Camper Trailer of the Year through the ages

Now in its 15th year, it’s fair to say Camper Trailer of the Year has grown and changed over the years. Every event brings with it a fresh lineup of camper trailers to put under the microscope, exciting innovations and even some new names that become Aussie legends.

The idea for Camper Trailer of the Year came about back in 2009, and by the end of that year we’d held our first ever event, bringing together 13 of the best and most cutting-edge campers in Australia into one location — and for a single day. Compared to what we do now, it’s almost inconceivable that so much was packed into such a short space of time.

The competition has evolved over the years, with more organisers, photographers, videographers, caterers, sponsors and so on expanding the convoy of people who would head to some of Australia’s most beautiful and, perhaps more importantly, challenging locations for a multi-day event of judging, tow tests, photography and videography and (hopefully) some fun.

Camper Trailer of the Year was created as another avenue to shine a spotlight on the latest and most innovative campers on the market and provide objective reviews to help the public choose the ideal model for their requirements. And the addition of a public showcase to view the entrants has become an event highlight.

As we look back over the years, it’s amazing to see how far camper trailers have evolved since 2009, with new brands emerging and rising to the top of the industry, not to mention the way technology has advanced and become an ingrained component of the humble camper.

Some industry growth, like that of the Hybrid camper, has gone far enough that it’s now become its own category with its own competition.

Every year features something new, but one of the best parts of CTOTY is that it brings manufacturers together for some good-natured competition and quality time catching up and exploring Australia with their campers in tow.

Let’s check out some of the highlights from the 2010–2023 CTOTY events.

CTOTY 2010 | Werribee, Vic

With 13 campers to test in one day, the first CTOTY event was action-packed to say the least. As happens the first time you run an event, there were many lessons learned such as scheduling time slots for clients so they’re not twiddling their thumbs all day and to not announce the winners the same day. But all in all, it was a great day and the CTOTY issue of Camper Trailer Australia sold like hot cakes which was all the proof we needed to hold the event again.

CTOTY 2011 | LandCruiser Mountain Park, Sunshine Coast, Qld

Our next CTOTY was held over three days in the Sunshine Coast (an interstate trip for us Melburnians). It was beachside bliss for all involved, and the competition kicked off with a glorious sunrise convoy down the beach and sand driving and recovery techniques (Glenn from All Terrain got the tick of approval here). The trip finished up at the LandCruiser Park where each camper was tested over varied terrains and hills before enjoying a night around the campfire with the team from Cooper Tires.

CTOTY 2012 | Porepunkah to Talbotville, Vic

Held over five days with 15 campers to put to the test, this was our first time splitting the CTOTY crew up into two groups. The event kicked off in Porepunkah and headed through Alpine National Park to Talbotville, with eight campers and vehicles getting to the top of Mount Murray for a photoshoot with some fantastic views. The Victorian High Country is home to some great but challenging tracks, and the trip from Dargo to Porepunkah on the Dargo High Plains Road had some drivers on the edge of their seat as they navigated along sheer cliffs and drop-offs. But this was part of the reason why the event was extended to five days — to give the entrants more time to mingle and explore the area and its famed tracks.

CTOTY 2013 | Barrington Tops, NSW

This year we were truly able to test the campers — and the entrants and organisers — in extreme weather. The first day included temperatures of 35°C, a total fire ban and bushfires. Two days later, the entire group was shivering and trying to avoid the showers of sleet. Despite all this, the entire crew had a great time exploring this iconic national park in NSW and its varied tracks, and the instant hot showers available in the hybrid were definitely appreciated by all.

CTOTY 2014 | Robe, SA

With 22 campers to judge and soft sandy beaches to battle against, this was the toughest competition from a judging perspective so far. But the stunning coastline and sunsets in Robe truly made up for it. There were many event standouts, but one of the biggest was the introduction of a new brand that quickly impressed the judges with its innovative and well-built design: Patriot Campers. The Patriot X1 stood out in its class then, and the brand has continued to do so since.

CTOTY 2015 | Broken Hill, NSW

We headed to Nundooka Station, north of Broken Hill, for our first outback event and it was an intense but memorable trip. With a 250,000-acre property serving as our testing ground, we put eight campers through their paces and dealt with temperatures in the mid to high 40s, dust storms, raging winds and even a locust plague. Even so, it was one of the best trips we’d had to date and offered and true-blue outback experience for all the entrants, organisers and photographers. And the lineup of campers didn’t disappoint either with the Patriot X1 backing up its win the previous year.

CTOTY 2016 | Dargo, Vic

For a respite from the heat, we headed back to the Victorian High Country with our basecamp set up at the iconic Dargo Hotel. Over the week-long event the 12 campers tackled the region’s rolling hills, mountain tracks and deep river crossings, all striving to show off the capabilities of their campers. The team at Patriot got their hands dirty (and bloody) leading the recovery of vehicles that struggled with the wet tracks, and Mountain Trail RV Campers, who had come close on several occasions, took home a category win for the first time.

CTOTY 2017 | Bribie Island / Yarun, Qld

To avoid another cold and wet event, we headed off to the sun, sand and serenity of Bribie Island / Yarun for six days of judging, driving, photography, videography and a fair few laughs. The 14 campers hauled themselves onto the white sandy beaches to test out their sand driving skills, park in great locations for a spot of photography and judging, and when there was spare time, to explore the stunning island. The level of competition was fierce, and the public showcase held mid-event was a success.

CTOTY 2018 | Wollumbin (Mount Warning), NSW

For the 2018 event we went on a rainforest rampage into north-east NSW, with our main basecamp set up on Wollumbin (Mount Warning). This beautiful region is home to some diverse environments to put this year’s round of campers to the test. And what a staggering number of campers there were, with 25 in total rocking up to put the pedal to the metal. The calibre of tech and innovation was outstanding, and the four judges were suitably impressed. Patriot X2 Grand Tourer took home the overall win, but the Mars Rover and Skamper Kampers Dingo Ultimate were some of the other standouts. There were long days of testing, but the community spirit around the campfire and the chance to check out some great tracks and hiking trails was a gold-star bonus.

CTOTY 2019 | Mudgee, NSW

We pointed our 4WDs towards Mudgee in NSW, where we would spend nine days putting 10 tip-top campers under the microscope for CTOTY 2019. The judges had a hard task of separating these top-tier models, and the results were tight with the innovative BRS Sherpa taking the top prize with the most points scored.

CTOTY 2020 | Gold Coast Hinterland, Qld

Editor Aaron Flanagan led a battalion of 13 into war on the edges of the Gold Coast Hinterland in 2020. Based on the coast itself, living a life of luxury and bright lights by night, the team worked hard when the sun was up in and around the Tamborine Mountains. Dealing with harsh heat as the days rolled by took its toll on the team but after the sun settled on the last day, the first beer tasted extra good. Of the 13 entrants, we had some familiar brands in serial winner Patriot who again took out the big-gong as well as a handful of budget-friendly campers that stood tall among the giants of the industry.

CTOTY 2021 | Port Macquarie, NSW

Port Macquarie had been on our to-visit list for a while, and we finally made it for the 2021 event. COVID lockdowns had their fun and games in delaying the event somewhat, but eventually we kicked off the festivities with an army of 21 campers, four judges and the convoy of photographers, judges and organisers in tow. It’s no small feat finding a destination with facilities to feed and house this many people, but thankfully Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills was up to the task and served as our basecamp. With so many campers in the lineup, there was a real variety on show which required some updates to the awards and competitions including awarding campers by style as well as standouts in the criteria they are judged by. Ultimate Off-Road Campers took home the overall prize for its first time after coming close for years with its 25X Anniversary Edition, closely followed by the Offline Campers Domino.

CTOTY 2022 | Coffs Harbour, NSW

After three years of trying, we finally made it to Coffs Harbour for the 2022 event. Known for its epic tracks and open beaches, we had been planning to get to the region since 2019. You know, things got in the way like the devasting fires and a drought that seemed to never end, but once the locals were ready for us, we locked it in. With nine campers in tow, we spent our nights at the local BIG4, fed and watered by local caterers and by day we found our way up Boambee Beach and into the depths of Orara State Forest. We won’t name names, but the soft, golden sand caught a few out giving the camera crew a chance to practice their recovery techniques.

CTOTY 2023 | Dargo, Vic

Back to one of our all-time favourites, the epic Victorian High Country and the Dargo Hotel. Run over five days, with a public showcase in the middle, we photographed and videoed our way up the Wonnangatta River and Dargo High Plains Road. Wild weather lashed us when we least expected (or wanted) it to but when the clouds broke, the scenery was what makes this part of the world so famous; it is spectacular. The hospitality at the Dargo Hotel is second to none too. When you go, and you should take your time and go remote, it’s worth it. The 2023 crown went to Ultimate Off-Road Campers for the second time.

Onwards and upwards

While we’ve always ventured out into many of Australia’s fantastic and challenging locations, on the whole they have been ‘stationary’ events with a singular basecamp and trips out into the area, or at the very least moving between neighbouring towns. But as you’ll have seen in our tour story, 2024 was an interstate tour covering nearly 600km from New South Wales to south-east Queensland with six fantastic campers, not to mention the three judges, photographers and videographers, and sponsors.

Now that we’ve broken the mould, who knows what next year will bring.

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