🇦🇺 Australia — OpenVan.camp

Spain introduced new road sign S-128 and banned camper vans from parking near beaches. Germany responded with a 3.82-metre electric camper van — fits anywhere, furniture not included. JAL now rents out motorhomes from Narita with miles earned per rental. Storm Ali blowing a traveller's caravan off an Irish cliff, and the Outbound demo for PS5 — all in this issue.

The author invested $60,000 in converting a van for life with a young child. The project proved unsuccessful due to impracticality and the stress caused by limited space and the toddler's needs.

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia recommends six regional towns for budget travel. Overnight stays at some locations start at $2–3 for club members. The list includes Bundaberg, Temora, Geraldton, Humpty Doo, Deniliquin, and Charleville.

Port Lincoln police recovered a stolen caravan and arrested a woman. The white 2024 Lifestyle caravan was stolen from New West Road between 9 and 10 April and was located in the rear yard of a Port Lincoln address on 11 April.

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) is celebrating its 40th anniversary since its founding. Established in 1986 by Don and Erica Whitworth, the organization now has 60,000 members, operates a network of 17 parks, and aims to grow its membership to 500,000 over the next decade.

ARI Motors released a camper van the size of a regular van — and it's now Germany's smallest production electric camper at €30,000. JAL decided its passengers hadn't traveled enough and offered a sequel: a motorhome pickup straight from Narita. The lawsuit against Stellantis over "cheat" diesel software, a yellow DHL van in the hands of a retiree, and 413 million campsite overnight stays across Europe — all in this issue.

A 39-year-old Cairns man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a caravan from a Port Douglas carpark on March 17. The White Rock man also faces charges for stealing a box trailer, fuel, and a number plate between February and April. He has been charged with five counts of stealing and is scheduled to appear in court on April 21.

Chinese motorhome manufacturer Xinjiao reports significant order growth in Australia and New Zealand in the first quarter of 2026. Orders in January increased by nearly 90% year-on-year. The company is expanding its dealer network and own stores in the region while increasing production capacity at its Tongxiang factory.

Two people sustained minor burns and smoke inhalation in a caravan fire. The incident occurred at the Penguin Caravan Park, with fire crews from three towns responding to the blaze.

Customers of caravan company Zone RV, who lost around $10 million, are urging regulator ASIC to investigate the former director. The company collapsed in December with debts of $42 million, and liquidators accuse the director of trading while insolvent. About 140 customers did not receive the caravans they had made progress payments for.

The North West Coastal Highway in Western Australia has reopened after damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Authorities have implemented a speed-restricted detour, while a section near the Lyndon River Crossing remains closed due to 700mm of standing water. Approximately 100 sites at Bayview Park were filled by Sunday morning.

Rising diesel prices and supply disruptions are forcing Australian caravanners to alter travel plans. Some travelers are canceling trips or staying at parks due to fuel availability concerns, despite a temporary government excise cut.

A 40-year-old Warrnambool man pleaded guilty to stealing a caravan valued at $79,000. The court sentenced him to 80 days in prison, which he had already served in pre-sentence detention, and to 150 hours of unpaid work under a 12-month community corrections order.

Spain set a motorhome registration record — and immediately tightened the rules. On Mallorca, 150 caravans took over a sports complex car park because renting a flat costs more. Solar Butterfly returned from a solar-powered trip around the world, and Bryansk promises a camper for 3.9 million roubles — in this issue.

The Shire of Denmark council has approved a plan for a 50-bay caravan park. The park will be located in William Bay, adjacent to the tourist hotspots Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.

The council has officially reopened the free rest stop for fully self-contained RVs in Proserpine. The site operates during the dry season from April to November with a 48-hour stay limit. Economic modelling suggests the stop could inject between $860,000 and $1.7 million annually into the local economy through visitor spending.

Two dozen long-term residents of the Acclaim Rose Gardens caravan park in Albany were given notice to vacate after the property was sold in early 2025. The new owner, RAC Tourism Assets, purchased the crown land from the state government with a vacant possession condition, offering tenants ex gratia payments of up to AUD 25,000. Most tenants were on periodic (month-to-month) leases, which under WA's Residential Parks (Long-stay Tenants) Act 2006 did not protect them from eviction upon the change of ownership.

Australian company Prattline has launched the 2026 Low Tow off-road caravan featuring a two-shell expanding design. The under-7-meter model includes an electric roof lift system that increases height from 1.9 to 2.8 meters and a 2.6-ton rated independent suspension. The new caravan is priced at AU$79,990 (approximately US$55,000).

The caravan rental business Outback 2 Sea, founded on the Sunshine Coast in 2017, has recorded over $2.5 million in bookings. The company manages a fleet of 18 caravans, offers delivery and setup, with rental prices ranging from about $120 to $160 per day.

Customers of the Australian caravan manufacturer Zone RV, which collapsed in early 2026, are demanding an ASIC investigation. Liquidators allege the former director traded while insolvent and repaid personal loans before the company's failure.

Australian company EarthCruiser, founded on April 1, 2008, marks 18 years in the growing overland motorhome segment. The company is focusing on expanding its composite camper platforms through a partner-based model while maintaining principles of simplicity, durability, and real-world usability.

A couple traveling Australia in a caravan has responded to criticism for using a special key to access water taps typically restricted to the public. They stated they bought the key for $16 at Bunnings and noted the caravanning industry contributes nearly $28 billion to the national economy. Water authorities in Sydney and Tasmania warned of potential health risks from using such water sources.

Australian caravan manufacturer Crusader Caravans has released a fuel-saving guide amid rising fuel prices. The company recommends maintaining speeds of 90–95 km/h when towing, applying the 'half-tank rule' in remote areas, and using a basecamp approach to reduce fuel consumption. The guide also suggests using apps to monitor fuel prices and optimizing vehicle aerodynamics.

A Perth couple travelling Australia in a converted Land Cruiser stated that Starlink satellite internet is essential equipment for them. They use an unlimited data plan costing $195 per month for safety and remote work, mounting the antenna on the vehicle's roof.

Cassandra Jovanovic quit her job as a traffic controller at age 21 to travel around Australia in a camper van. She saved $30,000, bought a van, and during a 14-month trip amassed nearly 400,000 social media followers, which became her primary income source along with selling online travel guides.

Australia's Prattline RV has revived production of the telescopic Low Tow caravan, first introduced in the 1970s. The new 6.9-meter model features an electric roof lift system that increases interior height to 2.8 meters and is designed for off-road travel. The caravan is available for pre-order at AU$79,990.

A motorhome carrying four people crashed into a tree on Sunday morning in Rosa Glen, 12km east of Margaret River. One person is trapped inside the vehicle, two women in their 20s and two other people sustained injuries. The RAC Rescue helicopter and two ambulance crews have been dispatched to the scene.

A motorhome based on a Nissan Patrol SUV has been presented in Australia. The conversion includes a sleeping area in a retractable rooftop tent, shower, kitchen, solar panels, and extensive storage systems despite limited space. The motorhome is powered by a 4.2-liter turbo diesel engine with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Incorrect caravan weight distribution can render it unroadworthy and void insurance. Key parameters are GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass), ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass), TBM (Tow Ball Mass), and GCM (Gross Combined Mass), which must be checked on scales. Professional weighing of each wheel identifies imbalance and verifies actual weight against rated towing capacity.

The campsite booking platform Hipcamp has updated its Australian service with new vehicle type and access requirement filters. Users can select categories including car, campervan, motorhome, rooftop tent, caravan, and others, and save vehicle length in their profiles. The update is now live on the website and the latest app version.