Camping Australia · Caravan buying guide

The right van finds the right roads.

Buy the van that matches your trips — not the one that shone brightest at the show. Work out your category, meet the Australian makers who build for it, and get quotes without traipsing every showroom in the state.

Step one

Which van is your van?

Off-road & hybrid

Typically $45k–$120k

Gravel, beach tracks and free camps — the big lap without sticking to bitumen.

  • Independent suspension
  • Solar + lithium standard
  • Compact but hard-walled

Family vans

Typically $60k–$110k

Bunks for the kids, a proper bathroom, and school-holiday kilometres.

  • 2–4 bunks
  • Full ensuite
  • Big water + storage

Couples tourers

Typically $50k–$100k

Two people, no timetable — the classic grey-nomad big lap layout.

  • Island bed
  • Café dinette
  • Easy towing weight

Camper trailers

Typically $15k–$45k

The affordable first step into towed camping — folds down, goes anywhere.

  • Light behind any 4WD
  • Quick setup
  • Off-road ready
Step two

Meet the makers

Australian manufacturers we work with, from first camper trailers to premium off-road tourers. Ask to hear from any of them in the match form.

Maverick Campers

QLD

Hybrid & off-road campers

Aggressively specced hybrids built for corrugations — a favourite first step off the bitumen.

Get a Maverick Campers quote →

Mars Campers

Factory direct

Camper trailers & hybrids

Factory-direct value: forward-fold and hybrid campers without the dealer margin.

Get a Mars Campers quote →

MDC

Factory direct

Off-road vans & campers

One of Australia’s biggest independents — 40,000+ units on the road across campers and full vans.

Get a MDC quote →

Adventure Kings

Online direct

Entry camper trailers

The budget way into towed camping — simple campers that get a family out the door for less.

Get a Adventure Kings quote →

Snowy River

VIC

Touring caravans

Sharp-value touring vans for couples and families, backed by the Regent group.

Get a Snowy River quote →

Lotus Caravans

Melbourne

Premium off-road vans

Melbourne-built premium off-roaders for the big-lap-in-comfort crowd.

Get a Lotus Caravans quote →
The whole trip, sorted

From daydream to driveway

Choose the van

Category guide above, then quotes from the makers who build for it.

Get matched

Sort the money

Run repayments on our calculator and compare 30+ lenders before you negotiate.

Caravan finance

Kit it out

Solar, bedding, awnings, 12V — 5,000+ products in our Australian-owned store.

Shop gear

Take it somewhere

Vehicle-aware routes with a campsite for every night. It’s what we do.

Plan the first trip
Get matched

Tell us about your trips. We'll introduce the right makers.

Two minutes, no obligation — your requirements go only to manufacturers who build for your category and budget, and they come back to you with real pricing.

What are you after?
Budget
When are you buying?
Brands you'd like to hear from (optional)

We share your enquiry only with the manufacturers you'd expect to hear from. No spam, no reselling your details.

Good to know

Buying a van — your questions

How do I work out what my car can tow?+

Check three numbers on your vehicle: maximum braked towing capacity, gross combined mass (GCM) and tow-ball download limit. A van’s ATM (its maximum loaded weight) must sit comfortably under your braked capacity — with real-world margin, not right at the limit. Tell us your tow vehicle in the form and we’ll factor it into the match.

Should I buy at a caravan show or from a showroom?+

Shows are brilliant for walking through 50 vans in a day and shortlisting layouts; showroom or factory visits are where you nail the spec and negotiate. Show discounts are real but rarely once-in-a-lifetime — the same deal is usually gettable later if you missed it.

Off-road or semi off-road — do I actually need it?+

Be honest about your trips: if 90% is bitumen and caravan parks, a touring van saves you $15k+ and tows lighter. If free camps, national parks and gravel are the point, full off-road suspension and clearance pay for themselves the first time the road turns bad.

What deposit and finance should I plan for?+

Many lenders finance 100% for qualified borrowers, though a deposit lowers repayments and can improve your rate. Run the numbers on our caravan finance calculator first, and get pre-approval before you fall in love with a floorplan — it caps impulse upgrades and makes you a cash buyer at the table.

What happens after I submit the form?+

We match your requirements with the manufacturers that genuinely build for your category and budget, and pass your enquiry to them. They come back to you directly with pricing, availability and the nearest place to see the van. No spam lists, no reselling your details.

Camping Australia may receive a referral fee from partnered manufacturers when an enquiry leads to a sale, at no cost to you. Pricing and typical-spend ranges are general guidance only — always confirm specifications, weights and pricing with the manufacturer.