A campervan trip in Australia costs most couples roughly A$150-280 per day, or about A$1,100-1,900 per week, once you add up van hire, fuel, campsites and food. Daily hire alone runs from around A$35 a day for a budget 2-berth in the off season to A$250+ for a 4-berth in peak summer. Free-camp, cook your own meals and travel in shoulder season and a thrifty couple can live near A$120 a day; plug into powered parks nightly in January and you’ll clear A$300.
The cost breakdown at a glance
Here’s where the money actually goes for two people, in 2026 AUD:
| Cost | Budget (per day) | Typical (per day) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van hire | A$35-80 | A$90-180 | 2-berth low season vs 4-berth / shoulder |
| Fuel | A$25-40 | A$40-70 | ~12-14L/100km; diesel ~A$1.99/L nationally |
| Campsite | A$0-15 | A$40-60 | Free camp vs powered caravan-park site |
| Food & drink | A$25-40 | A$50-80 | Self-catering vs eating out |
| Extras & park passes | A$5-15 | A$15-30 | Fees, attractions, gas, laundry |
| Total (two people) | ~A$120/day | ~A$220/day |
Van hire: the biggest single line
Hire is where season and vehicle size swing your budget hardest. A compact 2-berth camper starts near A$35 a day in the quiet May-August window and sits around A$80-185 the rest of the year. Step up to a 4-berth or motorhome and you’re looking at A$120-250+ per day, more again over December-January and school holidays when fleets sell out. If you’re still weighing sizes, our guide on how to choose a campervan walks through 2-berth vs 4-berth and why smaller usually wins.
Operators price the same van very differently, so it pays to compare - our Apollo vs Britz comparison shows how two big-name fleets stack up on price and inclusions.
Fuel: Australia is bigger than it looks
Distances are the thing first-timers underestimate. Diesel averaged about A$1.99 a litre nationally in mid-2026, closer to A$2.07 in regional areas and A$2.40+ in remote NT. A typical campervan drinks 12-14L/100km, so a relaxed touring day costs A$25-60 in fuel - but a big outback leg can double that. Plan your routes around fewer, shorter driving days and both your fuel bill and your enjoyment improve.
The cheapest campervan trip isn’t the one with the cheapest van - it’s the one where you drive less, cook more and sleep free.
Campsites: free vs powered
This is the lever most people ignore. Powered caravan-park sites average A$40-60 a night for two, with hot showers, laundry and a camp kitchen. Free and low-cost sites - bush camps, rest areas, showgrounds - run A$0-15. A self-contained van (with its own toilet and grey-water tank) unlocks far more of them; see free camping in Australia for how to find legal, safe spots. Alternating free nights with the occasional powered stop for a proper shower is the sweet spot.
Food and extras
Groceries for two self-catering couples run A$200-300 a week; eat out often and that climbs fast. Budget another A$5-30 a day for the odds and ends: LPG refills, laundry, dump-point fees, attractions and national park passes. There’s no single Australia-wide pass - fees are state-based, from NSW’s ~A$190/year vehicle pass to Tasmania’s parks pass - so buy per state as you go.
How to spend less
Three moves do most of the work:
- Chase relocation deals. One-way vans are advertised from A$1 a day (sometimes with a fuel allowance) when a company needs a vehicle moved. If your dates and direction line up, nothing beats it.
- Travel in shoulder or off season. May-August delivers the sharpest hire rates and emptiest roads.
- Free-camp and self-cater. Cooking your own meals and skipping powered sites a few nights a week is the difference between A$120 and A$220 a day.
Nail the van, the season and how often you plug in, and the rest of the budget falls into place.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a campervan trip in Australia cost per day?+
Budget on roughly A$150-280 per day for two people once you add hire, fuel, a campsite and food. Frugal travellers who free-camp and cook every meal can get down near A$120 a day; peak-season hire and paid parks every night push it past A$300.
What's the cheapest way to do a campervan trip in Australia?+
Travel in the May-August shoulder/off season, use a self-contained van so you can free-camp, cook your own meals, and drive fewer kilometres each day. A relocation deal (one-way vans from A$1 a day) is the single biggest saving if the dates and route suit you.
What's a realistic 2-week campervan budget for a couple?+
For a fortnight, expect roughly A$2,800-5,000 all in. A mid-range 2-berth in shoulder season, moderate driving, a mix of free and powered sites and mostly self-catering lands most couples around A$3,500-4,000.
How much should I budget for fuel?+
Diesel averaged about A$1.99 a litre nationally in mid-2026 and A$2.07+ in regional areas. A typical campervan burns 12-14L/100km, so a normal touring day of driving costs around A$25-60 in fuel - more if you're covering big outback distances.
Are campsites expensive in Australia?+
Powered caravan-park sites average A$40-60 a night for two. Free and low-cost bush camps, rest areas and showgrounds cost A$0-15, so how often you plug in is one of the biggest levers on your total spend.
By the Oz Road Trips team · Last updated 18 July 2026
General information only; prices, specs and availability change - confirm with the provider. See our disclaimer.