MCA Editorial·July 2026
The van, the tent and the boat are the perfect touring combination.
Combining camping with trailer boating turns a weekend into a fortnight. The van is base camp, the boat is the vehicle for the day.
Combining camping with trailer boating turns a weekend into a fortnight.
The Set-Up
Van or camper at a caravan park or free camp near a ramp. Boat launched from there daily. Simple, cheap, wildly effective.
Where to Base
The best towns are the ones with a ramp, a caravan park and a pub within a kilometre. There are hundreds.
The Rhythm
Slow mornings, mid-morning launch, home for a swim and a shower, dinner outside. A pattern that could last months.
Things to Think About
- Have you paired camping with a boat trip in the last two years?
- What's a town within reach of home that has all three ingredients?
- Could you do this for a week instead of a weekend?
Key Takeaways
- Van + boat = base camp + vehicle.
- The best towns for this style have everything within a kilometre.
- The rhythm is what makes it addictive.