8 Christmas Campervan Road Trips Around Australia

December is the busiest month of the year for campervan pickups through DriveNow. School holidays, public holidays and summer weather all land at once, so vans book out early. If you want one over Christmas, book as soon as your dates are set.

Plan your pickup around the public holidays too. Several of the biggest campervan brands close their depots on Christmas Day, so collect your van before Christmas or from Boxing Day. Our guide to booking during school holidays has more on timing.

Here are eight places to start a Christmas road trip, with an easy first leg from each.

Cairns: north to Port Douglas

Pick up in Cairns and drive north to Port Douglas. It's about 70 km and an hour and a quarter along the coast, and it puts the Daintree Rainforest and reef tours within easy reach. Our Brisbane to Cairns family itinerary finishes with this stretch.

Christmas falls in marine stinger season, which runs from about November to May. Swim inside the stinger nets at patrolled beaches between the flags. Douglas Shire Council lists the netted beaches around Port Douglas.

Perth: south to Margaret River

From Perth, head south through Bunbury to the Margaret River region. It's about 270 km, roughly three hours of driving, and Christmas is a good time for the south-west's beaches and wineries. Our Perth, Margaret River and Albany itinerary covers the route and the coast beyond.

Hunter Valley: inland from Sydney

Collect your van in Sydney and head north to Australia's oldest wine region. Destination NSW puts it just over two hours from Sydney, so it suits a short break between Christmas and New Year. Book holiday parks early, as the valley is busy over the holidays.

Sydney: up the coast to Port Stephens

If you'd rather follow the coast, Port Stephens is 208 km and about two and a half hours north of Sydney. It's the first stop on our Sydney to Brisbane self-drive itinerary, which continues up the coast through Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.

Brisbane: north to Noosa

From Brisbane, Noosa is 145 km and about two hours north on the Sunshine Coast. It's the first leg of our Brisbane to Cairns itinerary if you have time to keep going.

Melbourne: the Great Ocean Road

Pick up in Melbourne and drive to Torquay, 103 km and about an hour and 20 minutes away, where the Great Ocean Road begins. Our Great Ocean Road itinerary follows the full 669 km loop through Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell.

Hobart: Port Arthur and the east coast

From Hobart, Port Arthur is 95 km and about an hour and 20 minutes away. Carry on up the east coast through Coles Bay and Bicheno on our Hobart to Launceston itinerary.

Alice Springs: check before you book

Uluru is about 450 km from Alice Springs, and the road trip is one of Australia's great drives. Plan carefully at Christmas, though. Apollo, Britz, Maui and Mighty close their Alice Springs campervan depots from 1 December to 31 March. Campervan Village stays open, or you can hire a car in Alice Springs instead.

Wherever you start, compare prices across suppliers for your dates and check our current campervan deals.

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