Close to 15,000 visitors are expected to pass through the gates at Reid Park from Friday, September 9 through Sunday, September 11, to inspect nearly 120 exhibits during the Townsville Caravan, 4x4 & Outdoor Adventure Expo.
The expo has everything you need for your caravan and camping adventures, with the latest and greatest products including caravans, campers, camper trailers, motorhomes, camping equipment, 4WD accessories, adventure gear, bikes and more being showcased.
Expo managing director Bob Carroll said the event originated as a home show 15 years ago and has grown in popularity to the point where it has become a major roadshow that visits 15 cities and towns around Queensland annually.
“Events like this help state tourism grow at a grassroots level, 90 per cent of the people who purchase vehicles here will generally holiday with two or three hours drive of where they live,” Mr Carroll said.
“Their is a quite a variety of tourist destinations in the north, and self-drive holidays are becoming increasingly popular,” he said.
“We’re also seeing a shift to younger buyers now; either couples or young families who want to seek out their own adventures.”
Looking ahead, Mr Carroll said a major focus for the 2017 expo will be to incorporate hunting displays and presentations into the event, to cater for the rapidly growing interest in the sector.
There is also a host of entertainment in store for visitors with a live casting demonstration by Dave 'Mossy' Moss in the 10 metre long Shimano Fishing Tank stocked full of live barramundi.
Television personality Scott Hillier will hold Catch’em and Cook’em demonstrations while also giving special presentations involving local fishing tips, while discussing his adventures while filming Creek to Coast.
Ranger Nick will present his entertaining and informative open fire cooking demonstrations and Luke Cheyne from Luke’s Reptile Kingdom will exhibit his reptile and amphibian collection which is one of the largest in Australia.
Gates open at the event at 9am each day, entry is $10 per adult or $8 for those with a seniors card. Children accompanied by an adult enter for free.
