Queensland market targets newlywed nomads

Forget about grey nomads, family ‘big lappers’ and solo RV travellers...

It appears there’s another new niche market that caravan retailers are keen to tap... newlywed nomads!

According to Queensland’s peak caravan body, Caravanning Queensland, there’s growing evidence that an increasing number of Australian newlyweds are choosing to take their honeymoons in Queensland over Bali or Fiji, with Sunshine Coast destinations high on the list for new brides and grooms.

Queensland Parks has seen a 300 per cent increase in younger travellers aged 20 to 26 years old, while there’s also evidence that more people are planning longer honeymoons with an average stay of 10 to 20 days instead of the usual seven, which fits in with a longer honeymoon road trip.

Speaking on the eve of this year’s Let’s Go Sunshine Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo which runs from August 18 to 20 at the Nambour Showgrounds, Caravanning Queensland Trade CEO Jason Plant said it’s exciting to see more younger people considering recreational vehicles for their holidays.

“The caravan lifestyle is no longer just for grey nomads; the industry has continued to boom post-COVID, and this has resulted in new trends constantly emerging and people of all life-stages taking up the ‘cara-fan’ lifestyle,” he said.

Supporting this trend are newlyweds, James and Georgia Bulmer, who purchased a caravan in preparation for an extended honeymoon adventure with their two children, Isabella and Ocean.

“Travelling full-time has always been a dream of ours so we decided our honeymoon was the perfect excuse,” Georgia said.

“One of the first stops on our honeymoon was a riverbank site at Yandina Caravan Park [on the Sunshine Coast]. The spot absolutely surprised us as we camped on a completely private part of the park by the river surrounded by lush, green rainforest trees.”

“We were 10 minutes down the road from Wappa Falls where James and the girls had a great day playing in the freshwater swimming holes,” she continued.

“For the last couple of years James and I have had demanding jobs and for a long time we neglected our relationships and the things that really matter; now we are exploring our own backyard and shaping our relationship at the same time,” she said.

According to Geoff Illich, Resort Manager at Brisbane Holiday Village, James and Georgia are not Australia’s only honeymoon adventurers.

“Bookings from young couples arriving straight from their wedding reception has escalated, with more newlyweds choosing to holiday in Queensland,” he said.

“We have seen a 300 per cent increase in younger travellers aged 20 to 26 years old at our park in the last six months. Many are foregoing the big wedding and the home deposit, instead choosing an extended road tripping holiday, some before their wedding and some after their wedding.”