Australian Off Road shuts down, customers left without caravans

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.

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.