Cheapa Campa is a budget campervan and motorhome hire brand under the thl Group (Apollo family). Operating across 10 Australian depots in every major mainland
Cheapa Campa sits in an interesting position in the Australian campervan market: it's the value arm of a premium company. Part of the Apollo group — one of the largest motorhome operators in the world — Cheapa offers the same depots, the same infrastructure, and (essentially) the same vehicles as Apollo. The difference is age. When Apollo vehicles complete their first few years of rental life, they graduate to the Cheapa Campa brand. Same bones, more affordable price.
That's the honest pitch, and it's a reasonable one. If you want a well-maintained, known-quantity vehicle from a company with 10 Australian locations, 24/7 roadside assistance, and a full support infrastructure — but you'd rather not pay Apollo prices for a near-new van — Cheapa Campa delivers that.
Six active models cover the range from 2-berth campervans to a 6-berth motorhome and an off-road 4WD camper:
All vehicles have hi-top roofs (stand-up interior) — a practical distinction from ultra-budget operators who skip this expensive addition. Every model comes with linen included.
The Apollo connection is both the selling point and the honest disclosure. These are older Apollo vehicles — typically 3–5 years into their rental life — which means some wear is to be expected. Don't walk in expecting showroom condition. The cushions might be a bit tatty. There could be some gaffer tape over minor dings. Drawers don't always latch perfectly.
That's not a failure — it's the deal you're making. You get genuine quality infrastructure (global company, 10 depots, full roadside support) at a price that reflects the vehicle's age. If that trade works for you, Cheapa Campa makes a lot of sense. If you need pristine, book Apollo.
One update worth noting: Cheapa Campa now permits pets on their vehicles — a meaningful differentiator from most of the Australian market, where dog-friendly options are genuinely scarce.
Ten depots across Australia: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. All locations are in easily accessible industrial/airport-adjacent areas. One-way hire is available between most locations — useful for point-to-point itineraries like Sydney to Cairns or Perth to Broome.
Pick-up and drop-off hours are 9am–4pm, with seasonal variations at some locations. Check individual branch pages before planning tight connections.
Cheapa operates a three-tier liability reduction system. The base option carries a bond of $3,500 for the Hitop and Endeavour, $5,000 for 2WD vehicles, and $8,000 for 4WD. The middle tier reduces liability to $1,500–$2,500 for a daily fee of $22–$41. The top tier (High Road) brings liability down to $250 with zero excess for $29–$47/day depending on vehicle. For international travellers, the High Road option is worth considering — the daily fee is real money, but the peace of mind for an unfamiliar vehicle on unfamiliar roads has value.
Cheapa Campa is the sensible choice if you want Apollo-level infrastructure at a lower price, you're comfortable with vehicles that show their age, you have a dog, or you want to start a 4WD outback adventure without paying Britz or Maui rates. It's not the cheapest option in Australia — that honour goes to operators like Hippie Campers — but it's a solid mid-budget choice with real institutional backing behind it.
One practical warning: Cheapa books out early in peak season (December–January, school holidays). If your dates are fixed, book as early as you can.
Typically 3–5 years into their rental life — they start as Apollo vehicles and move to Cheapa Campa once they've built up more kilometres. You're getting the same chassis, same infrastructure, and the same depot network as Apollo — just at an older stage of the vehicle's life. Expect some cosmetic wear. The mechanicals are solid.
Apollo vehicles are roughly 1–3 years old (60,000–150,000km). Cheapa Campa takes those same vehicles once they've hit higher mileage — same bones, older stock, lower daily rate. Both share the same 10 Australian depots and the same 24/7 roadside assistance network. The choice comes down to budget vs. fleet freshness.
Yes — Cheapa Campa formally accepts pets, which differentiates it from some other budget operators. Confirm current pet policy and fees at booking.
Ten depots — the same locations as Apollo: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. One-way hire available between all locations.
Yes — the Cheapa 4WD Camper is a 2-berth ute-based camper with pop-top roof, built for unsealed roads and outback travel. It comes with an outback safety kit. If you need genuine off-road capability at a budget price point, this is one of the few options in the market that delivers it without premium pricing.
Same structure as Apollo: tiered excess with bond held on your credit card at pickup. Daily reduction options bring liability toward zero. Confirm current amounts at booking. See our campervan insurance guide for a full explanation of the Australian excess system.
Cheapa Campa is the most logical budget choice for travellers who want Apollo's depot network and infrastructure but don't need the newest possible vehicle. The 10-location nationwide footprint, the one-way hire flexibility connecting every major Australian city and several remote gateways, and the pet-friendly policy together make a compelling package at the price point.
The vehicles carry their age honestly — cushions get tatty, drawers don't always latch perfectly, and some cosmetic dings are part of the deal. That's the trade you're making: lower daily rate in exchange for accepting that these vehicles have lived their first life already. For most travellers on a budget, it's a completely reasonable trade.
Compare directly with Apollo when budgeting — the daily rate difference often closes the gap at the insurance and extras stage. But for base rate value with national infrastructure, Cheapa Campa is the honest answer.
Cheapa Campa Australia is a budget campervan and motorhome hire brand under the thl Group, operating from 10 depots across Australia including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Alice Springs, Broome, and Hobart. As the value tier of the Apollo Motorhome Holidays family, Cheapa offers vehicles that are typically 3–5 years old — well-maintained and fully serviced, but priced below new-fleet alternatives. This makes Cheapa Campa a popular choice for travellers who want the reliability of a major operator without the premium price tag.
The fleet covers 2-berth campervans (Hitop and 2 Berth), a 4-berth family campervan (Endeavour), 4 and 6-berth motorhomes, and a 4WD camper for outback exploration. All vehicles feature hi-top roofs for stand-up interior height — a comfort advantage over ultra-budget operators. The 4WD Camper comes with an outback safety kit including an EPIRB or PLB, air compressor, shovel, and recovery gear. Pets are permitted on all Cheapa Campa vehicles, making it one of the few operators in Australia with a genuine dog-friendly policy across their entire fleet.
One-way hire is available between most Australian locations, giving travellers the flexibility to plan point-to-point itineraries — coastal runs like Sydney to Cairns or Perth to Broome are popular routes. The shared Apollo depot network means drop-off logistics are straightforward. Book early for peak season travel (December–January and school holiday periods), as Cheapa Campa vehicles are in high demand and regularly sell out several months in advance.
Insurance options include three tiers: a base bond of $3,500–$8,000 depending on vehicle type, a middle reduction option at $22–$41/day, and a High Road zero-liability package at $29–$47/day. For international travellers unfamiliar with Australian driving conditions, the High Road option provides maximum peace of mind. The thl Roadtrip App — available on iOS and Android — provides vehicle how-to videos, trip planning tools, and campsite finder functionality for use throughout your hire.
