Keen to hit the road this summer? A caravan, campervan or motorhome is the perfect portable dwelling to help you on your way.

Piling everyone into a caravan for a taste of life on the road is a quintessential Aussie holiday experience: the wide open spaces, epic views and sense of freedom that #vanlife provides is one heck of a ride. But before you set off, you’re going to need the right vehicle.  From budget to luxe and from small to large, consult our guide to the best caravan hire companies below to get you on the road in style this summer.

Camplify

Best for: boutique accommodation lovers

Originally founded in Newcastle, Camplify is the peer-to-peer vehicle sharing service that makes Van Life a whole lot easier.

If you are lucky enough to own your own caravan it’s highly likely it sits in the front yard unused for numerous months during the year. Catching on to this supply and demand issue, Camplify steps in to safely connect holidaymakers with caravans, motorhomes and campervans in their neighbourhood to book, while unlocking new earning opportunities for van owners around Australia.

The interface is seamless to navigate, making it extremely easy to find a top-of-the-range luxury motorhome with all the bells and whistles or an older-style camper trailer to get you from A to B. There are options to suit every freedom seeker (human or canine) that is looking to make a stress-free upgrade from a tent.

Pros: easy to navigate, plenty of options, and a great way to keep your road trip interesting.

Travellers Autobarn

Best for: budget travellers

The orange logo slapped on the side of the Travellers Autobarn vehicles is hard to miss when driving along Australia’s long and open roads. As a well-established campervan hire company, Travellers Autobarn is a ‘one stop shop’ for the backpacker and budget travellers. They are one of the more affordable options on the market – especially during the off-peak season.

The campervans are all factory and purpose built, and because they’ve factored in the needs of open-road living, they go big on reliability and function. It’s one of the most cost-effective ways to explore Australia.

Pros: purpose-built, plenty of new models to choose from, and affordable.

Apollo Camper

Best for: off-the-beaten-track adventures

When you need a camper you can rely on, opt for an Apollo Camper. Proudly Australian owned, Apollo has been helping travellers get from A to B without issue for more than 35 years. Choose from self-contained motorhomes with cooking facilities, air conditioning and beds for up to six people to compact campers for an authentic van life experience, or rugged 4WDs designed for adventure seekers.

Pros: a long established, reliable brand that offers great customer service.

Camptoo

Best for: local camping

Last year, global RV sharing service and online booking platform, Camptoo, announced its expansion Down Under. The company positions itself as an Airbnb for motorhomes and campervans, providing a reliable vehicle to experience life on the road without the commitment of a DIY renovation project.

From fully kitted out family-friendly motorhomes to quirky converted VW campervans for last-minute romantic staycations, there are over 4,000 campervans, caravans and motorhomes to rent directly from vehicle owners.

Our picks include this Mojud Vintage Mercedes Bus from Coolangatta, the Cute Gypsy Wagon in Warburton, Victoria and the Spiderman-clad Art Motorhome from Perth.

Pros: the giant range of campervan options means you can tailor your road trip experience to your personal preference.

Jucy Rentals

Best for: road trippers on a backpacker budget

The bright purple and green JUCY campervans began transporting New Zealand travellers around the country in 2001. Today, they have more than 3,800 cars, campervans and motorhomes to rent around the globe.

There are myriad vehicle types depending on your specs and budget. For budget-conscious travellers, the El Cheapo Sleeper is perfect for those happy to travel Australia in “no frills" style. At the top of the range is The Condo: a fully self-contained option that sleeps four. It comes complete with a cassette toilet and grey water tank, plus all the classic bells and whistles.

Pros: a popular, affordable option with plenty of drop-off and pick-up locations.

Britz / Mighty

Best for: long-term adventures

Britz is the largest campervan rental company in the entire Australasia region. Their motorhome fleet is top of the line, with thousands of glowing reviews from travellers listed from all around the world. Become one of them by renting one of their 4WD, 2WD and campervan options.

All campervans feature AM/FM radio and CD player, fridge, gas stove and microwave, alongside plush linen and bedding, kitchen essentials and all the general living gear you’ll need. They also come with an unlimited mileage allowance.

Once the Britz vehicles have done their share of open-road adventures they are transformed into Mighty campers: the more affordable, youth-skewed sister brand to Britz.

Pros: an unlimited mileage allowance means you can spend less time kilometre tracking and more time enjoying the great beyond.

Maui

Best for: high-end family travellers

Hitting the road with the kids can often feel like a daunting prospect. One that’s made a whole lot easier with a top-of-the-line vehicle that guarantees you one less thing to worry about. Maui vehicles are known for their reliability, making them a great choice for any long-term Aussie caravanning adventure.

Still within the THL (Britz, Mighty) family, Maui is Australia’s premium offering of two- to six-berth motorhome vehicles. Most vehicles are guaranteed to be under two years of age, ensuring the highest level of reliability, comfort and, of course, state-of-the-art features.

Pros: like a hotel room on wheels, you needn’t skimp on the creature comforts.

Hippie Camper

Best for: nomads with no-fuss attitude

Hippie Camper’s ethos of quality and affordability has made them pretty popular among budget conscious travellers throughout Australia and New Zealand. You may recognise these vehicles from the boho decals that line the side panels; they’re frequently seen on the road all around the country transporting travellers who are clearly having a good time.

Their rental fleet options are pretty limited, only catering to parties of two, three and four people. However, they’re a great option for those in need of a base camp where they can rest their head for the night.

Pros: living proof that great views and comfortable lodgings need not cost the earth.