Camper Trailer Australia Issue 164

It is so good to be on the road again, and wow — it's busy. Campgrounds and caravan parks are booked solid, activities and tours are full, and the roads are chockers with 4WDs, camper trailers, campers, caravans, and motorhomes. Sadly, I have witnessed so many first-timers that do not know the etiquette on dirt roads; keeping their tyres at road pressures, driving too fast and not offering the one-finger wave. Please take care when you’re out there and slow down, enjoy the scenery, relax at your destinations, and most importantly — make it home. This month we’re looking at how rooftop tents have changed the way we camp, and how quickly their designs have changed. Sam Richards provides you with some vital tips on what to look for when buying…

ARE AWNINGS NECESSARY? Shade is important when it's hot and sunny, and cover is necessary when it's raining. The range of awnings available means there is one for every budget. When researching awnings, it’s a good thing to know what your expectations are before purchasing. If you’re only going to use it on that one camping trip you take each year there’s no point spending big bucks on a top-of-the-range awning. However, if you are looking at taking three months off to lap the country, it would be wiser to pay the extra so that you know it will last the distance. THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES Awnings come in all shapes and sizes from square, rectangle, 180-degree, 270-degree to 270-degree with extensions. So many options are available that it all comes down…

Would you believe that rooftop tents (RTTs) began appearing in Western Europe during the 1930s before advances in the 1950s improved the designs? It was in South Africa, however, that the biggest developments in rooftop tenting occurred — this isn’t surprising considering the places people camp and the wildlife they need protection from – lions, hippos, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and elephants. Having a tent that enables you to sleep high off the ground is a lifesaver. It’s also why some of the most sought-after RTTs come from companies with South African pedigrees, such as Quick Pitch, Howling Moon, Hannibal, Bush Company, Eezi Awn, Bushwakka and Alu Cab. The good thing is a few Aussie businesses are also big players in the RTT game, such as Darche, ARB, TJM, Ironman 4x4, 23…

• Safe and secure place to sleep as you’re up high • Simple and quick to set up and pack down • Removes sleeping gear from your 4WD as it can be stored in the RTT • Being up high, you often catch cool breezes you miss when camped on the ground in a swag or tent • A perfect addition to a compact camper trailer for sleeping solutions • Provides a comfortable place to sleep • No pegs or ropes required on hardtop models • Wake to stunning views from your vantage point up high • You can camp anywhere; the challenge is getting level…

In Part 1 of our exploration of Gwydir Shire, we showcased some of the region’s hidden gems, such as Warialda and Bingara. In this month’s issue, we explore Gravesend, North Star and Cobbadah. It’s not just their histories that make these towns so interesting. It’s their unique and niche offerings; attractions that you simply cannot find in larger towns or regions. So, make a cup of tea, put your feet up, and read about your next big adventure! Gravesend Located 25km west of Warialda, the rich history of the town of Gravesend seems disproportionate to the town’s small size. Proclaimed a village in 1911, Gravesend expanded from a lone livestock station when it built a train station in 1900. Shortly after this, the town received a post office and a railway bridge,…

Deep inside Purnululu National Park, wild and uncharted, Piccaninny Gorge harbours a secret rock world that’s seldom seen, scoured deep into the head of the Bungle Bungle Range. Five spectacular sandstone chasms known as the ‘Five Fingers’ rate as the national park’s longest and most remote. And, the only way to explore them is on foot, following the fluted bedrock of Piccaninny Creek as far and as deep as you dare. There’s no designated track, and at around 30km return, it’s one for hardy explorers, but the scenes that await will blow your mind. Shimmying through slender rock chasms, walking and wading, disappearing into caves where bats shift restlessly overhead, and past frogs staking out fern-fringed pools, Piccaninny’s dramatic rock landscape rivals anything you’ll ogle in Purnululu National Park — minus…