Caravan World Issue 612

The recent Victorian Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow in Melbourne got me thinking about how hard it is to decide what caravan to buy. There is such a wide selection and so many different builders out there. For those new to the idea of a van, even what type you should be looking for is a quandary. The quality of vans at the show was very high, and I can honestly say there wasn’t a van at the show that wouldn’t suit someone perfectly. But there probably wasn’t one van that would suit everyone. It’s remarkable how many people call on me to recommend a van, but when I ask them how they will use it, most don’t really know. So, when thinking about a van, what you plan to do…

Four new day hikes in Mount Stapylton, Lake Wartook, the lower waterfalls of Mount Difficult, and Signal Peak are ready for adventurers to explore. The hikes have been opened in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park ahead of the anticipated completion of the Grampians Peaks Trail (GPT). The hikes traverse a range of distances, are of varying difficulties, and are set to provide new experiences of the Grampians’ physical and cultural landscape. Home to an extensive list of native fauna and flora — including more than 800 species of the latter — the 160,000-hectare national park will provide its visitors with not only physical challenges, but also the opportunity to learn about the Indigenous cultures of the Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung peoples, who have called the region home for thousands of years. The…

MOUNT STAPYLTON LOOP Loop: 9.7km Duration: Four to five hours Difficulty: Grade 4 — challenging steep sections, rock hopping, slippery surfaces, and exposed rocky outcrops Start: Mt Zero Picnic Area, Mt Zero Rd LOWER WATERFALLS OF MOUNT DIFFICULT Loop: 4.2km Duration: Two hours Difficulty: Grade 3 — steep sections, steep rock steps and walking track, creek crossings, slippery rocks, and exposed cliff edges. Start: Troopers Creek Campground LAKE WARTOOK LOOKOUT TO HALLS GAP Loop: 10.9km Duration: Three to four hours Difficulty: Grade 3 — challenging steep sections, slippery surfaces, and exposed rocky outcrops Start: Lake Wartook Lookout, Mt Difficult Road SIGNAL PEAK Loop: 7.8km Duration: Three to four hours Grade 4 — challenging steep sections, slippery surfaces, and exposed rocky outcrops. Start: Mt Abrupt Carpark…

After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Tatts Finke Desert Race is set to return to Alice Springs this Queen's Birthday long weekend, from 11-14 June 2021. With a reputation for comprising one of the most difficult offroad routes in an exceptionally remote area, the Desert Race spans two days and will see bikes, cars, buggies, and quads racing over varying types of terrain from Alice Springs to the small community of Aputula, or Finke. The Tatts Finke Desert Race will draw competitors from across Australia, while spectators will be treated to a one-of-a-kind experience in which they can camp alongside the racecourse and experience all of the action firsthand. More info: finkedesertrace.com.au…

TripTech last month announced its release of The Summer Report, which provides fascinating insights into the behaviours and travelling patterns of Australian adventurers during summer 2020/2021. The report highlights the domestic market’s contribution to the recovery of tourism with a 43 per cent increase in TripTech app engagement over the summer when stacked up against the previous year. By geofencing each square kilometre of Australia through a unique grid reference, the TripTech app carries out an analysis on fluctuations in arrivals, visitation, behaviour, points of interest, and passenger movements. With 150,000 monthly active users and 3.5 million monthly map engagements, the report includes an analysis of visitation by state, interstate movements, and engagement with experiences along the route. Wineries, breweries, and walking/hiking trails were the experiences with the highest engagement rates. TripTech and…

Cruisemaster has released a recall of its 10in and 12in Electric Trailer Brakes shipped out between 4 February–20 April 2021. The affected Part Numbers are 05-3075 and 05-3076. The cable-operated Park Brake Lever has been manufactured in a way that may in some circumstances cause it to fail — where the electrically activated service Brake itself has not been affected. Cruisemaster has stipulated that it is safe to tow a vehicle fitted with the Brake. The company is recommending extreme caution for customers disconnecting their trailers from tow vehicles. If the Park Brake is being applied and the Lever fails, the trailer may move uncontrollably. Cruisemaster is recommending that its Park Brake must not be the only way in which any vehicle fitted with the Brake is held or secured, and that…