Best Roof Top Tents Australia (incl. Hard Shells) Reviewed [2021]

Keen on getting a roof top tent (aka car top tent) to let you camp wherever your wheels take you? In this article, I review and compare the best roof top tents Australia (both soft and hard shell varieties).

I cover everything from budget through to premium options, showing you the pros and cons of each. There is also a detailed breakdown of everything you need to consider before purchasing a roof top tent.

The first question is: are you interested in a regular roof top tent, or do you want a hard shell (hard top) rooftop tent? If you are not sure click here to jump straight down to my section about the main differences between the two.

Let's get started with a comparison of the roof top tents discussed in this article. Use the tabs below to switch between the soft shell and hard shell comparisons!

Best Rooftop Tents Australia (Soft Shell)

Darche Panorama Roof Top Tent

The Darche Panorama 2 is a staple of the Australian rooftop tent scene. Until recently, it has always come with an attached annex; these two products are sold separately now. Purchasing the annex typically adds around $400 to the price tag.

This is a well-built rooftop tent, with thick 340 GSM canvas that will keep you dry no matter what. These tents are designed to handle wind, rain and snow.

The included 50mm high density foam mattress is comfortable to sleep on, although not as thick as some of the competitors.

Packing down to a flat aerodynamic shape with a weight of only 61.6kg means that the Darche Panorama 2 won't impact your fuel consumption too much.

It is a fairly expensive product, but it comes with a 2 year warranty to give you peace of mind. You can expect to get plenty of use out of this tent over the years to come.

Darche also offers the Intrepidor and Hi-View roof top tents, which are cheaper versions of the Panorama. They are made with a slightly thinner canvas. The 1,800 and 2,200 models can sleep 3 and 4 people respectively. 

Use the buttons below to find out more about each of them.

Want more info? Check out my Darche Panorama roof top tent review!

23Zero Dakota 1400 Rooftop Tent with LST

The 23Zero Dakota 1400 is another quality addition to this list of the best roof top tents in Australia.

This is a fantastic tent for those who are looking for more than just utility and functionality in their roof top tent. A large sky roof and side windows paired with a thick 65mm mattress make this a very comfortable tent.

The Light Suppression Technology means that rather than the sun waking you up at the crack of dawn, you can sleep in as long as you like.

Unfortunately, the canvas is a little thinner on this tent compared to the competition, and the waterproof rating is not specified by 23Zero, so it is difficult to know how it will hold up in serious rain.

However, with a 2 year warranty, you can rest easy knowing that this is a quality tent that is built to last.

Adventure Kings Roof Top Tent

The Adventure Kings rooftop tent is an inexpensive yet still high quality option that I highly recommend. For those who are on a budget, look no further, as you won’t find better value than this.

Despite being the cheapest tent on this list, it actually has the largest sleeping area by far, being a generous 3.1 metres long.

It also comes with 320 GSM canvas, thicker than the ARB Simpson III, which is a much more expensive unit. It has a 2,000mm waterproof rating.

The 75mm mattress is thicker than the competitors, although some people have said that it is not the best quality, with the stitching coming undone prematurely.

A very light 57kg weight and a 1 year warranty means that there is very little to complain about when it comes to this tent!

If you want an inexpensive rooftop tent that has plenty of features and is well built, I highly recommend it!

Still not sure whether it's the right tent for you? Why not check out my full Adventure Kings roof top tent review?

ARB Simpson III Rooftop Tent

The ARB Simpson III is a well-built, premium rooftop tent. Users love that the bedding can be left inside the tent when you pack it away - this saves time and lets you fit more in the vehicle.

Unfortunately, this contributes to the 81kg weight and the unfortunate shape it assumes when packed. The rooftop tent is quite bulky and not aerodynamic at all, which means that you can expect to burn through quite a bit more fuel when on the highway.

Thankfully, the unit attaches very securely to the roof racks, with little swaying or sliding while the vehicle is in motion.

ARB offer an excellent 3 year warranty with this product. They also offer the Kakadu rooftop tent, which you can read more about by clicking the button above.

Soft Shell Honourable Mentions

BCF XTM Rooftop Tent

The XTM rooftop tent is another popular option from BCF, although I’m not sure that it entirely lives up to the hype.

It’s made from ripstop polycotton canvas, has a 2,000mm waterproof rating, a decent 75mm mattress plus a 2 year warranty, so it ticks most of the boxes right off the bat.

It’s also reasonably cheap, although definitely not the cheapest RTT out there.

In terms of drawbacks, the included ladder is reportedly not the best quality. Also, the unit itself is very heavy, weighing in at 77kg all up. This makes it very difficult to move and take off your vehicle when you aren’t using it.

All in all, it’s a decent option, but it doesn’t offer anything particularly special.

Anaconda Dune 4WD Nomad Rooftop Tent

Another honourable mention for this list is the Dune 4WD Nomad, made and sold exclusively by Anaconda. It has quite a unique design - it’s made from canvas like a soft shell tent, yet it is set up via hydraulic actuators, like a hard shell tent.

These RTTs that set up with hydraulic actuators are actually referred to as automatic rooftop tents.

While automatic set up is good for speed, it does restrict the size occupied by the tent, which means that this RTT is considerably smaller than other soft shell car tents. Not only is the sleeping area smaller, but the head height is also quite low as well.

The Dune 4WD Nomad has a 3,000mm waterproof rating, which is better than the competition, and it is also quite light as well, so it will be easy to install and remove from your vehicle as necessary.

Unfortunately, these units are very expensive unless you are a member of the Anaconda club. I don’t recommend buying one unless you are a member. Also, Anaconda don’t hold any stock of these tents - they are all made to order.

This means that you can expect to wait quite a while from order to actually receiving the tent. Make sure to order well before your next trip!

Best Hard Shell Rooftop Tents Australia

Adventure Kings Kwiky Hard Shell Pop Up Roof Top Tent

Much like the Adventure Kings soft shell roof top tent, this hard shell tent is well built and outstanding value.

It boasts super easy setup that is finished in under 2 minutes, thick 320 GSM canvas that will keep you safe from the elements, and a sleek hard shell case design that minimises drag and fuel consumption.

Overall, the tent looks and feels great, plus it comes with a 1 year warranty.

In terms of downsides, I find that the sleeping area is very narrow. Combined with a thin 50mm mattress, it doesn’t offer the most comfortable night’s sleep. A couple will find it a tight but do-able squeeze. I wouldn’t recommend it for 2 adult friends, unless they don’t mind squeezing in together.

Still not sure whether it's the right hard shell RTT for you? Why not check out my full Kings Kwiky roof top tent review?

Eezi Awn Blade

The Eezi Awn Dart is a decent, yet expensive choice. It has a much larger sleeping area and thicker mattress for a more comfortable sleeping experience.

The power cable and interior lighting are also nice touches, which I really appreciate. The privacy screens mean that you can run the light during the evening without everyone seeing into your tent.

Unfortunately, these extra features aren’t enough to justify the massive increase in price, in my opinion. I think that the Adventure Kings Kwiky is a better value option.

James Baroud Roof Top Tents

The James Baroud range of hard shell roof top tents are the absolute bees knees. Designed in Europe, these are the most sophisticated and fully-featured tents of their type out there.

The 5/2 year warranty alone should tell how much faith James Baroud place in their workmanship.

I particularly like the ventilation fan which simultaneously keeps you cool and removes condensation. This is a fantastic idea, and the fact that it is solar powered (runs off batteries at night) means that you don’t need to worry about it running out of juice.

A removable LED torch is great for emergencies; or just going to the toilet at night.

If you will be doing some winter camping, consider adding the optional thermal insulation - James Baroud claim that this can keep you up to 6C warmer.

The only downside of these tents is the very high price. Check out the latest prices on the James Baroud website, or access a PDF comparison of the James Baroud range.

Hard Shell Honourable Mentions

Alu-cab Gen 3.1 Expedition Tent