Solo RV travel booming

It’s not just ‘grey nomad’ couples and young families that are driving the RV travel boom in Australia.

New data has emerged supporting growing anecdotal evidence that an increasing number of female travellers are packing up and heading off on solo adventures.

Latest figures from a Tourism Australia report indicate that solo travellers accounted for one third of Queensland’s travel economy, with a total of 89,824 overnight trips or 300,000 nights in total (Tourism Research Australia Family Trips 2019–2021).

The fact that a growing proportion of these solo travellers are women is supported by other data, including a 257 per cent rise in Google searches around solo female travel, and a significant increase in members of Facebook groups like Women Caravanning, Travelling Solo Australia and Rolling Solo.

“This is a trend we don’t see slowing down as there are so many great places to explore without even leaving Queensland,” explained Caravanning Queensland Trade CEO Jason Plant.

“For those who have been considering a solo adventure but may be slightly nervous there are plenty of great caravan parks scattered throughout Queensland, where travellers can test their first solo adventure and feel safe,” he said.

One of these so-called ‘fearless’ female RV travellers is South Australian Lynne Williams-Wynne, who converted a four-sleeper family motorhome into a double before hitting the road recently on a solo journey.

“Now my children are grown I thought it was the perfect time to have my own adventure and decided to hit the road and travel until I either run out of money or have had enough,” she said.

“It has been such an adventure; my solar panels allow me to park anywhere for up to four days giving me the freedom to go white water rafting, fish every day and attend festivals.

“My friends ask me if I am scared to travel alone, but I am super careful making sure I always reverse the RV in in case I need to leave quickly, among other safety precautions.

“I also put a pair of size 10 male boots outside the door each night and never leave anything on the passenger seat, so it looks like I am travelling with a companion.”

Brisbane Holiday Village Resort Manager Geoff Illich said he has noticed a 15 per cent increase in solo female travellers this year, many who have chosen to stay in holiday parks for safety reasons.

“Some solo female travellers are working on the road whilst others are ticking items off their bucket list,” he said. “We are starting to consider how to best cater for our solo female travellers, as they are quite independent.”

Some local RV manufacturers have been specifically targeting the growing number of solo travellers, including Queensland-based off-road motorhome manufacturer Explorer which offers a super-single bed as an alternative sleeping option on its Pathfinder 4x4 model.

For those in south-east Queensland looking for a new caravan, camper trailer or campervan suitable for solo travel, Jason Plant said there should be a few good options on display at the upcoming 2023 Gold Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo, organised by Caravanning Queensland and running from March 10–12 at the Heritage Bank Stadium in Carrara.