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Australian grey nomads shift from large caravans to compact campervans

12.09.2026 20:30 1 min 1 source РУС
thesenior.com.au ENG
Australian grey nomads shift from large caravans to compact campervans
Original source: thesenior.com.au

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.

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Australian grey nomads shift from large caravans to compact campervans

12.09.2026 thesenior.com.au ENG Original source

AU Australia — fuel prices

Updated: 12.09.2026

Unleaded 91

$1.55 /l

AUD2.16 · €1.34/l

95 of 168

pricier than 56% of countries

Premium 95

$1.67 /l

AUD2.33 · €1.44/l

52 of 102

cheaper than 50% of countries

Premium 98

$1.74 /l

AUD2.43 · €1.50/l

17 of 28

pricier than 57% of countries

Diesel

$1.89 /l

AUD2.64 · €1.63/l

115 of 167

pricier than 68% of countries

Premium Diesel

$1.90 /l

AUD2.65 · €1.64/l

20 of 46

cheaper than 59% of countries

LPG

$1.05 /l

AUD1.46 · €0.90/l

40 of 55

pricier than 71% of countries

E85

$1.77 /l

AUD2.47 · €1.53/l

6 of 6

pricier than 83% of countries

Cheapest on the map

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Fuel cost

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Best regions in the coming days

Queensland +22°·34 km/h
94
Western Australia +21°·56 km/h
87
New South Wales +23°·25 km/h
87
South Australia +23°·21 km/h
85
Victoria +18°·33 km/h
80
Avoid now
Tasmania +14°·22 km/h
72

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According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, Australians aged over 55 accounted for 59 per cent of all caravan and camping trips in 2025. They average four-day trips, compared with 3.1 nights for those aged 30 to 54. Many retirees purchase caravans before retirement to build confidence with towing and camping. In winter, they head north for warmer weather, with popular destinations including Byron Bay, Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland, and Coolangatta.

Retirees Victor and June Peate from New South Wales sold their four-bedroom house and moved to a three-bedroom home in a retirement village, freeing up extra money for superannuation and caravan trips. The couple regularly travels across Australia, including a nearly 4,000 km journey to Perth. In 2025, Australia recorded 17.3 million caravan trips, up 14% year-on-year, with registered caravans and campervans reaching 983,000.

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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.

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.

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