The Best Camping & Caravanning Apps For Your Next Travel Adventure
Australia's fantastic climate and pristine natural locations make it a camper and caravanners paradise. Hitting the open road to explore the country’s endless drawcard tourist spots, exquisite landscapes, and beautiful coastline has been on many travellers’ “holiday lists” since childhood. All the more reason to ensure your on-the-road travel plans aren’t sabotaged by poor weather, fully booked caravan parks or national roadworks. We road-test the Best Camping and Caravanning Apps for Australian destinations and conditions to ensure you’re well-prepared for your trip.
Take Advantage of an App for Camping in Australia to Avoid Disappointments On The Road
Australians are natural campers, with 67% of modern motorhome owners having camped as kids with their families, creating magical memories they hope to replicate with the new generations. With 87% of RV owners stating they enjoy outdoorsy lifestyles that include surfing, fishing and hiking, an app for camping in Australia makes perfect sense if you’re planning sites near locations that offer these activities.
Avoid disappointment by downloading a comprehensive cross-section of caravan park apps with travel and weather guides for your next motorhome journey. Use the apps to find out if the burger joint you were hankering for is closed or you’re headed into inclement weather. This can make all the difference to your holiday enjoyment, especially if you’re travelling with kids. If you want your furry friends to join your holiday adventures, knowing which sites are pet-friendly can help you plan the perfect getaway. Finding that magical spot by the bend in the river or a lush bush trail leading to sweeping hilltop vistas can make you feel like you’ve hit caravanning gold.
The Best Caravan Travel Apps
From the more basic caravan park apps like Anycamp, there are many caravanning apps, including caravan towing weight calculator apps, caravan TV signal finder apps, and plenty of apps for caravan navigation. Whether you’re a family of surfers searching for the perfect wave or you hunger for a juicy steak at a welcoming country pub, having access to fluctuating opening hours, weather conditions, and tourist attractions can help you quickly pivot your holiday plans if you’re caught out last minute or you want to find some entertainment so the kids can stretch their legs. We’ve sourced the best caravan route planner apps by checking features such as filters and trip planners and what happens if you’re out of range without access to mobile data and Wi-Fi.
The Best Campervan Apps: WikiCamps Australia
One of the most comprehensive caravan park apps, WikiCamps stands out with its quality content, trip planner, handy tools, and filters to help you find pet-friendly sites and sought-after amenities. With fast download to operate offline if you’re without a phone signal, it only costs $9.99 to access its ample user-generated database of caravan parks, campgrounds and attractions with authentic traveller-uploaded photos. The interactive map allows users to explore more than 60,000 campsites and find water taps, toilets, showers, dumping grounds and more, great for extended stays and long journeys.
An Off The Beaten Track Camping App in Australia: Hipcamp
Ideal for motorhomes and RVs, Hipcamp opens up a world of travel opportunities with a selection of over 120,000 sites curated for their uniqueness. The free app focuses on paid sites on private land and public parks, opening up a range of exquisite and diverse locations to help you find your ideal campervan experience. Offering stunning remote locations, many near waterways, Hipcamp nature-loving sites often require self-sufficiency, perfect for RV owners. You’ll need to pre-plan to find further amenities via the filter before you’re out of signal, as the app won’t work offline. With values centred around “leave it as you found it” and a regenerative travel experience, Hipcamp offers considered locations near waterfalls, beaches, and bushland, pointing you towards many perfect spots to watch the sunrise or sunset.
The Best Campground App: CamperMate
If you plan a hike or grab some tour deals for points of interest while travelling, the free CamperMate app offers a huge database of paid and unpaid campsites. While there is no trip planner, there is so much to do and see with this app. It works well offline and makes booking ahead so easy, with handy pictures and filters. It offers a location tracker, an interactive map and options for finding pet-friendly sites, amenities and accessible options. The community-generated, real-time user feedback that allows campervan owners to add reviews and photos is helpful for last-minute travel detours.
The Best Camping App on a Budget: Camps Australia Wide
With an extensive guide to the entire country, Camps Australia Wide has been operating for over 25 years, with the original printed maps and guides growing to include the app and website. Over 200,000 travellers currently use the app, which offers the same content as the guidebooks, including 15,500 verified budget and free campsites for motorhomes and vans. Easy-to-use maps, community reviews, facilities and amenities, a trip planner, blog and more will help you plan a fantastic trip in your RV with your family or friends.
The Best Caravan Route Planner App: Roadtrippers
While many of the best camping and caravanning apps in Australia offer trip planners, Roadtrippers has a dedicated RV menu that doesn’t miss much. This free app, with in-app purchases, is dedicated to the journey itself. It contains global information, including many locations and attractions throughout Australia, to help you plan the perfect journey from A to B, with a few Cs and Ds thrown in for enjoyment.
Remember, tried and trusted Google Maps is a great app for caravan routes and makes it super easy to find petrol stations, parks, cafes, and grocery stores, and the app will work offline if you’ve already downloaded a particular area or route. If you’re a fan of hiking, Australia offers some of the most captivating untouched locations within the arm’s reach of nature trails and bushwalks. The app AllTrails filters pathways and bush tracks that are dog- or wheelchair-friendly and great for running, walking, mountain biking or city cycling. It includes urban walks and pathways as well as plenty of bush tracks and won the accolade of Apple’s app of the year in 2023.
The Caravan Leveller App: Caravan Level Remote
Suppose you want to be sure your caravan is park level for your appliances and plumbing and to avoid causing structural wear and tear. The Caravan Level Remote is a handy little tool for remotely adjusting your van’s level. You can level your campervan from the driver’s seat with a convenient visual display and audio alerts. Rather than struggling back and forth with the jockey wheel by hand, the caravan level app can help you level your van or RV perfectly before placing your levelling blocks and chocking the wheels.
Create Your Caravan Checklist For Travel in Australia
Whether you’re a seasoned campervanner ready to tackle the open road or a novice packing a caravan for the first time, a caravan packing list is a smart idea to ensure you’ve included all the essentials on your trip. A caravan checklist in Australia will help you prepare for events such as unpredictable weather, dinner at a fancy restaurant or snorkelling gear and flippers should you come across crystal-clear waters at an idyllic remote beach.
There is a selection of apps that include packing lists for a caravan holiday, including rvSafe, which also covers safety checks to ensure smoother adventures. Safety is essential when holidaying to avoid any hassles, and it's best to service your towing vehicle before long journeys to reduce the risks of expensive breakdowns or bald tyres.
The Ultimate RV Checklist includes exterior and interior checks, which include tasks like:
- Removing slide-out locks
- Flushing the water connection with disinfectant
- Turning off the water pump.
- Separate items into sports and travel gear, caravan storage compartments and personal belongings, such as clothing and toiletries.
Get The Best Camping Apps for Australian Touring Destinations and Conditions
Australia is world-renowned for its stunning beaches, glorious rainforests and epic vistas set against rugged backdrops with countless tourist destinations dotted throughout. Finding the perfect location for camping, caravanning, or RV parking can make the difference between a good holiday and a great one.
The number of caravan and camping trips in Australia is booming as more and more Aussies go in search of the wonders in their own backyard. In 2023, there were 15.3 million completed overnight trips to caravan sites and 859,000 registered caravans and motorhomes, resulting in a record high and an increase of 21% since 2019.
If you’re keen to join the thousands of holidaymakers making the most of Australia’s spectacular destinations, Windsor RV has a range of brand-new pre-built and custom motorhomes and caravans available. They feature modern appliances, solar, battery and gas, along with comfortable bedrooms and ensuites. Talk to our knowledgeable, friendly team today and get ready to hit the road for your next adventure.