Everything you need to know about traveling through Australia by motorhome

Are you considering touring Australia by motorhome? Here’s everything you need to know to get you started and getting the most out of your Aussie road trip adventure.

Traveling through Australia by camper

The first thing to understand about Australia is how big it is. Covering more than 7.6 million square kilometers (or 2.9 million square miles), it’s impossible to see it all. To put it in perspective, England’s entire land area could fit 58 times within its borders.

In fact, driving the more than 17,000 kilometers it would take to circumnavigate mainland Australia would require approximately 244 hours of driving. Unless you have 3 months or more for your Australian adventure, don’t even try to get around it.

When traveling through a country of this size, the motorhome is by far the best way to do it. Giving you complete freedom to travel wherever the road goes, you don’t have to look for expensive accommodation while enjoying the luxury of having everything you need in tow.

you can find rent a motorhome of the capital cities across Australia, plus a few of the more popular tourist cities. The largest rental companies all have the ability to run one-way rentals if you wish. Beware of the one-way fare charged with one-way rentals, sometimes it’s cheaper to return a RV to its original destination.

Best Destinations in Every State and Territory

While it would be nice to completely ignore your itinerary, when traveling through such a vast country it helps to have a rough plan of a few key destinations you would like to visit.

When planning your itinerary, it’s up to you whether you want to park overnight on the roadside or in a caravan park. If you choose to sleep on the side of the road, make sure to plug in every few days to recharge the auxiliary battery.

If you want to head inland to experience the real Aussie outback, it’s also important to plan where to refuel, as there are few gas or gas stations on some stretches of road.

To help you design a basic itinerary for your motorhome adventure, here are a few favorite destinations you may want to consider, including in every state and area around Australia.

New South Wales

Sydney Harbour: Great for sightseeing, shopping, dining and nightlife. Home to world famous iconic attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Rocks, Circular Quay and the Sydney ferry network.
Sydney Beaches: Maroubra, Coogee, Clovelly, Bronte or Bondi within easy reach of the CBD, Shelly Beach, Manly, Queenscliff, Curl Curl and Dee Why on the Northern Beaches, or Terrigal, Avoca and Killcare on the Central Coast.

The Blue Mountains: Breathtaking natural landscapes with towering forests, picturesque waterfalls and quaint villages full of character.

South coast: The Grand Pacific Drive takes you through beautiful southern coastal towns such as Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven.

Southern Highlands: Green rolling hills, lush rainforests and cute historic townships.

dubbo: Regional destination featuring the Taronga Western Plains Zoo and historic buildings. Explore the caves and mines in nearby Wellington, or take a day trip to Narromine, Gilgandra, Warren, Coonamble, Coonabarabran and the Warrumbungles region.
Port of Coffs: Beautiful coastal escape that is also home to breathtaking rainforests and waterfalls.

Victoria

Melbourne: Big city with a cool art vibe and a European vibe. See the CBD avenues, St Kilda, Fitzroy and the Queen Victoria Market.
Days out: Head to the Mornington Peninsula, the Yarra Valley wine region and the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.
The Great Ocean Road: Breathtaking ocean vistas, refreshing surf beaches, rocky coastline, mountainous landscapes, lush forests, beautiful waterfalls and coastal towns.
Grampians National Park: Rugged mountain ranges complete with lakes, waterfalls, scenic lookouts and some great restaurants and wineries.
Alpine region: The northeastern Victorian highlands of the Alps are home to granite cliffs, rock outcrops and spectacular views. Take the time to visit charming towns such as King Valley, Bright and Beechworth.

Tasmania

Hobart: Characterful southern city with historic buildings and houses from the colonial era. See Salamanca Place and Battery Point, The Derwent River and the MONA Museum, and go up Mount Wellington for incredible views.
Lanceston: A small town with historic buildings in a beautiful setting. Make sure to visit Cataract Gorge.

Wiegberg: In Lake St Clare National Park, Cradle Mountain is possibly Tassie’s most impressive natural attraction.

South Australia

Natural coastline: Explore the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Eyre Peninsula, the Limestone Coast or Kangaroo Island to get a taste of the beautiful coastline and natural landscapes.
Barossa Valley: World famous wine region complete with restaurants and cellar doors galore.
Rivers: Explore the Murray River, Lakes and Coorong region.
Rural interior: Get a taste of the red, dusty roads of inland Australia, driving through the Flinders Rangers or to the very isolated Coober Pedy.

Western Australia

Fremantle: Check out the dining and entertainment area at Fishing Boat Harbor and the Fremantle Markets. You can also take a ‘Quokka selfie’ on nearby Rottnest Island.
Margaret River: Famous wine region with a great selection of restaurants, cellar doors and breweries.
Kalgoorlie: Regional inland town with an authentic taste of the Australian outback.
Road Trips: WA is huge, but if you have the time, consider destinations such as Albany and Esperance, the Kimberley via Geraldton and the Abrolhos Islands, Carnarvon, Exmouth, Port Hedland and Broome.

Northern Territory

Darwin City: Visit the Stokes Hill Wharf and the Darwin Waterfront Precinct with some great bars, restaurants, wave pool and man-made beach. Don’t miss the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.
Adelaide River: With a huge population of crocodiles, take a leaping crocodile cruise to get a closer look at these fearsome creatures.
Litchfield National Park: Breathtaking waterfalls, waterholes, rock formations and ancient indigenous art.
Kakadu National Park: Australia’s native heartland became famous when it was featured in Crocodile Dundee.

Queensland

Surfing beaches: check out the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast to Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Coolum and Noosa Heads.
The scenic edge: Home to Tambourine Mountain, Springbrook and Lamington National Parks, Mount Nebo, Mount Mee and the Glasshouse Mountains, each of which offers breathtaking rainforest scenery.
Islands: North Stradbroke Island and Bribie Islands are both within easy reach of Brisbane.
darlings: Experience the outback and regional towns and villages such as Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla, Roma and Charleville.
Airlie Beach: On the doorstep of the Whitsundays, be sure to visit the Airlie Beach Lagoon, Airlie Beach Markets, Whitehaven Beach and the surrounding hinterland.
cairns: Northern city with sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and breathtaking rainforests and waterfalls.

What should you pay attention to when renting a motorhome?

It pays to know what to look for when looking for rental motorhomes. Campers are each equipped with different features, with some RV rental companies offering some free extras while others charge extra.

If you are renting a motorhome, look for one with these features:

a well-equipped kitchen with a sink, stove, refrigerator, microwave, cookware and eating utensils
a dining area or table to eat
intelligent berths (some motorhomes have convertible or pull-down beds to maximize space)
a full bathroom with shower and toilet
towels and bed linen including sheets, duvets and pillows
outdoor tables and chairs and a retractable awning or shade
automated manual transmission (or manual transmission if you are a confident driver) and a fuel-efficient engine
reversing camera
air conditioning
storage space for your luggage

Most motorhome rental companies will include insurance and tolls with your rental, while others will charge additional fees. Before taking your RV on a dirt road, check that insurance will cover you if something happens. It is also important to check that your motorhome rental is limited to a certain number of kilometers per day to avoid high costs.

On request, some motorhome rental companies also offer extras such as GPS navigation rental, baby seat rental, bike rental or even pre-stocking your motorhome with groceries or alcohol!

How do I find motorhomes to rent

It is relatively easy to rent a motorhome through a private motorhome or motorhome rental company in Australia.

Simply conduct an online search based on your chosen pick-up location to see what’s available on your preferred dates. If the RV rental company has more than one location, they must allow you to collect and return your vehicles at different locations.

You must also ensure that you meet the licensing requirements. Most motorhomes can be driven with a standard car driver’s license. If you have an international driver’s license, you should be able to drive the motorhome with your regular driver’s license, provided it has not been canceled or revoked.

To book your motorhome, most companies require a credit card and may require a deposit to guarantee the reservation with the balance due when you pick up the vehicle.

Now that you’ve got the idea of ​​renting a motorhome in Australia, it’s time to plan your Aussie motorhome road trip adventure!

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