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While many of us have suffered through another record breaking wet Perth winter, hundreds of retirees have been lathering up in sunscreen after heading up north for the annual ‘grey nomad’ migration; a ritual with retirees that has exploded in popularity in recent years.
While the notion of packing up the caravan to escape the cold sounds like a dream, it requires a lot of planning.
Brian Dearle, Secretary of the WA Association of Caravan Clubs explains, "The most important thing is to write down what you want the van for.”
Consider the following points…
For Perth retirees Anne and Bruce McKenzie this last point was the determining factor when purchasing their caravan.
“We spent a lot of time researching and looking for a strong off-road type van,” said Bruce.
“We had a Toyota Landcruiser which was capable of towing a three-tonne caravan and the van we bought was only two-tonne, so it wasn’t a problem.
Source: www.police.wa.gov.au
Anne and Bruce systematically go through their checklist before leaving the driveway.
“I do a complete check of the interior and exterior of the caravan including wheel bearings, suspension in the tyres, gas bottles and all the interior and exterior lights,” said Bruce.
“I also have a volt-meter to test all the electric circuits.”
Brian’s top tip is to take your time.
“Take the time to stop and have a break in some of the lovely pull-off areas or smaller towns along the way,” he said. “This breaks up the driving and reduces fatigue.”
There’s lots of fantastic resources and websites available to help travellers with everything they need to plan their trips, stay safe and enjoy the experience.
Grey nomads website
Caravan Industry Association of WA
Tourism WA
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