While there is no doubt that the freedom of the open road is becoming an irresistible temptation to an ever-greater number of people – particularly following the Covid-induced travel restrictions of the previous few years – it is notoriously difficult to put an accurate figure on the number of people out there ‘living the dream’.
Of course, the number fluctuates significantly depending on the time of year and perhaps on particular economic circumstances … such as the price of fuel.
For that reason, taking a snapshot at a given point in time – while interesting – does not necessarily present a comprehensive understanding of what is actually going on.
Nonetheless, the five-yearly Census offers the best insight on offer as to just how many people are living on the open road.
Nearly 60,000 people were calling a caravan home on Census night. PIC: Matheus Bertelli / Pexels
The normal caveats about reading too much into data from one particular night are magnified in importance by the fact that the most recent Census was conducted last August … when Covid restrictions were still very much part of life in many parts of the country.
The data recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that, on Census night, a total of 58,155 were sleeping in caravans in this country.
Unfortunately, the figures aren’t broken down to show how many people are actually living and travelling in their vans as opposed to just taking a quick holiday. Nor does it show how many of those are in the grey nomad age category, or indeed people who may have been spending the night in a caravan not because they necessarily wanted to, but because their personal circumstances dictated they had nowhere else to stay.
However, all that notwithstanding, many industry figures see a clear trend.
Speaking on ABC radio, Caravan Industry Victoria CEO, Rob Lucas, said he was not surprised by the data … or that more people were choosing to be ‘free’.
“There’s no doubt that in the past two years the lifestyle of many people has meant that they have opted out of being a home owner and they’ve decided that caravanning and being on the road is a much greater lifestyle for them,” he said. “We’ve seen a very, very big change in people’s behaviours towards how they use their caravans.”
What is not clear though is to what extent Covid has distorted the data, and whether the caravanning trend will continue to surge by the time the next Census rolls around … or whether people will instead be heading to the airports in big numbers again.
Been on the road for 12 years and the amount of travellers has dramatically increased. One that stands out this year is the amount of children who are being taught on the road.
A couple of years ago there were over 500,000 RV vehicles registered …this would potentially include camper trailers too … but caravan sales have surged during covid. Its not just grey nomads on the road travelling … more families are opting for life on the road and working or travelling between working. More kids having better lifestyle, limited technology time and being home schooled.
Yes same as Joe,been on the road about 14 years and yes noticed a very big increase in people on the road.Seems to be for a lot of different reasons,the cost of home ownership proberly the main reason apart from the fact it is nearly impossible to insure a house if you live within cooee of a water course.The stopping of overseas travel the next..But then the last where people have seen the light and realised just how much there is to see in our own country,how great it is caravaning and how much kids go ahead with the education they get on the road.We have only one regret and that is we didnt start 10 years earlier.
Where are all these travellers going to live when they can no longer physically travel ? I think the number is greater as many live on family or friends properties but do not nominate that they are actually living in a van or RV. Planning for a quality future!
Ive told my kids to buy the biggest Yeti cooler they can find and bury me in that. Ha Ha
What about all the people in tents, camper trailers and camper vans? We did our big lap 5 years ago without booking ahead. I wouldn’t do that now. Australia needs many more free camps and facilities for travellers.
The elephant in the room is the cost of a caravan park/s .The freedom of the road and the amazing view is one thing but being able to park without it breaking the bank is another. It is reasonable that the majority of travelers in all configurations of vehicles will at times pay for a caravan park. What i hold what is missed is that when travelers are not paying for a camp site they are spending the funds in the county/ regional towns. They are not banking it they are distributing, the Fed gov needs to open more free camping.
The media says we are heading into a recession so I definitely believe that this number will increase substantially
For us, it’s knowing we won’t own our home in this lifetime. So we most well sell, buy a smaller property in the country, and live on the road in our camper trailer, debt free.