Hippie Campers Australia

Hippie Campers is budget campervan hire stripped back to its essentials — two vehicles, six cities, and a price point aimed squarely at young and budget-conscious travellers. After years as part of the Apollo family, Hippie now operates under thl (Tourism Holdings Ltd), the same group that runs Mighty, Britz, and Maui. That means shared depot infrastructure, the same 24/7 roadside assist network, and the same booking platform — just a different badge on the van.

They still accept drivers aged 18–21, which remains genuinely rare in the Australian campervan market. If you're in that age bracket, Hippie is one of your few real options. They've also added Qantas Points to the booking mix for frequent flyers who refuse to stop accumulating points even on a shoestring road trip.

The Fleet

Two models. That's it. Simple decision.

The Hippie Hi-Top is the 2-berth flagship, built on a Toyota Hiace. Full standing height inside — a real upgrade over the budget models that leave you hunched over. Internal kitchen, larger water tank, and better fuel economy. They pitch it as their "deluxe" option. It seats three up front, but there are no rear seatbelts, so children under 8 cannot legally travel in this van. Worth knowing before you book for a family.

The Hippie Endeavour runs on the same Toyota Hiace chassis but is designed to sleep 2 adults and 2 children in a bunk arrangement — one bed above, one below. The floor plan works better than you'd expect for the size. You won't have a lot of room at night, but for a budget family hire, the layout is genuinely thoughtful. Good fuel economy on long runs, which matters when you're tracking every dollar.

Two models means low complexity, low overhead, and low prices. It also means if neither model suits your trip, you need to look elsewhere.

Branches

Six depots across Australia: Sydney (Taren Point), Brisbane (Northgate), Cairns (Cairns North), Melbourne (Somerton), Perth (Redcliffe), and Adelaide (Gepps Cross). All the main east coast routes are covered. Perth handles the west coast. No Darwin, no Alice Springs, no Hobart — if those points are essential to your itinerary, Hippie can't help you.

One-way rentals are available between depots. Check the fees before you commit to the route.

What's Included

Standard across the fleet: 24/7 roadside assistance, and the thl Roadtrip App — pick-up guidance, vehicle walkthroughs, and trip planning tools built for travellers who haven't done this before. Useful if it's your first time hiring a campervan.

Vehicles are pet-friendly (dogs welcome). Any damage caused by your pet sits outside your insurance coverage, so factor that in if you're bringing the dog. Web check-in is available to reduce time at the depot, though you'll still need to sign paperwork in person. Qantas Points accrue on eligible bookings — a small but genuine bonus for frequent flyers.

Insurance

Standard bond: $3,000, charged to your credit card at pickup with a 2% admin fee on top. That fee adds up — on a $3,000 bond, you're looking at $60 straight off the bat before you even leave the depot.

The liability reduction option is called The High Road: $25/day, drops both your bond and liability to $0. Important caveat: windscreen damage, tyre damage, and single vehicle rollover are excluded regardless of which cover level you take. Separate policies are available for those items if you're heading into territory where that's a real risk.

Before paying for The High Road, check your credit card's rental vehicle excess policy. Some premium cards already cover rental excess and you could save the daily fee entirely.

How Hippie Compares

In the budget space, Hippie is up against Travellers Autobarn, Jucy, Spaceships, and Wicked Campervans. The thl infrastructure gives Hippie a genuine edge in depot coverage and breakdown support. The trade-off is corporate consistency over character — these are fleet vehicles from Australia's largest RV operator, not individual operators who know your name.

Versus Mighty Campers (also thl): Mighty runs ten depots to Hippie's six, and offers a broader fleet with more berth options. Mighty's vehicles are noticeably older (they inherit fleet from Maui and Britz), but you get more location flexibility. If the six Hippie cities don't match your route and you don't need the under-21 policy, run the numbers on Mighty too.

Hippie's genuine differentiator is the under-21 driver policy. Most of the industry cuts off at 21. Hippie takes 18–20 year olds. If that applies to you, the shortlist gets very short very fast.

Who Should Book Hippie

Book if: You're 18–25 and want budget campervan hire without the age restriction wall. You're a couple after a 2-berth with standing room and a proper internal kitchen. You're a family of four on a tight budget willing to accept compact sleeping quarters. You want the backup of thl's nationwide roadside network at a budget price.

Don't book if: You need a self-contained vehicle with toilet and shower (not in this fleet). You're travelling with children under 8 in the Hi-Top. You need depots beyond the six major cities. You want newer vehicles or premium fit-outs.

Final Verdict

Hippie Campers delivers reliable budget campervan hire backed by thl's national infrastructure. Two models and six cities keeps the operation lean — lower prices, but less flexibility. The Hi-Top is the better choice for couples who want a proper road trip setup with standing room. The Endeavour works for budget families of four who can handle tight quarters overnight.

The under-21 policy remains Hippie's strongest card. If you're in that age bracket, this and Travellers Autobarn are effectively your two serious options in Australia. Get quotes from both before deciding.

Go in with realistic expectations about what budget hire means in practice. Hippie won't dress it up — and that's exactly how it should be.