Innehållsförteckning för Issue 568 från Caravan World

It’s somewhat apt that this, the 568th issue of Caravan World, revolves around family vanning and adventuring, as it also marks my last issue as CW editor – for a while – as I head off on a new family adventure of my own: motherhood. I’ve sat in various chairs for CW over the past 5.5 years from deputy editor to production editor, then editor and now senior editor, and helped collate the past 63 issues of this great magazine. A lot has changed during that time – in both the Australian magazine and caravanning industries – and I couldn’t be prouder that CW is still standing tall and going from strength to strength, thanks largely to our loyal readers and clients. Caravanners might not be known for their crazy…

TOW VEHICLE DILEMMA I My wife and I are part-time grey nomads – we still work full-time. Our tow vehicle is a 2011 Toyota LandCruiser tray body, which seats two people. Our caravan is a 2012 River Caravan Mallee tandem. We now have one of our granddaughters who is five years old living with us permanently. Our concern is, that to be able to take our granddaughter with us we need to change our tow vehicle. I have read all of the info in Caravan World about ATM, GCM, ball weights etc. The problem is, after talking to car dealers I go home totally confused. Is there a vehicle that would be suitable to tow our van with two adults, maybe three small grandchildren (all still under 10 years of…

Buoyed by its hybrid caravan Parkes fleet juggernaut, Ezytrail is ‘testing the waters’ with what it justifiably terms a “cabin on wheels” – the Airlie GT 'EzyHab'. “The Airlie GT or ‘EzyHab’ will introduce new and different camping possibilities that are based on customers’ feedback, combined with the typical Ezytrail offroad abilities,” said Ezytrail marketing manager, Sagrys Aelbregt. But it’s not pitching to a specific demographic with this rather unique six-berth, offroad caravan prototype – albeit family caravanning immediately springs to mind. “We’re throwing it out to all and sundry,” Aelbregt added. STAR STABLE Ezytrail is renowned for its stable of hardfloor and softfloor camper trailers that arrive from China in a container before heading for fabrication and modification at its headquarters in Kilsyth, Vic. The Airlie GT is along…

Pacific Islander - the words conjure up images of the rhythmic patter of water on pristine white beaches, the hot oranges and reds of island sunsets, silhouetted coconut palms, hibiscus leis and welcoming Polynesian faces offering a warm greeting with, ‘m›lō e lelei,’ or a heartfelt, ‘kia ora’. With that in mind I took a Paci›c Islander Club Lounge Caravan for a spin to a ›shing spot within reach of the Sunshine Coast’s sleepy southern beachfront town of Caloundra. I wanted to know if the name was really a re›ection of the look, style and layout of the caravan. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Sporting a name like Paci›c Islander, I expected to see a van with shades of blue and green akin to the colours of a rolling shore break, the cream…

Extreme Outback Campers might seem to be an odd name to appear in the pages of Caravan World but that’s because the manufacturer has produced what very much looks like a pop-top offroad caravan. Okay, so the Curlew, a great migratory sounding name and very apt, does have a few camper trailer features but it’s mostly caravan. The brainchild of keen campers and partners Mark Timms and Sheree Davies, the Curlew has been a two-year development project which, apart from anything else, shows a great deal of persistence and patience. FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first thing noticeable about the Curlew is that it has a very business-like (the offroad business that is) air about it. Everything from the raised ground clearance to the good departure angle of the rear body and…

“The newest Conquest boasts a huge rear garage capable of storing anything from bikes and ski gear right up to golf clubs, motorbikes and dirt bikes” Ever since my husband Ash and I travelled through New Zealand’s North and South islands in a rented Maui motorhome a few winters ago on a ski trip, I’ve wanted to recreate that trip here in Australia. Before we did the NZ trip, I was concerned about the cold, especially overnight, and nervous about driving a motorhome in the snow and up steep, icy roads. But what I learnt was that motorhomes are, without a doubt, the best type of RV to take to wintery alpine areas. Making the time for it back home, however, when we try to pack every winter with as…

Exploring our magnificent continent is an adventure of epic proportions that should appear on every bucket list – whether you’re single, have a partner or a family. Australia has so much to offer – from the World Heritage-listed tropical rainforests to the vast outback, the awe-inspiring Kimberley to deserted white beaches, the list of breathtaking destinations is never-ending. Hitting the road with a family in tow is easier said than done, though. You don’t just jump in the car, throw in a couple of items and off you go. If only it were that easy. Travelling with kids requires careful planning. Believe me, most of the work needs to be done before you bundle everyone into the vehicle and drive off into the sunset. So here are my tried-and-tested tips…

I vividly remember a school teacher way back in the early seventies telling us that only half the class would make it to the year 2000. That wasn’t all that long after we were all sent home to the lucky homes that had a black and white TV to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin put those first footsteps on the moon. Richmond’s Royce Hart was my sporting hero and nearly 100,000 anti-war protesters turned Melbourne upside down in the Vietnam Moratorium. The Beatles did Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones died only two days before the massive Hyde Park Concert where the Hells Angels ran security. Martin Luther King was dead, so were John F and Robert Kennedy. Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt…

Belkin Car Power Valet RRP: $119.95 Where: Online More information: www.belkin.com.au For the movers and shakers, Belkin’s Car Power Valet offers a sleek option to enhance your in-car charging experience. Charging at optimal speeds while simultaneously protecting your device, the Car Power Valet is the must-have accessory for the ones always on the go. Belkin Active Pro Backpack RRP: $79.95 Where: Harvey Norman More information: www.belkin.com.au The ultimate Christmas gift for the business traveller and everyday commuter, Belkin’s Active Pro Backpack safely stores and protects your laptop, tablet and other possessions whilst out and about. It features dedicated protection for your devices, a padded back panel for comfort, water-resistant coating, upright design that stands without support, and a luggage strap. Laser Navig8r 818 Pro X Crashcam RRP: $349.95…

Just as the Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, the 6.3m (20ft 8in) offroad Sirius caravan is the brightest star in the Roadstar Caravans fleet. The new Sirius is the result of heavy R&D and significant investment by Roadstar Caravans to create a range-topping van that glows with quality. The Sirius replaces Roadstar’s revered Safari Tamer, which has led the Roadstar fleet since shooting to victory in Caravan World’s inaugural Best Aussie Vans competition in 2013, as the flagship model wearing the Roadstar colours. Roadstar’s Ken Nizam said the popular Safari Tamer had been a huge success for the company – and it will remain an important model in the line-up – but the Sirius took things to a whole new level in design, innovation and fit-out.…

The New South Wales Retreat Caravans dealer Parravans happens to be in Newcastle, which importantly for your reviewer, is a short step away from the winemaking area of the Hunter Valley. This makes it an excellent place for both a visit and a photoshoot for the Retreat Fraser 199C-RB. It’s a van with an external length of 6.45m (21ft) and the somewhat standard layout of a front island bed and full-width rear bathroom. However, it does have one very unusual feature, the external rear storage area. SPACE APLENTY Van storage might seem a funny place to start in a caravan review but this Retreat Fraser 199C-RB comes with a rear boot. In addition to the front tunnel storage, most of the rear wall rear is taken up by an upper…

When it comes to new caravans, things that are out of the ordinary catch your attention. In the RV world where the standard colour is white (often for good reasons), the NextGen Greyline I noticed at a show was, despite the name, bright green. On a practical level, it came to my attention because it was both a single-axle caravan and a bunk bed-fitted van. Which is very interesting in a van with an external length of just 4.95m (16ft 3in). That is something that might challenge the layout designers, not to mention the van’s users! However, taking a look around the outside, a look under the caravan reveals a very solid-looking chassis indeed – 150mm (6in) drawbar and 100mm (4in) rails, along with 50mm (2in) cross members and similarly…

With their rigid chassis, internal heaters and creature comforts, motorhomes are perfect RVs to travel Australia’s alpine areas in winter. In fact, a lot of the time, they’re the only RV that is allowed into such areas, as many alpine roads are deemed unsuitable for trailers, caravans and campers during the cooler months. And while taking a 4.5T motorhome up a steep mountain like Victoria’s Mt Hotham and the infamous Great Alpine Great Road is certainly not for faint-hearted, with a bit of forward-planning, some tips and tricks from those with experience, and a lot of common sense, it can be a spectacular and rewarding winter getaway. So instead of heading north or throwing a cover over the RV and packing it up next winter, consider a motorhome trip to…

Packing up your life, selling your family home, quitting your jobs and strapping your kids into the back of the car, with caravan or camper in tow, is a pretty massive lifestyle change. And it’s exactly what Lynell Taramoeroa and Nathan Hammond did earlier this year, when they hit the road for the long haul with their three young kids – eight-year-old Savannah, six-year-old Harry and two-year-old Rainbow. And they’re not alone. It seems it’s a change more and more Aussie families are looking to take – escaping the rat race and providing the kids with a different type of education, far closer to nature. Family life on the road full-time is a dream for many (and a nightmare for some!), and while any family holiday can be costly, a…

It’s a totally selfish attitude, I have to admit! We take the in-laws with us on some of our trips and then I get to stay out bush longer. It works like this: the in-laws come with us, the wife gets to spend some time with her parents, or with her sister and brother-in-law, and that means she is not pining to see them so much and we can wander on our merry way together and not come home, sometimes (often!) for months. Otherwise, once the three-month mark has passed, Viv is starting to think of home, and by the time six months is up, things are decidedly tetchy and I’d better turn the truck towards the family digs. “Geez, that is a big price to pay”, I can hear…

As I write this, the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany has just finished. It’s one of the premier recreational vehicle shows in the world, the other being in Louisville, USA later in the year. The Dusseldorf show, as it is usually referred to, is a time when all the RV manufacturers in Europe get together to show off their latest and greatest. Component and accessory suppliers including Fiamma, Dometic, Thetford and Webasto also have show stands. It’s no understatement to say that it’s a huge event and anyone contemplating taking a good look should consider at least three days to take it all in. All kinds of new technologies are on show and undoubtedly one of the standout motorhomes this year was a German-built Dethleffs motorhome that was almost entirely…

QLD HAND MADE UNDER THE STARS Nov 30 Browse and buy delicate hand-made wares from the maker, glass in hand, to live music as you wander the Cobb and Co Museum’s annual artisan market. Toowoomba, (07) 4659 4900 4GR MAYORAL CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Dec 3 Local talent will perform to thousands at the iconic Queen’s Park for Toowoomba’s free annual Carols by Candlelight event, with food, rides, entertainment, carols and a fireworks display. WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL Dec 27 Enjoy six days of music, dance, cabaret, acrobatics and comedy with workshops, debate, street theatre, forums, visual arts and a children’s festival culminating in a New Year’s Day fire spectacular. Woodford, woodfordfolkfestival.com NSW/ACT NATIONAL CHERRY FESTIVAL Dec 1-3 Young celebrates the height of the local cherry-picking season with events including the cherry…

If you're heading off the beaten track, it's vital you have the right tools to help prepare you for any eventuality. Getting bogged in the mud can throw your travel plans off-kilter, and it’s a real headache if you don't have the right gear. But, with the new spade from Rhino-Rack, you're ready for anything. With solid dual core construction, heavy-duty heat treated hi-carbon steel, zinc plating and powdercoating it's equipped for maximum strength and rust protection. And at 1m long it's easy to manoeuvre when you're digging your vehicle out of the mud, or using it for other tasks the great outdoors calls for. Rhino-Rack spade RRP: $49 Where: Selected stockists More info: www.rhinorack.com.au…

RVers in Burnett now have their own branch of the Australian Caravan Club, with the formation of the ACC Burnett Bushies. It will cater for the Kingaroy, Nanango, Blackbutt, Wondai and Murgon regions in the south and Gayndah, Mundubbera and Monto regions in the north. It brings the total number of ACC branches to 47. ACC chairman Craig Humphrey said there are many benefits to being part of the club. “RVers around the country are finding that the ACC is offering its members a huge list of advantages including not only great musters and tagalongs with social and sightseeing activities, but also a number of other services such as free Farm Stays, maintenance advice and technical tips, and over 600 businesses offering member benefits.” Humphrey said the ACC has an…

Exposure to the chill of the night – and day – is occasionally a travelling fact of life. And it must be said, no intrepid explorer wants to experience a ‘now is the winter of our discontent’ scenario. Hence there are many excellent heating solutions on the RV market that will provide you with a feeling of warmth along your journey. It may seem an oxymoron, but no one wants to get ‘hot under the collar’ due to the cold! Consequently CW recently observed the installation of a DIY 12V heat exchanger floor heater utilising the Swift unit and packaged as a kit from The RV Repair Centre in Bayswater, Vic. Obviously this heater can only be installed where a 12V house battery and on board hot water service are…

There’s probably no bigger issue facing the RV industry today than that of regulation and compliance, and those brave enough to speak out about it will tell you the industry needs an overhaul. Multiple industry leaders say pretending it’s not an issue is a dangerous path, predominantly for RV enthusiasts, who are unknowingly putting their lives at risk by potentially buying from cowboy manufacturers who are able to skirt around safety due to a loose law. There are few more heated up about it than Colin Young of the Caravan Council of Australia. He says very simply: “The prime cause of all the problems is the Government-permitted use of ‘self-certification’ of caravans and camper trailers (under 4.5 tonne) by manufacturers and importers.” Young says many vans are significantly heavier than…

“It’s purpose-built for the family guy who loves spending time in the great outdoors with his wife and kids...” It’s often said that “family is the basic unit of society” - and I for one wholeheartedly subscribe to this theory. This baby boomer enjoyed a humble – albeit happy and loving – upbringing where family values were number one. And if you were silly enough to stray from that ethos, you were quickly hauled back into line! The wise sage will also say “you’re a product of your environment”, and that’s why family time for me has been equally paramount in parenthood. THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT? My wife, Meredyth, and I have literally spent thousands of entertainment dollars over the years as our children were growing up – particularly on requisite holidays…

Victoria’s Olympic Caravans is poised to harpoon the semi-offroad genre with the all-new Javelin X8. It’s only early days, but already there’s confidence surrounding the Campbellfield manufacturer’s latest offering to this segment of the caravan market. The Javelin boasts a trim athletic appearance courtesy of its sleek aerodynamic design and glistening white aluminium composite cladding. And it really has some bona fide weaponry for couples contemplating outdoors exploration. It bursts out of the blocks with self-sufficient attributes such as a Swift al fresco kitchen slide-out, Dometic front-loading washing machine, exterior shower, and full rear ensuite. And it runs on a sturdy 6in SupaGal Preston chassis (with 2in riser), Cruisemaster independent coil suspension, 12in electric brakes and 15in all-terrain tyres on orange alloy wheels. Meanwhile, a triumvirate of 100Ah batteries, dual…

With most 4WD utes now offering a 3500kg towing capacity, they have become a popular wagon-alternative for caravanners. While some top-shelf utes have become pricey, they’re still much better value and more nimble compared with 4WD wagons with the same heavy duty 3500kg towing capacity. Here we have the latest coil-sprung NP300 Nissan Navara ST-X Dual Cab, which has been updated for 2017 with improved suspension damping – a key criticism of the previous model. Nissan has also deleted the sunroof from the standard equipment list and made it a $1000 option instead. And gone from MY17 vehicles are the floor-mounted rear cup holder and the NP300 tailgate badge. PREMIUM MODEL The ST-X is the premium model in the four model Navara dual cab 4WD range. Standard equipment highlights include…

Years ago while travelling through Far North Queensland, I took a call from my elder sister who was desperate to escape her dysfunctional city lifestyle. Doing what any good sibling does, I suggested that a few months on the road with us might be the perfect break away. It was. She managed to turn her life around but not before she gave ours a bit of a shake up too! More than any trip I’ve tackled since, those two months with my sister on board taught me valuable lessons about sharing small spaces, voicing expectations (and biting my tongue), and not being afraid to say no – even to scary older sisters. I have gone on to share all kinds of adventures with my mum, sisters and their families too,…

Surgery can have a major impact on travel. For many, it will involve days, if not weeks laid up in bed, interspersed with significant rehabilitation, easing back into daily life. It may challenge your patience, your outlook and your ability to manage pain. For me, it’s been six months since undertaking a full hip replacement for osteoarthritis, accelerated by a previous operation on my foot. At 49 years old, I’m in the lower age range for this surgery, but not alone. Recuperation time has been significant and there have been some sacrifices along the way, yet I can finally see the light at the end of a very long tunnel. Here’s a few tips for those who are about to undergo something similar. Pace yourself Rome wasn’t built in a…

Living in a digital world, we love to showcase our travels online, perfecting the shot to make sure it reaches double digits on Instagram, but perhaps it’s time to take a step back, live in the moment and capture this summer's memories instantly with the FUJIFILM Instax Mini 9. The new FUJIFILM Instax Mini 9 evokes wanderlust in adventure seekers – no matter where they are in the world, the Mini 9 inspires a range of instant snaps whether it is a mix of history, colours or a new culture full of charm and passion. The FUJIFILM Instax Mini 9 has revolutionised the way in which you can capture the perfect travel selfie, with an inbuilt selfie mirror and close lens attachment – taking a group shot has never been…