When Sailynn Doyle learned that her friend and former coworker Joelle DaSilva was planning a four-week RV tour of Australia (caravanning, as it’s called down under), she jumped right in. The timing was perfect since the Massachusetts business owner had just traded in her senior home care franchise, house, and car for the freedom of full-time RVing.
“I wanted to kick off my retirement with a trip of a lifetime, so I jumped on board,” says Sailynn. “I had been glamping for six years in a fifth wheel. I felt totally prepared for this trip, even though my travel buddy had no RVing experience.”
They left Boston in late June for 29 hours of travel. When they arrived, in Melbourne, Australia’s winter season greeted them with temperatures in the mid-40s. Undeterred, they rented a Mercedes Sprinter Campervan with their U.S. drivers licenses and were on their way.
Temps warmed as they headed north to the BIG4 Holiday Parks along the Great Ocean Road. “I would definitely recommend a trip in Australia’s winter,” says Sailynn. “It was easier to find availability in the holiday parks and less crowded in tourist spots. It was harder to find availability as we went north, even in winter. We stayed in BIG4 Holiday Parks most of the time because they were easily located on our route. They were in all the popular destinations and even had locations in some remote spots.”
BIG4 started in the late 1970s when a group of caravan park owners decided to create parks that offered a holiday experience. Today there are over 180 parks throughout the country. They operate much like America’s largest campground brand, KOA, by providing consistent services and quality across all of their properties.
During their journey, Sailynn and Joelle paced themselves, covering 150-400 miles in a day, then staying in one spot for two to four nights. “We found the Holiday Parks to be more of a destination within themselves,” she comments. “Most of them had pools, amazing water slides, and splash parks, lots of activities for kids like jumping pillows, farm animals, and mini-golf, and the best staff. They truly were a resort.”
Resort amenities included turn down service, business centers, guided tours, and personal chef service. While you can reserve a tent or RV campsite, most parks offer cabins, villas, and safari-style tents too. A membership gives you reservation discounts, in-park perks, and discounts with attractions, activities, and travel partners like vehicle rental companies and Kampgrounds of America. “BIG4 was easy to book online and confirm reservations,” says Sailynn. “The locations were amazing, and you knew what you were getting when booking online.”
Highlights along the way included Melbourne, Sydney, Fraser Island, and Cairns. “By far, our favorite place was Byron Bay,” says Sailynn. “The town had a hippie feel with modern amenities right on the beach. A gorgeous place we visited was the Whitsunday Islands. We took a seaplane tour and were blown away by the mesmerizing turquoise water.”
Sailynn recommends getting the inside scoop from park staff. “Everyone was super friendly and helpful. Ask the locals at reception what to do and see, and how best to get around. They gave us maps, preferred restaurants, and even helped us make reservations at our next destination.” They also downloaded the CamperMate app for pre-trip planning and relied on TripAdvisor reviews during the drive.
She has a few other tips for RVers coming from the U.S. “Caravanning in Australia was very different. I was used to large fifth wheels and big rigs at most parks. In the four weeks we traveled, we only saw two fifth wheels and one motorhome! Caravanning in Australia is mostly vans and pop-up trailers.”
But not your standard pop-ups “They were tricked out trailers with big off-road tires that turned into three-room palaces for the ultimate camping experience,” she says. “The rental RV community is huge in Australia, and we saw thousands of rentals all over the country.”
While the majority of caravan travelers rent minivan style rigs with no bathroom, you can find upgraded rentals with a full bathroom and multiple beds. Sailynn explains why small rigs are so popular. “Holiday parks and campsites are small,” she emphasizes. “We had a 23-foot van and some holiday parks said we were too big. Small is the way to go if you are renting in Australia.”
