Purchasing a campervan is actually about working out how you want to travel.
The needs of a couple travelling around Australia for a long time will be different from those of a couple who want a compact campervan for weekend trips. Similarly, those who bring bicycles, surfboards or other gear will have to make a choice between storage and space.
When considering brands and specifications, consider where you are going, how long you will be away and what you really need to be comfortable.
These are some of the most critical factors to take into account when selecting a campervan in Australia.
Start with the size of the campervan
Size is one of the main reasons people opt for a campervan over a bigger motorhome.
A smaller campervan will be easier to drive through towns, easier to manoeuvre into campsites and easier to use for shorter trips where you might be moving frequently.
However, there is a balance.
Go too small and you may find yourself compromising on your bed, bathroom, kitchen or storage. If you go too big, you lose some of the convenience you were looking for in a campervan.
For example, the new Auto-Trail Expedition 66 is 5.99 metres long and 2.27 metres wide, making it a very compact option for two people. The slightly longer Expedition 68XL measures 6.35 metres and offers more space for a permanent rear bed and storage.
Neither is necessarily better. This depends on your travel plans.
Think carefully about the bed layout
This is something I would consider before purchasing.
Some campervans will ask you to make the lounge into a bed each night. Others have a permanent bed that is always ready to use.
The Expedition 66 takes the flexible approach. Its rear lounge can be converted into either two single beds or one large king bed. The space is the rear living area during the day and the bedroom at night, with large windows.
The Expedition 68XL goes in the other direction, with a fixed raised rear bed. The bed does not need to be made every night, and raising it creates a large garage underneath for bikes and other equipment.
A convertible bed may be a good option if space is a priority.
A fixed-bed campervan might be more suitable if you are looking for a place to stop after a long day’s drive and get straight into bed.
Don’t underestimate storage
When travelling around Australia, storage becomes a significant issue.
If you’re going on a weekend getaway, a couple of overhead cupboards might suffice. When you’re on the road for a few weeks, especially if you’re packing camping gear, bikes or outdoor gear, storage becomes a priority.
Don’t just consider the number of cupboards, but where the larger items will fit.
The Expedition 66 features overhead and under-bench storage throughout its compact design.
The Expedition 68XL is more targeted towards active travellers. The raised rear bed provides a dedicated garage for two bikes to be stored inside the campervan, instead of hanging from the back.
That difference alone could make the decision between the two models for some buyers.
Australian conditions make insulation important
When you’re strolling through a campervan dealership, insulation is something you may not think about, but it can make a huge difference when you’re on the road.
Australia isn’t just hot.
It may be summer in Queensland, winter in southern Australia or much colder in the alpine regions. A well-insulated campervan will keep the interior temperature more stable and make the heating or cooling system work less hard.
Both Auto-Trail Expedition campervans include Grade 3 insulation and soundproofing, ducted heating and Truma air conditioning as standard.
Good insulation can also help to keep the interior of the campervan noticeably quieter, especially if you are sleeping near roads, other campers or busy caravan parks.
This is a feature I would definitely want for anyone who is not just using their campervan in ideal weather conditions.
Make sure you can live independently
A campervan can look great inside, but it can be a real pain if the daily needs have not been thought through.
If you’re touring in Australia, I would look for three essentials:
- A kitchen you can really cook in
- Your own shower and toilet
- Enough refrigeration and storage for longer trips
Both Expedition models have their own wetroom with shower and toilet, so you don’t have to rely on the amenities of the caravan park every night.
The Expedition 66 features a two-burner hob, microwave, sink, extendable worktop and 90L fridge-freezer. The 68XL features a bigger touring kitchen with hob and sink, grill oven, tall fridge and extra preparation area.
These are minor details in the showroom, but can be a lot more significant when you’re actually living in the campervan.
Think about the amount of driving you will be doing
Australia involves distance.
An easy-to-drive campervan is one thing. A campervan that is comfortable after several hours on the highway is another.
The 2026 Expedition range is built on the Fiat Ducato platform with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Expedition 66 is powered by a 140hp engine, while the larger 68XL is powered by the 180hp version.
They both come with Fiat’s Advanced Driver Safety Pack, which has adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, active lane support, blind-spot monitoring and driver attention assistance.
These are things to consider when touring in Australia, especially on long trips on the highway, rather than thinking of the campervan as simply a vehicle that takes you from one campsite to another.
So, which campervan should you purchase?
There isn’t one campervan that will suit everybody.
For couples or solo travellers who want something compact, easy to drive and versatile in terms of interior space, a campervan around the size of the Auto-Trail Expedition 66 is a good option.
It is compact at 5.99 metres, but offers a kitchen, bathroom, rear lounge and twin single beds or a king bed.
For trips that include bikes, outdoor equipment or extended outings, you might want to consider the Expedition 68XL. The permanent raised bed and large rear garage make it especially suited to travellers who require more storage than a smaller campervan but don’t want to move up to a full-size motorhome.
The ideal campervan is the one that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Sit in the lounge. Lie on the bed. Stand in the shower. Look at where your clothes, food, bikes and travel gear would go. And most importantly, take it for a drive.
A specification sheet will help you to narrow down your choices, but you will quickly find out if the layout is suitable for you by spending a little time inside the campervan.
Elite RV has now introduced the new 2026 Auto-Trail Expedition campervan range in Australia, including the Expedition 66 and Expedition 68XL.
