Great Aussie Xplora 2024 Review

Travellers wanting to get well off the beaten track typically pay a premium for caravans with genuine off-roadability, but Melbourne-based Great Aussie Caravans offers a mid-range solution that won’t break the bank.

Great Aussie was born out of a love of Australia’s vast and remote landscape, when a group of seasoned travellers combined forces in 2020 to create caravans that wouldn’t require a re-mortgage or half your superannuation.

The Great Aussie team did, however, come equipped with a few years of ‘van building experience to complement their adventurous spirit, having manufactured for other brands prior.

Being a genuine Australian-made caravan, the Great Aussie range isn’t dirt cheap, but the brand’s campers offer a middle-ground option designed to stand up to the task with premium construction and quality where it matters.

Rather than featuring top-of-the-line componentry from the ground up, the Great Aussie range opts for proven brands, parts and construction methods without unnecessary bling. For all but the very wealthy, this is a good thing.

Hinterland Caravans on the Gold Coast invited us to take a look at the Great Aussie Xplora 21ft 6in couple's caravan, which sits towards the top-end of the brand’s range as a rugged off-road caravan - topped only by the extreme off-road Tonka models.

We took the Great Aussie Xplora for a short drive to Tallebudgera Valley, ensuring some off-road use on the track that entered the property, which it soaked up with ease. We’re told one of the inclines was a 30 per cent grade, which we’d believe.

Are the Xplora’s impressive list of features and enticing tow-away price too good to be true? Let’s dive deeper and find out, because we get the feeling this van’s a winner…

How much is the Great Aussie Xplora?

Great Aussie’s caravan range encompasses on-road 2oura, semi off-road Gravity, hybrid Striker, off-road Xplora and extreme off-road Tonka models. So the Xplora we’re testing sits towards the top of the range, but isn’t quite as ‘hardcore’ as the Tonka.

The Xplora we reviewed didn’t have any extras ticked, so came in at $115,990 which is around $30,000 cheaper than its more extreme Tonka sibling, but also around $13,000 more than the semi off-road Gravity model.

Considering the sub-$120k tow-away price, the Xplora is well-equipped and ready for adventure right out of the box. It comes standard with independent coil-spring suspension with twin shocks, mud-terrain tyres on 16-inch alloy wheels, a DO-35 articulating coupling, huge toolbox up front, and quality appliances and lighting.

The Xplora also gets off-grid standard fare like 600W of rooftop solar, a Projecta 200Ah lithium battery and management system, 2000W inverter and 285 litres of combined drinking water capacity plus a 95L grey water tank. A Dometic dust reduction system also helps keep dust and debris out of the van.

A range of exterior colours are available, all offering the typical camo-style graphics seen across the off-road caravan market at the moment. It's a premium looking van, that’s for sure.

How is the Great Aussie Xplora built?

The Xplora features Great Aussie’s MIG-welded aluminium composite construction with one-piece fibreglass roof and floor (it's one of three different builds offered by the company), atop a Supagal chassis made with Australian RHS steel. It’s a timber-free wall design, so it’s built to last.

Great Aussie also extends the A-frame by 50cm and fits a stone guard as standard, while checker plate protects the exterior of the van, alongside a three-arm rear bumper.

The manufacturer is confident its construction will stand up to the test of time, offering a five-year chassis and structural warranty and Hinterland Caravans tells us they’ll look after customers through that period if an appliance or part fails.

What other external features are on the Great Aussie Xplora?

The Xplora has a tough exterior, armoured with checker plate - including the moulded armoured wheel arches - along with a large roll-out awning, entertainment hatch, external generator compartment, sturdy external gas bayonet, and various grab handles.

LED lighting around the Xplora offers convenience, while Fusion speakers bring the noise, and an external rear camera is included too - handy when navigating tight reversing scenarios. There's also a full-length tunnel boot equipped with internal lighting.

Underneath the Xplora, the Great Aussie team opted for Tuff Ride suspension consisting of King springs and dual EFS Enforcer shocks.

Three 95L drinking water tanks are mounted up under the body, as well as a 95L grey water tank, with a 12-volt water pump taking care of supply, while all plumbing and waste lines throughout are hidden. There's a digital water tank level display, too.

How far off-road can the Great Aussie Xplora go?

Great Aussie intend for their caravans to be used Australia wide and the Xplora is no exception, however it does come with some limitations.

While the independent coil spring suspension is durable, offers loads of travel and should handle just about anything thrown at it, ground clearance is down on some of the more extreme options out there.

For those wanting a true go-anywhere caravan, the manufacturer’s Tonka models may be a better alternative; however for most travellers the Xplora is going to take them most places they’ll want to go.

It’s also a heavy caravan, with a Tare weight of 2809kg, ball weight of 226kg and ATM of 3500kg, meaning most standard dual-cab utes will pull it but ideally a full-size 4x4 wagon or larger pick-up is advised. Being a large, tandem-axle caravan, this will also limit its maneuverability in tighter off-road tracks.

For campers wanting a true off-grid experience, the three 200W solar panels, and 200Ah high-discharge lithium battery is on the smaller side of things. The set-up will keep the smaller appliances running, but may struggle to run the air-conditioning non-stop. This is an easy fix, though, adding batteries or panels as needed.

What do you get inside the Great Aussie Xplora?

Being a 21ft 6in caravan, space is ample inside, but it’s the enormous ensuite bathroom that stands on on this Great Aussie's layout. According to the team at Hinterland Caravans, it’s a major selling point for the Xplora.

The bathroom has loads of storage cupboards, which could be used as additional pantry or wardrobe storage if needed, with a ceramic inlay cassette toilet and full-size shower. This feels more like a hotel bathroom than a caravan, which gives it a big tick from us.

Aimed at couples rather than families, it's positively massive and would be well suited to extended adventures. Of course, Great Aussie offers family layouts, too.

The furniture is made using marine ply and quality automotive upholstery, while the lounge features dual-density foam, offering a premium fit-out finish. Soft-close drawers and piano hinged cupboards with gas struts are used for the storage areas.

A standard ‘black pack’ option includes black sink, tapware, shower trim, rail and fittings, as well as black cupboard and draw catches.

In the kitchen a recessed stove cover conceals a three-burner gas cooktop with one electric element. An oven and grill sit below, along with a microwave to round out the kitchen,

A 224L compressor fridge/freezer and front loader 3.5kg washing machine also come standard.

Bedding is comfortable, featuring a 6ft 2in innerspring pillow-top mattress with nooks below that house 240V and USB outlets for phones and other devices. A Dometic reverse cycle air-conditioner looks after climate control, while a 24in smart TV takes care of movie nights.

While large double-glazed windows do their bit in keeping the interior space quiet and well insulated during hot summer days and chilly winter nights.

What is the Great Aussie Xplora like for camping?

This Xplora is a spacious, home-on-wheels, off-road caravan and as such, it’s a fantastic place to spend a single night in and would likely be just as liveable for months out on the road.

The massive bathroom is a bonus and really adds to the amount of comfort this caravan offers, while ample storage eliminates the need for additional portable storage solutions.

While the Xplora we tested is set up for a couple, a caravan of this size is well-suited to travelling families. In fact, it may be a little too roomy for some couples but if you enjoy entertaining or inviting friends over for dinner when out and about, you won’t be short of space.

Set-up and packdown are relatively simple, and the sheer amount of logically-placed interior and exterior storage really aids in convenience. There’s no playing tetris to get a serious amount of equipment stored away.

Should I buy a Great Aussie Xplora?

The Great Aussie Xplora is really well equipped straight off the showroom floor and at this price point the whole aim is to avoid ticking a dozen extras boxes. Pushing the price of this caravan up starts to defeat the purpose of its enticing price point.

We think the Xplora would be a fantastic first foray into the world of off-road caravans, but is equally suited to experienced 'vanners wanting a more rugged option. The Melbourne-built Xplora really is the sweet spot within the Great Aussie range, offering a solid mix of off-roadability and value.

Price (as reviewed): $115,990
Travel length: 8900mm
Body length: 6553mm (21ft 6in)
External body width: 2350mm
Travel height: 3150mm
Internal height: 2032mm
Tare weight: 2809kg
ATM: 3500kg
Ball weight (Tare): 226kg
Body: Fibreglass over MIG-welded aluminium frame with one-piece fibreglass roof and floor
Chassis: 100mm Supagal with 500mm extended A-frame
Suspension: Tuff Ride independent coil spring suspension with dual shocks
Brakes: 12in electric drum brakes
Wheels: 16in alloy with 265/75/R16 mud-terrain tyres
Water: 3 x 95L (fresh), 65L (drinking), 1 x 95L (grey)
Battery: 1 x 200Ah lithium
Solar: 3 x 200 watt rooftop panels
Air-conditioner: Dometic reverse-cycle rooftop
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Gas
Cooking: Three-burner gas cooktop with electric hotplate, oven and grille
Fridge: 224L compressor fridge/freezer
Microwave: Yes
Toilet: Ceramic inlay cassette toilet
Shower: Separate cubicle
Lighting: 12V LED
TV: 24in Smart
Audio: Bluetooth Fusion with internal/external speakers
Supplied by: Hinterland Caravans, Burleigh Heads, Queensland
More info: Great Aussie Caravans