More Australians than ever are packing up and hitting the road to explore what this great country has to offer. Van living has become more popular since the Covid pandemic brought a temporary ban on overseas travel, and the camping trend shows no signs of slowing down.
But the days when caravanning was the preserve of grey nomads are over. Today, many Australians, including couples, families and even singles, head out into the great outdoors to explore the Australian landscape while enjoying life on the road – often with all the comforts of home.
Western Australian couple Tim and Renee McLennan previously spoke to Yahoo News Australia from the road where they planned to live in a campervan. The couple, along with their children, set off on a nine-month cross-country journey, completing the traditional “grand loop” that starts in Perth and travels clockwise around the country.
Canadian Jordy Kummer has since moved to Australia and is now travelling alone in a van. She believes this is the best way to explore the country – and she is not alone in her opinion.
And while there are simple alternatives to life on the road (available options include a pickup truck, a motorhome, a hybrid vehicle, a traditional travel trailer, and smaller pickup truck attachments), many are now opting for fully equipped RVs with all the bells and whistles.
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Australians spend $100,000 on living on the streets
According to some enthusiastic caravanners, $100,000 could buy Australians a suitable set-up for the journey – a campervan for sleeping, eating, living and of course driving. And with all the essentials. And while that may seem like a lot, many are willing to pay it for a taste of the good life.
One couple spoke about their plans to travel around Australia in a campervan or caravan, saying: “Why go abroad when you can see all Australia has to offer? [on the road]” while appearing on A Current Affair on Saturday night.
They were joined by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Australians attending the caravan and camping show, which organiser Rod Lockwood said has become increasingly popular in recent years.
“Australia is ideal for [road travel]. It's an island, you can easily cross the States and just do a loop,” he said. He called us Australians the “kings and queens of caravans,” adding that with a suitable home on wheels you can “go anywhere,” noting that many are upgrading to larger vehicles.
Campers stay connected in remote areas
What has also changed is the ability to stay connected and enjoy the comforts of home while still getting off the beaten track, often to remote locations. Caravanning or camping now offers the convenience of air conditioning, fully equipped kitchens and even internet – thanks largely to Elon Musk's Starlink device.
The “incredible” device has been described as a “game-changing” solution for those who want to be able to work on the go and still have access to the internet. Over the past two years, satellite dishes with internet connections have become increasingly common in campsites.
Among those using Starlink to work on the road is avid outdoorsman Tristan Brodeur. His job as a support manager in IT at a bank requires him to be on call — and this week he did that from a secret campsite accessible only by boat.
“It's changed everything for me and allowed me to escape to the places I love to be. My job requires me to be on call and sometimes that duty comes at the expense of my camping adventures,” he told Yahoo this week from his remote workplace in a nature preserve in the US state of Maine.
But while the new form of travel is boosting economies in the region's communities, the influx of tourists is also bringing problems, some say, including overcrowded campsites and “unacceptable” behaviour, including littering and “destroying” some of Australia's most pristine places.
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