Short answer: a 7-night campervan hire on the East Coast cost roughly $490 to $1,825 in the quotes we checked on 22 October 2026, depending almost entirely on the van. A budget 2-berth wagon (Awesome Campers, Spaceships, JUCY) was $490 to $562 Sydney to Brisbane in November. A hi-top from Mighty, Apollo or Britz was $1,264 to $1,824. A motorhome started at $1,624. Fourteen nights lowers the nightly rate by roughly 8 to 15 per cent, and the Christmas to New Year fortnight pushed the same hire up by 21 to 33 per cent on the big-brand vans, with most budget vans already gone.
Every figure below is the operator’s own website price for the whole hire: the van, the one-way fee and admin fees that were compulsory, and the basic included cover. We compare live prices from the major operators, and on vans we can check, our price is lower than the operator’s own website. See live prices for your dates.
How much does a campervan cost per day in Australia?
Our from-rates start at $49 a day for a 2-seater, but that is the cheapest van on its cheapest dates. Here is what the same Sydney to Brisbane hire cost for 7 nights, 10 to 17 November 2026 (the operators price that as 8 rental days), driver aged 26:
| Van type | Examples we quoted | Total, 7 nights | About per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget 2-berth wagon or people mover | Awesome Compact, Spaceships Alpha, JUCY Cloudbreak | $490 to $562 | $70 to $80 |
| 2-berth premium or hi-top | Spaceships Beta 2S, MightyLITE HiLITE, Mighty Highball, JUCY Malibu, Apollo Hitop | $630 to $1,664 | $90 to $238 |
| 4-berth campervan | JUCY Crib Plus, Spaceships Beta 4-berth, MightyLITE DeLITE, Apollo Endeavour, Britz Voyager | $796 to $1,824 | $114 to $261 |
| 2 to 3-berth motorhome | Mighty Duo and Deuce, Apollo Euro Mini, Maui Ultima Plus and Elite | $1,624 to $2,904 | $232 to $415 |
| 4WD camper | Mighty 4WD, Apollo 4WD Adventure, Britz Warrior and Maverick | $1,957 to $2,454 | $280 to $351 |
The gap between the budget band and the hi-top band is the single biggest lever on your total. The budget vans are older wagons and people movers with a fold-out bed and a basic kit. The hi-tops and motorhomes are newer, taller and often have a fixed bed, a fridge you can run overnight and room to stand. Our guides to the 2-seater, hi-top and motorhome show what each type is like to live in.
How much does it cost for 7 nights versus 14 nights?
Longer hires are cheaper per night. Same route, same dates in November, driver aged 26:
| Van | 7 nights | 14 nights | Per night, 7 vs 14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Compact | $490 | $840 | $70 vs $60 |
| Spaceships Alpha | $515 | $959 | $74 vs $68 |
| MightyLITE HiLITE | $1,264 | $2,186 | $181 vs $156 |
| Mighty Highball | $1,344 | $2,335 | $192 vs $167 |
| Apollo Hitop | $1,664 | $2,935 | $238 vs $210 |
Sydney to Brisbane in 14 nights is a slow trip. Sydney to Cairns in 14 nights costs the same for the van (Spaceships Alpha was $959 on both routes), so the extra distance is a fuel cost, not a hire cost. Read the Sydney to Cairns route guide for how the days break down.
How much does campervan hire cost in peak season?
Peak is the school holidays, mainly late December to January, and it hits twice: the price rises and the cheap vans sell out. For Sydney to Brisbane, 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027:
- MightyLITE HiLITE was $1,669 against $1,264 in November (up 32 per cent). Mighty Highball was $1,789 (up 33 per cent). Apollo Hitop was $2,006 (up 21 per cent). Britz HiTop was $2,158.
- JUCY Cloudbreak was $1,105 against $562 in November, including a $100 weekend surcharge on top of its one-way fee.
- Spaceships showed no availability for those dates, and Awesome Campers returned no vans.
Sydney to Cairns for 14 nights over the same period was $2,246 for a JUCY Crib Plus and $2,385 for a Spaceships Alpha. The same Alpha was $959 in November. If you travel at Christmas, book as early as you can.
The low season is not always the cheapest. For 8 to 15 June 2027, Sydney to Brisbane, the big-brand hi-tops fell 9 to 17 per cent from November (HiLITE $1,109, Highball $1,229, Apollo $1,389, Britz $1,509). The budget vans did not: Spaceships Alpha was $600 (November $515) and JUCY Cloudbreak was $803 (November $562). November has promotional rates on some budget vans, so compare dates rather than assuming winter is cheap.
What fees are on top of the daily rate?
Check what is in the headline price before you compare. In the quotes above:
- One-way fees. JUCY charged $195 for metro to metro and $295 for anything to or from Cairns. Awesome charged nothing to $350, depending on the van and route. The thl brands (Britz, Apollo, Mighty, MightyLITE, Maui) build roughly $200 into the price on the east coast. Spaceships charges none. Details in our one-way hire guide.
- Admin fee. Awesome added $90 to every hire.
- Weekend and gas fees. JUCY added a $100 weekend surcharge in the peak sample, and a $40 LPG fee on its Big Kahuna and Condo vans. Star RV motorhomes carried a $40 LPG fee too.
- Insurance. Every quote includes basic cover with a bond. Cutting the bond costs $30 to $75 a day depending on brand. See campervan insurance and bonds explained.
- Fuel, campsites and food. Not in any hire price. Powered sites start around $40 a night at some parks, and more in peak. See free camping vs powered sites.
How can I pay less for campervan hire?
- Choose the smallest van you can sleep in. The budget-to-hi-top gap was more than $700 for a week.
- Go longer if you were close. Fourteen nights costs about 70 to 85 per cent more than seven, not double.
- Pick dates outside the school holidays. The big brands rose 21 to 33 per cent in the Christmas week.
- Return to the same city if the route allows. JUCY Cloudbreak was $367 Sydney to Sydney and $562 Sydney to Brisbane, a $195 difference.
- Compare whole-hire prices, not daily rates. A low headline daily rate can look very different once fees are added.
- Ask about relocation deals only if your dates are flexible.
- Travelling under 25? Read campervan hire under 21 and under 25.
Is a campervan cheaper than a bus pass and hostels?
For two or more people on a trip of five days or longer, usually, because the van is bed, transport and kitchen in one. A solo traveller on a tight budget is often better off with a hop-on hop-off pass and dorm beds. We compare both in Campervan vs Bus Pass vs Tour, and our bus passes show current prices.
FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Australia for a week?
In the quotes we checked on 22 October 2026, 7 nights from Sydney to Brisbane in November cost $490 to $562 for a budget 2-berth wagon, $1,264 to $1,824 for a hi-top or 4-berth from the big brands, and from $1,624 for a motorhome.
What is the cheapest campervan hire in Australia?
In our sample the lowest all-in prices came from Awesome Campers (Compact, $490 for 7 nights Sydney to Brisbane), Spaceships (Alpha, $515) and JUCY (Cloudbreak, $562). Availability changes daily, and the cheapest vans sell out first in peak season.
Is campervan hire cheaper in winter?
Not always. For one week in June 2027 the big-brand hi-tops were 9 to 17 per cent cheaper than November, but the budget vans we checked were dearer than their November rates.
Does the daily rate include insurance?
Basic cover is included on every quote, with a bond or liability amount of $3,000 to $5,000 on most vans, depending on the brand. Reducing the bond or liability costs extra per day.
Are there extra fees for campervan hire?
Yes: one-way fees ($0 to $350 in our checks), an admin fee on some brands, weekend surcharges, gas fees on some vans and optional insurance upgrades. Compare the whole price, not the daily rate.
Sources
Prices: operator booking-engine quotes for Awesome Campers, JUCY, Spaceships and thl brands (Britz, Maui, Mighty, MightyLITE, Apollo), pulled 21 and 22 October 2026 for a driver aged 26, 2 adults. Fees and conditions: each operator’s published rental terms and FAQs, read October 2026. Minimum prices change daily.
Get your price
Put your dates and route into /campervans for live prices from the major operators, with a Wanderlust price that is lower than the operator’s own website on vans we can check. Rather talk it through? Book a free call.
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