Campervan Hire in Australia: The Complete Guide for UK Travellers

Why Australia Is Worth the 24-Hour Flight

For British and Irish travellers, Australia is the ultimate campervan destination — and the long-haul flight is a big part of why. You are not popping over for a weekend; you are committing to a proper trip. That makes a campervan the perfect way to travel: your accommodation, transport and kitchen roll into one, and the vast distances that put people off suddenly become the whole point.

Best of all, Australia drives on the left, just like home. Of all the world's great road-trip destinations, it is the easiest for Brits to adapt to — no wrong-side-of-the-road nerves, familiar roundabouts, and road signs in English. Combine that with endless coastline, the Outback, and a campground network built for van life, and you have a country made for self-drive travel.

CamperCompare compares live prices from 30+ rental brands — Apollo, Britz, Maui, Jucy, Cheapa Campa, Travellers Autobarn and more — so you are not overpaying after already spending a fortune on flights. → Compare campervan prices in Australia

What It Costs (in Pounds)

All Australian hire is priced in Australian dollars (AUD, A$) — the currency of the country where you collect the van. Your real cost in sterling depends on the exchange rate when your card is charged, but as a rough guide at recent rates:

• Budget 2-berth van: A$50–90/day (≈ £26–47)
• Mid-size 2–3 berth camper: A$90–150/day (≈ £47–79)
• Large 4–6 berth motorhome: A$150–250/day (≈ £79–131)

On top of the daily rate, budget for fuel (Australia is cheaper than the UK per litre but the distances are huge), campground fees (A$0 for free camps up to A$50/night for powered sites), and one-way fees if you drop off in a different city. Paying with a fee-free travel card or credit card that doesn't sting you on foreign transactions will save you more than you'd think over a multi-week hire.

For a full breakdown see our guide to how much campervan hire costs in Australia.

Visas & Licences for Brits

The paperwork is refreshingly simple for UK passport holders:

• Tourist visa: The eVisitor (subclass 651) is free and grants stays of up to 3 months per visit within a 12-month window — ideal for a big trip. Apply online before you fly.
• Working Holiday visa (subclass 417): For 18–35s wanting to stay longer, work, and fund a longer van adventure. Extremely popular with British backpackers.
• Driving licence: Your full UK or Irish photocard licence is accepted for all rental campervans (up to 4.5t) for up to 3 months. Because it is already in English, you do not need an International Driving Permit. Carry the physical card at all times.

When to Go (The Seasons Are Flipped)

This is the single most important thing for UK travellers to get right, because Australia's seasons are the mirror image of home:

• Escape the UK winter (Sept–Feb): Lands you in the Australian spring/summer. Perfect for the southern coast — Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Adelaide and Tasmania. December–January is peak, so book vans months ahead.
• UK spring/summer (May–Oct): This is the dry season in the tropical north — the only sensible time for Cairns, Darwin, Kakadu and the Kimberley. Avoid the north during the Nov–Mar wet season.
• Sweet spots: September–November and March–April give you good weather, thinner crowds and van prices 30–40% below peak.

Best Routes for a Long-Haul Trip

Because you've flown so far, most Brits go for 2–4 weeks and one of these classics:

• The East Coast (Sydney → Cairns): The undisputed number one — roughly 2,500 km taking in Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef. Ideal over 2–4 weeks.
• Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road: One of the world's great coastal drives, easily paired with Tasmania on the ferry.
• Perth → Broome: For the adventurous — the wild, empty west coast of Western Australia.

Pick up from any major airport city — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns or Perth — and one-way hires between them are common if you want to fly into one city and out of another.

Insider Tips for British Travellers

• Beat jet lag before you drive: After 24 hours of flying, spend your first night in a hotel near the depot and collect the van the next morning fresh.
• Book early for the UK-winter escape window — December–January vans sell out because you're competing with the domestic Aussie holiday market too.
• Distances are deceptive: "Just up the coast" can be a 600 km day. Plan shorter driving days than you would in Europe.
• Use our 10% code and lock in a fully-refundable deposit early — it protects your spot before prices climb for the season.

Our team is Australian-based but deals with British travellers every week and can help by email or WhatsApp. → Start comparing Australian campervan prices