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We have outlined our top 10 tips for motorhome hire in Australia. Our top tips will help you get the most out of your Australia motorhome rental and campervan hire. Motorhome hire in Australia is a fantastic way to explore the many sights and sounds of this diverse country. But if you have never hired a motorhome before, you may have a lot of questions about hiring a motorhome, including what size motor home should I hire, what do I need to bring from home and where can I travel in a motorhome?
So we have outlined below our top tips for motorhome hire and campervan rental in Australia. Feel free to contact us if you want any of your motorhome hire questions answered by one of our friendly staff. |
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| Motorhomes come in all different shapes and sizes, so you first need to decide how many people will be travelling in your group. Remember that by law, everyone needs to occupy their own seat within the motorhome, including babies and children. So for example, if you have a family of 2 adults and 3 children, you will need at least a 5 or 6 Berth motorhome. Some motor homes have restrictions on the number of baby capsules (0-6 months), baby seats (6 months to 3 years) and booster seats (4+ years) that can be fitted, so check the motorhome specifications carefully before deciding on a motorhome. |
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The 6 Berth motorhomes are the largest motorhomes available in Australia, so if you have 7 or more people travelling, you might like to consider splitting your group across two motor homes. Many people hiring motorhomes in Australia like a little extra space during their holiday and will often hire a larger motor home to spread out. For example, four adults in a 4 Berth can be a tight fit, so a 6 Berth motorhome is often more comfortable and in many cases not much more expensive than a 4 Berth. Similarly, many couples like the extra space and freedom that a 3 or 4 Berth motorhome offers.
For more information, please visit our Campervan Hire page for a full range of motorhomes. |
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Motorhomes are either Two-Wheel-Drive (2WD) or Four-Wheel-Drive (4WD). The 2WD motorhomes can only travel on sealed (bitumen) roads. They cannot travel on dirt or gravel roads. So if you want to travel off the sealed roads, you will need to hire a 4WD motorhome. If you take a 2WD motorhome off sealed roads, you void any insurance that you have taken and could be up for a lot of money if you have an accident or cause any damage to the motor home. Most 4WD motor homes are only 2-3 Berth vehicles, so you are limited in this respect. But for couples or small families looking to head into Australia's Outback, a 4WD motorhome is the best way to explore the heart of Australia.
For more information, please visit our Campervan Hire page for a full range of motorhomes. |
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| The beauty of motorhome hire is that the motorhomes come with all of the equipment that you will need to enjoy your Australian holiday. All motorhomes come with basic facilities including a sink, fridge, gas stove and cold water. Your cooking utensils and crockery and cutlery are also included so you don't need to worry about bringing pots and pans and the like. Some motorhome hire companies (like Apollo) also offer a travel wallet containing road maps and campground guides, as well as a “Welcome Pack” for your first night. The Welcome Pack includes matches, mini shampoo and conditioner, dishwashing liquid, sponge, soap, salt and pepper, coffee, tea and sugar satchels. The larger motorhomes also offer toilet and shower facilities (with hot and cold water), TV and DVD players and air-conditioning/heating units. |
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So all you need to bring along are your personal belongings and any extra items like laptop computers and cameras. 95% of motorhomes have powerpoints to recharge your electrical items, but you will need to stay in a powered site at a campground to plug into main power (240V). Most motorhomes also have a 12V socket if your electrical items can be recharged with 12V. With your luggage, it is best to bring soft bags as they store away more easily in the motorhomes. The motorhomes come with cupboards and wardrobes but they generally are not big enough for hard suitcases. Given that a lot of travellers prefer the protection of hard suitcases, another option is to unpack your belongings in the motorhome and then leave your bags at the motorhome hire branch (not an option for one-way rentals). Please note that not all motorhome hire companies offer this facility, so it is worthwhile to check with the hire company ahead of time.
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| Of course, you will also need to buy your own food and drinks and possibly some miscellaneous items like washing-up detergent and toilet paper. Note: motorhomes that have toilet and shower facilities generally offer a small supply of toilet paper and toilet chemicals, but you may need to buy extra, depending on the length of your motorhome hire. |
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| Australia is a large country and has many different climates so it is important to take into account the weather when planning your motorhome holiday. Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere so its seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere continents, including North America and Europe. The Australian weather seasons are: |
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Summer: December, January and February
Autumn: March, April and May
Winter: June, July and August
Spring: September, October and November
In general, you can split the country into two broad areas of north and south. Our picture to the right shows an approximate split of the country between north and south. |
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In the northern area (which includes the northern parts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland), it is best to travel during winter because this is the “dry season” when there is less rain and humidity. So if you want to travel around Broome, Darwin, Cairns etc, the best time to go is between May and September. Many motorhome companies have restricted operating hours during summer so try to avoid summer in the north if possible.
In the southern area (which includes the southern parts of Western Australia and Queensland and all of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales), it is best to travel in spring and summer as winter can be very cold and wet. But please be aware that summer can be hot in these regions so it might be worthwhile to consider a motorhome that comes with air-conditioning (in the driver's cabin as well as the main cabin). So if you are planning on driving a motorhome between Brisbane and Sydney or along the Great Ocean Road between Melbourne and Adelaide, then plan your motorhome holiday for the warmer months between September and April. |
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The main advantage of a motorhome hire is the ability to travel at your own pace and stop when and where you like. So with a motorhome, you are not stuck to a set schedule like you would be with an organised tour. If you want to relax by a lake or check out the shops for the day, then you can do it! Or if you want to drive to the next town and set up the motorhome for the night, then this is your choice too! In general, motorhomes can go where standard cars go, with the exception of underground car parks and other confined spaces (due to height restrictions). The smaller 2 Berth and 4 Berth motorhomes can fit into normal car spaces, whereas the 5 and 6 Berth motorhomes normally require double car spaces for the length. A motorhome can get you to the beach or take you into a rainforest (with proper access roads) so your options are endless!
Also, many motorhome hire enthusiasts will often set up their spot at a campground and use public transport for their day trips, particularly in large cities. Sometimes it is not practical to drive a big motorhome around a busy city so this is great option to enjoy your day. At night, you can cook up your favourite meal and relive the day's adventures, or enjoy a boardgame with your kids and watch a DVD together.
For more information on Australian destinations, please visit www.australia.com. |
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| You have a number of options when it comes to overnight camping in Australia with a motorhomes, including staying in a caravan park, national park campgrounds or "free camping". |
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Staying overnight in a caravan park is recommended when travelling in Australia with a motorhome. Australia has an extensive network of caravan parks in all major tourist centres and in most towns. Caravan parks have provision for you to plug the motor home into 240V electricity at a "powered site". Some appliances, such as microwaves, air-conditioning units and TV's, require 240V to operate. There is ordinarily no need to book ahead, however it may be wise to book ahead in peak periods (Easter, Christmas, etc). The approximate cost of a motorhome powered site is AU$25 - AU$40 per night (depending on the time of travel).
For more information on caravan parks, please visit www.big4.com.au, www.toptouristparks.com.au or www.familyparks.com.au. |
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Most national parks have areas set aside for camping. There are often shower and toilets, barbeques and picnic areas and of course national parks provide a scenic and peaceful place to stay at overnight. However these areas generally do not have facility for you to plug the motorhome into electricity. Please note that most national parks require a pass or permit for overnight camping.
For more information on camping in national parks, please visit www.environment.gov.au/parks.
Your final option is to "free camp" away from a caravan park or other facilities. Local council laws discourage overnight camping on the side of the road in the vicinity of towns. This includes beaches, rivers and lakes within the township or where "no overnight parking" signs are posted. Check with the town's tourist information centre or council if you are unsure about where you can spend the night. Outside the towns and in country areas it is generally allowed in designated rest areas or truck stops. Please note that only fully self-contained motorhomes with shower/toilet facilities) should be used for free camping. |
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Driving a motorhome in a foreign land can be daunting, but there are some basic driving tips that we can offer to help keep you safe on the road. In Australia, we drive on the left-hand side of the road. The driver and passengers must use seatbelts at all times, so it is against the law to walk around the motorhome while it is in motion. All drivers must carry a valid driver's licence and be at least 21 years or older (some motorhome companies make exceptions for 18+ drivers). Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is an offence so if you do need to make or take a call, pull over to the side of the road to make your call. |
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In most States the maximum speed limit on freeways and major highways is 100kph and local urban limits range from 50 to 80kph. In the Northern Territory there are highways that are free of any limits. All speed limits are clearly marked and all States operate speed detection equipment including speed cameras along with traffic Red Light cameras.
We recommend that you do not drive your motorhome at night outside of town centres or major cities. Wildlife, especially kangaroos, can be very dangerous on our roads particularly at sunrise and sunset. Sunrise and sunset is when animals are most active because they are looking for food. |
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| We also recommend that you aim to cover no more than 150 - 250 kilometres per day to ensure that you experience Australia in comfort. Driver fatigue is a problem in a country as large as Australia, particularly if you are not used to driving long distances. It is far better to travel at a leisurely pace and visit the many attractions of Australia rather than spend each day driving long distances. |
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Everyone wants the best price for their motorhome holiday and we know a few tips and tricks to help you get the best deal for your Australian motorhome hire..
- Book Early! Most motorhome hire and campervan rental companies offer early bird discounts (normally 5%) if you book at least 120 days (approx. 4 months) in advance. 5% may not sound like much but if you are planning to travel for a longer time, this can certainly add up. Many overseas travellers normally plan their travel 6 to 9 months anyway so the early bird special is a great deal.
- Avoid Peak Holiday Periods - Nearly all campervan hire and motorhome rental companies use "flex rates" which means their rates can increase and decrease depending on supply and demand. During peak holiday periods like school holidays and Christmas, rates normally increase due to more bookings and less availability. So if you can travel outside these peak times, then your motorhome hire price will be lower.
- All Inclusive Packages - All motorhome rental companies offer an "all-inclusive" package which bundles up most your rental costs into one price. So instead of paying for all the costs separately (rental price, insurance, one way fee, taxes, etc), taking the All Inclusive price rolls everything up into one price and generally saves you money. The All Inclusive package always includes the top Excess/Liability reduction option (normally reducing your liability to $0) so you also have extra peace of mind when on the road.
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| You may have heard of cheap motorhome rentals for as little as $1 per day and wondered what they are. These are relocation rentals, where motorhome hire companies offer super cheap prices for hiring campervans and motorhomes from one location to another. The Australian rental companies regularly need vehicles moved to different locations and are happy to offer cheap deals for travellers to take advantage of. |
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| We have a daily list of relocation rentals for you to look through and see if anything suits your travel needs. Please keep in mind that relocations are only offered for certain locations and certain time periods. So if you are looking to hire for 20 days, a relocation rental is not going to suit you. They are generally short-term rentals to get a campervan or motorhome from point A to point B in the shortest possible time. We have a full list of terms and conditions for relocation rentals, as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding relocation rentals. |
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If a relocation rental is not sounding like your cup of tea, we can help with a normal rental. There are a lot of cheap campervans out there like Hippie Camper, Jucy Rentals and Spaceships. We are always willing to search for the best deal for your motorhome hire, so please don't hesitate to contact us with your motorhome rental requirements. |
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Motorhome hire gives you the freedom to travel where you want and when you want. But it is still a good idea to plan a rough motorhome hire itinerary for your travels throughout Australia. With a rough itinerary, you will ensure that you don't spend days on end driving and not enjoying your time on the road. If you are travelling during a busy rental time, you may also need to pre-book caravan parks so you need to have some idea of where you will be. Planning ahead will also alert you to any important weather conditions (for example, you don't want to be travelling through flooded rivers in Cairns during the wet season).
We have put together a number of motorhome hire itineraries for some of the most popular areas in Australia, as well as some of the lesser known but equally as interesting locations. Check out our campervan hire itineraries for some ideas of where you can travel across Australia.
We hope you enjoy your upcoming motorhome hire in Australia! |
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Our helpful Frequently Asked Questions may also answer some of your other motorhome hire Australia questions, such as:
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Salamanda Travel offers competitive quotes and online bookings for your Australia campervan hire, motorhome rental Australia, car hire, 4wd (4x4) rental Australia, station wagon hire, hotel accommodation, apartments and Australia train travel. We act as travel brokers to find the best deal for your holiday plans and budget.
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