Backpackers Guide to Hiring a Campervan in Australia
Australia Road Trip Guide
The Ultimate Guide to 2-Berth Campervans in Australia for Young Travellers
Every brand. Every model. Honest advice on budget, mid-range and premium — so you can get on the road with confidence.
Compare All Campervans →You've got the time, you've got the road, and you've got a budget to watch. Whether you're fresh off a flight from Europe, the UK, North America or New Zealand — or you're an Aussie about to finally do the Big Lap — a campervan road trip across Australia is genuinely one of the best experiences on the planet.
But if you've started researching campervans, you've probably already noticed: there are a LOT of options. Different brands, different price points, different vehicles — and it can get overwhelming fast.
This guide cuts through the noise. We've broken down every major 2-berth campervan brand and model available through DriveNow.com.au so you can compare them clearly, understand what you're actually getting, and — most importantly — get the best possible deal for your trip.
🔗 Already done New Zealand?
Check out our 2-Berth Campervan Guide for NZ — it covers the full breakdown of what's available across the Tasman. This guide focuses specifically on Australia, with all the brands and nuances that come with the world's largest road-trip destination.
Who Is This Guide For?
Specifically, this is written for travellers aged roughly 18–35 who are:
- Planning a longer trip — weeks or months, not just a long weekend
- Travelling as a couple or two friends sharing a van
- Watching their budget closely, but not willing to compromise on reliability
- Coming from Europe (UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Scandinavia), North America, or New Zealand
- Or Australians ready to explore their own backyard properly
The Australian road trip is a long-haul experience by nature. Even doing just the East Coast — Sydney to Cairns — is 3,000+ km. Add in the Red Centre, the Great Ocean Road, or Western Australia, and you're looking at serious distances. That changes how you think about your campervan choice.
Smart Money: How to Pay Less for the Same Van
💰 Book Early = Pay Less
This isn't a cliché — it's just how campervan pricing works. Suppliers use dynamic pricing, and the further out you book, the lower the base rate. If you're planning a trip 3–6 months away, booking now can save you hundreds of dollars compared to last-minute rates. It also guarantees you get the vehicle you want, not whatever's left.
📅 Longer Rentals = Better Daily Rates
If you're renting for 3+ weeks (which most younger long-haul travellers are), you'll access significantly better daily rates. A 28-day rental doesn't cost twice as much as a 14-day rental — the daily rate drops substantially. This market is your sweet spot for value.
On DriveNow.com.au, use the GRID view on a desktop or laptop to compare all your options side by side with pricing visible. It's genuinely the easiest way to see what's available for your dates and where the value sits.
Travelling with 4 People? Here's What to Think About
If there are four of you, you might be tempted to go for a 4-berth van to split the cost. That can work brilliantly — but only if you're comfortable being in close quarters with each other for weeks at a time.
The honest take: two couples or four good friends who genuinely get along can make a larger van work economically. Some brands like Spaceship (Beta 4 Berth), Campervan Village (Mystery Machine 3 Seater, Adventure Camper), and Camperman (Maxie 4 Deluxe) offer vehicles that cater to this.
⚠️ A word of caution on 4-berth van sharing
The cost savings look great on paper. But if things get tense between travel buddies after week two, you're all stuck in the same vehicle. Many experienced travellers find that two 2-berth vans — even if it costs slightly more per person — preserves friendships and gives everyone the freedom to split up, go at different paces, or simply have some space. Only you know your crew well enough to make that call.
This guide focuses on 2-berth options, but we've noted where brands offer easy upgrades if you do want to go bigger.
Do You Really Need a Toilet and Shower?
This is one of the most common questions — and it genuinely changes your budget significantly. The short answer: No, you don't need it — but it changes your trip.
Most campsites across Australia have shared bathroom facilities. Budget campgrounds, free camps (and there are thousands of them), and caravan parks all have amenities. The question is how much you value privacy and flexibility.
| Factor | Without Toilet/Shower | With Toilet/Shower |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cost | Lower (often significantly) | Higher — adds to rental rate |
| Freedom | Need to plan stops around facilities | Park anywhere, any time |
| Free camping | Limited — need facilities nearby | Full freedom to camp remotely |
| Van size | More compact and easier to drive | Generally larger vehicle |
| Best for | Shorter trips, East Coast route | Long trips, remote areas, Outback |
For long Australian trips — particularly anything going inland or into Western Australia — having your own facilities starts to make a lot more sense. The convenience factor adds up fast when you're doing big remote stretches between towns.
Why Booking with a Reputable Supplier Actually Matters
Australia has a large campervan market, and not all operators are equal. There are budget suppliers online who aren't represented on DriveNow — and some of them have real issues with reliability, maintenance, and on-road support.
🔧 You're not saving money if your van breaks down
A cheap daily rate means nothing if you end up stranded outside Coober Pedy, or stuck waiting 3 days for a replacement vehicle. All suppliers on DriveNow.com.au are vetted, reputable operators with professional on-road assistance across Australia. When something goes wrong (it's rare, but it happens), you want to know there's a real support team available.
All brands featured in this guide are DriveNow-listed suppliers. They maintain their fleets properly, their insurance is legitimate, and their roadside support is real. That's worth something — especially when you're on a once-in-a-lifetime trip far from home.
Who Owns Who? The Brand Families Explained
A large portion of Australian campervans belong to a few parent companies. Understanding this helps you compare vehicles properly.
THL Group — The Industry Giant
Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) is publicly listed and operates globally. In Australia they own Maui & Maui Elite (premium), Britz (upper mid-range), Apollo (mid-range), and Mighty & Mighty LITE (budget). These brands operate from overlapping depot networks and share the same maintenance standards, support infrastructure, and roadside assistance network.
Travvia — The Other Major Group
Travvia owns JUCY (youth-focused, budget) and Star RV (premium, newer fleet). They sit at opposite ends of the price spectrum but share the same operational backbone and support network.
Cruisin Motorhomes & GoCheap
Cruisin is an upper mid-range to premium independent operator. Their budget label GoCheap is where older vehicles go once they've graduated out of the main Cruisin fleet — older, honest, and cheap, but properly maintained within the same operation.
Independent Brands
Spaceship, Travellers Autobarn, Awesome Campers, Campervan Village, Camperman, and LetsGo all operate fully independently — each with their own style, fleet age, and pricing philosophy. 
💸 The Budget End: Maximum Adventure, Minimum Spend
These brands exist specifically for travellers who want to get on the road without spending a fortune. They're honest about what they are — functional, affordable, and built for backpacker-style travel.
🌟 Mid-Range: The Sweet Spot for Comfort and Value
Once you step up to mid-range you notice the difference — better fit-outs, more storage, newer vehicles, and more comfort on the long stretches between stops. For most travellers doing 3+ weeks, this is where the best all-round value sits.
⭐ Upper Mid-Range & Premium: When You Want to Travel in Comfort
Not everyone on a budget trip wants the absolute cheapest option. Sometimes the right move is spending a bit more on a van you'll actually enjoy living in for several weeks — especially if you're splitting the cost with a travel partner.
Quick Reference: All Brands at a Glance
Use this to get a quick feel for where each brand sits before diving into specific models on DriveNow.com.au:
| Brand | Price Tier | Best For | Fleet Age | Toilet/Shower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceship | Budget | Minimalists, tight budgets | Older | No |
| GoCheap | Budget–Mid | Older Cruisin fleet, absolute budget | Older | Most models |
| Mighty LITE | Budget | THL budget end, solid support | Older | No |
| Travellers Autobarn | Budget | Classic backpacker experience | Older | No |
| Awesome Campers | Budget | Compact coastal trips | Older | No |
| Campervan Village | Budget | Fun, personality-driven travel | Older | No |
| JUCY | Budget | Young travellers, Travvia group | Older | No |
| Camperman | Budget | Independent, great value long rentals | Older | Some models |
| LetsGo | Mid | Comfort-focused longer trips | Mixed–newer | Most models |
| Cruisin | Upper Mid–Prem | Independent, experienced operator | Mixed–newer | Most models |
| Apollo | Mid–Upper | Well-equipped, THL support | Newer | Most models |
| Britz | Upper Mid | Quality without premium cost | Newer | Some models |
| Star RV | Upper Mid–Prem | Premium, Travvia group | Mixed–newer | Yes |
| Maui | Premium | Full comfort, newer vehicles | Newer | Yes |
| Maui Elite | Premium | Best vehicles available | New | Yes |
So Which Van Is Right for You?
"I just want to get on the road as cheaply as possible"
→ Spaceship Alpha or Beta, GoCheap, or Mighty LITE HiLITE. You won't get many luxuries, but you'll be mobile, independent, and spending your money on experiences rather than the van.
"I want value but I'll be doing this for 4–8 weeks"
→ Camperman, Travellers Autobarn, JUCY Condo, or LetsGo Escape. These sit at the budget-to-mid range where longer rental discounts kick in strongly. Better comfort means less fatigue on long trips.
"We're splitting the cost and want a proper experience"
→ Apollo Euro Plus, Britz Voyager, or Star RV Polaris 2. At 21+ days split between two people, these start looking genuinely reasonable — and the experience is incomparably better than a budget van.
"We want the best and we're treating this as the trip of a lifetime"
→ Maui Ultima Plus or Maui Elite Ultima Plus Elite. There's genuinely nothing better in this vehicle category in Australia.
"There are four of us — can we all go together?"
→ Maybe. If you genuinely get along brilliantly, look at Spaceship Beta 4 Berth, Camperman Maxie 4 Deluxe, or Campervan Village Adventure Camper. If you have any doubts, consider two 2-berth vans instead. The cost difference is often smaller than you'd expect, and the friendship preservation is priceless.
Why Book Through DriveNow Rather Than Direct?
You've done your research, you know which van you want. Why not just go straight to the supplier? Here's what you actually get when you book through DriveNow:
1. We're Your Advocate — Not the Supplier's
When you book direct, you're one individual dealing with a large company. When you book through DriveNow, we're a major account with every supplier we list. If something goes wrong — a vehicle issue, a dispute over damage, a problem with your booking — we carry significantly more weight in that conversation than you do alone.
We've resolved countless situations for travellers that would have been very difficult to sort out individually. Having someone in your corner who the supplier actually listens to is worth more than most people realise — until they need it.
2. Real Experts Available When You Need Them — Including on Live Chat
Our reservations consultants know these vehicles back to front — not just the brochure version, but the actual day-to-day reality of what it's like to live in each one.
And those same experts are the ones on our live chat — real people, not a bot. If you have a question at 10pm from a hostel in Berlin or a flat in Glasgow, there's a genuine human on the other end who knows what they're talking about. The person answering your chat is the same person who can take your booking and advise you properly.
3. One Place, All the Prices, All the Options
DriveNow shows you everything side by side — same dates, same pickup location, real pricing. No opening 12 browser tabs. Suppliers also sometimes offer exclusive rates through DriveNow that aren't available on their own websites.
4. No Extra Cost to You
DriveNow doesn't charge a booking fee. The price you see is the price you pay — with an expert in your corner and an advocate if something goes wrong.
💡 A Note on Using DriveNow to Research and Then Booking Direct
We understand why some travellers do this. In most cases, the price is identical or actually better through us. And you lose everything above: the advocacy, the expertise, and the support. If you've found value in this guide, the best way to use it is to compare on DriveNow, ask our team any questions, and book through us. It costs you nothing extra and gives you a lot.
5 Things Young Travellers Often Wish They'd Known Before Booking
- Book as early as possible. 3 to 6 months ahead is ideal for peak season (December–February). Early booking means lower rates and better vehicle selection.
- Longer rentals save real money. Ask DriveNow to show you the weekly rate breakdown — you'll often find 21 or 28+ day rentals are substantially cheaper per day.
- Not all budget campervans are equal. The difference between a $40/day and $60/day van can be huge in terms of reliability and what happens if something goes wrong in remote Australia.
- Toilet and shower access matters more on longer trips. If you're heading to Western Australia or the Outback, think carefully about whether you want to rely on public facilities.
- Use the DriveNow GRID view on a laptop or desktop. Seeing pricing across multiple brands side by side changes how you make your decision.
Ready to Start Comparing?
Put your dates in, use the GRID view, and see real pricing across all these brands side by side.
Australia's roads are genuinely world-class. The Great Ocean Road, the Pacific Highway, the Red Centre loop, the Nullarbor crossing, the wild coast of Western Australia — these aren't just things you do. They're things you remember for the rest of your life.
Book early. Book smart. Get on the road.
When you road-trip in Australia don't forget to pay your respects to the traditional custodians of the land on which you travel, their elders past, present and emerging. The natural environment of Australia is fragile and should be left as you found it — take only photos and leave only footprints.
