Innehållsförteckning för Issue 650 från Caravan World

We've been in southern Queensland for the past few weeks, enjoying the warmer weather and taking time to check on some new vans. On one of the reviews, and in what was a first for me on a review, we got well and truly bogged. Deep sand on Bribie Island/Yarun while towing a new single-axle Sunland brought us undone. We had crossed the same stretch of sand on our way into the photo location but came to a halt on our way out. We had traction boards, a tyre gauge and a pump, so before long, we had aired down more and were on our way. Still, it got me thinking. What are the essential items we need to carry with us at all times? We shouldn't need traction boards…

Naturalist David Attenborough has described the Horizontal Falls on WA's Kimberley Coast as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world”, and it's easy to see why. The Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park is a protected area covering the falls and wider area and is jointly managed by the WA Government and the traditional owners of the land and waters, the Dambimangari group. So remote is this area, it is only accessible by seaplane or boat. My partner and I were lucky enough to see this natural phenomenon up close recently on a day tour out of Broome with Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures. A boat operated by Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures was involved in an accident at the Falls in May 2022, resulting in injuries to passengers. The WA Government…

SUNFINDER COASTLINE 17 REVIEWS “Not everyone wants the wild remote adventure, and plenty couples love the facilities that new style caravan parks offer” Compact vans like this Sunfinder from Majestic Caravans often seem like the poor cousins of the caravan scene. The big yards showcase the oversize offroad examples out the front where they encourage dreams of hitting the road for the great Aussie adventure. We tend to fall into the same trap here with larger vans taking up real estate on our covers and as reviews a lot of the time. Sure, lots of readers aspire to the offroad adventure scene, but as a recent survey uncovered, many readers are researching smaller caravans. Although we might be tempted to call the little Sunfinder Coastline on review here an entry…

TOP 5 MUST-VISIT AUSSIE AREAS: Bourke, NSW PRESENTED BY CARAVAN WORLD FEATURE Being Bourke born and bred, I've something of a soft spot for this remote town in northern New South Wales. Tucked on the banks of the Darling-Baaka River in remote north NSW, Bourke's claim to fame is that it was once one of Australia's largest inland ports exporting wool down the Darling to the Murray to South Australia and beyond. While the river trade is long gone, the town has become a favourite for many travellers as the gateway to Australia's real outback. BACK O’ BOURKE INFORMATION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE One of the best places to start your Bourke adventure is to head to the Back O’ Bourke Information and Exhibition Centre. The staff will be able to…

DARWIN, NT TRAVEL “Darwin is closer to Bali than Bondi by about 3000km” As if on cue to reinforce what we had been hearing for the past few days about Darwin's experience during World War II, our night out on the Stokes Hill Wharf was cancelled. Workers had discovered a rusting Japanese bomb on a new construction project, and the whole waterfront area was closed down until it was safe. An hour after sunset, a loud explosion signalled that the bomb had been detonated safely. In an ABC report, Jared Archibald, a historian and curator at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, revealed that: “There's live ordnance all over the Top End, some from enemy attacks, and much of it from the Allies training as well.” So,…

SIMPLE CARAVAN TIPS FEATURE Let us introduce ourselves… We are Vicki and Glenn, also known on socials and YouTube as Happy Campers Australia. We have been caravanning for many years and traveling full time in our offroad single axle caravan since 2018. Over the years we have picked up dozens of small tips that make caravanning easier and set up quick and simple. We have given you a small selection here with no solution much more than $20. Here are our top simple tips, in no particular order. PROTECTING YOUR MEDICATION We all have a cupboard full of assorted medications. It doesn't need to be the middle of summer for temperatures in those cupboards to soar. Most medications need to be kept below 25°C to maintain their efficacy. We have…

Longreach sits on the Tropic of Capricorn and is 690km west of Rockhampton. Close to the geographic centre of Queensland, the town stands at the junction of the east–west Landsborough Highway (which shadows the Central Western railway line) and the north–south Thomson Developmental Road. The Thomson River flows nearby on its way to join Cooper Creek deep in Channel Country to the southwest. In fact, the town is named for a ‘long reach’ of that river, which was a vital resource to pioneer settlers and pastoralists in the 1870s. With a population of around 3720, Longreach is the largest town in central Queensland and the administrative centre of a regional council area that includes the smaller townships of Ilfracombe, Isisford and Yaraka. Capitalising on its strategic location, Longreach serves a…

RECIPES ON THE ROAD COOKING CAMPFIRE FLATBREAD TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS • 2 cups Greek yoghurt • 2 cups self-raising flour (more for desired consistency) • Pinch of salt • Olive oil METHOD Mix yoghurt, flour and salt in a bowl; add extra flour until it loses its stickiness and can be rolled into a ball. Place the ball on a clean, floured surface and divide into eight portions. Roll out and flatten each portion onto the board then stretch the sides with your hands to make a disc around 12cm wide and 1cm deep. Liberally brush a skillet with olive oil. Cook one side of the flatbread until slightly charred then flip and cook the other side. Serve flatbread with lamb cutlets and yoghurt dressing. LAMB…

An essential part of caravan safety is a proper first aid kit. When the staff in the Melbourne office recently went through their first aid certification, it was a timely reminder that it was time to update the kit in our car. We have carried it for the past few years, and the plastic toolbox looked a bit second hand. Much of the content was depleted, out of date or dust damaged. It was time for a new kit. Our choice was a SURVIVAL Boaties Bundle because it includes a comprehensive kit and comes in a waterproof box designed to protect the contents in dusty and wet environments. Often, our travels include boating, so the waterproof kit made sense, but I was more interested in the kit being dustproof, which…

When it comes to celebrating industry excellence, the annual Caravan Industry Victoria (CIV) Hall of Fame and Industry Awards ceremony is one of the most prestigious events in Australia. The 2024 event took place on 21 June at Melbourne's Crown Palladium and more than 500 guests, including CIV and industry members, came together to celebrate the achievements of individuals and businesses over the past year. Recognised as the voice of Victoria's caravan and camping industry since 1952, the CIV's main goal is to advocate for, represent and support its members in order to further grow and promote the industry. Over the course of the night, eighteen awards were presented to individuals, businesses and employees to honour their significant contributions to the industry. Every entrant into the awards undergoes a rigorous…

Winter might be in full swing, but it's also prime time to start planning your best summer adventure yet. And if you love exploring regional parts of Australia, listening to country music icons and experiencing a city-wide festival, then you're in luck. The Toyota 53rd Tamworth Country Music Festival is a 10-day event running from 17–26 January 2025 and it has become one of Australia's most well-recognised music events and is home to the iconic Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and much more. One of the things that truly makes this festival unique is that it is ungated, meaning the music, activities and more isn't confined to a single part of the city. Instead, the festival sprawls throughout the streets of Tamworth, with buskers, performances, markets, stages and more than 100…

The small town of Gascoyne Junction, WA, is the hub for the popular Upper Gascoyne region. This surprising little oasis in the outback acts as the starting point, finale or mid region stop for the many hundreds of visitors who come to explore the ancient landscapes of Kennedy Range National Park and the world's largest rock: Mount Augustus. Boasting epic road trips, hiking trails and sparkling night skies for astronomers and astrophotographers, Gascoyne Junction is a must-see Aussie town that should be added to every traveller's bucket list of destinations. WHERE TWO RIVERS MEET Leaving the Pilbara and Coral Coast regions behind, Gascoyne Junction is the gateway to Australia's Golden Outback and is the perfect basecamp to explore the many attractions of the Upper Gascoyne region. As the name suggests,…

If you love gold rush history, heritage buildings, wineries, charming villages and beautiful landscapes, then these four townships in the Indigo Shire are for you. Located an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne along the Hume Highway and a stone's throw from the Murray River, these towns offer the perfect weekend getaway or an extended caravanning adventure as you tour from one town to the next for the full Indigo Shire experience. Despite being located only a 30–40-minute drive from each other, each town bears its own unique characteristics and must-visit destinations. So, let's head on a tour to make sure you see it all. RUTHERGLEN While Rutherglen does have ties to the gold rush era, its true wealth is the landscape's rich and fertile soil. Rutherglen is one of Victoria's…

‘More with less’ – that's the credo of the modern ute. As displacements descend from the hairy-chested V8s, V6s and big-cube fours and fives of years past, the modern paradigm of low-displacement, high-boost turbo diesels is one that appears to be serving the segment well. But when time comes to hook a few tonnes to the rear and go make some memories on the open road, there still seems to be a certain degree of angst about small powertrains and their ability to handle big loads for long distances. Is a low-displacement engine that leans heavily on its turbo really more efficient than a big-n-lazy V6 or V8 equivalent? Does it have the muscle to lug a heavy van up a grade? We grabbed a 17ft Jayco Starcraft and connected…

VIBE CARAVANS MARLO 176 REVIEWS Vibe Caravans is a relatively new name in the Australian caravan industry. Established just two years ago, Vibe manufactures in Craigieburn, Victoria. I must confess that I hadn't heard of the manufacturer until Joe Gomes from Auswide Caravans and RVs, Nowra, very keenly showed me the range at a recent caravan show. The Vibe range offers a selection of layouts, but I opted for one of the smallest: the Marlo 176, a single-axle van with an external body length of 17ft 6in (5.33m). It's always helpful when the numerals in the van's name match the external body length – that's not something everyone does. TOW VEHICLE I was a little entertained when I arrived at Auswide. The van was hitched up, ready to go, but…

ALL ELECTRIC BIG LAP COLUMNS Crossing into the Northern Territory (NT), the road conditions immediately revealed their rugged nature, with patches, potholes and ruts even on major routes fitting the Territory's wild reputation. While Western Australia has nearly completed the initial rollout of its EV Network, the Northern Territory lags with significantly fewer fast-charging options. However, this is changing rapidly thanks to a partnership between the Federal Government and NRMA to deliver a national EV fast-charging network, including 16 locations throughout the NT. Our first stop in the Territory was Victoria River, where we trickle-charged the car overnight while camping. Until the fastcharging network progresses, there are no other charging options along the stretch from the WA border to Katherine. Initially, we faced some issues with the power dropping out…

Cooking outside is a favourite part of the caravan lifestyle, and we have been exploring different options with charcoal fires over the past few months. Our search for a suitable firepit recently took me to the Wildtrak Frontier 360, which we bought through a camping store in Byron Bay. We have seen a variety of this style of cooker, and they vary widely in price and size. What attracted me to Wildtrak was its small size and easy set up and that the cost was reasonable. The Wildtrak website suggests a recommended retail of $199, which is about what competitors quote for their similar products. However, they were on sale at $99, which seemed pretty good value. The firepit is made of stainless steel, which is a good start in…

We're in the thick of Big Bash season now, with the Birdsville Big Red Bash having taken place in early July and the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash kicking off on 15 August. An exciting development for these two 2024 outback musical events is that INEOS Grenadier was announced as the official vehicle partner. With the Big Red Bash over in a blaze – or splash – of glory, the INEOS Grenadier is now helping festival operations teams to tow vital gear out to the remote Mundi Mundi Plains at Silverton, outside Broken Hill in NSW. Once they arrive, the Grenadier 4x4 will be on display for 4WD enthusiasts and adventurers to admire. There'll be test drives and vehicle demonstrations available as well. The INEOS Grenadier is a unique 4x4…

1 KNOW YOUR CAPABILITY Before hitting the road, make sure you are ready for the challenge. Towing a caravan poses unique challenges and requires different skills than driving a standalone vehicle. Caravans have a considerable impact on the handling and braking capabilities of the towing vehicle. If you have yet to tow, it's wise to seek training or advice from an experienced driver. Practice on a safe backroad to feel how the van and vehicle combination move when cornering and braking. Confidence comes with practice and makes better, safer towing. 2 DON'T RUSH Don't be cajoled into doing something you aren't confident in doing. Sure, it's best to go with the traffic flow out on the highway, but only if you feel safe. Stay in your lane, keep speed constant and signal…

SEND PICS TO WIN “Some of the main highlights were along the beautiful Murray River. This photo is from Murray Bridge at the Avoca Dell Caravan Park. Low flying pelicans across the river at sunrise and sunset were a real treat.” “We paused here to take in the silence and ‘nothingness’ of the beautiful Queensland outback. Our tow tug is a 2017 Toyota LandCruiser Sahara. The caravan is a 2018 23ft New Age Oz Classic.” “We intend on completing the Lap of Aus next year leaving March/April 2025 from Melbourne to Darwin then WA and SA.” “The Gibb River Road was on our bucket list and from Kununurra we travelled the sealed section of the road as far as the Pentecost River.” “In our Red Centre Oasis caravan and Ford…

Safety when camping, whether you're in a caravan park, national park or a great camping area off the beaten track, goes hand in hand with a successful trip. Despite what we might wish, caravan and camping holidays are not devoid of hazards, danger, risks and – sad to say – crime. While Australia is a fabulous place to explore with a van in tow, it's not always a cinch to find a safe and secure (or even legal) place to park for the night. And safe campsite practices sometimes get left by the wayside after a few trips without any issues. Prioritising safety with careful planning and solid preparation is the key to ensuring safe experiences and creating forever memories. GIVE YOURSELF THE SAFETY OF TIME Planning and preparation My…

GVM upgrades FEATURE Let's start with a basic explanation of vehicle weights – for more detailed explanations of the most common term refer to our ‘Caravan safety 101’ article on page 20 and online. The kerb mass of a vehicle is essentially how much it weighs unloaded (i.e., the tare weight but with a full tank instead of 10L). When you add your load to the kerb mass (including cargo, passengers, bolt-on accessories and the download of the caravan on the towball) you get the loaded weight. Car manufacturers specify the maximum loaded weight for their vehicles and refer to it as gross vehicle mass (GVM). If you exceed this number, your tow vehicle will not be legal, it will not be insured and there's a good chance it will…

TOP 5 MUST-VISIT AUSSIE AREAS: KUNUNURRA, WA PRESENTED BY CARAVAN WORLD FEATURE Goonoonoorrang, the traditional name for Kununurra by the Miriuwung and Gajerrong peoples, translates to ‘river’ or ‘big water’ which is appropriate for a town that sits on the mighty 650km-long Ord River. Located just 55km from the Northern Territory border, Kununurra is one of Australia's youngest towns, established in the early 1960s to support the Ord River Irrigation scheme. The town serves as an ideal hub for travellers exploring the East Kimberley region and is the gateway to some of Australia's most popular attractions such as the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park (the Bungle Bungles) with its distinctive beehive-shaped rock formations, Mitchell Plateau, Lake Argyle, the Ord River, El Questro and many beautiful gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes.…

TOP 5 MUST-VISIT AUSSIE AREAS: WIMMERA MALLEE, VIC PRESENTED BY CARAVAN WORLD FEATURE Broad open skies, star-filled nights and welcoming locals who'll make you feel like you're a long-lost relative – these are just some of the experiences that make the Wimmera Mallee region a favourite among travellers. Tucked in the north-western corner of Victoria's ‘Garden State’ the Wimmera Mallee region has a rich heritage. With dozens of towns to explore, each featuring some unique and wonderful highlights, the Wimmera Mallee region is a great place to steer your car and van if you want a trip filled with the unexpected. AN IDYLLIC ESCAPE One of the best parts of heading into Australia's rural settings and towns is to experience the untamed landscapes, country hospitality and see the many unique…

We didn't expect to strike gold on the way to Tamworth, NSW, a place more commonly known for its music and gigantic guitar. But a detour on the way, to an intriguing town high up in the Hills of Gold, unearthed more gems than we bargained for. Historic Nundle, located about 68km from Tamworth and five hours from Sydney owes a great deal to the discovery of gold in the 1850s. Keen diggers flocked to the area when gold was discovered at nearby Hanging Rock in 1851 and overnight Nundle was on the map. ‘Nundul’ is an Aboriginal word for mouth, and it perhaps referred to the mouth of the Peel River close by. Back then water was as precious as gold on the diggings, so it was a good…

WA BEST BEACH CAMPING SPOTS TRAVEL When it comes to beach camping, Western Australia can leave you feeling overwhelmed – the good kind, that is. The vast state's coastline stretches for nearly 13,000km. The options of where to park, experience wildlife, watch an Indian Ocean sunset and retire to the sounds of waves rolling are abundant. I've had my fair share of slumbers along sands – whether blazing red, snow-white or gold – and here I reveal my dream spots around my home state. Time to embrace a sandy doormat … HAMELIN BAY HOLIDAY PARK Peak hour looks different at Hamelin Bay. Located 36km south of Margaret River, Hamelin Bay Holiday Park features 120 camping sites, ablution blocks and a camp kitchen. The park enjoys easy access to the popular…

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS REGULARS NSW Sydney 4WD and Adventure Show 6–8 September 2024 Head to Sydney Dragway to see the latest RVs, 4WDs, boats, outdoor accessories and more. Check out the full lineup of exhibitors and activities online: sydney.4wdshow.com.au King of the Ranges Stockman's Challenge and Bush Festival 27–29 September 2024 Pay homage to Australia's bush folklore and enjoy the fantastic displays of whip cracking, bush poetry, billy boiling competitions, markets and much more in the beautiful town of Murrurundi. Find out more online: kingoftheranges.com.au Tamworth Barbeque Festival 27–29 September 2024 Head to Tamworth this September for a fantastic barbecue, brews, market stalls, live music, the National Thunder Motorcycle Rally and much more: tamworthbbqfestival.com.au VIC Border Caravan and Camping Expo 30 August – 1 September 2024 For the latest caravans,…

SIDETRACKS: SPIKY BRIDGE, TAS COLUMNS Listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, Spiky Bridge was built by convicts in 1843 and forms part of the convict-built coach road which connected Swansea to Little Swanport and the east coast road to Hobart. With the bridge's location opposite the beaches of Great Oyster Bay, you need to be careful you don't miss the turnoff while admiring the ocean views. The bridge was built from local field stones without mortar or cement, and a small arch allows water to pass beneath. The parapet was constructed using jagged field stones placed vertically on their ends, hence the name Spiky Bridge. Looking at the bridge's side profile, you can see a water channel running down the wall from a slot at the base of the roadway…

Winter is a great time for getting the campfire going for those true cosy cool-night vibes. But it's essential that you stay fire safe and have a reliable fire extinguisher with you wherever you go, even when you don't have the van hitched up. The Fire-One ‘First Response’ Small Nano Particle Fire Extinguisher Device is a lightweight (500g) option with zero maintenance required and a shelf life of five years after the date of manufacture. And best yet, it's easy to use and is designed to hold in one hand – simply pull the safety pin, aim it at the fire and push the start button with a discharge time of 9-12 seconds. While bushfires are common in Australia, particularly in the hotter months, travelling with a caravan or 4WD…