Over a dozen motorhome rental companies operate in Tasmania. Vehicles range from cheap 2-berth campers to large luxury motorhomes. Most travellers start their road trip holiday in Hobart, but it’s also possible to pick up a motorhome in Launceston and Devonport.
Not all vehicles may be available. Use the search tool to check availability for your travel dates.
Free camping is only allowed in designated areas in Tasmania. As with the rest of Australia, overnight parking is generally prohibited.
National parks are a popular place to free camp. The Tasmania national parks website has a list of sites and the rules associated with each: https://parks.tas.gov.au/things-to-do?grade=&duration=®ion=&activity=Stay.
In order to enter national parks in Tasmania, you must purchase the appropriate pass, which can be purchased at the park office or other designated sites.
Staying at a holiday park or caravan park will generally cost $15–$50 (AUD) per night.
Camping in conservation areas is only allowed in designated campgrounds. Information on popular national park camping sites can be found on the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service website.
The two locations have similarities and are often compared. Tasmania has a distinctly Australian feel, while New Zealand is more unique in its flora and fauna. Excluding flight costs, accommodation and food in New Zealand may be a little cheaper than in Tasmania. However, travel distances are longer in NZ, meaning more kilometres travelled and higher fuel costs.
A visit to New Zealand may also require a longer itinerary, as there are more places to visit – especially if visiting both the North and South Islands. A camping trip to both places will be a rewarding experience.
Yes, the most popular route is Hobart to Launceston (or in the opposite direction). Vehicles can also be picked up in Devonport, though the choices there are limited.
Most campervan hire suppliers have their branch located in Hobart, and hence the largest selection of campers is available there. As a result, many travellers decide to do a full circuit of the island, travelling one way along the east coast and the other along the west coast of the island.
This allows you to see many of Tasmania's popular tourist attractions, starting with visitor favourites Mount Wellington and Salamanca Market in Hobart City, through the Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay on the east coast, to Cradle Mountain and the Tamar Valley up north and the Gordon River along the rugged west coast.
The majority of Tassie motorhome rental companies have their branch located in Hobart, so you'll find a wider selection of rental vehicles available there.
Yes, it’s standard for most campervan rental companies to allow an additional driver. This driver and any others must be named on the rental agreement, and there may be a nominal fee.
Additional drivers must also hold an appropriate driver’s licence and must meet driver age requirements.
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.
Terms and conditions vary by rental company; however, most companies do not charge a fee if the cancellation is made three months prior to pickup (including Maui, Britz, Apollo, Cheapa Campa, StarRV, Hippie and Mighty). The closer the date to picking up the vehicle, the higher the cancellation fee will generally be.
Deposit amounts may not be refundable.
With the COVID-19 outbreak affecting many travellers’ plans in 2020, many suppliers have updated their cancellation policies.
To cancel a booking, contact our friendly support team via the Support Page.
Note: policies vary from supplier to supplier. Always check the T&Cs for your rental.
One of the larger motorhome rental suppliers, Apollo has been operating since 1985 and is well known among the RV rental community. Apollo vehicles are available in multiple locations around the world. An Apollo motorhome is generally less than 3 years old. The company has a wide variety of vehicles, from smaller vans to larger luxury motorhomes.
Bargain Rentals has a wide variety of vehicles available, from 4WDs to larger motorhomes. Bargain Rentals is one of the few motorhome hire companies that has pet-friendly camper options available.
Britz is one of the larger campervan brands, with multiple depots in different countries and a wide selection of vehicles. Britz maintains a fleet of newer vehicles, with campervans generally being less than 3 years old. Britz is part of the THL group, which also includes Maui, Mighty Campers and other international motorhome hire brands.
Cruisin’ is a campervan hire brand especially well known in Tasmania but currently operates around Australia. It has a wide variety of vehicles available, including 6-berth luxury models. Most of its fleet is relatively new, and a Cruisin’ motorhome often comes with a few extras included. Cruisin’ also operates a lower-cost brand called Go Cheap.
Go Cheap is a motorhome hire brand partnered with Cruisin’ Motorhomes and rents older models considered too old for the main Cruisin’ brand. Because of the vehicles’ older age, Go Cheap can rent these vehicles at a lower price.
Leisure Rent is a new campervan hire company. It operates in Tasmania and offers a fleet of new vehicles (2017–2019) with two models available, a 4-berth campervan and a 4-berth motorhome.
Maui is another well-known NZ motorhome hire brand that is part of the THL group (Britz, Mighty and other international brands). Maui specialises in larger luxury motorhomes, with all its vehicles being less than 2 years old. A Maui campervan is often a good choice for larger groups and those looking for a comfortable road trip holiday.
Mighty is another campervan hire brand that is part of the THL motorhome rental group (Britz, Maui and other international brands). Mighty Rentals has vehicles for groups from 2 to 6. Mighty's camper fleet is made up of ex Britz and Maui vehicles that are considered too old to fit the main brands. It offers quality older vehicles at a cheaper price.
This is a budget rental brand with both sleepervans and 4WD campers available. Tasmania Campers generally supply older vehicles and come at a cheaper rate. The brand is part of a campervan rental network that includes Captain Billy’s.
Tassie Motor Shacks is a Tasmanian company with both budget and luxury vehicles available. Tassie Motor Shacks has a depot in Hobart. Airport pickup and drop-off options are available. All of its vans have a fully equipped kitchen, and powered sites are available at the Hobart depot for a fee.
The West Coast of Tasmania is wild and remote, populated by old mining towns amongst ancient rainforests. There’s a lot of history to be found in its more remote corners, but the main visitor spot is charming Strahan which affords easy access to Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River You’ll then surely want to cut back inland to take in wild and dramatic Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, oft titled the crown jewel of Tasmania. A quick jaunt across the bucolic Derwent Valley completes your circuit of the state.
Many visitors begin their time in Tasmania in the state capital of Hobart. Hobart City is well worth spending a few days in is often the best place to pick up your vehicle for the journey ahead.
Hobart is Australia's sits in the foothills of Mt Wellington at the entrance to the Derwent River. The port city cheerfully blends natural beauty, history, lively culture and food scene into a well-rounded visitor experience.
Among its attractions is Salamanca Place, a series of renovated 1830's Georgian warehouses that are now theatres, cafes, shops, and eateries. On Saturdays, Salamanca Market, one of Australia's favourite farmers' markets is held here.
Hobart allows many opportunities to leisurely spend the day, tasting locally crafted beer or visiting museums, such as the acclaimed MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).
Continuing anti-clockwise brings you to the Garden City of Launceston and the surrounding agricultural Midlands. Tasmania’s ‘second city’ contains many excellent examples of well preserved Colonial and Victorian architecture as well as easily accessible Cataract Gorge where the South Esk River runs to the sea. The Midlands was Tasmania’s original food basket back in the 1800s and today in the Tamar Valley you can see evidence of orchards, wine grape cultivation, and lavender crops.
Striking westward, Tasmania’s North West is home to a multitude of cute coastal towns, including Devonport where one can take a ferry to the mainland (note: you’ll probably leave your vehicle on the island and pick up another one on the other side). Another popular town of this region is Stanley, home to ‘The Nut’, an imposing flat-topped volcanic intrusion.
If you’re driving a circle around the island heading north and east, you’ll pass next through the Southeast region where can be found the Port Arthur Historic Site, the state’s top tourist attraction. The Tasman Peninsula is an opportunity to explore Tasmania’s darker history of the convict era while being surrounded by rugged rocky coastal scenery. Continuing the circle, you’ll then arrive to the East Coast and a string of laid back beach towns, such as Swansea and St Helens. A ‘must-see’ is renowned Freycinet National Park and picturesque Wineglass Bay. Lonely Planet has also boosted the stunning Bay of Fires into international attention.
