A lot of us dream of hitting the open road with a caravan or camper trailer in tow. 

But if you haven’t done it before, it’s hard to know if that style of holiday will actually suit you.

Sometimes it pays to try before you buy. Hiring a caravan is cheaper and less risky than buying your own. And if you only get a couple of weeks holiday a year, spending thousands on a caravan, only to have to store it for the other 49 weeks is a big ask.  

When you take into account annual registration and maintenance, hiring a caravan, camper trailer or motorhome starts to look like a great option.  

And if you want to buy a caravan in the long run, hiring one will help you decide what size and features you’ll need.  You could test out a pop-top, or a big rig, a camper trailer or a motor home. And if you don’t like it, you’re not stuck with it.

The cost of hiring starts at about $80 per day or $400 p/w in the low season for a pop top caravan to up to $800 per week for a family sized caravan in peak season. That’s considerably less expensive than the cost of a week in a hotel for a family of four.

The trick to finding the best price on caravan hire is to book early. Rental rates are lower when booking in advance, and during peak periods – Christmas, Easter, school holidays – prices go up and caravans are scarce. Booking well in advance to secure the vehicle you want at the best possible price.

And once you’ve sorted out the accommodation, you’ll still need to book a site at a great caravan park on the coast.

To find a caravan hire specialist near you, use the Yellow Pages. With nearly 500 caravan hire outlets listed Australia-wide, you can sort out your next great holiday today.