Panel van camper
Polaris 2
Vehicle category
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Rental company field guide
Star RV review
Star RV puts spacious onboard accommodation at the heart of its motorhome hire in Australia and New Zealand.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Star RV began as Apollo’s premium motorhome brand. Its move to JUCY followed the 2022 combination of Apollo and Tourism Holdings Limited, when regulators required the Star RV business to be sold to preserve competition. It now operates within Travvia/JUCY Group, separately from its former owner.
The business hires out its own rental fleet in Australia and New Zealand, with bookings available directly and through agents. Some branch facilities and transport are shared with JUCY, while Star RV retains its own brand and country-specific rental agreements. Its present offer centres on the Polaris range, with an emphasis on onboard accommodation and services around collection and return.
Our verdict
Editorial review
Star RV’s accommodation gives its premium positioning substance: the Polaris interiors offer a comfortable base for cooking, relaxing and sleeping, so the vehicle has practical value throughout the day.
The premium positioning is less convincing when it comes to consistency of delivery. Our assessment is that the product has a stronger claim to comfort than the service has to uniform reliability.
Good points
- Useful equipment comes with the hire.Kitchen utensils, basic crockery, bed linen and towels are included for the declared occupants. That gives the accommodation a practical starting kit without having to assemble each of those essentials as an extra.
- Airport transfers are included in New Zealand.All three New Zealand branches offer a free airport shuttle on request. The transfer connects the airport and depot without a separate taxi fare, provided the flight fits the shuttle’s operating hours.
- Help is available for the vehicle you receive.Star RV provides operating guides for different Polaris generations, alongside round-the-clock mechanical assistance. The vehicle’s QR code leads to the appropriate instructions, which is useful when controls and equipment differ between versions of the same category.
Things to consider
- Preparation is uneven.Independent customer feedback repeatedly describes cleaning or maintenance that should have been addressed before collection, including problems with fridges, electrics and water systems. These reports sit alongside successful hires; they support allowing time to test the living equipment at handover, rather than assuming that the premium label guarantees a thorough pre-hire check.
- Fault resolution can become part of the holiday.Customers also report delays in communication and escalation when a breakdown or equipment fault becomes difficult to resolve. Mechanical assistance is included, but a replacement vehicle is not guaranteed. A fault can therefore cost more holiday time than the initial repair alone.
Vehicle categories
Star RV fleet
Overcab motorhome
Polaris 4
Vehicle category
- Seats
- 4
- Sleeps
- 4
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Overcab motorhome
Polaris 6
Vehicle category
- Seats
- 6
- Sleeps
- 6
- Toilet
- Yes
- Shower
- Yes
- Transmission
- Automatic
Locations
Star RV pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
Australia
-
Adelaide 25–27 Kinkaid Avenue, North Plympton SA 5037
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Brisbane 769 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm QLD 4009
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Cairns 55 Dutton Street, Portsmith QLD 4870
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Melbourne 1 Silicon Place, Tullamarine VIC 3043
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Perth 65 Worrell Avenue, High Wycombe WA 6057
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Sydney 1799 Botany Road, Banksmeadow NSW 2019
New Zealand
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Auckland 9 Richard Pearse Drive, Māngere, Auckland 2022
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Christchurch Mustang Park, 157 Orchard Road, Harewood, Christchurch 8051
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Queenstown 52 Grant Road, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
Before booking
Practical facts
The policies, inclusions and services that are specific to a Star RV rental.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Drivers and documents | Drivers must be aged 21–74 and hold an appropriate, valid physical driving licence. A licence that is not in English needs an accredited translation or international driving permit alongside the original, as required in the country of hire. Overseas drivers also need their passport. Every driver must be named and authorised on the rental agreement. |
| Restricted and provisional licences | New Zealand does not accept learner or restricted licences. Australia does not accept learner or P1 licences; P2/Green licences may be accepted after validation and subject to their restrictions. |
| Children | Star RV permits a maximum of two children who require child restraints, subject to category compatibility. Polaris 6 has two rear, forward-facing anchorage positions in both countries. Polaris 4 has two in New Zealand, without ISOFIX; the Australian Polaris 4 has no child-restraint anchorage points. Polaris 2 must have its travel seats and restraint suitability confirmed for the assigned vehicle before a child or additional passenger is booked. The accompanying adult installs the restraint; branch staff do not certify the installation. |
| Mileage | Kilometres are unlimited. In New Zealand, diesel Road User Charges are billed separately on return at an indicative NZ$0.08 per kilometre. A 1,000 km hire would therefore add NZ$80 at that rate. |
| Payment | Unless the booking specifies otherwise, the balance is due seven days before pickup. A valid credit or debit card is required before collection, including when another payment method was used for the reservation. The initial booking payment is set during checkout. |
| Cancellation | For standard direct bookings, cancellation 31 or more days before pickup has no cancellation fee, although non-refundable processing or administration costs remain. The charge is 20% at 30–7 days, 50% at 6–1 days and 100% on the pickup day or for a no-show. Early return does not receive a refund. |
| Flexible Booking Fee | This optional add-on must be bought when the booking is confirmed. It can be used once: it waives the cancellation fee when cancelling more than seven days before pickup and waives one booking amendment fee. The add-on itself is non-refundable and does not cover cancellations within seven days or no-shows. Rate differences still apply to changes. |
| Changes and extensions | Changes are repriced against the available vehicles and rates. Agent reservations must be amended through the agent until pickup. An extension should be requested at least 48 hours ahead. Accepting a lower vehicle category voluntarily does not entitle the renter to a refund of the rate difference. |
| Protection options | Risk Taker carries no daily reduction fee. Essentials and Comprehensive are additional excess-reduction options. Their indicative daily charges are AU$60 and AU$75 in Australia, or NZ$60 and NZ$75 in New Zealand. Windscreen and tyre protection costs a further AU$15 or NZ$15 per day with Risk Taker or Essentials and is included with Comprehensive. Comprehensive also includes one additional driver. |
| Security bond and damage liability | The security bond is separate from the amount payable for damage. The Rental Summary must specify both. Under Essentials, the reduced liability limit for eligible body-panel or third-party damage does not apply to every covered loss. Liability applies per incident, and exclusions remain even with an excess-reduction option, including unauthorised roads, incorrect fuel and certain interior, roof or underbody damage. |
| One-way hire | Selected routes allow pickup and return at different branches. Availability, direction, dates, minimum hire and any one-way charge are determined by the booking; the branch network does not make every pair a bookable route. |
| Airport transfers | New Zealand’s on-demand airport shuttles run approximately 08:30–15:30. The vehicle may carry JUCY branding. Australian customers normally arrange and pay for their own taxi, rideshare or public transport. |
| Collection and return times | New Zealand branches open daily from 09:00 to 16:00. Australian branches open 09:00–15:00 on weekdays and 09:00–14:00 at weekends, except Adelaide, which closes on Sundays. Collection or return outside branch hours requires prior approval. |
| Return condition | Return with a full fuel tank, LPG as required by the purchased option, empty grey-water and toilet tanks, and a clean toilet cassette. The interior must be reasonably clean, with rubbish, food, sand, mud and pet hair removed. Missing equipment, extra cleaning or refuelling can incur charges. |
| Dogs | Eligible hires can carry up to two dogs with declaration and approval in advance. The indicative fee is AU$299 per dog in Australia or NZ$299 per dog in New Zealand. Dogs must be secured, must not be left alone in the vehicle and must leave no hair or dirt on return. Assistance animals are handled separately. |
| Road restrictions | The two-wheel-drive fleet is restricted to sealed roads. An exception permits less than 12 km of unsealed access to a recognised commercial campsite. Beaches, sand and other unauthorised roads remain excluded; New Zealand restrictions specifically name 90 Mile Beach, Ball Hutt Road and Skippers Road. |
| Ferries | Star RV motorhomes can travel on Bluebridge across Cook Strait, with vehicle and passenger fares paid separately. Book using the correct vehicle dimensions. Other ferry operators require separate confirmation. Vehicles may not be taken between Australia and New Zealand. |
| Electrical hook-up | Star RV recommends connecting to a powered campsite at least every 48 hours. The leisure battery serves equipment such as lights, the water pump and fridge; the microwave, mains sockets and living-area air conditioning require an external 240 V supply. This is a recommendation about recharging, not a guaranteed period of off-grid operation. |
| Overnight stays in New Zealand | Green self-containment certification does not grant permission to stay in every car park. Freedom camping still depends on local rules and signs at the chosen location. |
| Breakdown support | Mechanical assistance is included 24/7. Report a breakdown within 24 hours and obtain approval before major repairs. Non-mechanical incidents such as lost keys, incorrect fuel or a battery flattened through use can be chargeable. |
| Connectivity | There is no onboard Wi-Fi. Free Wi-Fi is available at branches. |
| Bicycles | Star RV does not supply bike racks. Bringing a rack requires compatibility and approval, and damage caused by a customer’s accessory can fall outside protection. |
| Smoking | Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside the vehicle. |
More about the company
Explore Star RV
Velocity membership
Star RV participates in Velocity Frequent Flyer for eligible direct hires in Australia and New Zealand. The member must be the main driver, use matching membership and booking details, and add their membership number no later than pickup day.
Eligible spending can include the vehicle hire, excess reduction and optional extras. Bookings through agents, brokers or other third parties do not qualify, and neither do security bonds, fuel, cleaning, fines or damage charges. Cancelled or refunded hires earn no points. This benefit belongs to the direct-booking channel and should not be assumed for a booking made elsewhere.
Quick answers
Star RV FAQ
Can I hire a travel cot with Star RV?
A portable cot is available as an optional extra for Polaris 6, subject to availability. Its approximate dimensions are 64 × 95 × 85 cm. It is not an advertised option for the smaller Polaris categories.
Can I exchange bed linen during the trip?
Star RV offers a linen-exchange service. The indicative September 2026 charge is AU$40 in Australia or NZ$40 in New Zealand.
Does Star RV monitor how the vehicle is driven?
Its rental terms allow tracking of location, speed and driving behaviour for operational, safety, recovery and compliance purposes.
How does Star RV handle a complaint?
Raise it with the branch, call centre or through the website. Star RV’s rental terms commit to reasonable efforts to resolve complaints within 14 days, with internal escalation if the response is unsatisfactory. That process does not remove statutory consumer rights in Australia or New Zealand.
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