The Best Motorhomes for Travelling Australia — A Guide for Retirees

For retirees who want the freedom of the open road without the complexity of towing, a motorhome offers one of the most appealing travel setups available. Everything travels together — your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and living space — and when you arrive at a destination, you’re already home. The Australian motorhome market includes vehicles manufactured domestically by companies such as Avida, Sunliner, Trakka, and Avan, alongside imported models from Winnebago and Jayco — with over 78,000 registered motorhomes and campervans nationally as of 2024, a market growing at approximately 5% annually. Here’s a plain English guide to the best motorhomes for travelling Australia as a retiree. Thefuntastictourcompany

Why Motorhomes Suit Retirees Particularly Well

Before diving into specific brands and models, it’s worth understanding why motorhomes are such a popular choice among grey nomads and retirees specifically.

No towing required
Motorhomes provide a self-contained living space and are easier to set up than a caravan and tow vehicle combination — combining the driving and living space into a single unit. For retirees who don’t want the complexity of learning to tow, or who don’t own a suitable tow vehicle, a motorhome removes that barrier entirely. The Grey Nomads

Easier to manoeuvre than a tow setup
Many drivers find a motorhome significantly easier to handle than a tow vehicle and caravan combination — there’s no trailer to reverse, no coupling to manage, and the vehicle behaves more predictably on the road.

Access while travelling
A passenger can move around the motorhome while travelling — making a cup of tea, resting, or accessing the bathroom — something simply not possible with a caravan.

Simpler setup at camp
Arriving at a campsite in a motorhome means you’re essentially already set up — no hitching, no levelling, no connecting utilities beyond plugging into power if available.

Types of Motorhomes Available in Australia

Motorhomes are classified into distinct categories based on chassis type, body construction, overall length, and gross vehicle mass. Understanding these categories helps narrow down which type suits your needs. Thefuntastictourcompany

Class B — Campervans
The smallest and most manoeuvrable option — essentially a van conversion with sleeping, cooking, and sometimes bathroom facilities built in. Campervans are smaller and usually lack a full bathroom — motorhomes are larger and more comfortable for long trips, with internal kitchens, bathrooms, and more storage. Starts at 60

Best suited to: Solo travellers or couples wanting maximum flexibility and manoeuvrability, or those wanting a motorhome that doubles as an everyday vehicle.

Class C — Mid-Size Motorhomes
The most popular category among Australian grey nomads — built on a van or cab-chassis, offering a good balance between living space and manoeuvrability. Most of the major Australian brands focus heavily on this category.

Best suited to: Couples wanting comfortable extended touring with full facilities in a vehicle that’s still manageable to drive and park.

Class A — Full-Size Motorhomes
The largest and most luxurious option — coach-style motorhomes built on a bus or truck chassis, offering expansive living space and premium features. Used motorhomes can range from under $80,000 for older models to $150,000+ for newer or luxury models, with most quality used motorhomes falling between $80,000 and $120,000. Explorer RV

Best suited to: Retirees wanting maximum comfort and space for extended touring, comfortable with driving a larger vehicle.

The Most Trusted Motorhome Brands in Australia

Avida

Avida are one of Australia’s leading motorhome manufacturers, having been proudly Australian made since 1965, employing over 200 people at their 10 acre production facility in New South Wales. Aussiervtrips

Avida produces the Esperance, Birdsville, Ceduna, and Leura model ranges on Fiat Ducato and Mercedes-Benz platforms, with motorhomes ranging from $120,000 to $300,000. Thefuntastictourcompany

The Avida Leura is one of their most popular models for retirees — renowned for its compact yet feature-packed design, making it ideal for couples seeking an entry-level motorhome with space-saving features. At 6.7 metres, it offers roof-mounted air conditioning, a highly insulated construction, residential soft-close drawers, a fridge/freezer, microwave, smart TV, and USB charging stations — genuinely well appointed for the price point. Ben & Michelle

The Avida Longreach sits at the premium end of the Avida range — with twin slide-out rooms providing an expansive living space and all the comforts of home, including air conditioning, heating, large beds and comfortable seating, built for long-distance travel. Explorer RV

Best suited to: Retirees wanting a proven Australian-made motorhome with strong after-sales support and genuine build quality.

Sunliner

Every Sunliner motorhome is built in Australia by their skilled team of professionals — they explicitly state that their vehicles do not come from an offshore assembly line. Sunliner is an Australian owned family business who have been manufacturing campervans for over 40 years. Aussiervtrips

Sunliner motorhomes include the Monte Carlo, Holiday, Habitat, and Pinto models, with prices starting at $180,000 for entry-level models. Thefuntastictourcompany

The Sunliner Monte Carlo is their flagship model — offering a premium travel experience with a zoned living approach with separate living, bathroom and bedroom areas. A huge amount of space is achieved by the use of slide-outs, which open at the push of a button, giving you your own spacious apartment on wheels. Explorer RV

The Sunliner Habitat is built on a Ford Ranger chassis and available in both 4×2 and 4×4 options — designed as a long-range, rough-terrain touring motorhome for travellers who want to go beyond the bitumen without sacrificing comfort. The Grey Nomads

The Sunliner Chase is their compact solo traveller option — a fully self-contained motorhome designed for solo adventurers, featuring a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping facilities in a compact package that fits easily into a standard car park space. Camplify

Best suited to: Retirees wanting premium Australian-built quality with a wide range of models across different price points and travel styles.

Winnebago Australia

One of the world’s most recognised motorhome names — Aussie Winnebago campervans and motorhomes are built by Apollo in their 20,000 sqm factory in South East Queensland. Aussiervtrips

The Winnebago Cottesloe is one of their most popular models — featuring a drop-down bed that lowers from the ceiling via an electric lift and raises again for daytime use, spacious kitchen, and bathroom. The above-mentioned day-time to night-time conversion means you don’t need to remake your bed every time. Explorer RV

The Winnebago range is backed by a 5-3-3 warranty, offering peace of mind and demonstrating their commitment to quality and customer care. Explorer RV

Best suited to: Retirees wanting the reassurance of a globally recognised brand with strong Australian manufacturing and warranty support.

Jayco

Jayco is headquartered in Dandenong South, Victoria, and holds the largest market share among Australian motorhome manufacturers. Their motorhomes include the Conquest, Journey, and Optimum series. Thefuntastictourcompany

Jayco’s motorhome range benefits from the same strengths as their caravan range — wide dealer network, strong after-sales support, good value inclusions, and reliable build quality across their range.

The Jayco Conquest is consistently one of Australia’s most popular motorhome models — offering a good balance of features, build quality, and price that suits first-time motorhome buyers particularly well.

Best suited to: First-time motorhome buyers wanting reliable quality, good warranty support, and dealer access anywhere in Australia.

Trakka

Trakka is a Melbourne-based manufacturer specialising in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversions — producing some of the most refined and well-built campervans and smaller motorhomes in Australia. Thefuntastictourcompany

Trakka’s vehicles are premium priced but offer exceptional build quality, thoughtful design, and the reassurance of the Mercedes-Benz chassis — one of the most reliable commercial vehicle platforms available.

Best suited to: Retirees wanting a premium, compact motorhome with exceptional build quality, particularly suited to those who want a vehicle that drives more like a car than a traditional motorhome.

Apollo and Windsor

Apollo have been in the Australian RV industry since 1985 and are now a globally recognised leader — building Windsor motorhomes in their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Aussiervtrips

Windsor motorhomes offer excellent value for money with strong warranty support — backed by a 5-3-3 warranty covering the motorhome, appliances, and chassis respectively. Explorer RV

Best suited to: Retirees wanting reliable Australian-made quality at a competitive price point, with strong warranty coverage.

What to Look for When Choosing a Motorhome as a Retiree

Ease of driving
Consider how comfortable you are driving a larger vehicle. Smaller Class B and C motorhomes are significantly easier to handle than full-size Class A coaches — and parking in towns, caravan parks, and free camps is considerably easier in a shorter vehicle.

Bed configuration
The bed layout matters more than most people appreciate before living in a motorhome. Island beds (accessible from both sides) are generally preferred for comfort and ease of use. Drop-down electric beds offer the advantage of a lounge area during the day.

Bathroom layout
For extended touring, a separate shower and toilet — rather than a combined wet bath — significantly improves day-to-day comfort.

Solar and battery capacity
For retirees who want to free camp rather than rely entirely on powered sites, adequate solar panels and battery capacity (increasingly lithium rather than AGM) is genuinely important. Check what’s standard and what’s an upgrade.

Storage
Extended touring requires more storage than most people anticipate — particularly external storage for chairs, outdoor equipment, and grey water management. Check external storage carefully before buying.

Slide-outs
Slide-out rooms expand the living space significantly when parked but add complexity, weight, and potential maintenance issues. Worth understanding the trade-offs before deciding whether slide-outs are a priority.

New vs Second-Hand

Used motorhomes can range from under $80,000 for older models to $150,000+ for newer or luxury models — most quality used motorhomes fall between $80,000 and $120,000. Starts at 60

Premium Australian manufacturers like Sunliner and Avida retain value better than budget brands due to higher build quality and stronger used market demand. A motorhome purchased for $200,000 retains approximately $130,000 to $140,000 in value after three years. Thefuntastictourcompany

For first-time buyers:
A quality second-hand motorhome from a reputable brand — professionally inspected before purchase — often represents the best value for retirees entering the motorhome lifestyle for the first time. It reduces the financial risk of discovering the lifestyle doesn’t suit you, and quality used Avida, Sunliner, Winnebago, and Jayco models are widely available and well supported.

Consider Hiring Before You Buy

If you’re new to motorhome travel, hiring a motorhome for a trial trip before committing to a purchase is genuinely one of the best pieces of advice experienced grey nomads consistently give.

A week in a hired motorhome reveals practical realities — bed comfort, storage adequacy, bathroom layout, driving feel, and general liveability — that no showroom visit or brochure can replicate. It also confirms whether the motorhome lifestyle suits you before a significant financial commitment.

As I wrote in how to choose between a caravan, motorhome, and camper trailer — the grey nomads who hit the road most confidently are almost always the ones who did their shakedown trips first.

Practical Buying Tips

Go to motorhome and caravan shows
Shows are the best places to walk through dozens of models side by side and compare layouts, finishes, and features in person. The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show held in major cities annually is the best starting point.

Check CMCA membership benefits
CMCA membership opens the door to exclusive low-cost CMCA RV parks, discounted rates at partner caravan parks, access to travel insurance offers, member forums, classifieds, and the GeoWiki X camping database — for full-time or long-term travellers, the savings can quickly outweigh the membership fee. Jawacampers

Get an independent inspection on any used vehicle
Before purchasing a used motorhome, an independent inspection by a qualified RV inspector is money very well spent — identifying issues that aren’t obvious in a casual inspection and providing negotiating leverage on price.

Check your licence requirements
Most motorhomes in Australia can be driven on a standard car licence — but larger Class A motorhomes may require a light rigid or medium rigid licence depending on their gross vehicle mass. Always check before you fall in love with a model that requires a licence upgrade.

The Bottom Line

Australia’s motorhome market offers genuinely excellent options for retirees — from compact campervans perfectly suited to solo travel or couples wanting maximum flexibility, to premium full-size motorhomes built for luxurious extended touring.

The most important thing is matching the right vehicle to your actual travel style, driving comfort, and budget — not buying the biggest or most feature-laden option available.

Take your time, attend shows, consider a trial hire, and choose the motorhome that will actually get you out the driveway and onto the road.

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