One of Australia's largest budget campervan and 4WD camper hire companies — plain 2WD campervans, iconic Mystery Machines and genuine 4x4s across 11 depots,
Wicked Campers has evolved into one of Australia's largest budget campervan and 4WD camper hire companies, helping travellers explore the country without paying premium motorhome prices. While the brand became famous for their spray-painted vans, today's fleet is mostly made up of plain campervans in standard vehicle colours, alongside a small range of iconic Mystery Machines for travellers who still want the classic look.
If you're looking for an affordable campervan for an East Coast road trip, a Tassie adventure or a 4WD camping trip through the Outback, Wicked now offers a much broader range than its old reputation suggests.
Best for: Budget travellers, backpackers, couples, young drivers and anyone wanting an affordable road trip around Australia.
Wicked Campers has been operating in Australia for more than 25 years and specialises in affordable campervan hire across the country. The fleet includes everything from compact 2-seater campervans to fully equipped 5-person 4WD campers with rooftop tents.
Today, the focus is simple:
Unlike many premium campervan companies, Wicked is built around value rather than luxury.
The biggest misconception about Wicked is that every camper is spray painted. That is no longer the case. Most travellers now book plain 2WD campervans, while the painted Mystery Machines are just one vehicle style in the range.
The campervan lineup starts with the Budget Mini Camper — a Hyundai i20 or similar fitted with a rooftop tent for up to three people. No kitchen, no frills, the cheapest way to sleep outdoors without booking a site.
The Mystery Machine range adds the signature Scooby-Doo-inspired camper to the fleet — featuring the kitchenette and a bed converting into a lounge with heaps of storage space underneath. There is a 2-berth, a 2-3 berth built on a Toyota Regius, and a Hi-Top 2 with a raised roofline. If you want standing height without paying premium rates, the Hi-Top is the pick.
The Aventus is their plain budget campervan for two travellers with a convertible bed/lounge, sink, cooker, ice box and storage. Available in automatic and manual.
At the premium end of the 2WD campervan range sits the Johnny Feelgood — a Nissan Elgrand or similar running on automatic, with aircon, a 25-litre water tank, a 20-litre solar-powered fridge drawer, 300W solar, and a stainless steel prep table with a pull-out chopping board.
If you are adding some unsealed roads to your itinerary — the Gibb River Road, the Oodnadatta Track, Cape York — the 2WD campervan fleet is not the answer. Wicked knows this. Their three 4WD models cover serious ground.
The D5 4x4 Adventure Camper, based on a Mitsubishi Delica or similar, is the compact option: automatic transmission, a double bed, 300W solar, a 20-litre fridge drawer and all-terrain tyres. It is perfect for those who like the regular campervan experience, with 4WD options.
The Desert Sands 4x4 and Grip 2-5 4x4 both run on a Nissan Navara or similar with automatic transmission. Both sleep up to five across dual hardshell rooftop tents. The Desert Sands adds a 70-litre water tank, a 38-litre compressor fridge, stainless steel prep bench and a full camping setup including table and chairs. The Grip is built along the same lines with a 45-50 litre compressor fridge. These are the vehicles for multi-week outback expeditions — the ones the Wicked website rightly lists as suitable for the Kings Canyon track and Oodnadatta, or the Gibb River Road during dry season.
Important: Wicked's 4WD campers are suitable for approved unsealed roads, but beach driving is not permitted and some remote tracks have seasonal restrictions.
Wicked operates depots across 11 Australian locations: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Alice Springs, Broome and Exmouth. One-way rentals between depots are available, which makes the classic east coast loop or a top-end crossing genuinely doable without a return flight. For budget travellers planning a one-directional adventure — Sydney to Cairns, Perth to Darwin — this network is one of the strongest arguments for going Wicked over a smaller operator.
If you are comparing options for the east coast, it is worth reading our Travellers Autobarn review for a similar budget-price bracket with a different vehicle style, or our Maui review if you want to see what the premium end of the same trip looks like. For Western Australia specialists, WA Experts runs a tighter network but with vehicles built specifically for the west.
Wicked Campers has a long history in Australia, but it's worth separating the brand's older reputation from what recent customer reviews say today.
The biggest change is the fleet itself. The campervans with controversial slogans have been completely retired. Today, most Wicked campervans are plain vehicles in standard colours, while the iconic Mystery Machines are the only spray-painted campers still in the range. The brand has shifted its focus from shock value to affordable road trips and practical campervan travel.
Recent reviews suggest the conversation has changed as well. Mechanical breakdowns, which featured heavily in many older reviews, appear much less frequently than they once did. Instead, the most common complaints are about the bond and security deposit refund process, with some travellers saying refunds took longer than expected after returning their vehicle.
Another theme in reviews is consistency between depots. Many customers describe quick pick-ups, friendly staff, clean campervans and helpful support throughout their trip. Others mention minor presentation or maintenance issues at handover — things like missing camping items, worn mattresses or small faults that ideally would have been picked up before the vehicle left the depot.
Overall, recent feedback points to a budget campervan company where experiences are generally positive, but operational consistency and bond processing remain the areas customers most often mention for improvement. As with any campervan rental, it's still a good idea to photograph the vehicle inside and out during pick-up and drop-off for your own records.
You can read Wicked's most recent customer reviews on Trustpilot and ProductReview.com.au.
The standard liability excess is AUD $3,000 for campervans and AUD $5,000 for 4WD campers. Travellers can reduce this to AUD $1 by paying extra for the Cover Plus option. For a broader look at how excess reduction works across operators, see our campervan insurance guide.
One feature that continues to set Wicked apart is its age policy. Wicked rents campervans to drivers from 18 years old, making it one of the few affordable campervan hire companies in Australia that caters to younger travellers planning trips like Sydney to Cairns or Melbourne to Brisbane on a backpacker budget.
Wicked Campers today is best known for one thing: affordable campervan and 4WD camper hire across Australia.
The fleet has evolved well beyond its old reputation. The controversial slogan vans are gone, and today most Wicked campervans are plain vehicles in standard colours, alongside a small number of iconic Mystery Machines for travellers who still want the brand's colourful personality.
If you're looking for a luxury motorhome with every extra, Wicked probably isn't the right fit. But if you want a reliable, budget-friendly campervan or a capable 4WD camper for an Australian road trip, it's one of the country's most established and best-connected operators. With depots across Australia's biggest road trip destinations, one-way hire options, and vehicles available from age 18, Wicked continues to be a popular choice for backpackers, couples and budget-conscious travellers who want to spend more on the adventure than the accommodation.
Wicked Campers has depots across Australia's biggest road trip destinations, including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Broome and Exmouth. One-way campervan hire is available between participating depots, making it easy to plan popular routes like Sydney to Brisbane, Brisbane to Cairns or Perth to Exmouth.
You can hire a Wicked Camper from 18 years old, making it one of the few campervan hire companies in Australia that caters to younger travellers and backpackers. Additional conditions or surcharges may apply for younger drivers, so it's worth checking at the time of booking. Their 4x4 campers are only available for drivers who are 21 or older.
Wicked's 2WD campervans — including the Aventus, Johnny Feelgood, Hi Top and Mystery Machine — are for sealed roads only.
Wicked's 4WD campers — including the D5, Desert Sands and Grip — are designed for approved unsealed roads and remote Australian adventures. Always check your rental agreement for permitted roads and seasonal restrictions before travelling.
Pet-friendly rentals may be available on selected vehicles and routes. It's best to confirm with Wicked before booking, as availability can vary by vehicle and depot.
Standard liability excess depends on the vehicle you hire, with campervans carrying a lower excess than 4WD campers. You can reduce your excess by purchasing Wicked's Cover Plus option. Check the terms for your chosen vehicle before travelling so you understand what's covered.
All three are popular campervan hire companies in Australia, but they offer slightly different experiences.
If you're looking for a budget-friendly campervan or a capable 4WD camper for an Australian road trip, Wicked offers one of the broadest affordable fleets.
Wicked Campers is very different from the brand many people remember.
The controversial slogan campervans are gone, and today most of the fleet is made up of plain campervans in standard vehicle colours. The only spray-painted campers remaining are the iconic Mystery Machines, which are now a small part of a much broader fleet.
Today, Wicked is best known for affordable 2WD campervans and 4WD campers across Australia. With depots in Australia's biggest road trip destinations, one-way hire options and vehicles available from age 18, it's a strong option for backpackers, couples and budget-conscious travellers who want to explore Australia without paying premium campervan prices.
Compared with other budget operators, Wicked stands out for its combination of affordability, a wide depot network and genuine 4WD camper options for travellers heading beyond the cities.
Wicked Campers Australia offers budget campervan and 4WD hire across 11 Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Alice Springs, Broome and Exmouth. Their fleet ranges from compact 2-berth campervans starting from around $38/day to fully equipped 5-berth 4WD adventure rigs with compressor fridges, 70L water tanks and 300W solar. One-way rentals between all depots are available, making Wicked a popular choice for east coast loops, top-end crossings and extended outback expeditions.
Wicked Campers is one of the few campervan hire companies in Australia that rents to drivers under 21, with options available from age 18. Their campervans include kitchen-equipped models with gas cookers, ice coolers and double beds, while their 4WD range — including the Desert Sands and Grip models — supports multi-week off-road travel on tracks including the Oodnadatta and Kings Canyon routes. Prices vary by season, with daily rates ranging from approximately $29/day for the Budget Mini Camper to $350/day for the Desert Sands 4x4 in peak season.
