Motorhomes and campervans are a good way to get around especially during the summer months when accommodation is scarce and pricey.

Being able to sort your accommodation and transport out in a single booking is a real advantage.

The disadvantages of campervans also need to be considered however:
>>The accommodation doesnt change - just the view.
>>Parking in cities can be a hassle.
>>Fuel economy is not great compared to a compact car and they are much slower
>>Motorway tolls and ferry tickets are dearer
>>You still have to pay campground fees
>>No matter how fancy the motorhome, the plumbing still sucks compared to a house

All that said, if you want to go the campervan option a rental car and campervan wholesaler like Drive Away Holidays deals with a wide range of companies and you pay in Aussie dollars before leaving.

Camping in France can be a great experience. It is essentially limited to the summer period which is expensive for mainstream accommodation. Camping however can be very cheap and in some cases free.

There are a huge number of campgrounds all over France from national parks and farmers fields to camping virtual cities.

Camping-France.com provides a regional breakdown of camping options throughout France

Many small farmers supplement their income by providing basic camping facilities for tents and motorhomes during summer. This is called 'Camping a la Ferme' a good way to get an insight into French rural life at a very cheap price. Campsites for tents are usually less than 10 Euro per night. Many small farms offering camping also have Gites Ruraux and Chambres d'Hôtes.

Hiking, cycling and canoeing are synonymous with summer and camping. It is not necessary to bring camping equipment with you as it is readily and cheaply available in one of the many hypermarches or sporting mega stors such as Decathlon.

France has some of Europes best national parks including the Cevennes National Park in Languedoc or the Pyrénées mountains separating France from Spain. The other alpine areas also offer excellent hiking/camping experiences in the summer.

On the Mediterranean the Parc Nationale de Port Cros is an island off Toulon

See the official site for National Parks of France.

The Tarn and Ardeche Gorges are magnificent canoeing rivers where camping is possible on extended paddles.

Use Viamichelin.com to plan your route and zoom down to a street level map.