SKIing around Australia

Some manufacturers were reporting waiting lists of up to six months as grey nomads are “SKIing” all over Australia.

For those who don't know, “SKI” stands for Spending the Kids' Inheritance, and retirees are doing it in style with big campervans, motorhomes and camper trailers.

RVMAA president Tony Bellamy said there were 400,000 registered caravans in Australia and more with motorhomes.

Last year the RVMAA calculated 18,200 towable units were built in Australia. This compares with the record of 38,000 in the '70s and a low of 5000 in the mid-'90s.

“The best estimates are that close to 3000 camper trailers were manufactured last year and most of the rest were either caravans or pop-top caravans,” Bellamy said.

Several hundred tent trailers were also built, but the RVMAA does not have any estimate.

The RVMAA estimates about 1500 motorised models — campervans and motorhomes — were built in 2006.

And most of these are not cheap vehicles. While you can start in the early $30,000s, prices can also reach $400,000.

Most are in the $100,000-$200,000 price category, according to Hymer Australia's marketing manager Richard Towson.

Hymer, one of several builders of motorhomes in Australia, claims motorhomes are the fastest-growing segment of Australia's recreation vehicles, particularly in Queensland where sales grew 40 per cent last year.

“Many grey nomads are cashed-up and looking for a quality prestige vehicle,” Towson said.

Bellamy predicts that, despite petrol prices, 2007 will be an even stronger year with manufacturers' order books quickly filling up.

“There are more and more retirees out there,” he said.

“Baby boomers are coming into retirement and whereas they used to want to travel around the world, now they are wanting to do Australia first because of events overseas.”

There was such a demand for caravans, campers and motorhomes that some manufacturers were reporting waiting lists of up to six months.

Bellamy also predicts record crowds for the Brisbane Caravan and Camping Show at the RNA from June 6-12.

Redlands couple on the road

Long-term caravanners Malcolm and Pauline Grose, of Redlands, are real stop-outs.

And they are typical of the current crop of grey nomads.

They have been caravanning for 42 years, but stepped it up a bit after Malcolm, 65, retired as a building inspector seven years ago and after Pauline, 64, retired last year from Myer.

They went straight out and updated to a Jayco Sterling 18-foot caravan for $53,000 and have hardly been home since.

“We haven't been on the big lap around Australia yet, but that will be next year,” Pauline says confidently.

“We go away every month for at least a week with the Southern Cross Caravan Club or on our own.”

Even as you read this, the Groses will be somewhere out in western Queensland stirring up the bulldust and meeting new friends.

“You see so many people and everyone talks to you and you make so many friends out on the road,” Pauline said.

Malcolm couldn't begin to calculate how many kilometres they have covered in their 42 years of caravanning.

“I don't even know what we've done in the past year, but we're about to cover another 3000km in the next few weeks,” he said.

And what of spending the kids' inheritance?

“We've worked hard all our lives, so why shouldn't we enjoy it?” Pauline says.

“You can work all your life and save your money, but you can't take it with you so you may as well enjoy it,” Malcolm adds.