Huge boom in caravan and RV vehicles in unexpected flipside to coronavirus era of lockdowns

Covid-19’s impact on the tourism sector has been of widespread devastation, but a surprise silver lining is delivering an extraordinary upside.

Grey nomads escaping lockdowns in southern states have set up camp in regional and Outback Queensland, becoming quasi-residents.

The influx has resulted in caravan peak-hours across the state, with roads dominated by vans, parks booked out and reported two-hour waits for fuel in locations across the state.

Campervan orders and registrations have skyrocketed since 2019, with vehicle imports up 68 per cent over that time.

Production of locally made campers and caravans also increased 28 per cent in June compared to June 2019.

Wait times have blown out from three to six months up to a year for new vehicles in an unprecedented era of growth.

In the three months from January to March, there were more than 600,000 caravan or campervan trips across Queensland, but the cooler months are traditionally the busiest time of year for the sector as travellers head west for colourful outback festivals, iconic experiences and milder temperatures.

In the year to March, travellers spent $1.3 billion in the sector in Queensland, making it comparable to the cruise ship industry before Covid-19 struck.

Paul and Leigh Laurence from the Gold Coast at Bowenville Reserve near Dalby. Picture: David Martinelli

Queensland Caravan Trade and Industries Association CEO Jason Plant said there had been a noticeable rise in popularity for the sector since the pandemic wiped international travel out of the equation.

“With international travel restrictions, it’s great to see more people exploring our state and considering a caravan or camping trip for the first time,” he said.

“This does mean greater pressure on our industry in terms of production, and manufacturers are doing all they can to meet this increased demand.

“These new travellers are not only delivering economic benefits to the caravan trade and parks sectors, they’re providing positive contributions to the regions they are travelling through and the wider tourism industry here in Queensland.”

Mr Plant said if there was a bright side to the gloom around lockdowns, it was that there were worse things than being forced into an extended Queensland holiday.

“A lot of people are extending their holidays out of necessity, which has its challenges, but it is having a ­really positive impact on the economies of the communities they are visiting,” he said.

“There’s so much diversity in the offerings here in Queensland and so many hidden gems that people are now discovering.”

Grey nomads are on the move across our Outback highways. Picture: David Martinelli

It comes as Outback locations begin to embrace the tourism dollars brought by caravanners, with some putting up “this is an RV friendly town” signs and others incorporating deals for campers.

Some towns have changed the layout of their main streets to allow a rig (a car plus a hitched van) room to park, also accompanied sometimes by a public dump point, where travelling vanners can dump their on-board waste.

The Augathella camping area, just north of Charleville, is free and adjacent to the classic country pub, the Ellengowan Hotel.

But free sites have had to limit the time permitted in one stop over recent months, to stop nomads setting up home.

Caravan Parks Association of Queensland CEO Michelle Weston said cancellations by interstate customers who were no longer able to travel due to lockdowns had created vacancies at popular destinations that had been booked out for months.

“While caravan parks in desirable and popular destinations are typically the first to fill, we are receiving reports from across the state that there are sites available, and with continued travel restrictions, last-minute cancellations mean you may get the holiday of your life at one of these parks that are often hard to get into,” she said.

Graham and Helen Irwin, both 60, on holiday at Caloundra. Picture: Lachie Millard

“Often the appeal of caravanning and camping is the flexibility it affords, but we encourage everyone thinking of hitting the road to book ahead, even just a few days, so that they don’t get caught out without a site.”

Brisbane’s Graham and Helen Irwin have hit the road this week, setting up camp at Caloundra.

“At the moment you can’t travel internationally anyway, so it’s a great chance to see a bit more of Australia and support your own back yard,” he said.

Adelaide’s Bri Breen and her family have been on the road for more than a year, currently setting up camp in Mareeba, Far North Queensland.

“We’ve always wanted to connect with different country towns,” she said.

“Australia is such a beautiful and big place so there’s so much to see.”

Gold Coast couple Paul and Leigh Laurence are on the home stretch of a trip that has taken them to the tip of Cape York in an off-road caravan.

“We were going to South Africa before Covid hit, so obviously none of that eventuated,” Mr Laurence said. “We thought we would see some more of Australia so we bought an off-road caravan.

“We probably would have spent that money overseas anyway, so it was a win-win.”

Mathew Jacobson (left) and Greg McDonald with red heeler Billie at Bowenville Reserve near Dalby. Picture: David Martinelli

HITTING THE DOG AND TOAD

Every man and his dog is joining the Covid campers.

After selling their newsagency, and with no hope of taking the dream UK holiday they had planned, Greg McDonald and Mathew Jacobson bought a campervan and hit the road with Billie the red heeler-cattle dog cross.

Like thousands of other retirees, they joined the great migration of campervan and caravan owners heading from the cities to the bush for an extended holiday.

They are at the start of a long trip across Queensland, which given border restrictions and interstate lockdowns seems like the perfect place to be.

Mr McDonald said the itinerary was “pretty easy” with no obligation to be anywhere at any time.

It’s that freedom that has made the campervanning sector a $1.3 billion juggernaut for Queensland tourism in recent years.

“We’re taking it pretty easy,” Mr McDonald said.

“We had been looking at a trip of a lifetime to the UK, but with the international borders closed that wasn’t going to be an option so we thought ‘why don’t we travel around Australia instead?’

“At the moment, it means we’re probably going to stick to Queensland with the uncertainty around, but we’re not complaining.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

While the NSW Covid crisis has kept many would-be travellers out of Queensland, there are still masses on the move.

“We pulled into Dalby the other night and it was absolutely packed,” Mr McDonald said.