2024 Victorian Caravan Supershow highlights

The first big caravan 'Supershow' of the year took place at the Melbourne Showgrounds from Feb 21-25, and with 230 exhibitors (16 more than last year) it was one of the biggest in recent times. In fact, the show's organiser, the Caravan Industry Victoria was spruiking $130million worth of stock on display -- that's a lot of Big Lap holidays!

There were more new-model releases, as well as a noticeable increase in factory rebates, discounts and show-special pricing compared to last year. Also quite noticeable was the overwhelming 'green theme' of this year's show.

Despite a higher $30 entry fee, $20 parking and a stifling 37 degrees on the Thursday, the show organiser reported a solid 43,500 attendance over the five days.

Related: Green machines swamp Supershow

Green is the new grey for the 2024 Jayco off-road range, with a sea of olive green exteriors at the big Supershow display of latest RVs from the Melbourne RV giant. The new hue is available across Jayco's latest CrossTrak hybrid and Outback-themed camper trailers, as well as the brand’s All-Terrain off-grid and BaseStation toy-hauler families. Not to mention the JPod-X tiny camper (above).

While also creating a buzz on the Jayco stand were some sharply priced new entry-level Starcraft models...

Melbourne's Lotus Caravans ripped the covers of a new entry-level off-road caravan at the 2024 Victorian Caravan Supershow which joins its latest 20th Anniversary range.

With pricing starting at under $120,000, the new 3500kg ATM-rated Lotus Sprint is designed to provide a more affordable entry point for buyers seeking a 'tough road' caravan from the the 20 year old Melbourne manufacturer.

Related: New entry-level Lotus Sprint arrives

Big-selling imported brand Austrack unveiled its new AusTuff off-road suspension at the Melbourne Supershow. Co-developed with Pedders, the AusTuff independent trailing arm coil set-up boasts twin Pedders foam cell shock absorbers which Austrack says with their increased oil capacity and twin tube construction, delivers enhanced cooling, performance and durability.

The new AusTuff suspension was fitted to a Tanami X11 hybrid off-road pop-top camper priced around $50,000 at the show, with the new set-up to be rolled out across Austrack's other hybrids and caravans in coming months.

Melbourne's Avan always has one of the biggest displays at the Victorian Supershow, and this year was no different with more than 50 campers, caravans, pop-tops and motorhomes on the indoor stand.

Among the new models Avan showcased a fresh interior update on select caravan models, called the Urban Range, which includes a choice of four new interior colour palettes within the Avan Aspire and Golf Tourer lines, as well as a new Golf Tourer 620-2 model.

Related: Avan unveils fresh interiors

Melbourne's New Age took the wraps off some new eye-catching retro and Ocker-inspired, off-road edition vans at the Melbourne Supershow.

Supplied with a number of off-road extras including twin 100AH lithium batteries, an extended warranty and bolted furniture, the new Expedition Manta Ray and Road Owl models are priced from $99,990.

Related: New Age unveils new Expedition vans

Our pick for the best caravan name at the show, is this Great Aussie Tonka 'big boys toy' caravan. The 21ft 6in off-grid beast came loaded up with equipment including a 400Ah lithium battery system with 1000W rooftop solar and 3000W inverter, remote control levelling, tyre pressure monitoring, a Raptor coated truss chassis, disc brakes and anti-dazzle LED strip lighting... and that's before you stepped inside the luxury interior with its massive ensuite and 'Black Pack' fit-out.

The aluminium-framed, 4500kg ATM, "extreme off-road" Great Aussie Tonka van was yours to tow-away from the show for $153,091.

Lumberjack is best known for its compact campers but the main attraction at its Melbourne Supershow stand was one of the newer models in the range: a big black tandem axle 19ft Macedon toy hauler priced at $77,990 and boasting a front double bed and two fold down rear beds, to go with an internal and external kitchen and ensuite; not to mention the rear garage and unique balcony set-up for watching the sun go down.

Big-selling imported brand Snowy River unveiled three new model names at the Supershow, including a new SRC Country Pack semi-off road caravan, a new SRP pop-top and the SRL 'Luxury Series' model.

The stylish tandem-axle SRL models are very similar to the Regent Cruiser and Discoverer vans available since 2021, while the new SRC Country Pack models sit between the entry-level SRC Touring and SRT Multi Terrain models.

Also on display was a dark grey SRP19F family ensuite, pre-production pop-top model, complete with double bed, kitchen, twin bunks, dinette, and separate shower, toilet and washing machine, priced at $61,990.

Related: Snowy River expands 2024 range

On display at the ‘Off-Grid Campground’ section of the 2024 Victorian Caravan & Camping Supershow was some clever new tech that basically turns the humble roll-out caravan awning into an off-grid RV power generating system.

Described by its distributor, Australian RV Accessories, as ‘the world’s first flexible solar awning’, the electric roll-out awning from Luxury Awnings swaps traditional fabric for flexible solar panels, and will be available in a variety of lengths.

First deliveries are expected around mid-2024, with the display awning priced at around $6000.

Related: World-first flexible solar awning hits Oz

Goldstream went 'full off-grid' at the Melbourne Supershow with an optioned up Rhino 250 RE RD tandem axle couple's van taking centre stage on the 31 year old Melbourne manufacturer's stand.

The power-packed Goldstream off-roader featured the latest BMPro power set-up including twin 300Ah lithium batteries, three 220W solar panels and a 3000W inverter which should be enough to power the on-board appliances including the fridge, air conditioner and wall mounted washing machine.

The big ensuite couple's van was loaded up with other options for its $126,490 price-tag, including a bike rack, external shower, gas heater and 28in TV.

Priced at $94,990, a new range-topping OTM Adventure 6.3 Black Edition off-road composite van with special blacked out top section took centre stage at the Caravan HQ stand, with only some bright red on the drawbar and eye-catching yellow painted wishbone suspension to break up its sinister Midnight external appearance.

Related: OTM Adventure 5.5 2023 Review

After a sell-out success with the first one, a new Mk2 version of the Jayco-built Kampervan is set to go on sale at Volkswagen dealers soon. Based on the VW Crafter TDI410 eight-speed auto van, the red and white Crafter Kampervan on display featured a few upgrades include a new slide-out bar fridge and fixed bed at the back. A salesperson at the show told us it would be priced around $180,000 in the 'all-terrain' spec as displayed.

Another Tvan anniversary, another special edition, with the Track Tvan Firetail lightweight camper trailers released just in time for the Supershow, priced from $76,500.

Apart from new decals and grey canvas, the top-spec Firetail '25th Anniversary' model on display included the premium kitchen, and 200Ah lithium battery system with 200W solar and 2000W inverter, for its $86,500 (ex-Melbourne) pricing.

Related: Track celebrates Tvan 25th Anniversary

JB Caravans' stand at the Supershow was bustling with new models, including a new Gator Hybrid 14 composite hybrid van priced from $79,990, and new 'gas free' Gator X EV and Sting Air EV off-grid caravans. JB also displayed its first motorhome, the Iveco-based JB Touring which is similar to a Paradise entry-level model.

Related: JB rolls out new EV and hybrid caravans

Also tucked away on the JB Caravans stand was one of the first Traveller vans built in JB's Melbourne factory. The 19ft 6in Traveller Intrigue rear door touring van on display had show-special pricing of $74,990, making it the most affordable 'JB' model.

The new Premcar-developed Terraglide caravan suspension was another exhibitor in the ‘Off-Grid Campground’ section of the 2024 Victorian Supershow.

Since winning the 2023 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards - Best New Technology, the unique Terraglide suspension has been rolled out across the Melbourne-built Masterpiece Caravans range, with a coil spring version of the unique semi-trailing suspension underpinning a $150,950, 20ft 8in Masterpiece Performance off-road couple's van parked next to the stand.

For something a bit different, Melbourne's Crusader Caravans was spruiking its 'leak free' caravan quality control via a special testing station set up around a CRV Warrior hybrid van at the show.

A special commercial blower inside the van (one of three in the country according to Crusader), creates a 'positive pressure' environment so any leaks around external joins can be picked up by bubbling when a soapy spray-on liquid is applied.

Crusader said a similar 'leak test' is commonly used throughout the American RV and European home construction industries.

Also making its debut at the Victorian Supershow was another 2023 caravancampingsales Innovation Awards winner, 1 Key Caravan.

As well as spruiking its 'one key' caravan conversion system, the NSW-based business was also promoting a range of Talon personalised security keys for caravan battery boxes, Cruisemaster couplings and other hitches.

Premium off-road caravan builder Titanium had its full line-up of off-road, off-grid vans at the show, highlighting the latest Wolf Fabrication enhancements along with new Ti S series model re-branding.

Fully embracing the latest green theme, the Titanium show vans included an optioned up Ti22 S4 priced at $196,070 and a more affordable Ti22 S2 priced at $130,950; both sporting the latest luxury interior fit-outs including gold tapware and white sinks.

Not far from the new Jayco Kampervan was a surprise appearance in the form of the only VW ID. Buzz electrified van in the country. It's due to go on sale down under later this year and appeared ripe for a 'vanlife' conversion...

There were also some pretty tough tow vehicles scattered around the Melbourne Showgrounds, none more so than this highly modified LandCruiser tourer on display at the glittering '20th Anniversary' Lotus Caravans display. Not surprisingly, the party-themed Lotus stand picked up the Best Show Stand award, as judged by the Caravan Industry Victoria team.

If you've got this far you deserve some light relief, so here's our rundown of the top caravan crappers at the Supershow, out of probably more than a 1000 RV and camping dunnies on display at the Melbourne Showgrounds...

And Australia's biggest caravan show is not all about caravans, you know...