Caravanning and Camping in Australia Stronger Than Ever

Australia’s natural beauty is the perfect backdrop to outdoor holidays. While caravanning and camping used to be the inexpensive way to go away, it has now become a lifestyle. Caravan and tent makers have been quick to capitalise on this trend, developing bigger, better, more comfortable products to follow the demand of this new generation of happy campers. In fact, a survey by The Caravan and Camping Industries Association of South Australia found that 78% of people interviewed felt that caravanning or camping had had a positive effect on their love life, so what are we all waiting for!?

The latest report by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia shows that caravanning and camping is still strong, as it has actually outperformed all other types of accommodation for 2015-2016.

Tourism figures show that 7.2 million international visitors came to Australia in that period. Of those, 2.6 million left the cities to explore regional areas, which is the traditional stronghold of caravanning and camping - This is an increase of 300,000 visitors compared to 2014-2015. Caravan and camping nights also recorded a growth of 2%, reaching 5.1 million.

The trend as to the origin of international visits has remained constant. The UK still represents the largest provenance, with almost 63,000 British people coming to our shores, a growth of 4% since last year; almost 56,000 Germans, a growth of 6%, and the USA with the strongest increase of 23%, bringing the number of American campers to about 38,000.

However, a new market has started to emerge: China. The number of Chinese tourists caravanning and camping might be modest – just over 11,000 – but it has actually been doubling each year, showing that it will be a significant segment for Australia in the years to come.

In terms of domestic travel, it is reassuring to know that we Aussies know a good thing when we see one and that 88.9 million of us choose to get up close and personal with nature thanks to camping and caravanning. This number represents an increase of 7% compared to last year, while caravan parks and commercial camping grounds have seen the strongest growth in domestic nights of all commercial accommodation types up by 8.9%.

Interestingly though, it looks like we are not venturing too far away from our residence as 69% of travels were intrastate, although interstate travel is growing faster.

A versatile way of travelling

The great advantage of caravanning or camping, and probably why they are so popular, is the great freedom they give you.

Caravan parks and camping grounds are laid-black places and will accommodate families, whereas other accommodation may forbid children under a certain age. You are also able to sleep in the same room as your little ones while finding family rooms in hotels can be a struggle. Likewise, you will have no problem bringing your pet along when they are turned away in a great number of places.

For those who like to be spontaneous, camping and caravanning brings you great flexibility. With other type of accommodations you would have to choose between booking everything ahead and have to stick to an itinerary or risk not having anywhere to sleep. But when you carry your house with you, you always have the option of stopping wherever you want to spend the night if you really can’t find accommodation anywhere.

In addition, a number of caravan parks and camping grounds are almost little towns in themselves and offer all the entertainment you might want from kids clubs, sport activities, swimming pools, splash parks, and shows to restaurants. So, come rain or shine, you will always have something to do.

Where to go

You might associate camping and caravanning with getting away from it all, but there are actually more and more of them near cities. They provide a cut on accommodation costs while still being just a stone’s throw away from museums, historical monuments, the culture and nightlife of cities like Sydney, Perth or Melbourne.

In addition to their proximity to towns, they are also often at the heart of areas of natural beauty, allowing you to combine a city break with outdoor activities.

The Lane Cove River Tourist Park, for example, is just 10km away from the city centre of Sydney so you can catch an opera performance by night and spend the day observing the wildlife the area has an abundance of.

Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park is paradise for families and watersports lovers, located in Narrabeen between the beach and the lake. Sydney’s attractions are nearby and the area offers sites with calm waters ideal for young children as well as 20 beaches to choose from for swims, surfing or walks. Oh, and also national parks.

Big 4 St Helens Holiday Park in Tasmania is close to magnificent natural sites such as Freycinet National Park, Binalong Bay, the Bay of Fires and the St Columbia Waterfalls, but also offers activities galore for the kids to keep the whole family happy.

In New South Wales, Port Stephens Beachside Holiday parks are found in several locations, all ideally situated to explore the region while offering high-quality amenities such as pools, BBQ areas, wireless internet and tennis courts.

In the Northern Territory, the Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park near the Kakadu National Park is a great choice. Located on the outskirt of Jabiru, the park is an oasis with a lagoon-style pool, impressive waterfalls and crystal-clear pools.

For unique and unforgettable experience, stay at the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort Camping in Western Australia and swim with the friendly dolphins on site – sure to be a great hit with little ones and their parents!

If you are going to Queensland, the Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort is an idyllic location. Located in Airlie Beach, you can enjoy sunsets over the horizon or dive into the resort’s pool, the largest in the area, play tennis and mini golf or watch outdoor movies in the evening.

If your looking to import a caravan from overseas, than look no further! We have been shipping all different types of vehicles for over 25 years. Call us on +64 09 30 1163 or send an enquiry online to learn more.