When I wandered around yesterday I was amazing at how many caravans they could place in the Showgrounds. Small ones, huge ones, retro ones, ultra-modern ones. There are 180 exhibitors displaying all the latest models so it makes for an enjoyable day to see what is new on the market.
Down the track my wife and I are thinking of joining the many who enjoy going on caravanning holidays. The Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo provided a wonderful opportunity to see such a vast range of caravans from so many manufacturers and outlets. The appearance of them all varied in subtle and dramatic ways. Some were traditional, some ultra-modern, and some quite quirky. Black and white seems to be a new fashion statement for some caravan interiors.
Various layouts provided differing configurations inside the caravans. Depending on the size of the caravan, choices of single, double, queen, king or bunk beds were available. Some had simple kitchens, and some were rather elaborate. Some had small seating areas, whilst others had rather grand seating options. The larger caravans came with ensuites, showers, or toilets. Some even included a washing machine.
The best part of the Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo was the knowledge the exhibitors offered. They gave deeper insight as to what to look for when purchasing a caravan than just looking at the general appearance. Things like how the windows open and close, what steps are provided to get into the caravan, what seating arrangement is best for freestyle and caravan park camping etc. This expert advice highlighted what to look for when tossing up which caravan was best suited to your needs.
The range of caravans on show was huge. Some were pop-tops, some off-road, some for families and some for couples.
There were more than caravans on display. At the lower cost point were camper trailers, where a tent folded out to sleep in. Some were basic, but others had attached kids rooms, slide out kitchens, and a host of options that made them a deluxe way of travelling. Make sure you check out how easy it is to set them up and fold away.
Then there were many campervans on display. They have a small kitchen and foldout bed behind the driver and passenger seat. The advantage of these is that they do not involve towing.
For those with larger wallets, many mobile homes were on display. These varied in size from small ones to large bus size ones. I know quite a few people who have sold there homes and are now travelling around Australia in one of these. There were also slide ons and 5th wheelers on display
For those who like being right amongst nature tenting is the way to go. Tents on display ranged to the small and compact to the large family multi-rooms ones. These days many accessories are available to make camping an enjoyable experience. Even the simple camp chair now comes in a range of styles, with drink holders, magazine holders, padding, and reclining and rocker functions.
To power the many electric gadgets that are available these days, solar panels are the way to go. Your flat panel TV, LED lights, microwave etc can now be powered by the warmth of the sun.
Australia provides such wonderful opportunities for weekend getaways, to a few weeks holiday, to the extended round Australia trip. Various regions of NSW and holiday parks had display stands and are offering special deals throughout the show. It is a pity that the Upper Hunter region did not have a presence showcasing the holiday options it offers.
The Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo is on today and tomorrow at Newcastle and is presented by The Caravan Camping & Touring Industry & Manufactured Housing Industry Association of NSW. It will be held at Penrith, Sydney and the South Coast later this year the year, so if you can not make it to Newcastle, make sure you check out the one near you.
The Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo Details
Venue: Newcastle Entertainment Centre and ShowgroundWhen: Friday 6 February – Sunday 8 February 2015
Opening Hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm DAILY (closes at 4pm on Sunday)
Facilities: Various take-away food outlets, a café and a bar are available
Disabled access throughout the Newcastle Expo (wheelchair hire is not available)
This Expo is dog-friendly
Tickets: $12 - Adults; $8 - Concession Card holders: Kids under 16 free with accompanying adult
Parking is Free.
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