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Campervan Hire Hobart
Campervan hire Hobart

Campervan Hire Hobart: Your Tasmania Road Trip Guide

Campervan hire in Hobart means picking up right at Hobart Airport, from operators including Britz, Apollo, Maui and Cruisin Motorhomes. Daily rates run from around AUD 80 for a budget 2-berth campervan in shoulder season up to AUD 400-plus for a large motorhome at Christmas or Easter. Tasmania is compact enough to circuit in two weeks: Port Arthur is about 1.5 hours south-east, Freycinet and Wineglass Bay about 2.5 to 3 hours north-east, Cradle Mountain about 4 hours north-west, and Bruny Island a short drive and ferry crossing south of the city.

Campervan hire Hobart with a vehicle overlooking Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park

Why Hire a Campervan in Hobart?

Tasmania rewards slow travel more than almost anywhere else in Australia. It’s small enough that nowhere is truly far from Hobart, yet varied enough that the east coast beaches, the alpine interior and the west coast wilderness all feel like genuinely different places. A campervan suits that pace well: rather than driving back into Hobart each night, you can wake up at Wineglass Bay, spend a night inside Port Arthur’s convict-era landscape, or park lakeside near Cradle Mountain before the day walkers arrive.

Hobart itself is worth a day before you head out. Salamanca Market (Saturdays), the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) via ferry up the Derwent, and a walk up Mount Wellington/kunanyi for views over the city are all easy to fit in before you stock the fridge and start the loop.

Best for
Port Arthur, Freycinet and Wineglass Bay, Cradle Mountain, Bruny Island, full-island loops
Nearest airport
Hobart Airport (HBA), most depots within 5 minutes or walking distance
Currency
Australian Dollars (AUD)
Best season
November-April for most Tasmanian routes

Where to Hire a Campervan in Hobart

Hobart is one of the easiest Australian cities for campervan pickup: the main depots sit at or metres from the airport terminal, rather than 15 to 30 minutes away like most mainland cities.

Operator Depot address Distance from HBA
Britz, Apollo, Maui (shared THL depot) 14 Long Street, Hobart Airport, Cambridge TAS 7170 About 0.4 km, a 5-minute walk
Cruisin Motorhomes, Go Cheap (shared depot) 3 Runway Place, Cambridge TAS 7170 About 3.5 km, 5 min by taxi or rideshare

Britz, Apollo and Maui share the airport depot because all three belong to Tourism Holdings Limited (THL); it’s genuinely walking distance from the terminal, no shuttle needed, though there’s no customer parking on-site, so arrange a taxi or rideshare if you’re being dropped off rather than driving in. Cruisin Motorhomes and Go Cheap share a depot a short taxi ride away, with fares running around AUD 18 from the airport. Neither Travellers Autobarn nor several of the smaller mainland operators currently have a Hobart presence, Tasmania is a smaller, more concentrated market than the mainland capitals, so Adventure Rentals, Camperman, Lucky Rentals and Red Sands Campers are worth checking via the search widget above, but confirm current Tasmanian availability before assuming a depot exists.

Campervan Operators in Hobart

Britz is one of Australia’s most recognised rental brands, operating from the airport depot with a fleet built on Volkswagen, Mercedes and Toyota chassis, including 4WD options, strong for families wanting a reliable, well-maintained vehicle for a full Tasmania loop.

Apollo shares the airport depot with Britz and Maui and offers a broadly similar fleet at a slightly lower price point, a solid choice for budget-conscious travellers who still want a recognised brand.

Maui is the premium THL brand, also from the airport depot, with newer, larger, better-equipped motorhomes suited to travellers prioritising comfort on a longer Tasmanian trip.

Cruisin Motorhomes is especially well established in Tasmania, having grown from its Hobart roots since being founded in 1999, with one of the larger fleets in the state, from 2 to 6-berth vehicles running Fiat Ducato and Toyota HiAce chassis, some with turbo diesel options.

Go Cheap, Cruisin’s budget arm, shares the same Runway Place depot and sits at the lower end of the price range for travellers prioritising cost.

Campervan Hire Prices in Hobart (AUD)

Prices vary by vehicle size, season and operator.

Vehicle typeOff-peak / shoulderPeak (Dec-Feb, Easter)
2-berth campervanAUD 80-170/dayAUD 150-260/day
4-berth campervanAUD 140-250/dayAUD 250-390/day
6-berth motorhomeAUD 230-360/dayAUD 360-550/day
4WD campervanAUD 190-310/dayAUD 290-450/day

These are indicative ranges. Use the search widget on this page for live pricing across operators for your specific dates. Most operators include unlimited kilometres as standard, confirm this at booking. Peak season (December to February, plus Easter and Tasmanian school holidays) sits at the top of each range, while shoulder season (March to May, September to November) offers the best combination of comfortable weather and lower prices, with the added advantage of thinner crowds at Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain lookouts.

Budget for costs beyond the daily rate: excess reduction or insurance upgrades, additional driver fees, the Spirit of Tasmania fare if you’re arriving from the mainland with your own vehicle rather than flying in, national park entry or Tasmania Parks Pass fees, the Bruny Island ferry fare if that’s part of your route, and caravan park sites, typically AUD 40 to 80 a night for a powered site.

Most Popular Hobart Campervan Routes

RouteDistanceRecommended durationNotes
Hobart to Port Arthur (Tasman Peninsula)About 100 km south-east2-3 daysUNESCO-listed convict history site, Three Capes Track
Hobart to Bruny IslandAbout 40 min drive to Kettering, then a 20-minute ferry1-2 daysFood and wine, wildlife, coastal walks
Hobart to Freycinet and Wineglass BayAbout 195 km north-east3-4 daysEast coast, granite peaks, one of Australia’s best beaches
Hobart to Bay of FiresAbout 280 km north-east3-5 daysOrange-lichen granite boulders, remote beaches
Hobart to Cradle MountainAbout 280 km north-west4-6 daysAlpine scenery, Dove Lake circuit
Hobart to Strahan and the South West WildernessAbout 300 km west5-7 daysGordon River cruises, rainforest, remote coastline
Full Tasmania loopVaries10-14 daysCombines east coast, north-west and south-west highlights

Port Arthur. About 1.5 hours south-east via the Arthur Highway, Port Arthur Historic Site is Australia’s most intact convict-era settlement and part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. Entry tickets cover two consecutive days and include a self-guided audio tour and a short harbour cruise, worth planning for rather than a rushed half-day stop.

Bruny Island. A short drive south to Kettering (about 40 minutes from Hobart), then a 15 to 20-minute crossing on the SeaLink Bruny Island ferry, which carries vehicles and runs frequently, no booking required for the vehicle deck on most sailings, though it’s worth checking current queueing arrangements before you go. The island is known for oysters, cheese and whisky, alongside wildlife spotting and coastal walks.

Freycinet and Wineglass Bay. About three hours up the east coast, Freycinet National Park is home to pink granite peaks (the Hazards) and Wineglass Bay, regularly ranked among the world’s best beaches. The lookout walk is a moderate return hike; allow a full day if you want to also reach the beach itself.

Bay of Fires. Further north along the east coast, known for its orange lichen-covered granite boulders against white sand and turquoise water, a quieter and more remote alternative to Freycinet for travellers with extra time.

Cradle Mountain. About four hours north-west, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers the Dove Lake circuit, alpine scenery and the start of the multi-day Overland Track for travellers wanting to hike rather than just drive through.

Strahan and the South West Wilderness. On the west coast, Strahan is the gateway to Gordon River cruises and Tasmania’s vast, largely untouched south-west wilderness, a longer detour best suited to travellers with a full 10 to 14-day Tasmania loop rather than a short trip.

What's Included with Hobart Campervan Hire

Standard inclusions across most operators cover unlimited kilometres (confirm at booking), vehicle insurance with a standard excess, 24-hour roadside assistance, linen, bedding and towels, kitchen equipment (cutlery, cooking utensils, basic crockery), a fresh water tank, grey water tank and gas bottle, and an awning on most 4-berth and larger vehicles.

Common optional extras include excess reduction or premium insurance, camping chairs and a picnic table, child or baby seats, bike racks, GPS or mobile Wi-Fi, and snow chains if your trip includes a winter visit to the Cradle Mountain or Central Highlands area.

Driving a Campervan in and Around Hobart

Tasmania’s roads are generally well maintained but narrower and windier than mainland highways, particularly on the east coast and around the west coast’s mountain passes, so budget more driving time than a straight-line distance suggests. Tasmania has no toll roads. If you’re bringing your own vehicle across from the mainland rather than hiring locally, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry sails between Geelong (Victoria) and Devonport, carrying campervans and motorhomes on the roughly 9 to 11-hour crossing.

A standard driver’s licence from your home country is sufficient to drive in Australia. If your licence isn’t in English, bring an International Driving Permit alongside your original licence. Most Hobart operators require drivers to be at least 21 and to have held a full, unrestricted licence for at least two years; provisional or restricted licences generally aren’t accepted. Wildlife, particularly wombats, wallabies and the occasional Tasmanian devil, is a genuine hazard on rural roads at dawn, dusk and after dark, so drive cautiously outside daylight hours.

Campgrounds Near Hobart

BIG4 Holiday Parks and G’day Parks both operate sites across Tasmania, with powered sites, camp kitchens and laundry facilities typical of a holiday park stay. The Hobart Showground Motorhome Park, about 10 minutes north of the CBD, is a practical base close to the city. Tasmania’s national park camping network covers Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and the south-west, and most parks require a Tasmania Parks Pass, worth buying before you leave Hobart rather than at each individual gate. For free and low-cost camping further along your route, WikiCamps Australia and CamperMate list verified sites with user reviews and facilities information.

When to Hire a Campervan in Hobart

Tasmania has a genuinely cooler, more four-seasonal climate than mainland Australia, and this shapes the best time to travel more than in most other Australian cities.

Summer (December to February) is peak season, with the warmest weather, the longest daylight hours and the best conditions for Wineglass Bay, Cradle Mountain hiking and Bruny Island beach time. It’s also the busiest and most expensive period, so book well ahead.

Autumn (March to May) offers excellent weather with thinner crowds and lower prices than summer, plus autumn colour in the Central Highlands, a strong shoulder-season choice.

Winter (June to August) is cold, particularly at altitude around Cradle Mountain, where snow is possible, and some higher-country roads may need extra caution. Coastal and southern Tasmania stay milder, and this is the quietest, cheapest period for campervan hire.

Spring (September to November) brings comfortable temperatures and a gradual increase in demand heading into the summer peak, a good window for most Tasmanian routes.

The best overall window for Hobart campervan hire is November to April, balancing good weather with reasonably manageable crowds outside the tightest peak of late December and January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Britz, Apollo and Maui share a depot at 14 Long Street, right at Hobart Airport, about a 5-minute walk from the terminal with no shuttle needed. Cruisin Motorhomes and Go Cheap share a depot at 3 Runway Place, about 3.5 km and a short taxi ride away.

Indicative rates in AUD: 2-berth campervans from about AUD 80 to 260 a day depending on season, 4-berth campervans from AUD 140 to 390, and 6-berth motorhomes from AUD 230 to 550. 4WD campervans run from about AUD 190 to 450 a day.

Event Campers compares Britz, Apollo, Maui, Cruisin Motorhomes and Go Cheap across their Hobart depots. Use the search widget above for live availability.

Yes. The Spirit of Tasmania sails between Geelong, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania, carrying campervans and motorhomes. This is a separate option from hiring locally in Hobart, and suits travellers already touring Victoria who want to bring their own vehicle across.

Yes. The SeaLink Bruny Island ferry departs from Kettering, about 40 minutes south of Hobart, and carries vehicles on a 15 to 20-minute crossing, with frequent departures and generally no advance vehicle booking required, though it’s worth checking current arrangements before you travel.

No, for the great majority of the island’s main attractions, including Port Arthur, Freycinet, Cradle Mountain and Bruny Island, all reached on sealed roads suited to a standard 2WD campervan. A 4WD only becomes useful for specific remote tracks in the south-west or west coast wilderness areas.

Most travellers allow 10 to 14 days for a full island loop taking in the east coast, the north-west and a taste of the south-west wilderness. A shorter 5 to 7-day trip works well if you focus on just the east coast (Port Arthur, Freycinet, Bay of Fires) or a Hobart-and-Cradle-Mountain combination.

Booking in shoulder season (March-May or September-November), choosing a budget operator like Go Cheap, and booking well ahead of your travel dates typically gets the lowest rates.

No. Tasmania has no toll roads, so a Hobart campervan hire doesn’t require setting up a toll account or pass, unlike Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.

November to April offers the best combination of good weather and reasonable crowds, with December and January being the busiest and most expensive weeks. Winter (June to August) has the lowest prices but colder conditions, particularly at altitude around Cradle Mountain.

Book Your Hobart Campervan Hire

Whether you’re planning a short Port Arthur and Bruny Island loop, an east coast run to Freycinet and the Bay of Fires, a Cradle Mountain and west coast wilderness trip, or a full 10 to 14-day Tasmania circuit, Event Campers compares Britz, Apollo, Maui, Cruisin Motorhomes and Go Cheap across their Hobart depots.

Use the search widget above to check live availability and pricing for your travel dates. Planning the wider Australian trip? Browse our full Australia road trip guide, Campervan Hire Melbourne, Campervan Hire Adelaide, and the Australia destinations hub, or compare New Zealand, Canada and USA guides for the rest of the world.