Heating and Cooling

Heating & cooling

All campervans and motorhomes have standard car air conditioning in the driver's cabin, but not all of them have climate control in the living area. Check the vehicle's specifications page before you book. It may also tell you whether a portable heater/cooler fan is available to hire.

Do I need to be connected to power?

In most campervans and motorhomes, living-area air conditioning and heating only work when you're connected to a powered site. Check the vehicle details for your van, and book powered sites if you'll need climate control. Our power management guide explains what runs on battery power.

Will I need heating or cooling?

Whether you need heating or cooling depends on where and when you're travelling. If you're visiting from overseas in summer, we highly recommend a vehicle with living-area air conditioning. Vans sit outside, in temperatures that are regularly over 30°C in many parts of Australia. Whether you need heating depends on your route, the season and the elevation, rather than which state you're visiting. Winter nights can be cold in the north too, particularly inland. For example, the long-term average July minimum at Alice Springs Airport is 3.9°C (Bureau of Meteorology). If your route will have cold nights, consider a vehicle with heating.

Choosing a vehicle

If you're having trouble narrowing down the options, keep in mind that most 4- and 6-berth motorhomes have climate control in the living area, while most 2- and 4-berth campervans don't. If you'd like recommendations, ask our reservations team in a live chat. Our guide to features to consider when choosing a campervan compares 2-, 4- and 6-berth vehicles.

Next steps

• Best time to travel: typical temperatures by state
• Overnight parking: booking powered sites
• Tips for a good night's sleep: getting the temperature right at night

Part of During Your Trip in the Campervan Hire Handbook.