About Travellers Autobarn Australia
Travellers Autobarn has been hiring campervans in Australia since 1993. Thirty-plus years in the budget end of the market — that is not luck, that is a product that keeps working for the people booking it.
They are independently operated, which matters. You are not calling a multinational call centre. The company started in Sydney, expanded city by city — Cairns in 1999, Brisbane and Melbourne in 2002, Darwin and Perth in 2005 — and has stayed focused on the budget and backpacker segment ever since. The fleet is custom-built in-house, which is unusual at this price point. Most budget operators convert vans off the shelf. Travellers Autobarn designs and builds their own.
Two things separate them from most budget operators. First: they hire to drivers from age 18. Most companies draw the line at 21 — some at 25 — so this opens the market to a younger demographic that most of the industry simply will not touch. Second: the Kuga is automatic. In the budget campervan segment, an automatic is genuinely rare. For international visitors driving on the left for the first time, that removes one major source of stress.
Fleet
Six models across the Australian fleet, ranging from a barebones station wagon to a solar-equipped 5-berth. The entry-level options are exactly what they say: cheap, functional, no frills. The upper end has full kitchens, fridges, microwaves, and standing room. Fit-outs run 2016–2025, so the newer models are in genuinely decent condition.
No 4WDs. No vehicles with on-board toilets or showers. This is a budget campervan fleet, not a self-contained motorhome fleet. Go in with clear expectations on that point.
Branch Network
Six depots across Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns, and Darwin. That covers the full east coast plus the west and the Northern Territory. One-way hire is available between locations — useful for linear routes where doubling back does not make sense.
Note: Alice Springs and Byron Bay depots are both closed. If either was part of your planned itinerary, factor that in before booking.
Insurance
Three tiers in 2026. Standard Protection is included at no cost, but carries a $3,500 bond exposure if something goes wrong. Protection Plus at $35/day reduces your liability to zero. The Value Pack at $45/day covers additional inclusions — ask exactly what is covered before signing. The old mid-tier Midway Protection is gone. It is now free-with-bond or $35/day with nothing in between.
Worth checking: many travel credit cards include rental vehicle excess cover. If yours does, you may not need to pay for Travellers Autobarn insurance at all. For a full breakdown of how campervan insurance works in Australia, read our campervan insurance guide.
Who Should Book
Book if: You are a backpacker or young traveller after an affordable Australian road trip. You are under 21 and most other operators will not take you. You need an automatic and do not want to pay premium operator prices. You are a budget-conscious couple or small family who does not need a toilet on board.
Skip if: You need a self-contained vehicle with toilet and shower. You want 4WD capability. You require a brand-new premium experience.
Verdict
Travellers Autobarn is a well-run budget operator that has earned its position in the Australian market. The fleet is in better shape than it was a few years ago. The six-city depot network is solid. The under-18 hire policy and the automatic Kuga both remain genuine competitive advantages that most of the industry does not offer.
This is budget camping. Set your expectations accordingly and the road trip will deliver exactly what it promises.
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- Cheap campervans available
- Good selection of older and newer models
- Cars available if you really want them
✗ Cons
- No standing up in some vehicles
Vehicle Fleet
