Outdoors

The best of Aussie-style off-road camping from the 2019 Australian 4x4 Outdoor Expo

The best of Aussie-style off-road camping from the 2019 Australian 4x4 Outdoor Expo
The best of Aussie off-road camping at the Australian National 4x4 Outdoor Expo
The best of Aussie off-road camping at the Australian National 4x4 Outdoor Expo
View 72 Images
23Zero's range of roll-up swags – small, roll-up mini-tents wth mattresses
1/72
23Zero's range of roll-up swags – small, roll-up mini-tents wth mattresses
HSV presented its Spotscat Series 2
2/72
HSV presented its Spotscat Series 2
Got to love a 70 Series Land Cruiser with a Harlequin paint job
3/72
Got to love a 70 Series Land Cruiser with a Harlequin paint job
Terrain Tamer's full-body crash bar sets
4/72
Terrain Tamer's full-body crash bar sets
Patriot's X1N "desert ops" trailer
5/72
Patriot's X1N "desert ops" trailer
The retro theme continues with Patriot's Land Cruiser-based Desert Ops Supertourer
6/72
The retro theme continues with Patriot's Land Cruiser-based Desert Ops Supertourer
OzTent's pop-up shade is quick to deploy
7/72
OzTent's pop-up shade is quick to deploy
This bloke brought his parrot
8/72
This bloke brought his parrot
Goldfields' Grand Duke mini-camper was on sale for AU$18,999 with a bunch of extras
9/72
Goldfields' Grand Duke mini-camper was on sale for AU$18,999 with a bunch of extras
The RotaBBQ – drive a stake into the ground by the fire, and you can rotate your food on and off the flames, turn it while it's on there, and have yourself a coffee table when it's cool
10/72
The RotaBBQ – drive a stake into the ground by the fire, and you can rotate your food on and off the flames, turn it while it's on there, and have yourself a coffee table when it's cool
Darche's huge range of car-mounted camping gear can turn any 4WD into a multi-story complex
11/72
Darche's huge range of car-mounted camping gear can turn any 4WD into a multi-story complex
Hillbilly's range of "gourmet bush cooking" gear
12/72
Hillbilly's range of "gourmet bush cooking" gear
Fantasy's latest offering is this super-cute 12-foot mini on-road caravan
13/72
Fantasy's latest offering is this super-cute 12-foot mini on-road caravan
Inside Fantasy's tiny new caravan
14/72
Inside Fantasy's tiny new caravan
The CRZRVAN: absolutely colossal
15/72
The CRZRVAN: absolutely colossal
CRZRVAN: fully decked out for serious distance in the outback
16/72
CRZRVAN: fully decked out for serious distance in the outback
Inside the massive CRZRVAN P4
17/72
Inside the massive CRZRVAN P4
Starting at AU$181,000, the Global Explorer 4x4 is a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter built into something you could almost enter in the Dakar, but with a luxury camping interior
18/72
Starting at AU$181,000, the Global Explorer 4x4 is a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter built into something you could almost enter in the Dakar, but with a luxury camping interior
Inside the Global Explorer 4x4
19/72
Inside the Global Explorer 4x4
Austrack's AU$45,990 Tanami X 15 is well decked out
20/72
Austrack's AU$45,990 Tanami X 15 is well decked out
Inside the Austrack Tanami X 15, which sleeps four
21/72
Inside the Austrack Tanami X 15, which sleeps four
Austrack's tiny AU$17,990 Simpson is a Swiss army knife of a camper trailer, with fridges, cooking gear, 100 liters of water, a rooftop tent, awnings, hot shower, portaloo and a stereo
22/72
Austrack's tiny AU$17,990 Simpson is a Swiss army knife of a camper trailer, with fridges, cooking gear, 100 liters of water, a rooftop tent, awnings, hot shower, portaloo and a stereo
The Wedge camp cooker and fire pit from SlotMeIn disassembles and packs into a flat canvas bag. It starts at AU$249
23/72
The Wedge camp cooker and fire pit from SlotMeIn disassembles and packs into a flat canvas bag. It starts at AU$249
The Isuzu stunt team demonstrated some serious grip, with terrified passengers on board
24/72
The Isuzu stunt team demonstrated some serious grip, with terrified passengers on board
The massive Isuzu MU-X Concept made its debut at Aus4x4, with its 38-inch tires and seven inches of lift
25/72
The massive Isuzu MU-X Concept made its debut at Aus4x4, with its 38-inch tires and seven inches of lift
The Air Opus OP2 inflatable camping trailer, at AU$28,990, pops up into an absolutely cavernous living space in a minute or two, and is still a dazzling standout
26/72
The Air Opus OP2 inflatable camping trailer, at AU$28,990, pops up into an absolutely cavernous living space in a minute or two, and is still a dazzling standout 
The interior of the Air Opus OP2 is so huge you can barely touch the ceiling
27/72
The interior of the Air Opus OP2 is so huge you can barely touch the ceiling
Certified for off-road use, Ezytrail's Lincoln LX Mk.3 is the company's biggest hard floor trailer
28/72
Certified for off-road use, Ezytrail's Lincoln LX Mk.3 is the company's biggest hard floor trailer
At AU$25,990, the Ezytrail Lincoln LX Mk.3 can sleep six
29/72
At AU$25,990, the Ezytrail Lincoln LX Mk.3 can sleep six
Track's pretty TVAN Zenith Mk5 isn't cheap, at AU$76.720, but it's bulletproof for off-roading, and offers you the ability to pop the back and jump in for a quick snooze, or dropping the floor and deploying a tent for longer stays
30/72
Track's pretty TVAN Zenith Mk5 isn't cheap, at AU$76.720, but it's bulletproof for off-roading, and offers you the ability to pop the back and jump in for a quick snooze, or dropping the floor and deploying a tent for longer stays
The Track TVAN Zenith with the rear tent out
31/72
The Track TVAN Zenith with the rear tent out
Inside the 2019 Track TVAN Zenith
32/72
Inside the 2019 Track TVAN Zenith
Conqueror's top-of-the-line UEV-490 Platinum is rugged and feature-loaded for AU$77,990
33/72
Conqueror's top-of-the-line UEV-490 Platinum is rugged and feature-loaded for AU$77,990
The back side of the Conquerer UEV-490 Platinum
34/72
The back side of the Conquerer UEV-490 Platinum
Inside the Conquerer UEV-490 Platinum
35/72
Inside the Conquerer UEV-490 Platinum
Conqueror brought its brand new Centaur C3, complete with neat LED highlights, but didn't have much information available yet
36/72
Conqueror brought its brand new Centaur C3, complete with neat LED highlights, but didn't have much information available yet
At AU$43,990, the Centaur C3 offers outdoor cooking
37/72
At AU$43,990, the Centaur C3 offers outdoor cooking
The interior of the Conqueroro Centaur C3
38/72
The interior of the Conqueroro Centaur C3
The AU$47,990 Cub Longreach LE with its pop-out cooking gear
39/72
The AU$47,990 Cub Longreach LE with its pop-out cooking gear
The massive Isuzu D-MAX concept has a totally bespoke tray as well as a monster 7-inch lift on the suspension
40/72
The massive Isuzu D-MAX concept has a totally bespoke tray as well as a monster 7-inch lift on the suspension
The offroad-ready Cub Longreach LE trailer
41/72
The offroad-ready Cub Longreach LE trailer
The luxury interior of the Cub Longreach LE
42/72
The luxury interior of the Cub Longreach LE
The tiny Nugget RoofTop (RT) from Stoney Creek Campers, goes for just AU$17,990
43/72
The tiny Nugget RoofTop (RT) from Stoney Creek Campers, goes for just AU$17,990
The AU$16,990 Nugget SF (Soft Floor) from Stoney Creek Campers
44/72
The AU$16,990 Nugget SF (Soft Floor) from Stoney Creek Campers
At AU$47,990, the SC-Scout is the newest hybrid caravan from Stoney Creek Campers. The company says it's ready to tackle just about any trail, with twin shocks, coil springs, and heavy duty electric brake assist
45/72
At AU$47,990, the SC-Scout is the newest hybrid caravan from Stoney Creek Campers. The company says it's ready to tackle just about any trail, with  twin shocks, coil springs, and heavy duty electric brake assist
Inside Stoney Creek Campers' SC-Scout hybrid caravan
46/72
Inside Stoney Creek Campers' SC-Scout hybrid caravan
Lumberjack's Mt. Beauty hard-top hybrid, starting at AU$36,999
47/72
Lumberjack's Mt. Beauty hard-top hybrid, starting at AU$36,999
The Lumberjack Mt. Beauty classic offers the comfort of a queen bed inside.
48/72
The Lumberjack Mt. Beauty classic offers the comfort of a queen bed inside.
The Lumberjack Sheoak is a hybrid pod-style camper with a queen bed, heavy0duty offroad suspension and plenty of rear storage
49/72
The Lumberjack Sheoak is a hybrid pod-style camper with a queen bed, heavy0duty offroad suspension and plenty of rear storage
The Tray Topper range from Outback Campers can transform any work ute into a a fully-appointed camper on the weekends
50/72
The Tray Topper range from Outback Campers can transform any work ute into a a fully-appointed camper on the weekends
A twin-cab ute Tray Topper from Outback Campers
51/72
A twin-cab ute Tray Topper from Outback Campers
Tommy Campers brought its tidy slide-on camper attachments, which can be fit to any single cab, twin cab or space cab ute
52/72
Tommy Campers brought its tidy slide-on camper attachments, which can be fit to any single cab, twin cab or space cab ute
Starting at AU$16,990, this pop-top Tommy Campers slide-on sits in your back yard on legs, and then attaches to your ute tray with just four big bolts to turn your work vehicle into a weekend off-road plaything
53/72
Starting at AU$16,990, this pop-top Tommy Campers slide-on sits in your back yard on legs, and then attaches to your ute tray with just four big bolts to turn your work vehicle into a weekend off-road plaything
Mars Campers brought its Saturn S12.6 pop-top hybrid caravan, ready for off-roading for an AU$36,990 show special
54/72
Mars Campers brought its Saturn S12.6 pop-top hybrid caravan, ready for off-roading for an AU$36,990 show special
Inside the Saturn S12.6 from Mars Campers
55/72
Inside the Saturn S12.6 from Mars Campers
Inside the Saturn S12.6 from Mars Campers
56/72
Inside the Saturn S12.6 from Mars Campers
Inside the AU$25,990 Space X Dual fold camper from Mars Campers
57/72
Inside the AU$25,990 Space X Dual fold camper from Mars Campers
Mars's Space X dual fold camper
58/72
Mars's Space X dual fold camper
ARB's bullbars - in this case for the Mitsubishi Triton - now contain all the necessary electronics and sensors to preserve all driver assist features
59/72
ARB's bullbars - in this case for the Mitsubishi Triton - now contain all the necessary electronics and sensors to preserve all driver assist features
The adorably tough, tiny Suzuki Jimny was everywhere
60/72
The adorably tough, tiny Suzuki Jimny was everywhere
560 miles between fuel stops – Brown Davis' extended range fuel tanks help solve a very Australian problem
61/72
560 miles between fuel stops – Brown Davis' extended range fuel tanks help solve a very Australian problem
Bluewater's Lachlan is a forward fold/rear slide family camper, and the biggest thing of its kind
62/72
Bluewater's Lachlan is a forward fold/rear slide family camper, and the biggest thing of its kind
The AU$35,500 Bluewater Lachlan folds out a huge annex and sleeps six
63/72
The AU$35,500 Bluewater Lachlan folds out a huge annex and sleeps six
Comfy queen bed aboard the Bluewater Lachlan
64/72
Comfy queen bed aboard the Bluewater Lachlan
The AU$75,990 Ultimate Nexus 360 is a compact, super-aerodynamic, heavy duty off-road trailer that unfolds to sleep between two and seven
65/72
The AU$75,990 Ultimate Nexus 360 is a compact, super-aerodynamic, heavy duty off-road trailer that unfolds to sleep between two and seven
The Ultimate Nexus 360's surprisingly spacious kitchen
66/72
The Ultimate Nexus 360's surprisingly spacious kitchen
Spacious queen bed of the Ultimate Nexus 360
67/72
Spacious queen bed of the Ultimate Nexus 360
Alu-Cab's fully decked out Ford Ranger camper
68/72
Alu-Cab's fully decked out Ford Ranger camper
AluCab does its compact, quick setup thing to a Toyota Landcruiser
69/72
AluCab does its compact, quick setup thing to a Toyota Landcruiser
The best of Aussie off-road camping at the Australian National 4x4 Outdoor Expo
70/72
The best of Aussie off-road camping at the Australian National 4x4 Outdoor Expo
Patriot's retro X1-N Desert Ops trailer
71/72
Patriot's retro X1-N Desert Ops trailer
The AU$365 OzPig now has a smoker on board
72/72
The AU$365 OzPig now has  a smoker on board
View gallery - 72 images

Australia is nearly the size of the United States, but has less than a tenth of its population, mainly dotted around the perimeter. It's a rough, rugged and beautiful country, and it offers some of the toughest and most rewarding camping on the planet.

The off-road industry is perenially strong in Australia, and has a style all of its own. Heavy duty, go-anywhere camper trailers and rugged hybrid caravans are the order of the day, with a few other ideas based around the well-known Aussie love affair with the "ute," or pickup truck. Here are our favorite picks from the Australian 4x4 Outdoors Expo in Melbourne.

The Humble Swag

23Zero's range of roll-up swags – small, roll-up mini-tents wth mattresses
23Zero's range of roll-up swags – small, roll-up mini-tents wth mattresses

When you ain't got much money or much interest in fiddling about with tents, the great Aussie swag is a quick, cheap way to sleep under the stars. Most come with a mattress, and they roll up into canvas bags you can chuck in most any car's boot. That's throw in the trunk for our American cousins. These are by 23Zero, but there are dozens of companies making them.

Darche's 4WD camping add-ons

Darche's huge range of car-mounted camping gear can turn any 4WD into a multi-story complex
Darche's huge range of car-mounted camping gear can turn any 4WD into a multi-story complex

Another way to get going quickly and relatively cheaply is to festoon your 4WD with pull-out and pop-up accessories. Darche hit the expo with a dazzling range of reasonably priced camping gear ready to turn any "fourby" into a multi-story outback hotel.

Patriot's Land Cruiser Desert Ops Supertourer

The retro theme continues with Patriot's Land Cruiser-based Desert Ops Supertourer
The retro theme continues with Patriot's Land Cruiser-based Desert Ops Supertourer

These retro colors are back in style, and if you can't pick up a good thrift shop polo-shirt from the 70s, the next best thing might just be this monster twin cab Land Cruiser conversion that Patriot's built specifically to haul its equally funky X1-N Desert Ops trailer below. Check out the full story here.

Patriot's retro X1-N Desert Ops trailer
Patriot's retro X1-N Desert Ops trailer

The monstrous CRZRVAN

The CRZRVAN: absolutely colossal
The CRZRVAN: absolutely colossal

So fresh the company doesn't even have a website yet, CRZRVAN (pronounced cruiservan) is making gigantic, super-heavy-duty hard-top caravans that look like they belong to a private militia on the outside, but are decked out in super-stylish luxury in the interior, as shown below.

Inside the massive CRZRVAN P4
Inside the massive CRZRVAN P4

Global Explorer 4x4, by Australian Outback Adventure

Starting at AU$181,000, the Global Explorer 4x4 is a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter built into something you could almost enter in the Dakar, but with a luxury camping interior
Starting at AU$181,000, the Global Explorer 4x4 is a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter built into something you could almost enter in the Dakar, but with a luxury camping interior

Take one Mitsubishi Fuso Canter light truck, spec it up with chunky 37-inch super single wheels and stick a luxury camper on the back, and you've got the Global Explorer, a gigantic two-person transcontinental tourer costing AU$181,400 (US$123,000). Interior photos in the gallery.

The Air Opus OP2 "inflatable" trailer

The Air Opus OP2 inflatable camping trailer, at AU$28,990, pops up into an absolutely cavernous living space in a minute or two, and is still a dazzling standout
The Air Opus OP2 inflatable camping trailer, at AU$28,990, pops up into an absolutely cavernous living space in a minute or two, and is still a dazzling standout 

We've seen the Air Opus gear and its self-inflating pop-up canopy before, but it just doesn't get old – and the absolutely cavernous living space it creates has ceilings so high you can barely touch them. At AU$28,990 (US$19,660), it's a terrific option at the lower end of the mid range. Take a look at what this thing looks like inside:

The interior of the Air Opus OP2 is so huge you can barely touch the ceiling
The interior of the Air Opus OP2 is so huge you can barely touch the ceiling

Track Trailer's 2019 Zenith Mk.5

Track's pretty TVAN Zenith Mk5 isn't cheap, at AU$76.720, but it's bulletproof for off-roading, and offers you the ability to pop the back and jump in for a quick snooze, or dropping the floor and deploying a tent for longer stays
Track's pretty TVAN Zenith Mk5 isn't cheap, at AU$76.720, but it's bulletproof for off-roading, and offers you the ability to pop the back and jump in for a quick snooze, or dropping the floor and deploying a tent for longer stays

One of the more expensive trailers at the expo, the AU$76,720 (US$52,000) Zenith is a nuggety, aerodynamic and tough pod camper with extendable awnings, pop-out kitchenware and a fold-out entrance tent to give you a bit of hang-out space when the weather turns wet or hot.

Austrack's tiny Simpson rooftop trailer

Austrack's tiny AU$17,990 Simpson is a Swiss army knife of a camper trailer, with fridges, cooking gear, 100 liters of water, a rooftop tent, awnings, hot shower, portaloo and a stereo
Austrack's tiny AU$17,990 Simpson is a Swiss army knife of a camper trailer, with fridges, cooking gear, 100 liters of water, a rooftop tent, awnings, hot shower, portaloo and a stereo

Fold-out living accommodations up top, everything else underneath. The Simpson X is a super-tough, very compact two-person camper that comes fully set up with awning, water tank, fridge/freezer, hot shower, portaloo, solar power and gas cooktops for AU$17,990 (US$12,200.) Check the gallery for other similar options from companies like Stoney Creek Campers.

Isuzu's D-Max and MU-X concepts

The massive Isuzu D-MAX concept has a totally bespoke tray as well as a monster 7-inch lift on the suspension
The massive Isuzu D-MAX concept has a totally bespoke tray as well as a monster 7-inch lift on the suspension

A pair of monster off-roaders with 38-inch wheels, 7-inch lifts on the suspension and custom bodywork in the name of super-tough off-road cred. Check the MU-X below.

The massive Isuzu MU-X Concept made its debut at Aus4x4, with its 38-inch tires and seven inches of lift
The massive Isuzu MU-X Concept made its debut at Aus4x4, with its 38-inch tires and seven inches of lift

Tommy Campers' slide-on ute camper

Starting at AU$16,990, this pop-top Tommy Campers slide-on sits in your back yard on legs, and then attaches to your ute tray with just four big bolts to turn your work vehicle into a weekend off-road plaything
Starting at AU$16,990, this pop-top Tommy Campers slide-on sits in your back yard on legs, and then attaches to your ute tray with just four big bolts to turn your work vehicle into a weekend off-road plaything

Business at the front, party at the back. The great Aussie ute gets a super-neat camping accessory that sits in your backyard on legs when it's not in use, leaving your ute tray free for weekday activities. Then, when it's time to let your hair down and hit the great outdoors, you can back up and bolt the Tommy Camper on in minutes, to make a comfy and well-appointed camper out of any pickup.

Ultimate Nexus 360

The AU$75,990 Ultimate Nexus 360 is a compact, super-aerodynamic, heavy duty off-road trailer that unfolds to sleep between two and seven
The AU$75,990 Ultimate Nexus 360 is a compact, super-aerodynamic, heavy duty off-road trailer that unfolds to sleep between two and seven

A pricey bit of kit at AU$75,990 (US$51,500), the Nexus 360 builds on Ultimate's previous offerings to offer king bed comfort, sleeping quarters for as many as seven people, external cooking and BBQ, hot water, heating, carbon benchtops and a 360-degree awning all round, folding down into a super-compact, aerodynamic and funky looking package.

Alu-Cab's pop-top camper fitouts

AluCab does its compact, quick setup thing to a Toyota Landcruiser
AluCab does its compact, quick setup thing to a Toyota Landcruiser

For less than AU$10,000 (US$6,800), Alu-Cab will equip your 2007-onwards Landcruiser with a rooftop tent and 270-degree awning. Simple and effective.

There's a ton more in the gallery, jump in and enjoy the best from down under.

Source: Australian National 4x4 Offroad Expo

View gallery - 72 images
1 comment
1 comment
Wolf0579
after reading hundreds out of the thousands of Sasquatch/Yowie reports, I wouldn't go camping in anything UNARMOURED. You folks who don't think they are real, keep going into their "living room", and messing around. eventually you'll see one and wish fervently that you weren't.