Frequently Asked Questions
Remember we are always here to help, so if you can't find the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us and we will answer any of your questions and give you all the help and advice you need for FREE to make your trip the most memorable holiday in Australia!
Should I buy or rent a campervan?
This is probably the joint number one question our customers ask us when they are looking for an adventure holiday in Australia. Therefore we have written a simple guide which explains when it is more suitable to buy a campervan and when it is actually better to rent one in terms of value for your money.
Click here to go to our RENT Vs BUY A CAMPERVAN PAGE for more information
FOLLOW THIS SIMPLE RULE FOR BUYING VS. RENTING A CAMPERVAN
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We suggest if you are travelling for 12 WEEKS OR LESS - then the best bet is to RENT a campervan. |
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We suggest if your trip is 12 WEEKS OR MORE - then it can make more economical sense to BUY a campervan & then if you wish use our guaranteed buy back option for a trouble free holiday. |
How old do you have to be to drive a campervan or stationwagon?
If you are over the age of 20 with a valid full drivers licence that is all we need for you to hire a station wagon or campervan in Australia. If you are an overseas traveller with a driving licence written in a language other than English, it's worth getting an international licence or a translation of your licence just in case you are stopped by the police.
My english is not very good; can I contact you in a different language?
At Travel Wheels we will always try our best to answer any of your questions in your own language if possible. We do have a number of staff, who can understand and write some foreign languages, so drop us an email and we will do our best to communicate in your own language. Currently we can read and respond to emails in German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch as long as you don't mind the odd grammatical error.
Should I buy or rent a station wagon?
This is our joint number one question our customers ask us when they are looking for information about travelling around Australia. The simple answer is that a Travel Wheels station wagon is the most cost effective way to explore Australia on a budget. They are a great way for 3-5 people to explore Australia in comfort and have a great time.
If you are not sure if you should BUY or RENT one, then we have written a simple guide which explains when it's better to buy a station wagon and when it's actually better to rent one in terms of value for your money. Click here to go to our RENT Vs BUY A STATION WAGON PAGE for more information
FOLLOW THIS SIMPLE RULE FOR BUYING VS. RENTING A STATION WAGON
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If you are travelling for 8 WEEKS OR LESS - then the best bet is to RENT a station wagon. |
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If your trip is 10 WEEKS OR MORE - then it's better to BUY a stationwagon & use our guaranteed buy back option. |
Can you fit a baby seat to your vehicles?
All our vehicles have been tested by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) and they have the approved baby seat anchor points within each vehicle. We do not supply a baby seat, but we can give you a choice of local suppliers and you can choice which one suits your needs.
Do you offer unlimited kms on your vehicles?
Yes that is correct, we offer unlimited km's on the east coast of Australia on our campervans and station wagons. This means you can drive as many kilometres you want between Adelaide and just north of Cairns. You will not be charged for the mileage you do during your holiday on these routes, if you require to go to Western Australia or the Northern Territories for example, then we have to agree this before your travels as some of the distances are so great, we do not want you to just have a driving holiday day after day, we want you to have fun in the sun!
How many people can travel and sleep in a campervan?
We have a fleet of Toyota Hiace 3 berth campervans which are very reliable and economical to run. They can comfortably travel with three adults and it will sleep two adults in a double bed (1.85m x 1.50m) and a top bunk single bed which is 1.95m by 1.2m
Do we offer one way rentals?
We are extremely flexible here at Travel Wheels, and we offer a wide range of one way rentals in Australia so that you can have the maximum amount of time on the road. You can choose to either pick up or return your vehicle in either, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. We also do some specials on rentals in Perth and Broome and Darwin as well, so give us a call!
Do we offer 24 hour Australia wide breakdown service to our customers?
YES - 24 HOUR BREAKDOWN SERVICE - NRMA (National Roads & Motorists Association)
At Travel Wheels, all vehicles come with 24 hour Australia Wide Breakdown Service included in the rental price. This service is provided by the NRMA, which is the New South Wales Automobile Association. Any problems when you are on the road, just call us on our FREEPHONE number (1800 289 222).
What is the minimum amount of days for hiring a campervan?
To keep costs down so that we can pass on the savings to you, our minimum rental period is 21 days for a campervan and 14 days for a station wagon. We do occasionally have some specials, so if you did want a shorter trip it always worth calling us and seeing if we have any specials on when you want to travel. At Travel Wheels we are very flexible and will always try to accommodate you if you want to extend your adventure, all you have to do is call the FREEPHONE number ( 1800 289 222) and if the camper is still available, we will extend the hire period for you without any problems.
What is the maximum amount of days for hiring a campervan?
It really is up to you, we have had customers rent campervans for us for over 6 months and a number who have rented a campervan for over a year. Obviously the longer your hire the campervan, the cheaper the daily rental becomes. If you do want to extend your trip, just give us a call and we will sort out all the paperwork whilst you enjoy your holiday.
If you are thinking of an extended trip, at Travel Wheels we are specialist at long term hire and we offer a GUARANTEED BUY BACK offer which is especially appealing to customer for example who want to escape the winter in the northern hemisphere and want to spend 4-6 months in Australia. We have a number of satisfied customers, many who are either semi-retired or retired who come back to us year after year when they want to escape the harsh northern hemisphere winters.
This is also a popular option for a number of New Zealanders and we have some very competitive rates and some brilliant deals especially for those travellers from New Zealand who want to escape the New Zealand winters and get a few months of sunshine before returning home.
Do I need a special licence to drive in Australia?
You may use your full valid driving licence from your homeland, however if it is not written in English, you may need a translated version in case you are stopped by the police. Alternatively you may use a valid international driver's licence, and this means you do not need to translate your original driving licence.
What type of fuel do your vehicles run on?
The majority of our campervans and station wagons use ULEADED PETROL. When you pick up the vehicle the fuel tank will be empty and when you return the vehicle from your fantastic holiday you can leave it empty as well for your convenience. Remember that fuel economy is always dependent upon a number of varying factors and these include how the vehicle is driven, the weather conditions and the maintenance of correct tyre pressures.
What happens if I have an accident?
You simple call our FREEPHONE number and we will be able to talk you through what happens next and how we can get your back on the road as soon as possible. If you do have an accident you will be charged an insurance excess which is agreed before you travels and is written in the Rental Agreement. We have an Insurance Excess Page which explains all the details in simple English, and if you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.
Onboard gas bottle for the twin gas cooker
When you pick up your campervan the gas bottle will be filled up for you so that you are ready to hit the road. If you need to refill the bottle, you can stop at most garages and campsites and they will fill it up for you on your behalf. When returning the campervan can you make sure you have refilled the gas bottle please.
Once we have finished our holiday - what do we do next?
It's a very simple process, all your do is to follow the directions on your printed drop off point sheet and make sure the fuel tank is empty and that you have refilled the cooking gas bottle. All we ask is that you sweep the van clean, and leave it tidy, the linen and the sleeping bags do not have to be laundered as they will be washed and replaced before the campervan is rented again.
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Do we charge you a cleaning fee?
Remember we operate a no hidden fees policy, so we do not charge you a cleaning fee. However in order to keep our prices competitive, we do ask you to sweep out the vehicle and to wash up any dirty cutlery and crockery before returning the campervan. If however the campervan has been left extremely dirty and not kept clean we may have to charge a cleaning fee to cover the extra time to prepare and clean the vehicle.
How much does petrol cost?
Petrol in Australia is cheaper than the price in mainland Europe. Currently unleaded fuel is approximately $1.70 per litre in built up areas such as the towns and the cities. In remote areas petrol prices are slightly high, but it's still good value when compared to most European prices.
For the latest fuel prices in Australia, look at www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/FuelPrices/
How many batteries does the campervan have?
All our campervans have a dual battery system which means one battery is solely for the engine and the second battery is to just power the fridge, water pump and the internal 12volt lights in the back of the campervan. The second battery will last approximately 12 to 15 hours when fully charged, so you can camp at night with the lights on and know they will not go out or run down.
Both batteries will recharge from the engine once you are back on the road. NOTE - if you do intend to stop in one location for a couple of days, you will need to run the engine, i.e. go for a drive to top up the energy level of each battery for your comfort. However if you are at a camping site, then you can use the power extension lead and then the fridge, water pump and the internal lights will take the power from the mains, and therefore you will not need to run the engine.
How do I pay for my campervan or station wagon rental?
It's really easy, at Travel Wheels will accept cash in Australian dollars and or travellers cheques and credit cards.
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Do I need to wash the linen when I return the campervan?
At Travel Wheels, we take care of all this for you. We will wash and dry clean all the bed linen, pillows and sleeping bags to ensure they are clean for each customer.
Where can we camp at night?
The great thing about Australia is that there are so many wonderful places you can park for FREE with amazing views! However there are some simple rules and regulations which must be followed.
- ROADSIDE CAMPING
Local Council laws prohibit camping on the side of the road in towns and in cities. However, outside of towns, cities and in country areas or by the beach it is generally permitted as long as there are no explicit signs saying no camping or overnight stopping.
- NATIONAL PARKS
Australia has some amazing National Parks and most have special areas set aside for camping. Most of these sites have showers, toilets, barbecues and picnic areas for your comfort. At Travel Wheels we would recommend staying at National Parks as they are wonderful places and also very beautiful and peaceful locations to stay overnight. One tip for people requiring a powered site, many of the National Parks only have non-powered sites in general, so it's worth checking ahead if you do need one.
- CARAVAN PARKS
At Travel Wheels we definitely recommend staying in a caravan park. Australia has loads of them and many have fantastic facilities! They do not just offer toilets, and showers, but often they have lots of sporting facilities, or they are by beaches and most have fantastic swimming pools, so get ready to dive in! If you are traveling in the school holidays you may want to book ahead, but apart from this time, you will have plenty of space to enjoy yourself. Just about every campsite offers powered sites, so that you can change all your electrical goods and check your emails and send photos back home!
At Travel Wheels campervans and station wagons we are always here to help you answer any of your questions you may have. If you do have a question that is not on this list, then feel free to contact us and we will be more than willing to help and give you all the advice you need for FREE!
We look forward to hearing from you soon and having an adventure with Travel Wheels campervans and station wagons, the best place for a great deal!
Please click here to contact us now!
