More Australians are expected to hit the road for caravanning and camping trips during winter with the reopening of some interstate borders and overseas holidays delayed indefinitely.
Caravan parks have reported a surge in visitor numbers in recent weeks and caravan sales and enquiries have increased, according to research from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
For many Australians it will be their first big holiday in a while and experts are urging them to check their vans and equipment before heading off.
Adelaide storage expert, Dave Strutton, who has camped on Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges with his family in recent years, said one of the biggest mistakes travellers made was they failed to plan or pack properly.
“Getting the right caravanning and camping set up can be a bit of a trial and error process, but you can avoid having your relaxing retreat turn into a caravanning or camping catastrophe – if you take the time to get organised,” Mr Strutton said.
“You’ll be living in close quarters with each other so it’s important that everyone knows where everything is located in the van, tent or cabin and can get to these items easily,” he said.
Mr Strutton’s top tips for a successful caravanning or camping trip:
- Prevent movement –items will move around in a caravan if they are not stored properly. You can minimise this by using products such as containers with leak-proof lids and that can be stacked on top of each other; dividers or organisers that keep loose items together; and products with suction pads that you can secure in place.
- Save space – items that allow you to use available space more efficiently include, storage boxes that fit under caravan bed; packing cells in which clothes are tightly stored together; fold-away clothes airers; and collapsible washing baskets and buckets.
- Buy once, buy well – while it may cost you more to begin with, it’s worth buying good quality camping and caravan products that are built to last and come with a long-guarantees. Dave is still using the tent he got for his 21st birthday more than 25 years ago.
- Swap to sustainable products – bees-wax wraps and reusable straws are eco-friendly products that will minimise the waste you create while away and allow you to save money because you don’t have to keep replacing them.
Mr Strutton, who owns Howards Storage World in Adelaide, encouraged travellers who need help preparing for a caravanning or camping trip to take advantage of ‘try before you buy’ services.
“I’ve had customers park their car and caravan outside my store, come in and pick items and then physically take back outside to try out for size,” Mr Strutton said.
“Regardless of where you are travelling, chances are you’ll be a long way from home and nowhere near a store – you won’t be able to easily go find something you’re missing or replace a poor quality item that has broken,” he said.
“It pays to get it right from the start so all you have to do is relax when you get to your destination.”
