Table of contents for Issue 633 in Caravan World

It was only last month that I was lamenting the current grey and boxy Australian caravan design. But over the past few weeks, we have been busy in Queensland, and I may have to walk back my rant a bit. As well as a week on Moreton Island near Brisbane, we found some innovative vans with a refreshing approach. On our way north, the Caravans Coffs Coast in Coffs Harbour showcased its 18'6” Titanium, and we headed bush for photos and a review. It's a ripper van in what's probably my favourite size, and the Coffs team always goes the extra mile to make the experience worthwhile. While the Titanium might be big and boxy, the colour scheme of old-school LandCruiser beige tugs at the heartstrings. Up in Brisbane, we…

ESSENTIAL C CL ASS SIGNATURE F2-6 REVIEWS Sydney RV, based in western Sydney, is undoubtedly a dealer of some note if the range of caravans on offer is any guide. At the dealer's Penrith premises, there's a wide range of caravan brands available but some, like Essential Caravans, stand out more than others. Like many caravan manufacturers, Essential is based in Melbourne, and produces a range of caravans for touring, semi-offroad, offroad and family travel. Since I was looking for a family caravan, I opted for a C Class Signature Family 2-6. By way of explanation, the Essential's C Class is already a well-appointed van, but the Signature moniker adds a few more goodies, like the grey water tank. “When stepping aboard, you can immediately appreciate the elegant interior design”…

CARRERA IVENTURE III OFFROAD 21'6” FAMILY REVIEWS I met up with the Pannunzio family from RV Sales Australia to check out the Carrera iVenture III. RV Sales Australia is a Melbourne-based dealership selling brands such as Opal Caravans, Regal Motorhomes and RP Caravans. Tucked down the end of a laneway in an industrial area, the dealership is a bit of a hidden gem with a number of vans on display in an undercover showroom. Here you will find examples of the Carrera range which has a special place with the Pannunzio family as it is their own brand where they have full control of the design and manufacture. George and Carmen have owned and operated the business for eight years and sons, James and Jack, are actively involved. George explained…

SUNFINDER ALL TERRAIN 18.6 REVIEWS The van sits on a single axle Torflex suspension providing good dampening for predictable suspension while touring The Glass House Mountains of Queensland boasts a good variety of terrain and road conditions to test out the Sunfinder where the typical owner may take it. I got a good feeling for the van, as well as the type of after sales service you could expect as Jon from Majestic tagged along for the ride. The Sunfinder range is built and supported by Majestic which has been in the caravan business for more than 20 years and supplies its vans through its Australia wide dealer network. This means that the people you talk with have direct contact with the factory and the reputation of both the van…

JAYCO EXPANDA 17FT REVIEWS The first Jayco Expanda rolled off the Dandenong factory floor in 2000. Ever since – and some 20,000 caravans later – it has filled a niche in the market as an easy to tow tourer for families looking to make the leap from camper trailer to caravan. Traditionally the Expanda was hybrid between the two, offering the best of both worlds … the compact footprint, affordability, towability and fold-out beds of a camper with the creature comforts of a full-size caravan, such as internal bathroom and plenty of living and storage space. Twenty years ago, they were a great option for families at a time when it was not easy to find a caravan with bunk beds. Preloved models that had bunks were snapped up quickly.…

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS REGULARS NSW/ACT Goodness Gravel 15 April 2023 This three-phase event runs on 15 April, 17 June and 15 October in various areas in NSW. The first event, the Glenn Innes Gravel Fondo offers three different loops: 125km, 75k or 35km. $10 from each entry is donated to local charities. So pack your bike and helmet and visit www.goodnessgravel.com for more information. Ride the Soundwave Music Festival 29 April 2023 This music festival features big names such as Boy & Bear and The Waifs. The Port Macquarie-based event donates all ticket proceeds to the charity Make a Difference (MAD), supporting marginalised people in the Port Macquarie/Hastings area. For more information on the line up and ticketing prices, visit www.ridethesoundwave.com.au. VIC Brown Brothers Easter Family Festival 8–9 April 2023…

→ Sometimes getting your caravan into remote campsites will be a big ask. So, a backup tent is a good option if you want to park the van to explore for a few days. Oztent recently launched a range of swags to complement its tent range, and the new RS-2 double swag might suit couples looking for a handy transportable option. The Oztent RS-2 is a waterproof and UV50+ double swag engineered to endure harsh outdoor conditions. Like the brand's tents, it's designed with a patented quick 30-second setup, so you can enjoy your vacation more and spend less time setting up your camping gear. The swag is made from ModCan™ 300D ripstop polyester material that is certified CPAI-84 fireresistant. The swag comes with a comfortable 40mm mattress that packs…

SEND PICS TO WIN → Julian Ketskemety of Victoria sent in this photo of his Newlands Caravan and Isuzu MU-X tow vehicle taken at the Devils Marbles, NT. “Heading south to home after a two months plus trip to the tip at Cape York (van left at Cooktown). We had to divert inland from Townsville due to the storms and flooding down the east coast.” → Kevin and Sandra Aldred and their miniature schnauzer Walter head off in their Jayco 24.75 Silverline caravan and Mercedes X Class V6 Turbo twin cab for annual holidays in Northern Tasmania. “We always overnight here at Blackburn Park Reserve, on the banks of the Elizabeth River at Campbell Town, north of Hobart. What a surprise as we pulled up … the resident ducks walked…

Unfortunately, Australia's landscape and average temperatures are perfect for the ignition and spread of bushfires. Small fires can easily grow in unfavourable conditions, such as strong wind and no rain. The onus is on every Australian to do their part in preventing fires. Each summer, the CFA and other fire authorities communicate fire safety messages and total fire ban information to the public. It is vital to keep track of fire bans, as breaches can attract large penalties (up to $50,000 in some states) and pose a major risk to communities. Children are definitely the future. Fire safety is a message that needs to be taught from a very young age, of course using ageappropriate language. Much as you would teach a child not to play with matches, you should…

INEOS GRENADIER REVIEW FEATURE SCAN QR CODE TO WATCH VIDEO Firstly, I tried to find a random trailer to tow test the Grenadier, I swear. The problem was the event staff outnumbered the press at the global launch of the hot-topic SUV, so try as I might, no mischievous plan got me what we really need to know – how does it tow? So, call this a vehicle review, not a tow test. But bear with me, as the specs alone should have those of us looking to lug a heavy trailer around Australia interested. Before I jump to the somewhat boring bits, know that I had a decent time behind the wheel and with key engineering staff behind the ground-up new SUV. You can learn more about how it drove…

You've installed extra water and fuel storage on your rig, planned your route, pored over the best rest stops and scenic campsites, and you're ready to take off with the family on a Big Lap to explore all the country has to offer. There's just one hitch – what will you do about your children's education while you're on the road? There's no doubt that travelling is a wonderful educational opportunity for the whole family, but what if you're planning an extended trip and your children are still in school? Depending on their ages, parents would generally have to be the full-time teacher – and that's a responsibility some may not feel confident taking on. But never fear. There are plenty of options and educational resources available to parents travelling…

Road-trippers travelling to Tasmania can now bypass Melbourne. In October last year, the Spirit of Tasmania ferry moved its mainland base of 37 years from historic Station Pier in Port Melbourne to the regional city of Geelong. The move means passengers travelling from regional Victoria and interstate can avoid driving through the big smoke. But if you live in Melbourne or are transiting through the city, as many eastcoast holidaymakers do, be prepared for a longer journey. While Geelong is only 70km south-west of the CBD, the Princes Highway traffic snarls are notorious, especially crossing the West Gate Bridge. In theory, the journey should take just under an hour but, in reality, it can be much more as the popular (and most frequent) overnight sailings often coincide with morning and…

BREKKIE CREPES TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS ¾ cup plain flour Pinch of salt ½ tsp caster sugar 1 egg yolk 300ml milk 1 tbsp melted unsalted butter, extra for frying Blueberries, chopped mango, chocolate sauce and cream to serve METHOD Pre-mix flour, salt, sugar, egg yolk, milk and butter together and store before camping (will last for up to three days refrigerated) or whisk together and let sit for 30 minutes before cooking on the campfire. Heat a small frying pan over a mediumhigh campfire and coat the pan with melted butter. Pour in enough batter to just cover the base of the frying pan and cook for one to two minutes on each side (or until lightly browned). Repeat until the batter is used. Serve…

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has sent a submission to the Australian Government Treasury Office for the upcoming 2023-2024 Federal Budget with four policy priority areas for Australia's $27.1bn caravan and camping industry, seeking direct engagement and where necessary, support from the Australian Government. This includes supercharging Australian tourism by refocusing Tourism Australia, labour force solutions and insurance reform; future proofing the caravan and camping industry via residential land lease communities, regional investment, caravan and camping ‘net zero’, energy uplift scheme for caravan parks; and improving safety outcomes by assisting the industry's transition to RVSA and safer vehicles, national caravan safety check program, and safer drivers. The policy's key recommendations are: $10M for ‘Round 2’ of the Caravan Parks Grant Program and $500,000 for the partnership agreement with…

Six months out from the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash being staged on the iconic Mundi Mundi plains outside of Silverton, NSW, the event has officially sold out - with close to 12,000 intrepid travellers set to rock the renowned red earth plains in August for a truly bucket list experience of music, camping and outback fun. “Only a bit over a week ago we were talking about being 95 per cent sold out for the Mundi Mundi Bash - and then we had a huge final surge on tickets,” said festival owner/ founder, producer and Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group, Greg Donovan. “There was obviously a lot of people intending heading to the Mundi Mundi Bash who got worried they'd miss out when we announced we…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Hi John, I have enjoyed the Caravan World magazine for quite a few years now and read as many letters to you as I can, so I'm not sure if I have missed this question or even if it has been asked before. I have looked at the photos of the vans being towed and noticed that some of the tow vehicles don't seem to have towing mirrors. Some of the vehicles might be in the promo shots towing their advertised van (Issue 631, page 107 is just one example) or by some of the readers sending in the photos of their tow rig and van. So, my question is whether there is a minimum size of a van that doesn't require you to use towing…

NULLARBOR, SA TRAVEL Travelling between Australia's East and West Coasts isn't a journey taken lightly. It's a long way. Much of the trip is remote, and the weather can be harsh. Sydney to Perth is close to 4000km, and the Nullarbor Plain sits pretty much bang in the middle of the trip. The Plain is 1100km at its widest, but the section between the towns of Ceduna in South Australia and Norseman in Western Australia is often eulogised as the actual Nullarbor crossing. The Nullarbor abuts the Great Victoria Desert and spans more than 200,000 square kilometres, stretching across the border area of South and Western Australia. It's classified as an immature arid limestone karst landscape formed when the area was the sea floor millions of years ago. Karst is…

BURKETOWN, OLD TRAVEL Despite seemingly overwhelming odds, Burketown has survived as a quintessentially outback community with strong rural ties and an economy powered largely by tourism as ‘The Barramundi Capital of Australia’. The Gulf Savannah Burketown lies on the northern edge of the Gulf Savannah, a vast expanse of flat, low-lying plains stretching from the Great Dividing Range to the Northern Territory border. At around 200,000sq km, it is one of the largest savannah bioregions in the world, blanketed by native grasses, acacia shrubs and open woodlands of eucalypts and paperbarks. The undulating plains south of Burketown are drained by several major rivers – the Gregory, Nicholson and Leichhardt – which have their headwaters among the plateaus and ranges hundreds of kilometres inland. The Gregory is the largest perennial river…

On any major Australia highway during the mass Easter exodus from the cities you'll see all manner of recreational vehicles heading off for a few days, and the vast majority will have one or more bikes affixed. Almost 30 years since Australia's first rail trail – the Lilydale to Warburton Trail in Victoria's iconic Yarra Valley – first opened, rail trails have been popping up across the country, providing a new lease of life for disused railway corridors, recreation and leisure opportunities for cyclists, walkers, runners and horse riders, as well as economic and tourism boosts for communities along their routes. Around the world, railways expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries to provide improved transport linkages and connectivity between industry and communities. As road transport improved, some rail corridors…

Driving into Carnarvon for the first time, I spotted something peculiar on the horizon. A slanted dinner plate silhouette loomed over a hilltop. While edging closer to this big dish off Western Australia's Coral Coast Highway, it soon became apparent that it was no novel ‘Big’ tourist attraction to lure hungry drivers to the town of 4900; rather, it was a satellite. And not just any satellite; this out-of-theworld fixture literally put Carnarvon on the world map. The far-flung coastal hub, 896km north of Perth, played a large part in the broadcast of the first moon landing in 1969. Since then, the town with the odd outback skyline has continued to embrace its role in the historic feat for all humankind, weaving its space legacy with other eccentric country charms.…

OLYMPIC MARATHON 18' FAMILY BUNK REVIEWS Caravans in Australia have become more sophisticated over the past couple of decades, with more and more ‘accessories’ now regarded as standard items. In addition, rough road and offroad caravans have become more common. Apart from anything else, those factors lead to an increase in both weight and price. Currently, there's a good selection of family caravans in various lengths, layouts and prices in the Australian caravan market. Still, the cost of the vans, particularly in the current economic climate, is stretching the family budget in many cases. Olympic Caravans is a long-term player in the Australian market, building caravans for more than three decades and RV Connection at St Marys is Olympic's Sydney dealer. The manufacturer offers several vans ranges, with the Marathon…

SIDETRACKS COLUMNS In the heart of Tasmania's Central Highlands, 174km west of Hobart, stands the tiny village of Derwent Bridge, home of one of the most extraordinary artworks in the island state – The Wall in the Wilderness, created by artist and master craftsman, Greg Duncan. ‘The Wall’ is a 100m-long installation of wooden sculptures housed in an impressive purpose-built gallery nestled among pristine forest on the edge of the World-Heritage listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Duncan describes the location, signposted off the Lyell Highway 2km east of the village, as his ‘piece of paradise’, abounding with wildlife and a rich assemblage of high-country flora, a place that is not only home but also the source of “all the subject matter a bloke needs”. Born in Victoria, Duncan…