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Embarking
on the big lap
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 Like everything else that was big in the seventies, caravanning is back in fashion. And if the scores of sundowners venturing out onto the open road are anything to go by, it's popularity is unlikely to fade any time soon.
In fact, as more baby boomers hang up their ties and head off on the 'big lap of Australia', these travellers are likely to have a massive impact on local tourism.
Tourism Australia estimates that there are currently more than 400,000 registered caravans, motor homes and camper trailers with up to 80,000 of them exploring Australia at any one time. It would seem rising petrol prices are not enough to stop this wave of silver tsunamis.
In fact, the Australian Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources believes the caravanning industry is the one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the country with sales almost trebling in the past 10 years.
So why is caravanning so popular?
If you visit any of the caravan club or industry association websites, the answer is quite simple. Freedom. Caravanning affords you the freedom to go where you want, when you want, without having to rely on anyone or anything else.
Add to this the potential threat of civil unrest and terrorism that some of us associate with international travel, and it's not hard to see why more people are reacquainting themselves with the Australian outback.
Choosing your vehicle – caravan or motorhome?
Purchasing a vehicle for your 'big lap'is like buying a home and the choices are endless. Some are small while others resemble moving palaces boasting all of the comforts of home. But with so many recreational vehicles to choose from – there are caravans, campervans, motor homes, tent trailers, slide-on campers, pop-top caravans and camper trailers, just how do you pick the vehicle that will best suit your needs?
According to the Caravan, RV and Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA), the first thing you'll need to
do is ask yourself a few questions.
- Do you plan to use your home away from home all year round?
- Will you be making long trips?
- How many beds will you need?
- How much storage room will you need?
- Are you planning to camp at established caravan parks or do you want to head off into the bush?
- Will you need a large kitchen for cooking?
- Do you want a good entertainment centre with TV, VCR and stereo?
- What is the towing capacity of
your car?
- Do you want to buy or hire a vehicle? (in which case, how much money are you prepared to spend?)
Once you've answered these questions, it should make choosing your mode of transport easier. As a general rule,
motor homes and campervans don't usually need to be towed. Caravans on the other hand do need to be towed,
but can be unhitched and left at a caravan park, freeing up your car for independent travel.
Travel checklist
So you've selected your vehicle, picked a destination and are ready to follow the sun. Before you go, here's a list of essentials that the CRVA recommend you don't leave home without:
- Batteries
- Bottle/can opener
- First-aid supplies
- Flashlights & lanterns
- Insect repellent
- Matches
- Rope, cords, or wire
- Sports equipment & games
- Toilet paper
- Garbage bags
- Binoculars
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- Camera
- Fishing gear
- Folding chairs
- BBQ & fuel
- Maps & road atlas
- Picnic basket
- Shovel (small folding type)
- Sunscreen
- Tool kit
- Umbrellas
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The big lap of Australia – places to see on the way
Once you've packed your life into your caravan and said goodbye to your loved ones, all that's left to do is pick your first destination. With all the time and freedom in the world to see this big brown land of ours, you won't be short of destinations, but here are a few places we believe are must-sees.
Uluru
'The Rock' is the number one tourist destination for nomadic travellers. Made of red sandstone, it has an impressive 9.4 kilometre circumference and rises to a height of more than 340 metres above the otherwise flat terrain. Each year scores of mobile boomers head to Uluru to explore the heritage listed rock and take in the breathtaking views just before sunset.
Broome
Each year, droves of caravanners flock to Broome making it the undisputed sundowner capital of Australia.
In fact, at the last national census, there were more people living in caravans in Broome than anywhere else in the country.
Often labelled as the gateway to the Kimberley, Broome is as famous for it's clear pristine beaches as it is for its pearls.
If you do decide to turn left at Uluru and head to Broome, make sure you visit between March and October so you won't miss the Staircase to the Moon. This natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon reflects off the exposed mudflats at Roebuck Bay during extremely low tides, creating the illusion of a staircase to the moon.
Another must see is Gantheaume Point, where you can see dinosaur footprints that are rumoured to be more than
130 million years old.
Barn Hill
Located 120 kilometres south of Broome is Barn Hill, a modern day 'commune of sorts' for baby boomers. Situated on a Kimberley Cattle Station overlooking the Indian Ocean, Barn Hill is home to possibly the most remote lawn bowling green in Australia.
But if lawn bowls aren't for you, Barn Hill also hosts great fishing, swimming, BBQ nights, roast dinners, a crafts corner, bingo and beach walking.
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