Campervans and motorhomes were still pouring into Bathurst yesterday as close to a thousand vehicles of all shapes and sizes descended on the city for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) 30th anniversary rally at Mount Panorama.
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The club holds two rallies in Australia each year, selecting a different host city each time.
A spirit of camaraderie filled the air as old friends met up and new friends were welcomed.
A series of day tours have been organised, with staff from the Bathurst Visitor Information on site to answer questions.
Participants will be able to visit Sofala, the Chifley Home, the National Motor Racing Museum, Abercrombie House and the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, and take part in a food and wine safari.
Two of those who made a long journey to Bathurst for the event were Ray Wright of Toowoomba and David Dean, who is visiting from the United Kingdom. Both were travelling solo and had met up at an earlier event.
It was Mr Wright’s first national rally and Mr Dean’s sixth.
Mr Wright said he had been in Forbes for a solo rally and stayed around the area for the past month so he could take part in this week’s major event.
He drove through Bathurst 30 years ago, but this was his first extended stay in the region. He has walked the iconic circuit and driven around it in his motor home.
Mr Wright has been living in his motor home since May last year and is enjoying life on the road.
So far he has driven around Tasmania and been to Bundaberg and Melbourne.
“I am enjoying it a lot,” he said.
“The chapter meetings give you something to look forward to. They are a great way of meeting people if you are travelling solo.
“It’s like a brotherhood and sisterhood of people travelling on their own.”
Mr Dean said Australia is a magnificent country. It is his 20th visit.
“I come over every six months,” he said.
So far this time he has been to Western Australia, Cape Tribulation and the Great Barrier Reef.
He really loves the lifestyle.
“I enjoy the freedom, meeting different people, seeing all the motorhomes,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t see people for years and then you bump into them.
“I’ve met some really nice people in the chapter.”
Mr Dean will be leaving Australia in May to head back to England, but will be back again for the Australian summer.
Rally manager Colleen Walker said the rally participants come from all over Australia and are mostly retirees.
“They find motor homing a wonderful way of life,” she said.
The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) has 66,000 members.
Ms Walker said one of the highlights of the week will be the Black and White Chequered Ball in the big marquee on Friday night. There will also be an open day for the public on Saturday, April 30.
