Caravan World – Issue 637, 2023
English | 196 pages | pdf | 139.43 MB
I hope you are enjoying the ride through the pages of the 2023 Caravan of the Year! It’s been our best event yet and we’re delighted to have shared it with you. Countless hours of planning and dedication have gone into creating the outstanding content you’ve experienced in our magazine and on our website.
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit caravanworld.com.au, where you can find accompanying videos that bring our written reviews to life. Our talented team of videographers, photographers and editors have put their hearts into creating these high-quality experiences, and we believe you’ll find them truly engaging. Having a panel of judges choose a winner makes our annual event unique. In our last issue Spinifex emerged as the deserved champion, impressing us with innovative design and exceptional build quality.
This latest Caravan of the Year (COTY) had the best and widest selection of vans yet, and because every van had its high point, the judging was extremely difficult. I would be happy to own any of the van that entered. We applaud all the participants who put their van and reputation on the line, knowing there is only one main winner. It’s a brave step, so thanks for trusting our team to deliver an objective and thorough result. Judges at COTY deliberate on the same nine criteria that make up all our caravan reviews. Not winning is disappointing, of course, but kudos to those manufacturers who have already signed up for our next event with a resolve to return with a new and improved van. And that’s the spirit of the event. To showcase vans that builders are proud to put to the test and to have industry journalists pour over these favourite models and ask tricky questions. In the past we have seen builders take on our criticisms and return with an even better model.
In the meantime, our travel adventures continue. We had an interesting run from Tom Price to the WA coast along the privately owned rail corridor. The access road cuts off a big chunk of distance and gave amazing views of near 2k-long ore trains in action. I needed to pass an exam to access the road, and it was a valuable course for anyone looking for advice on outback travel. One quirky rule is that you can’t wear red clothing if you exit your vehicle, as it might be mistaken by a train driver as a warning signal. And stopping 30,000 tonnes of train unnecessarily won’t win you any friends.
A tour of the Murujuga petroglyph site near Karratha with rangers has been a highlight of our trip. So too, were a few days at Anna Plains Station on 80 Mile Beach where we got among the threadfin salmon. Up the coast we stayed at our most expensive caravan park ever in Broome, did the Cable Beach sunset and stocked the pantry. It has been a great month travelling with the Trakmaster club, but a few days ago we set out on our own to Cape Leveque while the rest of the crew head home. We are currently on the beach at Embalgun Community, hooked up via Starlink. I could get used to the serenity.
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