GOOD. Sure, you could fly to Port Douglas, THE SELF-DRIVE TRAVEL IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BEST WAY TO SEE AUSTRALIA. PRACTICAL COMFORTS

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2 THE GOOD SELF-DRIVE TRAVEL IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE BEST WAY TO SEE AUSTRALIA. PICS STU GRANT Sure, you could fly to Port Douglas, Qld, or to Broome, WA. But they say the journey is the destination, and when you re exploring a country as diverse, large and downright beautiful as ours, isn t that the truth? To fly to your destination inevitably means bypassing spectacular scenery and foregoing adventures you d potentially remember for a lifetime. Not only would you miss out on hitting the highways and byways, exploring the hidden corners of Australia s diverse landscapes, but you d also miss out on the benefits of time spent in the great outdoors and the joy of meeting likeminded travellers along the way. And there s nothing quite like sitting back as the sun sets, chatting with your new campground friends over a happy hour drink. As far as we re concerned, the argument is settled: driving to your destination beats flying. End of story. PRACTICAL COMFORTS When you re looking to choose your new home on wheels, there are many things to consider: How much space will you need? Are the kids or grandkids joining you along the way? And what level of comforts do you require? For a lot of people, the self-contained nature of a motorhome holds plenty of appeal. In terms of benefits, the

3 LOOKING FOR YOUR NEW HOME ON WHEELS? HERE ARE SOME ALL-IMPORTANT FEATURES AND ACCESSORIES YOU LL WANT WITH YOU ON THE ROAD A big fridge: Look for good storage capacity so you can stock up on food before you leave and have a cool drink ready at the end of the day. Air-conditioning: Keep your cool and sleep easily on hot summer nights. Many motorhomes come with roof-top air-conditioners already installed. Awning: Essential for providing shade at camp so you can sit back and relax. Electrical awnings are even better, requiring only the push of a button easy! Insect screening: Keep those friendly flies and mozzies outside at all times. Look for screens on doors as well as windows. Roof-mounted solar panels: Make the most of nature s free energy source to keep your batteries topped up at camp. Good storage space: You ll want a good selection of cupboards and storage bins, both inside and outside the motorhome, for all your camping and beach gear. TV: While it s nice to make the most of the outdoors, when the weather packs it in it s great to be able to snuggle up inside and watch your favourite program. A comfy bed: At the end of the day, we all want a good night s sleep! biggest plus of a motorhome is the nofuss factor. No hitching and unhitching, just pack your gear, turn the ignition, and hit the road. Motorhomes offer the convenience and comforts of home and many come equipped with combo bathrooms as well as full kitchens and multiple sleeping quarters you d be surprised at what can be sensibly fitted into such small spaces. And knowing there s a comfy bed to fall into at the end of a day s explorations is always a massive plus! A motorhome can also be more cost effective than purchasing a caravan and tow vehicle combination, and if you re looking at second-hand models, even more so. With low kilometres on the clock, an exrental model such as the four-berth Discovery or six-berth Traveller can offer great value for money. Whether you re looking to purchase a motorhome, find the latest RV accessories or undertake refurbishments or repairs, RV Sales Centre has you covered, with over 120 years of combined sales and service experience. The centre stocks a large range of new and exrental two, four and six berth Australian-made and imported motorhome models all fine tuned to tackle Australia s tough conditions. Our successful ex-rental motorhome sales scheme can offer low mileage at a very affordable price, along with the knowledge that the motorhome has been exceptionally well looked after and serviced during the short time it s been rented. Motorhome purchases come with the added benefit of three years of free servicing^ through the company s Australia-wide, on-site servicing network. RV Sales Centre is conveniently located just 10km west of the Melbourne CBD. Visit com.au for more information. ^For complete terms and conditions see back cover.

4 DISCOVERING FREEDOM SUMMER GETAWAYS ARE MADE EASY IN THE FOUR-BERTH EX-RENTAL DISCOVERY, AS OUR WRITER FOUND OUT... WORDS PETER QUILTY PICS STU GRANT The Discovery four-berth motorhome is perfect for a summer getaway. It s ideal for a family of four, two couples travelling together or a couple that likes a bit of flexibility and space in their living arrangements. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy, and I recently enjoyed a short break with my wife, Meredyth, travelling on the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas in the Discovery. It was a comfortable and relaxing way to explore these popular coastal regions. Our first pit stop was at Barwon Heads and it was just so as we kicked back on the rear club lounge, which converts into a double bed. The panoramic rear and side windows gave us virtually a 360-degree view of the hamlet s stunning river. Later that day, we boarded the Queenscliff ferry bound for Sorrento and then spent the night on the Mornington Peninsula. We occupied the top double bed, which you pull down from the ceiling above the rear lounge, and its 2x1.4m dimensions allowed us the space to sleep like babies. I was a real fan of the Discovery s full bathroom, comprising a shower/toilet combo and washbasin. It s a convenience you really appreciate, and the ensuite, which also had a sizeable mirror, was pleasingly roomy. The kitchen amenities include a fourburner cooktop and grill, and good-sized 130L fridge/freezer. And I had no trouble knocking up some eggs and bacon for brekkie, with all the culinary items easily accessible courtesy of the galley s generous storage capacity. After finishing our morning sustenance, we hit the bitumen heading up the steep 305m elevation of Arthurs Seat in the FLEXIBLE LAYOUT FOR A COUPLE OR FAMILY FOUR-BERTH, FOUR-SEATER REAR BEDROOM/REAR LOUNGE LAYOUT COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO DRIVE LOUNGE CONVERTS TO A SECOND BED PANORAMIC SIDE AND REAR WINDOWS

5 YEAR 2016 BASE VEHICLE MERCEDES- BENZ SPRINTER 313 PASSENGERS 4 LENGTH 6.7M WIDTH 3.10M TRAVEL HEIGHT 2.97M INTERNAL HEIGHT 2.06M BEDS 2 DOUBLE AIR-CONDITIONING AIRCOMMAND SPARROW COOKING DOMETIC FOUR- BURNER COOKTOP AND GRILL FRIDGE/FREEZER WEBASTO 130L BATHROOM SHOWER/TOILET COMBO WATER 97L (FRESH); 97L (GREY) PRICE $120,000* (AUD) *See back cover for full terms and conditions Mornington Peninsula hinterland. The vista was breathtaking and I was also impressed by the performance of the Discovery s 2.2L, four-cylinder Mercedes- Benz Sprinter engine, which effortlessly climbed the near vertical terrain. The Discovery has an external length of 6.7m, but its relatively lightweight tare weight of 2954kg also made it quite manoeuvrable. Our journey was only a two-day stint, but the Discovery is capable of extensive touring given its decent battery, solar and water capacities. We re certainly keen for another trek with the Discovery, and the next time we ll be taking our two sons along for the ride too!

6 HIT THE ROAD! THE WELL-APPOINTED TRAVELLER MOTORHOME OFFERS ROOM FOR SIX AND LOW MILEAGE AT A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE. WORDS AND PICS MALCOLM STREET Motorhomes for families tend to be a bit thin on the ground and frequently available only to order, which can make them quite expensive. So a good alternative are the used motorhomes that flow out of the rental market. This six-berth Traveller is a prime example, not only in passenger capacity but also price. It will serve a family well and would also be a convenient option for a couple looking to occasionally have friends or grandkids along for the ride. Although THL owns the Traveller motorhomes, they are actually built by well-known Australian manufacturer Jayco. The Traveller is built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cab chassis. It comes with one of the lower powered 2.2-litre Benz diesels, but I found it managed to get along at a reasonable clip helped by the smooth seven-speed auto gearbox. It has a practical layout and is light and airy inside, fitted with double glazed windows and insect screens. With its two nearside external storage bins and a large one at the rear, the Traveller will easily cover your storage needs. Three double beds provide a range of SLEEPS AND CARRIES SIX PASSENGERS EQUIPPED FOR REMOTE CAMPING EXTERNAL BIN CAPACITY BATHROOM LAYOUT WITH ROOM TO MOVE KITCHEN FACILITIES USEFUL SHELVING FITTED UNDER THE OVERHEAD LOCKERS

7 YEAR 2016 BASE VEHICLE MERCEDES- BENZ SPRINTER 513CDI PASSENGERS 6 LENGTH 7.67M WIDTH 2.4M TRAVEL HEIGHT 3.19M INTERNAL HEIGHT 1.69M BEDS 3 DOUBLES AIR-CONDITIONING AIRCOMMAND IBIS 3 COOKING FOUR-BURNER GAS WITH GRILL; MICROWAVE FRIDGE/FREEZER DOMETIC 150L BATHROOM THETFORD TOILET AND SEPARATE SHOWER CUBICLE WATER 75L (FRESH); 80L (GREY) PRICE $130,000* (AUD) *See back cover for full terms and conditions sleeping choices. The main bed fits into the rear corner and has a large storage space underneath as well as a handy touch panel, so there s no need to get out of bed to turn off the lights definitely a plus! The second bed is in the Luton peak and can be lifted up or down as required, for ease of access to the cab. The third bed is made up from the caféstyle dinette by lowering the table and is slightly narrower than the others ideal for overnight visitors. The kitchen has ample bench space for cooking prep and storage for your kitchen essentials. It comes with a fourburner cooktop and grill, stainless steel sink, microwave and a decent capacity fridge. I found the bathroom quite roomy, which is not often the case in a six-berth motorhome. It features a separate shower cubicle as well as a cassette toilet, fold-up washbasin and shaving cabinet. All in all, I think the Traveller offers an excellent combination of premium comforts and practical features, perfect for those looking for an affordable, near new, multi-berth motorhome.

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