Apollo Campers Australia

About Apollo Campervans Australia

Apollo has been renting campervans and motorhomes in Australia since 1985. With over 4,000 vehicles across four countries, they are one of the largest RV operators on the planet. The Australia operation spans 10 depots, nine vehicle models, and a price range from budget-friendly campervans to spacious six-berth motorhomes.

If you've driven an Australian highway, you've seen the orange and white Apollo logo rolling past. There's a reason they're everywhere: the coverage is genuinely hard to beat.

The Brand Family

Apollo is part of THL (Tourism Holdings Limited), which also operates Maui, Britz, and Mighty Camper as separate brands. Within the Apollo group, the fleet spans three brands targeting different market segments:

• Apollo — vehicles from 60,000km to 150,000km (roughly 1–3 years old). The quality middle ground.
• Cheapa Campa — vehicles from 150,000km to end of life (~5 years). Functional and budget-conscious.
• Hippie Camper — youth market. Smaller, cheaper, fewer features.

Apollo previously operated Star RV as a premium brand, but that brand has since been sold.

That structured hand-down approach matters. When you hire an Apollo-branded vehicle, you're getting something that's relatively young — not the newest on the road, but not the oldest either. The age policy keeps the fleet reasonably fresh without passing full premium pricing to the customer.

The Fleet

Apollo runs nine models in Australia, split into campervans (no onboard toilet or shower) and fully self-contained motorhomes. Every single model runs on automatic transmission — genuinely useful for international visitors driving on the left for the first time. Full model specifications and images are in the Fleet section below.

Depots

Apollo operates from 10 locations across Australia: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. That covers every major gateway for Australian road trip routes — east coast, Top End, west coast, and the centre. All depots allow one-way hire between locations (fees apply).

Insurance & Bond

Standard bond is $5,000 for campervans and $7,500 for all motorhomes and 4WDs. Liability reduction options bring the exposure down to $2,500 (~$38/day) or $0 (~$45/day) for 2WD vehicles. The top tier also adds tyre, windscreen, undercarriage, and overhead damage protection — worth it on corrugated outback tracks.

The Bond Refund Problem

This has been Apollo's most consistent weak spot for years. Bond refunds can take several weeks to clear back to your credit card. For travellers on a tight budget, having $5,000–$7,500 locked up for weeks after the trip ends creates real cash flow problems. Go in prepared: don't end the hire with your credit card close to its limit.

Who Apollo Is For

Book Apollo if you want: a reliable, well-maintained mid-market vehicle; a full-automatic fleet (important for international drivers); wide depot coverage; pet-friendly hire; or a choice of models from compact campervans to large motorhomes under one brand.

Look elsewhere if you need: the cheapest option (Cheapa Campa or Jucy); or under-21 driver hire (Apollo requires 21+).

The thl Roadtrip App

Apollo vehicles come with access to the thl Roadtrip App (iOS and Android). It's worth downloading before you pick up. The app covers your vehicle's show-through video, CamperHelp how-to guides for onboard systems, and pre-departure checklists. For first-timers especially, having the how-to guides on your phone beats trying to read a manual in a campground at 9pm.

Verdict

Apollo is the benchmark. Not always the cheapest, not always the newest, but the operation that everyone else calibrates against. The fleet covers almost any trip type. The depot network is the most complete in Australia. The full-automatic fleet removes a major friction point for visitors. The bond refund delays are a legitimate grievance — beyond that, Apollo delivers consistent, professional service.