7 things you should know before going caravanning

Many Australians have the dream of packing up a caravan, taking to the road and exploring the country. But before you connect the caravan to the tow bar and hit the pavement, there are things to think about to make sure your experience is a good as it possibly can be.

Read more: 5 things you should look for before buying a caravan

1. Say goodbye to your privacy

Many people have incredibly high expectations of what they’re going to get up to while they’re on that ultimate caravanning trip. And while, yes, there will be opportunities to spend some private time in a secluded patch with nothing but your camping chair, a cup of tea and good book to keep you company (oh, and perhaps the significant other), it’s important to remember that caravan parks can be crowded spaces. Get used to not having much privacy, but it can be a great way to make friends and learn helpful caravanning tips while you’re on the road.

2. Things never go according to plan

The quicker you embrace things not going according to plan, the easier and more enjoyable your caravanning experience will be. Instead of worrying too much about where your next stop is, how long it takes to set up your site, or how bad the toilet block smells, just enjoy the experience and appreciate how different each and every stop-off is.

3. It will take some adjusting

No doubt it’s going to take some time to adjust from your regular life to your caravanning life. Some of the little luxuries that you’ve come to love over the years aren’t going to be available to you when you’re on the road. But that doesn’t mean you won’t develop other little luxuries along the way, like finding the perfect powered site, brewing a fresh cup of coffee and watching the sunrise from your front door.

Read more: Your FAQs about caravanning answered

4. Everyone will have an opinion about what you’re doing

This can work in your favour, especially if you find yourself meeting experienced nomads who have years of tips and advice to offer. But it can be a little overwhelming as people telling you different things and sometimes conflicting information. Take the information and do with it what you will, but sometimes the best thing you can do is just say thank you and go on your way.

5. You’ll irritate other motorists

If you’ve ever driven behind a car with a caravan attached, then you’ll understand other people’s frustration. Now you will be their cause of annoyance, but rather than getting caught up in the situation, simply move out of the overtaking lane and be glad that you’re living your travel dream, and they probably aren’t!

6. Say goodbye to sleeping in

Caravanning is all about early starts, especially if you want to make good time getting to your destinations around the country. For that reason, you shouldn’t count on too many sleep in days, but that’s really up to you and your style of travel.

7. It’s a heck of a lot of fun

At the end of the day, your caravan trip should be all about having a great time. So go out there, hit the road and have fun!

Do you have any other tips for people thinking about going caravanning? Let us know in the comments section below.