Table of contents for Issue 655 in Caravan World

Another year rolls around, and it looks like we are in for interesting times ahead. With such uncertainty, it's tempting to get in the caravan, head somewhere serene, turn off the news and enjoy the serenity. A recent report suggested that visits to a national park save millions of dollars each year in the health budget through the healing benefits of being immersed in nature. They quote that: “Research shows spending time in nature may reduce stress, depression, anxiety, obesity, heart disease and lung disease.” Anyone who has ever sat on a lonely sandhill to watch the sun rise or set could confirm that for free. That's why we all love the caravanning lifestyle. Even a weekend away in the van revives the spirit, and our best memories are often…

To mark the end of 2024 and its 50th anniversary, Jayco revealed its new Discovery range back in November, with models available from December onwards. This new range debuts with a fresh new aesthetic and combines Jayco's high quality and value for money with upgraded functionality, all of which make it a great choice for couples and families who want to get exploring in 2025. There are plenty of floorplans to choose from, and some key features include: • New Discovery colour scheme • Bigger living spaces, including Jayco's biggest bench space yet, a large slide-out club lounge and north–south bed orientation • 100Ah lithium battery, Starlink prep cable and 200W solar panel • 27in smart TV • 224L 12V fridge/freezer • Wireless reversing camera • Jayco's innovative one-piece PET floor…

The NSW Tourism Awards 2024 were held late last year, and the winners have been announced. There were various categories recognised at the awards night, ranging from 4.5–5 star accommodation through to adventure tourism. But the winning caravan and holiday parks are of the most interest to us. Winners were recognised with gold, silver and bronze awards for their commitment to tourism excellence, and the category winners from this awards night will represent NSW at the Australian Tourism Awards. So, here they are: • Gold: Holiday Haven Lake Conjola • Silver: Tathra Beach Eco Camp • Bronze: Tasman Holiday Parks Racecourse Beach Tourist Park, Bawley Point For more information about the NSW Tourism Awards 2024, head online: nswtourismassociation.com.au/nsw-tourism-awards…

IN BRIEF → A single axle couples touring van → Engineered for offroad travel → Well-built timber frame van Now and then, I stumble across a brand I haven't reviewed before. Even though I have seen various Van Cruiser models at shows and out on the track over the years, we have never featured one on these pages, and the brand remained a bit of a mystery. All that changed recently when we arranged a day with the latest X Machine, and I have to say I was impressed. Van Cruiser is a Melbourne-based business run by brother and sister team Enzo and Tania with a tight crew of 15 to 20 employees. The team has been building vans for 15 years, with an output of around three per week…

IN BRIEF → Composite construction offroad pop-top couples van → Twin axle, 5.7m (18ft 7in) body length with 3196kg ATM → Proven layout and running gear for exploring Australia “The panel is the real deal with a fibreglass skin on both sides and a foam core for a total thickness of 35mm” MEASURING UP PROS → Composite is a fundamentally superior construction method → 120kg weight saving over timber frame construction → A long-standing, well-regarded manufacturer CONS → $9k premium to option up to CPX composite pack In Goldstream RV's infancy — more than 30 years ago — practically the entire caravan industry was building caravans with meranti frames and aluminium cladding. In the past decade or so a big chunk of the caravan industry has moved on to composite construction. Goldstream has been…

We're kickstarting the new year with some great ideas, resolutions or bucket-list experiences to inspire you to make 2025 your best caravanning year yet. IMPROVE YOUR CARAVAN SETUP: SUSTAINABILITY, TECHNOLOGY AND STORAGE Upgrade your power system Going off-grid — even when you're not travelling remotely — has become increasingly popular among caravanners. Many modern vans are designed with all the bells and whistles to keep you off-grid for extended stays, but if you find yourself struggling or simply want to boost your range, consider adding a larger solar panel array (portable panels or blankets are great options), swapping your traditional AGM battery to lithium for longer-lasting power, and/or installing a high-quality inverter for more efficient energy use and so you can run 240V appliances away from mains power. And if…

1. BREAKFAST HAM AND EGGS A thick slab of ham is a great substitute for bacon if you are having a Boxing Day breakfast cook-up. Prepare your favourite eggs, lightly grill the ham on the barbie with some tomatoes, mushrooms or whatever takes your fancy and you'll be set for a day of adventure … or relaxing. 2. YOU SAY FRITTATA … If you want to be a little bit fancier and more creative with your ham and egg combinations, you can't go wrong with a quiche, frittata (if you don't have or want pastry), individual muffins and even an omelette. For an easy ham quiche, all you need is: cheese over the base then add the ham and lastly the remaining cheese. Beat the eggs, milk, salt and pepper until…

Manual jockey wheels can challenging to operate for people with limited mobility. Also, some people just like to mechanise and automate things. The Black Jack Trailer Jack is driven by an electric motor powered by your caravan or car battery and replaces a manual jockey wheel. The RV Repair Centre show us in principle how it's done. Read the installation instructions for more information. * The Black Jack Trailer Jack comes packaged with the A-frame mounting brackets cable tied to the main jack assembly. We conducted the installation with the two parts cable tied together because it helped with visualising the jack positioning. If you find this method too heavy to handle, removing the A-frame mounting bracket from the main jack assembly and fitting the A-frame mounting bracket first would…

Toyota's new generation LandCruiser Prado SUV has arrived, featuring a whole range of improvements in driveability, offroad capability, safety, technology and functionality — not to mention a stylish new redesign that will appeal to caravanners, offroad adventurers and urban families alike. And with an increased 3500kg braked towing capacity, its an important model to keep your eye on. This new Prado is built on a strong and durable TNGA-F architecture — the same as the popular LandCruiser 300 Series sports — and introduces Toyota's latest on and offroad driver assistance, multimedia and active safety technologies. “Australians love the LandCruiser Prado for its family-friendly amenity, supreme offroad ability and the durability and reliability that makes it worthy of the LandCruiser nameplate,” said Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia's vice president of sales, marketing…

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 caravan 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…

With a catchcry of quality over quantity, Legend Caravans prides itself on its premium Australian designed caravans built using the best quality local products and accessories. Its customer care — before, during and after the sale of the van — is second to none. And its ability to customise all its models to ensure the customers' every need is met, keeps caravanners coming back to Legend again and again. Brothers Zoran and Robert Stojanoski started their own business in 2008 with a dream to create and build premium caravans that people could enjoy using. Some 17 years later, the brothers and their team of 15 are building up to 120 custom caravans each year from their purpose-built factory and showroom in Somerton, in Melbourne's north — arguably the country's epicentre…

Before we dive in, let's run through a quick summary of what is going on when a caravan sways. A van can often experience tiny swinging back and forth as it reacts to external forces such as wind or bumps in the road. Usually, the forces are small, and the swaying is small. Therefore, the system just settles down naturally, and we may not even be aware of the dynamics. If the energy inputs become greater, then the swaying becomes greater. Some examples are strong gusts of wind, a large truck driving past or a sudden change of direction of the tow vehicle. These larger forces push the van further sideways before the pulling effect of the vehicle swings the van back in the opposite direction. And because the reaction…

“If you're coming from the north, the road down Barrengarry Mountain into the valley is steep, long and windy” Nestled deep in a lush valley, surrounded by the scenic Cambewarra and Barrengarry mountains, plenty of wildlife and a flowing river — you'd never guess we're only two hours from the hustle of Sydney. That's the beauty of NSW's Kangaroo Valley. We stayed at Bendeela Recreation Area, a caravan-friendly campground run by NSW Water, in the heart of Kangaroo Valley. There's no mobile reception, but as cliche as it might sound, we felt a connection to something far greater. Surrounded by serene natural beauty and feeling content enjoying a meal of steak and red wine after setting up camp, life was good. However, just a few hours earlier, things weren't quite…

Bridgetown wouldn't be out of place if it were in England. The Western Australian inner southwest town is nestled in the Blackwood Valley, 259km south of Perth, and is famed for its misty mornings, rolling green hills and stunning seasonal changes. Like England, it also has the 'brrrh' factor as one of the state's coldest locales, earning its tongue-in-cheek 'Fridgetown' moniker. But once the clouds dissipate and you get past its chilly side, a vibrant town reveals itself. Bridgetown is the only heritagelisted town in the southwest, with eight throughout Western Australia. Century-old buildings — some showy — line the town's main thoroughfare, Hampton Street. Its eccentricities are not just face-value, with Bridgetown's highly engaged community hosting some of the state's most unique regional events. From candy to cider, I…

SCAN TO VIEW VIDEO IN BRIEF → Good-looking → Isuzu's most offroad capable D-MAX → The most expensive D-MAX to date MEASURING UP PROS → Goodyear Wrangler RTS tyres → Excellent bash place → Still reliable, still stout → Best steering D-MAX CONS → Low power → Basic lift kit For a long time, the D-MAX has been one of, if not the best tow-rigs we've tested. Yeah, there are big US trucks that will tow better again, but for the money, size and inherently reliable powertrain, the Isuzu D-MAX has been the one to have. But it has had a shortfall — offroad capability. In its stock form the D-MAX's tyres are rubbish, and it lacks a bit of ground clearance. The new D-MAX BLADE is here to fix…

South Australia is literally leading the charge when it comes to renewables and electric travel. Coal-fired power is a thing of the past here, replaced by new wind and solar farms, utility-scale batteries and backup generators, with turbines being spotted along the ridges of the hills as we drove along the south coast. Over the past year, SA has met an impressive 70 per cent of its energy demand with variable wind and solar, and it's aiming for 100 per cent net renewables by 2027. On top of all that, SA has been rolling out its border-to-border EV Charging Network, with more than 530 chargers and 140 stations across state-wide locations, making all the main tourist destinations very accessible. Cowell's charging station adjacent to free waterslides, quickly became the family…

→ The book Spotto: The Great Australian Car Game by Spotty McSpotterson — the alter ego of Cory Spence, designer, scientist, food tech and now game philosopher — answer this question and gives a tongue-in-cheek framework for how the game Spotto works. But it is not a rule book — in fact, there is no rule book. “This is a philosophical reference guide intended to explore the nuances and details in the great Australian game of Spotto,” Cory explained. And rather than trying to figure out what the official rules are, this book asks you to provide the definition of the game inside your own vehicle. Spotto: The Great Australian Car Game covers the big questions, such as where the game came from, how you play and why the rules…

The Victorian Crime Statistics Agency reported a 25 per cent increase in car trailer thefts in Victoria over the year to June 2024, with 1750 reported stolen during this period. RACV Head of Motor Insurance and Roadside Products Kirsty Hayes highlighted that there are methods to preventing trailer theft and urges owners to consider these precautions given the increase in offences. Here are some of the RACV's top tips for preventing trailer theft • Wheel locks: Used to immobilise your trailer, preventing thieves from easily taking it away. • Trailer tongue locks: Fits in or over the trailer tongue, preventing a thief from inserting a hitch ball by plugging up the coupler, meaning they can't drive off with your trailer. Make sure that any tongue lock you use is made…

In November 2024 the federal government added Watarrka National Park in the Northern Territory to Australia's National Heritage List in recognition of its national significance. This national park is located approximately 300km west of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) and is home to Kings Canyon — a fantastic array of sandstone cliffs and breathtaking views of the Australian outback. And if it looks familiar, you might have spotted it in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It's a destination that should be on every Red Centre bucket list, with plenty of natural beauty, hiking trails, 4WD tracks and outdoor adventures to enjoy. Watarrka was recognised for its beautiful landscapes, and also as the traditional lands of the Anangu ngurraritja people who have shared a deep connection to country for tens…

1. BIRDSVILLE RACES, QLD: 5–6 SEPTEMBER 2025 First held back in September 1882, the Birdsville Races have come to be affectionately known as the 'Melbourne Cup of the Outback'. That could be for many reasons. Having any similarity between the prize money purses is not one of them. We'd venture that the 'Melbourne Cup' metaphor comes down more to tradition, colourful characters, fashions on the field, flamboyant headwear on the ladies (and not-so-flamboyant Akubras on the men), than it does to the prize purse. What the two events certainly do share is that horses, trainers, owners, jockeys, bookies and racegoers come from far and wide for a sensational event. What the two events don't share — but which undoubtedly contributes in spades to the atmosphere at the Birdsville Races —…

My first experience at one of many hot artesian spa facilities dotted around the country was a couple of years ago during a work assignment to Pilliga, about 100km west of Narrabri, NSW. Here, at the Pilliga Artesian Bore Baths just a few kilometres east of the small village, the health-giving waters have been flowing up from the Great Artesian Basin for more than 100 years. Australia's Great Artesian Basin is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world. Through much of inland Australia it is the only source of fresh water. The Kamilaroi Aboriginal people used the natural springs from the Great Artesian Basin as a source of water in times of drought. European settlers drilled the first bores into the basin near Bourke, NSW, in 1878. The…

In 2026, a new Ford Ranger will be available with an 8000kg GCM, 4500kg GVM, and a maximum braked tow capacity of 4500kg, which are unheard-of figures in the Ranger's fiercely competitive ute market. According to Ford's press release on the Ranger Super Duty, it is “born from direct collaboration with fleet customers [and] is a new mid-size truck that can do things no other mid-size truck can do. “It has been engineered and designed to deliver the higher levels of gross vehicle mass (GVM), gross combined mass (GCM), towing and enhanced offroad capability required by those who need it, including emergency service operators, farmers, utilities and forestry workers, miners, infrastructure technicians, and many more.” But it is the braked tow capacity spec Ford has released that has those who…

“'As a family business, we take pride in maintaining the values that started it all,' said Paul Neandis, co-founder of Eden Caravans” Eden Caravans was founded in 2011 by Paul Nedanis and his wife Mary with a vision to create high-quality caravans that offer comfort and reliability with luxury. Their son, Adam, joined them early on and now plays an important role in the business. Since then, Eden Caravans has grown steadily, expanding its caravan range and building a loyal customer base. “We've always remained focused on delivering exceptional caravans and personalised service, which has helped establish Eden Caravans as a trusted name in the industry,” Paul said. “As a family business, we take pride in maintaining the values that started it all.” Eden's Melbourne-based factory is where its vans…

IN BRIEF → Compact composite couples van → Offroad capable → Light enough for many EVs MEASURING UP PROS → Compact and light enough for an emerging EV towing future → Well-designed composite construction → Offroad capable CONS → Limited payload at the 2500kg ATM weight, especially with full water tanks Readers of a certain age and lovers of retro caravans will be familiar with those 60s icons in the caravan firmament that were tiny by today's standards and light enough to push around on your own on a gravel driveway. The Millard 16ft might be typical of the style and has been a favourite of restorers lately, but Viscount, York and Chesney all had similar dimension models. They would typically include an east–west double bed and a lounge that…

NSW Wagga Wagga Caravan, Camping and Leisure Roadshow 7–9 February 2025 Head to the Range Gardens and Exhibition Centre in east Wagga Wagga in February for three massive days filled with the latest caravans, camper trailers, e-bikes, 4WDs, camping accessories, plus great live entertainment and demonstrations. There's free parking on-site. Head online for more information: expozgroup.com/wagga-roadshow Glen Innes Show and Gourmet Fiesta 14–15 February 2025 If you're a food lover, then don't miss the Glen Innes Show and Gourmet Fiesta. It's going to be an action-packed weekend for the whole family, with local artists and makers, the Gourmet Fiesta featuring guest chef Matt Golinski, fireworks and so much more. Head online for further information: gleninnesshow.com Orange Outdoor Living & Caravan Expo 28 February – 2 March 2025 Held at the…

Gunbalanya — formally Oenpelli — is home to an Aboriginal community with a unique art centre and one of the best cultural tours anywhere. In the dry season (May to September), the road to Gunbalanya takes you over the famous tourist experience at Cahills Crossing, where barra anglers play chicken with giant saltwater crocodiles. The crossing is impassible in the wet season (October to April). At other times it's tidal, even though it's 20km from the ocean. So, it's important to check the water level and organise an online visitor permit before heading to the Gunbalanya community. If you have time, book a boat trip along the East Alligator River with Guluyambi Cultural Cruise for close-up and safe encounters with crocodiles. The boat ride is also a twitcher's dream, with…

→ When the PR folks for the new AeroPress Go Plus offered up of couple of products for us to test in the lead up to Christmas, the office coffee addicts — creative director Tim van Duyl and I — were falling over ourselves to get our paws on one. The Go Plus is the latest iteration of the iconic coffee press from AeroPress which has proved popular with caffeine aficionados all over the world, allowing them to brew a perfect cup wherever they may be. For those not familiar with AeroPress, the technology is simple. It's an easy-to-use, portable plastic press which gives you a delicious cup of coffee with the full body of a French press (or plunger), the smoothness of a pour-over (or dripper) and the richness…