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Picture this: rows of On The Move caravans gleaming in the sun at the On The Move Owners Retreat, camp chairs circling fire pits, kids chasing dogs, someone shouting “Who’s on BBQ duty?”, and the familiar buzz of like-minded travellers catching up like old mates.
That was the scene at the 2025 retreat and let’s just say, we understood the assignment.
Held in a jaw-droppingly beautiful location, this year’s retreat was our biggest yet and filled with the kind of community spirit you can’t manufacture. As On The Move CEO Robin Harris put it:
“It’s just a great opportunity to mix with people that we may not have seen for two or three years… it’s like seeing family you haven’t seen in a year.”
But this retreat wasn’t just about catching up – it was about swapping stories, learning from each other and sharing real-life tips that make van life even better.
“You get to get around hundreds of other people who not only are caravanners but are On The Move caravanners,” Robin said. “So they can share tips, tricks and experiences, specific to their vans.”
Whether it was a clever storage hack, a solar setup success story, or a camp oven secret recipe, owners were constantly trading ideas. From first-time owners still figuring out how to turn on their water pump, to seasoned nomads with thousands of kilometres behind them, the retreat welcomed all experience levels.
One couple had picked up their van just two weeks prior, their very first caravan, and were instantly surrounded by people happy to help and eager to share.
“Each year this event has gotten larger and larger,” Robin said. “That’s driven by two things: we now have more owners out there, and owners talking to each other and saying how much of a good time they had.”
One of the things that makes the On The Move Owners Retreat so unique? It’s powered by the people who love this lifestyle most.
“We actually run this with really minimal staff,” Robin said. “There’s only five staff here… the rest of the organisation is actually carried out by On The Move owners.”
From flipping burgers to running trivia nights, guiding vans into position, and helping others set up, our owner-volunteers were the real MVPs of the weekend.
This year that included Greg and Sue Smith, who returned for their second retreat and jumped straight into helping out.
“We decided to volunteer and help out Robin and the staff because they do a lot for everybody that arrives,” Greg said. “And because this is a factory-only weekend, it has nothing to do with the dealers, so they’re a bit short-staffed.”
The couple pitched in from the get-go – unpacking gear, helping with the setup, assisting in the kitchen and lending a hand wherever it was needed.
“We’ve interacted with a lot of people, helped them out with a few problems they’ve had or shown them things on the vans that they didn’t know were there or how to use,” Sue said. “It just makes us more useful. It’s our way of thanking Robin and his staff for what they’ve done for us.”
A huge thank you to Greg, Sue, and all our amazing volunteers – your generosity, energy, and willingness to pitch in are what turn this retreat into something unforgettable.
Of course, the weekend wasn’t all about mods and ideas. There was plenty of time for doing absolutely nothing and that’s kind of the point.
“My favourite thing is just how relaxing it is,” Robin said. “You can go for a walk, you can just sit around a campfire, you can go fishing… even if you’ve got phone reception, there’s still something about just leaving your phone behind.”
This year also brought a bit of star power to the retreat with the arrival of our newest brand ambassador, Tom Busby. You may know him as one half of Busby Marou or from his work with Tourism Queensland and the Big Red Bash – and now he’s officially part of the On The Move family.
“Tom’s got a brand new caravan that he will pick up shortly,” Robin said. “We’re looking forward to the partnership we’re going to have with him.”
And while the return to “real life” always stings a little, we’re already counting down to the next one.
Thank you to everyone who came, contributed, cooked, laughed, shared their stories and helped make 2025 one to remember.
We’ll see you at the next one. Until then, keep rolling, keep exploring, and keep being On The Move.
