Website Tips winners The following VIP Club members will receive ‘RV Runaway Vacation’ Movie gear as a reward for their ideas on what you would most like to see on our new website that will enhance your Caravanning holiday.
1. Decide how much space will you need Do you want a very compact vehicle or do you want loads of space? Size does matter - how you use it and what you feel comfortable in. Will you want to carry passengers? If you do, make sure the vehicle you choose has a sufficient number of passenger seats, with seatbelts fitted, to accommodate the size of your party. 2. Decide how far you are going to go All motorhomes have superb specifications for their price. But, for example, you will need to decide if you are going to use the vehicle on caravan sites which have full facilities, in which case you may not need every piece of equipment on offer. If you're planning to travel off the beaten track, you will want everything on board. 3. Decide how big is big enough Your motorhome needs to be large enough to be comfortable and small enough to be easy to drive. Try to narrow your search to one of three main categories:
Don’t forget that in some states motorhomes exceeding 4.5 tonnes require a light truck licence. 4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions Know how everything works and discover those items hidden under the floor or behind wall panels. Make sure you spend time to understand the differences between 12V and main power and how important this is to operating the features of your preferred RV. 5. Visit the shows Motorhomes come in all sizes, shapes and prices - so study your options to find the RV that's right for you. Attend Motorhome shows, talk to friends and relatives about their experiences, browse internet sites and speak to multiple dealers. 6. Visit manufacturers' websites for ideas and inspiration: www.horizonmotorhomes.com.au Or try before you buy: If you would like to hire a motorhome or campervan before making your life changing purchase why not visit the following companies to see how the RV really performs under Australian conditions:
Tourism Holdings Limited (THL) - Rentals, is a major tourism operator in Australia and New Zealand and operates the well known and respected Britz and Maui brands. Britz is the largest campervan rental company in Australia. With the largest number of vehicles as well as the most branches nationwide, Britz offers the perfect product and more options to suit their customers’ self-drive needs and budgets. Maui’s reputation as the premium motorhome brand in Australia is built on many years of offering superior quality products and services. With their unbeatable service, complimentary travel pack and nationwide Customer Care Programme, you can be assured of complete peace of mind when travelling. Rent a Britz or Maui vehicle from 10 locations around Australia. Visit www.britz.com.au or www.maui.com.au for more information. Apollo Motorhome Holidays Phone: 07 3260 5466
SEE THE BEST OF THE WEST IN STYLE: SAFARI UPDATE
SPRING TIME EVENTS Places to stay near this event
Places to stay near this event
Places to stay near this event
THE BEST OF THE SHOWS The 11th annual Expo is the perfect opportunity for you to see the very best the caravan and camping industry has to offer. More than 120 exhibitors will have displays located either indoors in air-conditioned and carpeted comfort, or outdoors next to Panther’s beautiful lake. Whether you’re a seasoned RV traveller or thinking of buying your first vehicle or planning your next holiday, the Expo is for you. Exhibits at the Expo will include caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, campervans and 4WD vehicles in price ranges to suit every pocket - as well as accessories, a great selection of camping equipment and holiday destination information galore.
Or visit the following trade businesses:
Winnebago Industries are the largest motorhome manufacturer in Australia. The roots of Winnebago Industries go back to 1965, with the formation of the Freeway. Bruce Binns, with the assistance of his wife Ruth, introduced the first Freeway slide on camper to Australia. They progressed with the Freeway name producing motorhomes, caravans and tent trailers. Today Winnebago Industries range includes Classic, Bundaleer, Explorer, Freewind, Alpine, Leisure Seeker, Free Sprit and Freeway - more than 70 models in total. Winnebago Industries are committed to providing high quality, sleek style, efficient designs and the best value motorhomes you will find in Australia. Currently Winnebago Industries employees over 170 dedicated workers who produce approximately 600 Winnebago RVs per year. They currently have ten dealers in their network throughout Australia. The dedicated Winnebago team have decades of experience in their field, and will continue to grow and strive for many future successes. The Winnebago factory runs tours most Fridays. Please call to book in advance. 32 - 34 David Rd Emu Plains
Parravans Caravan World Here at Parravans, we believe that there is more to a caravan than simply its price tag. Take a tour through our impressive range of new caravans and camper trailers, or view our selection of pre-owned caravans on-line at www.parravans.com.au. At Parravans, all of our stock is checked to ensure that it represents value, and our service department performs quality tests on each caravan to ensure trouble free running. Parravans are the true one-stop caravan service centre in New South Wales. 130 Windsor Road, MCGRATHS HILL NSW 2756
Richmond Caravans 6 Industry Rd McGraths Hill
The RV and Camping Leisurefest is a three-day, annual event that’s jam packed with over 350 new caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers, off-road vehicles, campervans, pop tops, tent trailers, fifth wheelers, slide ons, 4 x 4s and much more.
Where to stay while enjoying the RV & Camping Leisurefest, Springvale:
Or visit the following trade businesses:
Welcome to Tebbs, the industry leader in Australian Canvas Products. From custom made annexes to shademesh awning walls, Tebbs has the product to suit your needs. Located in Dandenong, Victoria, all of Tebbs products are Australian made, and are built with the finest quality that only Tebbs can provide. 33 Brooklyn Ave
Caravan Court Caravan Court do so much more than just sell caravans, hook them up and wave goodbye. They take pride in providing expert layout and design customizing and the very best in customer care. 639-649 Springvale Road
Springvale Caravans & Home Centre For all your new and used caravan and pop-top requirements in Melbourne, come and see the great range at Springvale Caravans and Home Centre. For more than 23 years, the team at Springvale have prided themselves on the range and quality on offer. Authorised dealers for Concept Caravans, Olympic, Opalite, and Belaire Pop-Tops, you can be assured of finding a new RV to suit all of your travelling requirements. Springvale Caravans is your one-stop RV specialist with an extensive range of used vehicles (check them out on our website), a state of the art service centre offering repairs or pre-holiday servicing, short-term caravan hire and even caravan storage with more than 120 spaces available; all to complement an impressive selection of new vehicles. 723-731 Springvale Road Keysborough
Carac Caravan Accessories
Scenic Caravans
NEW PRODUCT NEWS Kratzmann’s Caravans in conjunction with Classic RTM have revolutionised the luxury caravan industry with the arrival of Liberty 1. Using the latest in composite moulded injection technology, Liberty 1 is the ultimate in luxury caravans, with a host of features set to change the normal caravanning experience into one of absolute comfort and luxury. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) has been used in the construction of luxury offshore yachts and powerboats before, however this technology has never been used in the building of caravans, including the chassis and drawbar, until now. Liberty 1 unique benefits include:
Factory built home specialist, Glendale Homes, has recently completed 15 two bedroom villas for Tin Can Bay Marina. The project showcases some of the company’s most innovative design features, including: Manufactured to you own individual specifications, Glendale's range of innovative plans can be combined with any of the numerous options available to create designs that meet your individual requirements. For more information visit: www.glendalehomes.com.au
EASTCOAST HOMES: NEW STYLE FAMILYCABINS
The new family villas are an open plan motel room style cabin featuring private bunkroom for children, complete with a trundle bed. A separate living room provides a large amount of storage and entertaining area which flows onto a large wooden deck. Luxury features include two LCD TVs, skylight, functional kitchen and mood lighting. The use of quality fittings and energy efficient electrics will ensure the new cabins maintain their appeal long into the next decade. For more information visit: www.eastcoastparkcabins.com
Dometic’s new Airtronic heater is diesel-fired, 12V-operated and full microprocessor-controlled. If you have a diesel-powered vehicle, then the fuel supply can come directly from the main tank; if not, a separate diesel tank can be installed. Another useful feature of the heater is that it can be turned on remotely by a mobile phone – the perfect way to pre-heat your caravan or RV ready for your arrival. The entire range of new Dometic units are light and very compact, ensuring weight and space savings in your recreational vehicle. For more information visit: www.dometic.com.au.
Preparation: The Holiday Lifestyle Cookbook is available from Robyn Cook by phone or fax to 07 5445 9923 or email to piproductions@ozemail.com.au Payment by cheque or direct deposit only, sorry no credit cards. $12.50 includes GST and Postage to anywhere in Australia. Post your order and payment to 2 Diedrichs Court Palmwoods Queensland 4555
MEET OUR INDUSTRY BUSINESSES
The internal and external standard features on Regal caravans and pop-tops are making Regal first among caravanners. Regal create and build caravans to your specifications, which not only suits your needs and taste, but also your budget. Because Regal's craftsmen take pride in hand building a caravan to your specifications, you can be sure that your caravan will be built to spec, down to the smallest detail, and when you take delivery of your Regal caravan or pop-top you know that you have all the features that will make caravaning a pleasure. Regal have a large range of vans, available in both pop-top and full caravans, including Super Cruisers, R.S.V'S, Sahara Series Pathfinders, and the Off Road Commander. Their designs start at small 16' vans for one or two people ranging all the way up to large family vans built with bunks or single beds to suit a whole family if needed, all built for luxury and comfort. 7 Halley Cres
Royal Flair Caravans is an award winning manufacturer renowned for a strong commitment to quality. Since 1975 they have been providing diverse styles of caravans and pop-top vans to the nation, satisfying all types of caravanning requirements and lifestyle choices.
Profiles Forget stopping for your dinner at greasy take-aways on those long journeys; now you can enjoy your favourite home cooked meals on the road! Introducing the amazing portable Dream-Pot! More than just a thermo pot, the Dream-Pot is easy, hassle-free cooking, keeping your food hot or cold while you are on the move. There is no external heat when cooking with the Dream-Pot; simply start the cooking process before commencing the journey and at the day's end a delicious one or two course hot meal awaits you. There is no need to start cooking after a long day on the road when you are tired. Meals cook safely while you travel, making the caravanning life so much more enjoyable - Just relax and enjoy the evening! Whether in the caravan or motorhome, out camping or fishing, one Dream-Pot can be used as five different appliances, saving you valuable space, weight and money! 259 Denison Street
As one of Victoria's largest leisure retailers, Ray's Outdoors stocks a wide range of products including tents, camping equipment and outdoor clothing and footwear. Ray's Outdoors has grown from a small disposal goods store established in Geelong in the 1950's to a highly visible and well-regarded department style store. The Ray’s Outdoors team are focused on satisfying all your demands for one-stop quality and variety in outdoor leisure. Ray's Outdoors also offer a wide range of nationally recognised leading brands such as RM Williams, King Gee, Yakka, Timberland, Yarra Trail, Levi, Wrangler, Driza-Bone, Jeep, Columbia and Akubra in clothing and accessories in addition to a wide range of footwear and outdoor leisure products.
Since 1976, Alan Graham's Caravans & RVs has maintained customer service second to none, building up a reputation for quality product and professional after-sales service. If you're seriously talking about buying a new or used caravan, then head on over to Alan’s because they are ready to assist. They will listen to your touring needs and understand your expectations – then they will tell you how they can meet them. Alan Graham’s Caravans & RVs are the authorised factory outlets for A’Van Campers and Motorhomes, Concept Caravans, Supreme Off-Road Caravans and Windsor Caravans. Since 1976, when Alan Graham's Caravans & RVs was first established, the company has maintained a policy of customer service second to none, and has over the years built up an enviable reputation for quality products and professional, reliable after-sales service. 514 Pacific Highway
At Caravan Land you can expect to be welcomed by staff that is determined to exceed your expectations. By combining old fashioned service with the latest in quality products, they will satisfy all your caravanning needs. Caravan Land is a down to earth company founded on one simple philosophy: to provide friendly and helpful service while giving the public real value for money. Due to the high volume of caravans they sell, this philosophy has obviously served them very well. Because their business philosophy relies on honesty and personal involvement in each and every deal they do, you know you will be getting first class customer service from a team that really cares about making your caravanning dreams come true. 1528 Albany Highway
At the southern gateway to Warrumbungle National Park - a must visit destination for bushwalkers and rock climbing enthusiasts alike - Gilgandra Rotary Caravan Park is the ideal place to rest your head after an exhausting day taking in all there is to see and do. Take the kids to see nature up close at Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, visit the Coo-ee Heritage and Visitors Centre to see local exhibitions, or do some star gazing at the Gilgandra Observatory. If you are visiting in October, be sure not to miss all the fun of the Coo-ee Festival. Gilgandra Rotary Caravan Park’s level, shady sites are ideal for an overnight stay, with their clean modern cabins, swimming pool, large recreation area and camp kitchen with BBQ. Beautiful views, plentiful attractions, and a quiet place to rest, Gilgandra Rotary Caravan Park is your ideal holiday spot. 53 Newell Highway
Located in beautiful, peaceful North Haven, Jacaranda Caravan Park has the best of both worlds: Peace and tranquility by the beach while only a short drive away from bustling shops, restaurants and all the holiday attractions of Port Macquarie. Resident owners Neville and Yvonne Smith are ready to provide for all your holiday needs. They have resort verandah bungalows, some with queen bed and spa, cabins with ensuite and television included, sites perfect for touring vans or Motorhomes and shady areas for tents. Features of the park include BBQ areas, an award winning pool with waterfall and children’s playground to name a few. A subtropical setting, a short walk from the beach and close to shops and all amenities, Jacaranda Caravan Park & Holiday Village really is the best of both worlds. 85 The Parade
PieNETWORKS delivers managed internet access solutions to help their clients increase sales, reduce costs and extend their business reach. They use proven technology and accumulated experience to deliver an end-to-end fully managed internet access service; including attractive, robust self service kiosks, a 24x7 Network Operations Centre, full network monitoring, remote software upgrade, in-field repair and maintenance and project management of your network deployment. PieNetworks distribute some of the very accessible Pay to Use Internet Terminals many of which can be found in caravan parks, shopping centres, and places of interest around the country. These provide valuable access while on the road for those who cannot live without email or internet access, or those planning the next leg of their holiday or researching local attractions. PieNETWORKS Hotspot Webphone which can also be found in locations across Australia provide cheap phone calls through VOIP, broadband internet access, and Hotspot wireless access meaning the busy traveller can always keep in touch with what is happening around them. 75 Collingwood Street |
WINNING WAYS
Photo competition winners
Britz and Maui
The Wildflower & Goldfields Trail departs on Saturday 6 October for a two week tour around WA. The safari trails allow you to travel in your own, or hired, caravan, motorhome or mobile camping vehicle while everything is organised for you – it’s the best of both worlds! Caravan Parks, the itinerary, attractions and some meals are included in the cost….and don’t forget a discount of $100 is available for NRMA Members and members of other State motoring clubs. 
RV & Camping Leisurefest
Tebb's Canvas Products Pty Ltd
GLENDALE HOMES: NEW MELANESIAN STYLE CABINS
Pincushion Prawns
Alan Graham's Caravans & RVs
Gilgandra Rotary Caravan Park
PieNETWORKS