Report a problem

What is the problem?

Could not attach a screenshot — send without it

Filters

Why a growing number of retirees are embracing the grey nomad life

03.08.2026 07:45 1 min 1 source РУС
thesenior.com.au ENG
Why a growing number of retirees are embracing the grey nomad life
Original source: thesenior.com.au

According to a report from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia, Australians over 55 accounted for 59% of all caravan and camping trips in 2025. Older travellers also tend to take longer trips, averaging four days compared to 3.1 nights for those aged 30 to 54. Jeanette and Phil Evans, a couple in their late 60s, shared their experiences and offered tips for newcomers, including renting a caravan before buying and gradually increasing trip lengths.

Aggregated by OpenVan.camp from the public sources listed below, with AI-assisted translation and summary. We always link to the original source. Machine translation may differ from the original -- check the source for important details. Images and content remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright information

Story sources

Why a growing number of retirees are embracing the grey nomad life

03.08.2026 thesenior.com.au ENG Original source

AU Australia — fuel prices

Updated: 08.08.2026

Unleaded 91

$1.47 /l

AUD2.08 · €1.27/l

75 of 140

pricier than 53% of countries

Premium 95

$1.59 /l

AUD2.25 · €1.38/l

43 of 93

cheaper than 55% of countries

Premium 98

$1.66 /l

AUD2.35 · €1.44/l

14 of 25

pricier than 52% of countries

Diesel

$1.78 /l

AUD2.52 · €1.54/l

90 of 141

pricier than 63% of countries

Premium Diesel

$1.79 /l

AUD2.54 · €1.55/l

15 of 40

cheaper than 65% of countries

LPG

$1.03 /l

AUD1.46 · €0.89/l

35 of 53

pricier than 64% of countries

E85

$1.75 /l

AUD2.47 · €1.51/l

6 of 6

pricier than 83% of countries

Cheapest on the map

Popular route

Distance

Fuel cost

~

Est. time

~

Quiz: test yourself
Guess the vanlife lingo — 3 quick questions
1 / 3
Q1 Why is a starter battery a poor house battery?

Best regions in the coming days

Queensland +24°·31 km/h
89
Western Australia +26°·54 km/h
84
New South Wales +21°·32 km/h
81
South Australia +14°·53 km/h
71
Victoria +14°·52 km/h
70
Avoid now
Tasmania +13°·27 km/h
68

You May Be Interested

All News

Australian retirees fund caravan travel by downsizing homes

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.

Australian retirees and a couple without a home: two ways to live in a caravan

A South Australian couple chose a life on the road over a mortgage five years ago. They sold most of their possessions, quit their jobs, and left their rental to travel full-time in a campervan. They have covered approximately 116,000 kilometers across Australia, funding their travels through casual work and social media. Their weekly expenses for life on the road range from $500 to $1000.

News from Australia

All News

Your Questions Answered: Can I tow a caravan without huge fuel bills?

In this week's Q&A, experts address three reader queries. The first concerns choosing a fuel-efficient tow vehicle for a caravan up to 2000 kg with a budget under $60,000; recommendations include hybrid or petrol medium/large SUVs like the Toyota Kluger or Subaru Outback. The second question is about replacing the 12-volt battery in a BYD Dolphin; it's advised to have it checked and consider an AGM replacement if needed. The third asks about small SUVs with manual transmission; available options are the Hyundai Venue and Renault Duster.

New Kimberley off-road camper gets solar panels and sleeping for six

Australian company Kimberley has unveiled a concept for the next-generation Karavan 2026/2027 off-road camper. The model features a pop-up roof, panoramic windows, a 48-volt electrical system, and optional solar panels with up to 770 W output. It sleeps up to six people. Pricing for the new generation has not been announced; the current lineup starts at 126,000 Australian dollars.

New $3.2 million camping/caravan park project featuring accommodation pods unveiled

A planning permit has been submitted to Warrnambool City Council for a $3.2 million short-stay accommodation development on Rodgers Road. The project includes 11 self-contained accommodation pods, a manager's residence, and a three-bedroom dwelling on a 15-hectare site. The land is within the East of Aberline Road future urban growth corridor, which is slated for 4,500 new homes.

Julie Goodwin embarks on road trip in grandfather's 70-year-old caravan

MasterChef Australia winner and The Australian Women's Weekly columnist Julie Goodwin, along with her husband Mick, is retracing her grandfather's route from Victoria to South Australia in the caravan he built in 1956. The trip marks the caravan's 70th anniversary, and Goodwin will document the journey on social media and in the magazine.

Install OpenVan.camp

Get quick access and offline reading.

Install on iOS

  1. 1 Tap Share in Safari.
  2. 2 Choose "Add to Home Screen".
  3. 3 Confirm by tapping Add.

Already installed

The app is already installed on this device.

Install from browser menu

Use your browser menu to install or add to home screen.

→ Glossary