How one trip turned Dani into a caravanner

“I started thinking if we’re going to be stuck in Australia for a while, why not think about a caravan or campervan for exploring Australia,” she told Explore.

Like many, Sydney-based librarian Ms Joffe had never holidayed by caravan before and was more used to hotel and Airbnb stays, but she was ready to experience a new type of travel.

“My partner said: ‘Before you make a decision, hire a van or campervan and go try it out.’ So, I hired a campervan and we went around New South Wales for three weeks and that was amazing.”

Despite being a seasoned traveller, it was a new type of freedom for Ms Joffe.

“We didn’t have to go unpack our suitcase, then pack it again in the morning. We’d just decide the night before where we were going to go, then wake up and start exploring,” she said.

“The campgrounds are normally close to the sea or right in the bush, so you’re really out there.”

While the three weeks exploring NSW were sensational, she had some reservations about the campervan. She didn’t love cooking with minimal ventilation, the cramped space or the hassle of taking down their entire set-up every time they wanted to go somewhere.

To keep the unmatched sense of adventure she was feeling while resolving some of the issues she’d faced with the campervan, Ms Joffe made a slight pivot and decided to purchase a caravan. 

The key benefit of a caravan is that you can detach the caravan from your tow vehicle, then go exploring without the hassles of trying to find parking for a huge vehicle and pack everything up perfectly. You can also then head off road.

The trickiest obstacle to caravan living is the towing of a caravan, but Ms Joffe found a solution.

“I did a towing course which was really worthwhile – learning how to reverse, what to do when your caravan is swaying in the wind or if you need to brake suddenly.”

Since she’s got a handle on the steering, Ms Joffe has been loving her caravan trips.

“It’s quite meditative. All you need think about is where to go, where to stop, what to eat … To wake up near the beach, go for a walk, then see the sunrise, it’s really relaxing.”

She already has her next trip lined up.

“I want to go to Tasmania. We’re going to take the caravan and the dog.”

Ms Joffe is not alone.

Figures from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia found 13.9 million domestic visitors went camping and caravanning in 2019, up 9.9 per cent from 2018. And the association anticipates even more growth this year.

“Australia’s kinship with caravan and camping has a long history with the modern, domestic-visitor economy built on the back of road trips and caravan holidays in the 1980s and 1990s,” said Peter Clay, the insights and advocacy general manager of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA).

“This continues today with caravan and camping holidays the most popular choice of holidays for Australians in 2019. It is also the ‘driver’ of the existing but early green shoots around some areas of Australia’s visitor economy,” he added.

According to Mr Clay’s insights, 62 per cent of caravanners and campers have said that COVID-19 has made them more likely to take a domestic holiday than before, with 50 per cent likely to travel more regionally than they were previously.

And it seems there are more first-timers hitting the open road, especially younger people. The CIAA found those in their twenties increased the number of trips they took by 22 per cent.

If reading about Ms Joffe’s adventures has something tingling in you, here are a few tips for planning your first caravan or campervan journey.

You don’t want to find out on the first day of your six-month caravan holiday that the door won’t lock, the stove doesn’t work and actually you’re claustrophobic. Test it out with a shorter trip beforehand.

Make sure all the tyres are inflated correctly, the towing aid is properly fitted, and loose items are secure. Consider getting a caravan specialist to check out your vehicle and its set-up before you head off.

When caravanning you’ll have more freedom than you’ve ever had. Take advantage of this flexibility and follow your adventurous impulses for unexpected stops and side journeys, but having a general route mapped out will save on petrol and stop you getting lost.

Not all campgrounds and caravan parks are created equally. While some may be fully equipped with powered sites, barbecues and bathrooms, some might leave you mostly to your own resources. If there are certain facilities you’ll need, do some research on where you’re headed.

Don’t drive too fast, especially as you’re learning to handle your new vehicle and it also leads to large savings on fuel consumption.

Some things you’ll definitely want to pack include potable water, clean linen, cleaning products, extension cords, a torch, kitchen utensils, folding chairs and a fire extinguisher.