Led by the NRMA, who also will supervise fuelling of the test RVs, a convoy of four motorhomes of various sizes, a fifth wheeler and a caravan departed the Gold Coast on Sunday, staying overnight at Darlington Beach Holiday Park before heading onto Sydney on Monday.

At each town along the way, the convoy is inviting the local people to come along and look at the RVs and meet the team including legendary Australian swimming champion, Dawn Fraser, a long-time RV fan and spokesperson for Winnebago.

“Rural Australia stands to suffer the consequences of higher fuel costs because if less people travel, less will be spent in those areas,” said Max Mayo, of Winnebago.

“At any given time 75,000 RVs are on extended travel and spend on average $600 per week each on fuel, accommodation, food and entertainment. That’s $45 million per week given to mainly rural centres. It is this that is at risk.

“The cost of fuel is topical right now and the upward spiral of world oil prices is possibly causing a rethink in many Australian households on how best they spend their hard-earned cash in pursuit of fun and relaxation, yet many people do not realise that fuel use in a Motorhome is, in many cases about the same as your average large family car.”

Motorhomes, in addition to a surprisingly low fuel consumption rate, also take advantage of low stop over rates at caravan parks, even free stops in legal free camp areas, avoiding the high cost of hotel accommodation and also provide the facility to prepare meals and avoid the expense of eating out daily as would otherwise be the case.

The Fuel Consumption Safari will finally arrive at Winton Raceway on Friday to the fun and excitement of V8 Supercars.

The final fuel consumption figures will be authenticated by the NRMA and should continue to highlight that travelling by Motorhome is the most economical way overall to see the wonderful sights that Australia has to offer.