Hello members. I thought that I would send an article about our current trip to the warm north of Australia.
I know that many of you escape the cold weather down south each year and you have your RVs packed and on the road by June. Well, you may be interested in some of the data that I have just found and perhaps help others to understand what is happening in Australia now.
As of June 2023, there are now just over 800,000 registered RVs in Australia. This is a 42% increase since 2011. Since 2019 those travelling in caravans or motor homes has increased by 24%. COVID certainly has helped push the numbers because of people not travelling overseas.
But now there seems no decline in grey nomads on the road. People are still staying in this country to travel. One must ask WHY.
Well, many have finally realised that there is as much beauty to see in this country as anywhere in the world. No airports to waste time with, no health restrictions, everyone speaks English etc. etc. So, can the NORTH cope?
In 2021 the Caravan Industry association stated that there was 60,000 RVs on the road at any given time. 2023 has already seen a significant increase on that number.
A few examples……Kununurra has a population of around 4,000. As of today, 9,000 are in the town. Bookings for van sites need to be made before you get there. Grocery lines at Coles are empty by mid-afternoon. Trucks cannot keep up with the demand. Along with fuel queues of up to 8 vehicles deep waiting to fill up. Roadside parking bays start to fill up by 2 in the afternoon so that they have a spot to stay. Riverside or creek parking bays can have up to 100 vehicles overnight. Truck operators have been very vocal about RVs stopping in truck bays as there has been nowhere for the road trains to pull in.
Another new fact is that there are many younger families travelling around Australia than before. The “YouTuber’s” have the flash rigs and are on the road for 12 months and the kids are on remote learning. So, it’s not just 55 and over. You name the age group, and they are on the wallaby.
And here is a final thought…. it is now documented that this exodus from the south each year and the fact that more and more people are permanently travelling this great land, is the biggest movement of people in Australian history. Exceeding the movement of troops in the 1940’s and exceeding the movement of people in the 1800’s with the gold rush. A movement of biblical proportions.
And yes, Desiree and I have joined the great exodus north!
Enjoying the drive.
Warren
