Innehållsförteckning för Issue 620 från Caravan World

In anticipation of borders opening, we commissioned two Western Australian travel stories for this issue. You will find them in these pages, and they should rev you up to travel but, as we know, those of us in the eastern states are still locked out with no end in sight. Like a lot of you, we have been anticipating a caravan trip to WA for some time, in the hope of exploring the southern coast and other destinations that our travel correspondent for the western state, Julia D’Orazio, boasts of here regularly. Let’s hope we can get there soon. While we wait, there is plenty of maintenance to do on the van, and this month we check out some of the essentials we should all consider. Our recent survey of…

VAN LENGTHS? John, I am trying to make sense of the various length measurements for the Leader Gold LE 2160 caravan reviewed in issue 616. In the weights and measures section the overall length is stated as 9.05m and the body length as 6.55m. I assume the body length is the outside dimension of the body excluding the A-frame and spare tyre. On page 70 the inside length is given as 6.65m which is longer than the body length. Can you please explain what the body length is? Does the overall length include the spare on the back? I don’t think the A-frame is 2.5m long. Thanks for an always interesting magazine, John Badger A Caravan speci›ications are confusing and there isn’t much conformity across various builders. It’s especially confusing…

Readers Russell and Robyn Clark hit the road in their 2019 For Ranger Wildtrax and 2016 Bayview Strahan, aiming for the Red Centre while trying to beat lockdowns and border closures. “We stopped for a break at the Coonalpyn Silos, SA, on our way via the Red Centre through to the east coast trying to dodge COVID-19 in July 2021. Unfortunately, it caught up with us in Brisbane, requiring us to store our van and vehicle and fly back to our home state of Tasmania.” Reader Kylie Nash took to the red dirt tracks of outback Western Australia, capturing the beauty of the area along the way. “Just another photo of why the old man and I love getting away. This photo taken on the Gibb River Road near Home…

GETTING THERE: Charlotte Plains Station is 60km east of Cunnamulla and 295km west of St George via the Balonne Highway and the unsealed Charlotte Plains Road to the homestead. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Autumn, winter, and spring. FUEL AND SUPPLIES: Cunnamulla, Bollon, St George. CAMPING: • At the Shearers Campsite: double and twin share rooms, powered and unpowered sites with kitchen, toilets, showers and a laundry. • At the Bore Campsite: unpowered sites, toilets, showers and fireplaces. • Prices (per night): Double room ($100), twin share ($85), powered site ($30), unpowered site ($25). ATTRACTIONS: • Artesian bore hot tubs • Guided station tour • Self-drive touring • Historic woolshed • Prolific birdlife • Bushwalking • Outback scenery CONTACT: Charlotte Plains 1993 Charlotte Plains Road, Cunnamulla P: (07) 4655 4923 E:…

Centaur are far from mainstream. They are a niche manufacturer with a build capacity currently around 40 caravans a year. There are two things that make Centaur different from most other Australian makers — they place a strong emphasis on being small and light when so much of the industry is going in the opposite direction, and also utilise a lot of fibreglass in the exterior and interior of their builds. The emphasis comes from the company's roots in the automotive industry, where they manufacture an array of components, including police divisional van pods for Victoria and Western Australia, specialised components for Walkinshaw Performance and parts for Kenworth trucks. Centaur achieve their relatively light weight through clever design and using a minimalist approach to the features (read, weight) they supply…

In what used to be called ‘the Mereenie Loop’ — part of it goes through Mereenie Valley — The Red Centre Way is your grand tour of the best of Central Australia. It’s such an integral part of our country that even high school groups head to the iconic destinations as it’s a great way to feel as though you’re in a different country — a different planet even. The long-haul drive is what makes the outback so special and it makes you realise how lively the desert is with its diverse landscapes and unique and native species. There are also a variety of experiences in the Red Centre that will interest you. If anything here piques your interest or you’re after deals and further information, discovercentralaustralia.com.au will help you.…

“Bloody hell, that Bimmer is good,” enthused Tim van Duyl, after stepping out from behind the wheel of the BMW X5 xDrive 30d, fresh from a 600km towing stint. Days earlier we’d been debating the towing credentials of the German luxury SUV, specifically whether it had the goods to mix it with the likes of LandCruiser, Patrol and others. We agreed that, while it would probably drive better than just about anything else on the market, it may not have the requisite grunt and towing stability to handle mid- to heavy-duty haulage. Now, having returned from a two-day jaunt towing a 21-footer to Victoria’s Otways and back, we had the answer. WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? The BMW X5 is one of Australia’s most popular large-premium SUVs, notching up just under…

ERNST & YOUNG TO OVERSEE LIQUIDATION OF JURGENS AUSTRALIA The Victorian Supreme Court has ordered troubled caravan manufacturer Jurgens Australia to wrap up, with ASIC recently announcing that Ernst & Young will oversee the liquidation process. Jurgens Australia established caravan assembly in Tooradin, Victoria, in 2008 and, following strong growth, moved to a $5m factory at Pakenham five years later. The company assembled a range of lightweight vans from components sourced from Jurgens South Africa, the dominant caravan builder in Africa with a storied history dating back to the 1950s. The brand placed its focus in the lightweight caravan sector, with local input to ensure compliance with a host of Australian standards alongside the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Fit-out of the CNC-produced furniture took place at its Pakenham factory, and…

We feature a plethora of detailed how to articles in Caravan World. In this article, though, we take a different approach, with a higher-level look at many of the elements that need to be maintained on a caravan. Some of these tasks are suitable for knowledgeable DIYers with the right equipment, others are best left to professionals due to the risks involved. “There are many detailed online resources you can draw on to help you execute the DIY tasks, including articles you can find on our website” There isn’t the time or space to go into the detail of how to complete all of these tasks. Instead, you can use this information as a checklist for your own work and/or for consulting with a caravan repairer. There are many detailed…

Nestled in the sleepy coastal township of Burnett Heads, a new lifestyle village has emerged and is redefining over 50s living for active travellers. Located just outside of Bundaberg, Queensland, RV Lifestyle Village Oceanside has just welcomed home its 35th resident and, with 46 hectares of land, is looking at welcoming many more over the next three years. “RV Oceanside is all about lifestyle,” said Group General Manager, Amy Boyd. “We wanted to create a village tailor-made for people who enjoy the RV lifestyle. That’s more than just providing an RV garage in every home — it’s about wide streets, generous driveways, and eliminating the worry of “Are we going to make that?” or “Do we have enough clearance?” But the benefits for RV owners doesn’t stop there. RV Oceanside…

William Dampier was ahead of his time, I’m told. He was what we might now call an influencer, minus the TikTok profile. The English buccaneer and explorer loved to write about his travels, and people loved to read about them. When he wrote about the abundance of a mollusc called Pinctada Maxima in the shallow waters off Broome at the end of the 17th century, his words prompted pearlers from Cossack in the Pilbara to head north in 1886 (going viral was a more protracted process back then), in search of the largest pearl shells in the world. This story is being recounted to us by Chris Maher from Salty Plum Social tours as we wander Broome’s town centre, which is getting a serious spruce up via a $30 million…

Tasmania is heaven for foodies, but you don’t have to be a gourmet reviewer or a wine connoisseur to know you’re in produce paradise. You just have to love what nature provides — in abundance — and what passionate producers create from it. The northern edge of Tassie is so full of fresh produce, it’s little wonder driving trails have been developed to steer you through all that’s on offer. The Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail is a delicious example — a 225km drive west from Launceston to Smithton with 37 stops along the way. Bordered by the wild Bass Strait coastline and pristine Cradle Mountain, the trail crosses some of the most fertile country in Australia. Be warned, it’s dangerous territory for weight watchers. Brace yourself for whisky, wine,…

In July 2021, a new company emerged from the woods, and has given us yet another choice of how we tour Australia in comfort and style. Basing his showroom in Caboolture, Qld, Steven Van Schagen is the man behind the K9 Vans lineup of six uniquely themed caravans, with an equal choice of three hybrids and three caravans. After 20 years of developing and manufacturing quality sunshades, Steven has a particular eye to quality control and customer service. His no-nonsense attitude lends itself to the new venture he has recently undertaken with building caravans. Steven’s vans are built in China, and he was earnest to state the fact that the quality control he assures on the building of these vans abroad, translates to a strong, reliable build without the big…

WATER SPINACH STIR FRY TOTAL TIME: 10 minutes SERVES: 3 INGREDIENTS • 3 bunches water spinach (from Asian grocer) • 1tbsp sesame oil • 1tsp dry red chilli flakes • 3-4 garlic cloves, chopped finely • ¼tsp Schezwan peppercorns, crushed • Salt, to taste • Garnish with roasted sesame seeds METHOD Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat on a campfire. Add chillies and peppercorns, frying for a minute, then add garlic and water spinach. Stir fry until spinach is wilted, then take off the heat. Stir in the salt and garnish with roasted sesame seeds to serve. Serve with eggs, avocado and toast, or just by itself. SPICY CHILLI BEEF SKEWERS TOTAL TIME: 60 minutes (includes marinade time) SERVES: 12 skewers INGREDIENTS • 1kg beef sirloin, cut…

Water leaking into your van is guaranteed to cause you dramas if left unresolved. Water can cause rot and swelling in timber and corrosion in metals which can ultimately lead to the van falling apart. Water can also cause mould and odours making the van unhealthy to live and at the least very unpleasant. We spent a morning with Andrew Phillips and the team from the RV Repair Centre to learn more about combatting water leaks. There are two lines of defence against water leaks. By far the best is prevention and failing that, early detection. Either way, it is important to keep two things in mind — be diligent and check regularly, and there are many places where rainwater can get in (basically anywhere there is an opening or…

The Transcool E3 is a versatile portable personal air cooling solution for you or your pets when things get a bit warm, easily used by plugging it into a 12V cigarette style power socket if you are off the grid, or plug into mains power at home — Transcool even offer an optional Lithium power pack if you go bush without any source of power. The Transcool E3 provides cool relief and can be used anywhere, both indoors and outdoors, while stationary or moving. Designed in Australia to be compact and lightweight, with a low power draw and a 2-year warranty, the Transcool E3 is the perfect companion when hitting the road in a caravan, camper or tent, the water in a boat, or even for use at home. MORE…

Many caravan owners overlook the importance of regular servicing and maintenance of their RV. This can cause myriad safety concerns and in many cases cost you more in the long run, when a major repair is needed due to the irregular servicing of your caravan. What’s more is that these needed repairs are likely to become apparent or come to a head during your trip, adding further expenses and potentially ruining your holiday. Additionally, RV product is subject to stringent Australian Design Rules (ADR) under federal vehicle safety standards to be considered compliant. Although ADRs are primarily focused on the manufacturing of vehicles before entering the market, in many cases they apply to in-service vehicle rules. This is on top of the many Australian Standards which apply to a range…

With a B.E.S.T. (Bacteria Elimination Silver Treatment) water filter, you can ensure you have clean, safe water – wherever the road may take you. The filter means you can safely draw water from town, tank, creek or bore water sources to fill your caravan’s tanks, while the chemicals and sediment will be removed and the bacteria destroyed. The filter is multi-directional, can be used after long periods of non-use and involves a simple, DIY installation. How to win If you’re stumped by a technical or towing problem, send your question to submissions@emprisegroup.com.au with ‘Tech Talk’ in the subject line or send a letter to Caravan World Tech Talk, 3 Wyman Place, Braeside, Vic 3195. All entries must include your full address (not for publication).…

‘Charlotte Plains’ is a sheep station 60km east of Cunnamulla in southwest Queensland. Its owner, Robyn Russell, welcomes visitors for a unique farm-stay experience that includes naturally-heated artesian spa baths amid wetlands teeming with native birds. The property has been in Robyn’s family for nearly 100 years. THE MULGA LANDS The station lies in the heart of the Mulga Lands, a bioregion sprawling more than 250,000sqkm across south-west Queensland and northern New South Wales. This vast semi-arid landscape is a mosaic of flat sandy plains, undulating dunefields, ranges of long low hills, and fans of alluvial red earth. With headwaters in the Carnarvon Range near Tambo, the Warrego River flows generally south through the middle of the region for 1380km before petering out in swamps near Louth (NSW). The river…

ISUZU MU-X LS-T 4X4 In 2020, Isuzu’s D-MAX Ute shocked rivals with the quantum leap it made in terms of safety, technology, and sophistication. In 2021, the brand’s MU-X wagon has proven it wasn’t a fluke by doing the same again. “A big step up in comfort, specs and price, the new MU-X has stepped away from being an acceptably flawed budget choice to being a top-of-town contender for quality. We’ve towed with them lots. Expect 15-20L/100km with a full-size van in tow” The second-generation MU-X is again based on the proven platform and mechanics of the D-MAX, but with key changes that make the family wagon arguably even better suited as a long-range tourer and tow-rig. With its stronger body-on-frame chassis, re-engineered coil-sprung multi-link rear suspension, and increased front…

GETTING THERE You can drive to Broome from Perth in around seven days, taking in Nambung National Park, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Karratha, Port Headland and Eighty Mile Beach. WHEN TO TRAVEL Broome gets some torrential rain during the wet season, so it’s best to visit between April and November. EAT & DRINK Enjoy an Asian-inspired lunch at The Aarli, creative craft beers at Matso’s brewery (try the chilli ginger beer for a kick), and a pizza at the famous Roebuck Bay Hotel, better known as ‘the Roey’, which was founded in 1890 and became the local haunt of Broome’s pearling crews. Zanders is good for a seafood platter after a camel ride on Cable Beach. STAY There are a number of caravan parks in Broome, including…

Western Australia's 90,000-hectare working merino sheep station is like a theme park for thrill-seekers minus the fanfare. It's remote, off-grid and offers a real sense of escapism in its ‘desert meets sea’ outback location. You could call it the real Wild Wild West. Gnaraloo's 65km of unspoilt coastline is an arcane mecca for adventure enthusiasts. It attracts surfers of all kinds (wind, wave, kite), offroad 4WD buffs, fishing fans, whale watchers and snorkellers — the types of people who seek simple, natural highs. And many who thrive off rustic living stay weeks or months on end to take full advantage of the wilderness destination. With the Ningaloo Reef, world-class surf and epic driving trails in easy reach, could you blame them? It really is a different kind of amusement park…

Today, half the people who possess the prestigious Master of Wine title are women, but back in the day a female winemaker was the rare exception. Because women couldn’t own property, the only way for a woman to make and produce wine was through the rather bleak means of inheritance, whether it be through the death of a husband, father, uncle, or brother — someone had to die for a woman to get her hands on some vines. Did you know that ‘veuve’ is the French word for widow? You might recognise the word from the label of one of the most internationally regarded Champagne houses, Clicquot. In fact, the iconic orange-labelled ‘Veuve Clicquot’ was the world’s first champagne label and is the most famous product produced by the Widow…

When it comes to lithium batteries, there are no real household names. We’re flooded with Facebook ads for the best new release at supposed bargain prices and a quick search on the likes of eBay and you’ll get dozens of results for all sorts of unheard-of brands. My recommendation with them is to steer clear. The seller could be a private individual or be offshore with no legal obligations to back up their claims and worse, the batteries could be rubbish like a lot of the junk flogged online. So, what of Invicta? It turns out they come from a parent company, Sealed Performance batteries, that happen to supply the bulk of Australia’s retail and OEM batteries. Sealed Performance Batteries (SPB) supply ARB and BMPRO their lithium batteries as well…

Not all televisions are up to the knock about life of caravan travel, and I have experience of domestic televisions not lasting the distance. We don’t watch a lot of TV on the road, but it’s good to catch up if the weather turns nasty or the cricket is getting interesting. We recently got to try an Englaon TV/DVD combination after noticing that the upmarket Bushtracker vans have them as standard equipment. According to Englaon, domestic quality TVs are designed to sit permanently in one spot at a stable temperature and perform best in a stable and predictable environment. But because a TV in a van is subject to extreme vibrations and temperature changes, they need to be made for the task. An Englaon TV uses the high-end technology used…