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Melbourne to Cairns Campervan Rental
Melbourne to Cairns One Way Motorhome Hire
Planning a trip from Melbourne to Cairns? Explore diverse landscapes with a one-way campervan rental. Use our tool to find the best options for this memorable journey.
Travelling in the opposite direction? Rent a campervan from Cairns to Melbourne.
Melbourne to Cairns One Way Itinerary
Day 1
Melbourne to Albury, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 330 km (205 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 3.5 hours
Things to See:
- Lake Hume (picnic spots and scenic views)
- Albury Botanic Gardens
- Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA)
Day 2
Albury to Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Distance: Approximately 340 km (211 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 3.5 to 4 hours
Attractions Along the Way:
- Australian War Memorial
- Parliament House
- National Gallery of Australia
Day 3
Canberra to Sydney, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 290 km (180 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 3 hours
Things to See:
- Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Bondi Beach
Day 4
Sydney to Newcastle, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 160 km (99 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 2 hours
Places of Interest:
- Newcastle Memorial Walk
- Nobbys Beach
- Blackbutt Nature Reserve
Day 5
Newcastle to Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 245 km (152 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 3 hours
Highlights:
- Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie
- Tacking Point Lighthouse
- Sea Acres Rainforest Centre
Day 6
Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 160 km (99 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 2 hours
Must-See Stops:
- Big Banana Fun Park
- Coffs Harbour Butterfly House
- Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
Day 7
Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay, New South Wales
Distance: Approximately 240 km (149 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 3 hours
Things to Experience:
- Cape Byron Lighthouse (most easterly point in Australia)
- Byron Bay Main Beach
- Wategos Beach
Day 8
Byron Bay to Gold Coast, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 90 km (56 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1.5 hours
Highlights:
- Surfers Paradise Beach
- SkyPoint Observation Deck
- Burleigh Heads National Park
Day 9
Gold Coast to Brisbane, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 80 km (50 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1 hour
Attractions:
- South Bank Parklands
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
- Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Day 10
Brisbane to Noosa Heads, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 140 km (87 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 1.5 to 2 hours
Things to See:
- Noosa National Park (hiking and wildlife)
- Hastings Street (shopping and dining)
- Noosa Main Beach
Day 11
Noosa Heads to Hervey Bay, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 190 km (118 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 2.5 hours
Places of Interest:
- Hervey Bay Esplanade
- Whale watching (seasonal)
- Reefworld Aquarium and Shark Swim
Day 12
Hervey Bay to Rockhampton, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 390 km (242 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 4.5 hours
Highlights:
- Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo
- Capricorn Caves
- Mount Archer National Park
Day 13
Rockhampton to Airlie Beach, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 480 km (298 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 5.5 hours
Must-See Stops:
- Airlie Beach Lagoon
- Conway National Park
- Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands (tours available)
Day 14
Airlie Beach to Cairns, Queensland
Distance: Approximately 620 km (385 miles)
Estimated Driving Time: About 7.5 hours
Things to Experience:
- Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
- Great Barrier Reef (day trips available)
- Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to rent a vehicle in Cairns and return it in Melbourne?
Certainly! One-way rentals from Cairns to Melbourne are available. Check the comparison tool for options and pricing.
Where can I park overnight in Melbourne?
It’s recommended you stay in a holiday park, caravan park or designated campsite. Free camping is only allowed in designated areas, and overnight parking is generally prohibited. Most caravan parks are located just a short drive away from the city centre.
Some popular sites include: Discovery Parks Melbourne, Five Ways Caravan Park and the BIG4 Melbourne Holiday Park.
If you wish to explore the city centre, it's best to avoid peak traffic hours and to plan where to park ahead of time, especially if you're in a large motorhome.
To kick off your motorhome holiday, you may also want to plan a road trip close to Melbourne and explore the Mornington Peninsula, Bells Beach and Dandenong National Park or experience rural Victoria, the Yarra Valley and Yarra River.
Do I have to pay a bond (security deposit) when renting my vehicle?
When renting a vehicle, it is standard to be charged a bond (security deposit), also known as ‘excess’, which is the amount the renter is liable to cover in the event of an accident or damage to the vehicle.
The bond amount fluctuates based on the insurance package selected at the time of rental and is charged and debited on the renters’ credit or debit card.
Can I rent a campervan if I’m under 21 years old?
Most campervan rental companies in Australia require the driver to be 21 years of age or older to rent from their full range of vehicles.
Some companies will rent to drivers between 18 and 21, but only certain models may be available. A couple of companies have higher age requirements: 23 (Leisure Rent) and 24 (Captain Billy’s). Enter the driver’s age into our search tool and we will filter available vehicles to match.
For young drivers, additional insurance may be required and special conditions may apply.
Can I rent a campervan just for the weekend?
Most companies generally have a minimum rental period. Weekend rentals are possible, but the minimum rental period can range from one day to a full week, depending on the time of year.
Enter your dates in the comparison tool to see which vehicles are available for your travel dates.
Other One-Way Routes
- Adelaide to Darwin campervan hire
- Adelaide to Melbourne
- Airlie Beach to Cairns campervan hire
- Alice Springs to Adelaide campervan hire
- Alice Springs to Darwin campervan hire
- Brisbane to Sydney
- Broome to Darwin campervan hire
- Broome to Perth
- Cairns to Brisbane campervan hire
- Cairns to Sydney campervan hire
- Gold Coast to Cairns
- Gold Coast to Sydney campervan hire
- Launceston to Hobart campervan hire
- Melbourne to Brisbane campervan hire
- Perth to Adelaide campervan hire
- Perth to Brisbane
- Perth to Darwin
- Perth to Melbourne
- Sydney to Melbourne
- Sydney to Perth campervan hire
