AFTER a lifetime on the land, people like former Northern NSW sheep and cattle graziers Pam and Barry Carter, and Hunter Valley cattle breeder Barbara Gordon probably figured they knew a fair bit about Australian agriculture.
However, travels in a recreational vehicle (RV) really put them in the picture.
For the Carters, and Mrs Gordon and her partner Kevin Thompson, a highlight of "camping out" in a small bush towns has been the diversity and enormity of farming country.
"We pull up and talk to farmers all the time, discuss the markets and the weather, and we've learnt so much that way," Mrs Gordon said.
When the Carters ran "Glen- garry" at Coolatie they took road trips with swags in the back of the ute or with tents when the kids were young.
Three years ago, after retiring to the Moreton Bay region of Queensland, they "went for a bit more comfort" and bought an off-road camper trailer.
They have now notched up 40,000 kilometres.
Mrs Gordon and Mr Thompson bought a 7-metre Avida Birdsville motor home two years ago, and have travelled 23,000km in the eastern states.
The travellers are part of a large number of Australians who are making RV roaming the fastest-growing tourism sector.
Shan Goodwin
Journalist for The Land on the North Coast.
Journalist for The Land on the North Coast.
