PDF Download - Time To Roam

FREE *03 | June/July 2013timetoroam.com.au*$2.95 from newsagents.Free from participating businessesCatching theKombi bugTHE ORIGINAL RV, MORE POPULAR THAN EVERPrint Post Approved255003/00558NEW AND CLASSIC CARAVANS, MOTORHOMES, CAMPERS Issue 03 June/July + 2013 MORE1

4346 5612 38upfront07 WICKED WAR CONTINUESRegulator declares war on the‘bad boys’ of campers07 TORNADO WIPE OUTTourist parks still suffering afterAustralia’s worst twister09 BUYER BEWAREAussie van manufacturers hail newplan to weed out dodgy imports10 LETTERSReader feedback from our last issuefeatures18 KEEN AS FOR KOMBISWe meet some of the most avidcollectors whose VWs are now worthas much as $100,000tried + tested27 TIME FOR A SEACHANGEThe new Queensland caravan buildermaking waves30 SON OF KOMBIThe latest alternative to the classicVW RV33 BUDGET BEATERSetting a new standard for familycamperson the roam38 FAMILY TOURINGThe Potters pack up and hit the road,mastering schooling on the roam43 PELICAN RESCUEMeet June the Pelican Lady, passionateabout rescuing wildlifeout the back46 AROUND THE SHOWSMore Kombis – and the faces fromcaravan and camping industry’smajor events50 JUST FOR FUNPuzzles, toys, curiosities54 WHAT’S ONThe complete guide to what’s worthseeing in every state56 CELEBRITY CAMPERActor Andrew McFarlane reveals hislove for camping started out drovingwith his dad58 PETSCampsite doggy dos and don’tsIssue 03 June/July 2013 5

EDITOR’SDESKRod BruemDo you remember your first trip in a Kombi? Forme the memory goes back to the early 1970s anda journey to the markets in Sydney, stocking upgroceries for my Aunt’s corner store in Lithgow.As we headed off over the Blue Mountains, I was intrigued by themechanics and the heat of the engine under the floor, while at thesame time focussed on summoning the strength to pull shut theheavy sliding door on the side in just one go.My interest in Volkswagens had already been sparked years beforeby my Uncle John. He took great pleasure studying the gobsmackedlooks on the faces of me and my brothers as he lifted the bonnet onhis shiny new car and started loading luggage inside.This year marks the closing of a chapter in engineering historywe’d probably be celebrating if it wasn’t for the unfortunate fact that itbegan with Adolf Hitler asking Ferdinand Porsche to design a car forthe people back in 1938.In December, the final descendants of this remarkable rear-engine,air-cooled car will roll off the assembly line in South America. It is aKombi, but not quite as we knew it. Water-cooled radiators and otherbits were added over the years to meet modern regulations. Evenstricter pollution and safety rules have been cited as the reason forVW finally pulling the plug.In Australia the Kombi had a terrible reputation for chugging uphills, overheating and dying. No former frustrated Aussie ownerfrom the 1970s could have imagined the near six-figure pricesthey’re fetching at auctions these days.As we began researching for our special Kombi feature andmeeting avid collectors, we learned there’s a global trade in these‘used vehicles’, unlike any other, with Australia both an importerand exporter. Even the most rusted and dilapidated ones aresought after by collectors.We hope you enjoy our special Kombi issue – a tribute to theworld’s first truly global ‘RV’.Rod Bruemeditor@timetoroam.com.auTime to RoamAustraliaWeb: www.timetoroam.com.auFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/timetoroamaustraliaSubscribe: You can subscribe via our websiteor by using the form on page 57 of this issue.Time to Roam is published bi-monthly anddistributed by Time to Roam Australia Pty Ltd10 Dover Rd Botany NSW 2010.Phone: +612 9695 7749We welcome letters and contributions fromour readers.Enquiries: editor@timetoroam.com.auSales DirectorPhillip Terrym 0425 255 495e phill@timetoroam.com.auEditor: Rod BruemAssociate Editor: Renate LincolnContributing Editor: Seb StephensContributors: Michael Grealy, RichardRobertson, Jane Flood, June Le Pla, DanielLinnet, Ruth Morris, Kellly Zammit, , StevePotter, David Cook, Susan and Heith Hall.Design and artwork: KYSO Design. kyso.com.auPrinted by: Spot Press Pty LtdLegal: Time to Roam is copyright, with editorial and advertisementsthe exclusive property of Time to Roam Australia Pty Ltd. No partof this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the writtenpermission of the publisher.Australia Post Registered Print publication:100009867ABN: 241601445256 www.timetoroam.com.au

Wicked war continuesAustralia’s Advertising Standards Bureauhas declared a new round in the war againstthe ‘bad boys’ of the RV hire business,Wicked Campers.The Brisbane-based company has beenWicked Campers – amusing to some, offensive to othersunder fire since 2008 for the controversialslogans painted on its budget vans targetedat the youth market.Some say the signs are amusing andpolitically incorrect, but critics say theyupfront | newsare downright sexist, racist and evenhomophobic.The company seems to revel in thepublicity and ‘bad boy’ image and it certainlydoesn’t seem to have harmed business.Wicked is now a global success story with itscampers available in New Zealand, Africa,Europe and North America.The CEO of Australia’s AdvertisingStandards Bureau, Fiona Jolly, says she’sfrustrated by the continuing complaints.She said Wicked always agreed to removeoffensive signs after mediation, but werealways too slow in actually complying and sothe complaints kept rolling in.Ms Jolly plans to lobby the QueenslandGovernment to intervene to get the offensivevans repainted or off the road.Wicked Campers declined to respone.Tornado wipe outThe value of caravan and camping-basedtourism has been brought home to the NSW-Victoria border region after a tornado wipedout three local tourist parks.Corowa shire Deputy Mayor Daryl Daveysaid the region has suffered greatly fromthe March 21 tornado – one of the worst everseen in Australia. The loss of tourism wasespecially felt over the Easter period withall three parks closed at what’s normallyone of the busiest times of the year on LakeMulwala.Although the region was declared anatural disaster area, Councillor Davey saidmoney had been slow coming to help withthe clean-up, with debris still scatteredwidely around the area.Falling trees, flying glass and sheet metalinjured more than 20 people, two critically.Many permanent residents of the parks wereleft homeless.The Denison County Caravan Park washardest hit with more than 150 vans andvillas destroyed.Owners Craig and Debbie O’Callaghan arestill working to clean up and re-open, thetask made more difficult by the presenceof asbestos and the fact many on-site vanowners were not insured.In a further blow to caravan owners,they’ve announced the park will re-open asa cabin-only tourist complex, with owners ofCaravan parks bore the brunt of thetornado, one of the worst seen in AustraliaShattered park owners Craig andDebbie O’Callaghan, still battling tore-open the business.Photos: Border Mailany remaining vans on site asked to removewhat’s left of them.Near Kyffins Reserve, a popular campingarea used by RV travellers remains closedindefinitely, while the Sun Country CaravanPark finally reopened earlier this month.Issue 03 June/July 2013 7

upfront | newsLunch, with a side ofcaravan nostalgiaTassie tax abolishedTasmanian caravan dealers arelooking forward to an upturn in salesafter the State Government agreedto scrap a 3 per cent sales tax.Tassie caravan dealer Alan Gath, wholobbied for the change, predicts salescould now double as it is no longercheaper for buyers to go to Melbourne.Mr Gath is continuing to lobbyfor the State Government to halvea 4 per cent sales tax still beingapplied to motorhomes.Service with a smile: Owen, Rhys and Jessica Hart at the Left BowerFamily caravan holidays providedthe inspiration for Sydney’slatest café sensation.‘The Left Bower’ is the closest thingto a Viscount holiday experience onsolid ground -and it has the city’sfickle restaurant critics buzzing aboutits yummy food and funky décor.The name for the Sutherland café wastaken from caravan holiday card gamesplayed by its owners, the Hart family.The logo is a stylised version ofthe Viscount logo from the early1980s. Outside there’s aluminiumcaravan cladding and tail lights.Inside, the caravan décor includes curvedceilings and retro cabinets filled withperiod nic nacs including board games toentertain diners on a rainy winter afternoon.The Hart siblings reckon regular caravanholidays brought them closer togetherand also laid a good solid foundationfor their business success today.“We’re a very close family and I think itgoes back to the fact that when we werekids we always went on four holidaysa year in the Viscount,” Jess said.They raided their grandmother’skeepsakes to deck out their first café inthe southern suburb of Engadine, thenin November last year opened the LeftBower, their second café, right oppositethe railway station in busy Sutherland.The food is specially sourced from a mixof local and ethical suppliers. The coffeecomes from northern NSW, the eggs from11 year old rare hen breeder in Gerringong.Food reviewer Jill Dupliex gave LeftBower a four star rating. The scrambledeggs, cooked to father John’s secretrecipe, are certainly not to be missed.Plans for a third café are already welladvanced, with work soon to begin ontransforming the former Thirroul PostOffice building in the trendy northernWollongong beachside suburb.‘appy travellingA new iPad app has been launchedby the Caravan Parks Association ofQueensland to give travellers easyaccess to information on parks.The Queensland Caravan ParksDirectory 2013 takes the popular paperbaseddirectory into the digital age,with videos, hyperlinks to parks anddestinations, and special offers.Operations Manager Kristy Ponting saidthe new app was the perfect travellingwith information about great placesto stay as well as local attractions.The iPad app is available fromthe iTunes store for free. The paperdirectory can also be downloadedfrom the Caravanning Queenslandwebsite www.caravanqld.com.auVictory for dogsAfter overturing a 32-year ban onpets two years ago, BIG4 HolidayParks has announced it now has 50operators which are dog friendly.CEO of the leading parks chain,Ray Schleibs, says the grouprecognises dogs are very much a partof the family for many guests.Not only are there 50 parks now markedas ‘dog friendly’ on the BIG4 website, twoparks also have cabins available to dogowningguests. They are the BIG4 PortWillunga Tourist Park in South Australiaand BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park.8 www.timetoroam.com.au

upfront | newsBuyers beware – new scheme toweed out dodgy importsThe major players in Australia’s caravanand recreational vehicle industry hope newquality accreditation system will help buyerssteer clear of shoddy imports.RVM Australia has launched the newsystem of self-regulation at a time whenthe high Australian dollar has made it moreattractive for overseas companies to targetlocal buyers with products that often don’tmeet Australian standards.The CEO of the peak lobby group, DavidDuncan, said the organisation would now rollout an audit process covering its memberbase of 90 manufacturers.“There is no mandatory regulatorysystem, pretty much anyone can set up andstart selling – and who is to say the productis of sufficient quality?,” Mr Duncan said.Once successful, RVM Australia believesit could lobby Government to have thecompliance system applied to imports, tocreate more level playing field.“We’re not a protectionist organisation, wehave no problem with imports as long as theycomply with Australian Standards. We’d liketo see more rigorous checks,” he said.RVM Australia CEO David DuncanMr Duncan said RVM accreditationscheme was based on ensuring quality. It’shoped buyers will become familiar with thetrademark and look for it when making apurchasing decision.He said the cost to manufacturers wasminimal and RVM Australia had the backingof the majority of RV builders.With the high Australian dollar now edgingdown, Mr Duncan said it would be welcomedby Australian manufacturers with an eye toexports.“Even with the dollar at record highsour manufacturers have performed well.They’re building more than 20,000 newunits per annum, which is a record. That’sa higher per-capita figure than the US,” MrDuncan said.Issue 03 June/July 2013 9

LETTERSINDUSTRY GROUP DOES HAVE ITS PRIORITIES RIGHTI want to congratulate you on a great and informative magazine. I note in your editorial(T2R April/May issue) you question if our strategic priorities are really in the right orderwhen discussing our call for improved policy and research being listed at item nine of theBlueprint.I can assure you and your readers the issue of improved policy and research in ourcaravan and camping industry is of the highest priority at both a Victorian and Nationallevel through our cooperation with Caravan and RV Industry Association of Australia(CRVA). One of our challenges in putting the Victorian Industry Blueprint together was toput so many important matters into a workable action plan. So the numbering in no wayreflects the level of importance of some the key areas of the plan, in fact we are alreadyworking on a number of important projects.The outcomes of these projects won’t be seen for a little while but they are strategicallyimportant to the future growth of our industry.Thanks for your interest and support of our Blueprint, it is much appreciated.Robert Lucas, CEOCaravan Trade & Industries Association of Victoria5TH WHEELER GLORYWe picked up Time to Roam at a caravanshow recently and we think it’s great andabout time Australian’s got a FREE magazine.Look forward to more editions keep up theawesome work!My partner and I purchased a 5th wheelerin January this year from a retired horsechiropractor who had custom built it forhimself, his wife and their horses.My partner and I run the family ownedstud, Jangharm Arabians based inToowoomba. We travel regularly competingat horse shows in QLD and Sydney.Prior to the 5th wheeler we werestaying overnight in hotels and travellingto and from the showgrounds andhaving to rely on other people to keepan eye on our horses overnight.We talked about a buying a horsefloat with a kitchenette until the daywe saw this beautiful big red rig forsale near Toowoomba. We had alook at it and instantly fell in love.The back half takes 3 horses comfortablyand the front half has a step up bedroom anda super comfortable double bed.The dinette is comfortable and there’smore storage space under the seating whichis great for riding boots.The reverse cycle air-conditioning offersus comfort after a hot day of competing.There’s a shower in the horse compartmentwhich is rubber lined for the horses’ safety.There are double doors that separate theliving area and the horse area. The horsepartitions remove easily creating an extrabedroom or an alternative dining area tooutside. We had our 8 tonne Mitsubishi truckmodified to tow the 5th wheeler. We are nowproudly converted 5th Wheeler Travellers.Stacey SmithToowoomba QLDSHARING DAD’S TEARDROPI’d like to share with your readers somepictures of my Dad’s ‘Woody Tear Drop’,he built earlier this year. He was lookingthrough some English magazines of theWoodys and because he has a caravanbuilders background, took on his littleproject. It has a double bed, kitchen and atimber roof covered in vinyl. To be honestI think he has more pleasure building andrestoring the older style vans than themodern vans.He has also restored a Wanda Caravanwith wooden bonded side walls and analuminium front and back. I love Time toRoam magazine it’s fantastic, keep up thegreat work.Kelly OldmanBerwick VICTime to Roam Australia welcomesletters and photos or contributionsfrom our readers on just about anysubject that relates to caravanningand camping.editor@timetoroam.com.au10 www.timetoroam.com.au

The worlds No. 1 remote control caravan and boat mover has arrived...BIGGER & STRONGERCT2500-TAMFor dual or single axlecaravans, boats etc.weighing up to 2500 kg.RRP $3,900CT1500For single axle caravans, boats etc.weighing up to 1700 kg.RRP $2,695Both the Camper-Trolley CT2500-TAM and theCT1500 ensure hassle-free, safe manoeuvringand positioning of your caravan, boat, ortrailer into tight spaces. Both models aresupplied with an attachment bracket. Simplyattach the bracket, connect your Camper-Trolley, and using your handheld remotecontrol, start positioning effortlessly yourcaravan or boat.Camper-Trolley is a revolutionary hi-techproduct manufactured according to themost modern design principles combinedwith cutting edge technology.WORLD’S NO. 1 CARAVAN & BOAT MOVERFor all information and retail outlets go to www.campertrolley.com.au

Catchingthe Kombi bugAUSTRALIA’S ENDURING LOVE FOR THE VW VANRuth Morris with her much loved camperBy Ruth MorrisWe all love Kombis, apart fromwhen we are stuck behind one.When did this love affair begin andwhy do so many people fall in lovewith a brick-shaped hunk of metalon wheels?Everyone knows someone who has owneda Kombi, or wishes they did. Volkswagenfanatics often refer to catching ‘The Bug’, andwe are not talking about chasing the otherpopular Volkswagen, the Beetle. The love ofKombis is as contagious as any disease, butthere is no immunisation and no cure. Oncebitten by ‘The Bug’ the victim is left helplesslyin love, craving to own their own rusty brickshapedsymbol of freedom, regardless of howlimited their mechanical knowledge is. Butlet the bug-bitten beware! The love now12 www.timetoroam.com.au

Sunrise over Easts Beach, Kiama NSW. Photo Daniel Linnetcomes with a price tag that has a changed thedemographic of owners from travellers andhippies to the advantaged affluent.Australians have always had a love ofexploring their vast country during familyholidays. From the vast coastline, inlandrivers, to deserts and mountains, Australiaoffers such variety for those prepared to travel.Back in the 1970s, pioneers of televisiontravel documentaries the Leyland Brothers’popularised this exploratory spirit withtheir Super-8 footage. They brought the farreaches of Australia into the lounge roomsof the common couch potato, inspiring theyoung nation to get up and see Australia forthemselves, travelling the great brown landin a Kombi. Volkswagen Australia sponsoredthe TV show, Ask the Leyland Brothers,providing Mike and Mal with Kombis thatappeared to travel across terrain that no familysedan possibly could. Kombis have beencircuiting and criss-crossing the continentever since, although today the ‘grey nomad’s’vehicle of choice is a recreational vehicle thatis often much more spacious and modern thanthe Kombi.The standard family car does not offerthe space, versatility, comfort and amenitiesrequired for extended trips and a nomadiclifestyle. The necessity of a motel greatlyrestricts where the car traveller can travel toand stay. Tents offer limited protection fromthe elements and the smorgasbord of deadlymini-beasts in Australia. Caravans are noteasily towed through rough terrain and addsignificantly to fuel and registration costs.Enter the recreation vehicle, or “RV”,and welcome to a world of freedom. Withthe introduction of the Kombi campervan itsuddenly became possible to simply ‘park andpop’ your elevated roof and ‘rock n roll’ thebed, draw the curtains and enjoy sleeping or teamaking wherever you pleased, regardless of theweather. When not in use, the Kombi demandsjust one standard garage space. Because it isso versatile, the Kombi can be used as a dailydriver when it’s not a holiday home on wheels,allowing the visiting of different locations everynight without the trouble of setting up a tent,or hitching and towing a van. Because its sizeis comparable to a standard wagon car, it is stilleasy to park in the city and has an extremelyimpressive turning circle due to remarkableGerman engineering.But what’s behind this enduring fascination?Drive a Kombi past any group of children andthere is bound to be a number of them who grinIssue 03 June/July 2013 13

Daniel Linnetand tug their jaded parents’ arms, pointingat the Kombi. It’s surely not merely theirremote resemblance to an ice-cream van thatis attracting a new generation of fans. To theuneducated eye, from the outside, Kombislook similar. Their mysterious interior,when revealed, amazes the uninitiated.The compact campervan facilities rival theimagination of any modern day Swedishdesigner whose domestic layouts boastcompact living in just twenty square metres.In a Kombi, it is all packed into a clever fourand a half square metres. Elevating roofspopping up in all directions mean Kombis canmaximise their space when stationary. Theytruly deserve to be leaders in the ‘transformer’category of vehicles.Kombis were mostly available in theform of either microbus, campervan,panel van or ute. The microbus was ableto transport up to eight passengers, wellbefore the ‘people movers’ of the modernday. The panel van was popular amongstsalesmen and couriers and the ute satisfiedthe requirements of the Australian tradies.Most Kombi campervans were fittedout with at least one double bed, storagespace, fridge, gas cooking facilities, atable for eating and a sink for washingup. Additional awnings to increase livingspace were available as optional extras forthose whose needs were greater than thestandard number of available berths.Kombis were imported to Australia as a basicblank canvas and fitted out as campervansby companies in Australia such as Swagman,Sopru and Trakka. In the UK there was awider variety of companies doing their ownfit-outs, such as Viking, Devon, Dormobileand Danbury. They all varied in the details ofthe interior fit-out and had a range of elevatingcanvas roof styles. Only the Westfalia wasavailable from the German dealership before1973 if you ordered a campervan model.After this, Devon was also available throughVolkswagen. Rather cleverly, Volkswagenran a scheme called the Tourist DeliveryProgram, which enabled the foreign buyerto take a European holiday in their newlypurchased Kombi van before VW would shiptheir purchase home. This scheme added tothe popularity of the Westfalia in the USA, butfewer imports of the Westfalia model exist inAustralia, making right-hand drive Westfaliashighly sought after and rare today in both theUK and Australia.The excesses of social gatherings becomeeasier to negotiate when a Kombi has beenused as the means of arrival. The convenienceto bed down in familiar surroundingsimmediately, rather than having to navigateinto the cold of night, or trouble the host ofthe party after the coffee has been served, isanother asset to owning a Kombi.In the 1980s there were several mountainworkers who combated the shortage ofalpine accommodation, reduced theircost of living and hazardous daily travelto the NSW ski slopes by parking at thebottom of the ski slopes in their ownself-contained mobile micro apartments,Kombis. Many Kombi owners and exownersover the years admit to extendedperiods of time living in their Kombi.From one generation to the next, thehabit is transferred. Those children whoseparents owned a Kombi at some point haveinadvertently planted a seed which germinatesthrough feelings of nostalgia into a desire to> continued page 1614 www.timetoroam.com.au

MEET THE COVER MODELSMark Stanek and Alex Lonnen became mates though theirmutual love of Kombis and spent many years and went togreat lengths to get their dream-mobiles.Both have fond memories of Kombis from their youth. Thecamper featured on our cover shot belongs to Mark (far left).He grew up in Sydney’s surfing culture and drove one in histeens. He says caught the ‘Kombi bug’ again when he lookedto buy one for his son.He then spent two years tracking down the camper. “It’sfrom 1976, the same year I left school,” he says.Alex actually imported his 1966 deluxe bus from the USAand had it shipped over to Australia.As Kombis have become increasingly hot collector itemsworld-wide, an international trade has developed.According to Alex, a lot of UK people who came to Australiaon working holidays started shipping Kombis back to Europe,where the craze for collecting started much earlier, makingthem more difficult to obtain.As prices have subsequently risen here – and the Aussiedollar soared in value, Alex said it made sense to import onefrom the US.“It took four months to get it here and the electrician Ibought it off in California thought I was mad.”He won’t reveal how much the exercise cost, although it’sworth noting that a 1967 VW similar to his sold at auctionrecently in the US for $96,000.Below: Inside Mark’s 1976 Kombi Camper

1972 The T2B is introducedwith disc brakes. AutomaticTransmission becomes availablewith a Type 4 engine the followingyear. The blinkers on the front ofthe Kombi van are made squareand fitted above the headlights.The famous VW emblem is reducedin size on the front of this model.Enlarged front bumpers and taillights are introduced.2012 VW announcesSouth Americanproduction the Kombiwill end in December2013, even the mostmodern version cannotbe upgraded to meetnew safety regulations.At Not Just Canvas we haveQuality Expert Solutions for anyCanvas Work you might need!!1976 Kombi productionends in Germany, althoughcontinues in South America.Assembly of all VWs ends inAustralia, with VW selling itsMelbourne factory to Nissan.1991 Production of the T2CKombi begins in Mexico, witha slightly raised roof and 1.9litre water cooled engine.As a locally owned and operated smallfamily business we know if we look afterour customers, our business will look afteritself. So we genuinely listen to whatyou need from Annexes, Camper Trailers,4WD Canopies and more!!!Below, The line-up at a recent rally of Kombi clubs at Berry NSW.For more photos, turn to page 46.Also Repairs, Sales and Alteration SpecialistsCome in to our factory and discuss your needsManufacturers and Suppliers of‘Not Just Canvas Gumnut Annexes’We are open 6 days a week!!Please call for trading hours and find us at:4-6- Boeing Place, Caboolture, Qld, 4510F: 07 5432 403507 5428 3994www.notjustcanvas.com.auIssue 03 June/July 2013 17

features | classic collections(Top Left) Monty the ‘show pony’ and hispartner Mildred; (Top Right): Ugly Bettyand Happy: “We just like looking at them”;(Right) ‘Blue Bus’ – the former baker’s vanwith intricate wood-lined interior.original 1976 Sopru Campmobile model,almost the same as the one she owned at 21.“Molly” was trucked to Nimbinfrom the far reaches of WA.“We bought her on eBay, taking a biggamble on the sight unseen Kombi that lookedgreen in the dodgy mobile phone listingphotos and went with our gut instinct as shewas a “one owner” with just 52,000 kilometreson the clock. When she arrived on the truck Isaid ‘You’ve got to be kidding’. But once I tooka look inside, I was hooked…. all the originalfeatures were intact in near perfect condition.Only the rear seat swab and the curtains hadbeen changed. I’ve since managed to trackdown a set of the original fabric curtains.”Alongside Molly sits Blue Bus, a 1967 woodlinedpanel van, originally used as a bakersdelivery vehicle in outback QueenslandMonty is the pride of the fleet. The Keensrefer to the 1977 builders van as their “showpony” because it draws crowds and admirationfrom judges as they travel around to shows.Andy says Monty was purchasedfor $4,500 from a Canberra builderwho’d had it since new.“They were very popular builders utesbecause of the long (3.1 metre) tray. Thehigh tray makes a good workbench andthere are compartments underneathwhere you can lock up tools.”An immaculate restoration was carriedout over many months, as with all theirprojects, with the help of professionaltradespeople in the Lismore area.Today the VW flatbed ute is estimatedto be worth in excess of $25,000.“They’re very hard to find thesedays because they were usually justworked to death,” Andy said.“Because they’re air cooled and theengine is at the back, they’re notorious foroverheating. The road service guy is nevertoo far away when you own a Kombi.”Outside the garage and down towards theIssue 03 June/July 2013 19

(Top Left) Blue Bus looks at home in downtown Nimbin, the Keens insist they’re ‘happy, not hippy’. (Bottom Left) Molly the Camper.(Top Right) the immaculate interior of Blue Bus and (Bottom Right) engine compartment of Montyend of the yard are two more VW vans – UglyBetty and her mate Happy were rescued fromrusty graveyards and are now continuing theirdecline in full view of the Keen’s home. Theyhave no intention of doing much with them.“They’d cost too much to restore. I justenjoy sitting on the veranda and looking atthem,” Lorraine says.Then there are the caravans, purchasedwith the aim of providing more comfortablesleeping quarters when they go to Kombishows.“We spent three and a half years lookingfor a suitable caravan and then found Mildredat our nearest neighbours place just over theroad.”Mildred, now Monty’s show partner, is aCulbert Cruiser 10 bondwood kit van, built bythe father of their next door neighbour in theearly 1970s from a late 1960s plan. Possiblyone of the last kit vans of its type assembled.“The name Mildred came from the fact thatshe was covered in mould and mildew. It tookseveral months to get rid of all the black.”The newest addition to their collectionis Babe – a 1953 all-fibreglass van boughtfrom Grafton where she has been passedaround the family since new. They’restill unsure of its origins. Weighing in atjust 250kgs, it cost just $57 to register.“We need to do a lot of work to restoreher to her former glory and replace various“improvements” with original fixtures,a job we look forward to completing.”Andy says the Kombis have been the bestvalue investment he’s ever made and predictsclassic caravans are heading the same way.“Nothing else I’ve owned has increasedin value as much as the Kombis. Andsince we’ve had Mildred accompanyingMonty to shows and camp grounds, itseems as many people want to check outthe caravan as much as the Kombis.”The Keens obviously love their Kombicollection and showing them off toadmirers. They regularly travel to shows,taking care to make plenty of stopsalong the way to avoid overheating.A highlight of their calendar is helping toorganise the annual Nimbin Kombi Convoy– a festival re-enacting the arrival of hippiesto the former dairying town in the 1970s.While they admit to being Kombilovers from Nimbin, they say it doessometimes see them stereotyped.“When you say you’re from Nimbinand arriving in a Kombi, people just don’tknow what to expect. We prefer to describeourselves as more happy than hippie.”As for Lorraine, she reckons she’sdiscovered the secret of eternal youth.“I love the fact that I’m 21 againwhenever I’m behind the wheel.”20 www.timetoroam.com.au

Phone: 02 4722 3144Address: 1/16 Borec RoadPenrith NSW 2750Slide OnsNorthstar slide on campers are also know as ute campers, traycampers and truck campers. The Northstar slide on camper isavailable to suit small utes and trays from Falcon, Commodore,Hilux, Triton, Mazda and Rodeo etc., to mid sized; Landcruiser,Patrol etc. right up to Ford F series, GMC Chev and Dodge Ram.Available in hard side (solid wall) or pop top models and arange of fit out designs to suit your needs including hot shower,toilet, kitchen, dining and bedroom. What more do you need?A great motorhome alternative with nothing to set up or packup, giving you comfort and freedom to move easily and be onyour way. Northstar campers are exclusive from Freedom OffRoad. The slide on camper people.Contact us to find your true freedom.Dodge Ram When serious hauling power is neededFreedom Offroadare moving to new premises with aHuge Indoor Showroom!Built to your specifications and professionally convertedto Right Hand Drive, the all new Dodge Ram with powerfulCummins Diesel reliability is now available. Choose fromSingle, Quad, Crew or Mega Cab, with Single or DualRear Wheels.The full range of Dodge Ram is yours to choose from, fromthe ST model right through to the super luxurious Texas truckof the year, the fabulous Laramie Longhorn.1/16 Borec Road,Penrith NSWFor further information please visit our websitewww.freedomoffroad.com.au

Adelaide All StarsSOUTH AUSTRALIA PRODUCED MORE THAN ITSFAIR SHARE OF CARAVANS IN THE 1950S AND 60SPictured: (Top) Larry and Judy Weeper’s1963 Roadmaster with a colour-matched1967 Mercury Cougar. (Middle) The Weepersrelax inside their 1963 Roadmaster.(Bottom) Ellen and Bob Haywood with their1960 Adventurer caravanBy Susan and Keith HallMost vintage caravan enthusiasts viewthe mid-20th century as the golden age ofcaravans.After all, it was the dawn of an era whenevery family aspired to own a car and acaravan.Taking family holidays by the beach or inthe bush really became part of the greatAustralian dream.But in the 1950, the era of hand-builtwooden caravans, the states with the biggestcaravan markets weren’t actually thebiggest builders.South Australia punched way above itsweight, producing many of Australia’s iconicbrands.New South Wales and Victoria had ahandful of manufacturers, but SouthAustralia had dozens. Brands includedAdelma, Adventurer, Broadway, Clipper,Furness, Globetrotter, Hardy, Harris,Jennison, Paramount, Quest, Road Cruiser,Roadmaster and Rowvan. Even thelegendary Viscount started out in Adelaidebefore moving to Sydney in the late 1950s.Today Adelaide still has some tell-talesigns remaining from its glory days ofcaravan manufacturing.In the suburb of St Marys there is aFurness Street named in honour of theformer caravan builder, while the sign“Globetrotter Caravans” is still evident onthe back of building in Hindmarsh.The most enduring testament to the SouthAustralian caravan industry is the highesteem in which these vans are regarded inthe vintage caravan community. Beautifullyrestored and loved by their owners, they’retestament to the original high level ofcraftsmanship of their builders.But the most interesting thing aboutthese vans is the way they all seem to revealunexpected stories about different aspectsof South Australian caravanning history.Because the caravans were manufacturedby small family-owned businesses, thesestories are often also part of a family history.A 1953 Jennison caravan belonging toJeff Gill of Canberra is a good example.The company that built it was started by22 www.timetoroam.com.au

features | classic caravans(Above) Vintage van get-together in the Barossa Valley to celebrate South Australia’s caravan heritage. (Below) Interior of a 1960 Adventurer with itsdouble-camber canite roof.John Jennison in the 1930s and based inSalisbury, SA. Advertisements from the1950s describe these vans as “the aristocratof the road”. However Jeff acquired thevan more for its family connection than itsquality. John Jennison was his maternalgrandfather. So Jeff can recognise thepeople shown in old Jennison caravanadvertisements because they are all familyand friends.Ray Mossop of Adelaide also comes from acaravan building family. His father Bert builtBroadway caravans, and Ray is the proudowner of a 1950s Broadway. Herbert Mossopbegan his caravan building business afterWorld War II in his partner’s backyard andwent on to build about 500 caravans up until1960. To maintain the family tradition, Raybuilt a custom teardrop caravan and namedit “Broadway”.Yet another man with caravan buildingin his blood is Larry Weepers of Adelaide.His father bought the Roadmaster Caravancompany in 1968 and today Larry is stillin the caravan business, though carryingout repairs and maintenance rather thanbuilding new caravans. He has a passionfor the Roadmasters of the 1960s, with theirtypically South Australian style of doublecambercanite roof. Larry’s own van is astylish 1963 Roadmaster which he tows witha colour-matched 1967 Mercury Cougar.Another South Australian caravan brandwhich produced vans with a surprisingresemblance to Roadmaster is Adelma.This brand was built from 1966 to 1980 bythe legendary Coppola Brothers, using thejigs and designs that had previously beenused to build Roadmasters. To stress theSouth Australian origins of their caravans,the company name Adelma was a shortenedform of “Adelaide Made”.The Coppola brothers, who wereimmigrants from Italy, were skilledcraftsmen. They were also keen to embracenew technology, like aluminium cladding thatIssue 03 June/July 2013 23

Pictured: (Top left) 1953 Jennison caravan with period memorabilia. (Top right) A modern teardrop continues the tradition of Broadway caravans.(Bottom) Two vintage Adventurer vans towed by Adelaide-made Chrysler Royals.became common in the late 1960s. Mike Ellyof Ballarat owns a 1973 15ft Adelma LuxuryLiner which has only done 8,000km and is innear-new condition. When he acquired it, thecaravan was still stocked with 1970s kitchenimplements and orange Tupperware.Another interesting historical connectionis the link between Chrysler cars and vintagecaravans. Chryslers were built in Adelaideand the luxurious Chrysler Royal is still afavourite with the Chrysler Restorers Clubof SA. The owners of these large, finnedvehicles sought out old caravans which theycould use on club runs. So in South Australiayou can see plenty of impressive rigs whichhave a Chrysler Royal towing a restoredvintage van.Chris Howes, a previous president ofthe club, and his wife Cathy, the currentpresident, are good examples. They have atwo-tone green 1957 Chrysler Royal whichtows a colour-matched 1964 GlobetrotterGold Coaster, both built in Adelaide.At the last vintage van gathering atTanunda in the Barossa Valley, attentioncentred on two striking Adelaide-builtAdventurer caravans parked next to eachother. Both were towed by ChryslerRoyals and had a matching blue/greycolour scheme.One rig was a 1960 wooden Adventurertowed by a 1962 Chrysler Royal, belongingto Ellen and Bob Haywood. The other wasan aluminium 1965Adventurer 14ft van,belonging to Neill and Joan Wormald,showing how much the design of caravanschanged in just five years.But maybe South Australia’s biggestclaim to fame is that it produced the mostawesome vintage caravan in Australia’shistory. The aptly named Highway Palace isa 42ft (13m) long fifth wheeler caravan towedby a 1946 Fargo truck. It was built in 1949by the Adelaide construction firm of GraceBrothers (not the department store) as aone-off custom built van for a couple livingin Pinnaroo, SA. The rig was way ahead of itstime with luxury fittings including a bath andrunning hot water.South Australians are justifiably proud ofthe pivotal role that their state has played inthe history of Australian caravanning TheCaravan and Camping Industries Associationof South Australia commissioned Trevor Gill24 www.timetoroam.com.au

features | classic caravansto write a book describing South Australia’scaravanning past. ‘Still Swinging the Billy’,a lavishly bound coffee table book illustratedwith historical photos. It led to a vintagecaravan Grand Parade at the AdelaideCaravan & Camping Show in February.In the 1960s and 1970s, caravanmanufacture increasingly moved to the eastcoast, to be closer to both raw materials andmarkets. That left just a handful of SouthAustralian manufacturers still in operation.But many of the caravans built in Adelaideover the previous two decades are still withus today. Just look around at any vintagecaravan get-together and you’ll find some ofthe most stylish van have their originsin SA.A still visible reminder of the Globetrotter caravan heritage in AdelaideFactory and sales Ph: 02 9939 0600 Sales Nth NSW and QLD Ph: 02 6681 1555www.frontlinecamper.com.auHiacefrom $56,900VWfrom $64,800Issue 03 June/July 2013 25

Down Memory LaneAdelmaBush RadioCandy StripesChecked Floorclouds in my coffeeDeco stepsfootstoolFranklin & Roadmastergreen star vangrey holden & vanpinup stickerMap Couplemaroon curtainmint barkclothTriumph FamilySouth Australian Caravan nostalgia: images from The SA Caravan and Camping Show, February 2013. Photography by Ruth Morris26 www.timetoroam.com.au

tried + tested | caravan reviewSure to float your boatWATER LEAKS ARE THE BIGGEST ENEMY OF CARAVANS. AS MICHAEL GREALYREPORTS, THIS RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO OUR ROADS HAS A WATER-TIGHTREPUTATION THAT IS HARD TO BEAT.John HainesA widely-respected boat building andfishing identity, John Haines had talkedabout building caravans for years withhis son, also called John, but they alwaysseemed to be inundated with boat orders.The Haines Group has been in the boatingbusiness since John Haines Snr AM andhis brother Garry first started building afiberglass version of tinnies in their backyardback in 1959.John passed away in 2009 and it wasn’tuntil two years later that son John, nowheading the family business, was able topursue the dream.By then the Haines Group had grown tobecome Australia’s largest fibreglass trailerboat builder with a major manufacturingplant at Wacol, south of Brisbane.But a downturn in the boating industryin 2011 gave Haines the opportunity to lookfor new ways of diversifying off the back oftheir half century of experience in deliveringmarine-grade leisurecraft .Push came to shove thanks to John’suncle, Hank, who believed a reliable range oflight-weight off-road caravans would be a hitwith buyers.Hank Rojek knew what he was talkingabout. He happened to be managing directorof Ipswich Lifestyle Centre, Queensland’slargest caravan dealership west of Brisbane.“It was a logical move, if we were tocontinue in manufacturing, to look atcaravans,” John Haines said. “We have a9000 square metre undercover factory ona 10 acre site and we had under-utilisedcapacity.”Then there were the synergies thatmade the transition easier. Not only thecapabilities of its plant and machinery,but also the Haines Group research anddevelopment expertise and its staff – expertboat builders and cabinet makers – as wellas a full metal fabrication shop that allowsit to build its own welded aluminium chassisand its computer-controlled overheadrouters for assembly.There are signs hanging throughout theWacol factory that say ‘Quality First – Build itas if you are going to own it’.For John Haines the market niche he wasaiming at was always going to be premiumoff-road fibreglass vans that would matchthe family’s exacting standards for quality.Issue 03 June/July 2013 27

tried + tested | caravan reviewFirstly, at Hank Rojek’s urging, herecruited Peter Russell, former owner ofBoroma Caravans, for the integral roleof gearing up the business as caravansproject manager and general manager ofmanufacturing.The Haines Group CEO says he’s“absolutely ecstatic” with what the companyhas achieved in just a couple of years.“I am exceptionally proud of ourSeachange product. There are a lot ofreally good manufacturers out there – weset ourselves apart with our fibreglassconstruction.”At the Wacol plant, the Seachange 550,595, 640 and 670 series caravans are builton the same production lines as the HainesGroup’s famous Signature range of boats.The Seachange range has won wideacclaim on the show circuit this year. Formany Sydney caravan lovers, their first lookat the Seachange range was at the recentNSW Caravan and Camping Supershow atRosehill where Peter Russell and Hank Rojekshowed off a 640 Elite QB van and one of its595 series.More recently, the company showed off itslatest release, a 420 Tough Nut van, at theBrisbane Caravan and Camping Show.Tested Seachange 640 EliteQB CaravanOne of the first construction featuresyou notice about the Seachange 640 EliteQB van is the impact of the fibreglassmanufacturing.Fibreglass combines versatility, durabilityand strength to provide the van owner witha low maintenance, non-corrosive caravanthat stands the test of travel and time.The rolled roof and wall panels of the640 Series consist of welded box sectionaluminium frames, insulated with a fireresistantexpanded polystyrene foam thenlined with fibreglass. This delivers a lighter,stronger structure that’s cooler in summerand warmer in winter months.The design of the 640 Elite eliminates theneed for the traditional J-mould joint. Theobjective with this technology is that ownerswon’t have to worry about deterioratingjoints that can ultimately leak water.The Haines Group’s Peter Russell said ofthe aluminium floor rails: “The aluminiumframe gives us strength but saves usconsiderable weight in an off-road van. It’slike a house – start with good foundationsbecause everything is built on top of it.”He added that the fibreglass panelsprovide great resistance against haildamage or damage from trees but should itoccur, they are repairable.The 640 Elite uses the Cruisemaster allroad coil suspension system for economicalload protection and towability with twinshocks. Softer spring rates are aimed atprotecting the van and its contents.It has a full length, hybrid light weight150mm chassis, combining hot dipgalvanised steel and aluminium. Othergeneral external features include 16 inchalloy wheels, roll out awning, two 9kg gasbottles.The exterior looks stylish with the frontand rear pods both custom-mouldedfibreglass, shaped to reduced drag andallow air to easily pass over the top.Stepping inside, it’s smart andcomfortable with clean lines and a polishedfinish down to its glossy white walls.The bathroom has a full ensuite with amoulded fibreglass shower unit and exhaustfans, a porcelain toilet and a Caroma vanitysink.There’s plenty of storage space aroundthe Queen size bed, underneath it, incupboards above and in the hanging mirrorfrontedwardrobes.Even within the café style leatheretteseating, there are pull out drawers for morestorage.In the kitchen area, the 640 Elite isfinished in brushed stainless steel, andDuropol laminate benchtops with timberedging. The cabinetry is securely attachedto the framework, the cooktop and grill hasthree gas burners and one electric plate andthe Dometic frige/freezer has a capacity of184 litres.The 640 has an extensive range of factoryfitted options and the Haines Group willcustom build to meet customer desires.One of the standout exterior options thatI particularly liked was a Webber Baby Qslide out barbecue that sits neatly underthe awning. Another was the front throughboot that has lockable doors, is galvabondlined and wide enough to fit things like deckchairs and inflatable equipment.At the Sydney Caravan Show, theSeachange 640 Elite QB displayed hada wealth of features and a price tag of$118,920. Its standard price is around$97,000.Maybe the last word should go to retiredbuilder Aubrey McLean, of Splityard Creek,28 www.timetoroam.com.au

pros› Experienced marine manufacturer› Light fibreglass construction› Luxurious interiorSouth Tweed Caravans… to get you where you want to goA Family Owned, Operated & Trusted Business since 1978.Celebrating our 35th Anniversary this year.Our Customers come as Strangers and leave as Friends.cons› Dealerships confined to Bundamba, nearIpswich serving Southern Queenslandand Northern NSW; Kingsley in WA; andBundabergin North Queensland.west of Brisbane, who’s owned a Seachange 640 Elite van foralmost a year that he pulls behind his Nissan Patrol ute.Now in his 60s, Aub bought his first caravan in his 20s and he’shad them all his life. The first thing that impressed him was theexternal finish and the way the front, back and top panels wraparound the walls and shut out the possibility of leaking water.“The further I looked, the more I liked it, particularly thetremendous craftsmanship and beautiful finish. Everything isnice and simple and accessible and it’s got great suspension.”For more information and full specifications:www.thehainesgroup.com.auProud Dealer for Australia’s iconicMillard Caravans – Pop Tops & Slide On CampersCustom Made New CaravansA Great Range of Quality Hand-Picked Used CaravansWe Buy and Trade Used VansHans Trailers, Renowned for Quality with 5 Year WarrantyAsk us about Insurance & FinanceRACQ Inspected Caravan DealerOn the Coolangatta Tweed border24 Minjungbal Drive | Tweed Heads South NSW 2486sales@southtweedcaravans.com.auwww.southtweedcaravansales.com.au07 55243745South TweedCaravan SalesOR YOU MAY LIKE TO TRYFRANKLIN INDULGENCEHas all the extras you’d expect in a van with the name, butwith a tough side as well. The Indulgence is solidly basedon the features of an outback model including heavy dutychassis, 15 inch all terrain tyres and alloy wheels, shockabsorbers, checker plate front and sides, and jerry-canholders. Brisbane sale price $94,000ELITE CARAVANS – MURRAY – DIAMOND SERIESElite is on a mission to get more luxury into caravans. They come with someof the most stylish interiors on wheels and a huge range of options. TheMurray Diamond Series is a caravan more luxurious than many homes,complete with a home theatre system and 60 inch pop-up TV. There’s aqueen-size bed along with decent sized centre ensuite, fridge and leatherlounge. On sale at the Brisbane Show for $113,000Issue 03 June/July 2013 29

Kombi the next generationTested Trakka Trakkadu Report by Richard RobertsonTHE KOMBI IS CREDITED WITH BEING THE FIRST GLOBAL RV AND THE SPIRITOF THE VAN THAT CHANGED THE WORLD LIVES ONThe current incarnation of theVolkswagen van is the T5(T for Transporter) and there areseveral Australian conversionspecialists taking run-of-the-millT5s and turning them into highlycapable campervans.Trakka is by far the best known, havingjust celebrated 40 years since its first T2conversion rolled out the door and todayits aptly named Trakkadu represents thepinnacle of the Volkswagen van converters’art. Stylish, practical and engineeredwith the full wisdom of those decades ofexperience, the Trakkadu is simple the bestmodern ‘Kombi’ you can buy.Unlike its forebears, the test Trakkadufeatured here is an All Terrain model thatcomes with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drivepackage plus a VW suspension upgrade from3000 kg to 3200 kg, which in a vehicle thissize is a chunky amount. In addition, Trakkahas also fitted Seikel raised suspension thatlifts the T5 by 70 mm. That certainly resultsin better ground clearance but has the sideeffect of making the Trakkadu a little lesseasy to get into undercover carparks.For the actual conversion, the mostobvious items on the outside are theelevating roof and the Fiamma F45 Titaniumawning. The roof, made from a compositeconstruction, has a very low profile and isfitted with gas struts, making it very easyto lift from inside. More subtle are the tablerail fitted to the sliding door and the watertank outlet on the mid off-side. Out of sightexternally are the water tanks and theexternal shower, which is actually mountedinside the Trakkadu at the rear, but verymuch for use outside, unless of course youlike water running through your camper!Of course, the T5 Trakkadu comes withall the cab comforts we’ve come to expect.In making that comment, I’d make thenostalgic observation that we’ve come a longway since the days of the T2s that were usedin the early Trakkas! Extras include theradio/CD player with an iPod connection andthe optional stereo upgrade with satellitenavigation and rear vision camera.In the safety department, the T5 comeswith front airbags as standard but this30 www.timetoroam.com.au

tried + tested | motorhome reviewTrakka founders Sally and David Berryvehicle came with optional side and thoraxairbags. Naturally, ABS disc brakes arefitted all round and the T5 also comes withan Electronic Stability Program.ON THE ROADGetting behind the wheel of the Trakkadumeans a fun ride. Yes it is a van, but thegutsy 132 kW turbo-diesel VW deliversplenty of power and the seven-speed DSGgearbox is a very smooth performer indeed.On the bush tracks I tried, being an AWD,there was little scrabbling for traction andthe ride was surprisingly smooth. All thecontrols are closed to hand, including thoseon the multifunction steering wheel, whichare really handy. Rain sensing wipers arepart of the VW package. The external rearview mirrors on the VW are good but therear vision camera certainly aids whenreversing around. A neat little addition arethe folding rear-seat head restraints thatwould otherwise block the internal rear view.A bonus is that they are easier to move out ofthe way when making up the bed.The living area of any van conversion isgoing to be considerably smaller than acoach-built motorhome, but it’s more thanadequate for this light weight camper, aswell as being very versatile for an aroundtownmachine. Both cab seats swivel around;there’s a kitchen bench/wardrobe unit alongthe offside; a day/night lounge seat mid-vanand a large shelf in the rear. With the roofup, the large screened windows offer plentyof ventilation. There is a rear tent availablefor the Trakkadu but I have to say given thelack of opening windows, I might well beconsidering Velcroed insect screens for boththe sliding and rear doors. Light weight EuroPly is used for all the cabinet construction.General storage is a bit limited, but thereare both good sized wardrobe and undershelfareas in the rear, as well as the kitchencupboards.Simple is the word to best describe theTrakkadu’s catering facilities. A Webastodiesel fired cooktop is used for heatingeverything up; an underbench Waeco 80 litrefridge keeps things cool and the stainlesssteel, glass-lidded washing up bowl keepsthings clean. General storage consists oflarge cutlery drawer and two cupboards,both with space-saving roller shutter doors.In the larger cupboard are two drawers;a nice and convenient way of stashingeverything. At the forward end of the bench,above the fridge, are both the Trakkaelectrical control panel and the Webastocooktop controls. I like the electronic controlpanel, with everything neatly in one place.AFTER HOURSMaking up the 1.95 m x 1.25 m bed is quitesimple, a matter of folding the headrestsback and releasing the seat back by pullingon the centrally located strap. The seat canbe moved forwards and backwards a fair bit,so it is quite easy to fill the gap between thefolded-down seat-back and the rear shelf.There’s one reading light, centrally locatedat the rear, so guess where the pillows aregoing to go! If extra sleeping accommodationis required for children an optional roof bedis available.Insulated curtains are fitted all round,except for the cab windows, where a custommade, press-studded curtain is used – quitea simple arrangement but one that worksquite well. LED lighting is used throughout,with a mixture of strip and reading lights.Issue 03 June/July 2013 31

tried + tested | motorhome reviewA tricky little feature is the LED strip lightsfitted inside the awning mounting at eachend. Not overly brilliant but still good enoughto see what you are doing and not in yourface either.THE VERDICTIt might look small and simple but theTrakkadu AT is a very sophisticated piece ofmachinery. Whilst not being the size of sayTrakka’s Jabiru motorhome, it does offertremendous versatility in the ways it canbe used. It certainly can be used very easilyaround town, with its capacity to carry fourpeople or large loads. Alternatively, in thebush it’s kitted for remote campsites, alongwith the ability to get to those same placeswith aplomb and without difficulty. Being arelatively light weight camper it’s also goodfor the environment, by having a minimalimpact on several fronts.Manufacturer TrakkaModel Trakkadu ATBase Vehicle 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel (AWD)Engine 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-dieselPrice – Drive-away $131,410.00For full details and specifications go to: www.trakka.com.aupros› VW Transporter basevehicle!› Setting up is quickand simple› Good carryingcapacity› Hi-tech and energyefficient electrics› Economicalcons› Not cheap but you getwhat you pay for› Bed tight for tallerpeople› Raised groundclearance not suitablefor some car parksOR YOU MAY LIKE TO TRYFRONTLINE PIONEERThe Toyota Hiace and Frontline have enjoyed a popular andsuccessful combination that goes back to the 1980s. Frontlinecan offer the Hiace in six different layouts and can be purchasedwith either diesel or petrol engines, also with a choice of Manualor Automatic gearbox. The Pioneer is a five seat capacity camperoffering a versatile solution to touring and everyday use. TheHiace Pioneer with diesel automatic sells for around $65,000drive away, NSW.FRONTLINE ADVENTURERThe VW Transporter Frontline is available in All Wheel Drive,catering to an increasing band of drivers looking to getting outamong the rough and exploring out of the way tracks. The FrontlineAdventurer provides four safe seating positions for the family or acouple of mates. A great feature of the Frontline Adventurer is thefront seat swivels to expand the living area and maximise useablespace. The drive away (NSW) price for the Frontline VW AdventurerAWD Diesel is $77,000.32 www.timetoroam.com.au

tried + tested | motorhome reviewtried + tested | camper reviewBudget beaterTested Blue Tongue Campers Off-Road TrekkaTHE NEWEST CAMPER FROM THE BLUE TONGUE RANGE SETS A NEWSTANDARD IN AFFORDABLE FAMILY CAMPERS, BY DAVID COOKAsk any Aussie campertrailer manufacturer howthey started out and there’susually a common threadto their story. Either theyweren’t happy with what theycould find already available,thought they could do a betterjob, or were keen to getinvolved in a business thatwas already their recreation.Usually it’s a combination ofall three.Karl GeddesIt was this exact trail that brought KarlGeddes and Andrew Walter to the business ofbuilding and selling one of the best finishedbudget camper trailers on the market. Areputationthey’ve established in a relativeshort time.Blue Tongue Campers are built intheir workshop at Kirrawee in Sydney’ssouth. Previously both men worked in theconstruction industry, Karl being a builderand Andrew handling the plumbing work onhis jobs.“We just didn’t want to make our livingdoing that sort of work anymore,” Andrewexplains, “but we carry with us the builder’sethic of trying to use the right tools andcomponents on every job and providingcustomer service, because we come from abackground where customer satisfaction isparamount.“We were all campers. Karl still has smallkids while mine have all grown up, but weall enjoyed the pleasures of sleeping undercanvas. I’d never been involved with campertrailers, having come from a background intents, but we were all looking for somethingto do that we enjoyed. When we started upfour years ago there weren’t as many importcampers around and it seemed like a goodthing to get into.“We researched the market and foundthat while there were already Australiantrailers with imported canvas tents on themarket, many were of poor quality so weset out to raise the bar. We have an aim tomake continual product improvements andadd detailed features, while some of ourcompetitors are reducing the quality to makethem cheaper.”While camper trailers can rangein price from $3,500 up to $60,000and more, Blue Tongue is firmlyembedded in the lower price range.“This end of the market is family territory;it’s what they can afford,” Andrew says. “The$40,000 to $50,000 units are out of the reachof most and so we set out to build a qualityproduct at an affordable price.“We mostly aim our products at families,mostly those with kids. We have massivetents for those people and smaller tentswhen we are selling just to couples. We haveIssue 03 June/July 2013 33

tried + tested | camper reviewlight trailers for those with smaller carsand heavier trailers for those who want togo off road. We try to cover the gamut ofexperiences that people will cover witha camper.”They also offer a 9 foot tent with allaluminium poles which has been verypopular with the “grey nomads” and thosejust wanting a fast easy setup. It is availableon any of the Blue Tongue range. The guysobviously hit the right note in their quest forvalue for money and sold over 300 campersin their first year in business. Productionhas remained at the healthy level of 300-400units per year since.Most sales go to NSW but they have beenfinding a ready market in Queensland andVictoria and in the next 12 months plan tostart attending shows in Queensland tosupport their new dealer outlet there.The one non-Australian aspect to theBlue Tongue campers is the tent, whichis imported. Using this as their basis theguys began researching campers and havecontinued to modify their products in linewith customer feedback and their ownexperiences with them.The Blue Tongue range features sevendifferent campers, from $3500 to $10,500in price. The tent essentially remains thesame and it’s the nature of the trailerunderneath which determines the price. Ifyou want no more than to stay in caravanparks on major highways then the bottom ofthe price range is likely to suit, essentiallyas a tent transporter, but for those who wantmore gadgets or want to go offroad and sorequire tougher suspensions and a heavierchassis, then the range can encompass thatas well.“It’s an ever evolving product line,” saysAndrew, “and we’ve just released our newtrailer to try to offer more space for ourcustomers.”The latest addition to the range is theTrekka, which, like all the trailers from BlueTongue, is a side-fold soft floor in which thecanvas tent pulls off the side of the trailer andthe vinyl floor sits on the ground next to it.It is designed as either an off-road orsemi-off-road trailer with mechanical brakes,smaller rims with highway duty tyres andseven-leaf slipper springs on the semi-offroad units. The off-road versions come withelectric brakes, all terrain boots on largerrims and eye-to-eye shackle spring sets.Essentially the Trekka trailers offer arange of features not available all together inother Blue Tongue campers. This includesincreased storage, fridge slide, luggageracks, bike racks and a drawer whichslides through the middle of the camper toaccess internal storage capacity and can beaccessed outside. It’s much more heavyduty construction all round, topped off withenamel paint rather than hammertone for amore durable finish.There are three kitchen options witha basic powdercoat finish, a 304 gradestainless steel set-up and a top of the rangeslide-out stainless steel unit with two-burnercooktop and griller.There are two choices in colour: a grey anda blue with grey roof.There is a choice of three tents, all freestanding and requiring pegs and ropes onlyfor windy conditions.Option 1 has a 25 square metre tent withside awning to accommodate four or morepeople.Option 2 covers a huge 40 square metre tosleep eight or moreOption 3 covers 20 square metres withaluminium poles for easier set-up for up tofour people.All have external walls and flyscreensavailable to enclose the awning, with someground level windows featuring lower halfclear poly windows to prevent splash from theground wetting the interior in heavy rain.The trailer is assembled to order to suit thecustomer and the waiting time is between aday or two, or up to a month, depending ondemand and the level of fitout.These are smart looking and well finishedcampers, able to take you into the bush withsecurity. Features such as space for up tofour jerry cans in a lockable compartment,rear mounted spare and silver polyurethanecoated 14 ounce canvas roof to reflect upto 98 per cent of UV radiation and heat forinternal comfort make these well equipped totake on the Outback.As with all Blue Tongue campers theyoffer full electrical fitout as an optional34 www.timetoroam.com.au

extra because of the greatvariability in what people want.“We will often say to customersthat if they’re not sure what theywant or need to take the camperaway a few times and then we canundertake whatever it is that theywant when they get back,” saysAndrew.“Our basic standard range oftrailers does not have a lot of itemson it because if you put everythingon people think why should I pay,say, for a fridge slide if I alreadyhave a fridge set-up in the backof my car? We don’t like havinglots of things on display and thenhaving to tell customers, ‘Oh, thatbit’s extra, and that’s extra.’pros› Value for money› Good finish forbudget price› Australian madetrailer› Good range ofoptions› Reflective canvasroof for coolingcons› Imported canvas› Spreader bar tentset-up takes time› Lack of a stone guardas standardManufacturer Blue Tongue CampersModel Off Road TrekkaPrice $9900For full details and specifications go to:www.bluetonguecampers.com.auOR YOU MAY LIKE TO TRYGIC EXTREME RANGERA similar range and format to Blue Tongue, with locally madetrailers and imported tents of a similar nature and size. Detail andfinish is not as high as with Blue Tongue, without automotive pinchweld rubber seals, fridge slide, luggage rack, alloy wheels, internaldrawer and some other options. GIC tents do offer a skylight roofwindow over the main bed and the Extreme Ranger comes withindependentsuspension and stone guard. Price $11,900.EXPLORER LAWSONSoft floor design similar to the Blue Tongue Trekka and GICExtreme Rang,er but with all Australian canvas. Very similar infitout and layout to both the GIC Extreme Ranger and the BlueTongue Trekka. It has optional side lockers and a standard steel rolloutkitchen and full length roll-out drawer beside the kitchen. Thereis no cooker offered as standard but two and three-burner cook topsare available as options. Two-year warranty. Price $16,950Issue 03 June/July 2013 35

PRODUCTS > YOUR CHANCE TO WINATLAS TANKSAtlas Tanks are market leaders in the manufacture of tanks for the RV and marineindustries, suppling to Australia’s premier motorhome, camper trailer and caravanmanufacturers as well as the private sector.Atlas Tanks are suitable for use with freshwater, grey water, blackwater anddiesel. Being manufactured from food grade (or special diesel grade), UV stabilisedpolyethylene in a minimum 6 – 10mm wall thickness, these tanks are moulded as aone piece construction, so no welds or seams, making them incredibly robust andperfect for even the most challenging terrain.Atlas Tanks friendly staff are happy to discuss your tank requirements and cancertainly help you with any advice that you may need.> To be in the draw to WIN a 60 litre caravan tank of your choice from ourstandard size range visit www.atlastanks.com.au fill out and submitthe enquiry form on the “contact us” page and mention ‘Time To RoamAustralia’ magazine. Competition closes 30/8/2013.B.E.S.T Water FiltersAustralia’s B.E.S.T. Water Filter is the onlysystem that has been designed specificallyfor the RV market. In addition to the removalof chemicals, which all domestic units offer,B.E.S.T. has incorporated the SilverSafe®technology that sets it apart from all others.This allows you to take on water from moresources, by killing the bacteria (as opposedto trapping and storing). This extends the lifeand allows you to continue using it for years,even after long periods of non use. Beingcompact and back-flushable, it’s perfect forthe compact camper trailer, to the largermotorhomes. www.bestwaterfilters.com.auPh 1800 240 822 or 0428 240 822.> To WIN one of three B.E.S.T. InlineWater Filters simply email us atinfo@timetoroam.com.au or mail to10 Dover Road, Botany NSW 2019 andtell us why you need a filter for your‘Home away from Home’!Diamond Food Vacuum SealerDiamond Marketers have beenrunning since 1994 husband and wifeteam Kylie & Charlie travel aroundAustralia exhibiting at many showsselling the range of food vacuumsealing products to all walks oflife from homebodies to campers,backpackers, fisherman and bushwalkers. Sealing food saves money,food and waste.> To celebrate the launch of Time to RoamDiamond Food Vaccuum sealer are givingaway two of their great Food Sealer’saway to two readers. Simply email atinfo@timetoroam.com.au or write in andtell us where you are headed next onyour travels and why the Food VacuumSealer will come in handy!For more information phone Kylie on0405 822 09 www.diamondmarketing.net.au36 www.timetoroam.com.au

Living the dreamSTEVE AND STELLA POTTER AND THEIR KIDS DARCY AND RAINE LEFTTHEIR HOME IN THE SMALL COUNTRY WA TOWN OF BOYANUP TO EMBARKON THEIR IDEA OF THE FAMILY DREAM – TRAVELLING AROUND AUSTRALIAIN A 51 YEAR-OLD CARAVAN. STEVE TAKES UP THE STORY.A moment of reflection. Hiking to Arkaroo Rock. Flinders Ranges, SAI awake and part the orangecoloured curtains of the van to inspectanother new morning in paradise,hoping for another clear day.Paradise can take a number of formswhile travelling. Sometimes it’s a beachvista, sometimes a lush green forest,sometimes a desert. On the other hand,when free camping on a roadside truckstop,the view of paradise may be the sideof a truck trailer next to a busy highway.It is usually our four year old daughterRaine who wakes first and I hear her eachmorning as she chatters away to herselfin a whisper, playing with her toys at theother end of the van behind the curtain.I often lie there and listen to her as shecreates make-believe worlds, her soft toys asthe characters. She will often tiptoe up to38 www.timetoroam.com.au

on the roam | family touringSteve, Stella, Darcy and Raine in Boyanup, WA, about to embark on their eight month trip.our bed and clamber between Stella and me,usually with freezing toes, smothering us inkisses and cuddles, with the primary objectiveof waking us up and getting us out of bed.It is, however, the opportunityto have moments like these thatmade us leave in the first place.Although we always had an idea in theback of our minds that we might do atrip like this one day, a number of factorsaligned which caused us to feel that the timewas right to turn our dream into reality.Stella and I were both busy working flatout, the kids were growing up way too fastand we felt that time was disappearingand the chance may pass us by.We also felt that the ages of our children,four and six, was perfect. Old enoughto be out of nappies, young enough tobe flexible and go with the flow.In the end we made the decision togo. Within three months we were on theroad, having obtained a period of leavefrom work and emptying and renting outour home. The adventure had begun.One of the factors enabling us to get goingreasonably quickly was that we alreadyowned a caravan. Although prior to thistrip we’d only taken it on a number of one ortwo-week holidays not too far from home.We were a bit apprehensive abouttaking the van on such a long roadtrip and even considered getting adifferent one – mainly due to its age.It’s a 1962 plywood clad “Raven” which webought about five years ago when I spotted itonline on the Trading Post. We weren’t evenin the market for a van at the time, howeverfell in love with the old girl at first sight andfound ourselves driving her home the next day.Once Stella and I discussed it, we decidedthat buying a new van wasn’t an option; notonly did we need the funds for the trip, butin our hearts we knew that the trip wouldn’tbe the same without her. For better or worsethe van was coming around Australia.Prior to leaving we did undertake a fewjobs to make the van a bit more comfortableand roadworthy. This included mountingan internal curtain to separate the kids’ endof the van, replacing bearings and tyres,re-painting the A-frame and installing analuminium storage box on the front. Wealso resealed the roof with an epoxy-basedpaint and pulled out the old gas fridgewhich was replaced by 240 volt electricone. Still pretty basic, but ready to go.In terms of the car, once again we weren’ttoo sure about our old Commodore with260,000 km on the clock. We handed thekeys to a mechanic mate who replacedeverything he thought it might need to getus back home. We also installed a dualbattery and once again put on new tyres.We thought the lack of 4WD might be anissue, but as it’s worked out, we haven’t hadtime to see all the places we have wantedto see on the bitumen so far, let alone theoff-road stuff. Besides, there’s always thenext trip (and the one after that) to see theplaces we might not get to this time around.So, how has it gone so far? In a word:unbelievable. It is not often in life thatexperiences live up to one’s expectations,but in this case it has proven to be true.Each day is different and we get toenjoy our kids all day every day, seeingthem from first thing in the morningIssue 03 June/July 2013 39

on the roam | family touringDarcy, Raine and their friend Archie from Ulladulla, NSW, racing along the beach at Hellfire Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, WA.until we tuck them in at night.When Darcy asks to kick the footy orRaine wants to play Barbies, we invariablyhave the time and head space to join in.We feel as if this trip has given us theopportunity to get to really know ourkids better than we could at home, simplybecause we have ample time to spare.People often ask us about the kids’schooling. They are enrolled in SIDE (Schoolof Isolated and Distance Education) throughthe WA Education Department who sendus packages of schoolwork as we travelabout which are returned for marking oncecomplete. Admittedly, we are always behindschedule (sorry Mrs Davitkovska), howeverjustify this by telling ourselves that the kidsare learning a number of things on the roadthat could never be taught in a classroom.At the time of writing we’re in CoffsHarbour, taking a week’s R & R after ourfirst few months of fairly constant andregular moving about. We are hoping tofollow the warm weather as we head northto Queensland and back over the top to WA,where I am due to return to work in October.Although we thought the old van mightraise a few eyebrows along the way, it has beenamazing the amount of interest we have had.On an almost daily basis people are comingup for a chat and have even had people takingphotos from the roadside as we drive on by.Quite often it is the oldies that appreciateher the most and we have heard many astory of family holidays in old plywoodvans from a time when life was simpler.The personal memories and emotionsthe caravan evokes in others haveshown us how special she really is.Our family has learnt a lot aboutlife on the road, and ourselves, as wehave undertaken this journey.If I could presume to provide one bit ofadvice to any young families out there it wouldbe this: if in the back of your mind you have adream of doing something similar, then it is upto you to make it happen knowing that it maytake a certain level of sacrifice. An extendedroad trip is not a sensible financial decision andthere is nothing to show at the end of the dayexcept a bunch of photos. Life on the road is attimes difficult and sometimes uncomfortable.However, if you dream of driving on wideopen roads, hiking through rainforests,cooking marshmallows with sticks overcamp fires and creating family memories andbonds that will last many lifetimes, I wouldhighly recommend doing whatever you canwithin your power to make it happen.You don’t need the most expensive car orcaravan to do so and we have met many youngfamilies doing their own version of the dreamin various levels of comfort, depending onwhat they can afford. What you do need isthe will and motivation to make it happen.To quote from Goethe:“Whatever you can do, or dream youcan, begin it. Boldness has genius, powerand magic in it. Begin it now.”See you on the road.> continued page 4240 www.timetoroam.com.au

Discover theseven wondersof the TweedA choice of affordable accommodationwith beachfront or riverside views availableBOOK NOW!FingalBoyds BayKingscliff NorthTweed T Coast HolidayParks P has seven excitingdestinations d that will keepyou y and the kids happy.With W plenty of beaches,national n parks, fishingspots s and much more, thekids k will be entertained.And, A the comfortableaccommodation will fitthe bill – with plenty ofcash to spare.CampingCaravansCabinsKingscliff BeachHastings PointFor a simply perfect coastal holiday,book now. Freecall 1800 234 121or email: admin@tchp.com.auwww.tchp.com.auPottsville Southquadrant.com.au TRT 21766Pottsville North

on the roam | family touringSteve and Stella’s Top Five so far1. MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania2. Twilight Beach, Esperance, WA3. Scenic Flight over Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, SA4. Alum Cliffs, Tasmania5. Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACTDarcy and Raine’s Top Five so far1. Wave Rock, Hyden, WA2. Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, Victoria3. Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide, SA4. Scenic World, Katoomba, NSW5. Butterfly House, Coffs Harbour, NSWTime to Roam looks forward to catching up with the Pottersagain at the other end of their journey.Pictured: (Clockwise from top) A free night’s camping in a rest area by the Barrier Highway, Hanson, SA; Nullabor Plain, WA;A nightly ritual: bedtime story in the van; The kids share a quiet moment under a towering swamp gum at Mt Field National Park, Tasmania.42 www.timetoroam.com.au

on the roam | wildlife rescuePelican RescueWILDLIFE RESCUER JUNE LE PLA LOVES TO ROAM AUSTRALIA AND IS ALWAYSON THE LOOKOUT FOR TROUBLED CREATURES WHEREVER SHE GOES.At her home in the Hastingsregion of NSW she’s knownas ‘The Pelican Lady’ forher efforts in saving andprotecting the big white birds.Here she writes about herlove for camping and hermost daring rescue.Pictured: June rescues yet anotherbird from the Port Macquariewaterfront, hooked by a fishing lineCamping is a lifetime passion. I can’tthink of anything better than sitting under acoolabah tree in the back of nowhere, wherethe ground is red and the spinifex glistensin the brilliant sunshine, Snuggling up inmy little tent on a cold night and listeningto barking owls having a chat, the pungentsmell of the Gidyea in flower, or watching theestuarine crocs in the wild – living as theyhave for thousands of years.Cassowaries walking on the beach atEtty Bay and the red kangaroo and theirmagnificent blue flyer females at Riversleighand the interior deserts are all truesurvivors of long ago.While camping trips are all about soakingup this magnificent country, I would neverleave an injured animal.Pelicans are comical, clever, beautiful,and definitely intelligent.They can fly as high as a jet planeand travel hundreds of kilometresto places like Lake Eyre, and theWilson River in Queensland whenconditions out there are good.They work as a team in fascinatingformations that would make an Olympicsynchronised water swimming teamenvious when rounding up fish, takingturns to feed. Yet they are amazingprehistoric survivors and very toughwith a massive pain tolerance.It is humbling to see the shockinginjuries that so many bear, yet theystruggle against all odds.One bird that I attended hit a power line,which completely severed the top beakin half, yet it managed to outsmart mefor three months, before I could end itssuffering. The bird was barely able to feeditself. Lice were in the shaft of every feather,biting and causing unbelievable pain.Although devoted to pelicans, my toughestrescue involved a little red marsupial.It happened in outback Queensland backin 2006. Travelling in our trusty Mazda, myhusband Ron and I picked up a friend fromThargomindah Airport and the three of usIssue 03 June/July 2013 43

(Top Right) The rescued joey, in safe custody after its desert ordeal; (Opposite Top) June rescues another injured pelican; (Opposite Middle) Road trains pullin at Whitulania Creek, June grateful they weren’t heading her way earlier; (Opposite Bottom) The trusty Mazda rescue vehicle.June’s Top 5 rulesto protect pelicans.1. Stop trashing our beautiful countrywith bottles, cans, plastic and otherjunk.2. If a bird is hooked or caught by a lure,minimise injury by cutting the line andimmediately call a wildlife hotline.3. Never use braided fishing line.4. Oppose foreshore high risedevelopments adjacent to waterways.5. Keep your distance – overfamiliarisation with humans results inbegging for food, occasional violencefrom humans and birth defects frominappropriate food.Time to Roam is grateful to Jane Floodfor her assistance with this story. Janeand June are fellow members of FAWNA(For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid) in theHastings area of NSW. Jane recently shotand edited a short video called “June thePelican Lady” which can be viewed on theABC Open website www.open.abc.net.aucamped at the Nuccundra Pub on our waythrough to Cooper Creek at Windorah.It was unusually cold with heavy cloud. Webroke camp early in morning and headedout into the Stony Desert, which was a prettystupid thing to do considering the weather.We were about 30 kilometres outwhen I spotted a circle of cattle on thebare stony ground and I knew straightaway that some poor creature wouldbe in the middle of that circle.Ron is used to sudden instructions; stop,back up, turnaround, pull over. To my horrorit was a Big Red male joey. He was bleedingsubstantially and the cattle would certainlyhave killed him.I leapt from the vehicle barefooted ontothe cold sharp stones, (again very stupid)and separated the cattle. The little guysaw his chance and took off with me in hotpursuit. No sign of a mother dead or aliveanywhere.Eventually I caught him. He was cold,bleeding and coughing with fear and pain.The flash of black and white on his muzzlewas so beautiful. Heading back to the truck,the stones got colder and sharper, but I hadcaught the Joey, so it was worth the pain. Iwrapped him in a towel and put him insidemy only thick coat, holding him close to meto warm him up. Before long he relaxed andwent to sleep.The weather was now looking increasinglythreatening and I thought maybe we shouldturn back as we were heading into theDiamantina Basin, which is well known forquickly becoming dangerous after a bit ofrain. Conditions deteriorated and suddenlywe were following the deep tyre ruts of aprevious vehicle, probably a ute. The rutsgot deeper and then we were in a sea ofwater as far as one could see.The vehicle was beginning to slide in theslippery conditions, Troy Cassar-Daley sanghappily away on the DVD as the water gotdeeper, with little waves running across theChannel Country. I knew that the worstwas yet to come as we approached MonkanaStation. Within minutes we were on full lock,broad siding from one side of the road tothe other. Not a word from the back seat. Iwondered if my friend had fainted from frightand whether I might too as I considered thepossibility of meeting a road train or threeheading towards us.The water was now just below theheadlights and it was difficult to sitwithout holding on and I had Red tohold. As we approached MonkanaHomestead the truck gave an almighty44 www.timetoroam.com.au

®cough, Troy Cassar-Daley kept singing the same track onthe disk as it had jammed, and I held my breath waiting tostall and be washed away, but the Mazda was not beatenyet. The broad siding continued, Troy kept singing, andmy friend had still not made a sound in the back.Finally after 40 kilometres of continuous mud and waterwe pulled over at Whitulania Creek, took a deep breath, as weknew we were now out of it. Time for a strong coffeeThe little joey was still sleeping, the bleeding had stoppedand after about nine hours we finally arrived at Bedourie. Wecalled at the Council Office to see if we could find a carer forthe orphan and to my delight the librarian was the unofficialwild life carer for that vast area. I was relieved to know hewould now be in good hands.We finally made camp in the dark and observed five roadtrains fully laden with cattle lined up at the road house readyto head off to Windorah, back along the road that we had justtravelled. How lucky can you be? Fortunately there is nowa high level road diversion to the south of Monkina stationreplacing the former low lying road.In 2012 we travelled the new road through that magnificentcountry again where there were so many Big Reds. I smiledand wondered whether one was my little guy.Or post the coupon below NAMEADDRESSPO Box7052WarringahMallNSW 2100MARINE & LEISURE (EST. 1962)www.whitworths.com.auSend for a FREE 172 pageDISCOUNT CAT A LOGUEWITH HUN DREDS OF ITEMS SUITABLEFOR CARAVANS & MOTOR HOMESIncluding 12 volt prod ucts, LED lights, spotlights,solar panels, elec tri cal sup plies, bat ter ies &ac ces so ries, GPS units & lots more.Go to our website to get yourcopy of our FREE CatalogueSimply scan the QR Code SUBURBSTATEP’CODEBrowse and order online: www.whitworths.com.auTTRIssue 03 June/July 2013 45

out the back | peopleBlast from the Past at Berry NSW – May 5A line of beautiesArt in AgeArt Lucy & AlBill & Sue Shoalhaven Volks wagon ClubKlaus Pohl & his 1962 single cabGarth & Pearl DickensonGreg & Naomi & daughters Sophia & AudreyPitcher with their 1967 KombiMick Perkins & his 1976 modelInside a classic.Jeff Chaseling & his 1955 modelJohn Heffer& his 1966 PMG VanJohn Heffer& his 1966 PMG VanCassie Fenton & Sam WelsteadMark & Meagan Rowley with thier 1975 model46 www.timetoroam.com.au

out the back | peoplePatrick & Brendan with their 1977 Dual CabOld is hip!Peter Horton & his 1965 modelVW’sPolly & Scarlet with RabbitRenate & Sandra EnglertPolishedNatures paint jobIssue 03 June/July 2013 47

out the back | peopleNSW Caravan and Camping Supershow Rosehill – April 20 -28Alan GrahamAndrew Olivia and little Alexander McKinnonAVIDA BeautiesCameron HarrisonClayton KearneyDianne & TerriGlenn & FelicityGold digger Dave & Prospector PeteHelen Barker & Jodie ObergHugh BialasJason TresiderKris WatsonNatalie & Francesca48 www.timetoroam.com.auTrish & Keith DemmenzWill Taylor & Steph Ward

Mackay Caravan and Camping Expo – May 17-19out the back | peopleLisa SmithTina & George SamiosJack & Trish PaceGreg Dunn - Rolling Home CaravansJodie JoyceDemitry Malahoff & Joe JacobsenPhill & BenjaminTrudi Jensen - Tullmack CaravansKylie & Darren SmartJade Simpson is roaming OzKateKay LewisCharlie CrockerNoel, Peter & Paula - EngelJohn & Alan - Motorhome Conversion CoIssue 03 June/July 2013 49

out the back | kids pageBrought to you bywww.preciousparcels.com.au50 www.timetoroam.com.au

out the back | just for funOdd SpotNote to thief: ditch the caravanA man described as a habitual baddriver is behind bars after making themistake of stealing a car hitched to acaravan.Declan Dowsing had never passed adriving test in his life, but still lead Britishpolice on a merry chase through thestreets of the town of Oadby, Leicester.He managed to reach speeds up to100 km per hour behind the wheel of aVauxhall Vectra.Dowsing was finally arrested by apoliceman on foot and later sentenced to14 months jail.Remarkably, the caravan sustained only$1000 in damage.Say Cheese1970s vintage melamine cheeseboardTea Towel TravelogueThe best in foreign-made Australiansouvenirs. This month, the KookaburraBeatle caravan rediscoveredA psychedelic yellow caravan formerlyowned by Beatles John Lennon and RingoStarr has been rediscovered after 40years locked away in a shed.The Gypsy caravan was repainted toLennon’s far out designs after he boughtit for his son Julian’s fourth birthday, in1967. It was actually used by Lennon andhis first wife Cynthia for holidays.Ringo Starr acquired it after Lennon’sassassination. He put it in the shed at hisSurrey home and promptly forgot about it.Now rediscovered, there are plans torestore the van it and then auction it toraise money for charity.Glendambo SA 5710A popular stop on the Stuart Highway,600km north west of Adelaide,Glendambo has a small population,with a big sense of humour.Photo courtesy A. Haydenwww.highwaydreams.netToying with Caravans By Alan StevensLouis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer in business from 1919 to1978. Its products were often imprinted with the slogan, “One of the many Marx toys, haveyou all of them?”Founded in 1919 by Louis and his brother, they produced a very wide range of toys, firstin tinplate and later plastic. They even sold 100 million yoyos during the 1920’s. Marx andCos capacity to make cheaper toys than competitors actually saw its revenue grow duringthe Great Depression. At its peak, Marx had 3 manufacturing plants in the USA, but by1955 was manufacturing toys overseas as well. A variety of factors contributed to thedemise of Marx which saw its last factory close in 1980.Many toys are now very collectable, especially the early tinplate types. This LonesomePine house trailer is typical of the lithograph styled toys.Alan Stevens is an avid collector and caravan historian. He can be contacted atwww.vintagecaravanhire.com.auHave you seen a funny sign whileroaming Australia? Send us a pic:info@timetoroam.com.auIssue 03 June/July 2013 51

TRADES & SERVICESCARAVAN & CAMPER HIREHOLIDAY PARKSGrey GumLodge0439 348 988info@familymotorhomes.com.auwww.familymotorhomes.com.au6/27 Huntington St, Clontarf QLD 4019Ph 07 3283 1216 Mob 0407 813 013www.brettscampercare.com.auFind us on FacebookCaravan and RV friendly(two spaces available).Pet friendly on application.www.greygumlodge.comstay@greygumlodge.com02 6689 17130408 663 4752 High Street NimbinTRADES & SERVICESserViceeXcellence inKombi HireLiving the dream… a seriously stylish, fun ride0414 182 442 enquiries@kombicelebrations.com.auKombicelebrations.com.auAdvertise here for as little as$130 per edition.Ph 02 9316 4168 or emailinfo@timetoroam.com.au and one ofour Sales Team will be in touch.TRADES & SERVICESALL NATURAL VET CAREConventional & Natural Medicine,Acupuncture & Chiropractic,Chinese & Herbal Medicine,Surgery, Imaging & Dentistry292 Lyons Road, Russell Lea, 204602 9712 5844 | www.naturalvet.com.auFor all your RVand Marine Gearwww.arnoldsboatshop.com.ausales@arnoldsboatshop.com.auPh 1300 276 65352 www.timetoroam.com.au

TRADES & SERVICESHOLIDAY PARKSPRODUCTSAustralia'sB.E.S.TṚV INLINEWater FilterB.E.S.T. is... Bacteria Eliminating Silver Treatment$110STILL Only...Plus P&H• Back-Flushable• Kills Bacteria• Great Taste-Removes Chemicals• Long Life - Outlastsall other filters.• DIY Installation• 1 micron rated tostop Giardia &Crypto.• Purifies & sterilisesas you fill yourtanks."Its the SilverSafe ®that sets the B.E.S.T. WaterFilters apart from the rest."C&M MagazineClean, safe water...wherever the road may take you...B.E.S.T. Water Filterswww.bestwaterfilters.com.au 1800 240 8220428 240 822 info@bestwaterfilters.com.auBuy direct from the manufacturer or see our website for stockists. .*NOTE* Prices quoted are current at the time of publication and are subject tochange without notification.PRODUCTSPerfect for• Caravans• Motorhomes• Camping Kits• Boats• Picnic BasketsAn innovative solution to safely storeyour Wine & Champagne Glasses orBottles whilst travelling...For Your Home Away From HomeSoaps Skin Care Home Fragrances ComfortSecure shop online www.calenluca.com.auAvAilABle inRed • White • Blackwww.jackandjane.com.auDiamond Food Vacuum Sealer– is light and takes up no space. Powered on240v or 6 x AA batteries. The bags are reusableup to 100 uses per bag. Diamond Vacuumsealer stops all food waste and doubles food life!Excellent for travelling and compact. Great forfreezing any food. The reusable bags are simplywashed in soapy water and towel dried.Only $95.00.The bags come in packets of 10.Small 21 x 22cm, 26 x 28cm, 30 x 34cmat $15.00 per pack.Phone or order online:www.diamondmarketing.net.auor phone or email Kylie: 0405 347 194diamondgardentools@gmail.comIssue 03 June/July 2013 53

WHAT’S ONNIMAs Darwin AmphitheatreACTRuns to October 13Glorious Days: Australia 1913, NationalMuseum of AustraliaA nostalgia-filled exhibition exploringthe fashion, cars, design and ideas thatexpressed the nation’s dreams in the yearCanberra was founded. It features vehicles,photographs and newsreel footage toimmerse you in Australian life as it was100 years ago. Info: www.nma.comJune 21 to July 28Canberra and Capital Region TruffleFestivalLearn from celebrity chefs and other truffleexperts. Join a truffle hunt or simply indulgein the special flavours and intoxicatingaromas of the truffle dishes at localrestaurants, cafes and wineries.Info: www.trufflefestival.com.auAugust 1 to 31Fireside FestivalThe Fireside Festival is a series of eventscelebrating winter, including degustationdinners, wine tastings, performances,special exhibitions. The festival takesplace in regional venues across Yass, Hall,Murrumbateman, Bungendore and theCanberra region.Info: www.firesidefestival.com.auSplendour in the GrassNSWJune 30Whale Census Day, Booderee National ParkThe ruins of Cape St George Lighthouse onthe south head of Jervis Bay is the venue forthis event, counting Humpback and SouthernRight whales as they begin their northernmigration to warmer waters. Look forwhales while enjoying damper, billy tea andcultural stories from Aboriginal traditionalowners. Info: www.booderee.gov.auJuly 6International Tartan Day, Maclean andAberdeenIt’s a great day to be Scottish and NSWScottish Heritage Week concludes withtraditional Highland Games in the Huntertown of Aberdeen. Maclean on theClarence also celebrates InternationalTartan Day with the Kirkin ‘O’ the Tartan– an old tradition where the Scots havetheir tartans blessed.Info: www.aberdeenhighlandgames.comJuly 26-28Splendour in the Grass, Byron BayKnown as the ‘holy grail of campingfestivals’, Splendour in the Grass isAustralia’s most popular mid-winterfestival. More than 70 big names in localand international alternative rock and indiemusic head to Byron to perform for 18,000people at the three day festival.Info: www.splendourinthegrass.comNTJuly 7Darwin Beer Can RegattaThe Lions Beer Can Regatta is one of thosegreat NT traditions and a spectacular showfor visitors who line Mindil Beach, cheeringas the home made boats of cans wallow,flounder and sink. The fleet includes allkinds of boats; some with secret weaponry.Info: www.beercanregatta.org.au54 www.timetoroam.com.au

National Caravan & Camping ShowsCoffs Coast 4WD, Caravan,Camping & Boat Show16 - 17 June . Coffs Harbour Racing Clubwww.grimmopromotions.com.au/4wd/Rockhampton Hunt, Fish, 4WD Show.19 – 21 July. Rockhampton Showgroundswww.campingshow.com.auMidyear Caravan, Camping, Boating &Fishing Expo Parklands,26 - 28 July. Southport, Gold Coastwww.australianevents.com.auMid North Coast Caravan, Camping, 4WD,Fish & Boat Show,9 - 11 August. Wauchope Showgroundswww.campingshow.com.auBorder RV & Camping ExpoAugust 16-18, Wodonga RacecourceInfo www.ciavic.com.auWide Bay & Fraser Coast Home Show& Caravan, Camping Expo16 - 18 AugustMaryborough Showgroundswww.australianevents.com.auJuly 13Lasseters Camel Cup, Alice SpringsThe Lasseters Camel Cup is a race like noother. Come along to watch the race andhave a good laugh. It’s guaranteed no tworaces are the same and there’s plenty ofentertainment and interaction betweenraces. Info: www.camelcup.com.au17 AugustHenley-on-Todd Regatta , Alice SpringsNow in its 51st year, the Henley-on-ToddRegatta is one of the world’s most uniquesporting events – a ‘regatta’ 1500km fromthe nearest large body of water. Watchseemingly sane people race in bottomlessmakeshift boats through the deep coarsesand of the Todd River.Info: www.henleyontodd.com.auAugust 8-25Darwin FestivalLocal and touring performers featurein events including outdoor concerts,workshops, theatre, dance music, comedyand cabaret, film and visual arts. A highlightincludes National Indigenous Music Awardson Saturday August 10, this year celebratingthe musical legacy of Yothu Yindi.Info: www.darwinfestival.org.auAugust 9-11Darwin Aboriginal Art FairA unique opportunity to purchase worksat affordable prices from over 40Aboriginal owned community art centres.Experience the rich diversity of thesebeautiful works from the country’s mostremote desert and coastal regions torural and urban communities.Info: www.darwinaboriginalartfair.com.auQUEENSLANDJune 22 – 23Laura Aboriginal Dance FestivalA biennial gathering in Cape York Peninsula,highlighting the many diverse Communities,language, song, dance and stories. Over5,000 people travel to Laura from acrossthe nation to enjoy this Festival for threedays, with up to 500 traditional performersparticipating in the program.Info: www.lauradancefestival.comAugust 16-18Cairns Indigenous Art FairA celebration of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander art, dance and music. Itis the nation’s premier art fair, with bothcommercial art galleries and Indigenousart centres selling artwork by Queenslandborn or based Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander artists. Info: www.ciaf.com.auJuly 26 – August 3Australian Festival of Chamber Music,TownsvilleThe Festival of Chamber Music is heldover 10 days each year and has an enviableglobal reputation for the quality of itsprogramming. The Festival is a happymeeting place for locals and visitors, whoenjoy the opportunity to hear and meetinternational musicians in a wonderfullyinviting tropical winter setting.Info: www.afcm.com.auSOUTH AUSTRALIAAugust 17-18Barossa Gourmet WeekendLess than an hour’s drive north fromAdelaide, the Barossa Gourmet Weekend isa celebration of the region’s world famousfood and wine. The event involves over 20wineries offering fabulous food, wines andlive entertainment. Info: www.barossa.com/what-s-on/barossa-gourmet-weekendTASMANIAJune 22-24Tastings at the Top, Cradle MountainTastings at the Top is a three day gourmetextravaganza celebrating the very best inTasmanian produce. It includes degustationdinners, cooking demonstrations anddecadent spa treatments at the famousWaldheim Alpine Spa.Info: www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au/food-wine/tastings-at-the-top/WESTERN AUSTRALIAJuly 11Mowanjum Festival, DerbyThe Mowanjum Festival near Derby boaststhe title of Western Australia’s largestIndigenous performance featuring morethan 100 artists. Celebrating the richheritage and culture of the Worrorra,Ngarinyin and Wunumbal peoples of theWest Kimberley, the festival also featuresboab nut carving, Didgeridoo playingworkshops and Wandjina art.Info: http://www.derbyboabfestival.org.auVICTORIAto Sept 8Melbourne Winter Masterpieces, NationalGallery of VictoriaThe exhibition features more than sixtyworks from the Musée Marmottan Monet,Paris, devoted to Claude Monet’s iconicgarden at Giverny. It traces the evolution ofhis painting and presents a series of rarelyseen late works by Monet.Info: www.ngv.vic.gov.auIssue 03 June/July 2013 55

Andrew Mcfarlane– camping started out as achild droverANDREW HAS BEEN A STAR OF AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION SINCEHE FIRST APPEARED IN THE ACTION-PACKED DETECTIVE SERIESHOMICIDE IN 1972.He became a household name thanksto his role as eldest son John in the hitseries The Sullivans. The show was onair for seven years, although Andrewstayed for only the first 18 months on theseries. The fact he’s so well rememberedis testament to both his great acting andhandsome looks – TV Week dubbed hime‘The Housewive’s Favorite’. It probablyalso had to do with the fact John Sullivandisappearance at the height of World WarTwo, keeping viewers hanging on for goodnews for many years. The Sullivans wentglobal and even now, 30 years on, TheSullivans is about to be shown dubbed inGerman and show on cable TV there.Andrew’s other TV credits include PatrolBoat, The Flying Doctors, Water Rats, BlueHeelers, Home & Away, Neighbours, TheAlice, and Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.The NIDA graduate has been a regularpresenter on PlaySchool for the ABC and iscurrently filming a new drama series to beshown on Foxtel in early 2014.On top of his success in numeroustelemovies and miniseries the hard-workingactor has also won acclaim in regular roleson the stages of every state theatre companyin Australia. Now he’s sharing his experienceand love of drama with a new generationof actors as the course director at a majorSydney theatre school.Did you go for camping or caravan holidayswhen you were young?We didn’t really do the camping/caravanning thing when I was little. I grew upin a small country town in W.A. right on thecoast and surrounded by bush, so I guess ourholidays were spent right where we were!When we moved to Brisbane however,we did do some pretty long trips back toAdelaide where my grandparents lived. It wasthe 1960s and dad drove a massive powderblue Chevrolet…he would stash a makeshifttarpaulin and some groundsheets and rigup a sort of tent/lean-to attached to the carwhere we would put down swags for myparents, while my sister and I slept on theback seat.I think that all came to a stop after one tripwhen dad had filled the billy with water froma nearby creek and after dinner, when shetook the dishes down to wash, mum found adead sheep in the water.56 www.timetoroam.com.au

out the back | peopleImage provided courtesy of Crawford Productions Pty Ltd.© 2013 Crawford Productions Pty Ltd.What was your favourite place to visitand why?Obviously that trip to the Outback wasa favourite memory; also bushwalking inthe Stirling Ranges and seeing acres ofwildflowers during my childhood in Albany.Also when I worked on the TV series TheAlice which we shot in Alice Springs, wewent to some truly beautiful locations andsaw some of the best sunrises and sunsetsDo you have camping tips? Must dosand don’ts?Tip 1: if camped by a creek always checkthat the water is running and clear if you aregoing to boil water for tea. Also check thatthere are no dead sheep in it.Do you still like to get out and exploreAustralia? If so, what locations are on yourwish list?I love the Australian landscape and I tryto get out in it as much as possible. I had agreat campervan holiday in the southwestWA a few years ago. Revisited Albany whereI was born and drove through the Karriforests and into the Margaret River area,staying in campsites and caravan parksalong the way.I want to hike in the Flinders Ranges, revisitbeautiful Tasmania (and the FreycinetPeninsular and Bay of Fires ) and get to theTiwi Islands – some day.TIME TO ROAM SUBSCRIPTIONS❏ Yes, I would like to subscribe to Time to Roam Australia magazinePlease send me Six bi-monthly editions for $38.50 (delivery within Australia)or $80 (outside Australia) inc GST.Please charge my: ❏ Mastercard ❏ Visa Total Amount $............................Cardholders Name …………………………………… Signature ………………………………..Card No.Exp Date ….…/…….. CVCAlso order through email info@timetoroam.com.au and pay via EFT.Account Title: Time to Roam Australia PTY LTDBSB: 0622 00 Account: 1034 0230Or send a cheque/money order to:Time to Roam Australia 10 Dover Rd Botany NSW 2019Name ……………………………………………………….Address …………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………..State ……………………… Post Code ……………..Telephone …………………………………………………My cheque/money order for $38.50 is enclosedpayable to Time to Roam Australia Pty Ltd.Issue 03 June/July 2013 57

out the back | petsCampsite doggydos and don’tsKelly ZammitTravelling with your dog canmake your getaway even moreenjoyable as you get to seethe world through their eyes,experience their excitement, plusyou don’t have to miss them whileyou’re away!KELLY ZAMMIT has some tips tomake your trip easier and morerelaxing for all.DO• Make sure your dog’s microchippingdetails are current as it will be hard forhim or her to find their way home if theygets lost. It’s also a good idea to put acollar on with an identification tag listingyour mobile number.• Update your dog’s flea and wormingtreatment, and find out whether youare travelling to an area where tickprevention is recommended.• Pack enough of your dog’s regular foodto last the whole trip plus a coupleof extra days in case of emergency.Otherwise you could end up buying petfood from the nearest convenience storethat may upset his gut. Diarrhoea orflatulence is definitely not what you wantwhen travelling in the car with your dog.• Invest in a good quality tether and leadfor your dog so that he can be containedto your camping area when you need himto be; for example when you are busycooking dinner and another dog walks by.• Find out the location and phone numberof the nearest vet to your campsite.• Pack a doggy first aid kit containingbandaging material, betadine, small nailscissors, tweezers, Rescue Remedy fortreating shock, probiotics for gut upsetsand antihistamines for insect bites.If your dog is on medication, make sureyou pack enough plus some extra justin case.• Keep your dog on lead in campinggrounds and always pick up waste anddispose of it in a bin. This may seemunnecessary in the bush, but dog poocontains nutrients such as phosphatesthat our Australian native plants do notlike; therefore. By leaving waste youcreate patches of soil where weeds willoutcompete the native plants.• Remember to pack a water and feedbowl; collapsible bowls are available.• Pack some of favourite toys.• Bring some of your dog’s own beddingbut make sure it is waterproof and hasenough padding to provide comfort if he’ssleeping on the ground.• Bring a few extra old towels, even ifyou’re not expecting your dog to get wet.DON’T• Let your dog bark as this will makeyou unpopular with your campingneighbours.• Let your dog forget his manners andinvestigate other people’s campsitesuninvited, particularly when they’recooking or eating dinner.• Feed your dog too many leftoversausages from the barbie as this cancause diarrhoea and at worst can lead toa serious case of pancreatitis.• Let your dog go wandering through thebush on his own as he may encountersome dangerous wildlife, or converselyhe could hurt a defenceless nativeanimal.• Forget to bring your dog’s warm coatfor those cold nights out in the open;another good investment for summercamping is a cooling vest to keep yourdog’s body temperature down andprevent heatstroke.If you keep these things in mind whentaking your dog away with you, it will makethe trip more enjoyable for all!Kelly Zammit is a veterinarian at AllNatural Pet Care, Russell Lea NSWwww.naturalvet.com.au58 www.timetoroam.com.au

Coronet, goingplaces since 1959‘Going placessince 1959’‘Going placessince 1959’‘Going placessince 1959’Visit our websiteto DOWNLOAD aCoronet Brochure.Top quality manufacturing standard,value for money and features galoreare what sets Coronet Caravansapart from the others.For a pleasant surprise call into oneof our dealers extensive caravandisplays, you won’t be disappointed.F4, 120 Canterbury RoadBayswater North VIC 3153Phone: 03 9761 5286e • sales@coronetcaravans.com.au w • www.coronetcaravans.com.au

Get 55 yearsof suspensionmanufacturingexperience underyour 4x4!Complete integrated suspensionsystems trusted by militaryorganisations, fleet and miningcorporations and 4x4 enthusiastsin 160 countries.IRONMAN 4X42 yearyear40,000IRON CLAD WARRANTYkm• Lift Kits• Load Support• Comfort Solutions• Durability• Ride & HandlingProducts available from over 800 stores Australia wideFor your nearest distributor call 1300 731 137www.ironman4x4.comFIND US ONFind us on Facebofacebook.com/Ironman4