🇦🇺 Australia — OpenVan.camp
Australia
The Melbourne Caravan & Camping Leisurefest will run from October 1–4 at Sandown Racecourse for its 34th edition, featuring 165 exhibitors. The show will host launches including Vista RV's 2XL, Austrack Campers' first Toy Hauler Gunbarrel X19, MDC's XT MK4 range, and Supreme Caravans' new motorhome range on a 4500kg GVM Iveco Daily chassis with 10 layouts. Entertainment includes Bluey and Bingo, RC car races, and pet travel sessions with Dr Katrina Warren. A Passport to Freedom competition offers a Dreamhaven 15 Series Tourline Caravan valued at $70,290, and a separate promotion provides a daily $5,000 discount on eligible purchases across six Caravan Industry Victoria shows. According to RV Production IQ, 3,728 new RVs entered the market in July; towable production fell 14% year-on-year while motorised RV production rose 36%.
Australia
Camperjams, a New South Wales, Australia-based company, has unveiled Solis, a camper van built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170-inch wheelbase. A slide-out integrated into the aluminum roof frame supports up to 220 kg (485 lb.) and is designed for a hammock; the roof also holds 900 W solar panels. The interior features a closed layout with a dividing wall, a kitchen with a 110-liter fridge and two-burner induction stovetop, a bathroom with shower and portable toilet, and a queen-size bed. Power comes from a 48 V system with a 5 kWh battery bank and a 5,000 W inverter, while water capacity is 220 liters (58 gallons).
Australia
Contour Campers, based in Mona Vale, Sydney, has unveiled a new camper van built on an AWD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 170-inch wheelbase. The off-road build includes upgraded suspension, a winch bar, protective bumpers, and a 500 W solar panel. The interior features a kitchen with an induction cooktop, a 150-liter fridge, a bathroom with shower and toilet, and an elevator bed that raises to the ceiling. Water capacity is 195 liters, and the electrical system includes a 600 Ah lithium battery and a 2,600 W inverter. Pricing for long-wheelbase projects starts at $214,700 (€186,130), though this unit is specced above the standard inclusions.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) in southern NSW has released a draft parking enforcement policy for public consultation. The revised policy introduces a one-hour limit for vehicles longer than 7.5 metres or with a gross vehicle mass over 4.5 tonnes in built-up areas. The council says the provision addresses amenity issues rather than safety. Consultation is open until 8 October.
Stirling consults residents on parking trailers, motorhomes and caravans on residential verges. Mayor Mark Irwin cites safety as the main reason.
Mildura Police have called on locals and visitors to protect their caravans and contents this summer. They advise removing valuables or keeping them out of sight, marking property with a unique personal code, installing sensor lights inside and outside, and using GPS trackers, wheel clamps, coupling padlocks and alarms. Police say a few simple steps can prevent a costly loss.
Detectives have released CCTV footage and are seeking public assistance after a caravan was stolen in Emerald earlier this month. Around 11:30pm on Wednesday 2 September, a blue utility attended a vacant block on Ballard Street, where the caravan had been parked for three months and secured with a padlock. The suspects hooked up the 22-foot brown 2020 Leader Gold caravan and drove away; the caravan is unregistered and remains outstanding. Police urge anyone who recognises the blue utility or has information to contact them.
Australian company Tiny Tect from Queensland has presented an updated version of its Nido motorhome. The length has been increased from 7 to 9 metres, accommodating up to four people. It features a full kitchen with a four-burner stove, electric oven, refrigerator and dishwasher, an enlarged bathroom, and built-in wardrobes on both sides of the bed in the bedroom. A modular unit between the kitchen and living area is available in two configurations: bunk beds for children or a bed with a workspace underneath. The base version starts at 79,900 Australian dollars, while the larger upgraded model is priced at 90,000 Australian dollars.
Queensland-based caravan and camper maker Australian Off Road has entered administration. Reasons cited include competition, product copying and rising imports from China.
Australian caravan manufacturer Australian Off Road from Queensland has ceased operations. Customers who paid deposits do not know if they will receive caravans or refunds.
Hipcamp has announced the winners of its 2026 Hipcamp Awards in Australia, recognising the best camping and caravan spots across the country. Winners were determined by analysing booking, rating and review data from the past year across Hipcamp's network of more than 8 million users and over 60,000 Australian campsites. Among the winners are Willowbank in NSW, a multi-generational cattle property with private camps along the Karuah River, and Ladybug Camping in Tasmania, with creek-side campsites and cascading waterfalls. The awards include lists of the 15 best tent camping sites and 15 best caravan spots.
Caravan and campervan registrations in Australia reached nearly 938,000 in 2025, up 32% since 2019. Australians took a record 17.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2025, according to Tourism Research Australia. A 2025 Australian Seniors Grey Gap Year report found 90% of older Australians say holidays are becoming more expensive. Nick and Therese Bikeman bought a new Volkswagen campervan for $100,000 in late 2020; their compact van with dark tinting, solar panels and bike racks allows flexible travel without towing a caravan or booking campsites.
The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales ruled that Josh Hines and Manu Bon cannot continue living in a motorhome on a property in Coolagolite without the required development consent. Property owner Gordon Kelly allowed the couple to place the motorhome on his land, zoned for primary production, in 2023; after a public complaint, Bega Valley Shire Council said last year the structure was used as permanent housing without approval. The court found the motorhome could legally fall under the definition of a caravan even if it resembles a regular house, but that this status does not bypass NSW land-use legislation; the council could not lawfully require demolition of the caravan because it is not a building. Under NSW law, one caravan can be placed on a property without council approval if it is associated with an occupied house, used by members of the household, and the land already has an approved main dwelling.
Australia-based Freedom Fit Outs has converted a 2025 Volkswagen Crafter 4Motion with a high roof into a camper van. The vehicle features all-wheel drive, two 200 W solar panels, a 350 Ah battery bank, a 2,000 W Enerdrive inverter, a 96-liter freshwater tank, and a Happijac elevator bed. The interior includes Tasmanian oak walls, black laminated cabinetry, and a Techsafe bench seat that folds flat. The build is designed for full-time off-grid living.
Police have charged a man and a woman after a Coromal caravan was allegedly stolen from a Cottonwood Street campsite in Mudjimba. Both face one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Australian company Headspace Campers has unveiled a 4x4 camper based on the Toyota HiAce, with 35-inch tyres, diff locks and 270 litres of fuel capacity. Conversion starts at 18,950 Australian dollars.
Bookings for the additional capacity of the new Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, scheduled to begin service on October 31, are not yet available. Operator TT-Line is only selling tickets up to the capacity of the old ships, limiting availability for cars and caravans. As of September 9, the next available sailing for a car and caravan from Geelong to Devonport is February 21, with no availability from February 22 to April 18. TT-Line plans to release full capacity after testing and commissioning of the gantry.
Australian company Headspace Campers has unveiled a converted Toyota HiAce 4×4. The off-road camper features 300 mm of ground clearance, a winch, a snorkel, and steel bumpers. Inside, it has a slide-out kitchen with an induction hob, a shower with hot water, and a spacious bed in the pop-up roof. The conversion starts at A$18,950, with the base vehicle and four-wheel-drive system priced separately.
An Australian off-road enthusiast named Dan, who uses a wheelchair, successfully drove a modified 2024 Toyota Hilux with a camper trailer down Gunshot Creek on the Old Telegraph Track in Queensland. The video was posted on YouTube channel @ghostx. The Hilux features a steel front bumper, snorkel, lifted suspension and off-road tires, while the engine remains stock — a 2.8-liter turbo diesel producing 200 hp. Dan notes that each crossing is unique and requires precise calculation.
RV World Canberra has added Avida motorhomes to its lineup, giving local travelers an alternative to towing a caravan. The dealership offers sales, service, parts, and warranty support on site. Avida motorhomes come with a 5-year factory warranty, 5-year capped-price servicing, and 5-year roadside assistance. RV World also remains the regional dealer for Crusader and Dream Haven caravans.