Budding ‘Roamers’ can learn more about this emerging lifestyle at the Gold Coast’s biggest caravan, camping and outdoor event taking place at Heritage Bank Stadium this weekend.
Sparked by the pandemic fuelling unprecedented popularity in the caravan and camping sector, an increasing
number of Aussie families are hitting the road and ditching the traditional classroom for the caravan ‘School of Life’.
And nowhere is this more popular than among Queenslanders, who continue to lead the charge nationally, with the highest number of registered recreational vehicles across the country (201,477), followed by Victoria (185,507) and New South Wales (182,764)¹.
Jason Plant, CEO of Caravan Trade and Industries Association of Queensland comments that the growth in the sector has certainly been fuelled by the increasing number of Aussies (and Queenslanders) who have opted to pack up and hit the road for extended periods of time.
“Even before Covid-19, we started to see a growing trend of families taking their kids out of school, to home school from the road so they could explore the country while gaining valuable life skills.
“And that trend shows no sign of slowing down as more and more young families opt to forgoe the traditional classroom, for the caravan school of life,” he adds.
Supporting this trend, Jon Dunkley from Sunseeker Caravans says they’ve have seen a significant increase in the number of family vans sold over past three years, a trend which is continuing to grow.
“Over the past 18 months demand for family-style vans has grown from 20% to 35% of our sales, with families wanting top of the line vans with more solar, battery and suspension.
“To accommodate this trend, we adapted our Desert Storm ATX van, which was previously only available for couples, and designed four family layouts to include bunk beds and enough living space to comfortably home school or work from anywhere,” he said.
Explore ‘Life on the Road’ at the Gold Coast Caravan & Outdoor Expo
Following these trends, and with a 77% increase in Google searches around Gold Coast caravan parks, it’s no surprise then that the 2023 Gold Coast Caravan & Outdoor Expo is back and bigger than ever.
According to Plant, the Expo is the perfect place for a new and seasoned ‘Cara-fans’ or budding ‘Roadschooling Roamers’ to plan their next big road trip or even just a weekend getaway.
The Expo will roll into Heritage Bank Stadium from this Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12, and will offer a one-stop-shop of the latest and greatest recreational vehicles, accessories, and modifications on offer, alongside educational seminars and daily demonstrations.
More than 125 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the largest range of recreational vehicles on the Gold Coast, from caravans, camper trailers, and motorhomes to tent trailers, campervans, tow vehicles and more, while sharing their expertise with anyone looking to learn more about the increasingly popular lifestyle. Popular sessions also include a weights and towing masterclass designed to educate travellers on all things towing and road safety.
Caravanning Queensland’s Gold Coast Caravan & Outdoor Expo will be setting up camp at Heritage Bank Stadium from this Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12.
Gates open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday.
The event is expected to be a sell out, so anyone interested in attending is urged to snap up their tickets as soon as possible.
- Date: Friday, March 10 – Sunday, March 12, 2023
- Time: Friday & Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm, Sunday 9.00am to 4pm
- Location: Heritage Bank Stadium, Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Carrara
¹Caravan and Camping State of Industry 2022
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Working from home… on wheels? Aussie families take work and school on the road
HOME. OFFICE. CLASSROOM. The Aussie caravan is no longer just for holidays.
Forget packing up the caravan to escape work and school, some Australians are taking both with them.
New figures released in 2026 show Queensland home education registrations have surged around 135 per cent since 2021, climbing from 5,008 to 11,800.
At the same time, Tourism Research Australia figures show 5 per cent of caravan and camping trips are now taken for business or employment purposes.
While the figures don’t reveal exactly how many Australians are simultaneously working, schooling and travelling from their caravans, they point to two significant shifts happening at the same time, and a lifestyle that is becoming increasingly possible.
Australian Events Managing Director Bob Carroll said technology had changed what packing up and hitting the road could look like.
“The caravan used to mean leaving work and school behind. Now, for some families, it can be the home, office and classroom all at once,” Mr Carroll said.
“If Mum and Dad can work remotely, the kids can continue their education and everyone can stay connected, suddenly the question becomes, why rush home?”
And the modern touring setup is changing with them.
Internet connectivity, solar power, battery systems, off-grid capability, storage and functional living spaces are increasingly part of the conversation alongside beds, kitchens and bathrooms.
For children learning while travelling, Australia itself can become part of the lesson.
History can be visited. Geography is outside the window. Math’s can be kilometers, fuel and the family travel budget.
“Technology is giving people the freedom to rethink what a road trip can be,” Mr Carroll said.
“For some Australians, it’s no longer about squeezing an adventure between work and school. It’s about finding ways for life and adventure to happen together.”
The Cleveland Caravan, Camping, Boating & 4×4 Expo will showcase more than 120 exhibitors across caravans, campers, 4×4, boating, camping equipment, technology, accessories and touring gear, giving visitors plenty of inspiration for wherever life on the road might take them.
