How Much Does it Cost To Hire a Campervan in Brisbane?
By Wicked Campers · Published
Thinking about picking up a campervan in Brisbane and travelling the East coast? Brisbane is a perfect place to do that.
You’ve got the Gold Coast just 1.5 hour south and the Sunshine Coast about an hour north, opening up the whole East Coast. Think Byron Bay, Noosa, K’gari (Fraser Island), and, if you’ve got the time, all the way up to Cairns.
How much does a campervan road trip actually cost?
Let's start with the most important one: The Campervan or 4x4 Camper
Campervan hire costs depend on the vehicle you choose, how long you’re hiring for, and what season you're travelling in. With Wicked, van prices can range from around $29-$250 per day depending on the vehicle.
Some of our popular options include:
2WD Campervans
| Vehicle Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget mini camper | $30/day |
| Mystery Machine 2 | $35/day |
| Johnny Feelgood | $65/day |
Check out all 2WD campervans here.
4WD Campervans
| Vehicle Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| D5 4x4 Adventure Camper | $150/day |
| Grip 2-5 Berth 4x4 | $200/day |
| Desert Sands 4x4 | $250/day |
Check out all 4WD campers here.
These are starting rates, not guaranteed Brisbane prices. Think of them as a ballpark rather than a promise carved into a rock.
What goes into the cost of the campervan hire?
Season Matters
Summer and school holidays (think December-January, plus Easter) are peak travel times, so rates can climb. Travel in the shoulder months like March-May or September-November and you'll usually find quieter campgrounds, easier bookings, and noticeably lower daily hire rates.
Length of Trip
The longer you hire, the lower your average daily rate can be. If you’re planning a proper East Coast run (Brisbane to Cairns), it's roughly a 1700km stretch of beaches, national parks and servos. Adding a few extra days can work out cheaper per day than a quick weekend hire.
Which Campervan to Choose?
Not all campervans are created equal. A compact 2-berth camper like Mystery machine 2 is a more budget-friendly option than something like a Desert Sands.
Sticking to the sealed roads along the East Coast? A 2WD campervan will generally do the job. Want to head further off the beaten track? That’s where a 4WD campervan comes in handy. You can compare vehicles with our easy compare tool.
Pro tip: Don’t just check one set of dates. If your itinerary is flexible, shift your pickup or return date by a day or two and compare the quotes. You might be surprised by the difference.
What Do You Get for Your Money?
A campervan isn't just a van with a mattress thrown in the back.
Depending on the vehicle, you can get a double bed, cooking equipment, cookware, cutlery, gas cooker, ice cooler, water tank and storage, so you can actually live out of it for a few days without looking like you're permanently moved into a servo car park.
If you're after something a little more premium, the Johnny Feelgood and our 4WD campers come with a fridge to keep your food fresh and drinks cold on the road. It's a great option for travellers wanting a more equipped setup for their adventure, with a higher daily hire price to match.
So instead of paying separately for: Transport + Accommodation + Kitchen, you've got one campervan doing all three. And that's where the value starts to make sense.
What does a Brisbane Road trip Cost?
The campervan is only one part of your road trip budget. You’ll also need to factor in fuel, camping, food and activities.
Fuel
Fuel costs depend on your route, how far you drive and which van you’re cruising around in. Obviously, the more kilometres you rack up, the more you’ll spend at the servo. But when your campervan is also your transport and accommodation, it can still work out cheaper than booking flights, hotels and transport separately.
Pro tip: Download a fuel price app and check where the cheapest fuel is along your route. There’s no reason to pay premium prices when the servo down the road is cheaper.
Camping Fees
You don’t need to spend every night at a fancy holiday park with a pool you’ll probably never use. Queensland has more than 500 camping areas across its parks and forests, ranging from basic bush campsites to more developed camping areas.
Some campsites are free, while others charge a camping fee. Queensland Government-managed parks, forests and recreation areas can charge around $7.75 per person per night, or $31 for a family. Always check the current rules before you roll in, including whether you need to book ahead, get a camping permit or stick to a specific time limit. Because the only fine we want on your road trip is a fine for looking this good.
Some free or low-cost camping options to check out include:
- Yabba Creek Park
- Ngumbi - Mt Joyce
- Yarrawonga Park Reserve
Food
This is where things get interesting. You could easily drop $20+ on one meal, or you can hit the supermarket, load up the esky and make use of your campervan kitchen.
And honestly, lunch by the beach is better than a $20 takeaway eaten in a car park.
You don’t need to spend your entire trip meal-prepping. Keep it easy with road-trip staples like eggs, wraps, pasta, fruit and snacks, basically, anything that can survive life in the esky.
For campervan cooking ideas, read our blog on camping recipes for road trip.
Activities
This one is completely up to you. Want to spend the whole trip chasing beaches, hikes, lookouts, swimming holes and national parks? Go for it. Most of the best road-trip memories don’t need a $100 entry ticket.
Want to add boat trips, tours, theme parks or other attractions? Also fair.
Your activity budget really depends on the kind of road trip you’re building. Free adventure or full tourist mode, your call.
So, How Much Does It Actually Cost?
Let’s do some road-trip maths.
Option 1: For 2 people, 7 days in a Budget Mini Camper from $29/day, plus camping at $7.75pp/night:
- Campervan: $203
- Camping: $108.50
- Total: $311.50
That’s just $44.50 a day for two, before fuel, food and activities.
Option 2: For 2 people spending 7 days in a Johnny Feelgood from $65/day, plus the same camping costs:
- Campervan: $455
- Camping: $108.50
- Total: $563.50
That works out to around $80.50 a day for two, before fuel, food and activities.
When you travel makes a difference, too. November to February is generally peak season for campervan hire, while May to September tends to offer lower prices. However, if you're planning a 4WD adventure up north, keep in mind that June and July are peak season for these routes thanks to the dry weather and better driving conditions. So, while it might be low season for campervan hire overall, demand for 4WDs can be higher during this time.
Prices vary by travel dates, vehicle availability and campsite, but comparing your options shows how a campervan can help you make the most of your travel budget without paying separately for a hire car and hotel room.
How to make your Brisbane campervan trip cheaper
Go longer if you can
A longer hire brings your average daily cost down, and gives you more time to chase good weather instead of racing around on a tight schedule.
Use free and low-cost camping apps
Apps like CamperMate make it easy to find legal free camps and budget-friendly caravan parks along your route. Saving on camping can make a much bigger difference to your total trip cost than shaving a few bucks off your van hire.
Travel in the shoulder season
March-May and September-November usually mean fewer crowds, easier bookings and better daily rates than peak summer. More freedom, less fighting for a campsite.
Book ahead for summer and school holidays
December and January get snapped up fast, and prices can climb as availability drops. Locking it in early gets you better rates and more choice of van.
Don't drive just for the sake of driving
Fuel isn't free, and Australia is massive. Pick the places you actually want to see instead of trying to tick every destination off in one trip.
Picking up from Brisbane
Our Brisbane depot is in Woolloongabba, just 3km from the CBD and around 19km from Brisbane Airport. Pretty handy for grabbing your van and getting straight into road-trip mode.
Load up on supplies at the Woolworths around the corner, then decide which way you’re heading. Point the van north for Noosa, K’gari and the rest of the Queensland coast, or head south towards the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about what campervan hire costs. It’s about the kind of trip you want.
If you’re after freedom, flexibility and waking up somewhere different every few days, picking up a campervan in Brisbane is a pretty good place to start.
Check out Wicked’s Brisbane campervan hire, throw your bags in the back and start planning your Queensland road trip.
FAQs
Is it cheaper to hire a campervan or stay in hotels?
It can be! A campervan combines your transport and sleeping setup, and cooking your own meals can help keep food costs down. The more people sharing the hire costs, the better the maths can look. Just remember to factor in fuel, campsite fees and activities.
When is the cheapest time to hire a campervan in Brisbane?
May to September is generally a lower-priced period for campervan hire, while November to February tends to be peak season. However, June and July are popular months for 4WD adventures in northern Australia because it's the dry season, so demand for 4WD campervans can be higher.
Where can I go on a campervan road trip from Brisbane?
Brisbane is a great starting point for exploring Queensland and beyond. Popular road trips include the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, K'gari and the longer coastal journey north towards Cairns. Your available time and vehicle type will help determine which route is right for you.