, you have more of what you need built into one setup.

It also gives you a lot more freedom. You can move at your own pace, stop where and when you want, and shape the trip around the places you actually want to see.

If you are planning your trip, start by checking out our campervans here.

G’day and Welcome back! After a wild two years of covid, the Aussie tourism industry is kicking back off again and we’re getting a lot of questions about what has changed in the campervan world. During covid most campervan companies sold their fleets to stay afloat and not go bankrupt. A lot of backpacker based companies went under as they had no budget travellers to provide for. The motorhome industry survived due to Aussie families spending the last two years travelling within their own country and exploring the open road.

Now the borders are open and backpackers and international families alike are flooding in to explore our untouched sunny paradise. With more travellers flooding back in every day, there are less vehicles and less availability. The campervan and motorhome companies in Australia are frantically rebuilding their fleets so we are seeing a lot of brand new models coming out that are priced a bit higher than the standard painted 20 year old backpacker vans of years past. I’m happy to say that the newer vehicles, although more expensive, are getting great reviews on comfort, fuel efficiency and low maintenance issues. At the end of the day, a stress-free and enjoyable holiday is a top priority to give to our clients and we welcome these newer models!

Another change happening is that availability is a lot lower for the next 6 months. No longer afraid of flight cancellations due to covid, many people from Europe, the UK and North America are booking many months in advance to secure cheaper vehicles for next summer. Aussies are starting to notice higher prices when they book last minute and have started booking school holidays well in advance for their own family motorhome trip. The sooner the pick up date, the more expensive the rates will be so if you know your travel dates for your next trip it’s time to reach out and let us send you a quote! As most companies change their rates weekly depending on availability, holidays, long weekends, etc it’s always cheaper to book sooner.

Chuck in an enquiry on our website with your next travel dates and locations and you’ll receive a tailored quote to your needs quickly! All of our staff members are long-term van travellers who can help you plan your next campervan holiday at the best rates in the industry! 

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