Table of contents for Issue 643 in Caravan World

A belated Happy New Year. Let's hope 2024 brings new horizons, memorable travels to your favourite camps and the rewards of our caravanning lifestyle. Maybe a New Year's resolution is appropriate? So, let's do it legally and safely. Because change is in the air about how we conduct ourselves on the road. There are growing calls for policing overweight vans and tow vehicles. Authorities in several states warn that they are tired of giving warnings about tow vehicles over certified gross vehicle mass (GVM) and vans above legal aggregate trailer mass (ATM). Fines are coming, and there's a good chance offenders won't be able to travel further until the problem is remedied. You may be asked to leave the three-month supply of VB on the side of the road to…

REGULARS NEWS General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) celebrated its third anniversary late last year by revealing its latest addition – the GMC Yukon, a full-sized premium SUV with seating for eight. Alongside this, GMSV also announced several developments for existing model lines. “GMSV has made a real impression on the local market and, thanks to this success, we've been able to make a strong business case for additional models and this latest arrival is testament to these achievements,” said Grey Rowe, director of GMSV. “I'm excited to confirm the new GMC Yukon will be remanufactured here in Melbourne and will be available in Australia and New Zealand.” The announcement is coincident with the 8000th remanufactured Chevrolet Silverado emerging from the Premoso facility in Dandenong, Vic. “The GMSV journey started in…

Easter marks the time of year when the weather starts to cool, trees put on a glorious display of colour and many towns throughout Australia pull out all the stops to put on a fabulous festival for locals and visitors to enjoy. Held in the lovely town of Griffith in New South Wales, the Griffith Easter Party is an annual multiday celebration bursting with family-friendly festivities. And as Easter coincides with the end of the grape vintage, the esteemed Riverina wine region transforms into a focal point for communal celebration. Rooted in tradition, the Griffith Easter Party has historically marked an important time of year – a time when the community can unite and revel in the conclusion of an exceptionally busy working period. Griffith transforms into a huge party…

SPONSORED FEATURE UPCOMING FESTIVALS: NEW ENGLAND HIGH COUNTRY. NSW The New England High Country in northeastern New South Wales is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, welcoming regional communities, rich history and fantastic festivals. Join us as we highlight some of the best upcoming festivals in Armidale, Glen Innes, Inverell and Walcha this year, and explore the many attractions of these unique New England High Country regions. THE ARMIDALE AUTUMN FESTIVAL Event date: 6 April 2024 Event location: Throughout Armidale The annual Armidale Autumn Festival is a must-attend event in the Armidale region and is packed with fun for the whole family. The festival has been held for the past 30 years and has firmly established itself as a calendar highlight for all locals and visitors to this beautiful city conveniently located halfway…

MAIN Don't miss the fantastic live music at Roma's Easter in the Country Recognised as one of Queensland's premier Easter events, the five-day Easter in the Country Festival in Roma, 350km northwest of Toowoomba, encapsulates everything unique that outback Queensland's lifestyle has to offer. Being held from 28 March - 1 April 2024, Roma's famous Easter in the Country Festival is heading into its 48th year, offering a range of activities for the thrill-seeker, the cultural and culinary buff, as well as those who like to take things a little more leisurely. In 2024, Roma will once again showcase some of the best entertainment over the Easter long weekend. It's the relaxed country lifestyle and hospitality which makes Roma unique, and the festival provides quality entertainment for the whole family…

FRIDGES FEATURE The fridge is the most relied-upon appliance in an RV setup. Keeping your food fresh and beverages cold are imperatives for a fun trip. So much so, having more than one fridge is not unusual these days, particularly if you take the tow vehicle into account as well. In this article we will explore how they work, the various types of fridges available, the pros and cons and how to get the most out of them. As there are some complex concepts here, we have used a little repetition to reinforce the ideas. HOW DO THEY WORK At the most fundamental level, all fridges work on the same principle. They have two heat exchangers. One of the heat exchangers (evaporator) absorbs heat out of the fridge compartment lowering…

“The oldest custom caravan manufacturer in Melbourne, Evernew Caravans had humble beginnings in the suburbs” When it comes to longevity in the caravan industry, it's hard to beat Preston-based Evernew Caravans which, in 2023, celebrated 60 years in business. In fact, Evernew is the oldest custom caravan builder in Melbourne. From humble beginnings in the Melbourne suburbs, the brand has built a loyal, almost cult following of customers due to its boutique offerings, commitment to customer service and quality, custom-built caravans that last for years. In fact, some 30 and 40-year-old Evernews are still out on the road going strong. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The oldest custom caravan manufacturer in Melbourne, Evernew Caravans had humble beginnings. It was started by 19-year-old Bruce Bailey who, in 1963, joined his father selling new caravans…

NSW 2024 Newcastle Caravan Camping Lifestyle Expo 2-4 February 2024 Held at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre and Showground, this three-day event will showcase the latest in caravans, motorhomes, campervans, camper trailers, accessories, holiday parks and much more – all in one location. To find out more: caravanexpo.com Glen Innes Show and Gourmet Fiesta 9-11 February 2024 Head to Glen Innes this February for an action-packed weekend for the whole family. There will be local artists and makers on display, a Gourmet Fiesta, Aussie FMX motocross demonstrations, fireworks and much more. Head online for further information: gleninnesshow.com Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show 17-18 February 2024 Don't miss this unique family-friendly festival. Highlights include a tractor trek, street parade, and plenty of vintage trucks, cars and machinery. Explore the various market…

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has announced a new industry partnership with Accessible Accommodation (The Accessible Group), a company focused on delivering new accessible tourism experiences in Australia's caravan and camping sector to people of all ages and abilities. Caravan holiday park operators have a great opportunity to tap into this increasing demand through the provision of accessible accommodation, facilities, and activity areas. Recent data from Tourism Research Australia reveals that 20 per cent of visitors in a caravan park or commercial camping ground reported a disability or long-term health condition of some kind. This equates to approximately 3.8 million trips annually. Of those who indicated their specific disability or long-term health conditions, 23 per cent indicated mental health, 22 per cent indicated vision and hearing impairment, and…

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…

SEND PICS TO WIN “Taken at the Hann River crossing at the start of our Cape York epic adventure in August2023.” “We came across these stone relics still standing and reminding us of our pioneers. The stonework in those days was incredible.” “Magic off-grid bush camping in the rugged western Flinders Ranges with million-star nights.” “Nothing is more peaceful than a beautiful spring evening in Lome.” “We spent the last night of our trip from the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash at Copeton Dam. Our van is a MY22 fayco Journey Outback 19.6-2 towed by our 2021 Toyota Hilux SR5.”…

LEGEND TRACKLINE 48V HYBRID STANDARD AND ULTIMATE REVIEWS Recently I spent a few days around Lake Eildon and the foothills of the Victorian High Country with fellow Caravan World magazine journalists John Ford and Tim van Duyl. We all had Legend Caravans in tow, and they were all pretty high-end units. This was evidenced in the fact that all three Legends were ‘gasless’, meaning they do not have LPG on board and all of the power requirements are delivered through a sophisticated 48V electrical system. Having three different vans in the same place at the same time gave us a unique opportunity to compare and contrast models. The big boy in the convoy was the high-end twin axle 21ft 6in Groundbreaker Ultimate priced at $227,000 aimed at spacious living, open…

MILLARD TOURA X 19FT 6 RD REVIEWS “It towed pretty well, even on some rough gravel roads” Millard, a well-known name in the caravanning world, builds a range of caravans. Included in the lineup is the Toura range, made for semioffroad travel. The Toura X is a 19ft 6in model that RV Connection at St Marys, NSW, made available for my use and it has a few extra features. ON THE ROAD The Toura X is quite a large van, for while there's 19ft 6in of living space, the external body length measures at 20ft 6in. On my travels into the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney, it towed pretty well, even on some rough gravel roads. However, the van has a tare mass of 2977kg and an ATM of…

It's New Year's Day in Victoria. The skies are clear, the temperature is nudging 36°C and the state has eased into a soporific post-Christmas haze. If you haven't booked a caravan park site months in advance, you can forget about parking up beachside, riverside or anywhere sought after for a relaxing summer jaunt. If you do nab a spot, chances are you'll be sharing it with every man and his (strictly on-lead) dog. But if you want more flexibility with your vanning adventures and not wake up to the smell of someone else's breakfast, there is another way. Last January, my family and I booked a Hipcamp in Victoria's lush Yarra Valley. We hitched up on New Year's Day, coasted through bucolic wine country on Melbourne's eastern fringe, and were…

You may be familiar with myCOOLMAN's range of caravan and camping fridges, but this Aussie company has expanded further to help Aussie travellers enjoy their adventures in comfort with the release of the new myCOOLMAN Roof Top Air Conditioners. The 3000W output air conditioner ensures campers can stay cool in summer and toasty warm in winter, and features Anti Vibration Intercooling Technology (AVIT), which refers to the fact it has a heat exchanger to improve efficiency and longevity fitted as well as a computer balanced fan with inverter technology to reduce vibration and noise. “We are very proud to officially launch the myCOOLMAN Roof Top Air Conditioner to the Australian market,” said Leisure-Tec Australia CEO, Paul Widdis. “myCOOLMAN has built a very strong reputation for our ground-breaking single and dual…

Projecta has launched a new range of SemiFlexible Solar Panels, offering increased versatility for a range of outdoor adventure activities where it's crucial to travel light and compact. The new 12V Semi-Flexible Solar Panels are available in two models, a 12V 100W (SPF100-MC4) unit which is ideal to use with small and medium appliances, or a larger 12V 180W model (SPF180-MC4), which can be used to charge battery banks servicing multiple or larger appliances. Both models feature high efficiency monocrystalline solar cells to effectively and efficiently convert sunlight to power, allowing the panels to stay compact while still providing strong output. The 12V 100W is 1035mm x 520mm x 3mm in size, and the larger 180W model is 1520mm x 680mm x 3mm. A key benefit users will enjoy is…

New Age Caravans has expanded yet again, with the recent addition of Kratzmann Caravans to the New Age familY. Kratzmann Caravans has been a trusted and respected part of the caravan industry for more than three decades and is a valued addition to New Age's large range of premium dealers across Australia. Located just off the Bruce Highway in Burpengary East, the Kratzmann Caravans dealership is one of the largest in Queensland, spanning more than six hectares and featuring an indoor showroom, extensive outdoor display area and a stateof-the-art service centre. The partnership officially began on 1 December 2023, and will help service the southeast Queensland area, north of Brisbane. “We are delighted to welcome Kratzmann Caravans to our family of dealers in Australia, a respected and trusted name in…

Ford Australia has begun customer deliver of the iconic Ford F-150. To mark the milestone, the company invited select owners to tour the RMA Automotive facility in Mickleham, north of Melbourne, where the trucks are remanufactured into right-hand drive. The customers met Ford Australia's product development engineers as well as RMA Automotive leadership for an in-depth tour into the facility, which can remanufacture up to 20 F-150s each day, using an assembly line with 65 individual stations. The remanufacturing process takes around 22 working hours over three days to complete each vehicle. Originally manufactured in Detroit, US, the F-150s undergo an uncompromising and detailed remanufacturing process at the facility. This process requires approximately 1500 new parts and recalibration of key systems to suit Australian needs, including the steering, climate control,…

Hi John, I am a long-time reader of Caravan World and try to read each month's issue. While examining the new vans on offer, I have noted that mid-sized vans and many of the larger units are getting substantially heavier. My new 21ft Jayco in 2018 came in with an ATM of 2450kg and my current Bailey Rangefinder 22.5ft is less at 2200kg. Similar new vans with all the tech and gadgets are more like 3500kg and two vans reviewed in issue 642 are around 4500kg. These are not criticisms but merely observed facts about some builds. It does raise the question of tow vehicles. How many are up to the task now? How many will there be in a couple of years? How much will they cost? In 2018,1…

“There are walks into the wilderness, birdlife on a Ramsar scale, about 65,000 years of Aboriginal history to absorb and places to exhale a big deep Back O’ Bourke exhale” Sixth time? Yes, the first was in 2008. Needless to say, the Darling River Run provides me with my explorer holiday fix in different ways every trip. The farm stays, the national parks, the outback pubs, the Indigenous history and of course, the mighty Darling (Baaka) River and its ever-changing faces. There are walks into the wilderness, birdlife on a Ramsar scale, about 65,000 years of Aboriginal history to absorb and places to exhale a big deep Back O’ Bourke exhale. “If you know Bourke, you know Australia,” is a famous quote from Henry Lawson. Well, Mr Lawson, and we…

BIRDSVILLE TRACK, SA-QLD TRAVEL “The road was previously rough and slow-going – but that was before money was spent upgrading the track for those heading to Birdsville for the Big Red Bash or the races” Is the Birdsville track still a hard slog for travellers from Birdsville to Marree? Or has the number of caravans heading to Birdsville for the Big Red Bash and Birdsville Races done what Tom Kruse couldn't do to make the journey a lot less challenging? The Birdsville Track was established by drover Percy Burt in the 1860s as a stock route. By 1916, bores had been sunk at roughly 40km intervals, making it a reliable route. It's been nearly 15 years since I last drove the Birdsville Track, so it will be interesting to see…

GARIG GANUK BARLU NP, NT TRAVEL “It's unsealed all the way, narrow, dusty and corrugated, with blind corners, dangerous bends and a couple of creek crossings” West Arnhem Land covers almost 50,000sq km, from the eastern border of Kakadu National Park and the East Alligator River to Cape Stewart and the catchments of the Liverpool, Mann, Cadell and Blyth Rivers. Though geographically part of Arnhem Land, the Cobourg Peninsula is conserved as the separate Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, administered by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Before the arrival of Europeans, the region was the home of many different tribal groups, including the Gagudju. Today, the main languages spoken are Kunwinjku in the west, around the town of Gunbalanya, and Kuninjku in the east toward Maningrida.…

Generations of Australians knew Mount Noorat, one of Victoria's best-preserved volcanoes, as Mount Turalla, which played a major role in Alan Marshall's much-loved 1955 fictionalised autobiography I Can Jump Puddles. Noorat is a small town on the Terang-Mortlake Road, 211km west of Melbourne. Alan Marshall was born there in 1902 at the rear of the Bee-Hive Store, which still stands in the town's main street. Over the road is the Noorat Primary School, built of stone in 1873. Alan Marshall attended school there, and related events of his school day memories and the people he met in his book, which sold more than three-million copies worldwide. The Alan Marshall Walking Track is a 2.4km hike to the crater and summit of Mount Noorat, where trekkers are rewarded with sweeping views…

RECIPES ON THE ROAD COOKING SALMON SKILLET FRITTATA TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes SERVES: 8 INGREDIENTS • Spray olive oil • 8 eggs • 1 cup Greek yoghurt • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 x 260g salmon, skin off and chopped into cubes • ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated • 2 spring onions, chopped • Aioli, for topping METHOD Preheat the skillet over the fire and spray liberally with olive oil. Whisk together eggs, yoghurt, salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir in chunks of salmon and add mixture to the skillet, sprinkling cheese on top. Add a lid to the skillet and cook for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped spring onions and aioli to serve. MOZZARELLA SKILLET PIZZA TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes SERVES: 4 INGREDIENTS Pizza Dough •…

Have you ever experienced one of those awkward moments when you're trying to get out of wet swimmers and into some warm, dry clothes? You think you're pretty clever with the towel wrapped around you, one hand holding it all together while the other hand grapples with wet togs. Then something bites you on the leg, you drop the towel and end up showing a bit more than you intended. Red Paddle Co has a brilliant way to say goodbye to those moments with its towelling change robe. This super-soft, 100 per cent cotton, fluffy hooded poncho was designed with serious sports people in mind. But thankfully it's just as good for us not-so-sporty types. My idea of water sports is drifting down a hot spring river on a noodle,…

Keeping well-nourished on the road can sometimes be a problem. The thought of trying out every pie shop — for research purposes of course — can be a temptation that doesn't flatter the waistline. So, the compact Portable BlendJet 2 might be an answer to a healthier lifestyle. This battery powered little powerhouse recharges from a USB-C and is portable to take with you anywhere. We tried the blender with a range of fruits for smoothies that were ready in minutes. I was surprised at how quickly the unit whipped a cocktail of berries, nectarines and banana and a dash of milk into a tasty drink. Banana smoothies have become my go-to morning pick-me up. I even made a guacamole dip with avocado, tomato, onion and hot sauce which turned…