iMotorhome Magazine Issue 99 - 16 Jul 2016

iMotorhome

magazine

Issue 99: Jul 16 2016

Burleigh

Heads!

Win!

$50 for the! best letter

Trans-Africa!

Pt 2 of Collyn Rivers’ epic 1960s adventure

Project Polly Tap dancing…

Cloud Spotter?

Know your clouds!

Winnebago’s Burleigh heads your way on the new Iveco Daily…

OUR 2016 RELEASE

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About iMotorhome | 3

iMotorhome eMagazine is published twice monthly and available by free subscription from www.imotorhome.com.au.

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Contributors Emily Barker, Sharon Hollamby and Allan Whiting

Published by iMotorhome PO Box 1738, Bowral.

NSW 2776. Australia.

Design and Production

ABN: 34 142 547 719

Agnes Nielsen

T: +614 14 604 368

E: agnes@imotorhome.com.au

Design & Production Manager

E: info@imotorhome.com.au W: www.imotorhome.com.au Editorial Publisher/Managing Editor

Advertising Sales & Marketing Business Development Manager This could be you! Interested?

Contact us on richard@imotorhome.com.au

Richard Robertson T: 0414 604 368

Legal

E: richard@imotorhome.com.au

All content of iMotorhome eMagazine and website is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content, however no responsibility is accepted for any inconvenience and/or loss arising from reading and/or acting upon information contained within iMotorhome eMagazine or the iMotorhome website.

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On my mind | 5

VIVE LE JULY! July here on the Southern Highlands of NSW is cold. We’ve had some -5ºC nights, some days struggling to reach +5ºC and many days with winds gusting over 80 km/h and windchill factors south of -8ºC in the middle of the day. We’ve also had a couple of light dustings of snow this year, though nothing to rival the 5 to 6 inch dump last winter brought.

But July has its compensations. Roaring fires, a warming bottle of red with dinner and, when work’s done, the Tour de France live on TV. It’s really my kind of late night heaven (even if the following mornings are a little hellish).

If you’ve watched any of this epic event, even just the news highlights, you’d be hard pressed to miss masses of motorhomes lining the race stages. Up mountains, through villages and down valleys, thousands of motorhomes seem to line the route. And I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a single caravan, although from now I’ll start looking in earnest.

The spectacle got me thinking (again) about why motorhoming is so successful in France, Europe and the UK, generally. Indeed motorhoming is probably more successful in every other Western country compared to Australia. But why?

Distance probably has a lot to do with it. Firstly, the distances we have to cover to get between interesting places. This puts a lot of kilometres on vehicles that require expensive mechanical servicing and also can affect resale value if too high. By comparison, a caravan could travel the same distance with minimal servicing and no apparent effect on resale. Secondly, the distance required to ship the base vehicles from Europe, where almost all are made. That costs, as does compliance with our increasingly pointless and isolated Australian Design Rules, and all such costs are passed on to buyers.

Europeans have also long been used to making the most of space because for every square metre of it there are a lot of them! Unless cruising the motorways, roads tend to be narrow and towns ill-equipped to handle long vehicles like cars with caravans that require extra space to park and manoeuvre. The narrow roads and small towns also get very busy in peak season – like when the Tour is on – making ease of manoeuvring all the more important. Also, distances are much shorter and wherever you go there seems to be something scenic/historic/interesting to look at, so overall mileage and running costs are lower. It’s really a no-brainer that motorhomes rule, while caravans are basically relegated to stop-and-stay holidays.

New Zealand is much like Europe, with the same narrow roads and shorter travel distances, plus limited manoeuvring space in many locations. That helps explain why across the ditch motorhomes outnumber caravans something like three or four to one. By comparison, in Australia new caravans outsold new motorhomes by more than 20:1 last year and the trend shows no signs of abating.

So back to the Tour! If you want to see what motorhome heaven looks like, sit yourself down one night soon (before 24 July), tune in to SBS at 10:00 pm and after the initial chat and inevitable French cooking segment, enjoy the race. Even if you’re not into cycling the scenery from the helicopters is a spectacle to behold and you’ll see more motorhome eye candy in one night than any Australian RV show. Viva la Tour, la July and la motorhomes! No wonder I can’t wait for next winter…

Richard

6 | Contents

3

About Us

9

Resources

Who we are, where and other legal stuff

Find back issues and more on our website

5

On my Mind

11

On your Mind

28

Marketplace

Vive Le July!

Share your thoughts for the chance to win $50!

16

News

32

Day Test: Winnebago Burleigh CL

48

Project Polly

54

Travel

64

Mobile Tech

68

What’s On?

75

Advertisers' Index

What’s happening in the wider RV world and beyond

The latest Marketplace offers

Winnebago’s first model on the Iveco Daily is an important one…

Tap Dancing – and nearly back on the road!

Collyn Rivers’ Trans-Africa - Pt 2

62

Technical Gas locker legalities

An app for cloud spotters!

What’s on around Australia over the next three months…

An A to Z of who’s in this issue!

76

Next Issue What’s coming up and which shows are on soon!

EVENTS

Crack the whip! iMotorhome Join the Vans from Snowy River!

There’ll be movement on the driveways now the word is getting ‘round that the next big iM weekend’s underway.

Come and join the celebrations – it won’t cost a thousand pounds, but long will you remember the great days.

There’ll be tried and noted recipes from places near and far and we’ll muster round the campsite for three nights.

We’ve booked restaurant and winery, historic tour and more, so the inclusions sure will fill you with delight!

This October 28-31 iMotorhome invites you to come and experience Dalgety. The only NSW town on the famous Snowy River, Dalgety was the original site chosen to become Australia’s National Capital. Now a sleepy riverside town on the granite-studded Monaro Plains, we’ve arranged a weekend of fun, food and festivities you’ll never forget.

Home for your three nights is the cosy Snowy River Holiday Park, nestled on the banks of the Town’s famous river. Owners Sue and Colin get things going Friday night with a welcome barbecue hosted by the local cricket team – Colin’s own – in the nearby CWA Hall. It’s you chance to meet and get to know the iMotorhome team, your fellow travellers and some locals as you settle in for the weekend’s fun.

Saturday morning you’ll wake to the smell of bacon and egg rolls and coffee. Then you’re off on a guided historic walk that will help bring Dalgety’s story to life. There’s also a video on the mighty Snowy River and its story.

Saturday afternoon you’re free to explore – maybe try trout fishing or watch for platypus when the sun goes down – before dinner across the road at the historic Buckely’s Crossing Hotel. We’ve booked the old dining room where new owners Deb and Sharon promise to put on a three course dinner of country proportions, so come prepared!

Sunday morning there’s time to sleep in – but not too long – because have we got a day for you: We’ve booked out the Snowy Vineyard and Microbrewery! Buses take the worry out of driving and host Wayne will take you through an informed and adventurous tasting of more than a dozen craft beers, flavoured schnapps and excellent cold-climate wines. There’ll be nibbles along the way plus a brewery and winery tour, then a memorable buffet lunch prepared by their accomplished chef. But wait, there’s more: We’ve booked The Barstars – including Gunther Gorman (Daddy Cool and Sherbet) and Dave Twohill (Mental As Anything, Dragon and Men At Work – to rock your afternoon! Perched on a hilltop with Snowy River and Mountain views, you’ll enjoy fine food and boutique ‘refreshments’ to the sounds of some of Australia’s classic rock musicians on what will be an exclusive and genuinely unforgettable long afternoon!

Monday it’s a farewell bacon-and-egg roll breakfast and the chance to swap contacts before heading home or where ever the road might lead you.

You’ll never forget Dalgety – or the weekend you were one of the Vans from Snowy River!

What:

The Vans from Snowy River!

When: 28-31 October 2016 Where: Dalgety, NSW What’s included: • 3 night’s un-powered camping at Snowy River Holiday Park • Friday night welcome barbecue dinner hosted by the cricket team • Saturday morning bacon & egg roll breakfast with juice/tea/coffee • Saturday morning guided historic Dalgety walking tour & video show • Saturday night three-course pub dinner • Sunday lunch at the Snowy Vineyard & Microbrewery including • Return bus transfers so you’re free to enjoy the day!

• Craft beer, flavoured schnapps and cold-climate wine tasting, with nibbles • Exclusive brewery and winery tour • Leisurely buffet lunch • Live music by the Barstars • Monday morning farewell bacon & egg roll breakfast with juice/tea/coffee What’s it Cost? $229 per person What’s Extra?

$35 per site for power

Bookings: Numbers are strictly limited and it’s first-in best-dressed.

Email dalgety@imotorhome.com.au for a booking form. A nonrefundable $25 per-person deposit is required within 7 days of booking confirmation.

Resources | 9 resources

iMotorhome

Magazine Resources Just click any of the links below!

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Back Issues

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Marketplace

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iMotorhome

90: Mar 05 2016 magazine

Issue

Time Traveller!

Malcolm samples Bürstner’s stylish Ixeo Time IT 726G…

Win!

$50 for the best letter!

Project Polly

Webasto heater installation!

Travel…

A quick dash to Melbourne and back

TechTalk!

Keeping your gas cooker in top condition…

Reader Survey

Reader Review

Best Seat in the House.

Our Switch Mode Bathroom offers a room with a view... trakka.com.au

On your mind | 11

Win $50 for the best letter!

It’s only fitting that since Ed has his say in On My Mind, you should be able to have yours too.

If you have anything to say – or ask – just drop a line to letters@imotorhome.com.au and

we’ll share it with our readers. We’ll also reward the most interesting, useful or thoughtful letter each issue with $50 to help you on your way.

Bottler!

I make the onboard water supply last longer and bypass doubtful sources by taking filtered drinking water from home in thoroughly washed two litre plastic milk bottles. They fit perfectly in the motorhome fridge, one at a time as needed. Also, nine of them fit snugly into a “Nalley's cube” or similar plastic box under the motorhome bed or seats and being plastic they don’t rattle or break. They are much lighter to handle than large water containers and can be refilled easily via the motorhome filtered water tap, or potable water taps en route. I like to remove the labels to make the bottles look uniform!

Well that’s a clever idea Di, thanks for sharing.

Is there a trick to getting the milk containers thoroughly clean? Anyway, please accept this issue’s $50 for your bright idea!

Regards, Di.

Why don’t they…

If you had a section called “Why don’t they….”

I would add: Why don’t they have split covers for sinks and stoves? The usual suspects either fully cover the sink or hotplates to allow them to be used as extra bench area during meal prep, or else are hinged up so you can use the sink or cooker. But, oftentimes you

may only need to use the tap, with the sink purely as a drain, and could do this with only part of the sink uncovered. The remainder of the cover could continue to be used as work area. Similarly, sometimes you may want to only uncover and use one hotplate while still preparing the remainder of the meal and would continued...

12 | On your mind ...continued.

prefer to have part of the cover down to use as situations, like the sink. I’m not sure how they bench space. Seems a simple request to me, would go with a hotplate in operation and so why don’t they? other items very close by, however. That would depend on the shape of the cooker/ positioning Regards, Alan. of the hotplates, but it's certainly ‘food’ for thought. Thanks for sharing!

Cost is probably a consideration Alan, but I guess spilt covers would work in some

Tanks a lot…

Lovely to meet you and Mrs iMotorhome at Bathurst! I have been reading a lot about tanks for grey water but they mostly seem to be designed for vehicles with enough space under them for 90-plus litres of the grey stuff.

So what is the go for campervans and small motorhomes? An idea I have had (if there is some way to do it) would be to utilise a 'cassette' style of grey tank, similar to and possibly even just a modified version of a toilet cassette. This would be easy to carry to a disposal point, would not run the risk of splashing the grey water around while walking and would fit neatly under vehicle or in a locker area. Mind you, the Bathurst rally was in fact the only place I’ve stayed at throughout my five months travelling around the central west of NSW where grey water containment was required. Even caravan parks and showgrounds were asking us to let our tanks drain onto the ground (some requested a form of ‘strainer’) due to the dry weather, including at the Solo's Rally where there were over 300 units!

Cheers, Annie.

Lovely to also to meet you, Connor and Ciaran at Bathurst too! That’s an interesting question about the grey water tanks. There are a camper

vans that have them around 40 to 60 litres (Polly is 60 from memory) and I'm sure you could get them smaller if required, especially custom made. Re the portable tank, I thought that rang a bell. A quick search found a 40-litre beauty online for $63.96 plus postage ($9.68 to my location) at this website here. Check it out!

I think the CMCA has a blanket policy regarding grey water containment at rallies. I guess when there are upwards of 1000 motorhomes in one location it could get pretty messy/smelly over a week, especially if the ground was already wet.

14 | On your mind

Bonnet Bee

I have a bee in my bonnet regarding light bars and the fitting of them. The basic Qld ADR says they are not to be fitted to the top of bull bars, and also if they are visible from the driver’s position they are illegal. The fitting of them to the roof is OK provided they are in the front half of the vehicle, which makes their fitment to the bars in the tubs of dual cab vehicle also illegal.

having illegally fitted lights, nothing. Also, what does the fitting of illegal light bars do to your insurance? Are you covered or will the insurers refuse to pay as your vehicle is technically unroadworthy?

Regards, TL.

Fair comments and yes, it’s a minefield. Click here for an article from our technical guru Allan Whiting that you’ll find useful. It does My main beef though is the lack of direction surprise/dismay me that no State Transport from the Transport Department about their Department I’m aware of notifies motorists of fitting, which thousands are having fitted to 4x4s in illegal ways: It seems that every second road rule changes (except for occasional ad hoc advertising); instead placing the onus on 4x4 has them fitted on the top of the Bull Bar. users to remain compliant. Re insurance, that’s I was talking to a Queensland Police Highway a tricky question. I’d imagine it would depend Patrol Senior Sergeant who did not know the if the light bar was a contributing factor to the rules re the fitting atop bull bars. These are accident, or subsequent damage or injuries. the guys that are supposed to uphold the rules and they don’t know. Go a kilometre an hour over the speed limit and you’re gone, but

Thermometer uses In response to “On The Level” (Letters, Issue 98), I’ve used a point-and-shoot infrared thermometer for checking consistency of tyre temperatures on both my car and caravan, but stopped doing that when I purchased a set of tyre pressure monitors last year from Davies Craig Pty Ltd. These devices simply screw on to the tyre valve (after removing the dust caps of course), and monitor temperature and pressure then relay the information using its own wireless network to a display unit in the car. In my case I have 8 tyres being monitored but the system can accept up to 22. If

temperature or pressure goes above or below preset limits an alarm in the car is activated.

There is a locking device to prevent theft of the remote sensors from the wheels but they are fairly inconspicuous so I didn't bother fitting them. There might be an iMotorhome magazine article on that subject?

In all vehicles the most important link between you and the road is your tyres and to be prewarned if tyre pressure or temperature is out of the ordinary is information worth having, in my opinion. After all, the saying that prevention is ...continued.

On your mind | 15

...continued.

better than cure certainly applies in this case.

I'd much rather pull over and check a potential problem rather than struggle to control an RV with a tyre blowout. Thanks for your wonderful magazine. I thoroughly enjoy it.

Cheers, John.

Thanks John, very interesting indeed. Though certainly not as accurate as a tyre pressure

monitoring system (TPMS), nor operating in real time, an infrared thermometer used for even semi-regular tyre checks would still be better than eyeballing. Yes there are plans for a TPMS for Polly, I just haven’t got there yet. But you’re right about the importance of tyres, and given most problems start with a slow leak, a TPMS should be top of every RVer’s list.

Help!

My wife recently purchased a three wheel bike and we are having difficulty in storing it on our caravan. Are you aware of anyone who makes suitable bike carriers?

Any readers out there able to help with this one? Stay tuned, Peter.

Thanks, Peter.

Jumpers and Jazz?

Thanks once again, Richard, for an enjoyable afternoon/evening reading the latest issue of iMotorhome. I so look forward to it each fortnight! I did notice one thing that is missing in the events coming up – the Warwick Jumpers and Jazz in July – which is a 10 day festival commencing on 21July. This is a yearly festival of food and music, and where craft groups around the country apply to be able to ‘dress’ trees in their winter coats in the main streets with yarn. This is a yearly competition and the first time that the local yarn group that I am a member of has applied for and been successful with obtaining a tree. This is big news for our little Caloundra group – anyone venturing out to Warwick, our tree is outside Aldi!

During this festival you can enjoy lots of wonderful food whilst enjoying the soulful sounds of jazz and the delight of inspirational artwork on the trees. There are 152 events, including workshops to attend throughout the time. To find out more click here Cheers, Alana.

Thanks for the festival update Alana, sounds like quite a spectacle. Hope there’s still time for plenty of iMotorhome readers to plot a course to Warwick to view all your handiworks. Good luck and might the best tree win (and send us photos of yours)!

16 | News

WINTER SALE BARGAINS

T

he RV Sales Centre in Braybrook, Melbourne, has some winter specials if you’re quick, including Webasto diesel heaters for $1232.50 – a saving of 15%. The company can arrange delivery Australia-wide or install the heater on-site,along with a wide range of appliances and other accessories.

The RV Sales Centre is the first Australian outlet under this brand name, which is owned by manufacturing and rental conglomerate THL, and already well established in New Zealand. In addition to parts and service, the company offers late model ex-rental vehicles, including many two and three year-old units with much lower mileage than usual. The heater offer ends 18 July, but you can sign-

up for their newsletter which provides special member-only offers on a regular basis. To find out more click here.

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18 | News

RVGO! other RV brands all under one roof. Other services will include:

R

V repair and accessory specialist RVGO in Terry Hills, on Sydney’s North Shore, is expanding and proud to welcome Northshore Fiat Professional to its business. It says this new motorhome repair shop will be the only one of its kind in Australia, delivering genuine parts and service for Fiat, Jayco, Dometic, ALKO and many

• Smash repairs • Warranty repairs • Vehicle compliance • Motorhome service and repair • A full range of genuine and aftermarket accessories • Parts department and online shop • A-Frame towing • Plus many other professional services dedicated to the RV Industry.

To find out more visit the website here or call (02) 9986 2952

The Caravan & Motorhome Book the complete guide

Collyn Rivers

This constantly updated top-selling book covers every aspect of caravan, fifth wheeler, campervan & motor home electrical systems.

It combines rare technical accuracy with down-to-earth plain English writing. $42.50 plus $5.50 postage.

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This invaluable book shows how to build systems that do work - not just may work. And how to fix those that don’t. $42.50 plus $5.50 postage.

This (2016) totally new book covers every aspect of buying, building, modifying and enjoying camper trailers, caravans, fifth wheelers, slide-ons, motor homes, coach conversions and off-road vehicles. $42.50 plus $5.50 postage.

Discount: 10% off all books for any two or more!

caravanandmotorhomebooks.com P.O Box 356 Church Point, NSW 2105 Telephone: 02 9997 1052 (Africa DVD offer - $12.50 plus $3.50 post/packing - please order via post or telephone only.)

News | 19

BUNDABERG RV SUPERPARK

B

undaberg is progressing plans to build an RV Superpark in conjunction with the CMCA, through mayor Jack Dempsey.

Last year the CMCA established a similar park in Ingham, which it claims generates more than $1.5 million annually for the town's economy. Like the Ingham concept, the CMCA is searching for a land-lease agreement with a coast council to establish and manage the RVfriendly facility.

In his campaign to become mayor Jack Dempsey pledged to offer just that, at no cost to ratepayers, but with strong benefits to the economy. The proactive approach from Cr Dempsey has heartened CMCA state

representative Richard Mainey.

“We're working with Bundaberg Regional Council because we've had no luck on the Fraser Coast. We are just about to recommence negotiations on an RV park for Bundaberg but it's a long process”.

Mr Mainey said budget constraints were being worked through but the CMCA was hopeful the Rum City would become RV-friendly. In the campaign, Mr Dempsey said RVs were mostly self contained so there would be a minimal infrastructure cost to build a Superpark.

"We're missing out on millions of dollars and it would cost the ratepayers nothing,” the mayor said.

Join us for our 10th Festival!

1 & 2 October 2016 Featuring...

• Camp oven cooking • Bush Poetry • Market stalls • Damper throwing

DON’T MISS YOUR SPOT

Book your caravan site and tickets now!

• Live entertainment and demonstrations • Kids entertainment And much more!

Headline Performer

Sara Storer

Tickets available at the gate or online at acof.com.au

20 | News

THINK!

S

till in Bundaberg, an anonymous Grey Nomad received a well deserved parking ticket this week when he parked his large motorhome in a normal car-sized angle parking space and blocked one whole lane of the two lanes approaching an intersection. He was lucky the vehicle wasn’t towed away as a traffic hazard. Marked single car spaces in Australia are designed for vehicles a maximum of six metres in length and longer vehicles risk a fine if found in them. This is a particularly important rule to comply with in an angled parking situation as any overhang will likely block through traffic.

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New to our Range is the brilliant ‘live like a movie star’ Wirraway 260 SL, the latest in our 260 series; our EuroStyle 260 with it’s European styled interior and “The Motorhome of the Year”, the Wirraway 260.

Wirraway Motorhomes feature opulence, style and all the legendary design, electrical and construction innovations that are unique to all Wirraways.

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View Our New Website to view All Models, Download Brochures &Virtual RealityTours For details contact: Rob Tonkin - Wirraway Motorhomes, 6 Hynes Court, Mildura Vic 3500

Phone / Fax: (03) 50 230 230 - New Email: info@wirraway.com.au & New Website: www.wirraway.com.au On The Road Wirraway 260SL Slideout Motorhome - 2012 © Rex Willmer

22 | News

SUGRU? steamy hot shower, from the home to the great outdoors”.

S

ugru claims to be the world’s first mouldable glue that turns into rubber.

According to the website, “Our patented silicone technology is unique. Out of the pack, Sugru feels like play-dough, and it's that easy to use too. It bonds to almost any other material and cures just by exposing it to air. Its durable cured properties mean it'll stay strong and securely bonded anywhere from the freezer to a

An English invention, Sugru has a myriad of applications in the RV environment, from permanently patching 12 V electrical wires or plumbing leaks to shaping and making hooks for towels or rubbish bags. Indeed it appears the biggest limitation to what you can use it for is your imagination. It’s stable from -50ºC to +180ºC and has been used as engine coolant system gasket material and cooking pot handles, while being waterproof means it can patch awnings, shoes, or clothing as it still flexes once cured.

Sugru is only available online and comes in individual packs in black, white or a range of colours. To find out more visit the website here or click here to watch a short and informative video.

Webasto – your gas free solution for independent travelling

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Dual Top – Combination Heaters

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Thermo Top – Water Heaters

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Diesel Cook Top

High cooking power up to 1800 W No naked flame and no fumes Robust high quality Ceran® cooking surface

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Extensive range of Uprights and Drawers Available as DC Only or AC/DC Robust high quality with Danfoss Compressors

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Look beneath the surface to find the unique engineering and safety features that will put your mind at ease while travelling. Features such as the rollover bar, high strength alloy frame, composite body, pull-tested cabinetry, appliances and locks will become your priority once you realise they are missing from other mainstream construction methods.

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24 | News

WELL DONE!

T

he small town of Nabiac on the New South Wales Mid North Coast hosts an annual caravan, boat, fishing and 4WD show at its local showground. Despite its seemingly modest size, last year’s show was sufficiently successful to allow organisers

to donate $53,000 to local community and welfare groups. Sadly, this year’s show has been cancelled as showground upgrades have not been finished in time. However, organisers promise the show will return next year, on a date yet to be decided.

RELOCATION DEALS

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nline specialist imoova has a wide range of car, campervan and motorhome relocation deals currently available in Australia, New Zealand and America. Australian deals include Melbourne to Sydney or Alice Springs to Adelaide with $100 fuel, Cairns to Brisbane with $350 fuel and $100 towards expenses, plus Darwin to Broome with all fuel paid. In New Zealand, deals are available between Auckland

and Christchurch, Auckland and Queenstown and Queenstown and Christchurch, to name a few. Further afield Denver to Las Vegas is available with free fuel, Seattle to San Francisco comes with $250 of fuel, as does LA to San Francisco. Availability is limited and fast changing, so to find out more or to make a booking click here.

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News | 25

BUDGETING HELP

T

he Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has a broad range of online help, advice and tools to help make everything from budgeting to retirement planning easier. The Simple Money Manager is a tool that helps you see how much money you have coming in and going out. It’s all available in a range of community languages and has audio content to explain each category. To find it click here or to visit ASIC’ full MoneySmart website click here.

ACCIDENT HOTSPOTS

I

nsurer AAMI has urged travellers to be extra cautious near the town of Dingo in Central Queensland. It seems the town is Queensland’s number one location for accidents

involving wildlife, which is sadly ironic considering the name. In NSW the Queanbeyan district, just east of our National Capital, is the area to be on the lookout.

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26 | News

DOMESTIC TOURISM BOOMS the past year,” Caravan & Camping Industry Association (CCIA) NSW, CEO, Lyndel Gray said today.

A

ustralians are reconnecting with domestic holidays, with tourism forecasts showing the segment is growing fast and domestic visitor nights are set to grow solidly over the coming decade.

The figures, released by Tourism Research Australia (TRA), reflect strong growth in the caravan and camping sector, which in NSW has seen 16% growth in visitor nights in the past 12 months.

“With the lower Australian dollar and what we know is a growing nostalgia for the traditional caravan and camping holiday, it's no surprise these figures are reflecting what our members have seen in their businesses for

“Australians spent a massive 15.7 m visitor nights caravan and camping in NSW last year and this data suggests the demand will continue to grow. It also reveals that the holiday travel segment is growing at a much faster rate than Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) as Australians recognise the value of domestic holiday options.”

Ms Gray said domestic tourism remains the largest component of Australia’s tourism industry and visitor nights are expected to grow 3% on average over the coming decade.

“NSW has just recorded one of the strongest quarters of growth in the country for the caravan and camping sector. On a national level, caravan and camping is the fastest growing commercial accommodation type outside of private rental accommodation being offered for holiday use - we are truly seeing a return to the great ‘Aussie’ holiday.”

POSSIBLE PARK REDEVELOPMENT

D

espite the boom in domestic tourism, and in RV-based tourism in particular, the trend of caravan parks being sold off or redeveloped into cabins continues.

The only caravan park in the Darling Downs’ township of Chinchilla is on the market for an undisclosed sum with development approval for conversion to a ‘relocatable home park’.

For the 11 months to June 2016 the park

retuned a tidy profit of $1m. Applications close on 27 July and details can be found at CBRE Hotels, a global hospitality specialist, by searching their website here.

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iMotorhome Marketplace | 29

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iMotorhome Marketplace | 31

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32 | Day Test: Winnebago Burleigh CL

Burleigh Heads!

Winnebago’s Burleigh heads your way on the new Iveco Daily‌

by Richard Robertson. Images by Malcolm Street

Day Test | 33

There are three floorplans in the Burleigh range and each has its attractions. Outside they all look the same and each is a C-class motorhome. We wonder if a B-class (no over-cab bed) version and other body styles/lengths will follow?

I

t’s fair to say that since launching in Australia in early 2015 the ‘official’ Winnebago brand has made less of an impact than expected. An initial degree of confusion amongst consumers certainly played its part, but perhaps buyers also expected something a bit more American from the world’s best-know RV brand

motorhomes it’s my opinion they leave much to be desired, at least in the lower price range. Mostly based on fuel guzzling Fords, while big on living space they are often poorly built and finished. With decor largely unchanged from the 80s and a sameness that basically makes them look alike inside it’s not a style I’m keen to see arrive Downunder.

Apollo Motorhome Holidays manufacturers Winnebagos for the Australian and New Zealand markets, in a partnership arrangement with the American parent company. For the moment at least the products are heavily based on Talvor motorhomes; Talvor being a wholly-owned subsidiary that produces vehicles for Apollo’s huge rental fleet. And that’s not a bad thing, because any company that can build RVs to endure the brutal rental market and survive to become good second hand buys must be doing something right.

Enter the Burleigh

As one who has spent more than a few weeks travelling the US in American-made

R

eleased at the Brisbane Show in June, the Burleigh is an important model for Winnebago because it’s built on the latest Iveco Daily cab-chassis. Until now Australian Winnebago models have been Mercedes Sprinter or Fiat Ducato based, and while both have a strong and loyal following the Daily is the new darling of the local motorhome scene. Why? Because coming from a truck manufacture it’s perceived as tougher than the Sprinter – even if that’s more subjective than objective – and it’s rear-wheel drive, the absence of which puts many people off the Ducato. It also has the option of an 8-speed

34 | Day Test

Right: The only external locker is this boot across the rear, accessible from either side but with this much smaller door on the driver’s side. Below: Lack of external storage is disappointing and a reminder of the Burleigh’s rental roots. It’s something that needs addressing for the private market.

fully automatic ZF transmission and even factory rear air suspension, both unavailable on the opposition (although rear or full air suspension is a Ducato possibility on models with an AL-KO chassis).

For many the Daily’s big attraction is towing capacity. This is listed as 3.5 tonnes but the optional factory-fitted towbar is ‘only’ rated for 3.0 tonnes. And unlike the competition it can be ordered with the gross vehicle mass (GVM) increased to 5.2 tonnes, giving it considerable payload capacity. The only caveat there is the requirement for a light rigid (LR) driver’s licence.

Choices

T

he test vehicle was a six-berth Winnebago Burleigh CL, the CL standing for ‘club lounge’. The U-shaped club lounge, which is at the rear, is also a style called a New Zealand back. This means it has wraparound windows and the lounge doubles as a dinette plus converts to a large bed. The Burleigh’s other beds comprise a convertible front dinette and an over-cab bed in the Luton peak; this latter feature marking the Burleigh as a C-class motorhome.

In standard trim the 7.9 m (25’ 11”) Burleigh CL rides on an Iveco Daily 50C17 with a 4495 kg GVM, meaning it can be driven on a car licence. You can legally carry 6 people at this

Day Test | 35

The new Daily has an excellent cab that includes all the usual comfort and convenience items.

GVM, but with a tare weight of 3900 kg that leaves just 595 kg for the payload, which has to include all occupants.

By comparison, take the 5200 kg GVM upgrade option and payload increases to a healthy 1300 kg – you’ll just need that LR licence.

The standard engine is a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel producing 125 kW (170 hp) and 430 Nm, while

Winnebago specifies the 8-speed ZF-brand HiMatic gearbox as standard equipment – a very good choice. Optional is a twinturbo version of the same engine producing 150 kW (205 hp) and 470 Nm; again driving through the 8-speed auto and likely to become the gold standard.

The new Daily has an excellent cab that includes

all the usual comfort and convenience items from cruise control to climate control, Bluetooth audio and much more. It’s just a shame Iveco doesn’t fit a touchscreen audio system with navigation, etc, which would be the icing on the cake. Safety rates highly too. There are dual front and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic traction and stability controls, and

36 | Day Test Below: Boxy appearance is accentuated by the all-white finish. It would be good to see some larger decals and optional colour finishes. Bottom: Despite being a C-class the nose is relatively streamlined and shouldn’t unduly penalise fuel consumption.

even trailer sway mitigation for towing, to name a few. Very impressive.

On the road it’s a sophisticated and pleasant vehicle to drive. The engine pulls well with the eight-speed automatic being the real star. It makes the best use of engine power and seems to have a gear for all situations.

Ride quality is good, as is the turning circle and visibility, making this a comfortable and enjoyable machine to pass many kilometres in.

Body Matters

T

he Burleigh looks a bit boxy, something probably accentuated by Winnebago’s signature all-white finish accentuated by a simple red flash – and trademark red ‘W’.

Boxy the body might be but old-school it aint.

Construction uses single-piece composite panels with foam cores as structural members for the walls and roof, while the floor is also a single piece, but also with a plywood deck.

Day Test | 37

Boxy the body might be but oldschool it ain't.

38 | Day Test

Above: By night the dinette converts to become the Burleigh’s third bed, if required. Shorter than the others it's also the narrowest, making it best suited for a couple of kids.

Right: By day the cafe-style dinette comfortably seats four.

Though the minimalist table leg might seem a bit flimsy, it’s strong (being metal) and doesn’t interfere with dinette access.

Unlike traditional panels with a metal frame inside, solid composite panels don’t form condensation on the inside in cold weather that traces the frame outline (then drips on you or runs down to your bedding and/or upholstery).

The upshot is a strong and rigid box-onwheels, which in this case is finished with a fibreglass nose cone and rear wall.

Top-hinged double-glazed acrylic windows are used all-round, except on the door, which is the new style Dometic unit with a fixed window. External storage is surprisingly limited for this size and style of motorhome.

There’s just a smallish through-boot across the back, with different sized doors on either end, plus the usual toilet cassette and LPG lockers, the latter holding a pair of nine

Day Test | 39

kilogram cylinders. LEDs are used for all lighting on the body (and inside too), including the tail lights, grab handle and awning lights.

Other external features include a mains water connector, outdoor shower, 12 V socket and 5 V USB charging outlet; a coax aerial connector and a 240 volt outlet, plus a bayonet gas fitting for a barbecue.

Up top there’s a Winegard Sensate TV aerial, while a Truma Aventa 2.4 kW reverse cycle airconditioner is a nice inclusion (NZ models swap this for a diesel-fired space heater).

Finally, the four-metre wind-out awning is worth a mention, primarily because it doesn’t cover the entry door. The door’s position, immediately aft of the cab, precludes a longer awning because there’s nowhere on the body for a front-leg mount. It’s an interesting dilemma, but I’d imagine many people would like the door covered and would be prepared to live with having to put the front leg on the ground. Maybe it could be a no-cost option?

Moving Inside

T

wo electric entry steps – needed because the Daily’s chassis sits quite high – lead you inside. Once there you’ll

Top: Kitchen size/space is average for this size of motorhome, but a flip-up bench extension would be a welcome inclusion. Above: Due to the door’s location it’s not covered by the awning, which is less than ideal.

40 | Day Test

find the over-cab bed; a cafe-style dinette opposite the door, immediately behind the driver’s seat; most of kitchen to the right of the entry door (across from the dinette); a split bathroom straddling the aisle towards the rear (shower cubicle on the driver’s side) and the aforementioned club lounge/dinette/bed at the back.

I like the layout because it provides two living/ dining areas, which is important if you have four or six people aboard. I also like the split bathroom as it means the shower and loo can be used concurrently without embarrassment!

A privacy divider across the aisle would be good so people ‘down the back’ could grab some shut-eye without being disturbed by

Clockwise from top: Decor is simple and bright, but the over-cab bed needs a lifting base to improve cab access; Headroom throughout is excellent so there’s no danger of claustrophobia; Over-cab bed is a good size and has a safety net and privacy curtain.

Day Test | 41 people ‘up front’ staying up late, but owners could also rig up a curtain if desired.

While the front cafe-style dinette comfortably seats four its position means that even if a swivelling base was fitted, which it isn’t, the driver’s seat couldn’t be swung ‘round.

The passenger seat is also fixed, which is a shame as although it probably wouldn’t be used much in conjunction with the dinette, it could provide valuable extra seating if required. Having said that, cab headroom is limited due to a fixed bed base in the Luton peak above, rather than one that hinges up.

This is a Talvor design trademark that also makes access to/from the cab seats more difficult and it needs to be addressed.

There’s good headroom thought the rest of the Burleigh, while Winnebago’s new decor colours of light timber for the cupboards and white for the walls, kitchen units and most panelling keeps things bright and airy. There are plenty of overhead cupboards throughout, which is just as well because there’s no storage under the dinette – the space is taken by slide-out extensions to make up the bed – and only a limited amount at floor level in and around the club lounge. One thing that

Above: The dining table becomes the main dinette bed board. Note pull-out extensions for other boards and cushions. Below: Slim wardrobes on each side, between the club lounge and bathroom cubicles, provide valuable hanging space. The small shelf makes a handy bedside table, too.

42 | Day Test

Above: Bench space is reasonable and it’s good to see a cooker with grill and oven. Drawer and cupboard space is good too, plus there’s plenty of storage overhead. Right: Across the aisle the fridge and microwave are easily reached, while the standard sound system is a welcome inclusion.

is noticeable is a feeling of substance, again due to its rental origins. This is no flimsy careful-what-you-touch motorhome; it’s solid and will likely hold together well in the long run.

Meal Time!

T

he main kitchen unit sits between the entry door and bathroom wall, on the kerb side. It has reasonable bench space (although a flip-up bench extension would be welcome) and a cooker with two gas burners and an electric hotplate, plus a gas grill and oven. There’s also a rangehood and a square sink, sans-drainer. Beneath the cooker is a

Day Test | 43

Above: Rear club lounge is a big bonus, providing spacious seating and dining, plus excellent all-round views. Right: Seperate shower and bathroom cubicles are a great idea and they seperate the club lounge from the kitchen and main living area. A privacy divider between them and the front of the vehicle would be an excellent idea. deep pot drawer, while a stack of four drawers sit between the cooker and sink. There is also a pair of cupboards beneath the sink.

Across the aisle, between the dinette and shower cubicle, is a tall unit with a floor level 190-litre 2-door Dometic 3-way fridge freezer, a 25-litre 900 W microwave above, a stereo above it and a cupboard at the very top.

The stereo has AM/FM/MP3/USB and SD card capabilities and can also stream music via Bluetooth. It plays though five internal speakers plus two external ones if desired.

People can eat at the front and/or rear dinettes and with all seats occupied you could easily feed six people – maybe eight.

Those down the back, however, will be the only occupants able to watch television unless the optional second unit is ordered.

44 | Day Test The standard unit is an impressive 28 inch LED with DVD player, while the optional front TV is smaller at 22-inches but is also LED with a DVD function.

All those house electrics run from a single 100 AH deep cycle battery. In this class of vehicle two such batteries are the norm and while an extra one is available I think it should be standard. Ditto the optional 150 W solar charging system. Both items seem to hark back to the vehicle’s rental roots, where most people stay in caravan parks and renters don’t care (or understand) about running the house battery flat any night they’re not plugged into power.

Clean Sheets

C

leaning up before hitting the sheets should be straight forward. The Burleigh carries 150-litres of fresh water and 100-litres of grey, while hot water is supplied

by a Truma 14-litre gas/electric system. The shower is a good size and comes with a fan hatch, while the seperate bathroom cubicle has a swivel porcelain cassette toilet and a vanity unit with a china handbasin, storage below and a mirrored shaving cabinet above.

This compartment also has a fan hatch plus a window, and there’s a large mirror on the outside of the door. Both the shower and toilet compartments are a good size and would be easy to live with.

Unless you’re a fan of climbing the ladder into the over-cab bed each night, most people would probably choose to convert the club lounge to a bed – assuming there were only two of you. This is done by using the rather weighty table to fill in the centre of the U-shape, then cover it with the provided cushions. At 2.26 m x 1.48 m it’s basically as wide as a domestic queen, but much longer. Around the bed are LED strip lights

Both the shower and bathroom are a good size, and in a vehicle that can accommodate six it’s an excellent feature having them separate.

Day Test | 45 on all three sides (beneath the overheard cupboards and above the windows) plus some slim wardrobes between the end of the bed and the bathroom cubicles. With plenty of fresh air, reading lights and that big TV the club lounge would make quite a comfortable and cosy bedroom, especially with a privacy divider fitted. And If there were only two on board (or even four) you could also leave it made during the day and use the front dinette for meals and general relaxation.

Those sleeping further forward wouldn’t find their evenings quite as cosy. The over-cab bed is a decent size but suffers from the usual limitations of access, headroom and ventilation. At 2.25 m x 1.35 m it’s plenty long enough, but starting to get a little squeezy width-ways for two larger adults. Meanwhile, the dinette bed takes some setting up – pull out the extensions, lower the table and fill in with cushions – and it’s also best suited to smaller people (like grandkids). It measures 1.85 m x 1.23 m and would be a bit too snug for a pair of ‘full size’ adults.

What I think

T

he Winnebago Burleigh has strong DNA and potential for greatness. Its layout is highly liveable and the various sleeping options are ideal for a family or good friends who like to travel together. It would also work well as an upmarket rental!

Interestingly, there is a Burleigh floorplan with an electric roll-down bed over the club lounge, plus one with an east-west bed with its head in the rear driver’s-side corner. Both provide sleeping options that should appeal to a wide range of buyers. I’d like to see a

The only TV is in the club lounge, though it’s bigger than usual. A second unit up front is optional but should be standard.

four-berth option that ditches the dinette bed in favour of under-seat storage, and a B-class version that does away with the over-cab bed in favour of opening up the cab, improving streamlining and reducing weight – just like the Winnebago Airlie!

Apollo has rightly brought the strength of its Talvor rental-building expertise to bear on the Australian Winnebago product range. In the case of the Burleigh there isn’t much to do to make what is already a good design even better. An extra house battery, solar and a second TV are easy fixes, but I’d like to see improved cab access via a lifting Luton bed and some additional external storage.

As it stands the Winnebago Burleigh heads up a new model range I’m sure will do well. The Iveco Daily is a winner and the total package has much to offer. Visit your Winnebago dealer for the Burleigh heads-up!

46 | Day Test

Specs GENERAL Make

Winnebago

Model

Burleigh

Type

C-class

Berths

6

Approved Seating

6

Licence

Car

VEHICLE Make/Model

Iveco Daily 50C17

Engine

3.0 L 4-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power

125 kW @ 2900-3500 rpm

Torque

430 Nm @ 1500-2600 rpm

Gearbox

8-speed ZF full automatic

Safety

ABS, Stability Control, Traction Control, front & side airbags

Fuel

100 L

WEIGHTS Tare Weight

3900 kg

Gross Vehicle Mass

4495 kg

Max Payload

595 kg

Braked Towing Capacity

3500 kg (3000 kg factory tow bar)

DIMENSIONS Overall Length

7.91 m (25’ 11”)

Overall Width

2.45 m (8’)

Overall Height

3.15 m (10’ 4”)

Internal Height

2.04 m (6’ 8”)

Rear Bed - Club Lounge

2.26 m x 1.48 m (7’ 5” x 4’ 10”)

Luton Bed - Over cab

2.25 m x 1.35 m (7’ 4” x 4’ 5”)

Dinette Bed

1.85 m x 1.56 m (6’ 1” x 4’)

Day Test | 47

Specs

Pros

EQUIPMENT Slide-Out

No

Awning

Dometic wind-out

Entry Steps

2 x electric

Cooker

Thetford Triplex 3 x gas 1 x electric, plus grill and oven

Rangehood

Yes

Sink

Square

Fridge

190 L Dometic RMD 8551 3-way two-door

Microwave

25 L (900 W)

Lighting

12 V LED

12 V Sockets/USB Outlets

Yes

Air Conditioner

Truma Aventa 2.4 kW reverse cycle

Space Heater

Optional

Hot Water System

14 L Truma gas/electric

Toilet

Dometic swivel porcelain

Shower

Seperate cubicle

CAPACITIES Batteries

1x 100 AH AGM

Solar

Optional

LPG

2 x 9 kg

Fresh Water

150 L

Grey Water

100 L

Hot Water

14 L

Toilet

19 L cassette

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Well priced New Iveco Daily Towing capacity Solid motorhome build Composite panel construction Good water capacity Dual living areas 6 seats/6 berths Multiple sleeping options Split bathroom Bright interior Big TV

Cons

• • • • •

Limited external storage Single house battery Optional front TV Optional solar Cab access due to non-lifting Luton bed

PRICE From

$134,990

As Tested – on used HiAce

$134,990

Warranty – Vehicle

3 years/200,000 km

Warranty – Manufacturer

2 years

Warranty – Appliances

1 year

Contacts:

Click for Apollo RV Sales Google Maps 698 Nudgee Rd Northgate. QLD. 4013.

T: 1800 825 867 E: sales@apollorvsales.com.au W: www.gowinnebago.com.au

48 | Project Polly

Tap Dancing!

Be gentle they said, don’t faucet…

Project Polly | 49

Previous page: The tap set: Note the bag of mounting hardware priced at $35! Above: The original tap, with its single mounting bolt at the rear, made getting the spanner in a challenge. The old tap hoses coming out. I thought I’d seen the last of them…

P

roject Polly is still driveway-bound, although there has been progress. If you recall from last issue, a leaking gas cylinder and leaking kitchen tap have kept us from recent adventures. The good folks from Apollo Rentals have told me a new gas cylinder is on the way – it’s a special size and the only alternative is to install a tiny 2.5 kg unit – plus a set of roller bearings for the sliding side door. But that’s another story…

Also from last issue, after shopping around online I found a replacement tap. To quote, “I went on Camec’s website and found the tap for $69.95 plus $19.95 postage – so $89.80 all-up. Being an occasionally-canny Scott I then searched eBay and found the same thing for around $82 delivered. One final general Google search revealed the same unit at caravanrvcamping.com.au for $49 plus $9 postage!”

The new tap arrived by courier and with a spare couple of hours I tackled the replacement job. The first thing was to remove the under-bench fridge, which unfortunately sits beneath the combined cooker and sink unit. Fortunately, four screws are all that hold the fridge in place and with them removed I slid (okay, manhandled) it into the aisle, then pushed it aft to give me working space. To my great surprise I discovered the television remote control sitting to one side of the cutout, nestled between the fridge and cabinet wall. What the? And I wasn’t even aware it was missing. Thanks goodness – I’d have gone mad trying to find it!

Out with the old

T

here are times when being tall and lanky is a disadvantage – like when trying to shoehorn yourself into an under-bench

50 | Project Polly

The new tap installed, but with the old hoses as the supplied ones had the wrong (female) end fittings. I’m not keen on metal-into-plastic connections and was careful not to over tighten. Both connections were later fully wrapped in silicon emergency tape for added leak-proofing! fridge space to work on the tap fitting and connections above. At least the fridge in the aisle made a decent backrest between shoehornings. In true DIY style I mustered all available tools and spread them around, but still had to make a couple of trips back into the garage to find extras. The old tap had one central bolt holding it in place, plus the hot and cold water hoses. Getting to the bolt would have been easier with the correct tube spanner, but as it turned out the one I bought specially for the new tap didn’t fit the old one.

Of course…

It also became clear I’d have to disconnect the tap hoses, which I did where they attached to Polly’s main plumbing, about 6-8 inches below the sink. That was quite easy and it made undoing the bolt easier as I could move the hoses aside far enough to get a spanner in. In no time(ish) I had the old tap

disconnected and I removed it from the top of the sink, pulling the short hoses through the hole much like a dentist extracting an old tooth. Now all I had to do was connect the new tap and it would be job done. What could possibly go wrong?

In with the new

I

t turned out the replacement tap was slightly different in length and base connections. The spout’s extra few centimetres are a bonus that position it closer to the sink’s centre, but the connections were a little more complicated.

For starters, the new tap had two mounting bolts to contend with, but at least I had a tube spanner for them! The old tap also had opaque plastic hot and cold water hoses while the new one came with shiny, wire-braided hoses that appeared much more robust. However, after carefully attaching the new hoses to the new

DIY demands getting every tool out – or so it seems!

Note the limited access space. Also note the TV remote, found after fridge removal. Don't ask – no idea…

tap I was struck by an awful realisation: They had the wrong fittings (female instead of male) at the other end! Nooo….

Quickly kiboshing thoughts of torching Polly for an insurance job, I took stock of the situation and decided I could use the hoses off the old tap. That they fitted and that fitting them was easy heartened me greatly, and soon it was time to mount the new tap assembly. Sitting in the aisle and leaning into the fridge space while holding the tap on top with one hand and trying to attach the nuts and tighten them from below with the other hand was a challenging exercise. But with everything eventually in place and secure it was the moment of truth.

I switched the water pump on and pressurised the system. Nothing blew apart!

Then it was tap open and let her rip. After running water for a minute or two all appeared good, but before reinstalling the fridge I decided to leave the pump on and the system pressurised for a while to see if anything happened.

Returning about an hour later there was a weep around the connection between the tap’s hot water hose and Polly’s plumbing.

Bugger. I tightened it, wiped it dry and let the tap run a bit again before once more leaving the system under pressure for an hour. Still a very slight weep so the only thing to do was to turn the pump off, release the pressure, disconnect the fittings, clean and re-apply plumber’s tape, then reconnect and try again.

I left it overnight before re-pressurising the system, then left it for half a day, checking the connection on the hour. A single, tiny drop of water sat there, developing after about an hour but growing no larger as time passed.

Project Polly | 51

52 | Project Polly

The old tap coming out. Removing it by pulling the hoses through the mounting hole reminded me of a dentist extracting a tooth…

Loathe to tighten it any more – the hose fitting is metal but Polly’s plumbing connector is plastic – I decided in this instance that near enough was good enough. Given the 7ºC temp inside Polly I didn’t want to risk stripping/shattering cold plastic, plus I hope when the weather warms the pieces will expand slightly. In the end I wrapped the connector in silicon emergency tape (what a material!) for good measure, wrapped some

around the cold water connector that hadn’t leaked (just in case), then called it quits.

The fridge went back in easily enough and now we're almost ready to hit the road again.

If the new gas cylinder doesn’t arrive soon I’ll buy that small one as an interim measure so at least we’re mobile. We’re so close, but I don’t want to faucet…

Project Polly | 53

The new tap had two mounting bolts to contend with, but at least I had a tube spanner for them!

54 | Travel: Trans Africa

Trans-Africa Expedition!

The final instalment of a genuine once-in-a-lifetime adventure…

by Collyn Rivers This article records the known last drive across Africa (via its centre) and back believed to have been possible. Throughout it, country after country politically exploded behind us. The full route across the Sahara was closed on the 28th April 1961. Our exit from it was that same night. It never re-opened.

How the trip began

J

ust prior to leaving the Congo, about 300 km from the still Elizabethville, we were cautiously descending a steep mountain range. Rounding a bend we found an African-driven truck and trailer from Kenya that had overturned and totally blocked the road. The truck had slid partially over a steep embankment that had a couple of hundred metres vertical drop! At considerable risk, various local Congolese had unloaded the trailer’s fortunately light cargo, but they could not retrieve the truck, let alone the

trailer without a big winch – which we had.

We anchored the QLR with steel ropes and the ground anchors we carried and with considerable caution began to winch the truck more securely onto the track.

At this point there arrived a gun-armed and furious Cadillac-driving Belgian, apparently fleeing to South Africa. Since white people were barely ever seen driving trucks, let alone helping Africans, he totally failed to register our presence. He furiously berated the unfortunate locals, demanding, at virtual gun point, they cut the cable (thus losing the trailer) to let him pass. He was ‘summarily handled’ by ex-police inspector Anthony, who was handy at that sort of thing! With the Belgian having suddenly ‘rethought his position’, we managed to retrieve the truck, but alas not the trailer, and headed off. This incident could easily have resulted in the death of that Belgian: the days had almost suddenly gone when white fellas routinely

Travel | 55

Hippos at dusk. They came too close for comfort and we backed off fast.

pointed guns at Africans. The Belgian Police and Army had long since fled, leaving virtual anarchy behind them. We had to re-enter some 500 km of the Congo on our return route, via Uganda. While never threatened we travelled as quickly as a QLR allowed.

Rhodesia and South Africa

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ur time in the then Southern Rhodesia was relatively uneventful. But there too curious attitudes prevailed. Our arrangement with Mobil was to visit their headquarters in most countries – where we’d also fully refuel. At one such place, in what was then Salisbury, we were told repeatedly that some Africans made good drivers, and a few of the really bright ones could ‘even’ become mechanics. All except menial office jobs, however, were deemed unthinkable. Most such jobs were already taken anyway by those of Indian descent, but these too seemed confined to trade and non-managerial office work.

Despite the above, upon entering Uganda (about 1000 km north and to the east) we were met at the border by Mobil Oil’s local

African manager. He was of the same tribal background as Africans in Salisbury. He had the identical managerial job, with about the same number of staff, in a different branch of the very same company. To put it mildly it surprised me, but I was there to study road surfaces not politics or racial attitudes.

A break in Kenya

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e spent an idyllic few weeks in Tony’s previous town of Mombasa. We ate in the local markets and swam in the phosphorescent Indian ocean at night under a full moon. Sometimes we’d borrow a boat to sail on the harbour. We often watched and listened to the dhows drifting in after their long voyages from the East: their slow-beating drums marking the successful completion of the passage.

From Mombasa we headed north through what a decade or two later were to become game reserves, to stay for a week or two with Anthony’s Father. He was a retired RAF group captain who lived on the slopes of Mt Kenya – complete with peacocks on the lawns. His (also

56 | Travel

We couldn’t argue with that…

ex RAF) companion had a Cessna in a hanger used for trips into Nairobi for supplies but was sadly killed six months later whilst rescuing people fleeing from the Sudan.

Beating the rains

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ravelling south for a bit, we then headed west, hoping to cross Uganda, part of the Congo and the (then) British and French Cameroons before the rains made tracks impassable. This was prior to seriously organised game smuggling and back when Central Africa was swarming with wildlife.

Once, from a high Ugandan escarpment, we saw herds of elephants stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction. In retrospect foolishly, we walked amongst them when they came out of the river to sleep at night. We saw no lions, but heard many. We didn’t totally miss the rains; much of the time we could only move using four-wheel drive with heavy tyre chains on all four of our huge 11.00 x 20 tyres. It was heavy going and we still got bogged a few times.

We eventually arrived back in Kano in Nigeria, at the northern end of the Sahara, where we

gave the QLR a thorough overhaul before its second Saharan crossing. We did this work in the local Mobil Oil depot where we had a bit of a fright when the QLR’s engine burst into flames about 30 metres from the depot’s main petrol storage tank. This was rapidly extinguished by the African staff, using more and larger fire extinguishers than we previously knew existed!

Jeepers creepers

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n Kano, we encountered two forlorn Americans attempting to drive a forwardcontrol Jeep ‘around the world’. This endeavour had not been helped by them not knowing that, by double de-clutching (an almost lost skill that I still use) it was possible to change into the non-synchromesh first gear whilst on the move. Their constant use of second gear of a four-speed gear box, when first was sorely needed, had taken its toll. But this was far from their only problem. By less than half way through their journey the Jeep had broken virtually one of everything – except for the drive to the front wheels and the oftenneeded power winch. But Sahara-wise it was stranded unless flown or towed out.

Travel | 57

The pic Jeep does not wish to see. A 1940 Bedford pulling this Jeep some 4000 km across the Sahara. …

“Would you allow us to travel with you across the Sahara – there’s a Jeep agent in Algiers,” (5000 km south!) they asked. For reasons that now escape us, except temporary madness, we agreed. “Travelling with us” turned out to be pulling and winching this barely mobile machine across most of the Sahara.

One of the Americans’ so-called perks was a free supply of Coca Cola. Whilst lacking a badly needed Jeep agent, Kano had long since been Coca-Colonised. Half a dozen cases of the stuff, all in glass bottles, were loaded into the QLR. Most broke within a few hours, flooding the truck with a syrupy glug, which then dried out to leave a sticky deposit that’s probably there to this day. Anthony and I didn’t even like the stuff!

Apart from 7 tonnes of laden QLR towing a 5-plus tonne Jeep through soft sand with a 3.5-litre engine of 58 brake horse power (but that extraordinary 101:1 bottom low-range gear), the Saharan return crossing was, by contrast, uneventful.

We had to stop for a couple of days, about 1000 km from the next closest human beings,

to assuage the motor’s now increasing appetite for exhaust valves; the re-grinding in of which had by now become routine every 10,000 km.

Various bits of QLR engine lying around the desert so freaked the two Jeep drivers that they temporarily ceased their (then) personal re-enactment of the American Civil War, presumably to contemplate their assumed imminent demise.

Part of this crossing was enlivened by a young Tuareg named Akhakmadu. He was hitching the 1200 km from Agades to his home in Tamanrasset. He was delightful company and saved us a lot of digging by showing us that sand that looked hard usually wasn’t – and vice versa. He also told us that the sand formed a crust in the early hours of the morning that lasted until around noon. We then stopped for the day. He also taught us more about dates and date palms than we actually wanted to know, together with some very rude Saharan French epithets that still come in handy from time to time to supplement my basic Arabic!

There were no major political problems during our return across the desert. Paris had

58 | Travel

That Jeep in close-up.

accepted that the Algerian situation was a lost cause. But it was far from peaceful as the local French Airborne forces and many local French were in open and armed rebellion against metropolitan France re this. We came within 1000 km of Algiers but decided to bypass the city by heading directly for Tunisia, leaving the Jeep to use its remaining front-wheel drive (only) to reach that city – and the unfortunate Jeep agent who was to screw 99% of the thing back together again.

We went via the then-French Foreign Legion town of Colomb-Bechar (now Bechar) on the Moroccan border. There, I obtained a pair of French Foreign Legion officer’s baggy dress trousers – and still wear them to the occasional party 55 years later. Then through Morocco to Ceuta and by ferry across the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain.

Once back in Spain we took on enough fuel to detour to Monte Carlo – for the French Grand

Prix and launch of the Peugeot 404 – thence over the Maritime Alps and eventually to London.

The last-ever trip

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e reached Dover late on the 28th of April 1960, with Africa violently falling apart behind us. That date was the very last time that the full Sahara was open for traffic. To this day the Sahara is too dangerous to drive, as is much of central Africa. The QLR was the last vehicle known to have driven across Africa via its centre. The only route now is via Egypt, the Sudan and the east coast.

There was a curious sequel, however. Around 1965, world-wide magazine promotion showed the self-same Jeep, boasting about the great American know-how allegedly enabling that seriously troubled piece of detritus to circumnavigate the globe without breakdown.

In 2013, Anthony – later the founder of the

Travel | 59

Blown up military vehicle on the way back.

world famous Fleming Yachts – located one of the Jeep’s two drivers. He revealed that the Jeep broke down many times on that journey and had been as equally amazed by the subsequent promotion. He’d raised such a storm that promotion halted and that unit ceased production. Curiously, it now has an iconic (ironic?) following in the USA amongst those aware of that advertising, but not this article and our many pictures!

The QLR traversed about 60,000 km, most of which make the Gibb River Road and the top end of Cape York seem like bitumen highways.

On the way back it travelled virtually the whole width of Africa in low-range four-wheel-drive, ploughing through deep mud. It survived the return Saharan crossing, at times pulling that then front-wheel-drive only Jeep through soft sand. It was one tough truck.

I later realised the cause of its exhaust valve appetite. The cooling system needed to run at

what was then a high pressure to limit water cavitation around the valve guides. We had problems with the radiator cap pressure valve, using a Schrader tyre valve to hopefully do the job, but it is likely header tank pressure was too low, resulting in cavitation around the valve guides precluding adequate water cooling.

Given a bigger engine (certainly a diesel) and appropriate gearing, the 1940 QL and QLR would be excellent even today. The Bedford ‘R-type’ successor was less basic and had over 50% more power, but lacked the very real personality of the QL. I later owned an Australian designed and built OKA – and felt that was more the QL’s spiritual successor.

The QLR was bought prior to sighting by an English aristocrat (he’d thought it was smaller) to transport guest shooters around his country seat in Leicestershire. Upper-class Poms shoot unfortunate birds bred for the purpose, who are flown across their path, but only at certain

60 | Travel

Minor bogging in mid-Sahara times of the year. I last saw the QLR being driven behind the Rolls Royce by his thoroughly bemused and somewhat snooty chauffeur – only too audibly encountering a non-synchromesh gearbox and a close to negative power/ weight ratio for the first time.

For us our Trans-African expedition was a good trip and along the way I gained a fair, albeit mainly subjective, understanding of the nature of track surfaces and, in particular, corrugations. For a time I seriously believed I’d established the latter’s cause – until I found papers reporting similar phenomena on bullock cart tracks in the early 1800s, and on the vertical steel guide bars of some elevators.

Life after Africa

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he African experience was such that both Tony and I found it close to impossible to settle down in Britain. I migrated to Australia where, following some years designing and building engineering and scientific equipment, I started what eight years later became the world’s largest circulation electronics magazine (Electronic Today International), ending up with editions in six different countries. I eventually left to start my own writing and publishing company.

Following a year or so driving around Australia we settled in Aboriginal country north of Broome. There, we physically self-built a home and workshop on 10 acres of Indian Ocean

Travel | 61

The faithful QLR crossing the French Alps on the way home. frontage that had no facilities except crystal clear bore water. We designed and built a big solar system and used its power to build our allsolar steel, glass and concrete house. See All Solar House at successfulsolarbooks.com.

The initial (2001) Campervan & Motorhome Book was inspired by the African trip. Later editions of my books included experience gained during 12-plus return trips of Australia via mainly dirt tracks; from Broome to the East Coast and back in our OKA, plus 3 in our 4.2 litre Nissan Patrol and Tvan. We also circumnavigated Australia. This book was replaced by an all-new edition – the Caravan & Motorhome Book in mid-February 2016.

My other books are Caravan & Motorhome Electrics, Solar That Really Works, (for cabins and RVs), Solar Success (for home and property systems), and the Camper Trailer Book.

NOTE: The names of many African cities and countries have been changed since their becoming independent. I use their earlier names throughout this article, not out of a lack of respect, but because this is a historical article some readers are likely to be more familiar with them than the ones used today.

Anthony Fleming not only makes the world’s best ocean-going motor yachts but is also a superb documentary maker. He produced a truly brilliant DVD of the trip to mark its 50th anniversary, using the original but now surgically cleaned colour film scanned at an extraordinary 3400 dpi. Copies of this DVD are available directly from Collyn for $17.50 each or 5 for $60, including postage.

Contact him at collyn@caravanandmotorhomebooks.com – or call 02 9997 1052. Alternatively, write to Collyn care of Caravan & Motorhome Books, PO Box 356 Church Point, NSW 2015

62 | Technical

LPG Lockers

Collyn Rivers delves into the murky word of this tricky subject…

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he requirements for RV LP gas lockers are set out in the joint Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 5601.2:2013.

Whilst published in September 2013 it did not come into general effect until April 2014. All such standards are copyright (and all have just been withdrawn from public libraries!) so the following can only be a general indication of what’s new. It is not legally possible to reproduce the original nor quote only except a tiny part of it.

The LP gas locker must hold only gas cylinders and their associated equipment. There may only be access from outside the RV unless the cylinders’ external location and structural issues preclude such access. The locker has to be water and corrosion resistant. It must also be able to secure the gas cylinder, and sealed such that no gas can enter the RV.

A curious one is that whilst it must be openable without the use of tools the Standard states (and I quote) ‘a key is not regarded as a tool’.

[The bold emphasis is mine.]

For RVs prior to mid-2014 there must be a minimum 25 mm diameter drain that can allow gas to escape. That has since been changed to a drain that has an area of not less than 500 square mm and is within 25 mm of the base of the compartment. The drain must face either face away from the normal direction of travel or point straight downward and has to be at least a metre from any opening into the RV that’s less than 150 mm above the drain outlet.

It must also be at least 1.5 metres from any ignition source – unless that source is at least half a metre above the drain outlet.

There may alternatively be vents at top and

Technical | 63 bottom each of which is of at least 10,000 sq mm of free area for each cylinder. The gas locker must also have a prescribed flammable gas label on the exterior that is 150 mm by 50 mm and meets the AS/NZS Standard. For reasons that only technocrats could think up, the Aussie one is different from the NZ one!

There is a new requirement (3.4.1 (h) 3.4.3 (j)) for an additional sign inside or outside that locker that in effect warns you may only have one or more LP gas cylinders and their necessary bits and pieces in that compartment.

You cannot have a battery, and electrical equipment or any other source of ignition in that compartment.

You are not required to routinely update any LP gas compartment that met the previous requirements prior to the implementation date, but you are if any changes or repairs to the gas locker are subsequently made.

It is permitted to have an enclosure in the gas locker that is used also for general storage providing it has a full height divider, such that it makes a strong gas-tight seal. Venting, etc, is as above.

I cannot comment on a key left in there (accidentally or otherwise), except that if one does have a key to open that locker, why not keep both keys in another and safer place?

(Letter from John imotorhome 96).

EnergySafe (Victoria’s) Gas help-line is 1800 652 563 – they are probably able to assist with queries.

Disclaimer: I have taken as much care as is feasible to ensure the above is correct but I am an ex motor industry applied research engineer, not a gas fitter. I am also required to advise that you check the Standard (AS/ NZS 5601.2:2013), although right now that can only be done by buying it for about A$175 for an electronic PDF document!

64 | Mobile Tech

CloudSpotter!

See the sky with new eyes and discover the fantastic world of clouds‌

By Emily Barker

Mobile Tech | 65 CloudSpotter Platform: iOS only Cost: $4.99 Size: 113 MB

clouds bestow. And as with most things these days, there’s an app to accompany them!

CloudSpotter is a fusion of science and wonder; it encourages people to gaze, learn, interact and share. Its features are as diverse or some, the daytime skies can create as as the cloud formations it meticulously describes. The cloud library features 40 much wonder and delight as the night. unique cloud formations and optical effects, Cloud gazing is an activity practised by from the common rainbow to the rare and scientists and daydreamers alike. In fact, the beautiful Asperitas cloud (the one the society official scientific study of clouds grew out of is responsible for identifying and slipping into a collection of madly appreciating amateurs fascinated with the various dramatic and often the history books). It also has hundreds of stunning photos accompanied by entertaining evocative cloud formations. Recently, though, explanatory notes from the Cloud Collector's those fond of admiring clouds have a new Handbook. Learn what makes each formation online arena in which to unite. special and how to identify the clouds and light The Cloud Appreciation society is a UKbased group established in 2005 by a man who spent the previous decade writing and publishing a magazine dedicated to idleness; or more specifically, the enjoyment and ineffable value of aimlessness. His motivations to encourage people to “look to the skies and evaluate clouds as things of beauty” continues his theme of living purposely through slowing down.

F

“To tune into Clouds is to experience a moment of meteorological meditation”…

By amassing large numbers of active enthusiasts – all contributing and interacting with photos and online dialogue – founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney has inadvertently found himself to be the most productive of people. In fact he’s shaken up the self-serious scientific establishment through the discovery of a new cloud type and altering the unalterable hallowed texts of the World Meteorological Organisation.

Clouds may vary in density and frequency from region to region but remain at their core unchanged and forever fluid. From Borneo to Bernie, Norway to Norfolk, people all over the world are gazing skyward and sharing their appreciation for wild and natural beauty that

66 | Mobile Tech by one another at different speeds and our monsoon (and the months leading up to it) can create an open-air theatre to behold.

Whether your interest is the weather or the mesmerising shapes, contours, colours, textures or optical illusions created by the accumulated suspension of water, this app will enhance you appreciation and understanding.

You don’t need to be a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society to use this app, nor do you have to participate in any online activity.

Their Facebook page is certainly worth a look and with 80,000-plus members you quickly get a feel for the global community into which you can enter. At 113 MB this is a serious but not huge app and at $4.99 it’s more cost effective than a couple of cups of coffee!

phenomena you spot in the sky. Identifying clouds has never been easier with the unique identifier, simply answer a series of questions and the app will do the rest. You can also have your submitted identifications verified by real live online administrators!

In addition to identification, you can choose to turn your cloud spotting experience into a unique reality-based game by earning ‘stars’ and unlocking achievement badges! You can compete against other CloudSpotters around the world and build your very own unique cloud collection.

I also must mention that cloud gazing is not solely an activity of the daytime. The night skies too are home to noctilucent clouds and with the app’s night vision settings, these too can now be captured! Australian skies are renowned for their spectacular cloud formations as various elements like winds and temperatures interact. Wave clouds are produced when horizontal layers of air brush

Mobile Tech | 67

68 | What’s On?

What's On? Our new, ongoing round-up of events across Australia for the next three months. From food and wine festivals to music of all types, arts, crafts and more, there’s something for you somewhere, so get planning and get out there!

hospitality. Plenty of food, entertainment, novelty events, opal displays, mine tours and activities for everyone.

QUEENSLAND

23 – Winton: Winton Camel Races. Part of the Western Queensland Camel Festival, experience a truly unique outback event. Camel racing and family fun day.

01-03 – Cloncurry: Rockhana Gem and Mineral Festival. A unique festival showcasing locally sourced minerals and gems.

29-31 – Childers: Childers Festival, They’re closing down the Highway and throwing a party! Free entry to a great weekend of food, entertainment and festivities!

02 – Brisbane Show Grounds: Brisbane Barbecue Festival. Fire it up with the largest sanctioned barbecue competition in Australia, food stalls, cooking demonstrations and product demos.

15-17 – Rockhampton: Rockhampton River Festival. Celebrate the past, present and future in this colourful, cultural and sensational extravaganza.

Free entry!

15-17 – Yowah via Cunnamulla: Yowah Opal Festival. Immerse yourself in outback history and

05-14 – Airlie Beach: Whitsunday Reef Festival.

Discover the ‘Heart of the Great Barrier Reef’ in this delicious combination of family fun, community events, food, fashion and fireworks.

06 – Bargara: Bargara Strawberry Fair. Celebrate the mighty Strawberry in an iconic coast-side township. Full day of fun and festivities!

11-14 – Anakie: Gemfest – Festival of Gems.

What’s On? | 69 Set on the largest sapphire fields in the Southern Hemisphere, something for everyone! Fossick for your own family heirloom or simply marvel at the rare and impressive collections on display.

08-11 – Nanango: Heritage Nanango Country Muster. If you build it, they will come. Experience the warm country hospitality of Nanango and the South Burnett with this celebration of the bush!

12-14 – Port Douglas: Taste Port Douglas Food and Wine Festival. Far North Queensland's annual premier food, beverage and restaurant event. Showcasing the regional culinary successes; local produce and producers, chefs, cooking demonstrations, food stalls and entertainment.

16-18 – Rockhampton: Capricorn Food and Wine Festival. Showcasing Central Queensland regional gourmet food and wine.

20-21 – Dalby: Dalby’s Delicious and DeLIGHTful Festival. Two day free festival devoted to embracing and celebrating multiculturalism and inclusivity.

25-28 – Cairns: Cairns Ukulele Festival. Multiday festival dedicated to the humble yet versatile Ukulele!

26 – Cairns: Cairns Festival. In its 53rd year this 10 daylong celebration is a vibrant eruption of arts and culture!

18-25 – Monto: Monto Dairy Festival. A week long, event packed celebration of all things Dairy, it’s set to be Udderly divine!

For more Queensland events click here!

NEW SOUTH WALES 01-03 – Ballina: Ballina Fine Wine and Food Festival. Showcasing the best produce, products, restaurants, culinary expertise and entertainment the region has to offer.

26-28 – Camooweal: Drovers Camp Festival.

Marking its 20th anniversary, celebrate the droving history and tradition of Outback Queensland. An atmospheric weekend filled with classic events!

03 – Ayr: Burdekin Water Festival. Part of a three month long celebration of produce and productivity, the Burdekin Water festival is the culmination of the festivities.

03 – Sarina: Sarina Beach Coconut Festival.

A Free ‘nutty’ festival held in picturesque North Queensland, celebrate everything tropical and delicious!

02 – Sawtell: Sawtell Chilli Festival. Blast away the winter blues with this fiery culinary festival!

03-04 – Berry: Berry Spinners and Weavers Open Days. Celebrate 'The Year of the Sheep' with displays and demonstrations of working with fibre. Spinning, weaving, felting, braiding, knitting, crotchet, rug making, dyeing and much more.

03 – Norah Head: Whale Dreamers Festival.

For those dedicated to the conservation and celebration of whales.

08-10 – Wentworth: 60th Great Flood Rally 1956-2016. A Tractor Rally is held every five years in Wentworth to commemorate the role tractors played in saving the township of Wentworth during the 1956 floods.

70 | What’s On? 16-26 – Singleton: Singleton Festival. The Singleton Festival is a dynamic biennial event that transforms the town into a visual, acoustic and delectable feast!

23 – Gloucester: Chill Out. Annual winter community event; market stalls, street entertainment, gourmet food, and local wine and cheese.

29-31 – Echuca Moama: Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival. Beat the winter blues with an atmospheric and invigorating blues and roots event!

28-31 – Lightening Ridge: Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem Festival. An impressive Opal and Gem Expo with over 150 stalls with a huge range of products including gemstones, tools, lapidary supplies and lifestyle products.

30 Jul-07 Aug – Walgett: The Walgett Bulldust to Bitumen Festival. A diverse showcase of the region and its people; quilting, astronomy, farm tours, high tea, art exhibitions, cooking competitions and more!

13-14 – The Entrance: Central Coast Country Music Festival. Take a trip to The Entrance to enjoy a weekend of free country music by the seaside!

13-14 – Maitland: Maitland Aroma - Coffee and Chocolate Festival. What more can we say? It’s a Celebration of Coffee and Chocolate. Bliss!

28 – Griffith: Festa delle Salsicce (Festival of the Sausage). Enjoy traditional homemade Italian cuisine, local wines, entertainment and lots of salami.

11 – Corowa: Corowa District Car Club Show.

Modern classics, hot rods and beautifully restored historic vehicles of all types.

10 – Gunning: Gunning Fireworks Festival.

Combined community event and pyrotechnics trade show, it’ll be a blast!

19 – Gunnedah: Annual Porchetta Day. Celebrate Gunnedah’s identity as one of Australia’s premier food baskets – as well as its Italian lineage.

24 – Port Macquarie: Port Macquarie Beer and Cider Festival. Some things are rustically (and refreshingly) simple.

24 – Mudgee: Flavours of Mudgee. Free community street festival featuring local stallholders and their regional wine, food, and produce.

24-25 – Pambula Beach: Pambula Motorfest.

So much more than a just a motor show!

25 Sep-2 Oct – Coffs Harbour: Coffs Harbour International Buskers and Comedy Festival.

The International Buskers and Comedy Festival involves a huge number of shows in 11 different venues over 7 days, including Australia's largest gathering of professional buskers.

30 Sep-2 Oct – Coonabarabran: StarFest.

Siding Spring Observatory opens its doors to the general public in a weekend of tech talk

19-24 – Nymboida: Clarence Valley Camp Oven Festival. Celebrate the outdoor lifestyle and family traditions of camping, campfire cooking and just sitting around the campfire with good food, good people and good yarns.

For more New South Wales events click here!

What’s On? | 71 VICTORIA 15-24 – Fitzroy: The Gertrude Street Projection Festival. Unique free celebration of projected media transforms Gertrude Street into an illuminated outdoor gallery.

01-11 – Kyneton: Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival. Something for everyone in abundance; flowers, ferrets, food and festivities.

01 – Corryong: Corryong Historic Machinery Club Rally. Historic machinery is only the beginning of this unique and iconic event!

05-06 – Falls Creek: Falls Creek Sled Dog Classic. Watch as Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes, Alaskan huskies and various hounds compete head to head in this unique event.

01-28 – Walhalla: Walhalla Vinter Ljusfest.

08 Sep-4 Oct – Silvan: Tesselaar Tulip Festival.

The tulips may be the stars of this show but there’s plenty more to see, do, taste and enjoy.

15 Sep-2 Oct – Melbourne: Melbourne Fringe Festival. Victoria's largest celebration of independent art, featuring local, national and international artists activating a variety of Melbourne spaces with works across every conceivable art form.

For more Victorian events click here!

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Visitors to Walhalla during August get to experience Swedish tradition of celebrating the winter with an evening light and audio show.

20-21 – Mount Waverley: Camellia and Garden Show. In its 45th year this annual event showcases and celebrates the spectacular winter blooms!

28 – Hurstbridge: Hurstbridge Wattle Festival.

Embrace true small-town spirt with a day filled with festivities including iconic steam trains and classic CWA vintage markets.

08-10 – Adelaide: Adelaide Beer and Barbecue Festival. A unique South Australian event held over three days showcasing local, national and international beers, ciders and produce.

09 – Cleve: A Taste Of Eyre Peninsula. A festival dedicated to supporting and promoting the production and sale of fresh local seasonal produce from the Eyre Peninsula.

11-14 – Adelaide: Adelaide Guitar Festival. Four day biennial festival dedicated to the world’s most popular instrument.

72 | What’s On? 15-19 – Marree-Coober Pedy: Queen of the Desert Festival. A tribute to the strong role SA plays in the Australian film industry and the importance of men’s health! Choose your favourite Aussie flick, dress up your four-wheel drive and join the longest street parade on the planet!

08-10 – Perth: The Good Food and Wine Show.

Celebrate the best of the best! Be surrounded by iconic chefs and restaurateurs at the top of their game.

20-21 – Fleurieu Peninsula: Strathalbyn Collectors, Hobbies and Antiques Fair.

Australia’s best antique and collectors fair, incorporating appraisals and entertainment.

19-21 – Collie Motorplex: 24 Hours of LeMons.

Are you ready for the ‘Weirdest’ race of your life?

02-04 – Barossa Valley: Barossa Gourmet Weekend. Welcome spring with a culinary food and wine festival showcasing Barossa hospitality, premium wines, food and fantastic entertainment.

02-11 – Adelaide: Royal Adelaide Show.

City meets Country in this nationally recognised extravaganza.

21 – Ballajura: Ballajura Community Fair. The Rotary Club of Ballajura-Malaga and Lions Club of Ballajura host a fun filled annual community fair!

24-28 – Busselton: CinefestOZ. Australia's premier destination film festival.

27 – Mullewa: Mullewa Agricultural Show. In its 82nd year, experience a true taste of the west.

28 – Chittering: A Taste of Chittering. Free entry, wine tasting, market stalls, live entertainment, local displays and information, links to walk trails, drive trails and picnic spots around the Shire.

For more South Australian events click here!

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 01 – Broome: A Taste of Broome. Experience what makes Broome such a unique and iconic place as its culture and soul is showcased through, food, music and art!

07 – Derby: Mowanjum Festival. Western Australia's largest Indigenous performance.

Celebrating the rich heritage and culture of the Worrorra, Ngarinyin and Wunumbal peoples of the West Kimberley.

01-30 – Perth: Kings Park Festival, Kings Park and Botanic Garden. Western Australia’s premier wild flower event.

03 – Koorda: Koorda Agricultural Show.

Promoting the State’s agricultural, pastoral,

What’s On? | 73

horticultural, viticultural, rural, technological, commercial and industrial resources!

08-10 – Mukinbudin: Act-Belong-Commit Mukinbudin Spring Festival. With a Bush to Beach theme it’s an extravaganza of activities and festivities.

11-18 – Broome: Shinju Matsuri Festival.

Celebrate Broome’s unique multicultural heritage and history thanks to its pearling heydays.

16-18 – Bindoon: Chittering Wildflower Festival.

Local arts, crafts, and wildflower displays. Embrace spring like never before.

17-18 – Kalbarri: Zest Festival. Uniting Indigenous and modern Australian culture and the multicultural community through performance, music, art, food, education, outdoor adventure, short film, puppetry, sculpture and community workshops.

TASMANIA 30 June-17 July – Hobart: Festival Of Voices.

Australia's premier celebration of the voice, attracting thousands of singers, choristers and music lovers.

15-17 – Huon Valley: Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival. Rejoice in age old traditions of ‘applepickin' yesteryear with a mini midwinter festival to celebrate the region's history.

14 – Latrobe: Chocolate Winterfest. Latrobe's wickedly delicious festival celebrating all things chocolate.

18 – Bindoon: Bindoon Historic Vehicle Day. View the evolution of the automobile in the beautiful surroundings of one of Western Australia's most picturesque villages.

W08-11 – Hobart: Australian Antarctic Festival.

Honouring the contribution made by the Antarctic community to the Tasmanian culture and economy.

Aurora Australis and L’Astrolabe will be open for public inspection.

For more Western Australian events

For more Tasmanian events click here!

click here!

74 | What’s On?

NORTHERN TERRITORY 01 – Darwin: Territory Day. Mark the Northern Territory's anniversary of self-governance by lighting a banger or watching fireworks sparkle over the Timor Sea from Mindil Beach.

05 – Ali Curung: Ali Curung Traditional Dance Festival. Celebrate indigenous culture via music, dance, visual art and artefacts, with workshops plus thrilling spear throwing and fire making contests.

21-23 – Darwin: Royal Darwin Show.

Showcasing the State’s agricultural industries, local arts crafts and multicultural heritage.

15-24 – Darwin: Darwin Fringe Festival. A 10 day open access, community driven arts festival supporting independent and diverse local artists.

17-21 – Alice Springs: Red Centre Bird Festival.

The Red Centre Bird Festival is your chance to get to know the Northern Territory's abundant plumed inhabitants better.

20 – Alice Springs: Henley-On-Todd Regatta.

A boat race with a unique difference: Its 1500 kilometres from the nearest large body of water!

25 August-04 Sep – Alice Springs: Alice Desert Festival. Celebrate the desert and its peoples as artists and performers from remote Central Australian communities perform alongside Australia’s hottest acts.

02-04 – Alice Springs: Red CentreNATS. The ultimate festival of wheels in the heart of Australia.

06 – Kakadu: Jabiru Mahbilil Festival. Immerse yourself in culture through a variety of mediums; the arts, music, workshops, demonstrations and celebrate local traditions.

24 – Beswick Falls: Walking With Spirits.

Witness a traditional corroboree from several 09-18 – Alice Springs: Desert Song Festival.

Arnhem Land languages in partnership with the Australian Shakespeare Company over an exclusive A cultural smorgasbord of local, national and international artists and performers. weekend.

29 July-01 August – Gulkula: Garma Festival.

The largest and most vibrant annual celebration of Yolngu (Aboriginal people of north-east Arnhem Land) culture.

29 July-02 August – Tennant Creek: Desert Harmony Festival. See a different side to Tennant Creek when the Barkly Region lets its hair down for festival time, with music, stories, theatre, film, and parades.

18-19 – Borroloola: DanceSite. A celebration of the richness and diversity of traditional dance in the NT. For more Northern Territory events click here!

Advertisers' Index | 75

Advertisers' Index AirBag Man Albury Wodonga RV World

30 4

Parkland RV Centre

30

Redarc 31

Amphibian 30

Robert’s RV World

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Australian Camp Oven Festival

19

RV Specialists

30

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17

Solarscreen 31

Avida 8

Southern Highlands Service Centre

28

Southern Spirit Campervans

31

Ballina Campers

27

Battery Traders Super Store

30

Bony Mountain Folk Festival

29

Skytracks 31

Caravan & Motorhome Books

18

Sunliner 25

Caravan & Motorhome Covers

31

Taronga Western Plains Zoo

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31

Dalgety Experience

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Duvalay 29 eBook Traveller

26

e-Twow Electric Scooters

31

Grey Nomad Tax Advisers

28

Horizon Motorhomes

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iMotorhome App

29

iTech World

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Nomadic Solutions

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Northcoach Equipment

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OzCampers 29 Paradise Motor Homes

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Trakka 10 Trailblazers RV

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Webasto 22 Wellington Shire

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Winnebago 17 Winjana RV

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Wirraway Motor Homes

20

76 | Next Issue

HAPPY 100!

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ext month iMotorhome reaches 100 issues! Who would have thought? Apart from waiting for our telegram from the Queen it will be business as usual (and perhaps a small sugar overload from too much cake).

to the new budget-friendly Campino reviewed last issue.

Hopefully Project Polly will be back on the road and with a couple of extras that could find a useful home in your motorhome. TechTalk returns for sure; we have some more RV Friendly Towns and who knows what else might find its way into this very special issue? You’ll have to wait and see…

On the front cover will be the highly desirable Trakka Trakkadu 4Motion, very similar to the one pictured above at June’s Brisbane show. It’s a bells-and-whistles campervan at the premium end of the market and will make an interesting contrast

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Macarthur Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish & Boat Show TABCORP Park, Racecourse Avenue, Menangle. NSW. 2563 • Open 9:00-5:00 daily (4:00pm Sunday) • Parking: Free • Adults: $15 • Seniors: $11 • Kids: Accompanied U16 free

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

Due to July having 5 weekends – count ‘em – we now have a 3 week break, but Issue 100 will be out on Saturday 6 August. So get the fireworks and champagne ready! Until then, why not join Friends our more than 32,000 Facebook , Pinterest and and followers on Twitter ?

Instagram

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Border Caravan & Camping Expo

Rockhampton Home, Caravan & Camping Show

Wodonga Racecourse, Thomas Mitchell Drive, Wodonga. VIC. 3690.

Rockhampton Showgrounds, Rockhampton, Qld. 4700.

• Open 9:30-5:00 daily (4:00pm Sunday) • Parking: Free • Adults: TBA • Seniors: TBA • Kids: TBA

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

• Open 9:00-5:00 daily (4:00pm Sunday) • Parking: Free • Adults: $10 • Seniors: $8 • Kids: Free with adult

Visit Website Click for Google Maps

Know of a local or regional show coming up that attracts and promotes motorhomes, campervans and the great RV lifestyle in general?

Drop us a line at info@imotorhome.com.au and we’ll happily promote it in this calendar.

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