Caravanning without the complaints

What if you could enjoy all the joys of a caravan holiday, in a modern 'van nestled in one of Australia's best beachside locations, but without all the usual hassles and expenses of towing a caravan?

That's exactly what you can get from Exmouth, Western Australia based Unplug Rentals, which has been running a 'stress-free' caravan hire business in this bucket-list region for a number of years.

"It's a pretty special part of the world to be running 'vans in," admits Sascha Unger, the owner of Unplug Rentals which has three late-model 'vans in its hire fleet.

The small business services the Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park region; famous for its whale shark dives as well as shore-based campsites, often only a few steps from spectacular coral reef snorkelling...

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Sascha reckons there are a growing number of travellers who want to enjoy a peaceful caravan holiday in an idyllic location, but without the added drama and expense.

"We operate a full delivery, set-up and pack-down model — guests book their own campsite, and we deliver, set up and later collect the 'van, so there's no towing, no setup knowledge and no gear required," he explains.

"It's a different way into caravanning to the traditional self-tow or peer-to-peer hire models, and demand has grown steadily as more people including solo travellers, older ex-tourers who've given up towing, and younger travellers with zero gear, want the experience without the logistics."

Sascha and his wife initially purchased a 'van for a family trip before deciding to rent it out.

Unplug Rentals now offers a range of late-model Avan/Golf couple and family caravans for hire, including an Avan 617 Hard-Top with large ensuite suitable for off-grid camping, and an Avan 555 with sufficient solar, battery and water tank capacity for remote adventures.

A Golf Savannah Maxxi 573 with two double beds and ensuite is also available as the ideal beachside 'cabin'.

"We keep the fit-out deliberately straightforward, so there's no inverter for air-con, for example... solid for genuine off-grid stays, without the complexity or guest-error risk of a fully maxed-out system," he says.

As well as offering a family beach holiday well away from the crowds, the 'van hire experience also doubles as a 'try-before-you-buy opportunity', according to Sascha.

"Someone considering a serious caravan purchase can spend several nights fully set up in a real off-grid location in a 'van like our new Avan 617 Hard-Top or Avan 555, living with the layout and everyday off-grid capability in practice, before committing to buy," he says.

Sascha said he chose a fleet of Avan/Golf 'vans, which are built in a large factory in Pakenham, Victoria, for a number of reasons.

Their lightweight composite construction makes them easier and less expensive to tow, while the galvanised chassis and aluminium sandwich panel walls have proven a good choice in the punishing environment.

"The panels age exceptionally well too, provided they're looked after," he says.

"Our dealer, Premier Avan in Perth, has been consistently helpful and we have a great relationship. Premium components and fit-out make for very few repair and maintenance issues."

Unplug replaces the 'vans due to wear 'n tear every few years, and has had few issues apart from some deterioration of the fibreglass front panel on the more upmarket Golf 'vans.

"We've been running Avan and Golf since 2019, so it's a decision that's held up over time, not just on paper," he says.

"We deliberately chose to stick with Australian-built 'vans rather than imports; partly on principle, and partly from what I've seen servicing 'vans locally. Imported vans often look great and well-specced out of the box, but longevity is where the gap tends to show over time."

To sweeten the deal further, Unplug Rentals is about to offer a 15 per cent discount on all its 'vans, as part of a four-day Camplify Day promotion that runs August 28-31.

The discounted rates are also available across hundreds of other 'vans advertised globally on the Camplify peer-to-peer rental platform.

There are also 'cash back' try-and-buy promotions available, like Harvok's Stay & Try in partnership with Taree, NSW-based Dirt Gear Australia, where if you decide to buy a Harvok 'van after renting one you'll be reimbursed some if not all of the rental costs.

Photos: Unplug Rentals