Vintage caravan is getting popular in Australia during COVID-19

As COVID-19 puts a hold on international travel plans and Australians look closer to home for their holidays, caravans have been exploding in popularity.

They’re popping up at caravan sites across the country. Parked alongside flashy modern rigs are a growing number of vintage caravans, with renovations that leave the sticky-beaks lining up for a look. 

But vintage vans — in original or renovated condition — are in particularly high demand, with many snapped up within hours of going on the market.

Some renovated vintage caravans are being sold for close to $20,000 and on Facebook pages van owners share renovation tips and plan meet ups at caravan parks across the country.

Rosalie and Carl Needham, both designers, paid $200 for a 1965-built van three years ago and named her Piccolo Rose.

They completely gutted and rebuilt the 10-foot caravan in just over four months, keeping the original frame, wheels, hub caps and windows.

“People ask me, ‘Is that a new van made to look old or an old van made to look new?’ And I tell them it’s both,” Ms Needham said.

“On one occasion we had 30 people queued up waiting to come and look inside,” she said.

“That was fun initially but after owning her for a few months my husband said, ‘This is crazy, it’s just not fun’.”

Justin Hales, founder and CEO of Camplify, which is like Airbnb for caravans, said there was a general trend towards caravanning holidays and vintage caravans represented more simpler times.

“I think there’s definitely a big element of nostalgia there as part of it,” he said.

Mr Hales said vintage vans were being rented for between $90 and $200 a night, with top-end restorations going for $250 a night.

Diana Lovasi, from Umina on the Central Coast, bought her renovated 1976 Millard caravan, Daisy on Tour, for $10,000 in September last year. She has already made back the purchase price by renting it out through Camplify.

“From the July school holidays until the end of November we only had a few weekends where it wasn’t booked out,” she said.

Ms Lovasi said the COVID pandemic had a lot to do with high rental demand, but people found the shape and design of retro vans particularly attractive.