Compare campervans, motorhomes and RVs to hire in Launceston, listed by private owners and local hire businesses. See prices, photos and reviews for campervan hire in Australia, then book online with insurance included.
Launceston is Tasmania’s other arrival point, and it’s the better base if the trip is weighted north — the Tamar Valley wine region starts minutes from town, and Cradle Mountain and the Bay of Fires are both within a day’s drive. It’s a smaller, calmer city to start a hire in than Hobart, with the gorge walkable from the CBD before you’ve even picked up the van.
This page covers a Launceston-based trip specifically. For cost, licence rules and vehicle sizes, see the main Australia guide, and for more on the wider region see the Tasmania overview.
Launceston Campervan, Motorhome and RV Hire
Owners list a mix of compact 2-berth campervans, mid-size camper vans and larger motorhomes with their own toilet and shower, and you book whichever vehicle suits your trip through our partner Outdoorsy.
What’s around Launceston
Cataract Gorge, a short walk from the city centre, is the local landmark — walking and hiking tracks either side of the gorge, gardens, and the world’s longest single-span chairlift crossing it. Worth an hour or two before or after picking up the campervan.
The Tamar Valley, starting just north of town, is Tasmania’s main wine region. A loop drive of roughly 70 km follows the Tamar River (kanamaluka) up toward the Bass Strait coast, through vineyards and small river towns on both the east and west banks.
Tamar Island Wetlands Reserve, a short drive from the CBD, is a boardwalk reserve through wetlands — a good stop for birdwatching and an easy leg-stretch.
Cradle Mountain, about 1.5–2 hours west, is doable as a long day trip from Launceston or as the first stop heading into a wider island loop.
The Bay of Fires, on the northeast coast, is roughly 1.5–2 hours away — orange lichen-covered granite boulders against white sand and clear water, and one of the areas with genuine free camping (see below).
Where to stay overnight around Launceston
- In town — BIG4 Launceston Holiday Park sits in the city centre, the simplest option for a first or last night.
- Tamar Valley — Discovery Parks Hadspen and Beauty Point Tourist Park (on the West Tamar) both put you inside the wine region rather than commuting in from the city.
- River mouth — BIG4 Low Head Tourist Park sits where the Tamar meets the Bass Strait, useful if the wine loop is the whole day’s plan.
- Free camping — Cosy Corner in the Bay of Fires is a well-known free, unpowered option on the northeast coast.
Best time to visit
November to April, the same window as the rest of Tasmania — mild temperatures and the longest daylight hours for the Tamar Valley loop and any day trips further afield. Vineyards and cellar doors run their normal hours across this period; outside it, check individual opening times before building a day around them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Launceston?
The same nightly ranges apply as the rest of Australia — see the Campervan Hire Australia cost breakdown.
Is Launceston or Hobart the better base for a Tasmania trip?
Depends which half of the island you want to weight the trip toward. Launceston suits the Tamar Valley, Cradle Mountain and the northeast coast; Hobart suits the Tasman Peninsula and Freycinet. A one-way hire between the two covers both without doubling back — see the main Australia guide for how one-way pricing works.
Can I do the Tamar Valley wine loop without driving myself between cellar doors?
You’d still need to drive between them — there’s no shuttle network covering the valley — but the loop is short (around 70 km round trip) and the roads are quiet compared with mainland wine regions.
How far is Cradle Mountain from Launceston?
Around 1.5 to 2 hours by road, making it viable as a long day trip or a natural first overnight stop heading further into the island.
Is the Bay of Fires walkable, or do you need to drive between spots?
The coastline is long — driving between the main access points (like Cosy Corner and the southern end near Binalong Bay) is normal, with shorter walks along individual beach sections.
Is a campervan the same as a motorhome or RV?
Yes — this site uses the terms interchangeably. A campervan is usually the smaller van-based vehicle, a motorhome the larger coach-built type with a separate cab, and RV (recreational vehicle) is the term used in American brochures. Searching for motorhome hire or RV rental in Launceston will find the same listings as campervan hire.
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