Imagine your ideal morning: the caravan is perfectly levelled on a pristine stretch of beach, the kids are busy exploring rockpools, and you’re sitting back in a comfortable camp chair with a fresh coffee. That scene – the one you’ve been dreaming about – starts with the right rig. And the easiest place to find it is the National 4×4 Outdoors Show in Brisbane, running 13–15 March 2026 at the Brisbane Showgrounds. In a single weekend, you can walk through more caravans, hybrids, and off-road campers than most people see in a year of weekend dealership visits.
Welcome to our guide on how to make the most of Queensland’s premier 4×4, outdoor and RV event. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller ready to step up to a full off-grid tourer, or you’re just beginning to wonder whether a hybrid might replace that ageing tent setup, this is the weekend where all the homework gets done. The showgrounds become one enormous, walk-through lifestyle showroom – and the experts are right there to answer every question you’ve been storing up.
| Dates | Friday 13 – Sunday 15 March 2026 |
| Venue | Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills |
| Times | 9:00am – 5:00pm (Fri/Sat), 9:00am – 4:00pm (Sun) |
| Tickets | Final Release on sale now (Kids under 16 FREE with registration) |
Forget spending weeks driving between separate dealerships across Queensland. The show is essentially a caravan and hybrid supermarket – and a very well-stocked one at that. You’ll find the latest ranges from industry names like MDC Campers and Caravans, Austrack, and Ezytrail all gathered in one place, which means you can compare a compact hybrid against a full-size family tourer without moving your car.
This is your chance to step inside bunk layouts designed for families, run your hand along the club lounges in a couples’ rig, and genuinely feel the difference between a 17-footer and a 21-footer. Better still, you can quiz the builders face-to-face about ball weights, GVMs, and tow-vehicle matching right there on the spot – so you’re not going home to Google the answers at midnight. It’s the kind of practical, side-by-side comparison that makes confident buying decisions so much easier.
If your dream trip involves pulling up somewhere beautiful and staying for a week without a powered site, the off-grid section of the show is going to feel like Christmas morning. Rather than guessing from spec sheets online, you can stand in front of the actual gear and talk to the people who know it inside out. Think of it as designing your home-away-from-home’s power system with a specialist, rather than hoping your choices add up when you’re parked two hours from the nearest town.
The $11,000+ Adventure Upgrade giveaway is a perfect snapshot of the creature comforts on display across the showgrounds. The prize pool features lithium batteries from 12 Volt Direct, high-end portable fridges from myCoolman, and a Carbon Offroad recovery pack – the kind of gear that transforms a basic setup into a genuinely self-sufficient touring system. You’ll also find solar panels, DC-DC chargers, awnings, and hot water systems all in one place, so you can plan your whole build in a single afternoon.
The show isn’t just about shopping – it’s about the knowledge that keeps your caravan and family safe once you leave the bitumen. The 4WD QLD Adventure Zone is a must-visit trip-planning hub where you can find out which tracks are realistically tow-friendly and learn the convoy etiquette that makes caravanning in remote areas so much smoother. Knowing what your tow vehicle can handle before you’re deep in the Outback is the kind of preparation that turns a stressful trip into a joyful one.
The MadMates Workshops, run by MadMatt and Lucas Bree, offer practical, budget-friendly advice on tow-vehicle builds and safe recovery techniques – including safe rollover recovery demonstrations. If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do when your setup gets bogged with a trailer on the back, this is the session to attend. It’s knowledge that saves you money, time, and heartache long after the showground car park is a distant memory.
We know that researching a new van is a long day for little ones – and honestly, a reluctant partner. The good news is there’s genuinely enough on offer to keep the whole family happy. Kids under 16 get in free with a registered ticket, which is already a win, and the Physi Kids Zone with giant races and juggling gives younger crew members their own reason to be excited about the weekend.
The Black Snake Productions Wildlife Shows offer up-close reptile encounters that are equal parts educational and thrilling – a favourite for kids of all ages and a handy distraction while you’re deep in conversation about suspension ratings. Don’t miss Mick “The Camp Oven Cook” Viller either: his camp oven and damper demonstrations are a wonderful reminder that some of the best meals on the road don’t require a full internal kitchen. It’s the kind of inspiration that makes the whole family look forward to the next trip.
To make the most of your day, we recommend a simple plan. Start your morning – when you’re fresh and the showgrounds aren’t yet at their busiest – walking through your shortlisted vans and talking to the builders. Note down the models that genuinely excite you, and ask every question you’ve got. Around midday, head to the Kids Zone or Wildlife Show so the little ones can recharge while you spend some focused time with the power and suspension experts. Round out your afternoon at the Adventure Zone, where you can start pinning down an actual route for your next big trip.
And wherever you end up spending your time, make sure you stop by the five participating stands to scan the QR codes for the $11,000+ Adventure Upgrade giveaway – featuring Goodyear tyres, a Kayo ute tub canopy, a 12 Volt Direct lithium setup, a myCoolman fridge, and a Carbon Offroad recovery pack. If you’re already doing the lap of the showgrounds, it’s a no-brainer to get your name in the draw.
Don’t wait until the gates open to sort your entry. Final Release tickets are limited and available via the online portal here. Booking through Humanitix also means 100% of booking-fee profits go to charity – so it’s a good deed before you’ve even arrived. If Brisbane doesn’t work for you this time around, keep an eye out for the Sydney Show (12–14 June) and the Melbourne Show (21–23 August) later in the year. Here’s to many wonderful adventures ahead!
What to consider when buying a motorhome or campervan
What to consider when buying a caravan
