Australian Vanning has its National event in Autumn/Fall each year over the Easter Long Weekend. However, this year the end of the vanning season included two other major van events - VANZ Ford Van Display at the country's premier auto event known as MotorEx, plus VanFest's successful move away from the rainy coastline to Australia's country music capital of Tamworth for the largest indoor van display in the southern hemisphere...

If you are unfamiliar with vanning in Australia, we have a very unique culture which started around the mid 1970's. If they look small and impractical compared to US Vans, it is hard to disagree - we have one of each in our family. A wise American vanner always tells me... "Cool always beats Comfort". It all comes down to availability when you build a custom van. However, they were fast and used mainly for weekends on the coast, rather than a 24/7 live-in van. If you were buying a new van in the 1970's, you could upgrade to any driveline that was in sedan or coupe models via a Special Order. For example, a 327in a HK, or a 350 in a HQ. Due to government regulations to maintain the local car industry, no imported V8 powered vans reached our shores as a new vehicle. Similar regulations is why you rarely see a Toyota Hiace in the USA. Some British vans were assembled here from imported bodies and parts. The last V8 power vans ceased full time production in the early eighties. For a one page summary - A Brief History of Australian Built Vans

If you have never been Down Under, we have included a couple of overlays below that may change your perception of us. Australia's landmass is just about 1.2% larger than the USA's mainland states. If Australia was a state in the USA, our population (28 million) would be in 3rd place after California and Texas. If Australia was a country in Europe, our population would be in 9th place between Poland & Romania. We do like to take our vans on very long road trips. At our milestone 40th & 50th Van Nationals we had entrants from all six states. There can be a fine between dedication and insanity.

The 2026 Van Nationals were held in the NSW border town of Corowa, an easy days drive from Austrlalia's two largest cities, Sydney & Melbourne. Highlights from the weekend include one of the best outdoor display areas for show day, held in the manicured lawns and gardens of Club Corowa (established for the well-being and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defence Force personnel). Another highlight was a great 94km anti-clockwise road trip around Lake Mulwara (no right turns, so we all kept together). For the second time in three years, we had a van entered from New Zealand. Not only did it enter, it was awarded Best Van IN Australia. This is generally a camping event at the local showground/racecourse. 160 vans attended the event. Next year's event is also in a NSW border town, Albury.

Next event, was the VANZ Ford Display at MotorEx. This was a one-off event that was given its own pavillion. Fifty invitations were sent out to known Ford van owners around the country. Vans from as far as Queensland (a minimum 3355km / 2085mile round trip) were in attendance. Best coverage is via master craftsman Howard Astill's video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTx37EY81Zg&t=11s
Astill Design on YouTube also has many walk-thru videos with commentary, including the 50th Van Nationals and over 30 episodes of his current van build.

Finally, VanFest. After three previous years on the north coast of NSW in less than ideal weather conditions, the event was held on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. Almost all attendees travelled through rain, but on arrival it was mostly drought conditions with plenty of sunshine. With 126 pre-entries from four different states, this was a highly anticipated event. The highlight of the weekend was the show day venue with enough indoor powered spaces for 100 vans. Contenders for Grand Champion were required to wear costumes to match the theme of their van. We had a Joker, a Wizard, a Dealt Jack, a Fortune Teller, a Shagga, a Mariachi and Boogie Knight among the many who kept the locals and their kids entertained. Long time vanners concluded it was the largest indoor van display held in Australia. We are sure the US would have had larger indoor van displays over the years, but it is yet to be confirmed. Like North America's VanFest is considered the second largest in their region, the Australian VanFest has now taken the next in line position after our National event. Next year it will be on again in Tamworth with the venue manager offering more indoor space and a live band for no extra cost to organisers. Accommodation will again be at a welcoming hotel, bar and restaurant, as well as adjoining houses, cabins and basic camping.

Many thanks to Andrew Davis from Sundowners Van Club for a sneak peak at Corowa & Tamworth pics. Full size images and many, many more pics on his FaceBook page under "Albums".
There's even an album from 2012 when eleven vanners from Down Under attended the 40th US Van Nationals at Elkhorn, WI.
More Corowa pics or More Vanfest pics

This pic by Andrew in New York's Times Square was rehearsed before the banner was used. It was held up for less than 8 seconds to get the shot. A couple standing nearby notice us and said "We were in that club many years ago when we lived in Sydney"

Well done to Matt and his committee in Corowa, John Parker for a dedicated pavillion just for the VANZ Ford Van Display at MotorEx, plus Ashleigh and her team for a "MotorEx for Vans" experience.

Special mention must go to Bryce & Lyn Sutcliffe who displayed their XC Sundowner van at all three events during a six to seven week period. Likewise, Owen Webb was at all three with two different vans. Anyone else at all three?

At least 50% of van enthusiasts attended two of these events during a "cost of living crisis" and fuel prices at their very peak of the Middle East conflict. While the Van Nationals and Vanfest may appear to be similar events with many old and new vanning friends, excited to see what has been built in sheds since last year, they are a little different on the last night. The Van Nationals crowns the Best Van In Australia based on a system designed in the 1990's, with the occasional influence from the 21st century including restorations. Vanfest takes us back to the 1980's when Vans where featured on bedroom walls and custom was king. A festival where theatre meets art.
Both are great in their own right and that is why so many go to these two events.

Personally at Vanfest, we spent time with new friends from 2022 on Friday night. A couple of gentleman on Saturday night from the early 1980's including the president from the first night we attended a van club meeting, and a legend of the vanning community from before our time - both with very interesting professions before their retirements. Most of the weekend was spent with the Newcastle crowd that we only see once a year. Many stories from so long ago when my $7,000 van stole an award or two from their $60,000 vans (in 1980's dollars). On a couple occasions, pre-dinner drinks or early morning catch ups with our vanning friends that we see regularly during the year. Long, long ago, we all first attended these events because of what we drove, but after a short time, we return year after year to see the friends we made.

We look forward to watching major Vanning events from the around the world during our winter months and planning another adventure to warmer weather in September. Still planning to get our first European vanning event in the not too distant future - may even get back to North America for a fourth and final time.

On the border between Sydney and Melbourne		Waspik, Netherlands
Australia April 3-6	New Zealand April 3-6	Holland May 22-25	France May 30-31
Canada's Largest Custom Van & Truck Show		"The World's Longest Vanning Party Between Sunrise & Sunset" (54 hours)
Canada June 4-7	United Kingdom June 26-28	Finland July 9-12
Cortland, Ohio			Enough watching, time for cruising. Majestic Van-Ins September & October Australian Van Nationals Albury NSW Easter 2027
USA July 29-August 2	Italy August 21-23	Germany August 28-30
Albury / Wodonga September 24-28	Hervey Bay, QLD October 1-5	Kapunda, SA October 2-5	Albury NSW March 25-29, 2027