Campervan & Motorhome Hire Cairns
Tropical gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest.
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Why Start in Cairns?
Cairns is the gateway to tropical North Queensland. Start your adventure at the Great Barrier Reef, explore the Daintree Rainforest, or head south along the coast to the Whitsundays and Brisbane.
Top Things to Do Near Cairns
Must-visit attractions and experiences within easy driving distance of Cairns — perfect day trips and stopovers for your campervan adventure.
Great Barrier Reef
Day trips from CairnsThe world's largest coral reef system — snorkel or dive among 1,500 species of fish and 400 types of coral.
Daintree Rainforest
2 hours northThe oldest rainforest on Earth (180 million years). Spot cassowaries, crocodiles, and rare plants.
Cape Tribulation
2.5 hours northWhere the rainforest meets the reef — one of Australia's most spectacular landscapes.
Kuranda Village
30 minutes westQuirky mountain village accessible by Skyrail rainforest cableway or the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway.
Atherton Tablelands
1.5 hours westHighland plateau with waterfalls, crater lakes, platypus spotting, and cooler temperatures.
Practical Info for Cairns
Pickup & Depot Info
Cairns campervan depots are mostly located on Sheridan Street and the Captain Cook Highway, just 10 minutes from Cairns Airport and the CBD. Apollo, Britz, Maui, and Travellers Autobarn all operate here. JUCY has a depot on Mulgrave Road. The compact layout means all depots are within a few minutes of each other.
Driving Tips
North of Cairns, the Captain Cook Highway is scenic but winding. The road to Cape Tribulation includes a cable ferry crossing at the Daintree River ($30 return). Watch for cassowaries on the road in tropical areas. Wet season (December–April) can bring flooded roads and creek crossings — check conditions on TMR. Crocodile warning signs are real — never swim in unfamiliar waterways.
Caravan Parks & Campgrounds
Cairns Holiday Park (Little Street) is walking distance to the Esplanade. BIG4 Cairns Crystal Cascades is set in beautiful tropical gardens. For a first night, Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort is highly rated with resort-style facilities. Palm Cove and Trinity Beach (20 minutes north) also have great beachside parks.
Things to do in Cairns
Cairns is the launch pad for the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Book tours and day trips with our travel partner Dundee Adventure to round out your campervan holiday.
Explore Cairns tours on Dundee AdventureRoad Trip Guides from Cairns
Detailed itineraries with real campsite recommendations, driving tips, and hidden gems — written by travellers who've driven every route.
One-Way Campervan Hire: Cairns to Sydney Full East Coast
The ultimate Australian road trip: one-way campervan hire from Cairns to Sydney covering the entire East Coast. Compare one-way fees, find relocation deals, and plan the trip of a lifetime.
Campervan Hire Cairns: Tropical Road Trips, Prices & Best Brands (2026)
Your guide to campervan hire in Cairns — prices, brands, Great Barrier Reef access, Daintree day trips, and routes south to Brisbane or west to Darwin.
Tropical North Queensland Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide
Explore Tropical North Queensland by campervan — the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Atherton Tablelands, and remote Cape York country.
Best Waterfalls Near Cairns: Day Trips & Weekend Adventures
Tropical North Queensland is a waterfall wonderland. From the famous Millaa Millaa Falls to Australia's tallest single-drop waterfall, here are the best cascades near Cairns.
Cairns to Darwin Road Trip: The Savannah Way
The Savannah Way stretches 2,700 km from Cairns to Darwin through Australia's wild top end — gorges, hot springs, outback pubs, and unforgettable starry skies.
Cairns to Cape Tribulation Road Trip: Into the Daintree
Drive north from Cairns into the ancient Daintree Rainforest — the only place on Earth where two World Heritage sites meet: the reef and the rainforest.
Campervans & Motorhomes Available in Cairns
Available Campervan & Motorhome Brands in Cairns
Compare Apollo, Britz, Maui, JUCY, Red Sands Campers, Spaceships, Star RV, Travellers Autobarn, Cruisin Motorhomes, Camperman, Adventure Rentals, Auto Sleepers, Calypso Campervans, Go Cheap, Lucky Rentals, Cheapa Campa, Let's Go Motorhomes, Mighty, Hippie Camper and Kea campervan and motorhome hire in Cairns.
Apollo
Premium campervans & motorhomes
One of Australia's largest motorhome rental companies offering premium campervans, motorhomes, and 4WD campers. Modern fleet with well-maintained vehicles.
Best for: Couples, families & luxury travellers
Britz
Premium 4WD campers & motorhomes
Premium 4WD and motorhome specialist known for adventure-ready vehicles. Part of the Tourism Holdings Limited group with depots across Australia and New Zealand.
Best for: Adventure-focused travellers
Maui
Luxury motorhomes
Luxury motorhome brand offering top-of-the-line vehicles with premium interiors, modern features, and comprehensive inclusions for an elevated road trip experience.
Best for: Premium road trips & luxury travellers
Red Sands Campers
Outback-ready campervans
Australian-owned campervan company specialising in outback-ready vehicles. Well-equipped 2 and 4-berth campers built for the unique demands of Australian road trips, from the Red Centre to the Top End. Reliable, no-frills hire with everything you need for long-distance touring.
Best for: Adventurous travellers & couples
Star RV
Premium modern motorhomes
Premium motorhome brand offering the newest and most luxurious fleet in Australia and New Zealand. Mercedes-Benz based vehicles with leather interiors and full en-suites.
Best for: Luxury travellers & premium road trips
Travellers Autobarn
Budget campervan hire
Popular backpacker campervan company with affordable rates, free airport transfers, and vehicles designed for young travellers exploring Australia and New Zealand.
Best for: Backpackers & young travellers
Adventure Rentals
Adventure-ready campervans
Australian campervan hire company offering a range of well-equipped 2 to 4-berth vehicles for road trip adventures. Competitive pricing, unlimited-kilometre options and friendly customer service make it a solid value pick for couples and small groups exploring the east coast and beyond.
Best for: Adventurers & couples
Calypso Campervans
Fun & affordable campervans
Colourful Australian campervan brand offering great value vehicles with everything you need for the open road. Popular with backpackers and young travellers.
Best for: Backpackers & budget travellers
Cheapa Campa
Affordable campervans
Apollo's budget brand offering affordable campervans and motorhomes across Australia and New Zealand. Good value vehicles suitable for travellers who want reliable transport at lower prices.
Best for: Budget travellers & families
Let's Go Motorhomes
Modern Jayco motorhome hire Australia
Let's Go Motorhomes offers a modern fleet of Jayco motorhomes and campervans for hire across Australia, with 2 to 6 berth vehicles typically just 3 to 6 years old. Depots in all major cities make one-way trips and long-term rentals easy for couples and families.
Best for: Couples & families
Mighty
Budget campervan hire AU & NZ
Mighty is the budget arm of the thl group and a sister brand to Britz and Maui, offering ex-fleet campervans and motorhomes at backpacker-friendly prices across Australia and New Zealand. Vehicles are typically 4 to 6 years old and ideal for cost-conscious road trippers.
Best for: Backpackers & budget travellers
Hippie Camper
Fun budget campervans AU & NZ
Hippie Camper hires colourful, compact, no-frills campervans built for backpackers and budget adventurers across Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 2006, its hitop 2-berth vans are easy to drive and packed with the essentials for a free-spirited road trip.
Best for: Backpackers & free spirits
Kea
Quality motorhome hire AU & NZ
Kea offers quality motorhome hire across Australia and New Zealand, with well-appointed 4 and 6 berth vehicles suited to families and touring couples. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 and now part of the Apollo family, Kea is a long-established name in premium self-drive holidays.
Best for: Families & touring couples
Vehicle Categories Available in Cairns
Browse campervan and motorhome types available from trusted suppliers in Cairns.
2 Berth Campervans in Cairns
4 Berth Campervans in Cairns
6 Berth Motorhomes in Cairns
Best Time to Travel
The dry season (May–October) is the best time to visit Cairns with warm days (25–28°C), low humidity, and minimal rain. This is peak season for campervans. The wet season (November–April) brings tropical monsoon rain, high humidity (30–33°C), and some roads may be impassable. Stinger season (October–May) requires stinger suits for ocean swimming.
How Much Does Campervan Hire Cost in Cairns?
Budget campervans from $50/day. Mid-range 4-berth $100–$160/day. Off-season (wet season) rates 40–50% lower. Daintree River ferry: $30 return. Campground costs: $25–$50/night. Fuel: ~$1.70/L in tropical QLD.
Prices are shown in AUD (A$) — the currency of the country where the campervan is hired — and are indicative, varying by season, vehicle type, and rental duration. Compare live prices above for the most accurate rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adventure Tours with Dundee
Book your campervan through CamperCompare and we'll send you a 10% off code for incredible adventure tours — Great Barrier Reef, outback safaris, rainforest experiences, and more.
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