Top campervans and self-drive tours in Australia and Tasmania for 2026

Tasmanian company Tasvanlife has launched Australia’s first fully electric camper vans for hire. Based on the Farizon SV van with an 82 kWh battery, the converted campers achieve a real-world range of around 245 km. The rental includes free charging up to 150 km per day at ChargeFox, Evie and Exploren sites. Initially two vans are available, with three more expected by October 2026.

HipCamp has published a selection of seven wild camping sites within two hours' drive of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Overnight rates range from A$37 to A$363 depending on capacity and amenities. Most locations have no mobile reception and require four-wheel drive.

Walkinshaw Automotive has developed a fifth-wheel hitch package for the Chevrolet Silverado HD, boosting towing capacity to 8,000 kg. The option is available for vehicles built from Q3 2026 and costs between A$18,000 and A$20,000.

Reader's Digest Australia, in collaboration with Harbour Caravans, has compiled a selection of caravan-friendly routes from Sydney for long weekends. The list includes Jervis Bay (2.5 hours), Hunter Valley (2 hours), Myall Lakes National Park (2.5–3 hours), and Kangaroo Valley (under 2 hours). Each destination includes recommended months to visit, road conditions, and booking tips for caravan parks.

South Korean travel YouTuber Wonji reported experiencing racism from a staff member at a camper van rental company in Australia. The incident occurred during a trip with other YouTubers: a day after picking up the vehicle, they found bed bugs inside. The employee blamed the customers for bringing the bugs, refused to touch their phone for a call (citing having a child), and demanded speakerphone. After pest control confirmed bed bugs, the company offered a refund in exchange for signing a non-disclosure agreement, which the blogger declined.

Entrepreneurs from the Hunter region and the Newton family launched Golf Daze, a mobile golf simulator in a caravan using Full Swing KIT technology co-developed with Tiger Woods, allowing play on over 1,000 courses in 4K.