Are you planning a stay in the beautiful region of Melbourne or a road trip from the city? Here is some important information for those looking to hire a motorhome or campervan in Melbourne, from the different types of vehicles and rental companies in the area to some ideas for road trip itineraries.
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Why hire a van from Melbourne?
Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city after Sydney. The capital of the state of Victoria has a population of approximately 5 million inhabitants. Proud of its cosmopolitan influence, Melbourne attracts people from all over the world with its cultural diversity and European charm. There are many trendy restaurants and bars, period buildings that blend in with modern architecture and many events throughout the year. It is therefore an ideal starting point to visit the South West of Australia!
Which motorhome company should I choose?
To rent a vehicle from Melbourne or any other city in Australia, we advise you to use a price comparison website. This will allow you to see all the types of vehicles available and book a motorhome directly at the best price (at no additional cost). This will save you time because you won’t have to go to the websites of each rental company to compare the prices yourself. In addition, you will often get better rates because comparison websites often offers discounts.
There are many different motorhome rental agencies in Melbourne. The best known are the big companies that can be found everywhere in other Australian cities. Overall, these agencies offer the same type of service at relatively similar rates.The main van and motorhome rental agencies:
- Apollo Campervans
- Britz
- Jucy Rentals
- Travellers Autobarn (5% discount available here: Travellers Autobarn Promo Code)
- Let’s Go Motorhomes
- Cruisin’ Motorhomes
Note: These rental companies generally offer different brands, divided by range. The Cheapa Campa brand belongs, for example, to Apollo. The Mighty brand is owned by Britz. So don’t be surprised if on a brand’s website you find other logos on the vehicle.
Where in Melbourne are motorhome rental agencies located?
Motorhome rental companies are rarely located in the city centre. Instead, most of them are based in the suburbs of big cities and near the airport. However, they are not accessible on foot from the airport. You will need to take a taxi or a shuttle to get there.
Here are the locations of the main rental agencies in Melbourne:
Which motorhome model should I choose?
With all the excitement of going on a road trip in a motorhome, it’s hard to decide which model to go for. There are several types of motorhome/campervan available for hire. To choose the best model for your needs, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:
- How many seats do you need?
- Do you need it to be equipped with toilet and shower? Or can you use the amenities of a campsite?
- With a kitchen inside or in the back of the vehicle?
- What’s your budget? A motorhome requires a larger budget than a van.
- What level of comfort do you need? Is it more comfortable to sleep in a motorhome than in a van?
- What time of year is your trip? Motorhomes are better insulated than vans if you want to rent in winter. Remember to also check if it is equipped with a heater.
The best model, equipment, type of insurance, tips and tricks for a hassle-free trip…We go into all these points in more detail in our dedicated article.
No matter where you are departing from, remember to take stock of the essentials of motorhome travel before your departure!
How much to budget
Campervan rental prices in Melbourne or any other major city in Australia vary widely. The same vehicle can be rented for anything from $80 to $200 per day. Note that the average is generally around $100. There are many factors to consider when talking about rental rates. The main ones are:
- Vehicle model (size/options/number of seats)
- Range (recent or not)
- Rental season
- Rental period
- Reservation deadline before the rental
For example, here are some price simulations:
1 – Rental of a 2-seater motorhome in Melbourne:
– 2 weeks rental
– Stay in January (high season)
– Reservation 3 months in advance
– Entry-level vehicle (3 to 5 years old)
PRICE: About $150/day or $2100 (without insurance or extras)
2 – Rental of a 2-seater motorhome in Melbourne:
– 4 weeks rental
– Stay in May (low season)
– Reservation a month in advance
– Entry-level vehicle (3 to 5 years old)
PRICE: About $92/day or $2600 for 4 weeks rental.
How to book a motorhome rental
Here are some useful tips to consider before making your reservation:
- Use a price comparison website
- Book well in advance
- Choose entry-level vehicles (older)
- Rent a vehicle for more than 14 days. The daily rates go down according to the duration of your rental. If you plan to travel through different regions, it generally works out cheaper to keep the same motorhome for your whole trip rather than renting different ones.
- Always take out insurance – otherwise if there’s an accident you could end up with a huge bill.
If your trip is fast approaching and you haven’t yet booked your van, you can get money off your booking with our partner Travellers Autobarn. You will come across these white and orange vans all over Australia.
5% off van rental
Get a better deal on your van rental with Travellers Autobarn with our promo code: GUIDEEN
Visit Melbourne and its surroundings
Melbourne
To visit Melbourne and its city centre, it’s best to get around on foot or use public transport. Indeed, like all big cities, it is complicated to get around by car. In addition, parking spaces are difficult to find and rather expensive.
Less than 30 minutes from Melbourne
St Kilda
St Kilda is located on the outskirts close to Melbourne. This district is famous for its many attractions, its artistic and cultural side and its direct access to the beach.
Organ Pipes National Park
This park is known for its basalt columns which resemble the organ pipes in the largest cathedrals. This impressive formation is accessible by car from Melbourne (about twenty kilometres).
1-2 hours from Melbourne
The Yarra Valley
The Yarra region is the perfect gastronomic getaway. You will be able to taste famous local wines as well as great cuisine. The perfect combination to revive your taste buds in complete relaxation!
The Mornington Peninsula
An hour from Melbourne, this peninsula offers beautiful beaches as well as a good number of activities: wildlife observation (dolphins, sea lions, etc.), hiking, scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, horse riding etc.
Philip Island
Located 140 km southeast of Melbourne, Phillip Island is a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Nicknamed “Penguin Island”, it is mainly famous for the penguin parade that happens at nightfall.
Lysterfield Park
Located one hour from Melbourne, this park offers a large number of activities: hiking, biking, barbecue… The lake is also a beautiful spot. You can swim or practice water sports (surfing, canoeing, pedal boating and sailing).
More than 2 hours from Melbourne
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilsons Promontory is a peninsula located about 200km southeast of Melbourne. This national park covers 50,000 hectares of coastal wilderness on the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. For hiking enthusiasts, many trails cross deserted beaches, eucalyptus forests, moors, marshes and mountain peaks.
Great Ottawa National Park
About 3 hours from Melbourne, this national park is home to sandy beaches, superb cliffs, forests, lakes and waterfalls.
Grampians National Park
With its tall sandstone peaks, gorgeous wildflowers, and plenty of hiking, it’s the perfect place for nature lovers. The Grampians region is home to a large number of rock art sites. Traditional owners call this area Gariwerd
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is a “must do” in the state of Victoria. This mythical road is one of the most beautiful in the world. Here you can admire breathtaking rock formations while skirting the ocean. Incredible moments await you!
Road trip itineraries from Melbourne
MELBOURNE-ADELAIDE
This route of more than 1000km will allow you to discover the magnificent Great Ocean Road. You can also admire:
- Grampians National Park
- Coorong National Park
- McLaren Vale
- Kangaroo Island
Expected time: About 10 days
MELBOURNE – SYDNEY
The Sydney to Melbourne route on the South East coast of Australia is also over 1,000km long. You can discover the following spots:
- Philip Island
- Mornington Peninsula
- Wilsons Promontory
- Lakes Entrance
- Jervis Bay
Expected time: 1 week
MELBOURNE – MALLACOOTA
Discover the North and East of Victoria on this route of almost 1,100km. Between valleys, mountains and beaches, you will not be disappointed!
- St Kilda
- Lysterfield Park
- Dandenong Mountains
- Warburton
- Yarra Ranges National Park
- Alpine National Park
- Gippsland
Expected time: 12 to 15 days
MELBOURNE-CANBERRA
This journey of approximately 900 km will take you to discover some of Victoria’s most beautiful national parks and historic towns.
- Organ Pipes National Park
- Yarra Valley
- Cathedral Ranges National Park
- Shepparton
- Albury and Lake Hume
- Kosciuszko National Park
Expected time: about 2 weeks
Tips before hitting the road
The roads of Australia are very well maintained and mostly paved. Here are some tips for a smooth ride:
Remember that in Australia we drive on the left side of the road, so you overtake on the right!
Speed limits are strict and controlled. In general, you should drive at 110 km/h on main roads and 50 km/h in town. For other roads, refer to the road signs.
The blood alcohol limit for young drivers (under 21 years old) is 0. For those over 21 years old, the authorised limit is 0.5 g/L of blood.
