Missing swimmer found at relative's home
POLICE have found a swimmer who vanished after leaving a Queensland caravan park for a late nite dip. The man, thought to be in his 30s, had been drinking with backbackers at Innisfail's two-and-a-half star River Drive Van Park when he decided to go for a swim in the South Johnstone River. Witnesses told police they lost sight of him in the middle of the river as he returned from the opposite bank. Police carried out a search but found no trace of the man. He was eventually found at a relative's home. "He failed to tell those concerned for his safety," a spokesman said.

Thieves target satellite systems
CARAVANNERS have been urged by police to take more care of their satellite navigation devices. This follows a rise in GPS thefts as more and more travellers use them to find their way round Australia. [More]

Caravanners refuse to help after crash
CARAVANNERS ignored fellow travellers after a terrifying accident in New South Wales. Dazed and shocked at the side of their badly damaged rig, the couple watched in amazement as caravanners drove past without offering help. [More]

Gold fever as torrential rains swamp park
FORTUNE-seeking caravanners are injecting new life into an old gold mining town in New South Wales ... thanks to recent torrential rains. Torrents of floodwater have flushed out local rivers revealing gold deposits and creating a 'mini-goldrush' at a local caravan park. [More]

Good news amid park closures
THERE'S a glimmer of good news for a Queensland region which has lost a high percentage of its caravan parks to developers. A new beachfront park could be opened at picturesque Cape Hillsborough near Mackay. [More]

Police swoop on secret drugs lab in bus
POLICE discovered a clandestine drugs lab after swooping on a Queensland caravan park. They found the amphetamine lab after raiding a man's converted bus at the three-star park. [More]

New guides a boom to caravanners
TWO recently published guides will help enthusiasts get the most out of their caravans and travels around New South Wales. They come from the Caravan and Camping Industry Association of NSW. [More]

Truckie plea for defensive driving courses
A TRUCK driver has called for caravanners to take defensive driving courses. The plea follows a story in Caravanning News in which travellers hit out at the alleged horror driving habits of some truckies. [More]

Web game an aid to loading
A NEW web-based game could help Australian travellers to avoid loading their caravans dangerously. Developed in the UK, it aims to reduce the incidence of potentially lethal 'snaking' at speed. [More]

Rogue traders operate from parks
ROGUE traders are operating out of caravan parks, according to Fair Trading officials. The warning follows a report that an 89-year-old Sydney grandmother is the latest victim of scammers who bled her of almost $25,000. [More]

Councils unite to help improve safety
THREE New South Wales councils have joined forces to produce a new road safety brochure aimed at caravanners. It offers general safety information and contact details for the latest road and weather conditions and tourist information centres. [More]

Green road ahead for Oz Parks
AUSTRALIA'S newest chain of caravan parks has made a giant leap forward for the environment and sustainable tourism. In a co-operative venture with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Oz Parks has developed a sustainable tourism program for the future. [More]

Ageing workforce 'needs to transfer skills to young'
THE biggest challenge facing the caravan industry is trying to entice young blood into the workforce, according to a leading caravan manufacturer. It warns that the industry has an "ageing workforce" whose skills need to be transferred to younger workers. [More]

Bridge bungle scuppers dream trip
A COUPLE'S dream trip came to an abrupt end when they tried to drive their fifth-wheeler under a low bridge in Victoria. The roof of their mobile home was torn off but luckily the grey nomads from Queensland escaped unhurt. [More]

Celebrations end in tragedy
POLICE have named the man whose body was discovered at a NSW caravan park. Jade Dion Fallon, 31, was found dead in his swag by friends at the three-and-a-half star Huskisson White Sands Tourist Park on the State's South Coast. It is thought he had been celebrating Australia Day with friends. Police said initial investigations had ruled out any suspicious circumstances in the Goulburn man's death.

Play the game, says Wendy
GRANDMOTHER Wendy Mullett hopes caravanners will play the game as they wend their way round Australia. Wendy, from Benalla in Victoria, recently accomplished a 20-year ambition with the release of the Aussie Trek Boardgame, a game she devised after many years of caravanning. [More]

Petty pilfering prompts police warning
PETTY pilferers have been on the prowl through tourist parks in New South Wales, say police. Now they have renewed their appeal for caravanners and other travellers to take more care of their property. [More]

New light shines at the Lighthouse
THERE'S a new light shining at Burnett Head's popular Lighthouse Caravan Park on Queensland's Coral Coast. Diane Brickell, who hails from the Blue Mountains in NSW, recently took over as manager of the waterside 69-site park near Bundaberg. [More]

Caravanners help lift town's gloom
CARAVANNERS helped lift some of the gloom from a NSW town after one of the worst droughts in living memory. More than a thousand travellers converged on the historic town of Forbes for the 13th National Caravan Clubs Rally. [More]

Good Samaritans thanked after fire drama
A FAMILY who escaped when their car and caravan erupted in flames has thanked the good Samaritans who went to their aid. The drama happened after the 78-year-old driver switched from gas to petrol on the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. [More]

Anger over fairies at bottom of gardens
CARAVAN parks near Ballarat in Victoria were being turned into scenes more reminiscent with the wild west, it has been claimed. The culprit is fairy grass which is tumbling through parks, covering gardens and clogging entrances. [More]

Problem families behind rest area closure
PROBLEM families were partly responsible for the closure of a popular rest area north of Brisbane, it has been revealed. Some of the tent dwellers were alcoholics and debtors while others suffered from 'anger management', according to a council report. [More]

Ray of sunshine for caravan industry
THE caravanning industry has the sun's rays to thank for its current boom, according to one company. It argues that solar power is responsible for the thriving caravan and motorhome market. [More]

New brand of caravan set for Aussie roads
A GIANT European company will soon introduce a new brand of 'value for money' caravan and motorhome to the Australian market. The Carado range comes from Europe's biggest manufacturer of recreational vehicles. [More]

Chain cautions on unnecessary visitor fees
CARAVAN parks have been cautioned not to fall into the trap of charging guests unnecessary fees. The warning follows reports of one park wanting to slap a $13 levy on a couple who merely wanted to drop in for a cuppa and chat with friends. [More]

Red tape drowns luxury park plan
RED tape has forced a company to dilute plans for a luxury 800-site caravan park at a proposed multi-million dollar water theme park in Queensland. A mere 20 sites will now be included in the development. [More]

Pets perish in caravan blaze
TWO dogs died when fire ripped through a caravan on the New South Wales Central Coast. Their 53-year-old owner was rushed to hospital after the 2.45am blaze as firefighters struggled to prevent the flames reaching other caravans. [More]

Adria becoming driving force on Oz roads
EUROPEAN recreational vehicle manufacturer Adria has made significant inroads into the Australian market since its launch here nearly two years ago. More than 250 Adria caravans are now on Australian roads, and the brand has exceeded sales expectations. [More]

Drinks on house as bushfire rages
IT WAS drinks on the house when a raging bushfire forced the evacuation of a South Australian caravan park. Caravanners fled the 90-site park and assembled in the local hotel as firefighters fought the approaching flames. [More]

Paradise in paradise as waiting times slashed
A FAMILY-owned Queensland motorhome manufacturer is in paradise after its new factory boosted production times to record levels.  The waiting time for its vehicles has been slashed from almost two years to between three and six months. [More]