Motorhomes in Australia : Discover a new world.
Looking at the two options for Motorhome Rental and Travel ‘down under’, Australia and New Zealand, it is easy to see there are big differences!
Australia is by far the largest of the two and the climate is very different from New Zealand. There are many cities in Australia where you can rent a Motorhome; Motorhome Rentals in Australia is very popular.
To get a better grip on what is possible, it is a good idea to split Australia in 4 parts: the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. In any of these parts you can rent a Campervan.
What is very important with Motorhomes in Australia is the distance and the condition of the roads. To rent a Motorhome and then travel to the next city to drop off, can be a bit of a challenge as cities are thousands of kilometers apart from each other! It is necessary to have a good look at what can be done and seen on the way, as you are in danger of traveling long long roads and not see much, which can be a bit tedious. Also, not all roads are paved, there are still long stretches of mayor roads just gravel (dirt roads), and usually you are not allowed to travel these roads with a rented vehicle. Getting the dust in your sleeping bag is no fun anyway…..
So in general with Motorhome rentals in Australia it is advisable to do a loop in a certain area and return the Motorhome at the same station, especially if you do not have months to spend. It is even possible to rent in different cities, and fly from one place to the other in between. This is very different from New Zealand Motorhome traveling, where you basically never drive longer then a day.
You can rent many different vehicles in Australia, from very simple Slide-ons to luxury 6 berth Motorhomes. Special is 4wd Motorhome in Australian rentals, as they do allow you to travel on the dirt roads, in the famous Outback. This is especially valuable around Uluru, the famous rock in the Northern Territory.
It is important to be aware of the weather in the different seasons.
Starting on the top, the Northwest and Northeast, we find a tropical climate. The tropical climate only has 2 seasons: Very hot and humid in the summer (November to April) and still warm but dry in winter (May to October). And with hot in summer we are talking 45 degrees Celsius!!! So if you are keen to go there, basically the winter months are the only real good months. Be aware that summer and winter are opposite to those on the Northern Hemisphere.
The rest of Australia, the other half, has what is called a temperate climate. So we are talking about the Southwest and Southeast. In this climate there are 4 seasons, being exactly opposite to the seasons on the Northern Hemisphere. It never gets extremely cold, it rarely freezes and there are just a few mountains with snow, but it does get quite hot in summer. Australia is very dry in general, and you notice that year round in the outback, which is completely dry and desert-like. So enough to consider when you want to go for Campervan rentals in Australia.
Which vehicle you should rent depends on what you want to do.
If you do not go in extreme weather conditions, so in summer when it is hot, you can rent any vehicle that is available and suits your taste.
There are only 2 exceptions:
When it is the hot season, make sure you rent a vehicle that has air conditioning and has plenty of possibilities to ventilate at night. As there are creepy crawlies in Australia that you need to take into account, good mesh is vital, so make sure you check the vehicle has that.
If you want to explore the Outback, you need to rent a 4wd Motorhome. These are usually based on a normal 4wd vehicle, so are small and do not have the luxury of a shower and toilet. They maximum sleep 3 people (2 adults and 1 child). So in stead of “Motorhomes Australia”, you need to see this as “Camping Australia”, but the experience can be amazing!
Campgrounds can be found anywhere in Australia. There are different grades of luxury, but be aware that the distances are huge, so it is not often that you can choose. You have plenty choices around the mayor cities and near tourist attractions. Campgrounds are not cheap, but usually have good facilities. Many have kitchens or roofed spaces where you can cook.
There are many places where you are allowed to camp for free. It is something you need to know if you want to plan for using them during your trip. The advantage of using sites that are pointed out in a guide is, that there are usually other people there who use the same guide. It is not advisable to camp alone. The outback and basically anywhere away from cities is relatively safe, but look at the local situation yourself. Be aware of the surroundings before you decide to stay. Usually it is best not to leave it too late to decide on your overnight spot. If you are not sure, you still have time and energy to go to a campground. We advise using campgrounds. Motorhomes in Australia are well equipped for the local circumstances, use it to your advantage!