Cheapa Campa Australia

Cheapa Campa caters to different Australian cities and towns, from Broome to Perth to Sydney and everything in between. Though there were changes in their fleet, they still offer almost the same set of cost-effective campers that are designed for families up to 6. One prominent update to their fleet is the approval of pets inside their vehicles. Yep, so if you want to travel around the country with your furry friend, this is a great option. Continue reading to know more about Cheapa Campa Australia, its fleet, insurance options, and overall reputation.

Cheapa Campa Australia is part of the Apollo campervan family, hence the similarity of their vehicles. Ahh, who are we kidding, their vehicles are identical―except for the age! Being under the same company, you pick the unit up from the same depot location. 

From the technical specifications to some useful driving insights, check out this video before renting a Cheapa Campa unit. 

So, what’s the go here? Cheapa Campa focuses on vehicles that are well-designed and young(ish). They have a campervan or motorhome to suit just about any budget or travelling party size. And they even have depots in lots of locations. So, yes, Cheapa Campa and Apollo are pretty much the same. The main difference? Age. When they are brand new, they are Apollo. When they are a few years old, they are moved to the Cheapa Campa brand. Well, on VERY close inspection, you will notice a few little niceties supplied in the vehicle are different between the 2 brands. Apollo will include a personal kit such as towel, sheet, pillow, etc., where Cheapa Campa will not and there are few minor other inclusions in the insurance dept. 

But the main difference is the wear and tear. After 2-3 years of regular use, the campervans can become a little worn. Once they are no longer up to the Apollo brand standard, they are passed to Cheapa―hence the name. Still, Cheapa is part of one of the most popular RV companies in the world. And it has grown a lot since inception in 1985 and the Apollo group have more vehicles on the road than any other company in Australia. Furthermore, they claim to offer quality campers at a cheaper price and friendly service. 

Cheapa Campa has a smaller fleet than Apollo as only some are passed down. Well, hi-top roofs spring to mind. Every one of their vehicles is a hi-top, meaning ability to stand upright in the back. This might not sound all that fantastic initially, but after a few hours of having to bend over in a vehicle, you will notice the luxury of being able to stand upright. The “budget” campervan companies bypass this expensive addition to vehicles, which helps keeps their prices down, but also means you have to keep your head down. Cheapa Campa has spent the extra dollars on their vehicles and ability to stand upright in the vehicle is assured in all models. So, if you're eyeing for added comfort without breaking the bank, this might be a good option for you. 

Other items to note about Cheapa Campa is that all models come with a fridge, the ability to cook inside, are manual gear (stick shift). Plus, they have a selection of diesel and petrol models. If heading to the outback, then you will definitely want a diesel. But if you are just sticking to coast roads, well, it really won’t matter.

If you want a cheaper 4 berth, good thing Cheapa Campa offers a family-friendly camper—Endeavour. This camper is a breeze to drive and park. Plus, you can choose whether an automatic or manual transmission. Built on a Toyota Hiace, you can expect for a more decent interior height that allows standing up inside. This unit is unlike most campers because it oozes with space and functionality. During the daytime, the interior is very spacious. And of course, it is well-equipped with kitchen, seating areas, and double beds. At night, the living room offers two sleeping options—top double bed and bottom double bed. Featuring a side door entry, this lets you access the camper with ease.

Insurance rates depend on the rented unit as well as your preferred coverage. Here are their updated liability reduction options as of this writing:

Low road at $0

For Hitop and Endeavour, the standard liability and security bond is $3,500. All other 2wd come with $5,000 while 4wd vehicles has a $8,000 bond and liability.

Middle Road

For Hitop and Endeavour, you can reduce the bond and liability to $1,500 by paying $22/day. It's $32/day for all other  2WD vehicles with bond and liability up to $2,500. Lastly, you have to pay $41/ day for 4wd vehicles for a bond and liability of $2,500. 

High Road

For a stress-free adventure, this is a great option. If you're renting either the Hitop or Endevour, you just need to pay an extra $29/ day to limit the bond to $250 and the liability to $0. For all other 2wd campers, it's $39/day with $250 bond and $0 liability. For the 4wd, you have to allocated $47/day to reduce both your bond and liability to $500 each. 

Whilst Cheapa Campa might be a little cheaper compared to their Apollo brothers, they are not necessarily the cheapest in the market. There is definitely cheaper campervan hire out there if you want to shop around. The Apollo family’s budget range is Hippie Campers, so if money (or lack of it) is your driving factor then Hippie is where you want to look. However, if you are looking to get some luxuries but are willing to cut out some trimmings, then Cheapa Campa should be on your radar. Their vehicle age and some unique inclusions make them a nice option. Though one word of advice, despite having a multitude of vehicles in their fleet, Cheapa Campa does book out often. At peak times. it books out extremely early. So, if you think this brand of campervans might be for you, then you are advised to book as early as you can. However, there are plenty of other campervan companies to choose from if you can’t get a Cheapa Campa. 

Cheapa Campa tells us you can have the same holiday―just a little Cheapa. They stress the bargain element of their large fleet size and selection of campervans. They are proud of being one of the largest privately-owned motorhome rental companies in the world with depots across Australia and beyond.