Save 15% on Coaster bookings this winter!
View deal
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Australia? (2026 guide)
Book nowLast Updated: 13/05/2026
To summarise (TLDR)
Campervan hire in Australia starts from as little as $35 per day in low season and typically ranges up to $700 per day at peak times, though most travellers will pay closer to the lower end of that scale. This blog breaks down exactly what you'll pay across different van sizes, seasons, and trip styles in 2026. We also cover the six JUCY and Chill'd by JUCY campervans available to hire right now, who each one suits best, and how to keep your costs down without sacrificing the adventure. Whether you're a solo backpacker, a couple chasing sunsets, or a family of six ready to go big, there's a van (and a price) that works for you.
Why Hire a Campervan in Australia?
Before we get into the numbers, let's talk about why campervan travel just makes sense.
Australia isn't the kind of place you experience through a hotel window. It's meant to be lived in, from the red dust roads of the Outback to the untouched beaches of the Kimberley and the rainforests of Far North Queensland. You don't catch any of that by flying between cities and checking into the same kind of room every night.
A campervan changes the whole equation. Your accommodation travels with you. Your kitchen is always open. And your itinerary? That's entirely up to you.
When you stack up the numbers honestly, a hotel + car rental + eating out three times a day; traditional travel in Australia gets expensive fast. A mid-range hotel can run $180–$300+ per day, before you've even thought about a hire car. A campervan wraps all of that into a single daily rate. That's transport, accommodation, and a kitchen, all in one.
Split across even two people, the daily cost becomes seriously competitive. Split across four or six? You're paying less per person than most people spend on a budget hostel, and waking up somewhere far more memorable.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Campervan in Australia?
This is the question. Let's actually answer it.
Campervan hire costs in Australia are driven by three things: the size of the camper van, the time of year you travel, and how far in advance you book. Here's a full breakdown across all three seasons using real JUCY and Chill'd by JUCY pricing.
Low season pricing (May - June)
Low season is the hidden gem of Australian campervan travel. Crowds thin out, prices drop, and the weather across a huge chunk of the country like Queensland, the NT, and WA is genuinely spectacular.
| Vehicle | Sleeps | Starting from (per day) |
| Chill'd Cloudbreak | 2 | From $35 |
| JUCY Crib Plus | 4 | From $45 |
| Chill'd Malibu | 2 (self-contained) | From $63 |
| JUCY Condo | 4 (self-contained) | From $50 |
| JUCY Coaster | 2 | From $75 |
| Chill'd Big Kahuna | 6 (self-contained) | From $120 |
Shoulder season pricing (March - April & July - October)
Shoulder season is where the sweet spot lives. You get better rates than peak, great availability, and Australia's most reliable travel weather across most regions.
| Vehicle | Sleeps | Starting from (per day) |
| Chill'd Cloudbreak | 2 | From $50 |
| JUCY Crib Plus | 4 | From $60 |
| Chill'd Malibu | 2 (self-contained) | From $85 |
| JUCY Condo | 4 (self-contained) | From $75 |
| JUCY Coaster | 2 | From $100 |
| Chill'd Big Kahuna | 6 (self-contained) | From $160 |
Peak season pricing (November - February)
Peak season covers the Australian summer, school holidays, and the busiest travel period of the year. Book early, because availability disappears fast.
| Vehicle | Sleeps | Starting from (per day) |
| Chill'd Cloudbreak | 2 | From $75 |
| JUCY Crib Plus | 4 | From $85 |
| Chill'd Malibu | 2 (self-contained) | From $110 |
| JUCY Condo | 4 (self-contained) | From $95 |
| JUCY Coaster | 2 | From $125 |
| Chill'd Big Kahuna | 6 | From $175 |
Prices are indicative starting rates in AUD based on historical availability and pick-up location. Rates are subject to change and availability at time of booking. Insurance and optional extras are not included.
What factors affect campervan hire costs in Australia?
Understanding what drives the price up (or down) puts you in control of your budget. Here's what actually moves the needle:
- Season: Timing is the single biggest lever. Low season delivers the sharpest prices and the most flexibility.
- Campervan size: More berths means a higher daily rate, but also more people to split it across.
- Self-containment: Vans with onboard toilets and grey water tanks open up freedom camping, which cuts your campsite costs significantly.
- Pick-up location: High-demand cities like Sydney and Cairns can push rates up slightly versus other depots.
- Booking lead time: The earlier you book, the better your rate. Last-minute availability tightens fast, especially in peak season.
The JUCY fleet: find your perfect campervan
JUCY and Chill'd by JUCY offer two distinct ranges, each designed for a different kind of traveller. Here's a proper breakdown of all six vehicles so you know exactly what you're getting.
JUCY Campervans
The JUCY range is built for adventurers who want the full road trip experience without overcomplicating it. Bold, practical, and seriously fun to drive.
JUCY Crib Plus: 4-Berth | From $45/day(low season)
The Crib Plus is the crowd favourite for couples and small groups who want comfort without blowing the budget. Sleeping four, it's got everything you need for a proper multi-week adventure across Australia like a full kitchen setup, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and the kind of flexibility that lets you go wherever the road takes you.
Learn more about the JUCY Crib Plus
JUCY Condo: 4-Berth, Self-Contained | From $50/day (low season)
The Condo takes everything great about the Crib Plus and adds a self-contained setup; meaning you're not tied to using public facilities or a rooftop tent. That onboard freedom opens up some of Australia's most remote and breathtaking spots that most travellers never reach. Great for families and groups who want to go further off the beaten track.
Learn more about the JUCY Condo
JUCY Coaster: 2-Berth | From $75/day (low season)
Built for two and ready for anything, the Coaster is the go-to for couples and adventure duos who want maximum freedom in a compact, easy-to-drive package. It handles city streets and remote roads equally well, and at two berths, you're never dealing with more van than you need. Ideal for couples on a serious road trip or two mates on a mission.
Learn more about the JUCY Coaster
Chill'd by JUCY Campervans
Chill'd by JUCY is the retro and budget-friendly range for travellers who want the basics without bells and whistles. Thoughtfully fitted out, well-equipped, and designed for the road tripper who appreciates the finer details of the journey.
Chill'd Cloudbreak: 2-Berth | From $35/day (low season)
The most accessible price point in the entire fleet. The Cloudbreak is a brilliant entry point for budget-conscious travellers, backpackers, and couples who want to hit the road without overthinking it. Compact, easy to drive, and priced from just $35 a day in low season, this one makes the Australian road trip more achievable than ever.
Learn more about the Chill'd Cloudbreak
Chill'd Malibu: 2-Berth, Self-Contained | From $63/day (low season)
The Malibu pairs the intimacy of a two-berth with the independence of a self-contained build. An onboard toilet and grey water system mean you can pull up at free camping spots, national park sites, and remote coastal locations without needing facilities nearby. It's the pick for couples who want to explore the far reaches of Australia.
Learn more about the Chill'd Cloudbreak
Chill'd Big Kahuna: 6-Berth, Self-Contained | From $120/day (low season)
The Big Kahuna is exactly what it sounds like. Australia's best family road trip machine. Sleeping six with a self-contained setup, it's built for families who want to go big, and smart. At $120 per day in low season split across six people, you're looking at just $20 per person per day for both transport and accommodation. That's genuinely hard to beat. Perfect for larger families or two families travelling together.
Learn more about the Chill'd Big Kahuna
How to keep your campervan costs down
Getting the most from your budget is part of the adventure. Here are the moves that actually make a difference:
- Travel in shoulder or low season. The experience is still incredible! And often better, with fewer crowds at the top spots, and your daily rate drops significantly.
- Book early. Prices rise as availability shrinks. Locking in your dates three to six months ahead almost always secures a better rate.
- Go self-contained. The upfront cost is slightly higher, but access to free camping spots saves you campsite fees every day, it adds up fast over a longer trip.
- Cook your own meals. Your van has a kitchen. Use it. Think sunset pasta on a clifftop instead of a $30 pub meal. It's not just cheaper, it's better.
- Split it across more people. The per-person maths on a 4 or 6-berth campervan is genuinely impressive. Rope in the group chat and divide that daily rate.
- Check the JUCY Deals page. Last-minute specials and seasonal promotions appear regularly, it's always worth a look before you book.
Discover JUCY Deals
Is hiring a campervan in Australia worth it?
The short answer: yes. Without question.
When you genuinely compare the total cost of a campervan trip against traditional travel with hotel rates, car hire, restaurant meals three times a day… the van wins almost every time. And that's before you factor in the experience itself.
You're not just saving money. You're waking up on a beach. You're watching the sun rise over Uluru from your own doorstep. You're deciding at 9am that today's plan is completely different from yesterday's plan, and that's completely fine.
That kind of freedom is worth more than the price difference. And the price difference is already pretty convincing.
Ready to hit the road?
Whether you're after the budget-smart Cloudbreak, the family-ready Big Kahuna, or anything in between; JUCY has a van waiting for you. Pick-up locations across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, and Perth mean you can start your adventure almost anywhere in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. The Great Ocean Road is sealed and well-maintained for its entire length. Standard campervans and motorhomes handle it with ease. Some side roads into the Otways are unsealed but accessible, just check conditions before heading off the main road.
Campervan hire in Australia starts from around $35 per night in low season for a 2-berth van, rising to $125–$175 per night in peak season depending on the size of the vehicle. Most travellers pay closer to the starting price when booking in advance.
The Chill'd by JUCY Cloudbreak is the most affordable option, starting from $35 per night in low season. It sleeps two and is ideal for backpackers, budget travellers, and couples.
Low season, broadly May to June delivers the lowest rates and the most availability. Shoulder season (March to April and July to October) is also excellent value with great travel conditions across most of the country.
In most cases, a campervan works out cheaper once you factor in the combined cost of accommodation, a hire car, and regular restaurant meals. A campervan wraps all three into one daily rate.
For peak season travel (November to February), booking three to six months ahead is strongly recommended. For shoulder and low season, two to three months gives you the best mix of availability and pricing.
The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometres from Torquay in the east to Allansford, near Warrnambool, in the west. Most people allow 3 to 5 days to drive the full route comfortably, though you could absolutely stretch it to a week or more if you want to explore every nook and cranny.
The Great Ocean Road is in Victoria, Australia, running along the state's southwest coastline beside the Southern Ocean. It begins at Torquay, about 100km southwest of Melbourne, and ends at Allansford near Warrnambool.
The 12 Apostles are located within Port Campbell National Park, near the town of Port Campbell on the Shipwreck Coast section of the Great Ocean Road. They sit approximately 275km southwest of Melbourne. The viewing platforms are free to access and the site is open 24 hours, making it ideal for sunrise or sunset visits.
Honestly? A JUCY campervan is the answer. It gives you the flexibility to stay wherever the road takes you. The Great Ocean Road has a fantastic range of campervan sites and caravan parks from Torquay all the way to Warrnambool. Anglesea caravan park, Lorne Foreshore, Blanket Bay, and Port Campbell National Park campsites are all brilliant options. If you're travelling in peak season, book your campervan sites well in advance.
Absolutely! The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most popular routes for campervan travel. The road is sealed and well-maintained for its full length. Some of the side roads into national park campsites are unsealed but generally accessible in a standard campervan. Just check conditions before heading off the main road.
For two adults and two children, a mid-size to large campervan with separate sleeping areas works best. Look for a van with a fixed double bed for the adults and a bunk or overhead sleeping space for the kids. The JUCY Condo or Crib Plus are both strong options for a family of four.
It's actually one of the most cost-effective ways to travel with kids when you factor in that accommodation and transport are combined and you can cook your own meals. Compared to flights, hotel rooms, and eating out every night, campervan travel regularly works out cheaper for families, especially on longer trips.
Every JUCY campervan comes with a full kitchen kit, linen, towels, pillows, unlimited kilometres, and 24/7 roadside breakdown assistance. GPS, extra drivers, camping chairs and tables, and child seats are available as add-ons.
It depends on how many people are travelling and their ages. For couples with young children, the JUCY Crib Plus is a fantastic compact option. For families of four, the JUCY Condo will deliver more space and better sleeping flexibility. The JUCY team will help you find the right fit for your family.
George Buckingham
