Tired of the view from your room? With a hotel on wheels, it’s not a problem. Modern travellers are embracing caravanning, and for good reason
1. Hazelgrove Farm, Ryde, UK
Go retro in a lovingly restored 1960s Airstream Caravan, set on a small working farm on the picturesque Isle of Wight. Inside, a warm timber finish houses a treasure trove of classic board games, quirky deckchairs and vintage linens – an Instagrammer’s dream (below). Travelling foodies will love the complimentary local produce, perfect for preparing a full English brekkie.
Hit the road:
1. Ride into nearby town Newport and stock up at the weekend farmers’ markets. If it has been baked, brewed or harvested locally, you’ll find it here.
2. Further afield, head west along the island’s rugged northern coastline, dotted with quaint fishing villages. In around an hour, you’ll reach The Needles rocks, which offers spectacular views of Alum Bay and its multi-coloured sand cliffs.
2. Flying Flags, Buellton, USA
Taste your way through SoCal’s (Southern California) famed wine country, as you discover charming vineyards in a Happier Camper van (below). These ultra-light, Cali-made caravans come with huge windows that frame every view. This kitted-out Buellton base – with an on-site cafe, pool and Wi-Fi – is a great spot to set up camp. Next door at Los Padres National Forest, enjoy a refreshing dip in natural swimming holes.
Hit the road:
1. Shake off your wine hangover with an early morning surf lesson on pristine Carlsbad Beach. Here, a few hours south-east of Buellton, you can camp right on the bluff overlooking the ocean.
2. Just over an hour’s drive will get you to the pretty campsite, Lake Casitas in Ventura. Try your luck and cast a line out to snare some local bass or rainbow trout; but watch out for the local residents – skunks and raccoons.
3. Campground Thalkirchen, Munich, Germany
Keep the cold out in an Elemment Palazzo Superior, where luxurious warmth radiates from sumptuous leather seats (below) and underneath the floor. The caravan boasts a king-size bed, rain shower and wine cabinet, among other trappings. If you’re planning to head there during Oktoberfest, make sure you book your site at Campground Thalkirchen early.
Hit the road:
1. Drive four hours west from Munich to Black Forest. This mountain range is known for quaint villages and its namesake – delicious Black Forest cake.
2. Head east for a couple of hours, cross the German border and you’ll hit Austria’s postcard-pretty capital city, Salzburg. Discover wonderfully preserved baroque architecture, and give your vocal chords a good workout on a Sound of Music tour.
4. Coconut Resort, Cairns, Australia
Pull up and plug in to this stunning rainforest campsite by the sparkling Great Barrier Reef for al fresco family living at its very best. Slide out your Maui Motorhome’s in-built barbecue pit and cook up a true blue, Aussie feast. Send the kids inside for movie night on your giant LCD screen as you enjoy the great Australian outdoors, and a glass of lovely local wine. Back at base, the kids will love Coconut’s giant jumping pillows, splash park (below), outdoor cinema and mini golf course.
Hit the road:
1. Take the highway north-west for around 40 minutes through dense, forested mountains to Kurunda Village where you can take a cable car ride in the clouds. Even for the height-phobic, the glorious rainforest views out to the Coral Sea from the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway are well worth it.
2. Beach lovers, head north on Captain Cook Highway for an hour or so until you reach picture-perfect Port Douglas. It’s a tropical paradise, with obligatory palm-lined white sands; and Four Mile Beach is a must-visit.
– TEXT BY LUCY CLEEVE
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
