Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 592 i Caravan World

As you’ve probably worked out by now, there’s more to budget touring than scraping your pennies together. Sure, you can save money by being tight fisted, but is that the best approach? We have learned it often pays to shell out a little extra for a better experience. Here are a few ideas for you to consider. FREE CAMPS You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that free camps are going to be popular. They can be as rudimentary as a wayside stop beside the highway, where road transport roars past all night. Often these stops are overcrowded with waste management issues from rubbish disposal to human waste. With limited facilities and limited if any ambience, they’re free for a reason. Then there are exceptions that…

Travelling around Australia on a longterm adventure is a great dream. Imagine swapping your cares about work and commitments for the open road, a map and a sense of freedom. It’s not a lifestyle to suit everyone, but increasing numbers of Australians are embracing flexible working conditions, the freelance economy is booming and the advent of platforms such as Airbnb allow for homes to be leased on short and long term conditions. Aside from work and family obligations, the big question for anyone considering an open-ended sojourn is how can it be funded. Retirees commonly take advantage of access to their superannuation to buy a rig and tow tug and head off into the sunset, but families are also adopting the nomadic lifestyle by selling or renting their homes, working…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Under $60K, scores quite well” TOWABILITY “With an ATM of 2500kg, the van is an easy tow” LIVEABILITY “Even given the van length, there’s still room to move around” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “On road tourer – no problem” LAYOUT “A few compromises in the front bed/rear bathroom layout” QUALITY OF FINISH “A reasonable fit and finish with industry standard fittings” BUILD QUALITY “A few blemishes but nothing major” CREATURE COMFORTS “Not much missing here” INNOVATION “Nothing too radical, a fairly industry-standard build” X-FACTOR “Van towing length and weight”…

When French anthropologist Francois Peron visited the Peron Peninsula in 1801, its wildlife was in abundance – 23 species of woylies, bilbies, rufous hare-wallabies and more. But European settlement took its toll and these fragile creatures gradually vanished from the region, unable to compete with stock and rabbits for food or defend themselves against foxes and feral cats. Today, a two-metre high barrier fence seals off the peninsula and captive breeding and release programs by Project Eden have successfully returned the bilby and the malleefowl to Francois Peron National Park. Others reintroductions have failed, mainly due to feral cat predation, but there’s still hope that further releases of woylies, banded and rufous hare-wallabies, and quendas (southern brown bandicoots) will one day succeed.…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.78m (28ft 10in) External body length 6.55m (21ft 6in) External body width (incl. awning) 2.44m (8ft) Travel height 3.15m (10ft 4in) (incl a/c) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2460kg ATM 3300kg Payload 840kg Ball weight 170kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Composite aluminium Chassis Box section hot-dip galvanised Suspension Cruisemaster CRS independent Coupling Ball Brakes 10in electric Wheels 15in alloy Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 110Ah Solar 2 x 150W solar Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control No Kitchen (external) No INTERNAL Cooking Dometic four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Dometic RPD 190 two-way, 190L Microwave NCE Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet, separate show cubicle Hot water Swift 23L, electric and gas OPTIONS FITTED • Double electric entry step • Entry…

Love to cycle? Just 15 minutes from Lakes Entrance the Nowa Nowa Rail trail runs from Bairnsdale to Newmeralla just near Orbst (but you can pick it up at a variety of locations along the way.) Back in 1888 when the railway came to Bairnsdale, it was notable for its many long trestle bridges. While the rail line didn’t reach Orbost until 1916, the line was finally closed in 1987. Today it serves as a recreational trail that’s much loved by cyclists and pedestrians alike. The entire cycling trail runs the 94km passing through a variety of forests and towns as well as huge timber bridges and views of the Gippsland Lakes. The section from Bairnsdale to Nicholson, roughly 8km long, is a popular section with its fully sealed pathways…

The importance of making a connection with our neighbours can’t be under-estimated. Take this story as an example. We know of an Australian soldier who was deployed on operations overseas for a few months. In his absence, a professional criminal outfit turned up to his home with a removal van and stripped the premises clean. When the soldier eventually returned home to find all his possessions missing, he asked his neighbours what happened. They replied that they’d thought nothing of it. They simply assumed the serviceman had moved on to a new posting and no longer lived at the address.…

It’s not hard these days to buy a caravan which costs more than the house it stands beside. Grey Nomads who haven’t moved for a while, may find that their new home-away-from-home freedom machine costs as much as that cute inner-suburbs bungalow where they’ve lived for a couple of decades. Add in the 4x4 needed as a tug and the total bill will almost certainly soar past two hundred large. With relentless competition driving features off the options list and onto the standard inclusions, the six-figure caravan is no longer a rarity — in fact, it’s fast becoming the norm. “...the generous supply of LEDs throughout make the interior very bright. If ever you needed to perform campsite open-heart surgery, this would be the place to do it” Which makes…

Having the bed at the front, the kitchen and dinette amidships and the bathroom at the back might seem to make for a tail-happy wiggler, but the reality is that – on asphalt at least, our ageing LandCruiser had no difficult towing and pushing the SR-20. And that was without loading up the significant frontal load-through storage boot, which will inevitably be filled up with all manner of recreational, campsite and maintenance equipment too dirty, oily or smelly to be stowed inside the caravan. It’s a big space, though access is via hatches which may limit what goes in: camp-chairs - yes; hammock on a frame – maybe not.…

• Lakefield National Park is Queensland’s second largest and the most accessible on Cape York Peninsula. • Most of the tracks that branch off Lakefield Road aren’t suitable for caravans. Your best bet is to set up at Kalpowar Crossing and unhitch before exploring deeper into the park. • Campsites must be booked in advance, cost is $6.65 per person per night, or $26.60 per family per night. • Popular activities include barramundi fishing in the rivers and birdwatching at the lagoons. • The southern entrance is about a four-hour drive north of Cairns. • Bookings can be made at https://qpws.usedirect.com/qpws/…

The town’s name derives from its location at the junction of the Gascoyne and Lyons Rivers, 175km east of Carnarvon and 1000km north of Perth. The Gascoyne is the longest river in Western Australia (865km) and is fed by 36 tributaries that collectively drain a catchment of 80,400 square kilometres on its way to the Indian Ocean at Carnarvon. It flows through a landscape that varies from flat plains with isolated hills to imposing mountain ranges and the world’s largest monocline (Mt Augustus, 1106m). These rangelands are sparsely vegetated by scattered perennial shrubs and hardy acacia, which somehow support fine merino sheep stations, all baked in a hot desert climate of scorching summers and mild winters. Some gold mining also occurs in the region. The Gascoyne has been described as…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External length 6.7m (22ft) External width 2.3m (7ft 7in) Travel height 3.2m (10ft 6in) Bed size 1.89m (6ft 2in) x 1.52m (5ft) Tare 2960kg GVM 3800kg Licence Car Passengers Two-berth ENGINE Base vehicle Renault Master – front-wheel-drive Engine 2.3L Gearbox Six-speed auto Max power 110kW Max torque 350Nm EXTERNAL Brakes Anti-lock Fresh water 100L Grey water 55L Solar 80W Air-conditioner Standard Gas 2 x 4kg INTERNAL Cooking Three-burner gas grill and oven Fridge Three-way 140L Microwave Standard Toilet Cassette 20L Shower Internal Washing machine No Batteries 100Ah Lighting LED (including strip lighting accents) Hot water Gas OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $129,990 (driveaway, VIC) MORE INFORMATION Melbourne RV 1/120 Canterbury Rd Bayswater North, VIC 3153 Ph: (03) 8761 6255 Web: www.melbournerv. com.au…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES External body length 5.9m (19ft 4in) External body width 2.3m (7ft 6.5in) Travel height 2.9m (9ft 6in) Internal height 1.9m (6ft 3in) Tare 2715kg GVM 3495kg ENGINE Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Multijet 130 Engine 2.3L turbodiesel Gearbox Six speed AMT Max power 96kW@3600rpm Max torque 320Nm@1800rpm Brakes ABS disc EXTERNAL Water 122L Grey water 92L Battery 2 x 80Ah Solar No Air-conditioner Cab only Gas 1 x 9.0kg, 1 x 4.5kg INTERNAL Cooking Thetford three-burner and Thetford Duplex grill/oven Fridge Thetford N3112, 113L Microwave No Bathroom Combo with Thetford cassette toilet Washing machine No Hot water Truma Combi 6E LPG/240V, 10L Space heater Truma Combi 6E LPG/240V, 10L Inverter 600W OPTIONS FITTED Inverter PRICE AS SHOWN Rental vehicle – price varies MORE INFORMATION Wilderness Motorhomes 11 Pavilion…

My little motorhome trip was work related but it’s my humble opinion that New Zealand is one of the great motorhome travel destinations. It’s a short flight from Australia, travel distances are relatively short (when compared to Australia) and there’s a considerable variety of scenic attractions which includes the thermal springs of Roturua, the charms of the Coromandel, the Marlborough wine growing region and the spectacular landscape of the southern lakes and fiordland regions. The Kiwis drive on the left and, apart from the major cities, the traffic flow is generally light, especially in the South Island.…

Two awareness campaigns have been launched to increase awareness of how caravan and motorhome owners can safely interact with large trucks on the road. The first is a grassroots program launched by Queensland caravanner Ken Wilson called Truck Friendly. Wilson’s website (www.truckfriendly.com.au) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/truckfriendly.com.au) offer safety tips for overtaking and being overtaken while towing a caravan, travelling in a convoy and lights and communication. RV owners can join the campaign and qualify for a free green, 30cm 'I'M TRUCK FRIENDLY', sticker which lets truck drivers know they understand the rules of the road. To obtain a sticker, RV owners must read the driving guides on the website and install a UHF radio in the vehicle. Wilson says many caravan owners do not understand how to safely interact with…

Q Hi Dave, Can you please advise of the best and most cost-effective setup for a vehicle and caravan battery charger? I have seen two main configurations: 1. Solar panels and regulator mounted on top of the vehicle charging two AGM batteries, (one start and one auxiliary) connected to a caravan with Anderson plugs; and caravan solar and regulator connected to batteries on the caravan. 2. DC-DC charger with solar input between start and auxiliary battery on the vehicle; and DC-DC charger with solar input for the caravan batteries and solar panels. Typically, fridges in the vehicle and van are the main power users. Appreciate your advice. Ray Pridham Richmond NSW A Hi Ray, The two setups you have described sound quite creative in what they are trying…

There’s an old saying that goes something like this" “You wait ages for a bus, then three turn up at once.” It seems to me as an RV reviewer, that it’s a bit like that with single axle caravans over the last few months. At a recent show, Andy Graham from Alan Graham’s Caravans was keen to show me over the latest in his Essential Signature range of caravans; one being this 5.69m (18ft 8in) single axle model. According to proprietor Graham, there has been a bit of a resurgence of interest in shorter caravans, mostly because of the towing benefits but also because of the layouts now available. I couldn’t argue with that, could I? It was time to hitch up and take the Essential Signature for a spin.…

LITTLE ROPER STOCK CAMP 430km south of Darwin It’s the holiday camp for kids where you get to relax, with enough bulls and buffalos to lure kids to the rails, squirrel glider feeding sessions and pythons for kids to cuddle around the campfire. Located close to Mataranka’s uber-popular thermal pools, Little Roper Stock Camp lures a lot of families with its $20-per-night campsites (kids stay for free), and a laissez-faire attitude that lets kids be kids. After soaking and swimming all day long in Mataranka’s twin hot springs, campers gather around the communal campfire for cold ales and chats. At dawn, follow your nose back to the campfire to fill hungry bellies with Johnny cakes for $1 a pop and mugs of free, freshly brewed tea — a Little Roper…

VALUE FOR MONEY "You get a fair bit of interior space for your money here" TOWABILITY "No real problems on the road" LIVEABILITY "Layout with room to move, small kitchen area" SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING "Comfortable van with a suspension designed for rough-road travel" LAYOUT "No major compromises and room for guests" QUALITY OF FINISH "Liked the overall finish and mono colour scheme" BUILD QUALITY "Most things fitted in where they should" CREATURE COMFORTS "Has everything except for the washing machine" INNOVATION "Nothing particularly spectacular" X-FACTOR "Rear club lounge layout"…

WHEN TO VISIT Planning your upcoming adventure to the East Gippsland region? Stop in and stay when the area is in full swing for a festival or event or visit at a time when it’s quieter. Here are just a few of the more popular events happening over the next few months. • Rivendell Spring Garden Soirée: September 28 • Great East Rail Trail Ride: October 4- 7 • X-Marathon 60h Expedition Adventure Race: November 1-4 • The Bairnsdale Show: November 9 • Alpine Rally: November 29 WHERE TO STAY • Stay at the beautiful reserve of Cape Conran Coastal Park, 420km east of Melbourne, with a range of water activities, walking trails and a number of camping and cabin facilities for accommodation. For more info visit https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/cape-conrancoastal-park • Orbost…

So, you don’t think that burglary will happen to you? Consider these statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Criminology and you’ll probably think again: • In 2017, there were 225,900 recorded burglaries in Australia, or one every three minutes. • 20.3 per cent of Australian homes have been burgled at some point. • It takes 75 per cent of burglars less than five minutes to enter a property. • In 2015, Australia had the fifth highest rate of burglary in the world.…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 8.53m (28ft) External body length 6.7m (22ft) External body width 2.4m (7ft 10in) Travel height 3.05m (10ft) Internal height 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tare 2336kg ATM 2936kg Payload 600kg Ball weight 136kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Fibreglass and aluminium checkerplate Chassis 100mm (4in) DuraGal Suspension Torsion, 1.5-tonne Coupling AL-KO 3500 ball Brakes 12in electric Wheels and tyres 4 x 15in alloys plus spare; 235/75 R15 tyres Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 120W Air-conditioner Belair 3500 reverse cycle Gas 2 x 9kg Sway control None INTERNAL Cooking Thetford four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Thetford two-door three-way 185L fridge/freezer Microwave NCE Bathroom Thetford separate shower and basin Washing machine 2.5kg top-loader Hot water Suburban two-way OPTIONS FITTED Display linen PRICE AS SHOWN…

The whole of NSW was declared in drought during the latter half of 2018. It's significant enough to rank alongside those multi-year droughts that the country endured at the turn of the millennium; in the 1960s, WWII, at Federation, and those that came before. The current drought is centred on New South Wales, but also affects Victoria, Southern Queensland and the eastern side of South Australia. It hasn’t helped that we’ve simultaneously recorded exceptional weather and record-breaking heat over the last 12 months. The drought relief appeals and charities that have stepped in to respond to the needs of those worst hit by this event are doing sterling work. Whether we ‘Buy-a-Bale’ of hay to support a farmer or we donate money and food — every little bit counts. But…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 5.1m (16ft 7in) hitch to tail-lights External body length 4.19m (13ft 7in) External body width 2.2m (7ft 2in) including awning Travel height 2.4m (7ft 9in) Tare 1350kg ATM 1920kg Payload 570kg Ball weight 135kg EXTERNAL Frame Aluminium Cladding Vacuum-bonded quad-layer wall construction (Jayco Tough Frame) Chassis Hot dipped galvanised Endurance chassis Suspension JTECH 2.0 trailing arm independent coil Coupling 50mm ball coupling as seen (Trigg polyblock standard) Brakes Electric Wheels 16in 245/70R16, Adventuro A/T GT Radial Water 2 x 82L tanks with guards, Nautilus Instant hot water system Battery 1 x 100Ah deep-cycle (optional additional battery), BMPRO 12V/240V management system Solar 150W flexi panel (mounted) Air-conditioner Optional roof-mounted Freshjet Gas 2 x 9kg fixed Sway control Optional AL-KO electronic stability control Kitchen Recessed kitchen with…

Temple Gorge campground in the Kennedy Range NP is 62km north of Gascoyne Junction, which is 175km east of Carnarvon. It has a single bush toilet and communal fireplace (wood supplied). Bring your own drinking water. $11/adult, $3/child per night. https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/ temple-gorge The best time to visit the Kennedy Range is during the cooler months (May-September), and especially during wildflower season after good winter rains. Other accommodation is available at the Junction Pub and Tourist Park, with a choice of cabins, caravan and camping sites. Ph: (08) 9943 0868. For more information, visit www.junctiontouristpark.com.au Fuel and supplies are available at Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction. Activities include bushwalking, photography, birdwatching and stargazing. For more information, visit: https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/kennedy-range “DEC Camp Hosts are based at the campground from May to September to assist…

VALUE FOR MONEY “There's plenty of bang for your buck at just under $130K” TOWABILITY “It's delightfully easy to drive” DRIVEABILITY “Provides absolute freedom and security to explore” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Purpose-built for solo travellers’” LAYOUT “A teeny-weeny RV that's cleverly compact” QUALITY OF FINISH “Look no further than floor, furniture and external/internal walls” BUILD QUALITY “It's all in-house, Australian built” CREATURE COMFORTS “Boasts a solid suite of mod cons” INNOVATION “Rear lounge with electric drop-down bed above” X-FACTOR “Definitely meets its brief ”…

For anyone not familiar with the motorhome rental process, it’s relatively simple. It’s also something I do quite frequently for both work and leisure reasons, flying into a destination and picking up a motorhome. Motorhomes can be booked up in a number of ways – through a travel agent or more frequently these days, via a website. There is a pickup process, and I’ve observed it at Wilderness on a number of occasions. It’s very thorough and can take time of course. The Wilderness team do try to establish how experienced motorhome hirers are and for someone like me, it’s a fairly speedy procedure. Especially if details such as driver’s licences and arrival times are supplied beforehand. Just like a rental car, there are considerations like insurance excess and the…

GREEN PEA AND ROCKET DIP TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes SERVES: 5 INGREDIENTS • 1 ⅓ cup thawed frozen green peas • ½ cup rocket, chopped • ½ cup tahini • ¼ cup warm water • 2 tbs olive oil • 2 tbs fresh lemon juice • 2 tsp sea salt • 2 garlic cloves, chopped METHOD Place peas, rocket, tahini, ¼ cup warm water, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and garlic in a mini food processor; process until smooth. (Blend in more water, 1 tbs at a time, if dip is too thick.) Serve with grilled flatbread or chopped raw vegetables. SOBA NOODLE SALAD TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes SERVES: 5 INGREDIENTS • 350g soba noodles • 1 red capsicum, thinly sliced • 2 cucumbers, julienned • 2 carrots, julienned •…

As we prepare this month’s edition of Caravan World, drivers from across Australia are striving to find the crappiest car to race thousands of kilometres to help fund cancer research. More than 550 people, including around 250 teams and support crews, will take part in the two Shitbox Rallies held each year, one in May and the other, Shitbox Rally 2019 Spring coming up from 19 to 25 October. Teams will tackle the journey from Melbourne to Townsville via Birdsville in a vehicle that costs less than $1000 to raise money for the Cancer Council. Founder James Freeman lost both of his parents to cancer 12 months apart, and started the rally as a unique way for ordinary Australians to have fun, see parts of Australia they normally wouldn’t, and…

Regular readers of this column might be aware that I was in Canada last month. Whilst I was there, I became involved in an in-depth conversation with a local about the differences between Canada/US-built recreational vehicles and those in Australia. Just to avoid confusion here, although Canada does have an RV industry, it is heavily influenced by products from the USA and consequently many of the products look similar. I explained that the most obvious difference is size and weight. Generally speaking, although there are some that are similarly sized, Canadian/US RVs are usually heavy and longer. Construction techniques are similar although there is much less attention to weight saving products, 110V mains cabling is used and there’s a hefty emphasis on creating space. Although the travel trailers (caravans) and…

TRUCKING LIFE Q With the constant battle with gross vehicle mass (GVM), gross combined mass (GCM) and the increasingly sexy fully self-sustainable free camping caravan options, plus the extra associated weight of water tanks, grey/ black water tanks, solar panels, batteries and the creature comforts, being overweight is likely. We bought a 2012 Navara 2012 V6 turbodiesel with all the tow rig bling: OME suspension, rear canopy, toolboxes, dual battery setup, long-range fuel tank, UHF radio, spotties, etc. Trouble is, we're at 2910kg GVM so with a rating of GVM 3010 we only have an extra 100kg. When I realised, I was devastated. Add the towball weight of the caravan and we're screwed. We see what would have to be overweight rigs all the time, on all manner of vehicles…

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES Overall length 7.44m (24ft 5in) External body length 5.69m (18ft 8in) External body width 2.44m (8ft) Travel height (incl AC) 3.0m (9ft 10in) Internal height 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tare 1935kg ATM 2500kg Payload 565kg Ball weight 134kg EXTERNAL Frame Meranti timber Cladding Aluminium Chassis SupaGal box section 100mm x 50mm (4in x 2in) Suspension Leaf spring Coupling Ball Brakes 10in electric Wheels 15in electric Water 2 x 95L Battery 1 x 100Ah Solar 1 x 160W Air-conditioner Dometic Ibis 4 Gas 2 x 9.0kg Sway control No Kitchen (external)No INTERNAL Cooking Thetford Caprice Mk III four-burner, grill and oven Fridge Dometic RMDX21 190L Microwave NCE Bathroom Dometic cassette toilet and separate shower Hot water Suburban 23L OPTIONS FITTED None PRICE AS SHOWN $58,990 on-road, NSW ENQUIRIES Alan…

Anyone who has been looking around caravan sales yards over the last few years will know that a layout that normally features a front island bed and a bathroom across the rear is very common. There are variations on theme depending on the length of the caravan and the location of the habitation door, but the basics are the same. Apart from anything else, this does make for a bit of a challenge for your average reviewer. Consequently, when something a little different comes along, like say a van with a club lounge in the rear, then it tends to attract attention. Such being the case with this Millard Toura RD21 caravan which I picked up from RV Connection in Sydney. At a recent show, it stood out a bit…

You’ve reached your destination safely. The campsite’s set up and you’re nestled into your favourite camp chair in front of an open fire. The sound of a gentle wind blowing through the trees is broken only by your family’s laughter and that of the occasional kookaburra. But this moment of relaxation probably didn’t happen by accident. It’s likely that your trip away was preceded by a period of organisation and preparation. For example, before you left home, you probably charged your batteries, washed out the water tank and filled it with purified water. You may also have had your tow-tug and ‘home away from home’ subjected to one of its regular mechanical services. And, once you hit the road, hopefully you ensured you stopped every two hours to fight fatigue…

• In January 2019, a man broke into a Victorian home and stayed for 90 minutes eating, drinking and doing his laundry. • In 2017 a man broke into a home, took a bath, brushed his teeth, cooked some noodles and used a PlayStation before leaving five hours later. • In the USA, a pair of men broke into a home, changed its locks and stole valuables over days. When questioned by neighbours at the scene, the men pretended to be there on official foreclosure business – and got away with it. • Not all burglars are 30-40-year-old men. Celebrity Lindsay Lohan was accused of stealing from one of her own friends. Add to this list, policemen looking for drugs for personal use, priests stealing Christmas gifts from homes and…

VALUE FOR MONEY "A well-equipped luxo-van at a keen price but some of the fixtures may not be as durable as they are on dearer rivals" TOWABILITY "The Snowy River SR-20 seemed immune to wind and once a driver is used to its physical bulk, it will tow extremely well." SETTING UP AND HITCHING UP "Clamp-type jockey wheel is basic, but it works. Functionality at the price? No complaints" SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING "For bitumen and semi-offroad touring, the SR-20 will meet most user’s criteria" LAYOUT "The layout is not ideal: while a side-kitchen and opposing dinette separate the sleeping and ablution facilities, an improvement would be more privacy from a discreet bedroom; sleeping for more than two will involve compromises" QUALITY OF FINISH "The high-gloss finish may be practical,…

Lakefield was home to nine different Aboriginal clans before Europeans arrived in the area around 1870. The fertile land, coastal areas and abundant waterways hold several places of cultural significance and countless stories of life lived in harmony with the land. One such area, Rarda-Ndolphin (Low Lake), is named in two parts – ‘Rarda’ from the Awa-Laya language and ‘Ndolphin’ from the Lama Lama language – showing the shared significance and mutual respect that the clans lived with. In the mid-nineteenth century the area was explored by Edmund Kennedy, before William Hann passed through and tipped off a goldrush around Palmer River that lasted through the latter half of the 1870s. Two Irish immigrants purchased the rights to occupy 50 square miles of land in 1879 and set up a…

Here are a few ideas to help to get the planning juices flowing. From Sydney: • Jump onto the Thunderbolts Way. This 290km drive will take you from Nelson’s Bay to Goondiwindi via Gloucester through the Barrington Tops and Uralla. Along the way, you can get in touch with your inner bushranger by following the history of Captain Thunderbolt. • From here, it’s an easy jump to get aboard the Solar System Drive. This route covers sections of the Newell, Golden and Castlereagh Highways, and travels through towns such as Dunedoo, Narrabri and Gilgandra. Along the way, you’ll find planets displayed on huge billboards with associated information about their size, mineral composition and other significant facts. The distance between each billboard is scaled relative to the sun which is represented…

VALUE FOR MONEY “A lot of return on investment guaranteed” TOWABILITY “It’s pretty light and steady; ought to follow you no qualms” LIVEABILITY On the snug side but well-appointed with a big dinette” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “This opens up the offroad world for many” LAYOUT “Limited floorspace and a few awkward interactions between features” QUALITY OF FINISH “Up to standard without dropping your jaw” BUILD QUALITY “Sturdy and solid, particularly where it counts” CREATURE COMFORTS “Awning, huge dinette… nice touches for cosy stays” INNOVATION “A good design though one we’ve seen similar to” X-FACTOR “Functional and well-appointed without knocking the socks off”…

The proactive Sunliner Recreational Vehicles team is renowned for its motorhome core fleet — touring and off-grid models. And now the avant-garde motorhome manufacturer, as a result of astute marketing acumen, is leading the field in articulating the 'solo' genre. It has been a profoundly wise approach. The term 'venerable motorhoming sage' perfectly fits the Sunliner RV mould, which is quite apt considering the company initially showcased its purpose-built Sage at this year's NSW Caravan Camping Holiday Supershow (April 30-May 5). In fact, Sunliner RV has launched two new motorhomes — also the Trex — this year that have been developed specifically to suit the solo traveller. That's on top of the existing Habitat 3, which also addresses the needs of this category. SAGACIOUS SUNLINER “The Sage is a softer…

Regular readers of this fine magazine will be aware that from time to time I do a bit of RV work in New Zealand, usually Auckland but sometimes Christchurch. For getting around, I usually borrow a motorhome from one of the local rental companies. In this case, I travelled around in a two-berth Helix 2 four-seater B class model from Wilderness Motorhomes. Wilderness likes to rename the motorhomes in the rental fleet, as it’s actually a Carado T135. Carado is a German manufacturer, part of the giant Hymer group and one of quite a few European manufacturers which sell their motorhomes in New Zealand. Wilderness is one of several motorhome companies which rent out German-built models that are built for the retail market, not specifically for rentals. So apart from…

VALUE FOR MONEY “Depends on your perspective, not the cheapest rental but a great motorhome to travel in” DRIVEABILITY “An easy driving motorhome but for the sometimes hesitant Fiat gearbox” LIVEABILITY “Compact setup but works well for two people” SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING “Well appointed for rental motorhome travel” LAYOUT “Typical German layout, a place for everything ” QUALITY OF FINISH “Given the rental use this motorhome has had, it looked to be in very good condition” BUILD QUALITY “Overall construction seemed to be generally good” CREATURE COMFORTS “Has all the essentials for life on the road.” INNOVATION Quite a few clever tricks with the storage compartments” X-FACTOR “German-built motorhome for rental use”…