It’s on again. The great grey nomad migration north has begun, with sun-seeking caravanners and motorhomers starting to hitch up and head out as the mercury starts to dip in the southern states.
The Caravan Parks Association of Queensland says it already looks like being another bumper year for the industry.
“As the weather starts to cool down south, it is no surprise to see plenty of caravans and motorhomes on the roads making their way north,” said the organisation’s General Manager, Michelle Weston. “It looks like it is going to be a great season this year, with many parks advising us they have already received plenty of bookings for winter.”
And it’s not just the van parks that will be busy.
The Outback Queensland Tourism Association says it is also expecting free camping areas to be very popular.
“We had large amounts of rain in the region in March which has really greened up some areas of the Outback,” said the Association’s Digital Content & Research Co-ordinator, Sally Bird. “This will be a great sight to see … and not all that common.”
Of course, with large amounts of travellers out on the road, and with so many caravan rollovers being reported in recent months, safety is top of mind for many. Driving in unfamiliar country in a big rig is, of course, challenging at the best of times and caravanners and motorhomers quickly learn to expect the unexpected.
Wildlife, livestock, changing road and weather conditions, and road trains, are just some of the hazards drivers face. While a sudden gust of wind, or a hidden pothole, or the crazy actions of another road user can cause the most qualified driver to crash, preparation and increased awareness can make a difference.
While some motorists may get occasionally impatient with relatively slow-moving grey nomads, long-term travellers can increasingly be assured of a warm welcome when they pull into a country community that might have been doing it tough. The economies of rural towns commonly rely on grey nomads spending money on fuel, groceries, alcohol and other supplies … and so they are seeking ways to persuade travellers to linger longer.
Many places have reported a trend towards people staying longer in one spot, often for several months.
Jerry Marks is one traveller who has learnt to enjoy the simple pleasures.
“I’ve been around the block a few times now and I don’t feel quite the same urge to rush here and there and see absolutely everything again,” he said. “If I can find a nice place with guaranteed sunshine for the southern winter, I’m quite happy to stay put, read a book or 50, make new friends, share a joke, and just potter about … heaven.”
They are awful on the roads.going over the Black Spurr in victoria a couple of months ago was a nightmare..the caravan had ample room to pull over in parking.bays made for that even signs but no, this silly old man drove at 20 ks….held up over 7 cars for the trip.A danger on the roads.Its not young drivets its silly old drivers who because of age think they have the right..im 72 and no dont. we should be respectful of other road users.
sounds like you have no tolerance for drivers who are not as adept as you are at driving. You need to show that you are tolerant to all road users in general. Years of driving trucks has taught me that people liked you are the ones who cause accidents, because of your ; have to be there at all costs’ attkitude
Sorry it took so long out of your very busy schedule. It must be so bad in your life that 5 or 10 minutes out of your day causes you so much stress
Sorry to hear your life has been ruined by people in their twilight years. You might be lucky to get to that age and then you can piss people off by driving slow and enmoyi g life.
Well said. Love it. We are about to join the Grey nomads. I might piss a few people off myself ha ha!
We’re planning to get out to Longreach. We’re grom Brisbane and have taken a leisurely 2 weeks to get to Kinka Beach.
Take fly repellant and pepare for grasshoppers. Millions of both one week ago.
If your going West then take plenty of cash cause WA stands for want all your aussie $ very expensive and second rate need to take a look at Tassie to see how good they look after the RV community pity its so cold at the moment.
I have almost completed my preparations to begin my trip North for the Cooktown Captain Cook Festival in June.
look out here I come, just bought a new van and looking at newish vehicle. done it before but hate the vic winter. 3maybe 4 months end up at Birdsville races as a volunteer. good luck all.