Caravanners urged to slow down

With the country starting to open up again, it’s fair to say many RV travelers are in more of a rush than before to get to their destination.

However, apart from flying past the turn-offs and missing out on some ‘hidden gems’ in the race to make Happy Hour, taking more risks out on the road and not stopping enough for breaks can be false economy if it all ends in tears.

With this in mind, motoring organisation NRMA is encouraging time-poor travelers to ease off the accelerator more often, follow the detour signs and take the ‘slow way’ on their next trip, while also helping to support financially struggling towns and businesses in rural regions.

While obviously designed to sell more caravan insurance premiums and boost bookings at the 33 NRMA-branded holiday parks, the marketing campaign does get behind some worthy causes that are helping get tourist-starved regional businesses back on their feet after the doubly whammy of the 2019-2020 bushfires and COVID-19.

According to the new 'sloways' website, which highlights a network of caravan-friendly roads that pass through 30 regional communities across NSW and Queensland, the idea is to encourage RV travelers  “away from fast-paced highways and through regional towns... where the communities need a little help”.

Holiday-makers will be further reminded by 'sloways' billboards located on coastal highways that direct caravanners to the roads less travelled.

Cooped-up caravanners are also being urged to "take your time to discover some of the country’s most iconic sights and unique businesses."

"Every dollar you spend makes a difference, so enjoy meandering through as many bakeries, pubs and stores as you like."

Also helping spread the word about the 'sloways' initiative is a $5000 competition prize that includes vouchers for caravan parks, camping accessories and fuel, along with a moody, 90 seconds video (below), that cashes in on the ‘slow TV’ trend...

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