Last updated on September 21st, 2025
For years, I’ve been that person scrolling through YouTube, completely mesmerized by campervan build videos. You know the ones, where someone transforms a basic van into this incredible tiny home on wheels, complete with fold-out beds, mini kitchens, and clever storage solutions that would make Marie Kondo weep with joy. I’d watch these videos religiously, bookmarking dozens of them, but always wondered: “Is van life actually for me, or am I just romanticizing it from behind my computer screen?”
Well, after countless hours of research and admittedly too much procrastination, my partner and I finally decided to find out. This time, instead of just dreaming about it, we were going to live it. For this adventure, we chose to go with campervan hire through Let’s Go Motorhomes, and honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the world of campervan rental.
Having already explored much of Australia’s east coast in previous trips, we wanted to tackle something completely new. The plan was ambitious but straightforward: start in Perth, hug the southern coastline, and finish in Adelaide. Thirty-one nights of pure freedom, with no hotels booked and no rigid itinerary to follow. Just us, the open road, and whatever adventures awaited along the way.
Pro tip: Before any big trip like this, I always recommend checking out these 100 travel hacks that actually work to make your journey smoother. Also, don’t forget travel insurance – I use SafetyWing for international coverage and SquareMouth to compare policies.
Finding the Best Campervan for Our Adventure
Let me introduce you to what turned out to be the best campervan for our journey: a Jayco JRV Campervan built on a Renault Master base. When the folks at Let’s Go Motorhomes handed us the keys, I have to admit we both felt a mix of excitement and sheer terror. This wasn’t just any campervan rental – this was going to be our bedroom, kitchen, office, and transportation all rolled into one.
The first thing that struck us about this campervan was how thoughtfully designed everything was. The bathroom might have been compact, but it had everything needed – a proper campervan shower, toilet, and even a decent-sized mirror for those morning routines. The sleeping and living area converted seamlessly from a comfortable seating area during the day to a proper bed at night. It’s the kind of engineering that makes you appreciate how much thought goes into maximizing every square inch.
Storage was surprisingly ample, we managed to fit everything needed without feeling cramped. The solar charging system was brilliant – it powered the fridge and provided DC outlets so we could keep our devices charged even when completely off-grid. There’s something incredibly satisfying about running your entire mobile home setup purely on sunshine.
What we really appreciated was that this campervan rental wasn’t covered in massive logos or branding. This might seem like a small detail, but it made a huge difference in helping us blend in at various camping spots and beach towns. We weren’t the obvious “tourists in a rental van” – we were just another couple exploring Australia at our own pace.
The practical touches were spot-on too. Most windows had proper blinds that actually worked well for privacy (though I’ll mention some exceptions later), and the included camping chairs and table meant we could set up a proper outdoor living space wherever we stopped. One essential item we brought that proved invaluable for late-night camp setups was these rechargeable headlamps – absolute game-changers for hands-free lighting.
The Trip: 31 Nights of Coastal Bliss
I’m not going to sugarcoat this – the first day was absolutely brutal. I’d taken a red-eye flight the night before, barely slept, and was running on nothing but coffee and adrenaline when we picked up our campervan rental in Perth. Everything that could go wrong with learning a new system seemed to go wrong. We couldn’t figure out how to work the water system properly, the electrical setup was confusing, and I was second-guessing our entire decision to do this trip.
But here’s the thing about travel (and life, really) – sometimes you just need one good night’s sleep to completely change your perspective. After that first rough night, we woke up refreshed, spent the day properly provisioning ourselves with supplies (including a GlobalYo eSIM for reliable internet connectivity), and took the time to actually understand how our temporary home worked. It was like switching from chaos mode to cruise control.
We spent a couple of days getting our bearings around Perth, then made our way south. The decision to stick to the coast for the entire journey turned out to be absolutely perfect. I mean, how can you not fall in love with Australia’s endless string of charming beach towns, each with its own character and incredibly friendly locals?
What struck me most was how the geography gradually shifted as we made our way east toward Adelaide. The coastline changed, the vegetation evolved, and even the quality of light seemed different in each region. It was like watching Australia paint itself in slow motion over the course of a month.
Here’s something we’re particularly proud of: we managed to find free campervan sites every single night of the trip. Not a single paid campground or caravan park. Now, before anyone takes this as advice, let me be clear – this isn’t always legal, and you need to do your research about where free camping is actually permitted. We were careful to follow local regulations and always left our spots better than we found them. But the freedom of being completely self-sufficient, of waking up to new views every morning without having made a reservation, was intoxicating.
The Reality Check: It’s Not All Instagram Perfect
Let’s talk about the things the YouTube videos don’t always mention. Unless you’re plugged into mains power, you can’t use the standard outlets inside the campervan. This meant buying a separate DC to AC converter to power our electronics when we were off-grid. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely an additional expense and piece of equipment to manage.
Some windows only had suction cup covers instead of proper curtains, and honestly, these didn’t work particularly well. Privacy was sometimes an issue, especially when parking in more populated areas.
Here’s something nobody warns you about: when you’re sleeping in a campervan and your partner moves, the entire vehicle rocks. It’s like being on a very gentle boat, except you’re trying to sleep and every movement gets amplified. We had okay sleep most nights, but only a handful of nights where we both slept really well.
The campervan also ran cold at night due to less insulation than you’d have in traditional accommodation. We adapted by bringing better sleeping gear, but it’s worth noting if you’re someone who gets cold easily.
We also discovered a leak in the campervan plumbing system, which was frustrating at first. However, when I called the Let’s Go Motorhomes support team, they responded incredibly quickly and took our concerns seriously. They helped us troubleshoot a temporary solution over the phone, and their responsiveness really impressed us. It’s the kind of customer service that makes you feel supported even when you’re hundreds of kilometers from the nearest city.
The Verdict: Would I Do It Again?
After 31 nights of living, eating, and sleeping in our campervan rental, I can honestly say this experience completely opened our eyes to what’s possible when you choose freedom over convenience. There’s something magical about being able to move effortlessly from one beautiful location to another, staying exactly as long as you want and leaving when you’re ready for something new.
Australia revealed itself to us slowly and intimately in a way that would have been impossible with traditional accommodation. We discovered hidden beach spots, had conversations with locals in tiny towns, and experienced the country’s incredible diversity at our own pace.
The 31 nights flew by because, despite the challenges I’ve mentioned, we genuinely had an amazing time. Australia’s natural beauty combined with the quality of the campervan rental from Let’s Go Motorhomes made for an unforgettable adventure.
My overall feeling? We absolutely love van life for trips like this – 3-4 weeks of exploration and adventure. But we’ve also realized we wouldn’t want to live this way full-time. There’s something to be said for having a proper base and reliable internet. But for a holiday? For the freedom to chase sunsets and wake up somewhere new every morning? We’re completely sold.
We’re already planning our next campervan hire adventure, and we’ll definitely be checking in with Let’s Go Motorhomes again. You can follow their latest adventures and tips on Instagram and Facebook – they’re always sharing great inspiration for future trips.
If you’ve been watching those van life videos like we used to, wondering if it’s really for you, our advice is simple: stop wondering and start planning. It might not be perfect, but it’s pretty close to magic. And if you’re interested in creating content about your travels, check out our guide on blogging SEO to share your adventures with the world.
