Support - Travel Information

In New Zealand most companies do offer courtesy transfers. In Australia however, no companies offer transfers between airports or accommodation and the depots, it is up to the renter to make their own way to and from the depots. But in most locations there is easy access by bus, train or taxi.

TOURISM RADIO IS FREE  OF CHARGE WHEN YOU RESERVE YOUR HIRE THROUGH AUSTRALIA MOTORHOMES WITH ANY OF OUR  BELOW  LISTED PARTNERS

Using the latest GPS technology, this automated personal tour guide will share the secrets of the surrounding scenery as you travel through Australia's fasinating and ever changing landscapes

You'll learn about the local area you're travelling through, prominent landmarks, scenic highlights and attractions as you approach them, there's even easy listening driving music to keep you entertained in between points of interest

From the mid-2000s, a large number of tracks have been constructed, with support from government agencies, local councils and tourism bodies. Investment in mountain biking facilities in Australia has produced a number of areas of high quality trails. At present only one motorhome rental company (Around Australia Motorhomes) offer bicycles to rent in Australia.

Starter Packs (or Welcome Packs) are available with all the motorhomes we offer. The contents of the Starter Pack will vary from company to company. The more upmarket/ expensive motorhomes may have more in the Starter Pack. By definition a Starter Pack contains everything you need to get started such as refreshments, a regional map and an activities guide. To find out more information, on a motorhome's web page, look under the heading "Daily Hire Rental Rate Includes".

This varies from company to company but almost all companies offer at least table and chairs and baby or booster seats. (Some companies include table and chairs for free). A lot of companies also offer GPS's as optional extras (if they are not included) and snow chains. Some offer bikes and bike racks (see Bicycle Hire section for more information). Other items that are sometimes offered are tents, BBQs, MP3 players, and portable heaters. All Hire items can be reserved for the Motorhome you intend to book when on Part one of the Reservation process.

If All Inclusive insurance is selected,(Part one) many hire items are included at no charge. The normal inclusions with All Inclusive insurance are a baby or booster seat, tables and chairs, Snow Chains  (and sometimes a GPS) Most Hire items can be booked at the Depot when collecting the Motorhome but prebooking can save time and ensure the item is available.

The most poplular choice for travellers is free Wifi. Check your email, make travel arrangements etc from your smart phone or laptop from free WiFi hotspots. Find and use the internet using free WiFi at popular coffee shops and the golden arches (although 'free' wifi is not always free as it may involve making a purchase, such as cup of coffee at a cafe before they give you the Wi-fi password, but this still remains the cheapest option).  

How Far to Travel in a Day

Australia is roughly the size of continental USA but with a population of greater Los Angeles with most of that population located on the eastern sea board. So be prepared for long distances across open country with little population in-between.

Driver fatigue has been the cause of 20% of all traffic accidents. If you are going to be driving long distances it is recommended that you have more than one licensed driver and that you share the driving, giving each other a chance to rest. If this is not possible, you should rest every two hours giving yourself a 15 minute break even when close to your destination.

The amount you would like to cover in a day obviously varies according to the nature of your holiday. Assume if you are on the open road in your campervan that you will be covering between 80 and 90 kilometres an hour, stops permitting. We would not recommend you travel no more than 4 or 5 hours in a day. Any further and the drive just becomes a tedious chore, and you fail to acknowledge or appreciate the scenery you are driving through. An ideal distance is between 200 and 400 kilometres, as that way you cover a fair distance but not enough to tire you out.

Play it safe with your driving, take the time to enjoy the passing landscape, and your holiday will be all the better for it!

Please note that times and distances are approximations and will vary depending upon road conditions and time of year. It is suggested that you should check with local authorities before travelling in remote areas. (Multiply by 0.621 for Mile equivalent).

Petrol is sold in litres and comes in both unleaded and lead substitute forms. Prices will vary depending upon location and in the major cities you will see price fluctuations during any given week and national holidays. Motorhomes travel 8 - 12 km per litre of fuel depending on the size of the motorhome and how they are driven.

For fuel price updates, click here

Australia offers many options

Travelling in a campervan gives you several options to choose from where to spend each night. Broadly the choices are: caravan parks and campgrounds, National Parks and even free stays!

Staying overnight in a caravan park is the most common option when travelling in Australia with a motorhome. Australia has an extensive network of caravan parks in all major tourist centres and in most towns. Caravan parks with "powered sites" have provision for you to plug the motor home into the mains power. Some appliances, such as microwaves, air-conditioning units and TV's, require 240V to operate. At most times of the year there is no need to book ahead, however it may be wise to book ahead for travel in peak periods (Easter, Christmas, etc).

Most national parks have areas set aside for camping. There are often shower and toilets, barbeques and picnic areas and of course national parks provide a scenic and peaceful place to stay at overnight. However these areas generally have no facility for you to plug the motorhome into electricity. Note that most national parks require a pass or permit for overnight camping.

"Free Camping" is the another option. Local council laws discourage overnight camping on the side of the road in the vicinity of towns. Check with the town's tourist information centre or council if you are unsure about where you can spend the night. Outside the towns and in country areas it is generally allowed in designated rest areas and truck stops. Only fully self-contained motorhomes (with shower/toilet facilities) should be used for free camping.

Staying in Caravan Parks and Holiday Parks

Staying in a caravan park is the luxury way to experience your campervan holiday, but as you know, luxury costs money! The rates of most caravan parks are usually very reasonable, yet this will depend on location, time of the year and the type of accommodation option you choose.

Caravan Parks provide facilities that will make your campervan experience more comfortable. Many of the parks offer easy access to electricity and water, which allows you to replenish your onboard supplies and recharge your motorhome battery. They provide facilities such as toilets, showers, laundries and camp kitchens, which will make your stay just that little bit easier.

Many parks also feature swimming pools, tennis courts, recreation rooms and even spas. This will add a further element of luxury and comfort to your stay and will allow you to sit back, relax and unwind.

It is advisable to book ahead, especially at the places you really want to stay at. However, some caravan parks will let you stay without a reservation, but always be aware of peak times in the year, which often bring with them changing rates and availabilities.

Staying in a caravan park is essentially the best way to go about your campervan holiday. They are ideally positioned so that you can enjoy the surrounding scenery and attractions, therefore offering the best places to stay!

To find a caravan park to suit you, check out the following:

• Big 4 - www.big4.com.au
• Family Parks - www.familyparks.com.au
• Jasons - http://www.jasons.com.au/camping-holiday-parks
• Caravan and camping network - http://tiny.cc/6liyk

Staying in National Parks

Australia has one of the largest and greatest national park systems in the world, covering over 24 million hectares, with such diversity as lush rain forest to waterless desert. The outstanding natural and cultural values of our national parks have led to many being proclaimed World Heritage Area's attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

National Park Campsites are a great place to relax, enjoy and explore the great outdoors. They allow you to get back in touch with nature and escape the crowds at an extremely affordable rate!

Licences and Permits - Licences and permits are required to undertake certain activities in the National Reserve areas. These activities include hunting, fishing and commercial activities and in some cases camping, so insure that you plan ahead to see if you require one.

 Camping - Depending on which state you are in, most National Parks require that you pay an entry fee in order to drive through and explore them. If you are planning on camping in the park there is usually an additional nightly fee per person, although some parks offer free camping. It is advisable that you check beforehand with the individual park you are planning to visit what the charges are going to be. Booking in advance is a good idea especially at more popular times of the year.

For more information please see the Australian governments Parks and Reserves website: http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/index.html

Free Stays ("Freedom Camping")

Motorhomes have dual battery systems, one for starting the campervan, one for the internal appliances such as lights, fridge and water pump. These batteries will last approximately 12 hours when fully charged depending on usage. The batteries are recharged when driving or when connected to mains power. Some vehicles have solar panels too. All these features make it possible to stay overnight without power or water facilities.

Finding a free place to stay overnight in your motorhome is sure to be a bonus to your campervan holiday and the great news is that there are hundreds of these places spread out across the Australian countryside

Free stays come in handy, especially when the holiday funds are getting a little low. However, keep in mind that in most states, you cannot simply pull over to the side of the road in your motorhome and camp for the night. There are rules governing where you can park your campervan, and it is a good idea to look into these before you head out.

Also, be considerate of the environment and be sure not to litter or leave the area damaged. “Freedom campers" have coped a lot of flak in recent times for leaving behind unsightly messes including human waste. Please leave our environment in the same condition you found it! Doing this will ensure that free stays across Australia remain available for many years to come!

Check this website for listings of camping sites that are either free or very low cost including National Parks: ozcamps.net

Australia Weather Overview

Due to  Australia’s size there is a lot of climatic variation, but without severe extremes. The southern third of the country has cold (though generally not freezing) winters (June to August). Tasmania and the alpine country in Victoria and NSW get particularly chilly, Summer (December to February) are pleasant and warm, sometimes quite hot. Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) are transition months, much the same as in Europe and North America and New Zealand.

Heading north, the climate changes dramatically. Seasonal variations become fewer until, in the far north, around Darwin and Cairns, you’re in the monsoon belt with just two seasons: hot and wet, and hot and dry. The Dry lasts roughly from April to September, and the Wet from October to March; the build-up to the Wet (from early October) is when the humidity is at its highest and when the locals confess to being at their most irritable. The centre of the country is arid – hot and dry during the day, but often bitterly cold at night.

Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere and the seasons here occur at different times of the year than in Europe. November - March are considered summer months while winter falls in May and lasts through August.

The average summer temperature in Australia is about 84 degrees F or 29 degrees C. Similarly the average winter temperature ranges around 56 degrees F or 13 degrees C.

 School Holidays

2012

An Experience You Will Remember Forever

A campervan journey will bring you into closer contact with both the scenery and the locals you encounter on the road. It is a holiday that you will remember forever because it was different from your normal trip to the beach to stay in the same apartment again.

Freedom

Imagine spending time where you want, taking roads just because you want to see where they go and staying longer in places you are really enjoying.

Wake up and decide where to go today, no fixed itinerary to follow. Stay at caravan parks to use their facilities or utilise the freedom to pull up at one of the hundreds of beautiful national parks.

Australia where Adventure and Excitement await

Friendly people, sunshine and surf, the Outback, Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, Daintree Rainforest are just some of Australia's attractions. So much to see and do and the freedom afforded by a Campervan holiday is the perfect way to do it. Planning the adventure of a lifetime starts right here!  

Great Value, Greater Fun

Campervan holidays offer you great value. For the one daily price you get both accommodation and vehicle hire in one package. Save money on meals, by shopping in supermarkets rather than eating in restaurants every night. When you feel like lunch pull over into a nice grassy patch by a river on the side of the road and make a sandwich and a coffee.

Campervans come in all sizes up to a 6 berth (six beds), which is a perfect option for a group or family. Groups or couples can travel together and split the cost of the campervan between them. Families can have a wonderful bonding experience, imagine sitting around and playing cards or monopoly at night together.

A campervan holiday provides you with many benefits including: freedom, adventure and value for money. It is an experience to share with the family, with friends and with others out there on the road.