RV REVIEW
TESTING THE HIGH COUNTRY !
In recent months , Australis Caravans has been refining the vans in its dedicated offroad lineup , known as the High Country .
It began with a 14ft 6in caravan that was fitted with more gear than you could shake a stick at , which was all the more intriguing considering the diminutive size of that rig . But Australis has just launched a larger and more spacious version of the High Country , the tandem-axle 17ft 6in family van reviewed here . The company is also developing plans for an 18ft 6in High Country , which will feature the layout in our review van but with the addition of a washing machine and wardrobe between the dinette and rear bunks .
A UNIQUE LAYOUT
I was immediately struck by the layout . This is , after all , a bunk van complete with a bathroom and separate shower , packaged into a 17ft 6in body length . And it ’ s more spacious than you might think .
Australis Caravans achieved this by opting for an east-west main bed in the nose of the van , with one cupboard offset to the nearside . At the rear , the company fitted two bunks to the offside , filling out the rear wall with the bathroom . The cassette toilet , therefore , sits against the back wall , next to a small vanity . The separate shower cubicle is in the nearside corner . This setup , while different to many vans of similar length , works well .
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