HELP!!!!!! Doing research on what sort of van to hire to travel from Darwin to Litchfield and Kakadu. Anyone out there had a good experience. It seems like there are alot of added extras with insurance etc. Would it be better to hire a car and book accommodation, I am getting completely confused. I am sure there are pros and cons for both. Would love some input. Thanks, Caz
Hi Caz, Never done it, but a 4 wheel drive might get you to places other vehicles cannot. I love camping out in a vehicle personally but some like 4 star comfort. A vehicle with a shower is very convenient as well but price is often a big consideration. Just things to consider.
My only advice would be is to do it and have a lovely trip.
HELP!!!!!! Doing research on what sort of van to hire to travel from Darwin to Litchfield and Kakadu. Anyone out there had a good experience. It seems like there are alot of added extras with insurance etc. Would it be better to hire a car and book accommodation, I am getting completely confused. I am sure there are pros and cons for both. Would love some input. Thanks, Caz
Hi Caz. I'm a bit biased as I have a motorhome. Having said that, on a trip to Tassie, one to U.K. and another to N.Z. I have found the cost of a MH to be about the same as hiring a car and accomodation together. The insurance excess does make it seem alot more but that is either refundable at the end or cancelled if done by credit card. The only thing is to be aware of the extra height (overhanging trees, signs etc) and the different turning characteristics of a motorhome. If you are only going for two or three days, then the car/accomodation option might work out a little better. But for longer periods, no real difference in my experience. With an MH you don't have to be out of your room, and can stop pretty much where you want. (Just make sure your water and gas tanks are topped up), you don't have to pack up each time you change locations if you don't like where you're staying you can move on or stay if you like the area. For what it's worth.
Thanks Janette and Keith, I really do want the experience of stopping in parks and doing as we please rather than as you say having to be out by 10, I really do hate motel rooms. It will be for ten days or so, at any rate it will give us an idea of this sort of travel. Do either of you know if we will be limited not having a 4WD in both of these areas. Thanks so much for your input, Caz.
Thanks Janette and Keith, I really do want the experience of stopping in parks and doing as we please rather than as you say having to be out by 10, I really do hate motel rooms. It will be for ten days or so, at any rate it will give us an idea of this sort of travel. Do either of you know if we will be limited not having a 4WD in both of these areas. Thanks so much for your input, Caz.
Sorry I don't know but I'm sure some members will and will likely post their experience.
Thanks Janette and Keith, I really do want the experience of stopping in parks and doing as we please rather than as you say having to be out by 10, I really do hate motel rooms. It will be for ten days or so, at any rate it will give us an idea of this sort of travel. Do either of you know if we will be limited not having a 4WD in both of these areas. Thanks so much for your input, Caz.
It's going to depend on whether you want to go 'bush bashing' or stick to the beaten track. I haven't been thet way for a while but on two trips I made one was by a converted bus and the other by 4WD. Neither time did I have any problems but you'll have reasonable ground clearance in most MHs. You probably wont be able to take any hire vehicle bush bashing and I wouldn't want to do so in any 'good' vehicle due to scratches or broken mirrors. (I"m getting timid in my advancing years). There are certain times of the year (or were) when some roads are flood affected. Hopefully someone with more recent knowledge can give much better info. If not, the hire company should be able to put you into the picture. For what it's worth.
Most hire companies do not allow you to take the MH off road, but the trip you have planned should all be on the blacktop.
We hired a MH in Canada a few years ago, coming across a bridge the gutter was high and I hit the hub cap and damaged it, on our return to the MH base I advised them what had happend, I was aware that the insurance did not cover anything above the roof or below the door of the MH so I had to pay for the hubcap, the office girl went out the back to talk to the boss, on her return she said we have a problem, I said what is that, she replied that the hubcaps come on pairs, I said so I will have too pay for two, yes she said, I gave her my credit card and paid the price asked, I then said to her now I have a problem, she said what is your problem, I said I have just paid for two hubcaps and I only damaged one, so I'll take the undamaged one that belongs to me, after another trip out the back to see the boss she returned saying the mechanic is just taking the cap off for me to take.
As we were flying back to Aus the next day, I went to another hire company and told my story and gave the hubcap to them for use on their MH, so dont's let these MH companies get away with stitching you up, they will if they can.
Thanks for your reply. By not having a 4 WD do you miss out on much or is a matter of just enjoy what you see. Otherwise, we could hire a 4 WD and book accommodation along the way. Would we go to Kakadu first and then back to Darwin and go to Litchfield? I am still doing my research. Caz
Some hire companies do have 4 wheel drive pop top motorhomes or campervans for hire, would you not be able to take them off road? Why else would hire a 4x4? I have no idea as I've never hired one.
Hi Caz, I've just returned to Victoria after doing just that. I hired a Britz campervan, hitop. I got the best deal by going to jetset travel and they booked it through a wholesaler. They got airfares and van cheaper than I could do the car myself online. The insurance is a tricky thing. They charge you automatically a $7500 excess on your credit card. They actually take it out of your credit card for the time of the hire not just hold your card details. You can reduce this down at a cost to a $2000 excess but it's about $5/600 to do so. You will find that no other insurance companies will cover a hire vehicle tho, i tried several. I found out at the last minute from a friend that RACV will do a policy through their holiday insurance division to cover JUST the excess amount, all of it, should you need to use it. It was hundreds cheaper than paying the Britz option. I think it was about $140. The van itself was clean, newish but after driving my own all wheel drive (theirs was a 2 wheel drive) it was like driving a top heavy plate of jelly. It took a bit of getting used to. I did have to take it very easy on the bends and of course remember that I was 2.8 m high. The bed for me was a bit hard so I bought an eggshell topper for the period which was well worth it. The experience in the van was great. The free camping etc was well worth it. Accommodation up there is expensive if you do motels hotels and caravan parks. This gives you another option. $6 a night is far better than $160. The fridge and water pump etc worked well for me. You will last about 2 days on the house battery by turning the fridge down to 3 overnight and turn it up full when driving. I even turned it off overnight sometimes. It is a bit noisy if you leave it on o/n. I wouldn't like to have three people in one of those things but it worked for one. I left the bed made up and just sat on that in the van or used a chair I picked up at the op shop for $3. You can hire table and chairs from them as well. Chair $18 I think and table about $25 that's why I picked one up at the opshop and gave it to a lovely girl who is raising money for canc council. Perhaps some of you may have met up with her Vanessa" cruizin 4 a cure". Beautiful girl, check out her site and help if you can. Hope this helps. If you have any questions I'm happy to give you my number on pm and chat to you about the trip. Tess
Can't comment about motorhomes or conditions put on hire campers, but in my opinion you need 4wd to get the best out of both Kakadu and Litchfield. While most attractions in both parks are accessible by 2wd, there are some parts (such as Jim Jim Falls) that are accessed only by 4wd tracks.
My sister and brother-in-law have done Europe and NZ in small Motorhomes with bathroom facilites. They found it the cheapest option. But they took 6 weeks.
As for 4X4, often it's not the 4X that's needed, just plenty of clearance underneath.
As someone else said, I'd also be careful of the height of the vehicle. Tree branches etc. And if the road is a bit bumpy, it can get quite a sway up. I once saw one going through the Cape Tribulation/Bloomfield Road and I thought it was going to topple over, it was swaying so much!
In Darwin, you can hire a 4WD Troopy based camper, through Britz/Maui/Backpacker - all the same company. The vehicle has a pop top roof, which avoids the issues of driving with a hitop. With one of these, you can take the vehicle off the bitumen. They basically provide all you need for independent camping. But advise you to investigate travel insurance through your state's RAC, which may help address insurance excess matters - see posts above. When we hired a car in Darwin, took photos all round of the vehicle, before we drove off, and same when we returned it - just in case.
