Why a Campervan Is Perfect for Christmas & New Year in Australia

Christmas and New Year in Australia mean long summer days, beaches, BBQs and plenty of time outdoors. But travelling during the holiday season can also mean expensive accommodation, busy destinations and limited availability.

That’s where a Christmas campervan road trip can make things much easier. Instead of booking accommodation in every destination, you have your bed, kitchen and transport with you wherever you go.

Here are some of the reasons why a campervan could be the perfect way to spend Christmas and New Year in Australia.

Avoid Expensive Holiday Accommodation

Christmas and New Year are one of the busiest times of year for travel in Australia. Hotels, apartments and holiday rentals in popular destinations can become expensive, especially around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

With a campervan, you have your accommodation with you. You can stay at campsites and holiday parks outside the busiest areas, while still visiting the places you want to see.

You don’t necessarily need to stay right in the centre of a city or popular beach town. Park your campervan somewhere nearby and use public transport, walk or take an Uber into the action.

This can give you the best of both worlds: a place to sleep without paying peak-season prices for a hotel in the middle of everything.

Take Your Accommodation With You

One of the biggest advantages of travelling by campervan is the flexibility.

Want to spend a few extra days at the beach? You can. Found a beautiful campsite you didn’t expect? Stay another night. Changed your plans because of the weather? Simply keep driving.

You don’t have to check in and out of different hotels every few days. Your bed, kitchen and belongings come with you.

Spend Christmas Somewhere Beautiful

Christmas in Australia is very different from a traditional winter Christmas. Instead of cold weather and snow, you could wake up next to the ocean, have breakfast outside or spend Christmas Day swimming and exploring.

Popular destinations such as Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Margaret River and the Great Ocean Road are all great options for a summer road trip.

You can also mix your Christmas camping experience with some of the more traditional celebrations. Book a nice restaurant for Christmas lunch or dinner, explore a local town or spend the day at a popular beach before heading back to your campsite.

Just remember that popular destinations and campsites can get very busy over the Christmas period, so planning ahead is important.

Cook Your Own Christmas Meals

Having a kitchen with you is another big advantage of a campervan road trip.

You can pick up fresh food along the way and prepare your own meals rather than eating out for every meal. Many campervans come with cooking facilities, making it easy to make breakfast, lunch and dinner wherever you are staying.

And there’s something pretty special about having a Christmas BBQ outdoors with your travel companions.

Of course, you don’t have to cook every meal yourself. You can still go out for dinner, grab a coffee or treat yourself to a nice Christmas meal. Having your campervan simply gives you another option.

Enjoy the Big New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Think you need to stay in the city to enjoy Australia’s famous New Year’s Eve celebrations? Not necessarily.

You can park your campervan outside the busiest and most expensive areas and head into the city for the evening using public transport, an Uber or even walking if you’re close enough.

That means you can still enjoy the big fireworks, go out for dinner, have drinks with friends or join a New Year’s Eve event, without paying for a premium city-centre hotel just to have somewhere to sleep afterwards.

Once the celebrations are over, you can head back to your campervan and wake up somewhere completely different the next morning.

Explore More of Australia

The Christmas and New Year break is a great opportunity for a longer Australian road trip.

Instead of flying between destinations, you can turn the journey itself into part of your holiday. Stop at beaches, national parks, small towns, viewpoints and local attractions along the way.

And because you don’t need to return to the same accommodation every night, you can create a route that suits your plans.

Don’t Leave It Too Late to Book

Christmas and New Year are one of the busiest periods for campervan travel in Australia. Popular campervans, campsites and holiday parks can book out well in advance.

If you’re planning a Christmas road trip in Australia, it’s a good idea to book your campervan early. This gives you more choice when it comes to vehicle type, pick-up location and travel dates.

It’s also worth booking campsites in advance if you’re travelling to particularly popular destinations around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Ready for a Christmas Road Trip?

If you’re dreaming of spending Christmas on the road, a campervan can give you the freedom to explore Australia at your own pace, with your accommodation and kitchen travelling with you.

You don’t have to choose between camping and experiencing the big celebrations. Stay outside the busiest areas, travel into town when you want to, enjoy a restaurant or fireworks show, and then return to your campervan when you’re ready.

Whether you’re planning a beach holiday, a long East Coast road trip or a few weeks exploring somewhere new, Christmas and New Year can be a great time to experience Australia by campervan.

Planning your trip? Compare campervan hire options and prices with Australian Backpackers and find the right vehicle for your Australian road trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you spend Christmas in a campervan in Australia?

Absolutely. Christmas is a popular time for camping and road trips in Australia. Just make sure you book your campervan and campsites early, as popular locations can fill up quickly.

Should I book a campervan for Christmas early?

Yes. Christmas and New Year are a busy travel period, so booking early gives you more choice of campervans, travel dates and pick-up locations.

Can I still go to New Year’s Eve fireworks with a campervan?

Yes. You don’t need to stay in the city centre to enjoy the celebrations. You can park your campervan outside the busiest area and travel in by public transport, Uber or on foot. This can also help you avoid expensive peak-season city accommodation.

Where can I go for Christmas in a campervan?

Popular options include the East Coast, Byron Bay, Queensland, the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania and Western Australia.