First time Australia - road trip and camping

Im not sure that you will save money by renting a 4x4 Camper or a 4x4 with roof tent. They are not cheap, you will travel in high season, you are late booking (it wont be easy to find availability) and there will probably be a hefty oneway fee if you want to pick up the vehicle in Melbourne and return it in Alice Springs. It will be easier and cheaper to rent a normal car and bring a tent and camp (and you dont really need a 4x4 vehicle).

Or - if you like the idea of a campervan - rather go for a "normal" (not 4x4) one. Again, cheaper and easier to find availability. Have a look at Mighty, Hippie Campers and Travellers Autobarn.

If you want a 4x4, have a look at Apollo, Britz and Drive Beyond.

Many thanks!!
The other option is to rent a "normal" car and bring our camping stuff! the only problem is the fridge....

Welcome to the forum.

I'm planning my first road trip to Australia. We have 40 days and I decide to spend 10 days in Western Australia, 15 days in the center (Melbourne to Alice springs) and 10 days in Queensland (from Cairns to Brisbane)

Be aware that the 40 days from 28 December to 6 February is potentially the worst time to undertake a holiday in most of WA, the Centre, and Queensland north of Fraser Island.

It will be very hot, and in the tropics both hot and wet. And everywhere else in southern areas (Margaret River in WA, Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney to Hervey Bay), will be packed with people on summer holidays.

I agree totally with Nathalie ... renting a simple sedan and buy some basic gear. We've done many road-trips ... we just take an Esky (insulated cool box) and freeze bottles of water each night. Don't really need a fridge.

Hiring a 4X4 is very expensive. For the short period of time you will be travelling there is no need to hire a 4X4. All the main sites are easily accessible by a 2WD car or campervan.

I'm not sure of driving Melbourne to Alice Springs. It's over 2000 kms and will take you 5 days of just driving. You will be doing it when it's very hot. And really for much of the way there really isn't much to see.

And alternative would be to fly to Melbourne and hire a car to do the Great Ocean Road and then fly Melbourne to Alice Springs and hire a car for say 5 days to go to Uluru etc. This would give you the outback experience.

Once again Cairns to Brisbane is a long way (1700 kms), really there's not much to see and do and you will be doing it in the summer when it is hot and humid.

Sorry to dampen your dreams however in Australia the distances are very long and you are doing it in summer when it is very hot in northern and central Australian. Focus on you regions of interest, see them more in-depth and save the time driving long distances.

Camping with a hire car is a viable option. Caravan parks will generally have a very well set up "camp kitchen" where you can do all your cooking and washing up. You can by the basic camping gear quite cheaply at camping stores.

Yes ... all habby says is true.

If you're in Australia from 28 Dec - 6 Feb (and that's fixed), we can offer a better set of options if you wish.

Thanks you all for your advice!!!!
Many the rent of a "normal car" in the best and cheapest option!!!
I can look also at the caravan rental

My idea of the road-trip for the first part of the holiday is the follow:

1 - Melbourne
2 - Melbourne - Port CAmpbell (great ocean road)
3 - Port Campbell - Grampians NP
4 - Halls Gap - Cape Jervis - Kangoroo Island
5 - Kangooro Island
6 - Kangooro Island - Adelaide
7 - Adelaide - Flinder Ranger Park or Quorn
8 - Flinder Ranger Park - Copper Pedy
9 - Copper Pedy - Uluru NP
10 - Red center
11 - Red center
12 - Red center
13 - Alice Spring and flight to Perth

What do you think?

I can look also at the caravan rental

Not feasible - very few places rent caravans and you need a suitable car to tow a caravan. Hire car companies wouldn't be set up to tow a caravan (e.g. no tow bar) and they wouldn't allow you to do it anyway.

What do you think?

It's barely feasible, especially in summer. For example from the Flinders Ranges you need to go back to Port Augusta to go to Coober Pedy. You need a 4WD to go via Maree and the Oodnadatta Track.

You will spend all your time driving with no time to stop and look around. In the outback you don't drive from early evening, night time and dawn - you'll hit animals (kangaroos, cattle, sheep, emus, goats etc.) on the road.

Once again, sorry to smash the dreams but it's all quite impractical and a bit silly really.

I agree with #7, you will spend a lot of time on the road and wont have a lot of time to actual do and visit places. What I would suggest is to rent a car from Melbourne to Adelaide (this part of the itinerary is fine) and add 1-2 days for thst part. Fly from Adelaide to Ayers Rock on day 8, pick-up another car there and spend some time in the Red Centre before flying to Perth on day 13.

Or if you want to do the trip between Adelaide and Uluru, consider joining a tour, like whttp://www.groovygrape.com.au/our-tours/tours/rock-patrol. It will still mean long hours on the road, but at least you wont have to drive yourself.

easy drive. the highway is sealed. however do get yourselves hats with fly netting , you will surely need them if camping or eating outside. have own drinking water? u can never have too much.. also 20ltres of spare fuel ill not be wasted as fue lis much more costly and stations very far distance, between. be prepared to find huge amount of red dust in the vehicle. dismiss drive before 8 am and after 5pm . to minimise meeting, roos or other livestock.if rental get the GLASS ins as well. cracked windscreen can be costly. roadside assistance package might come in handy, . or simply take a chance. this advice, is from one who has done that and more. did not need 4wd. as most places you want to visit is very well travelled and upgraded. but if not 4wd your restricted ? no off sealed road drive allowed ins wise.