Spaceships Rentals Australia

Spaceships Rentals Australia Review

There are campervans. Then there are Spaceships. The difference isn't just marketing — it's a philosophy that has quietly made Spaceships Rentals Australia one of the most popular campervan hire companies on the east coast since they launched in 2007. Their fleet of custom Toyota Estima campervans threads a needle that most companies miss: vehicles that genuinely drive like a normal automatic car, with enough camping capability to do Australia properly.

As of 2025, Spaceships have expanded to 7 depots across Australia: Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Melbourne, Hobart, and the newest addition, Adelaide — making them one of the more geographically spread options in the budget-to-mid segment. The no-one-way-fee policy (combined with that depot spread) makes them particularly good for linear road trips: fly into Cairns, drive south to Sydney, drop the van off. No penalty, no faff.

The Fleet: Four Models, One Platform

All four Spaceships campervans share the same Toyota Estima base. That's not a limitation — it's actually a smart move. The Estima is compact enough to park in a normal bay, fuel-efficient by campervan standards (9–12L/100km depending on model), and automatic transmission throughout, which matters enormously when you're driving 600km across Queensland and don't want to think about a clutch.

The Alpha Budget Campervan is the entry-level model. These are the oldest vehicles in the fleet — Spaceships is transparent about the fact that Alphas have been in service for 4+ years, having worked their way down from Beta 2S through Beta Standard before landing here. That honesty is refreshing. An Alpha is not a shiny new vehicle, but it still comes with the full Spaceships kit: cooking gear, sleeping gear, rear awning, fridge. For solo travellers or couples on a tight budget, it does the job.

The Beta Standard adds a backseat to the mix, enabling up to 4 passengers (while sleeping 2). This is the sweet spot for groups of friends or families who need the seating capacity but don't mind sharing sleeping arrangements. The baby/child seat compatibility is a practical detail that matters to travelling families.

The Beta 2S Premium is Spaceships' newest tier — all vehicles start here before graduating to Beta Standard after 2–3 years. The key difference is the missing backseat, which translates to 30% more interior space and genuinely easier bed setup. For a couple doing a serious multi-week trip who value having room to live in the van, this is the right choice. The Bluetooth stereo is a small but welcome upgrade over the AUX-only setup on other models.

The Beta 4-berth with Rooftop Tent is in a category of its own. The European-designed rooftop tent (1.62m × 1.98m) adds genuine 4-person sleeping capacity to a Toyota Estima — two inside, two elevated above the van with views of wherever you've parked. For two couples travelling together, or a family wanting separate sleeping zones, this configuration is genuinely useful. Just note the 2.3m vehicle height and check clearances at underground car parks and some campsite boom gates.

What's Actually Included

Spaceships take their "no hidden fees" promise seriously. Unlimited kilometres are standard across the entire fleet — not a promotional add-on. There are no one-way fees, no young driver surcharges (anyone 18+ with a valid licence qualifies), and no charges for additional drivers. Free after-hours pick-up and drop-off is available at most depots via a contactless system — useful when you're landing at 10pm after a long-haul flight.

Every vehicle comes with cooking and sleeping gear: duvet, linen, pillows, gas burner, pans, plates, cutlery. The smart battery system keeps the fridge running without draining the starter battery. A rear awning on all models adds about 30% more covered outdoor space for cooking or lounging. For 21+ day bookings, Spaceships will pay for your airport transfer to the depot — a legitimately useful perk for international arrivals.

The Depot Network

Seven depots is a solid number for an operator of this size. Sydney's depot moved to a new location at 1717 Botany Road, Banksmeadow — note this if you're following older directions. The Hobart depot relocated to 1 Hawksford Road, Cambridge in January 2026, much closer to the airport. Adelaide (Unit 9/125 Hayward Avenue, Torrensville) operates out of Adventure Rentals and is the newest addition to the network, opening in late 2024 and significantly expanding Spaceships' reach into South Australia.

Cairns (52 Fearnley Street, Portsmith) and Airlie Beach (1/384 Shute Harbour Road) are 24/7 self-service at most hours, though Airlie Beach has a 6pm gate closure so after-hours drop-offs aren't possible there. All depots share the same national phone line: +61 2 8356 2900 or 1300 132 469.

Awards and Reputation

Spaceships won the Best Transport award at the 2025 Adventure Tourism Awards in the Australia and New Zealand category — their most recent industry recognition and a meaningful signal for a category that tends to reward operators who deliver consistently rather than just market aggressively. They previously won the Golden Backpacker Award in 2011 and 2013. The community around Spaceships — visible on their social channels — is genuinely enthusiastic in a way that's hard to manufacture.

The Bottom Line

Spaceships Rentals Australia occupies a specific, useful position: not the cheapest campervan hire in Australia (that's a race to the bottom with aging fleets and hidden fees), and not the luxury end either. They're the operator for travellers who want to drive something that doesn't embarrass them in a supermarket car park, sleep in something clean and comfortable, and not discover a $500 "young driver surcharge" on the pickup day. The fleet philosophy — clear model tiers with honest descriptions of age and condition — builds trust that pays off when you're actually on the road somewhere remote and something goes wrong.

If you're planning a linear east coast road trip, or using Adelaide as a Great Ocean Road gateway, Spaceships should be on your shortlist.