About Spaceships Rentals Australia
Spaceships Rentals Australia now have offers pick-up and drop-off services in Byron Bay, making their depots a total of 6 locations. Along with that, they welcome the new addition to their fleet―the Beta 4-berth.
Spaceships Rentals Australia makes a good case for why it’s one of the country’s go-campervan rental companies! With no hidden costs, plenty of amenities, and a quite reliable reputation, they're a class act for the budget market. Their vehicles cater to couples and small families up to 4.
Spaceships Campervans were winners of the 2011 and 2013 Golden Backpacker Award in the category: Best Car / Campervan Rental Australia: Is there a good reason? Let's know more about this company. To start, Spaceships was founded in 2004 by a group of businesspeople who spent a quarter century catering directly to the needs of backpackers and other travellers. The minds behind Spaceships Campervans realized that most travellers wanted an option in between the bare-bones offerings of most budget campervan rental companies and the oversized, overstuffed, and overpriced alternatives rented out by the high-end companies.
Before, they encourage their own community of clients and enthusiasts to meet up, collect information, swap DVDs to help pass the time on long trips, and generally touch base with other like-minded individuals. This is done through the company’s proprietary “Space Mates,” outposts that are positioned along the road for Spaceship renters, Initially, they have 36 of these different “Space Mates” throughout the country. But with the travel restrictions due to the pandemic, it seems that they no longer offer these features. Still, Spaceships Campervans Australia offers depots for picking up and dropping off your vehicle in Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney, and the newest location in Byron Bay. While limited compared to some of its competitors, Spaceships Campervans Australia’s small range of depots is located centrally enough that most people won’t have any problems hiring their services. In addition, they provide free travel and camping app to help you find the best campsites in the country. And to assist you in preparing your itinerary, they have a series of informative blogs available.
Fleet
Spaceships Campervans Australia offers late model cars. While Spaceships Campervans was founded in 2004, it didn’t reach Australia until 2007 (starting in New Zealand), and none of the campervans in their fleet is older than that, with new cars (complete with new features) developed regularly. Currently, they offers its clients 4 kinds of campervans, all budget-friendly options that accommodate 2 to 4 people.
The Beta 4-berth is a cost-effective campervan for two couples, groups of friends, families with kids, and travellers who simply want extra space. The rooftop tent is the main highlight of the unit as it provides extra sleeping arrangement. Other than that, it has more or less the same features and inclusions as Beta.
The standard insurance excess, which also corresponds to the security bond to be paid at the time of vehicle pickup thru credit card is $5,000. There are two reduction options: Partial Reduction Option at $20/ day for an excess/ bond of $1,500 or All-Inclusive / Full Cover at $30 for $0 excess/ bond. The All-Inclusive option already includes wind cover, window/ glass tyre, roof and underbody damages, as well as single vehicle accidents.
To this day Spaceships Campervans Australia has remained a small business focused on meeting the needs of independent travellers and backpackers. They target those who are looking to explore the world on a budget without sacrificing comfort and style. However, this vision was shared by another company―Jucy Campervans. Jucy is the only other campervan hire company in the market that has these type of vehicles.
But because of the Spaceship community, this has helped build the company’s great reputation. In fact, fans of Spaceships Campervans Australia are really ardent in their love! Proof of this love can be found quickly and easily by taking a look over at their Facebook page. With thousands of “Likes” and a very active community of individuals engaging directly and regularly with the company, it’s clear Spaceships Campervans Australia is deeply appreciated by their clients! For a small, local company, Spaceships Campervans Australia has done very well for itself. It has found a unique place in the market and has attracted a close-knit group of loyal clients. Lastly, it has managed to grow at a fast rate without sacrificing what makes it so great!
Overall, Spaceships Campervans Australia is great value for money and will try hard to please you. If you only have a small amount of luggage, prefer driving a car rather than a van and want to be welcomed by other drivers when you see them, this little campervan hire company are for you.
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- Campervans that drive like cars
- Great community
- Cheap and no one-way fees
- Stand out in a crowd
✗ Cons
- East coast only
- Can't cook inside and no standing up
- Kinda like sleeping in a car rather than a camper
- Few issues
Vehicle Fleet
The original “Spaceship” is a custom Toyota Estima called the Alpha 2 berth. The cars themselves are stylish, iconic and filled with plenty of perks, though it doesn’t come in 4WD or an external awning. More so, it runs off a tank that can only take you 500 km without a refill. Each Spaceship comes packed with a large double bed that can extend outwards for external sleeping, a dual-burner cooker, seating for 3-4, a DVD/CD player that can connect to your iPod, a large and secure storage space, a small fridge and even a solar-powered shower! So, if you're looking for a simple yet still convenient unit for 2, this is a decent campervan. The next unit available is the Beta 2 Berth, which is based on the Toyota Previa. This is very similar to the original Alpha 2 berth but has an extra side sliding door and an awning the comes out the back to help protect against the elements when cooking. Both models seat 4 people and I have come across a Dutch mob that was sleeping all 4 inside the campervan at night. I don’t recommend it for maximum comfort. Maybe if you get a small tent, that would be be much better. Beta 2S If you want extra space for two, then the Beta 2S is recommended. This premium campervan seats 2 people and still leaves a roomier interior because it does not have a backseat. As a result, it offers 40% more space inside the camper. However, this unit is not meant for those travelling with kids because it doesn't come with a baby or child seat capacity.
The Beta 4-berth is a cost-effective campervan for two couples, groups of friends, families with kids, and travellers who simply want extra space. The rooftop tent is the main highlight of the unit as it provides extra sleeping arrangement. Other than that, it has more or less the same features and inclusions as Beta.
