Travel Australia Podcast by The Feel Good Family

Chasing Paradise While Weighing The Cost Of Safety On Australia’s Roads

• Paul Guerin & Katie Guerin • Season 2025 • Episode 251

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A tropical creek you can actually drink from, a camp kitchen by the water, and paddocks lined with rambutan and mangosteen trees—Paradise Camps lived up to its name and then some. We set up under the palms, met the hosts who made it feel like home, and used this Hipcamp haven as a launchpad for Babinda’s best: the legendary bakery, a small but rich community museum, and short drives to Josephine Falls and the dramatic, cautionary beauty of Babinda Boulders. No crocs in the creek, just cold, clear water that wakes you up and reminds you why Far North Queensland is a bucket-list region.

Between swims and bakery runs, we opened a bigger conversation: should towing large caravans in Australia require a licence or endorsement? With more people on the road and heavier rigs than ever, the accident data is moving in the wrong direction. We break down the pros and cons—safety gains, clearer standards, insurer incentives versus added costs, complexity, and the risk of red tape. Our view leans toward education first: short, practical towing courses that demystify weights, turning geometry, braking distances, and tyre management. Know your GVM, GCM, and tow ball weight. Get weighed in combination. Slow down. These habits build confidence and save lives, whether you’re cruising the Bruce Highway or easing down a slim cane-field road.

We also talk family on the move. Jasper picked up the Barefoot Investor kids’ book again and it clicked—goals, saving, and small business ideas to fund the bigger dreams we won’t buy for him. Pair that with the daily lessons of full-time travel and you get a practical education that most classrooms never touch: money sense, planning, and reading the road for real. If you love the idea of a hipcamp that blends paradise with easy access to hikes, swims, and classic country-town eats, this one should top your list.

If this story brightened your day or made you rethink how you tow, tap follow, share it with a mate, and leave a quick review. Your note helps other travellers find safer roads and better campsites across Australia.

📍 Watch on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/bUuvpGQtytk?si=SQGBEfStQei4bFtX

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SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to the Travel Australia Podcast. We have Paul Katie and Jasper from the Feel Good family. Join us this week's all of this great country Australia with people, places, and cultures.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, it's the original Travel Australia podcast when we share the latest in the industry news. And so much more. Thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_01:

This week, we share a hip camp property that proves to be a hotel of an six years full-time travel around the odds. And should we have to be licensed to tow a caravan here in Australia? It's a controversial topic. It keeps coming back. Time and time again, that's in RV News. Katie, we've had a pretty awesome week.

SPEAKER_02:

It has been a great week, and we are on the countdown. Can you believe 34 days until Christmas? Oh my goodness. I love it.

SPEAKER_01:

I love that every morning we wake up, Jasper's got a grin. I'm like, yeah, I just nod at him. Put put the boob on.

SPEAKER_02:

He's being exceptionally good, isn't he? Just reiterating for Santa that he's definitely on the good list again this year.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, I and I should explain the boob for those of you who aren't.

SPEAKER_02:

I just nodded like, yes, I know what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_01:

The boob lay, of course. The Michael Boob.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, we love in our life to a a good Christmas carol by Michael Booblay. And we are definitely fans of Christmas, so it's all happening. We're in festive spirit already. And uh look, the one thing that does need to happen between you and me, Paul, is some Christmas present shopping.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, I thought you were going to say I need to lay off the uh eggnog.

SPEAKER_02:

Rate my sink a lactail. But no, definitely need to get out there and uh get a few Christmas presents, which in itself is an interesting topic and probably a good one to chat about in an upcoming podcast, Paulie. But life on the road, how you manage in these holiday periods or birthdays with things that just migrate into your van space and and really some good pointers around what we've done over the six years and and how we deal with uh these sorts of events.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, and look, we get asked a lot about our management of Jasper, and to be completely honest and in one word, easy. Yes. The reason we say that is because we've only got one, he's got no one to argue with. I mean occasionally, and that's so rare. Uh I guess starting him travelling or all of us as a a full-time family six years ago when he was two certainly plays a huge part in that.

SPEAKER_02:

So he's a great traveller.

SPEAKER_01:

He doesn't know any different, he has the best seat in the house. Uh, you know, we don't get are we there yet? It's it's pretty, pretty bloody good. But then we get asked questions about his schooling, about socializing, is he getting enough other kids? You know, what does he do for apps and resources and entertainment and education? How does it all intertwine? So I thought as we're going along, we might just start to throw in a few little things. The one we wanted to mention this week uh that we would recommend for every parent out there or grandparent to put on the stocking filler list would be Scott Pape's Barefoot Investor Kids Book. Uh Jasper read this a couple of years ago, uh might not quite being right at the right age or or ripe enough in his his mind to not necessarily grasp it but have some sort of little fire in his belly to actually you know deliver on the concepts in the book. Absolutely. He has reread it again this last week and right, he's got it now sorted, right? This is what I'm doing, this is how I'm going to actually give, save, you know, create opportunity for myself because he wants the bigger toys than maybe Santa or us are going to bring, is what's really driven this, you know, which is is a good motivator, isn't it? When kids want something, then there's a no attached to it. Uh our recommendation was Tim, well, you know, what could you do yourself to to generate uh, you know, the extras that you you feel that you want? Like, can you set a goal? And boom, he got that book back out and he's onto it. So highly recommend that.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. Yes, we would say that is a a great one, Paulie. And nothing like learning this financial education young and really having the tools and the tips to set yourself up. And I'm just amazed at how motivated Jasper is by the prospect of earning money and coming up with all of these creative ideas and ways that he can do that. What's so great about the book too is that it shares stories of other kids who have created their own little businesses. You know, it could be anything from the lemonade stand out the front to, you know, a fully fledged online business. And there are kids out there all around Australia doing it. We have to say we're not associated with Scott Pape or the barefoot investor at all, but we absolutely love, as you said, Paul, that this has lit a fire in Jasper and it is so worthwhile for every kid out there.

SPEAKER_01:

Look, there's a couple of things in our current education structure through schooling here in Australia, certainly during our time, Katie, it's many years ago, uh, that we were in school uh and both secondary as well, and for you a bit of tertiary. Uh, and that was that there was a lack of emotional intelligence, financial intelligence, real care given to those two things that I think are integral pillars to life now. So, or anytime really. So, we're we encourage you, yeah, check that out and we'll share those little nuggets that we would endorse as we go along.

SPEAKER_02:

Sounds good.

SPEAKER_01:

Right out. Let's get into it. The feel good find of the week. It's called Paradise Camp. I mean, what else do you need to know?

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. Take it from us. This literally is paradise. And gosh, you know, it's a hard call to make when we've been on the road for over six years, and I don't know how many places we would have stayed in over those years, Paul.

SPEAKER_01:

Six years, I don't know. Quick campaign. A lot.

SPEAKER_02:

A lot. We we have experienced every type of camping, whether that's a caravan park, a campground, a free camp, gravel pit, you know, you name it, we've done it. And I'm putting it out there. This is up there in our absolute favorites.

SPEAKER_01:

For sure.

SPEAKER_02:

It is simply stunning. So let's give you the details. Paradise Camps, it is located in tropical North Queensland.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, you said that. Paradise Camps had a little whisper, a little tropical seduction in it.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I did it. I've got this underscore.

SPEAKER_01:

We'll be back after this short break.

SPEAKER_02:

This is a family show, Paul, a family show. I've got this underscore in my mind of just this really beautiful, chilled Sunday afternoon tropical music playing as I give you these notes for Paradise Camps. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

Meanwhile, I got Barry White.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my goodness. All right, here we go. Located about an hour south of Cairns or 10 minutes outside of the quaint little village of Babinda. Now, this is an area of tropical North Queensland that we have not really explored before. And truly, we just found this one on the Hip Camp app. I was looking for somewhere not too far down the road from Cairns. Where will we go? Found it on Hip Camp. It got amazing reviews. And I tell you what did it for me were the pictures of the creek that run through this property. It is 40 acres owned by D and Rob. Beautiful hosts. If you get the opportunity to spend some time with them, we would say do.

SPEAKER_01:

And always, you've heard it time and time again. The people make the place, well, the place had already blown us away, and then rocks up D and then Rob a little later, and we were just, as you say, completely taken by the joy in this couple, and that they're wanting to share their slice of heaven blows our mind.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

We'd be selfish, wouldn't we?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, I know. Well, I that's what I said to Paul. Like, I just don't know if I could share this with other people. But then the joy of the sharing is so great as well. So you can totally see both sides. Now, what's cool about this place? You can't. You just have it all to yourself. Yeah, go away, campus. Okay, you can pick your own site. So when you go onto the Hip Camp app, they have a number of different paddocks, and there are tropical fruit trees galore on this property. So you'll notice that one paddock's called Mango Steen, one's called Rambutan, and they go on and on. You can book a paddock and then pick your own site and just basically set up wherever it suits you. And there is no bad spot. You are going to have incredible views no matter where you choose. Uh they do have a small number of powered sites. So if off-grid camping is not your thing, you're not set up for that, then they've got the powered sites there, which is fantastic.

SPEAKER_01:

We had a couple of questions come in off our YouTube episode because the footage is well, like you say, you can't you can't pick a bad spot, you can't take a bad photo. It just it is that stunning. Uh could we bring our 40-foot bus in?

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, you can.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, there's so much space and they do cater for big rigs. Uh in fact, they cater for anybody. There was people uh down the paddock further from us who were in their swags, we were towing our caravan, motorhomes, you name it, if you've got something to sleep in, you can go there. What's great is that you don't necessarily need to be fully self-contained because they do have uh some bathrooms there on site near the powered area. And there are four rooms that they were actually in the process of renovating while we were there. So even if you don't have a swag or your home on wheels, you can still go and enjoy paradise. And what's more, every member of your family can. They are super pet friendly.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and when we say super pet friendly, Dee uh works at a veterinarian clinic back in Cairns, I believe, a couple of days a week.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And she said, Yeah, yeah, no, when we say pets, I mean we've had people here with guinea pigs.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, and horses.

SPEAKER_01:

Amazing. There's a goat jumping, a happy little jumping goat.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, that's so interesting that you say that because we got told today that um about uh another family who are out there travelling with a a little goat as well. And I mean, as far as having a pet goes, uh having a cute little goat hopping around, making you smile.

SPEAKER_01:

Greatest of all time pet.

unknown:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

I love it, Jasper. I'll love that one as well.

SPEAKER_01:

He's not a goat. I offered him, he's been really pestering us, you know. Please come and get a pet, please come and get a pet. I just want to get a little puppy, I just want to get little Can I get a pet? Can I pet out? I'm like yes. We caved in, I said you can get a goldfish. And he's so his little mind is just so literally can't kind of grasp this idea of how he's gonna carry it, and I'm like, just topperware, man. There's that lid, shweet, you'll be smited.

SPEAKER_02:

Just balance it on your lap on a travel day, all good. Anyway, needless to say, we don't have a goldfish. Okay, back to paradise camps. What really is the hero of this property outside of how green it is and dripping with life is the crystal clear freshwater creek that runs through the property. It is fed from Queensland's tallest mountain.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it actually borders onto the national park. So it's uh always amazes us when these people have a neighbour that is a national park, and then you've got Queensland's tallest mountain, which is Bartelfreya.

SPEAKER_02:

That's the one.

SPEAKER_01:

Boom.

SPEAKER_02:

Ding ding ding. Yeah, so the water was refreshing. And when I say refreshing, I mean icy, but crystal clear, and that is the water that they use on the property for drinking water as well.

SPEAKER_01:

Jasper and I had a not a midnight swim, but a late swim, like I think it was like 9 p.m. and in the deeper water hole. And it what did he say? He said it was rewarding.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, he said, I know I f know I'm alive.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, definitely. So it's it's cool. I I didn't think it was cold, but it it definitely uh will make you feel alive. Definitely feel alive.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Now look, we should answer the all-important question. We did get a lot of comments about this on our social posts when we popped up some sensational images from the property. Uh, I believe one of the comments said, Are there any snapping handbags in the creek? And for those of you who are joining us outside of Australia and don't know what a snapping handbag is, they're referring to crocodiles, and of course, anywhere in northern Australia, waterways, you know, enter at your own risk because crocodiles are prominent. Very thankfully, of course, we wouldn't be anywhere near the water's edge. There were no crocodiles in this little creek.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. Is it Louis Vuitton? Can get you a little snapping handbag cage. Oh, that's terrible. Set you back a few grand.

SPEAKER_02:

That's terrible. I know. Well, I can Steve O, wherever you are up there, would just be like shaking his head right now. Anyway, we move on. What else is great about this property? The camp kitchen.

SPEAKER_01:

We're not going to get a sponsor by Louis Vuitton ever, are we?

SPEAKER_02:

I don't think so. I don't think it's our styled hotel. Nah, should be right, mate. Louis Vuitton in a caravan? Maybe not. Uh the camp kitchen, one of the best well-equipped camp kitchens we've ever seen. Now it's rustic, it's open air, it's right on the edge of the creek, but boy, they've done a great job here, and it is fitted out with everything that you would need to be able to come over, make a meal, sit and enjoy the beautiful views. Now, being so close to Babinda, it's literally like ten minutes into Babinda Town Centre.

SPEAKER_01:

What a great little town it is. It is got a village vibe about it. That's it.

SPEAKER_02:

It does, real old school.

SPEAKER_01:

And the sugar cane trains.

SPEAKER_02:

So good.

SPEAKER_01:

I I love all of that.

SPEAKER_02:

It's it a little bit stepping back in time kind of vibe. Yeah, definitely. Uh you know, the famous bakery that everybody knows about, you know, you've got to stop in at the Babinda Bakery.

SPEAKER_01:

If you get there after 1 p.m., half the stock's gone, they're almost sold out, and you leave disappointed. Don't do that. That's what happened to us.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, definitely. Uh only another five or so minutes up the road from Babinda Town Centre is the incredibly famous or infamous Babinda Boulders.

SPEAKER_01:

One of the most naturally stunning locations with these epic rock formations, the forests meeting these raging torrents that then quieten down into an eerie stillness, and then a rage again, and then safe swimming areas. Uh it's it's yeah, it is truly naturally beautiful. It's one of those epic experiences that from a drone's perspective as well, we really were able to capture. We love that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it is. And look, it's also known as one of the deadliest water holes in Australia or around the world, I believe. And very sadly and tragically, there have been more than twenty-one deaths here at the boulders.

SPEAKER_01:

And that's since they were recording them from 65 onwards, 1965 onwards, uh a little before our time, Katie. Just a little. But it's believed that there there's been plenty more that just aren't registered.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, look, and there is a an incredible indigenous story that goes along with the Bibinda Boulders and uh some incredible accounts from people who have visited here. Look, we would say definitely worth a visit. There is a safe swimming pool called the Hippie Pool that you can go for a refreshing dip just but just had so many questions around why it was called the hippie pool. Try explaining that to a nine-year-old.

SPEAKER_01:

Full of hippies, mate.

SPEAKER_02:

So you can swim there, but do take heed of the warnings and do not swim in the dangerous areas. There is so much signage. It is so clear to know where you can be and where you can't be. And we would just say to you, don't be that person who goes over the fence and risks their life.

SPEAKER_01:

It's crazy to read the accounts of people who were witness to people doing that. Uh and in recent times in the last few years that tragically uh didn't reservice uh and were killed.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh yeah, I mean, to be witness there or to to lose someone because they're been dead by their mates, or to you know, one guy said, No, no, I'm gonna give it a go, I'm gonna go down there. And they're like, What are you doing? Don't he's like, No, no, it'll be right, and then he just never came out the other end, you know.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and look, it it it hits hard when you do there is a a great little walking track that you can do pave the whole way, and it basically takes you along uh I guess as far following the river as you can. There are memorial plaques scattered everywhere to many of the people who have lost their lives. So beautiful to go and witness, but just be sensible, is what we would say. Somewhere we did swim was Josephine Falls, and that is only about five minutes in the opposite direction from Paradise Camps, and again absolutely stunning spot.

SPEAKER_01:

I think that's why Paradise Camps is such an awesome location outside of just being in such a beautiful environment that ten minutes to Babinda, fifteen to the boulders, five minutes to Josephine Falls, uh really just an awesome location to set up and explore this region.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, most certainly. And if you're an avid hiker like your brother Jeff Paul, I mean he specifically drives down from Port Douglas to come and do some of the hikes, and in fact, he came down to meet us for a delicious dinner at the Babinda Taverna, and he'd just been uh hiking the Goldfields track, wasn't it? Yes, and that does leave from the boulders and it's well signed there as well. So if you love your hikes, there's plenty of tracks out here.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, just past the hippie pools. Yeah. At the other end is the yuppie pool. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

I love it. I must have missed that site.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, that's where the people from Louisville for Tom hang out.

SPEAKER_02:

That's great. Now, some other things to shout out to before we leave Babinda is the quaint little Babinda Museum. We stopped in there, and again, we would encourage you to do that. It is free entry. Of course, they do accept donations, and um, you know, that's always great to support these places.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, a couple of bucks, five bucks. I think it's really worth it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

The community is thankful for it. It's always volunteer-led.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, they've done this so well. It's a really beautiful uh little museum and little it is, but the stories that are told on the interpretive signage of, you know, the first immigrants that came out and then really became the the champions of Babinder and went on to do amazing things, not only for Babinder itself, but also for Tropical North Queensland. Just very, very cool. And they had a little interactive uh thing for Jasper to do as well, so the kids would love that as well. And we also stopped and had some lunch at uh what I believe is a relatively new cafe in town called Hey Marte, spelt like the word mate, M-A-T-E. And that was just one or two doors up from the museum.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, really good. And again, uh I would just say any of these regional townships, which you would refer to Babinder as, 2 p.m. starts to shut down.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, get out and explore early in the morning if you want to grab a coffee or get the best pie or cream bun from the bakery. Don't leave it until the afternoon. Everybody's gone home to sleep.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, but that Amore Sicilian restaurant.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. At the Taverna, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Seriously, one of the best meals we've had ever. I loved it.

SPEAKER_02:

If you love your Italian, you just can't go wrong here. That was great. And the prices, oh my goodness, the prices were incredibly reasonable.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and good-looking stuff. I think that makes a difference sometimes, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, super friendly stuff too.

SPEAKER_01:

Friendly and good looking.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, even better. Boom. And look, before we leave Paradise Camps, we should give a shout out to Ken, who we met there, and he's a longtime viewer of our YouTube channel. And look, we always love running into fellow campers and and especially people who really have been with us from the start. It it I don't think it'll ever get old for us to be just incredibly amazed and grateful for people who have followed our journey for so long. And and I love it because everybody says, Oh my goodness, look at how big Jasper is. He's so tall now. Gosh, I remember when he was only two, and they just recount, you know, this feeling of of really being a part of our family and being on the journey with us, and it's so special.

SPEAKER_01:

It is, and Ken was an inspiration in his own right. He shared his story with us, and we both just left and went, wow, that was an amazing experience.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, incredibly experience to me. Positive, positive soul, wasn't he? And really just full of encouraging. Yeah, yeah, that's what I was gonna say, full of encouragement to not only us, but you know, his whole message was basically, you know, if you're passionate about it and you've got a love for it, then just go for it. Like life is too short.

SPEAKER_01:

Gee, that was Steve Irwin's message for us both working there with him. In particular, UK having six years, you know, uh uh you know, as his right-hand man almost with himself and Terry there looking after uh their family. He really instilled this idea that if you can genuinely find something you're passionate in, you'll be rewarded beyond measure. You know, and uh we love that from Steve Irwin and and certainly Ken had that vibe about him too. Just uh yeah, inspiring people.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. So good. One life, hey.

SPEAKER_01:

Get on with it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, that's exactly right. What do they say? Get busy living. Yeah, get it dying. Yeah. Anyways, let's move on. We're gonna go straight into RV News. Now, there is a growing call out there, um, particularly coming out of Queensland, for more formalised training or licensing for towing bigger rigs and caravans. Uh, there's one article that's noted that although a standard car license, which is a class C license, allows a vehicle to tow a large caravan, a truck license is required to drive a vehicle with a mass ton over four point five tons, okay? Down there in New South Wales. Now, you look at our setup, okay, we're sitting at around 7.3 tonne in our combination. All right. That's gross combined GCM. Yeah. Um weights, okay. But we have a a GCM of eight point two tonne. Which to be honest, we would never uh recommend that that you really should be towing that sort of weight around the country with the land cruiser 300 and you know, and then put four and a half.

SPEAKER_02:

Right, so we're winding. So the eight point three is what we're allowed to get up to.

SPEAKER_01:

Eight point two.

SPEAKER_02:

Eight point two. Whew, lucky, lucky you know what we're talking about. So the eight point two is what we're allowed to get up to, and we're currently sit around seven point three.

SPEAKER_01:

Correct. Right. Exactly. Okay. Now what I I really want to just open this up a bit, it's it can be quite controversial, this topic. Um and it's difficult here in Australia in that we have, you know, tiered politics Yeah, well every state has different regulations. It's exactly the same across the rules around towing capacities and speeds and it you know it depends on what border you cross to the rules and and you know, what's legal and what's grey. Yes. Okay, or not legal. All right, the pros around this, okay. This is introducing a specific license or endorsement for large tow combinations. First pro, safety boost. More rigorous training, licensing means drivers towing large combinations, heavy caravans, big rigs, will be better prepared, reducing the risk of accidents, rollovers, and braking failures. You've got clarity and consistency. A dedicated license or endorsement sets a clear threshold. If you're towing this size and weight, you need this license. That reduces that confusion between the states and across those borders and across different vehicle setups like that. Risk management for insurers, regulators, and park operators, having a recognized standard may help manage liability and set minimum competency levels. Sure. All right. Now, this is one that we're very keen on because education is, you know, embedded in everything that we present as far as content is the professionalization of towing forearms. Elevates the profile of towing heavy rigs, which in turn could drive better equipment, better training, and raise the path of safety in caravanning. Yeah. And in the you know, in the in the camping, for driving world. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. No, I agree. I mean, gosh, before we move on to the cons, Paulie, I think um, gosh, we've seen it across our six years of being on the road, and certainly what feels like an increase uh in the last few years, and maybe that's because there's more of us out there on the road exploring, the increase in incidents, the increase in accidents, you know, they just seem to be popping up everywhere in your news feed. And like we're talking safety. It's it's not like this is, you know, something that's not life-risking. This really is, you know, a very important topic, and it certainly does get a lot of noise, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01:

It does. Look, in Queensland, uh, when you look at the Transport Main Roads caravanning towing fact sheet that they've put out, their report says on average now 14 lives are lost, and 243 are hospitalized, serious injuries each year from road crashes involving a light passenger vehicle towing a trailer, which is caravans, camper trailers, boats, also includes horse floats.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow.

SPEAKER_01:

That's in Queensland.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, well.

SPEAKER_01:

When you go over across to WA, it's now reported that the caravan had related collisions have increased by almost 20% over the past three years.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01:

So yeah, so is it because everything's getting bigger and people are just not even considering what they're actually putting in or what they're towing with or what the weights are? Is it just because there's more people out there?

SPEAKER_02:

I th I think I don't think it's just one clear-cut thing. I honestly think it's it's a perfect storm of a lot of things. It's a perfect storm of more people on the road, more people having the dream of, you know, wanting to to pack up, chuck it in for whether that's 12 months or indefinitely, and do their big lap around Australia. Vehicles are getting bigger. Tow vehicles are getting bigger and heavier, caravans are getting bigger and heavier, the the campsite envy is getting bigger, you know. Oh, look at what old mate's got his rig decked out with. Oh, I need to get that. Absolutely. And it's happening in the van world as well, you know. We see all of this incredible innovation which excites us so much, but in turn, that also creates this, you know, epic, oh well, I need to have that and I need to have that. And things are just getting bigger and heavier. So I think there's this perfect storm, and then also there's plenty of people still out there like us, Paul, when we first started, who don't really understand how the weights work, what it all means, and the gravity of what that translates to when you're out there on the road.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, look, you talk to people about their toe ball weight and adding that onto their GVM w what does that mean? What what how do I get my toe ball weight?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and and you know, the amount of rigs that we see out there that are like blatantly overloaded and and probably most of them are just because people don't understand.

SPEAKER_01:

Look, I I think I'm right. I I can't be a hundred percent sure here, but it's up around this percentage. Fifty-eight percent of vehicles that have been weight-checked across Queensland when they did their road safety initiative with the Queensland government. Out there near Long Reach, they they pulled up a thousand vans, and it was just uh an education piece. It wasn't anything to do with fining. Sure. Fifty-eight per cent of them were overweight in more than one of the six compliances. Three compliance for the van, three for the vehicle. Yeah. Something's got to be changed here, right? All right, let's get on to the cons. Number one, the cost and accessibility. Implementing a new license class or endorsement creates cost, time and logistical burdens. Training providers, test infrastructure. For many casual caravanners, it might be seen as overkill. Sure. Okay. Yeah, we can come back to that. Complexity and regulation creep. The nanny state. It could add to the regulatory load for people who already feel there are too many rules. Some may argue we already manage with our current license and regulation. Why change now? Threshold definition issues where do you draw the line? Over six tonne, over X combination mass, a caravan plus a tow vehicle total equals Y. Etc. Getting consistent definitions across states is hard. We know that here in Australia, across many areas, particularly politics. Potential barrier to participation. Some people fear that extra licensing might discourage casual touring or make caravanning and towing film more professional and expensive and therefore less accessible.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, look, and there are definitely lots of considerations there as well, and lots of excellent points and valid points too, I think. So what is the answer?

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think cost, and I'm talking, what did we spend? 340 bucks, probably now 400 bucks for a half-day towing course for you and I both combined to go and do a towing course with a professional industry expert who showed us some really clear, concise safety pointers for hitching, unhitching, towing.

SPEAKER_02:

Or even how the caravan manoeuvres behind your tow vehicle.

SPEAKER_01:

The maths behind it. It just, you know, made a real science clear for us. I I loved that. So when you And that cost was minimal for that education. That's my point. You know, anything that's you know, sub a thousand dollars that can be an education piece that could in the end save you or somebody else's life because you've now got a knowledge base that you've been able to put into practice, build confidence, and then be smarter, safer traveller. I I don't see that cost should be a factor. I understand that sometimes it is. So you know, maybe there's a subsidized towing courses for caravanners. Um we 100% believe that it's nothing to do with being, you know, a nanny state or regulation creep as they refer to it. I think that more education, better knowledge base, better confidence, better outcomes, safer roads.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. I absolutely agree with you on that across all ages and and demographics too out there, you know, from the the young families who are out there to the grey nomads who, you know, who may have been caravanning for a very, very long time. I I do think that ongoing education, you know, not just a one hit is really important as well.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, look, it could be interesting to have you know this sort of practical and uh theoretical proposition where you're doing half-day training, half-day theory, and then you you tick and flick, you know, you have to get 85 or 90 percent right, or whatever it is, like in in your normal licensing setup. Uh and then similar to right now, look on my license class C, then I have my jet ski license and my boat license.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, you know, that's a really interesting point as well, Paul, because you need to get a license to drive a boat. You need to get a license.

SPEAKER_01:

A license to jet ski to to drive a vehicle over four and a half tonne.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And now you can put a combination up to uh, you know, 8.2 tonne and not need anything.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it's interesting. Gosh, we'd love to know what you think on this matter. And please do definitely share your thoughts with us because you know it's it's a great topic to keep discussing on the podcast.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, we're definitely at a tipping point. Uh and I and I think the industry is asking, you know, whether towing big rigs should carry a higher licence standard. And the case for safety is strong. Yeah. And then I guess there's the argument on cost and infrastructure and better, you know, who's going to facilitate it, who's going to manage it, etc. in our independent state approach to these things. You know, a regulatory body across the whole caravaning industry needs to be sorted out.

SPEAKER_02:

Definitely.

SPEAKER_01:

To be honest. Yeah, I agree. And this could be part of that. I also think um, you know, it's I think there's only one or two states that uh suggest or I think implement that you should be dropping your speed by ten kilometres per hour to the speed limit.

SPEAKER_02:

Sure.

SPEAKER_01:

So if it's a hundred, you can do ninety. If it's hundred and ten, you can do a hundred. Anything over a hundred and ten, if it gets to 130, the limit's still a hundred. Sure. For for caravan. Uh the idea that you could be doing some additional training and then getting a five percent discount on your insurer.

SPEAKER_02:

Definitely. Incentivise is a a great way to get people on board, particularly when it's within the industry, as you say, on insurance or or specific products or gear related to caravanning and camping. I think anything that is an incentive to take up, yeah, okay, actually that that is valid, and I will go and get that training done is a great idea.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, let us know what you think. Drop us a line. Uh this does divide people at times. We've really felt that the majority of people out there may not find interest in wanting to have to get a li an extra license, but understand the the safety component and the need for safer outcomes.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01:

Right, oh. Let's move on. We're gonna jump straight into our takeaway.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

This is from Katie. Drive like your life depends on it, because it does.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean it's great, isn't it? And it actually really does hit home and it is so relevant to what we were talking about. I think that's the other big factor in this, Paul, is that you know, the caravan and camping industry, it you know, you get your you get your dream, you get your setup, and you're off. And and what better country to explore than this amazing country that we have here and and are so privileged to call home in Australia? You don't really think about, you know, these the other flip side of it, that you're out on the road, that you know, you there's not much between you and the bitumen, you know, literally little bits of rubber in your tyres, you know, that you there are I don't know how many other drivers out there on the road, how many other RVs out there like you don't set off and think really about any of that, and it's not until you've either witnessed something or you see those posts that are confronting come up on Facebook that it actually rings home that yeah, this this is serious and it does need serious consideration. And I don't know if there's a you know, one one glove fits all kind of answer.

SPEAKER_01:

I'll tell you what the answer is right now, while while it's still grey and we're a little bit in limbo and who knows how long this stuff takes is education, education, education. Go and do a time course. Go and get your vehicle set up weighed in combination, understand your weights, understand the weight distribution, get our RV first aid. There's still a 50% discount there. It's in the show notes, check it out, and that covers off everything that you'd ever want to know. Uh but one thing in that RV first aid that I'll say is priceless and you know, worth the ticket of entry admission is the tire management. As you said, that is what's between you and the bitumen or the gravel or the sand, you know, is understanding how to manage your tyres so that you can do this safely because we uh have had a couple of tyre blowouts, and when that happens, it's pretty exciting. Uh, but it can be catastrophic. So understanding how to look after yourself better, peace of mind, confidence, love it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, education is key, and to the point of the takeaway, driving like your life depends on it.

SPEAKER_01:

Because it does. All right, next week, Ettie Bay. Oh, what do you think about that place, Katie?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my gosh, we're just the bar keeps rising.

SPEAKER_01:

The bar keeps rising. It does. We're gonna meet Cassawaris on the beach at our campground, plus the 337 degrees overheating. Oh, what are we gonna do? From now till then, look after yourself, look after your family.

Head Shot

Katie Guerin

Host
Head Shot

Paul Guerin

Host