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CARAVANNING continues to boom despite rising fuel prices, according to an independent study.

Visitor nights in caravan parks and camping grounds have increased by 18.6 percent over the last five years, the KPMG report revealed.

And, it claimed, a fuel price rise of up to 20c a litre had minimal impact on caravan and motorhome holidays, often only increasing the overall cost by a mere two percent ... the equivalent to one or two cups of coffee a day.

The Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) commissioned the analysts to probe the impact of fuel prices on the cost of a caravan or motorhome holiday.

KPMG studied four popular touring routes for caravans and motorhomes including Sydney to Forster, Sydney to Cairns, Sydney to Gold Coast and a round trip of Australia.

It analysed how visits to the bowser hit travellers in motorhomes or using 4WDs and sedans to tow caravans.

And they found that if the price of fuel was $1.30 a litre, a couple with a diesel LandCruiser averaging 18 litres per 100km towing a 24ft caravan on a trip from Sydney to Forster (606km) would fork out $1722 for a 14-day trip.

This would include caravan site fees, food and beverages, shopping, gifts and souvenirs, entertainment, tours, vehicle maintenance and repairs, local transport and incidentals.

But if the price of fuel rose to $1.50 a litre the total value of the holiday would be estimated at $1758 ... an increase of two percent or $3 a day.

"Caravan and camping getaways are still the best value for money holiday," CCIA chief executive officer Barry Baillie said.

For more information on the study, a fuel calculator and a free copy of the Fuel Prices Guide, click here.