Spaceships Rentals Australia is an award-winning campervan hire company with 7 depots across Australia — Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Melbourne,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spaceships campervans drive and park like a normal car. Built on Toyota Estima platforms, they fit in standard car parks, handle city driving naturally, and use automatic transmission throughout — which matters for the significant share of travellers who've never driven a large vehicle before. The trade-off is no onboard shower or toilet and a more compact interior than a full motorhome. The appeal is freedom without intimidation.
For couples doing a serious multi-week trip: the Beta 2S Premium — newest vehicles, 30% more interior space from removing the backseat, Bluetooth stereo. For groups needing extra seating: the Beta Standard adds a backseat for up to 4 passengers (sleeps 2). For the most budget option: the Alpha — honest about its age (4+ years in service) but still full kit. For 4-person sleeping: the Beta 4-berth with Rooftop Tent is in a category of its own.
No — one of Spaceships' strongest commercial advantages is no one-way fees between their seven depots. This combined with the depot spread (Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide) makes classic linear itineraries genuinely straightforward to budget.
No additional surcharge for young drivers — another Spaceships differentiator. Minimum age is 18. No extra charge regardless of age within the hire period.
No — all Spaceships models are campsite-dependent for bathroom facilities. This is part of the compact, car-like design philosophy. If onboard self-containment is important, consider Apollo or Britz for motorhome options.
Standard bond held at pickup; daily reduction options available. Confirm current excess amounts and bond at booking. Spaceships' structure is generally straightforward — the Toyota Estima platform carries lower repair costs than larger vehicles, which often means more accessible excess amounts than full motorhome hire. See our campervan insurance guide for context.
Spaceships Rentals Australia has earned its 2025 Adventure Tourism Award by solving a specific problem better than almost anyone else: making campervanning accessible to travellers who find large vehicles intimidating. The Toyota Estima platform, the no-one-way-fee policy, and the no-young-driver-surcharge approach together remove three of the biggest friction points in budget campervan hire.
The constraints are real: no bathroom, no Perth or Darwin, and the Alpha models are showing their age. For full-service self-contained motorhomes, Britz or Apollo are the logical comparison. But for the traveller who wants to drive the east coast from Cairns to Melbourne, park in normal bays, and not think about one-way fees or age surcharges — Spaceships remains one of the smartest propositions in the market.
The Beta 2S Premium books out earliest — if those dates matter, don't wait.
Spaceships Rentals Australia offers campervan hire across 7 depots: Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Melbourne, Hobart, and Adelaide. Their Toyota Estima-based fleet — Alpha Budget, Beta Standard, Beta 2S Premium, and Beta 4-berth with Rooftop Tent — covers solo travellers through to groups of four. All vehicles include unlimited kilometres, cooking and sleeping gear, a rear awning, and integrated fridge. No one-way fees. No young driver surcharges. Winners of Best Transport at the 2025 Adventure Tourism Awards.
Spaceships depots span New South Wales (Sydney: 1717 Botany Road, Banksmeadow), Queensland (Brisbane: 31 Bunya St, Eagle Farm; Cairns: 52 Fearnley St, Portsmith; Airlie Beach: 1/384 Shute Harbour Road), Victoria (Melbourne: 42 Macaulay Street, Williamstown North), Tasmania (Hobart: 1 Hawksford Road, Cambridge), and South Australia (Adelaide: Unit 9/125 Hayward Avenue, Torrensville). The no-one-way-fee policy makes linear road trips simple — pick up in Cairns, drop off in Adelaide, no penalty.
The Alpha is the most affordable, seating and sleeping 2. The Beta Standard adds a backseat for 4 passengers (sleeps 2) and is baby-seat compatible. The Beta 2S Premium is the newest-build model with 30% more interior space and Bluetooth audio. The Beta 4-berth adds a European rooftop tent for 4-person sleeping — the only model in the Australian fleet with this capability.
Every booking includes: unlimited kilometres, cooking gear (gas burner, pans, plates, cutlery), sleeping gear (duvet, linen, pillows), integrated fridge/freezer, smart battery system, rear awning, 24-hour roadside assistance (RACQ), and free after-hours pick-up and drop-off at most depots. Airport transfers included for 21+ day bookings. No fees for young drivers or one-way trips.
