Our New Look Spring Nomad is Out Now

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Published: 19 September 2017 19 September 2017

ACC Members - Check your email Inbox for your Spring 2017 Nomad which issued via our email chimp on Monday!

The Spring edition is the very first edition published electronically as a new FlipBook version and we have been receiving fantastic feedback on how much our members are loving it! Don't forget to click on the email to open it, and click on the links to The Nomad. For any members having difficulties using the FlipBook, our webmaster Rob has published some instructions under the Help tab above.

For our members who receive hard copies of The Nomad, this is currently with the printer.  You should receive the hard copy later this week or early next week.
 

Sunbuster Special Introductory Offer to ACC Members Expires Soon

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Published: 17 September 2017 17 September 2017

ACC Members – Just a reminder that as a Special Introductory Offer that up until 30 September 2017, Sunbuster is offering all ACC Members the following -

Purchase two Sunbuster Solar Shades, either Longwalls or End walls or combination, paying regular prices (eg 1 x Longwall + 1 x Endwall; or 2 x Endwalls; or 2 x longwalls) and
EITHER -
· Receive FREE a Grasshopper Stop Flap/Anti Flap Kit valued at $239 to suit a Roll Out Awning
OR  -
· Receive for $60, a Grasshopper Stop Flap/Anti Flap kit valued at $299 to suit Fiamma/Prostor/Carefree/Dometic Box Awning

AND also Receive FREE a Grasshopper Storage System valued at $60.00.

Information for ACC members on how to claim your Sunbuster Special Introductory Offer and other Sunbuster products as listed in our member benefits listing, can be accessed by clicking on the orange member benefits non-accommodation button on the right hand side of this webpage.  Don’t forget to log in first, otherwise the special ACC discount codes will not appear.

Welcome to our New Townsville Members

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Published: 17 September 2017 17 September 2017

The Australian Caravan Club welcomes our 33 new members who joined our Club at the Townsville Expo in September.

Our Townsville based branch, the ACC Tropical Tourers, had fun staffing our Stand and have described their experience as ‘thoroughly enjoyable’.  It was the first time members of the branch had been involved in this kind of PR exercise, and the first time the ACC has held a stall at the Townsville event.

The weather threw its own challenges at our industrious members.  It was hot and very windy.  The afternoon winds tested the stability of the gazebo and the strength of fastenings used for banners and posters.

It was a tremendous opportunity to promote our Club to the Townsville community, and to the region’s visitors.

Useful connections with caravan parks, business owners, and Queensland Transport were made.

Members staffing the stall were able to share the benefits that come with joining a truly national RV Club.  In particular, there was strong interest in our ACC Farm Stay Scheme.

Most new members who joined, also joined the ACC Tropical Tourers branch.  The branch quickly organised a ‘meet the new members lunch’ before branch members heading to Bingara for our National Muster began their journey South.

“On behalf of the members of the ACC, I would like to sincerely thank the many members of the ACC Tropical Tourers who gave up their own time to volunteer on our Club’s Stand at the Expo,” said ACC Chairman Craig Humphrey.  

“33 new members is a great result and we welcome and encourage our new Townsville members to take advantage of the many benefits that membership of our Club brings,” Mr Humphrey said.

Better Roads, Communication and Safety are Core Elements of RV Club Submission

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Published: 14 September 2017 14 September 2017

Better roads, safety of the RV traveller, and delivery of an efficient communication system were core elements of the submission delivered today by the Australian Caravan Club (ACC) to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia.

The submission delivered by the Club’s Deputy Chairman Tom Smith and Graeme Tree from the Club’s Policy Advocacy and Town Support team, was in response to the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry into Opportunities and Methods for Stimulating the Tourism Industry in Northern Australia.

“As our members are major travellers around Australia and in Northern Australia, having first-hand experience on many issues, we were pleased to have the opportunity to provide a submission to the Inquiry,” said ACC Chairman Craig Humphrey.  “Many parts of Northern Australia are inaccessible to the RVer because of road conditions, lack of communication, lack of catering for the traveller, lack of medical infrastructure, and general remoteness.”

“Our Club applauds the Federal Government for taking the initiative of looking at ways to develop opportunities to attract travellers to the Northern Australia region.”

“At the end of 2016 there were over 740,000 registered caravans, motorhomes, fifth wheelers and camper trailers in Australia so us RVers can make quite a significant contribution to a region’s economy which affects business and employment opportunities.”

“With data showing that on average the RV traveller spends over $100 per day and that we have around 148,000 RVs on the road at any one time, this multiplies out to RVers injecting almost $15 million daily into the economy of the places where they are visiting.  Added to this, the latest figures from Tourism Research Australia show that 377,000 international tourists chose to have a caravan and camping holiday in Australia in the past 12 months.”

The ACC’s submission focuses on improvements required for travellers and more particularly the RV traveller, in four key areas.  “Working within the Terms of Reference, our Policy Advocacy and Town Support team identified and made recommendations relating to safety, communication, RV support and infrastructure services, and coordination of local events,” Mr Humphrey said.

On the issue of safety, the ACC recommends that the planning for major roads, rest and camping areas be much more coordinated across the various jurisdictions in Northern Australia. 

“Major roads leading to the North must be developed and maintained to a standard that attracts travellers,” said Mr Humphrey.  “Planning the positioning of rest and camping areas in adjoining local government areas such to allow safe travelling distances is important for fatigue management.”

The ACC also recommends that a centralised calendar be set up to maximise attendance at local events so that adjacent towns do not try to attract the same clients.    

“It must also be remembered that the self-contained, self-sufficient RV traveller still has to buy food, undertake mechanical maintenance and repairs, can develop health issues, requires clothing, water, dump points, and all the other necessities of life.  Across Northern Australia there is no uniform approach to development of RV support services.  This can particularly affect the experience of international RV travellers who are now a growing sector of the market,” he said.

Another ACC recommendation is for an audit to be undertaken of current and planned communication infrastructure across Northern Australia over the next 5 years to allow coordinated planning to commence on ‘filling the gaps’ to a minimum 4G standard. 

“Having the ability to check on family, both by the traveller and by those at home, breaks the barrier of perceived isolation.  Apart from the safety and social aspects, the communication link also allows those, who for business and work-related reasons would not be free to travel, an opportunity to do that,” Mr Humphrey said.

Click here to view a copy of our Submission to Joint Standing Committee Northern Australia

Lower Heart - Our Farm Stay of the Month  

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Published: 12 September 2017 12 September 2017

Following rave reviews, Lower Heart at Sale in Victoria is our ACC Farm Stay of the Month for September.

The ACC’s Farm Stay Scheme is an initiative that arose when a group of ACC members expressed an interest in making space available on their properties for fellow Club members to stay short term, free of charge. Guidelines are in place for users of the Farm Stay Scheme based on the laws of the relevant authorities.  ACC Farm Stays are only available to ACC members.

You will find Lower Heart 4.5 kilometres East of Sale and a great base to explore the surrounding countryside and take in the Port of Sale, historic swing bridge, Sale board walk, the RAAF Base at East Sale (home of the Roulettes), and the Sale Art Gallery (home of Annemeike Mein Textile Artist).

Lower Heart reviews on the ACC Farm Stay webpage are excellent.  Hosts and ACC members Derek and Gwen give ACC members a very warm welcome and are described as "the perfect hosts".  Sites are grassed and level.

Derek and Gwen ask ACC members to please phone ahead at least one day prior to your arrival date.  Contact and further details for Lower Heart and all other ACC Farm Stays can be found under the On the Road / RVSTAY / Farm Stay tab above.  Members – don’t forget to log in first!