Plan your Australian road trip with a campervan or motorhome hire from Indie Campers and explore one of the most rewarding drive destinations on earth. Australia is a country the size of the contiguous United States with a fraction of the population, which means open roads, uncrowded national parks, and the kind of wilderness that genuinely earns the phrase "off the beaten path." Cruise the coastal drama of the Great Ocean Road, follow the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns, or push inland to the Red Centre from Darwin. Choose from Indie Campers' range of campervans and motorhomes, all with unlimited kilometres, flexible one-way hire, 24/7 online support, and extras like bedding kits, BBQ sets, and outdoor furniture. Backed by a 4.7-star rating from over 73,000 travellers, Indie Campers is your most reliable way to see Australia on your own schedule.
Our Road Trips Itineraries
Australia drives on the left side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right. The adjustment takes a day or two rather than a week. Give yourself extra conscious attention at every turn for the first 48 hours.
Speed limits in Australia are posted in kilometres per hour. The main thresholds to know:
Speed cameras are common across all states, including on open highways. Point-to-point average speed cameras in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland calculate your average speed between two fixed points , sustained speeding is detected even if you slow down at obvious enforcement zones. Fines are issued by mail and passed on through the hire company.
Australians call it petrol, not gas. Prices are listed per litre, not per gallon. At current averages ($1.80–$2.20 AUD per litre). Prices in metropolitan areas are generally lower than at rural roadhouses. In the Northern Territory and remote Western Australia, fuel stations can be 200–250 miles apart. Fill up whenever you drop below half a tank on any regional route.
In the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and outback Queensland, road trains, trucks hauling two to four trailers, can run up to 175 feet in total length. Never attempt to pass a road train unless you can see clearly for at least 500 metres ahead. When a road train overtakes your vehicle, ease off the accelerator slightly to help it clear you faster.
Kangaroos are most active at dawn, dusk, and overnight. A large kangaroo striking a moving vehicle causes serious damage and is a significant risk on any rural road after dark. Avoid driving in rural areas between dusk and dawn where possible.
Australia sits in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons run opposite to North America. December through February is summer; June through August is winter. What this means for road tripping changes significantly depending on which region you're visiting.
December through February (Australian Summer) Best for: Tasmania (peak hiking season), the Great Ocean Road, Sydney and New South Wales coast, Melbourne Avoid: The Northern Territory and far north Queensland, monsoon season with extreme heat in the Outback and some roads impassable due to flooding.
March through May (Australian Fall) Best for: East Coast shoulder season before Queensland humidity builds, Western Australia, the Outback as temperatures begin to cool Highlights: Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef (March–July), wildflowers beginning in Western Australia
June through August (Australian Winter) Best for: Northern Territory (Kakadu, Uluru), Western Australia's north, Queensland's Whitsundays and Tropical North. This is the single best window for the Outback and the Red Centre. Note: Winter in southern Australia (Melbourne, Tasmania, the Great Ocean Road) is mild but wet. Still roadworthy; pack layers.
September through November (Australian Spring) Best for: Broadly the most reliable season across every region. Western Australia wildflowers peak August through October. The East Coast before Queensland's wet season. The Outback before summer heat arrives. Victoria and New South Wales at their most temperate.
The most popular months for Australia campervan hire are December, January, and July.
Minimum age: 21.
Licence: A current, valid driver's licence is accepted across all Australian states and territories. No International Driving Permit required.
National Parks passes: Most Australian national parks do not charge entry fees. Exceptions include Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park ($38 AUD per adult for a 3-day pass). Budget separately for any Uluru itinerary. Book through Parks Australia (parksaustralia.gov.au) for federal parks; state systems (NSW National Parks, Parks Victoria, Queensland National Parks, Parks Tasmania) each run separate booking platforms.
Free camping apps: WikiCamps Australia and Campermate are the two most widely used tools for mapping free and low-cost camping on public land. For a full rundown, see our guide to essential camping apps for your Australian road trip.
Driving hours: The Australian government recommends a break every two hours on any long drive. Fatigue is the primary road safety risk on long outback stretches, take it seriously.
Sun and insects: Australia has the world's highest rate of skin cancer per capita. Sunscreen, a hat, and UV-protective clothing are standard travel gear, not optional. Flies are abundant in rural and inland areas in summer; a fly net hat is practical equipment in the Outback.
In general, a special licence is not required to rent our campervans in Australia. However, a valid driving licence is required to operate our vehicles. For some non-EU citizens, a IDP is required, in addition to their home country's drivers licence. Other considerations such as a valid vehicle licence to the vehicle type (manual or automatic) will also be required. For more information regarding our licence requirements read this.
Yes, our campervans are pet-friendly. Just make sure to purchase the extra cleaning service during your booking. This service includes professional anti-allergic cleaning after your trip. Please note that only one pet is allowed per motorhome, and it must weigh no more than 30kg. Keep in mind, we are not responsible for any legal fees related to travelling with your pet. For marketplace bookings, check the "vehicle rules" section for the pet-friendly icon to confirm if pets are allowed in that specific vehicle.
The number of people who can sleep in our campervans will depend on the size of the vehicle and the model. In general, our class C motorhome models can sleep up to 4-8 people, whereas our class B motorhomes can sleep up to 2-4. For cars with a rooftop tent, around 2 people can sleep in this vehicles. More details on our models and sleeping capacities can be found here.
If you are travelling in a campervan, motorhome or caravan around Australia, it is important to understand official camping rules of the country you are visiting. As natural areas are generally protected by laws, using an official campsite or designated overnight parking area is highly recommended. This helps protect local communities and ensures you can all enjoy safely. Read more safety tips and protocols here.
We offer three protection plans to cover incidents and damages during your hire period. All Indie Campers motorhomes come with insurance for third-party vehicles and property damage (valid insurance will depend on the country). For marketplace vehicles, insurance options may vary based on the host.
Learn more about our protection plans here.
Yes, our search filter allows you to find a campervan near your location using a 60km radius system. This means depending on the location you are searching from, you will be able to find an Indie campervan hire pick-up centre near you.
Yes, a selected number of Indie Campers campervan hire in Australia include unlimited kilometres, allowing you to explore freely and make the most of your road trip! Please note that unlimited kilometres applies exclusively to Indie Campers campervans and is subject to responsible use.
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Our Road Trips Itineraries
“Nick was so helpful and explained everything so well at collection and was super helpful at drop off ”
“Good camper, good service, would recommend ”
“Locals. Awesome. Amazing experience. ”
