Motorhome Hire Australia

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Planning Campervan Holiday

The Australian climate can vary due to the size of our continent but is generally not subject to prolonged extremes of hot or cold during the year. This is described as temperate weather. In the northern states, warm weather is expected for most of the year, whilst the southern states experience cooler winters. Being one of the driest continents on earth, the average annual rainfall is less than 600 millimetres.

Being a larger continent, Australia has a variety of climate zones. The northern part of Australia is tropical, the north eastern parts are sub tropical which are parts of Northern Territory and Queensland, southern parts of Australia such as parts of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are temperate. The central and western parts of Australia which are mostly parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory are dry mediterranean or desert.

The most popular places to visit during campervan holidays in Australia are Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, Tasmania. Most of these places are either sub tropical or temperate which means that they make excellent holiday destinations.

Australia’s seasons are as follows – December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring.

You can log on to the Bureau of Meteorology website to get more accurate weather predictions to plan you campervan trip.

Whether you intend to be on the road for a week or a month, packing for a road trip requires a good degree of planning. Make a checklist before you go, or you’re bound to leave something important behind.

Just imagine getting 50 kilometres down the road and realising you’ve forgotten your iPad or camera!

Neglecting to pack appropriate footwear can be one of the most frustrating things to forget. Having a pair of thongs by your motorhome doorstep will do wonders when you’re walking in and out of your vehicle.

To help you avoid that, we’ve divided a range of travel essentials into separate categories. Before you set out, make sure you’ve packed the following items:

GENERAL

  • Driver’s license and/or international driver’s permit
  • Card and cash – electronic payment is generally encouraged and accepted everywhere these days, but it’s good to have a small amount of cash money in the case of emergency.
  • Charging cables
  • Tickets, passes, and permits
  • Passport (international travellers)
  • Travel insurance details – leave one copy of your policy at home
  • Pens & Notepad
  • Torch
  • Containers for food storage

TOILETRIES

Who says you can’t enjoy a little pampering while travelling? Toiletries are essential for keeping comfortable on the road, and if you’re trying to make the most of your campervan’s storage space, they can be purchased in compact travel bottles.

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Shampoo & conditioner
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Comb/hairbrush
  • Razor and shaving cream
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Moisturiser
  • Cosmetics

CLOTHING

Regardless of the season, you should always pack a variety of different clothing options for your campervan holiday. From chilly Tasmania to tropical Queensland, temperatures may vary in different parts of Australia, calling for a versatile wardrobe. For more information on Australia’s seasons and the kind of weather, you may encounter during your trip, see our Weather and Climate page.

  • Water/wind-proof raincoat
  • Warm jacket
  • Thermals
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Casual evening wear
  • Pyjamas
  • Swimwear
  • Light durable footwear
  • Shoes/hiking boots
  • Thongs/slides
  • Socks & underwear
  • Beanie
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses

ENTERTAINMENT

Bringing a few entertaining items along will bring so much value to your holiday! There’s something so lovely about playing a board game when on holiday with the family or watching a new movie together in the evening. So, don’t forget to pack:

  • DVDs
  • Music (pre-downloaded playlist or CDs)
  • Streaming device (Apple tv, Amazon stick etc)
  • Board games
  • Card games
  • A good book or two (or more!)
  • Sporting items (football, frisbee etc)

FOOD & DRINKS

Our motorhomes come with all the essential cookware you could want to make delicious meals every day.  Think of what you’d like to eat and make while traveling and purchase the essential ingredients before your trip.  Some good basics to always have with you are:

  • Bread
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Veggies
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Condiments
  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Oil
  • Butter/Margarine
  • Eggs

With so many options to choose from, deciding where to stay on your campervan holiday is half the fun!

Can we use Caravan Parks for day and night stay?

Caravan parks, also known as tourist parks or holiday parks, are widespread across Australia; you can find one in just about any part of the country. Comfortable and convenient, they usually include facilities such as toilets, showers, camp kitchens, BBQ areas, laundries, game rooms, children’s playgrounds and rubbish dump points.

If you’re travelling on a budget, site fees in Australia are reasonably priced, although they vary between each caravan park. The booking process is relatively simple; when you arrive at a caravan park with your campervan or motorhome, you will be allocated either a powered or non-powered site, depending on availability and your own personal preferences. Most caravan parks also provide their guests with a map of the grounds to make finding essential facilities a little easier.

We recommend pre-booking your site well in advance, either online or over the phone. This is especially important if your trip coincides with school holidays or any long weekends. By booking accommodation ahead of time, you can stay in your first choice of caravan park at each of your planned stopovers.

In Australia, there are three major chains of caravan parks as well as a myriad of independent operators. For more information regarding caravan parks and their locations, get in touch with one of these major chains:

Once you’ve got your accommodation sorted, our Travel Info page features plenty of helpful tips to help you plan a self-driven adventure in Australia.

Can We Camp in National Parks & Reserves?

Regardless of your age or fitness levels, there are many different ways to access and enjoy the natural beauty of one of over 500 national parks in Australia. Special protections apply to national parks due to their unspoilt landscapes and diverse plants and wildlife. Tourists can visit these special places and enjoy learning about Australia’s unique environment, heritage and culture.

Camping options are available in most of Australia’s national parks. Some sites are powered, although it’s not uncommon for remote bushland areas to have limited or no facilities. Basic camping ground facilities usually include toilets, showers, BBQ areas, power and tap water.

Do We Require a Passes or Permits to Enter the National Parks?

Whether you’re visiting during the day or staying overnight, some national parks charge an entry fee (generally those with high volumes of visitors) to raise funds for maintaining roads, facilities and other kinds of infrastructure projects. This money may also be put towards conserving threatened species and their natural habitats. Passes and permits can vary between vehicle passes, camping fees and annual passes, and it is up to you to obtain the correct kind of visitor pass for your intended stay.

Just as caravan parks tend to fill up quickly during school holidays and long weekends, so too can national parks, so we recommend pre-purchasing your pass and permits well in advance. For more information about Australia’s National Parks and purchasing passes and permits in different states and territories, visit the following websites: