About Awesome Campers
About Awesome Campers
Awesome Campers has been hiring campervans to budget travellers across Australia since the early 2000s. They're independently owned, Australia-based, and they've stuck to a simple formula: affordable 2-berth campervans, automatic transmission, unlimited kilometres, all the essentials included. No motorhomes. No 4WDs. No four-berth options. Just a reliable, no-frills road trip vehicle for couples and solo travellers who want to explore the country without spending a fortune.
A lot has changed since the last review on this page. The fleet has been completely rebranded and partially refreshed. Two locations have closed. The insurance structure is different. Let's go through it properly.
The Fleet At A Glance
Awesome Campers now runs three vehicles: the Sun Chaser Camper, the Compact Camper, and the Buddy Camper. The old model names — Classic, Deluxe, Elgrand, Elite — are gone.
All three share the same core setup: automatic transmission, air conditioning, fridge, portable gas cooker, kitchen sink, 240v power outlet, double bed with mattress, bedding and towels included, and a Free Camps Australia guide book. Unlimited kilometres on all rentals. Roadside assistance included.
- Sun Chaser Camper: Built on a Nissan Elgrand platform. Larger double bed (1.7m x 1.9m). These are the older, more well-travelled vehicles in the fleet — honest wear and character. At the price point, that's expected and fair. A 1.5m interior height means you're not standing up inside.
- Compact Camper: Built on a Toyota Estima platform. Same features as the Sun Chaser but a newer, fresher build with a slightly narrower bed (1.4m x 1.9m). If both are available, the Compact is the better choice for a cleaner experience.
- Buddy Camper: The newest addition and the standout of the three. Rooftop solar panels mean the fridge runs off solar during the day — which matters if you want to free-camp away from powered caravan park sites. Same automatic, air con, bedding setup as the others, but with more modern conveniences. If the Buddy is available at your location and dates, book it.
All three are strictly 2-berth. There are no larger vehicles in the Awesome Campers fleet. If you're travelling with more than two people, or need a toilet onboard, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Branch Network
Five locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Cairns.
Two locations that appeared in the previous review have closed. Perth (Wangara) and Townsville are no longer operating. If either of those cities was key to your itinerary, factor this into your planning — the nearest alternatives are Adelaide (southern Australia) and Cairns (far north Queensland).
The remaining five locations cover the main east coast corridor and South Australia reasonably well. One-way hire is available between locations, which opens up itineraries like Sydney to Cairns or Brisbane to Melbourne without backtracking.
What's Included
Every hire comes with bedding (pillows, duvet, sheet), towels, kitchen equipment (plates, bowls, cutlery, saucepan, frying pan, chopping board), roadside assistance, and unlimited kilometres. The Free Camps Australia guide book is a useful addition — it helps you find free or low-cost campsites on your route, which makes a meaningful difference to the overall trip cost.
The Fridge Situation
Worth understanding before you book: in the Sun Chaser and Compact models, the fridge must be plugged into the vehicle inverter while driving, and connected to a 240v power outlet (at a powered caravan park site) when parked overnight. This means you need to plan around powered sites if you're relying on cold food — true free-camping isn't straightforward without a solar panel.
The Buddy Camper solves this with rooftop solar. That's the meaningful upgrade it offers over the other two models.
Insurance (2026)
Three tiers, with slightly different rates for drivers aged 21–24 vs 25+.
Standard Liability: Free, but carries a significant bond. $5,000 bond frozen on your card for the duration of the hire, with up to $7,000 liability for a single-vehicle incident. Most travellers on a tight budget will feel this one.
Halfway Cover: $35/day. Drops the bond to $500 and the single-vehicle excess to $5,000. Includes roadside assistance, tyres, and windscreen.
Fast Track Pack: $45/day. Recommended by Awesome Campers. For drivers 25+, this eliminates the bond entirely ($0) and covers single-vehicle incidents. For 21–24 year olds, there's still a $500 bond. Also includes toll road cover, camp table and chairs, lantern, 4 gas cans, and a portable camp shower — which adds real value if you're free-camping.
The old insurance structure (Standard/Liability C/Fast Track as described in the previous review) no longer applies. Check the current rates on Awesome Campers' website before booking, as prices may change.
Age Policy
Awesome Campers rents from 21 years old. The insurance tiers are structured differently for 21–24 year olds versus 25+ — younger drivers carry higher liability under the free Standard tier. If you're in the 21–24 bracket, the Fast Track Pack is especially worth considering.
How Awesome Campers Compares
In the sub-$100/day campervan segment in Australia, Awesome Campers is up against Travellers Autobarn, Spaceships, and Wicked Campervans. Their differentiation is simplicity: three uncomplicated 2-berth vehicles, automatic transmission, everything included, no hidden complexity.
Travellers Autobarn has more locations, rents to under-21 drivers, and now offers a newer fleet. Spaceships has a stronger emphasis on design and backpacker culture. Awesome Campers sits in the middle — reliable, honest, and cheap, with the Buddy Camper offering a genuine modern upgrade if you can get it.
The consistent negative reviews in the past centred on vehicle condition (older fleet) and customer service. The fleet rebranding and introduction of the Buddy suggests they're addressing the first point. Customer service experience will vary by location and depot staff — read recent reviews before booking.
Who Should Book Awesome Campers
Book if: You're a couple or solo traveller on a budget. You want automatic transmission and don't need a toilet onboard. You're doing the east coast and Adelaide is in range. You can get the Buddy Camper — solar panels make a meaningful difference to free-camping flexibility.
Don't book if: You're travelling in a group of three or more. You need a toilet or shower in the vehicle. You need Perth or Townsville as a pickup or drop-off point. You want a premium or near-new vehicle experience.
Final Verdict
Awesome Campers is exactly what it says it is: an affordable, no-frills Australian campervan hire option for couples and solo travellers. The old fleet names are gone, the Buddy Camper is a genuine step forward, and the five remaining locations cover the east coast well.
Go in with clear expectations. These are budget vehicles — the Sun Chaser in particular is older and shows it. The Compact is newer. The Buddy is the pick if availability allows. All are automatic, all include bedding, and unlimited kilometres mean you're not watching the odometer.
For the right traveller at the right price, Awesome Campers delivers.
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- Unlimited kilometres included
- All vehicles automatic transmission
- Bedding and towels included with every hire
- Buddy Camper has rooftop solar — free-camp without a powered site
- Family-owned Aussie company, 5 locations across Australia
✗ Cons
- All vehicles 2-berth only — not suitable for families or groups
- No toilet or shower in any vehicle
- Sun Chaser is an older, well-worn fleet — character not shine
- Perth and Townsville locations have closed
Vehicle Fleet
The Buddy Camper is the newest addition to the Awesome Campers fleet and the most modern option they offer. The headline feature is rooftop solar panels, which means the fridge runs off solar rather than requiring a powered caravan park site. That matters on longer trips where you want the freedom to free-camp without losing cold food. Same core setup as the rest of the fleet — automatic, air con, double bed, gas cooker, bedding included — but with fresher fit-outs and less wear. If available at your location and dates, the Buddy is the pick of the three.
The Compact Camper is the newer, more modern version in the Awesome Campers fleet, built on a Toyota Estima platform. It has the same core setup as the Sun Chaser — automatic transmission, fridge, gas cooker, 240v, air con, bedding included — but it'\'\'s a fresher build with less wear. The main trade-off: the bed is a little narrower at 1.4m x 1.9m compared to 1.7m in the Sun Chaser. For solo travellers or couples who don'\'\'t mind that trade-off, the Compact is the better pick for a cleaner, more modern vehicle at a budget price.
The Sun Chaser is Awesome Campers'\'\' entry-level campervan, built on a Nissan Elgrand platform. These are well-loved, well-travelled vans that the company describe as '\'\'seasoned travellers'\'\' — honest about the fact they'\'\'re not new. The appeal is the price point and the automatic transmission, which makes them accessible to international visitors who'\'\'ve never driven manual. Inside: a proper double bed (1.7m x 1.9m), gas cooker, fridge (plugged into the inverter while driving; requires a powered campsite at night), and kitchen basics. Bedding and towels come with the hire. No toilet or shower — plan around campground facilities. At the interior height of 1.5m, you'\'\'re not standing up inside.
