2 Berth Hi Top
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- No
- Transmission
- Automatic
Hire your motorhome in Australia from AUD 53/day
Cruisin Motorhomes review
A family-run Australian rental company with a motorhome-led range.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Dennis and Tina Lucas founded Cruisin Motorhomes in Hobart in 1999 after a family RV trip in the United States. The business began with three Winnebago vehicles and remains an Australian family company led by its founders. Its operations now extend from Tasmania to mainland Australia, with branches on the east coast and in Perth.
Cruisin Motorhomes is the rental brand operated by Cruisin Motorhomes Pty Ltd. GoCheap Campervans is a separate budget brand within the same business, while Cruisin RV Sales handles vehicle sales, mainly from the former rental fleet. Those activities serve different customers; GoCheap's vehicle categories are separate from the Cruisin range.
Our verdict
Editorial review
Cruisin's offer puts the living side of a motorhome trip first: a furnished vehicle, cooking equipment and enough choice to decide how much space to take. The main trade-off is financial. Keeping the standard liability option ties up a substantial amount on a credit card; paying for a reduction package changes that balance but still leaves exclusions. Choosing the vehicle and choosing the protection package deserve equal attention.
Good points
- Meaningful choice for two people.The smaller end of the range offers three distinct arrangements: a campervan without a bathroom, one with a bathroom and a convertible bed, and one with a bathroom and a fixed bed. Two-person rentals need not move into a larger motorhome simply to get a toilet and shower.
- Helpful introductions to the vehicle.Customer accounts covering several Australian depots repeatedly praise staff explanations and assistance at handover. Pre-arrival check-in and vehicle videos also let renters start learning the controls before collecting the keys.
Things to consider
- The standard bond is charged to the card.Cruisin takes AUD 5,000 under its standard option, rather than placing a temporary hold. A qualifying refund can take up to 14 business days, so the effect on available credit extends beyond the rental itself.
- Larger families face a restraint limit.Four- and six-berth vehicles allow a maximum of two approved child restraints. Cruisin does not accept groups with three or more children under seven, even when the vehicle has enough seats and sleeping places for the whole party.
- Support cannot always prevent lost holiday time.Some customer accounts describe equipment problems or breakdowns followed by delays in getting a replacement. Other renters praise the help they received during an incident. These experiences show that a successful resolution can still involve disruption; a replacement vehicle depends on availability.
Vehicle categories
Cruisin Motorhomes fleet
2 Berth Rover
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
2 Berth Sandpiper
Panel van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
4 Berth Adventurer
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
4 Berth Seeker
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
6 Berth Discovery
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 6
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
4 Berth Deluxe
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
6 Berth Deluxe
Overcab motorhome
- Seats
- 6
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
The Cruisin fleet spans high-roof campervans for two and overcab motorhomes for four or six, all with automatic transmission and diesel engines.
The Hi Top and Rover are both approximately 5.9 m long and turn their rear dining area into a double bed. The Rover adds a toilet and shower without a step up in vehicle length. At approximately 6.2 m, the Sandpiper has a fixed rear double bed and front seats that swivel into the living area. It also allows internal access between the cab and living space, which the Hi Top and Rover do not. These are useful differences for two people deciding how much daily bed-making and movement around the vehicle they want.
The four- and six-berth motorhomes are approximately 7.2–7.4 m long. They add an awning and a larger kitchen, with three gas burners, an electric hotplate, a grill and a larger fridge/freezer. In the Adventurer, the rear dining area converts into a bed alongside the fixed overcab bed. The Discovery sleeps six across an overcab double and two convertible doubles. Sleeping capacity throughout the range is based on shared double beds, rather than a separate bed for every person.
Standard categories have a stated age range of zero to four years; the four- and six-berth Deluxe categories narrow that to zero to two years. Rentals are booked by category, and Cruisin may supply the nearest available substitute. The category choice therefore establishes the kind of vehicle, rather than a particular pictured unit or chassis.
Locations
Cruisin Motorhomes pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
Australia
-
Hobart 3 Runway Place, Cambridge TAS 7170
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Melbourne 25–27 Catalina Drive, Tullamarine VIC 3043
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Sydney 10 Wurrook Circuit, Caringbah NSW 2229
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Brisbane 42 Vauxhall Street, Virginia QLD 4014
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Cairns 397–399 Sheridan Street, Cairns QLD 4870
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Perth 5 Kingscote Street, Kewdale WA 6105
Before booking
Practical facts
The policies, inclusions and charges that are specific to a Cruisin Motorhomes rental.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Rental length | Ordinary rentals start at five days in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns, or seven days in Perth. Pickup and return each count as a rental day. Holiday dates and one-way bookings can require longer rentals. Relocations instead have a maximum duration set for the route. |
| Driver eligibility | Every driver must be 21–79 and hold a full, non-provisional licence from their country of residence. Bring the original licence; a licence not in English also requires an International Driving Permit or an accredited English translation. |
| Additional drivers | Ordinary hire includes up to three registered drivers in total. Relocations charge AUD 5 per day for each additional driver. |
| Mileage | Ordinary hire includes unlimited mileage unless the offer specifies otherwise. A relocation has a distance allowance for its route, with excess distance charged at AUD 0.28 per km. |
| Security deposits | Under the standard ordinary-hire option, Cruisin charges an AUD 5,000 bond to a physical credit card. The cardholder must be present. Refund depends on the return conditions and can take up to 14 business days. The relocation bond is AUD 1,000, also charged to a physical credit card and conditionally refundable. These deposits are separate from the rental price. |
| Damage responsibility and optional cover | The standard ordinary-hire option carries an AUD 5,000 damage-responsibility figure within the applicable terms. Liability Reduction costs AUD 45 per day, capped at AUD 2,250; Maximum Cover costs AUD 55 per day, capped at AUD 2,750. Both caps represent 50 chargeable days. Compared with Liability Reduction, Maximum Cover adds expanded glass and tyre protection and protection for single-vehicle rollover, overhead and underbody damage, subject to the applicable conditions and exclusions. These options remove the standard AUD 5,000 bond and reduce liability to zero for covered damage only. Excluded damage and other contractual charges remain payable; AUD 5,000 is not an absolute ceiling for every incident. Awning damage remains excluded, including with Maximum Cover. Relocations have a separate standard liability figure of AUD 1,000, subject to their own terms and exclusions. |
| Initial gas | Ordinary hire has a prehire gas charge of AUD 25 for a two-berth campervan or AUD 35 for a four- or six-berth motorhome, unless included in Maximum Cover. The charge is per rental; unused gas is not refunded and the bottle may be returned empty. |
| Included equipment | Kitchenware, cookware, bedding and towels for the booked occupants are included, together with hoses, a power cable and basic cleaning and safety equipment. Starter consumables do not include unlimited replenishment. |
| Optional equipment | An outdoor table costs AUD 23 per rental and chairs cost AUD 16 each per rental. A table with two chairs is AUD 40 as a bundle; compatible child seats or boosters cost AUD 35 each per rental. Maximum Cover includes a table, chairs and compatible child restraints. |
| Child restraints | None of the two-berth campervans permits a child seat or booster. Four- and six-berth models accept up to two approved restraints in the permitted forward-facing rear seats. Cruisin does not accept groups with three or more children under seven. For a baby under six months, the customer must supply an Australian-approved seat for a compatible vehicle. |
| Cancellation | Cruisin's ordinary operator schedule charges nothing at 29 or more days before pickup, 25% of total rent at 28–7 days, 50% at 6–1 days and 100% on the pickup day or for a no-show. Booking-channel charges may be additional. Groups of three or more vehicles travelling together require approval and face a 100% operator cancellation charge within 28 days. |
| Changing a booking | A date, depot or category change is subject to availability and is priced at the higher of the original or current rate. Shortening a rental or choosing a cheaper category within 14 days of pickup or during the hire does not refund the unused original portion. Bookings made through an agent are changed through that agent. |
| Ordinary one-way rentals | Agreed one-way hire carries an AUD 165 charge per rental. Minimums include 10 days between Melbourne and Sydney, 14 days between Hobart and either of those cities, and 21 days between Perth and any of the other five depots. The direction and dates must be available; special periods can increase the minimum. Changing the return location without approval can incur a separate charge of up to AUD 700. |
| Airport access and pickup | Cruisin does not provide an airport shuttle or normal out-of-hours pickup. Arrange and pay for transport to the depot. The company does not provide parking for a customer's own car during the rental. |
| Weekend handovers | Mainland depots close on Sundays and at 13:00 on Saturdays; Saturday returns are due by 12:00. Approved Sunday returns may follow a separate instruction or key-box procedure between 08:00 and 15:30. That arrangement does not provide Sunday pickup or unrestricted out-of-hours return. |
| Roads | Ordinary rentals are for sealed roads, with an exception for well-maintained access of less than 12 km to a recognized campground. For relocations, that access must be less than 500 m. Neither exception permits general dirt-road or beach driving. Snow chains are not permitted. |
| Driving hours | Night driving is discouraged for ordinary rentals. For relocations, driving is prohibited between 19:00 and 06:00. |
| Electricity | The vehicles have solar panels, a service battery and a campsite power connection. Cruisin recommends a powered site every second night. Living-area heating and air conditioning, the microwave and domestic sockets require 240 V power; the solar panel does not run all those appliances independently. |
| Tasmania ferry travel | Taking an ordinary rental between the mainland and Tasmania requires a ferry booking paid for by the renter. A one-way rental does not include the vehicle crossing, passenger fares or a cabin. Use the assigned vehicle's actual dimensions when arranging the crossing. |
| Pets | Domestic pets are not accepted. |
| Smoking | Smoking is prohibited inside the vehicles. |
| Assistance during hire | Cruisin provides a 24-hour operations, breakdown and accident contact. Small repairs of up to AUD 100 including GST may qualify for reimbursement with a receipt; higher amounts need prior approval. A replacement vehicle is subject to availability. |
| Returning the vehicle | Return to the agreed depot on time, with a full fuel tank, rubbish and belongings removed, the interior and dishes cleaned as instructed, and the toilet cassette and grey-water tank emptied. An unapproved extra day on an ordinary rental can cost AUD 150 in addition to the current daily rental and cover charges. A late relocation return incurs an AUD 500 charge. |
More about the company
Explore Cruisin Motorhomes
Relocation rentals
Cruisin also offers rentals to move vehicles between depots. The company sets the route, available dates and maximum number of days, so the trip has to fit the vehicle's transfer schedule. This differs from an ordinary one-way rental, where the published duration is a minimum.
For example, the relocation schedule allows up to seven days and 3,700 km between Perth and Melbourne, or three days and 1,020 km between Sydney and Melbourne. These are route allowances, not a statement that either direction is available for particular dates. An approved extra day is charged at the current ordinary rental rate and adds 300 km.
The ordinary AUD 165 one-way charge does not apply to a relocation. Fuel or a Tasmania ferry crossing is included only when the individual offer says so. Where an offer includes the ferry, passenger and accommodation upgrades may still add costs. The separate deposit, mileage and driving restrictions above make relocation a distinct rental product, rather than simply a discounted version of an unrestricted holiday.
Quick answers
Cruisin Motorhomes FAQ
Do all Cruisin vehicles have a toilet and shower?
No. The 2 Berth Hi Top has neither. The Rover and Sandpiper campervans have both, as do the four- and six-berth motorhomes. A two-person booking can therefore include an onboard bathroom without selecting a vehicle with more sleeping places.
Which two-berth Cruisin campervan has a fixed bed?
The Sandpiper has a fixed rear double bed. The Hi Top and Rover convert their rear dining area for sleeping. The Sandpiper also has swivel front seats, allowing seating at the front while the rear bed stays in place.
Can a family with three children under seven rent a six-berth Cruisin motorhome?
No. Cruisin does not accept that group, and its larger vehicles permit no more than two approved child restraints. Six travel seats and six sleeping places do not override the restraint limit.
Is Cruisin's AUD 5,000 bond a hold or a charge?
It is a charge to a physical credit card under the standard ordinary-hire option. The money is refunded subject to the return conditions, with up to 14 business days allowed. Liability Reduction and Maximum Cover remove that standard bond; they do not remove responsibility for damage excluded by the contract.
Does Maximum Cover include awning damage?
No. The awning remains an exclusion even with Maximum Cover. The package's zero-liability provision concerns covered damage, so its name should not be read as a promise that every type of damage is included.
Can I collect a Cruisin vehicle in Perth and return it on the east coast?
Perth is included in Cruisin's ordinary one-way network with Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne. The published minimum for those city pairs is 21 days, with an AUD 165 one-way charge per rental. The requested direction, vehicle and dates still need to be available.
Can I collect a Cruisin motorhome after a late flight?
Cruisin does not offer normal out-of-hours collection or an airport shuttle. Pickup must fit the depot's handover arrangements, with the transfer from the airport arranged separately. An approved Sunday return is a different service and does not create an out-of-hours pickup option.
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