Smart ways to go camping this Easter (even when petrol costs a fortune)

Let's be honest. The world feels a bit heavy right now. Conflicts overseas, fuel prices climbing, and that nagging sense that everything costs more than it used to. You've probably noticed it every time you fill up the tank.

But Easter is still Easter. Long weekends, kids off school, a collective national exhale. A few nights in a campervan under the stars is still one of the best ways to spend it.

This isn't a scare piece. If you've got the budget, go nuts. Book the big trip. There are incredible rigs on Camplify just waiting for you. But if rising petrol costs are making you think twice, we've got some genuinely clever ways to still make it happen. Because the answer to expensive petrol isn't staying home. It's travelling smarter.

Why petrol costs are hitting harder right now

You're not imagining it. Global oil markets are more volatile than they've been in years. Ongoing conflicts, pressure on supply chains, and a slower-than-expected shift to renewables have kept fuel prices high and unpredictable. There's a real chance 2026 sees further spikes as northern hemisphere winter demand kicks in, and Australia tends to feel that at the pump.

None of that means you cancel Easter. It means you think about it differently.

1. Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle in the first place

Not all campervans drink the same amount of fuel. This is where Camplify's community model works in your favour. You're not picking from a corporate fleet of identical vehicles. You've got real choice.

Smaller campervans based on Toyota HiAce or Ford Transit platforms are significantly more economical than large motorhomes or heavy fifth-wheelers. Matt from the Illawarra shares his HiAce pop-top through Camplify and reckons it returns around 10 to 11 litres per 100km on the highway. That's comparable to towing a van, but without any of the stress.

What to look for when you're browsing:

• Smaller 2 to 4 berth vans built on common van platforms

• Diesel engines, which are generally more economical on longer runs

• Manual transmission if you're comfortable with it

• A less boxy profile where possible

Many owners list their vehicle's fuel consumption in the description. If they haven't, just ask. Most Camplify owners are happy to be upfront about what to expect.

Search available campervans on Camplify ->

2. Think smaller with a caravan

If you're set on a caravan, size matters. A smaller, lighter single-axle van in the 14 to 16 foot range makes a noticeable difference to what your tow vehicle burns compared to a large twin-axle rig. Less weight, less frontal area, less drag.

Cara from the Blue Mountains lists her compact Jayco Starcraft on Camplify. She reckons most hirers are surprised by how much space is actually inside. "People always worry it'll feel cramped," she says. "But for a couple or a small family it's got everything you need. And you're not paying an extra $200 in diesel every day."

If you already own a tow vehicle, search for vans that sit comfortably within your towing capacity. Pulling at or near your limit burns dramatically more fuel than towing well within it.

Find the perfect caravan on Camplify ->

3. Have the caravan delivered and don't tow at all

This is the option most people don't even think about. It might also be the biggest fuel saver on this list.

Plenty of Camplify caravan owners offer delivery straight to your caravan park. You drive your regular car to the destination, or take the train, or get a lift, and the van is already set up when you arrive. No towing. No extra fuel burn. No white-knuckling through Easter traffic with a van on the back.

Pete is a caravan owner on the Central Coast who delivers to parks up to 150km away every peak season. "The hirers love it," he says. "They show up, the awning's out, the kettle's on. Best start to a trip." Delivery fees vary by owner and distance, but once you do the maths on what you'd have burned towing, it often stacks up better than you'd expect.

When you search on Camplify, filter for caravans with delivery available and drop in your destination. You might be surprised how many owners cover your area.

Get a caravan delivered ->

4. Go shorter. Stay longer.

There's a persistent idea that a proper Easter trip means clocking up serious kilometres. Some of the best trips in our community are the ones closest to home.

From Sydney, the Hunter Valley, Central Coast and Blue Mountains are all under two hours. From Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula and Macedon Ranges are practically next door. A closer destination doesn't mean a lesser trip. It means you spend less getting there and more time actually being there. Longer walks. A second wine with dinner. Sleeping past seven.

The spots that feel almost too close to bother with are usually the ones you've never properly explored. Go find out.

Find an RV for your Easter adventure ->

5. Pick up near your destination

Here's one people rarely consider. If you're driving from Sydney to Port Macquarie, you don't need to find a campervan in your suburb. Find one listed near Port Macquarie, drive up in your regular car, pick it up there, and spend the weekend exploring without burning fuel in a heavy rig both ways.

Camplify has vehicles listed all over the country, not just in capital cities. There's a good chance there's an owner within half an hour of where you're headed. You get the holiday. They earn income from their van sitting in the driveway. Everyone's happy.

Search by your destination suburb on Camplify and extend the radius. You might find a brilliant van from a local owner who knows every decent swimming hole in the region. That local knowledge comes free with the keys.

6. Meet somewhere in the middle

Travelling with friends or family coming from different directions? Think about picking up a campervan somewhere between you. Sydney and Brisbane families both heading to the Clarence Valley? Look for a van listed around Coffs Harbour. Everyone drives a fraction of the distance. You meet at the van, hit the road together, and the trip starts from there rather than from your driveway.

This also works well for groups who want to make the most of a long weekend without burning a full day on travel each way.

7. Slow down once you're moving

The physics are pretty simple. Driving at 90 to 100km/h instead of 110 can cut fuel consumption by 15 to 20 percent. Over a few hundred kilometres that's real money. Campervans are especially sensitive to speed because of their shape.

The bonus is that slower driving on Easter weekend traffic is genuinely less stressful. You're not fighting to get past anyone. You're watching the countryside go by. You get there a bit later and a lot more relaxed.

The world is uncertain. Camping isn't.

There's something about being properly outside, in a sleeping bag, with the morning birds and a decent coffee and no work email in sight, that puts everything back in perspective. Whatever's going on globally, Easter around the campfire is still Easter.

Whether you pick up a compact campervan close to home, have a caravan delivered to your favourite park, or meet your mates somewhere halfway up the coast, there's a way to make it work. Camplify's community of owners is ready. You just have to decide to go.

Browse Easter-available rigs at Camplify .