Tabla de contenidos para Issue 665 en Caravan World

As I write this, a couple of weeks before this issue hits the stands or your mailbox, I'm out of sync with the developments in the Middle East, so I hope I get the tone right. We live in strange times indeed. This is the third issue of the magazine published under the Adventure Entertainment Group, and I'm really enjoying the experience. The business has staff across Australia, South East Asia, Mauritius and America all connected on line. The wide portfolio of adventure magazines, includes the long-running Wild, a celebration of outdoor life; in other words, everything caravanners love. Other titles include lifestyle content around snowboarding, skiing, climbing, trail running and mountain biking. Maybe not all of these are sympathetic pastimes for my tired bones, but many of us are…

Magnificent Salt Water Crocodile on the Adelaide River near Cahills crossing NT Photographer: JOHN FORD Camera: OLYMPUS E-M1X Lens: 40-150 2.8 OLYMPUS Shutter: 1/800 SECOND, @ F8, 200 ISO As frightening as they are intriguing, dozens of salties inhabit the Adelaide River near Kakadu National Park. A cruise on the river will provide many photo opportunities. Salt spray blankets the beach at dawn over Kylies Beach, NSW Photographer: KEVIN SMITH Camera: CANON EOS RP Lens: 70-300 F4 LENS Shutter speed: 1/500SECOND @ F5.6, 100 ISO Even with many populated regional areas, the NSW North Coast is surprisingly unspoilet. You can ofen find youself alone on long unspoiled stretches of sand. Tree of Knowledge Photographer: MIRIAM BLAKER Camera: IPHONE 13 Shutter: 1/8 SECOND @ F2.8, 1800 ISO Under an impressive canopy,…

Caravan electrical systems have come a long way in recent years. The most sophisticated setups are capable of delivering the trifecta of electrical systems: 1) running appliances that use a lot of power, 2) running appliances as long as you like, and 3) running as many appliances as you like simultaneously. The trifecta is achieved through large battery storage, lots of charging capacity through the tow vehicle/solar and the ability to deliver enough 240V power quickly. The trifecta is easy to achieve if you spend enough money. The trouble is, you can be up for $40k–50k just for the electrical system ‘to have it all’. That's what some people want to pay for an entire caravan. The way to reduce cost is to scale back on batteries, charging and 240V…

In part one, we explored the southern section of the Binns Track, a remote tourist route in the Northern Territory dreamed up by NT park ranger Bill Binns, and ended up in N'Dhala Gorge Nature Park. For part two, our journey started at the junction of Ross Highway and Arltunga Road and continued 30km along the dirt, with the first stop the Arltunga Bush Pub and Eco Retreat, a refurbished historic hotel with an outback hospitality vibe and surprisingly upmarket accommodation. ARLTUNGA BUSH PUB AND ECO RETREAT Hosts Belinda and Brad Seymour took over the old Arltunga pub in 2021 and set about transforming it into a must-visit destination for travellers and locals of Alice Springs. Built in 1983, the old pub was abandoned in 2002 and remained vacant until…

Like many travellers, I find the mid north section of the east coast of NSW features some of Australia's most beautiful beaches, camping spots, 4WD tracks, and fascinating history along its expansive coastline. The Great Dividing Range looms over the coast for hundreds of kilometres, all thanks to volcanic activity from millions of years ago. There's a wide variety of places to explore along the route, each with its own unique character and vibe. This coastal trip doesn't involve harsh off-road challenges; instead, it offers straightforward, off-the-beaten-path trails that lead to some pretty special spots. THE ROCKS IS A GREAT STARTING POINT My starting point was the little village of South West Rocks, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. It's a stunning place that attracts visitors all year round with its…

From humble beginnings to a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub, Royal Flair has spent half a century refining the art of the Australian caravan. Founded in 1975, the company has transitioned from a small-scale workshop to a high-tech facility, maintaining a focus on boutique production rather than mass-market volume. Royal Flair was established by Peter Deralas and his brother-in-law, Steve, beginning as a small caravan workshop in Melbourne's northern suburbs. The founders initially ran New Home Caravans, building around 15 caravans per week by hand. Peter Snr brought a technical background to the build process, while his wife, Peristera, managed the internal soft furnishings. In 1990, the company rebranded to Royal Flair. A pivotal shift occurred in 1995 when Peter's son, Bill Deralas, took over as managing director. Bill redirected the company's…

At a placard tare of 3040kg and an ATM of 4000kg, the Traxx 7.2F is not a casual tow. It sits firmly in heavy-duty territory, demanding a capable tug and drivers who understand what mass means. In return, it offers the sort of payload, water, power and internal space that families actually use — 320L across six tanks (optionable to 420L), 400Ah of lithium backed by substantial solar and triple bunks that are genuinely wide rather than token additions. This is not a stretched couple's van with beds squeezed into spare corners. The 7.2F is purpose-built around kids, gear and longer regional touring. At a starting price of $132,990, it positions itself as an ambitious family off-roader built to a budget — mixing mid-tier ambience with structural ambition and usable…

For years, the GME series of UHF radios has been a dependable communication tool for vehicles involved in caravanning, trucking and 4WD activities, and the latest XRS-335C enhances the in-vehicle radio experience with the new ‘Connect’ range. The XRS-335C uses a super-compact die-cast chassis, designed specifically for heat dissipation without bulky external cooling fins. This allows the main unit to be hidden deep behind the dashboard or under a seat, with all controls centralised on the handpiece. All the mounting hardware and cables required for installation come with the kit, including an extension lead for the microphone, enabling remote placement of the radio in space-limited areas. Dynamic volume control ensures that low-level signals are boosted while over-modulated signals are compressed, preventing clipping and distortion during high-decibel transmissions. AUSTRALIAN MADE The…

Lepro is best known for A1-generated lighting displays, and the company was an early adopter of the technology. However, it also produces innovative, rechargeable LED-powered camping products, including the Lepro Head Torch. These lights use powerful Cree XP-G2 LEDs for 2000lux of versatile illumination. There are six modes: high and low spot and flood, a flashing red/green, and a stable red light. The 1200mAh battery is rechargeable via USB-C and provides up to 15 hours of use in low flood mode. The lights have an adjustable elastic headband and weigh close up 75g, so they are barely noticeable when wearing and have a 45-degree adjustment to point the light where it's needed. The lights are IPX4 water-resistant, so they can be used in light rain. A polyethylene coating protects them…

Jayco has unveiled its MY26 recreational vehicle range, continuing more than 50 years of Australian design and manufacturing with a renewed focus on off-grid capability, everyday comfort and long-term ownership confidence. Designed and built in Australia, the MY26 range introduces a series of thoughtful upgrades across Jayco's most popular touring and lifestyle models — delivering greater energy independence, smarter living spaces and systems designed to support longer stays away from powered sites. Scott Jones, National Head of Sales and Marketing, said, “With MY26, we've leaned into what modern customers value most — the freedom to stay off-grid longer, live more comfortably, and travel knowing their RV is backed for the long term.’ Across the MY26 line-up, Jayco has prioritised features that directly enhance self-sufficient travel: expanded lithium battery systems, increased…

SEND PICS TO WIN The March 2026 Readers’ Rigs winner is Kev Smith Kev Smith sent in this action shot of his Lifestyle Campers Breakaway offroad hybrid van and Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series, tackling Cape York, Qld. “We spent quite a bit of time up in Cape York and this particular pic was taken as we were going into the old mining area of the Wenlock Goldfield (formerly known as the Batavia Goldfield), along Portland Road. Wherever the car can sneak into, the van will follow. We had a great time up the top, exploring Cape York with its history, unique landscapes and the wonderful people.” WINNER! The April 2026 Readers’ Rigs winner is Scott Morelli Scott Morelli captured this stunning pic in World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park in New South Wales.…

There's no time like the present to start planning a dry season (May to October) escape. But before routes are locked in and campsites booked, one question looms large: where to go? Australia's northern regions are beautiful, remote and endlessly varied — but they're also demanding and not something to rush. Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland are often bundled together as ‘going north’, yet each offers a very different dry season experience. Choose the right region for travel style, timeframe and skill set, and the trip can be unforgettable. Try to squeeze too much into one hit, and even the most iconic destinations can start to feel like hard work. As summer winds down, the northern itch is real — the question now isn't whether to…

“Soaring above the Buccaneer Archipelago is nothing short of exhilarating” If there is one place in Australia that draws us back time and time again, the Kimberley is at the top of our list. We've been long-time visitors for more than a few decades now, and there's always excitement when planning our next trip. We generally travel around the region clockwise, so our gateway is Broome and the Dampier Peninsula. Having sun-soaked days, rich Indigenous heritage and jaw-dropping scenery at our fingertips, the region is a magnet for those craving a bit of adventure and discovery. SUNSETS OVER THE OCEAN Cable Beach is the crown jewel of Broome's coastline, with 22km of powdery white sand and sparkling turquoise water. While it's the perfect place to visit any time of day,…

There are places across Australia that stay with you long after you've rolled on to the next stop — those pockets of the country where big skies, ancient earth and a sense of quiet wonder seem to follow you around. Mildura in Victoria's far northwest, and Wentworth just across the New South Wales border, are two such destinations. And now, they're home to an extraordinary new reason to linger a little longer. Internationally acclaimed light artist Bruce Munro — the visionary behind Uluru's iconic Field of Light — has unveiled two large-scale installations that transform these classic outback landscapes into illuminated worlds of colour, atmosphere and imagination. “The result is playful, imaginative and utterly captivating” TRAIL OF LIGHTS – MILDURA, VIC Set on Mildura's Lock Island, Trail of Lights invites…

Up until a few years ago, most knowledgeable caravanners would have listed several Queensland caravan builders and maybe Trakmaster from Victoria at the top of a list of true offroad capable brands. These days, northern dominance has been challenged by newer players and by Sunland's move south. One of the relatively young brands leading the new wave is Titanium, which has grown in size and capability into a genuine force in the bush. Titanium offers four levels of fitout in the twin-axle range across S1, S3, S4 and WS versions, and an S2 single-axle. As the series numbers rise, the offroad and off-grid capabilities also increase, while the interior fitout stays true to a modern, upmarket aesthetic and thoughtful use of space. With 41 layouts for couples and family vans…

Most modern caravans generally come equipped with a reasonably good mattress. It's usually a decent inner-spring, but let's be honest—it's rarely great. It's often just a bit too firm, especially for side sleepers who end up with those aches in their hips and shoulders by morning. The Wanderluxe caravan mattress topper by Dreamer RV has entered the market as a targeted solution to this caravan problem. I recently spent a night in my van trying out the topper and waterproof cover, and it's a real improvement on the old mattress. The Wanderluxe is built from a 50mm slab of high-density memory foam. Unlike standard retail toppers that can act as a heat trap, this foam is infused with cooling gel. This addition is a practical touch for Australian conditions, as…

Snowy River Caravans has announced a new partnership with Team 18, joining as the naming rights sponsor of Car 20 driven by David Reynolds in the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship. The Snowy River Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will carry the brand's distinctive teal livery throughout the 2026 season, in alignment with one of Australia's premier sporting categories. Snowy River Caravans CEO, Andrew Crank, said the partnership builds on the company's established involvement in Supercars and reflects its long-term commitment to the category. ‘Supercars remains one of Australia's most recognised sporting platforms, and the alignment between motorsport and the caravanning lifestyle is a natural one,’ said Mr Crank. The announcement also continues Snowy River's long-standing relationship with James Courtney, who has represented the brand over the years. Courtney will join Team…

When people see our current setup and the way we travel today, it's easy to assume we started out like this. The reality is very different. Like most travellers, we began much smaller and worked our way up over time. Back in 2014, we bought our first caravan and started heading off on shorter trips with our three younger children. Even before that, we had spent years camping in tents and gradually building our confidence as we explored Australia. Our initial caravan setup was much smaller and lighter than what we tow today, and the way we packed and travelled looked very different as well. Over the years, our setups have evolved alongside our travel style, and we're now about to move into our eighth caravan, each of which has…

Separated by Western Port Bay, the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island are among Victoria's favourite holiday destinations. An hour's drive from Melbourne, the peninsular features fine beaches, award-winning wineries, an array of heritage sites, and relaxing hot springs. On the other side of Western Port, Phillip Island boasts the well-known penguin parade, the soon to be departed Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, and great surf and bay beaches. Between the two, it's a 20-minute ferry ride from either Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula or Cowes on Phillip Island to a little-known hideaway that seems lost in time. The largest of Victoria's coastal islands, French Island, is almost twice the size of Phillip Island. But there are no bright lights, big tour buses or holidaymakers jostling for a car park here.…

Embarking on a camping or caravanning adventure is one of the best ways to explore Australia's diverse countryside. We've probably all dreamed of doing a lap to see and experience unforgettable coastlines, inland gems, wild landscapes, diverse towns and iconic attractions. One luxury you want when travelling off-grid is a toilet; nothing works harder in a caravan. It is also possibly (aside from the fridge) the single most important item that can make or break your holiday. Finding the right toilet that suits your space, lifestyle, and is eco-friendly can be challenging. A genuine composting toilet separates liquid and solid waste, uses a bulking agent such as coir peat, employs agitation to aerate the solids bin, and features ventilation to promote decomposition and control odours. Finding the right solution for…

Barcaldine, or Barcy as it's affectionately known by locals, lies in central west Queensland, 520kms west of Rockhampton. Sitting like a verdant oasis at the crossroads of the Capricorn and Landsborough Highways, Barcy might be officially ‘outback’ but with its tree-lined streets, each named after a tree, it's aptly regarded as the ‘Garden City of the West’. Five towns make up the Barcaldine region: Alpha, Jericho, Aramac, Muttaburra and Barcaldine and each exudes its own charismatic quirkiness. There's picturesque Alpha, with its 27 colourful murals throughout town, that depict the town's history and culture. 54kms away, Jericho boasts the smallest still operating drive -in theatre in Australia with room for 34 cars, or 34 seats for those who prefer the ambience of old-fashioned recliners. The drive-in, which first opened in…

For caravanners and RV travellers, the Lockyer Valley isn't a detour. It's a destination with short distances between towns in a region where you're never far from a hot bakery pie or a proper pub meal. Travelling with the van and the dog? You'll fit right in. The Lockyer Valley suits caravanners because it's practical, with easy access from the Warrego Highway and flat town centres with accessible parking. Caravanners can take advantage of five free rest areas at Centenary Park, Narda Lagoon, William Kemp Park, Heifer Creek and Lake Clarendon. Because of the close proximity of the main towns, there are no long hauls once you're here. It's the kind of place where you can base yourself for a few nights and explore in relaxed loops of scenic tourist…

I've admired Jayco's most rugged Adventurer models ever since they were first introduced nine years ago. After the model's launch in 2017, we reviewed one of the original 19-footers as we crossed the Snowy Mountains and navigated tricky fire trails to the coast. At that time, the Adventure range was a departure from the more mainstream on-road models Jayco had been making for decades, and it left a strong impression. The Adventurer range has evolved over time, and we had the opportunity to try the 19-foot couple's version through Watson's Leisure Centre in Coffs Harbour, one of Jayco's largest and longest-serving dealers. The review van joins a mix of six pop-top and full-height caravans, ranging from 16ft to 22ft, catering to both couples and families. While the model's name is…

The Osprey Transporter 65 is a versatile, durable 65L duffel-style bag designed for those seeking a lightweight, compact alternative to a more technical, complicated backpack. The Transporter 65 combines toughness with the comfort of a technical backpack. Founded in 1974 by Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey started in a small retail shop in California, where each pack was custom-fitted and hand-sewn by the founder himself. Over the years, the company moved to south west Colorado and expanded into a global leader in carry solutions, recognised for its all mighty guarantee—a 30-year guarantee of quality. Osprey products meet bluesign® requirements, meaning materials and components have been selected that adhere to rigorous environmental and social criteria throughout production. The bag is crafted from 100 per cent recycled 630 Denier nylon, known for its strength…

Dusty tracks, smoky fires, long walks and crawling around under the van looking for that dust leak all mean one thing. Grimy hands and sweaty faces are part of caravan life. What's also part of caravan life is a healthy approach to keeping the bush and outback facilities rubbish-free, particularly from persistent plastic. Kine body wipes could be just the shot to keep you and the environment clean. Australian-made and owned, Kine body cloths are a convenient and environmentally friendly way to clean and refresh yourself. Unlike normal plastic-based wipes, the Kine product is made from plant-based fibres and is totally plastic-free. The cloths are also free from alcohol, paraben preservatives and sulphates. Kine wipes are certified as flushable according to Australian Standard AS/NZ 5328, the joint Australian/New Zealand Standard…