.svg.png)
Travellers Autobarn Campervan Hire
Budget campervans and wagons for drivers aged 18 to 80, with unlimited kilometres, in Australia, NZ and the USA.
Price range
Budget
Founded
1993, Sydney
Countries
Australia, New Zealand, USA
Vehicle types
Campervan, Station wagon
Sleeps
2 to 5
Best for
Young drivers and backpackers on a budget
About Travellers Autobarn
Travellers Autobarn started in Sydney in 1993 selling cars to backpackers and now rents budget campervans and station wagons in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. It is independently owned and not part of thl, the group behind Apollo, Britz and maui.
Its vans are older Toyota Hiaces with its own fit-outs in Australia and New Zealand, and converted Chevrolet and Ford vans in the USA. The range runs from the 2-berth Budgie and Chubby to the 5-berth Hi5, plus wagons that come with a tent. Every hire includes unlimited kilometres, and there are no showers, motorhomes or 4WDs.
Is Travellers Autobarn a good choice?
Travellers Autobarn suits young drivers and backpackers on a budget. In Australia and New Zealand you can hire from 18 to 80 with no young driver fee, and the AU$3,500 bond is held on your card rather than charged. Its Google branch ratings average 4.7 out of 5 across about 4,500 reviews. The trade-offs are older, basic vans and branches that close on Sundays, so compare Apollo or Britz if you want a bathroom.
Search below and we compare Travellers Autobarn's live prices with other brands, with current hot deals applied automatically.
Travellers Autobarn campervan hire in Australia
Travellers Autobarn's Australian fleet has five Toyota Hiace campervans, the Budgie, Chubby, Hitop, Kuga and 5-berth Hi5, plus the X-Wagon SUV and an older Ford Falcon station wagon, both supplied with a tent. The Hitop and Budgie are manual and the rest automatic. None has a toilet or shower.
Every model is available from all six depots. One-way hires need a minimum of 10 to 35 days depending on the route, East Coast hires over 28 days have no one-way fee, and Tasmania and Kangaroo Island need permission first.
Depot addresses
Opening hours
Offices open 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, and close on Sundays and public holidays. Pick-ups run until 4pm on weekdays and noon on Saturdays. Melbourne opens on weekdays only from June to August, and Darwin closes from 18 December to 14 January. There are no airport shuttles.
Vehicles
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hitop
Manual high-roof Toyota Hiace with a double and a single bed, fridge, microwave, gas stove and sink.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Kuga
Automatic high-roof Toyota Hiace with standing height, double plus single bed, fridge and microwave.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hi5
Five-seat automatic Hiace with upper and lower double beds, rear kitchen and rooftop solar.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Chubby
Compact low-roof Hiace for two with a large bed, ice box, portable gas cooker and sink.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Budgie
Cheapest two-berth: older manual low-roof Hiace with a double bed, ice box and gas cooker.
Day layout
Night layout
SUV
Travellers Autobarn X-Wagon
Five-seat Nissan X-Trail SUV supplied with a two-person tent, gas cooker, esky, table and chairs.
Day layout
Night layout
Travellers Autobarn campervan hire in New Zealand
In New Zealand Travellers Autobarn rents the Chubby, Hitop, Kuga and Hi5 campervans, all automatic, plus a Toyota Estima station wagon. The campervans have fresh and grey water tanks and are certified self-contained when you take the NZ$50 portable toilet at pick-up.
One-way hires between Auckland and Christchurch are allowed, with the fee shown in your quote.
Depot addresses
Opening hours
Offices open 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays, and close on Sundays and public holidays. From June to August both branches open on weekdays only. Auckland is in Wiri and Christchurch in Burnside, both a short taxi or Uber ride from the airport.
Vehicles
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Chubby
Automatic low-roof Hiace for two with ice box, sink and water tanks; self-contained with the NZ$50 portable toilet.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hitop
Automatic high-roof Hiace with double plus single bed, fridge and microwave; self-contained with the NZ$50 portable toilet.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Kuga
Newer-fitted high-roof Hiace with solar, fridge and microwave; self-contained with the NZ$50 portable toilet.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hi5
Five-seat family Hiace with two double beds, rear kitchen and solar; self-contained with the NZ$50 portable toilet.
Day layout
Night layout
Station wagon
Travellers Autobarn Station Wagon
Seven-seat Toyota Estima people mover with an optional tent and cooking kit; no mattress supplied.
Day layout
Night layout
Travellers Autobarn campervan rental in the USA
In the USA Travellers Autobarn rents converted Chevrolet Express and Ford Transit vans: the Chubby, Hitop, Kuga, the Beeva with a built-in heater and the 5-berth Hi5, plus a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. Drivers must be 21 or over, miles are unlimited, and up to two pets can travel in the Kuga and Hitop for US$150.
One-way hires between Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco are allowed, with no one-way fee on rentals over 28 days. Canada needs consent and a US$750 fee, Mexico and Alaska are not allowed, and Death Valley is off limits from May to September.
Depot addresses
1997 W Winton Avenue, Hayward, CA 94545
In Hayward; out-of-hours pick-up can be arranged
Opening hours
Offices open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and close on Sundays and public holidays. The Los Angeles depot is in Inglewood near LAX, and the San Francisco depot is in Hayward in the East Bay, the only one with out-of-hours pick-up.
Vehicles
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Kuga
High-roof Chevrolet Express with double plus single bed, fridge, microwave and solar; pets allowed.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hitop
Older high-roof Chevrolet Express with the Kuga layout but no solar; pets allowed.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Hi5
Newest US model: five-seat Ford Transit with two double beds, two fridges and solar.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Beeva
Two-berth Ford Transit with fridge, sink, solar and a fuel-fired heater that needs no hook-up.
Day layout
Night layout
Campervan
Travellers Autobarn Chubby
Low-roof Chevrolet Express for two with electric ice box, gas cooker, sink and solar.
Day layout
Night layout
Minivan
Travellers Autobarn MiniVan
Five-seat Dodge Grand Caravan with optional tent, kitchen kit and mattress hire.
Day layout
Night layout
Vehicle specs, floor plans, photos, depot addresses, opening hours and fees come from Travellers Autobarn and can change at any time. Please confirm the details when you book.
Current deals
Pros, cons and good to know
Pros
- Drivers aged 18 to 80 in Australia and New Zealand, with no young driver fee
- Unlimited kilometres in all three countries
- The AU$3,500 bond is held on your card, not charged
- Cheap 2-berth vans and station wagons that come with a tent
- No one-way fee on Australian East Coast and US hires over 28 days
- New Zealand campervans are self-contained when you take the NZ$50 portable toilet
Cons
- Older vehicles, many of them 2009 to 2014 Toyota Hiaces, and no model has a shower
- Branches close on Sundays and public holidays, with short Saturday hours
- No airport shuttles in any country
- The Australian Hitop and Budgie are manual only
Good to know
- Driver age: 18 to 80 in Australia and New Zealand, 21 or over in the USA, with no young driver fee
- Licence: full licence; non-English licences need an International Driving Permit or an approved translation
- Bond: AU$3,500 or NZ$3,500 held on a credit card for about 14 days; Protection Plus from $35 a day cuts it to $0
- Pets: not allowed in Australia or New Zealand; up to two in the US Kuga and Hitop for US$150
- Roads: sealed roads only, and Tasmania and Kangaroo Island need permission first
Compare prices and book
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a Travellers Autobarn campervan at 18?
Yes, in Australia and New Zealand every driver can be 18 to 80, with no young driver surcharge, which few campervan companies allow. In the USA the minimum age is 21, again with no young driver fee.
Where are Travellers Autobarn's depots?
In Australia it has depots in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin and Perth. In New Zealand it has Auckland and Christchurch, and in the USA Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. All are near the airport but none runs a shuttle.
How much is the Travellers Autobarn bond?
AU$3,500 in Australia and NZ$3,500 in New Zealand with the included cover. It is held on a Visa or Mastercard credit card for about 14 days rather than charged. Protection Plus, from $35 a day for campervans, cuts the bond to $0.
Does Travellers Autobarn include unlimited kilometres?
Yes, every vehicle in all three countries includes unlimited kilometres, or unlimited miles in the USA.
Can I do a one-way hire with Travellers Autobarn?
Yes, between the six Australian depots, between Auckland and Christchurch, and between the three US depots. The fee depends on the route and season and is shown in your quote. Australian East Coast hires and US rentals over 28 days have no one-way fee.
What is the difference between the Kuga and the Hitop?
They share the same high-roof body and bed layout. In Australia the Hitop is manual with an older fit-out and the Kuga is automatic with a newer one. In New Zealand both are automatic and the Kuga adds solar, and in the USA both are Chevrolet vans with the Kuga the newer one.
Do Travellers Autobarn campervans have a toilet or shower?
None has a shower. In New Zealand the campervans can carry a portable toilet for NZ$50, which also makes them certified self-contained. Australian and US vans have no toilet.
Can I freedom camp in New Zealand with Travellers Autobarn?
The Chubby, Hitop, Kuga and Hi5 are certified self-contained in New Zealand, but only if you take the NZ$50 portable toilet at pick-up. The station wagon is not self-contained, and local bylaws still apply.
Is Travellers Autobarn good for backpackers?
It was set up to sell cars to backpackers and still targets budget travellers, with hire from 18, cheap older vans, wagons with tents and relocation deals from $1 a day. Expect older, well-used vehicles.
Can I take my dog in a Travellers Autobarn van?
Not in Australia or New Zealand, where only registered guide dogs are allowed. In the USA up to two pets can travel in the Kuga and Hitop for US$150 per rental.
Can I take a Travellers Autobarn van to Canada or Mexico?
US vans can enter Canada with consent and a US$750 fee, but never Mexico or Alaska, and Death Valley is off limits from May to September. In Australia, Tasmania and Kangaroo Island need written permission first.
Can I buy a van instead of renting?
In Australia, yes. The sales arm sells cars and campervans with a guaranteed buyback of 40% of the price within 6 months or 30% within 12 months, though renting usually suits shorter trips.