Blog
October 11
20 ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR YOUR NEXT CARAVAN HOLIDAY
Whether you are excited to get out on the road with your first ever caravan, or are looking for more adventures with your trusty motorhome, it is always good to take stock of the items you take with y... Read More
December 20
5 MUST DO MECHANICAL TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A CARAVAN HOLIDAY
Your van or camper trailer is in top shape but what about your tow vehicle? Brake expert Bendix offers these top tips for preparing your car for holiday towing With your passport set to stay in the b... Read More
May 20
A BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO RAISE FUNDS
RETREAT TO GIVE AWAY WHITSUNDAY CARAVAN IN A STAND AGAINST COWARD PUNCH VIOLENCE A family business with family values matter deeply to Retreat Caravans so when Retreat Caravans Owner Shaz Kaptan le... Read More
February 12
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ON WOMEN TRUCK DRIVERS
The Queensland Trucking Association points us in the direction of a recent initiative to allow affirmative action on women truck drivers, which may prove to be a model for others to follow. Accordin... Read MoreANTI SCAM CENTRE OPENING
May 16, 2023 News,Public Service Announcement.
A national anti-scams centre is being established to help combat scams and online fraud, after Australians reported losing billions of dollars to fraudsters in the past year.
The federal government wi...
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May 9
Are Lithium Batteries a Better Choice for Caravans?
If you own a caravan or plan to get or lease one to get on your dreams, you’ve already considered all the pros and cons of your decisions. It is also crucial to list down all the things that could g... Read More
September 28
AUSTRAK ROLL OUT UPGRADED SERIES 3 HYBRIDS
More off-grid power and electric pop-tops for latest imported hybrid campers Queensland’s Austrack Campers is rolling out a new range of updated ‘Series 3’ hybrid pop-top mod... Read More
April 22
AUSTRALIA TO SEE 60 MILLION DRONE FLIGHTS A YEAR BY 2043
Drone flights in Australia could hit 60 million per year by 2043, according to a new report released by Airservices. The report by Scyne Advisory, Sizing the future drone and advanced air mobility ma... Read More
March 4
AUTONOMOUS VINEYARD TRACTOR
Fully robotic OXIN proves its worth in Australia-first trial in Sunraysia An autonomous multi-tasking robotic tractor is paving the way for emerging technologies in Australia’s wine sector. Th... Read More
November 13
BE BUSHFIRE READY
This bushfire season, remember to be prepared, make a plan and stay informed. Here’s what you can do to keep you and your loved ones safe: Prepare now Clear around your property, pack an emerg... Read More
October 25
BEST FACEBOOK GROUP FOR A HUGE COMMUNITY
EVERYTHING CARAVAN AND CAMPING This Facebook group (and its associated buy, swap and sell group) is the biggest we could find in Australia. The Everything Caravan and Camping group is so large and... Read More
October 11
BEST FACEBOOK GROUP FOR HOLIDAY PARKS
EVERYTHING HOLIDAY PARKS! AUSTRALIA Unless your new Winnebago is self-contained, you’ll need to stay at a holiday park occasionally to connect to mains power. Even if you do have a self-contained ve... Read More
October 17
BEST FACEBOOK GROUP FOR LONG-TERM TRIPS
AUSSIE BIG LAPPERS Are you dreaming of or currently touring Australia in your new Winnebago? The Aussie Big Lappers Facebook group is for people embarking on or planning a big lap (or part of a lap)... Read More
August 21
BIG 4 PET FRIENDLY CARAVAN PARKS VICTORIA
A family holiday isn’t complete unless everyone can tag along — and that includes any four-legged members of the fam! Our selection of dog-friendly cabins in Victoria have all the amenities you c... Read More
November 13
BUSHFIRE WARNING
A new bushfire warning has been issued on Tasmania’s east coast. People have been urged to avoid the Dolphin Sands area along Dolphin Sands Road east of Yellow Sand Banks Road. The fire ... Read More
December 12
CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS
TOO ALL OUR VALUED CLIENTS WE WILL BE CLOSED FROM THE 21ST DECEMBER 2023 UNTIL 8TH JANUARY 2024 IF ANY URGENT ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED PLEASE EMAIL – SALES@FIRSTNETRADER.COM.AU FROM ALL OF US AT F... Read More
July 2
COMMUNITY BATTERY ROLLOUT
Hundreds of community batteries to be rolled out The Federal Government is rolling out 420 community batteries across Australia, spurred by its Community Batteries Fund, with 370 communities set to ... Read More
October 3
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS CHANGES
Please remember when you are looking at our website that some states have changed times due to daylight savings. WA, NT, and QLD are the only ones who do not change. ... Read More
August 21
ECONOMIC INDICATORS, INTEREST RATES AND REAL ESTATE TRENDS
The economy is displaying signs of a substantial slowdown, which might present some challenges in the coming months, but we remain hopeful to avoid a recession. Across various industries, businesses a... Read More
September 28
END OF THE ROAD FOR ROMA!
One of Australia’s oldest caravan manufacturers is being wound up Melbourne’s Roma RV, which dates its origins back to 1928 and was kick-started by the late Vittorio Palmarini in t... Read More
March 21
GHOST TOWN – STORIES FROM THE RUINS WESTERN AUSTRALIA
In the 19th and 20th centuries, bustling towns sprang up across the vast Western Australian landscape. People came in their hundreds and sometimes thousands for the promise of gold, pearls or simply a... Read More
August 21
GOLD COAST’S TOURISM BOOM
The Gold Coast’s ongoing revitalisation is yielding noticeable results, as we witness the profound lasting impact of the pandemic driving a substantial influx of people to migrate to South East Quee... Read More
June 18
GREY NOMAD NUMBERS FALLING IN QLD AS SEASONED TRAVELLERS HEAD OVERSEAS
The slow start on outback roads this season followed a drop in caravanning across the state in 2023. Tourism Research Australia (TRA) data showed in the last quarter of 2023, there were 200,000 fewer ... Read More
May 9
Handy Caravan Packing Hacks
Hitting the wide open road for an adventure in your caravan is always fun, it’s just the packing and unpacking that can be a drag. With weights and space a high consideration for all of us campers,... Read More
December 20
HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVERLICENCING REFORMS ON THE TABLE
Australia’s transport and infrastructure ministers have made an in-principle agreement to an improved, nationally consistent approach to heavy vehicle driver training and licence progression. The Na... Read More
January 10
HIGHWAY CLOSURES AS FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS VICTORIA
Many major roads across Victoria are closed today as flooding continues following recent torrential rain and thunderstorms. The Northern Highway at Wallan is closed between Hume Freeway and Taylor... Read More
July 17
HOW DO I PRICE MY CARAVAN OR MOTORHOME FOR SALE?
Knowing how to price your caravan correctly can be a challenge, so here are some tips to ease the process So you’re ready to let go of the caravan or motorhome sitting in your driveway, you’... Read More
July 24
HOW TO TOW A CARAVAN SAFELY
15 tips to prevent potentially catastrophic results on your next caravan holiday Sometimes it’s ignorance; sometimes it’s apathy; other times it’s just plain dumb, but there are many ways ... Read More
September 9
HOW TO UNDERSTAND TIDES IN AUSTRALIA
There’s no fun involved in running aground. Here’s how you can minimise the risk of it happening If you ever dream of circumnavigating Australia, knowing how the tides vary as you move aroun... Read More
November 19
MAJOR DRIVERS LICENCE CHANGE FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSSIE DRIVERS FROM TODAY
Up to 800,000 young drivers in one state will now be able to access their licences digitally, joining 1.2 million other motorists. Up to 800,000 learner and provisional drivers will soon have electro... Read More
February 15
MT LARCOM OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST GREY NOMAD EXPERIENCES
Mt Larcom Tourist Park is celebrating today after being named as a finalist in the national Grey Nomad Awards. Mt Larcom Tourist Park has been shortlisted in the 2023 Best Small Caravan Park categor... Read More
February 15
NEWCASTLE FOOD MONTH PROGRAM REVEAL
Last night in Newcastle a mouth-watering program for the fourth rendition of Newcastle Food Month this April, was revealed. The 2024 Program was unveiled at the festival’s Hotel Partner, the Cyrstal... Read More
March 4
QANTAS FIFO PILOTS PLAN NEW 2-DAY STRIKE THIS WEEK
Qantas FIFO pilots in WA are set to strike again this week for two consecutive days beginning on Wednesday. The Flying Kangaroo said in response it was “reviewing schedules and planning contingencie... Read More
October 8
QUEENSLAND RENTAL LAWS HAVE CHANGED
Rental law changes from 30 September 2024 include: Maximum bond amount – capped at no more than 4 times the weekly rent amount. Reletting costs – calculated on the time remaining on an agreemen... Read More
November 19
RARE ONE IN A BILLION SIGHTING IN AUSSIE BACKYARD STUNS
Black kookaburras are considered extremely rare with one reportedly spotted this week It’s not every day you come across a ‘one in a billion’ find sitting in your backyard. But that... Read More
December 12
SANTA TRACKER
FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OUT THERE – MERRY CHRISTMAS https://santatracker.google.com/ ... Read MoreSCAM ALERT!
Hi Everyone, Today our business was contacted by someone from Optus asking for them to be called back on a 1300 number. They also gave a reference number. When they were called back, the way they cond... Read More
July 8
SEVEN EASY DIY CARAVAN HACKS AND MODS
How to turn a pre-loved caravan into your ultimate travel companion It’s been around 12 months since we purchased our second-hand Essential Exceed V3 van and we’ve been incredibly ... Read More
July 31
SUSPICIOUS EMAIL ENQUIRY
WHILST EVERY ENDEAVOUR IS MADE TO MAKE SURE THE ENQUIRIES WE SEND YOU ARE LEGITIMATE, WE CANNOT ALWAYS BE 100% ACCURATE What to look out for Someone who cannot meet or speak with you over the phone... Read More
January 10
SYDNEY TO BRISBANE FOR $525 IN ELECTRIC CONVERTED PRIME MOVER
Janus Electric, based on the NSW Central Coast, is about to road test the world’s first patented exchangeable battery for heavy vehicles. Developed by professional engineers led by co-founder Bevan ... Read More
February 26
TASMANIA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN 2024 ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES
Tasmania has been included in the prestigious ‘52 Best Places to Visit in 2024’ list published by The New York Times. The much-anticipated list is compiled annually by The New York Times’ t... Read More
August 28
THE $100K CARAVANNING TREND ON THE RISE IN AUSTRALIA
Aussies are ditching traditional holidays and hitting the road in style with camping and caravanning booming in popularity. More Aussies than ever are packing up their lives and hitting the road, expl... Read More
September 25
THE 4 CRUCIAL ESSENTIALS FOR COMFY RV LIVING
Wherever you travel, stay comfortable, content and worry free with these four smart products from Dometic The ramp-up in clever RV technology means you don’t have to lack the comforts of home ... Read More
February 26
THE GIBB CHALLENGE 2024
The Gibb Challenge is an annual, socially competitive, team relay mountain bike event raising community awareness and funds for charity. It is a peerless outback cycling adventure, tracing the iconi... Read More
August 7
THE IMPORTANCE OF AERATION AND OVERSEEDING IN LAWN CARE
Caring for a lawn can be a daunting task, but it’s important to maintain it properly in order to keep it looking lush and healthy. Aeration and overseeding are two key components of lawn care that ... Read More
May 20
THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICING YOUR CARAVAN
You might think that without any powertrain or complex automotive systems to worry about like in a modern car, a caravan would be relatively simple to maintain. While that is often true, a caravan sti... Read More
November 11
THE SMARTEST WAY TO SAVE WEIGHT IN YOUR CARAVAN
Boost your output and improve off-grid potential with iTechworld’s X-range One of the most significant advances in caravanning, 4×4 and camper technology is independent, long-lasting ... Read More
January 10
TIPS FOR TOWING OVER DIFFERENT TERRAIN
Get the most out of your dream off-road holiday with these handy hints Many have an Outback caravanning or camping holiday on their bucket list, but a dream trip can quickly turn into a nightmar... Read More
July 18
TOP 10 CARAVAN AND CAMPER MISFIRES
Offering a well-built, user-friendly or innovative RV in Australia doesn’t always guarantee long-term success They say about half of small businesses make it to the five year mark, and tha... Read More
June 18
Transport industry invited to have say on “Australia’s Route 66”
An upcoming forum on the Outback Highway is inviting input from the transport industry across a range of topics. The forum, which will take place on June 30 and July 1 at the QT Hotel in Canberra,... Read More
June 26
ULTIMATE AUSSIE REMOTE TRAVEL CARAVAN UNLEASHED
Australian extreme off-road caravan manufacturer Crzrvan has revealed details of its most sophisticated and lavish off-grid custom build to date. Described by the five-year old Shepparton, Victoria-b... Read More
September 4
ULTIMATE CARAVAN TOWING GUIDE HITS THE SHELVES
Comprehensive new 200-page how-to caravan towing manual released by Truck Friendly founder A new guidebook that aims to dispel social media myths and commercial advertising hype around towing a ... Read More
November 5
VICTORIANS WARNED TO BRACE FOR EXTREME POLLEN LEVELS
Melbourne’s grass pollen levels are expected to reach extreme levels today, with hay fever and asthma sufferers warned to take care. The grass pollen forecast for majority of the state is ... Read More
July 24
WHY MUD TYRES ARE OVERKILL ON YOUR CARAVAN
It’s a hot topic but Mud Terrain tyres add unnecessary weight and cost to most off-road touring caravans Just about every caravan manufacturer these days sells a so-called off-road or off-... Read More
April 22
