Camping Escape to an Island in Winter
If you think islands are just for summer, think again! Winter transforms these beautiful gems into peaceful wonderlands for campervan getaways. Whether you’re a seasoned winter camper or just curious about off-season escapes, read on to discover Susan’s experience of Kangaroo Island.
Favourite Places
Susan purchased her van in 2016, and since then she has been lucky enough to make the most of travelling on the road. She has travelled more than 160,000kms across, around, down and up Australian, including an island escape.
Susan has even explored to the tip of Cape York with her border collie, Buddy.
Despite not having a clear cut favourite spot, Susan enjoys each destination as every place has its own offerings. Plus she finds it hard to beat her home town, Point Lonsdale.
She has enjoyed travelling in her van, and completely fallen in love with travelling solo.
Recent Trips
Susan recently travelled to Kangaroo Island in her campervan on a trip with her son, who had his own camper trailer.
The pair settled in one location for a couple of days to make the most of their visit to the island.
“We base camped at Kingscote and used my son’s 4WD to explore,” said Susan. “We have two dogs so were unable to venture into the national park but Kangaroo Island had a lot of beaches and walks to enjoy. Being on an island also meant that there was peace and serenity with hardly any tourists.”
There were many cafes and shops were closed at this time, but depending on your travel style, and for Susan this wasn’t an issue. She loves winter travel and says it is perfect if you like to avoid crowds. One bit of advice would be to invest in good raincoat, and get out and walk.
The worst part of the trip also became a bit of an adventure for Susan when the winter weather showed its true colours. A massive cold front hit Kangaroo Island, and to avoid being stuck in the weather on the island for two days, she opted for catching the ferry before it was cancelled.
“It was a horrible trip in severe seas and sorely tested our sea legs,” said Susan. “Most passengers were seasick and I don’t know what our dogs thought about being alone in the van. We drove in the dark with a raging storm to Victor Harbour.”
Why Winter Camping?
Susan says she loves winter camping because you never know what the weather could be, as you can still get plenty of pleasant days.
She also enjoys winter cooking and recommends any pasta meals as it an easy and filling option for when you are on the road.
“You can’t go past a good curry either,” said Susan.
The fridge is a game changer in the van. It holds plenty of food and it is easy to restock from town to town.
Travelling with a mid-top van, Susan says she loves it as it means her ceiling does not pop up but it is well insulated.
“I am never cold and the van is a cosy retreat,” she says. “The best part about my van is that everything is easy, it is easy to drive, simple to set up, quick to move on and plenty of space for Buddy and me.”
To explore more client travel blogs head to our website to see where they’ve been and add them to your list. Read blogs here.
Happy Vanning!
