Here’s the thing about shopping for a van online: the photos always make the bed look bigger.
That’s exactly why shows like the Adelaide 4WD & Adventure Show are worth the trip. From Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, the Adelaide Showground in Wayville will be packed with caravans, camper trailers, slide-ons and motorhomes. There’s towing advice, camping gear and plenty to keep the kids entertained, and the Club Marine SA Boat & Fishing Show is on at the same time for the angler in the family.
Whether you’re shortlisting your first van or just after a big day out, here’s what we’d plan our visit around.
| Dates | Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026 |
| Opening hours | 9am to 5pm daily |
| Venue | Adelaide Showground, Goodwood Road, Wayville SA |
| Parking | More than 2,000 spaces on site (small fee) |
| Exhibitors | Around 140 |
| Kids | Under 5s free, family passes available |
| Best for | Caravanners, campers, families, tourers and fishers |
| Tickets | Available online and at the gate (use discount code RVDAILY) |
Probably the biggest reason to go. You can step inside a whole range of caravans, campers and motorhomes in one afternoon, without a single drive between dealerships.
Look for Bushtracker, MDC, Kokoda, JB Caravans, Summit Vans, Cameron, Ezytrail, Goldstar RV, Great Southern RV and Avida, Livin RV and Mars Campers. Camper trailer fans can compare ARB, Offline Campers, Stoney Creek, Austrack and Jacksons, while Tommy Campers and Tailgate Campers cover the slide-on crowd. New on the floor this year are a 22-foot Bushtracker with a club lounge, a Supreme RV motorhome, the SCT Off Road Kakadu 16f and the Kokoda F196 XC3.
A word from someone who travels with a teardrop and two kids: bigger isn’t automatically better. Before you fall for the bunk room and the washing machine, think about how you actually travel. (I’ve written more on that in Do you really need a big caravan to travel with a family?) Then take a tape measure and check the bed, the storage, and find out the tare and ATM.
A good van is only half the story. The other half is the vehicle doing the hauling.
Follow Me 4WD runs Q&A sessions on setting up your 4WD and towing off-road at 11am and 3pm daily. Hall Towbars, Bendix (launching its Ultimate Tow+) and suspension specialists including Dobinsons, Pedders and Lovells are all on site too.
Just make sure you bring your current tow vehicle and van weights. You’ll get far better answers than “it depends”.
The main stage is where the trip planning happens. Highlights include “Plan Smarter, Camp Better” with Camp By Me at 10am, touring Australia with kids from Wandering Aus Adventures at 10.30am, and Travel Talks on planning your next trip at 11am and 1.30pm.
Then wander the destination stands. Skytrek Willow Springs Station, Bendleby Ranges and Mount Hart Wilderness Lodge are all exhibiting. If the Flinders Ranges have been sitting on your list for a while, consider this your nudge.
Power, comfort and convenience are where most of us end up spending our upgrade money. Compare 12V and lithium systems from iTechworld, Redarc and 12 Volt Direct, and check out the CampBoss air swag and air tent, plus gear from 23Zero, HillBilly Camping Gear and Adventure Gear.
Being able to unzip, lift and set something up yourself beats any online review, and any product photo.
Even if you never leave the bitumen, knowing how to plug a tyre or troubleshoot a flat battery is worth it. At the Bush Mechanics Zone, Ronny Dahl and Jamie Hazelden run daily sessions on tyre repairs, spare parts and 12V electronics. Next door, Follow Me 4WD demonstrates snatch strap recoveries, tyre plugs and winching.
Malcolm Douglas made more than 30 trips around Australia in his 2001 Troopy, with not much more than an Engel fridge and a swag on the roof. It’s now fully restored and on display beside the Engel Bush Camp Stage, and grandson Owen Douglas does a walkaround at 2pm daily.
If you grew up watching Malcolm’s films, you won’t be the only one lining up. Our sister site Unsealed 4X4 covered the restoration in Malcolm Douglas’ iconic Troopy is back on the road.
Kids in tow? You’re well catered for. Wilbur’s Wildlife brings scaly and furry critters to the main stage at 12.30pm, the kids can race RC 4WDs at the Nitto Grappler Ground, and the Recfish SA fishing simulator is free.
Under 5s get in free, and there’s a parents’ room in the Atrium Food Court for the little ones. Wandering Aus Adventures’ 10.30am session on touring with kids is worth catching too, if only to compare notes with another travelling family.
Your ticket also gets you into the Club Marine SA Boat & Fishing Show. Catch Al McGlashan and Greg James on the Fishing Stage, or a beach and water safety talk from Harries of Bondi Rescue on the weekend.
Need your boat licence? Surf Life Saving SA runs testing on site each day. Places are limited, so book ahead.
One lucky visitor will tow home an MDC Forbes 11 Hybrid Offroad Caravan, complete with ensuite, off-grid power and air con, valued at almost $50,000. Buy your tickets online before the show and you’re in the draw automatically, or enter on the day.
Plenty of exhibitors run show-only deals, including 20% off suspension kits at Dobinsons and 10% off towbar fitment at Hall Towbars.
Just don’t rush the big stuff. Take photos, grab brochures and sleep on it.
Absolutely. Whether you’re buying your first van or planning the next big lap, you’ll get more answers in a day than in weeks of scrolling listings. Allow more than a couple of hours, especially with the kids in tow.
And if nothing else, the kids will sleep well that night.
