Melbourne RV Rental 🏷️ Compare Prices

As we know, a campervan is the most cost-effective way to explore the highlights of Melbourne and beyond. Thrifty shoe-stringers can reduce expenses even further by following this curated list of money-saving tips.

• Avoid high season: Holiday parks and rental fees skyrocket during peak travel periods. The priciest times include Easter, Christmas/New Year, and Victorian school holidays.

• Book in advance: Campervan rental prices vary depending on what's available when you book. Like airfares, reserving early rewards well-organized travelers with better rates.

• Consider your vehicle: While a pimped-out motorhome is akin to "livin' the dream," do you really need all those lux extras? Opting for a budget-friendly campervan will slash your daily rental spend.

• Plan a route: Drafting a rough itinerary lets you minimize backtracking, saving you stacks of cash at the gas pump. As a nifty bonus, you'll spend less time driving and more time kicking back.

• Refuel strategically: Some Victorian gas stations charge more than others. Mobile apps like PetrolSpy let you compare rates, often in real-time.

• Travel with friends: Buddying up with a partner lets you share rental, campsite, and fuel expenses. If your BFFs aren't keen, consider seeking companionship on social media backpacker pages—always carefully pre-vet potential candidates.

• Find cheap campsites: Free and low-cost campgrounds abound in Victoria, especially in less-crowded inland regions.

• Self-cater: No need to fork out for expensive restaurants when you've got a fully-functional kitchen in your mobile home. Self-catering makes a massive difference to your daily budget.

• Look for free activities: Ticketed attractions entail high prices in Australia. Focusing on free stuff like hiking lets you savor Mother Nature on the cheap. If there's space in the camper, consider bringing a bike, inflatable kayak, or surfboard along for the ride.

The ideal seasons to explore Melbourne and Victoria in a campervan are fall (March to mid-April) and late spring (October and November). Balmy temperatures and thinner crowds make outdoor exploration ideal. Across these shoulder seasons, average daily temps are typically around 24°C / 10°C

Summer (average temps: 26°C / 15°C) is another excellent time to visit—the warm sunny weather sees the biggest influx of visitors to Victoria.

Coastal regions generally remain relatively comfortable thanks to sea breezes. Head inland, however, and you may hit hotter conditions. The exception is the Victorian High Country, where an elevated climate can keep temperatures cooler.

The downside is that peak summer demand means beaches and campsites can get busy, and school breaks often push campsite capacity to the brink.

Victoria isn’t a big winter destination for carefree RV travelers. Cooler temperatures (average 14°C / °6C) and more frequent rainy days can make camping a chore. Nonetheless, if you can handle less-than-perfect weather, you’ll often score cheaper rentals and a quieter trip.

As for festivals?

The warmer months (spring through early fall) see the most action. Big-ticket events include the Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday in November), New Year’s Eve celebrations (31 December), the Australian Open (mid-January to early February), the St Kilda Festival (February), the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (typically March), and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (late March to April).

Allow at least three full days to experience Melbourne's highlights, or more if you prefer to explore in-depth.

The ideal timeframe for a road trip from Melbourne depends on your destination.

Plan five days for the Great Ocean Road. Some do it quicker, but it's wise to take your time and savor the scenery at a relaxed pace.

The return trip east to Mallacoota should last about a week. Add on more time to cruise through our favorite High Country highlights.

The state's relatively small size means travel times are more manageable than elsewhere in Australia. But if you wish to discover all of Victoria's hidden gems, you'll need months of leave up your sleeve—there's no harm in making multiple trips.

First-time campervan renters should focus on a specific region rather than attempting to cover all corners of the state in one whirlwind trip.