Eco-tourer

Background

The Eco-tourer was born from a collaboration between Ken Hawkins, Michael Hawkins, and Don Leigh, a skilled engineer and close family friend. Together they shared a vision for a caravan that was compact, functional, and unlike anything else on the market. After years of research, development, design, and engineering, production of the first Eco-Tourer began in 2002 at Caravan Court in Melbourne (Springvale, Victoria), with units reaching the market from 2003 onwards.

The Eco-tourer’s defining characteristic is its compact, aerodynamic folding design. The current range includes the 510 Hurricane (high ground clearance off-road model), the Breeze (aerodynamic folding roof), and the Slipstream (folding design for off-road camping). The concept was unique in the Australian market: a caravan that could fold down for towing and expand for living.

Ownership & Structure

The Eco-tourer brand is the property of Caravan Court, a long-established caravan dealership with adjoining caravan park in Springvale, Victoria. The brand remains closely tied to its founding dealership.

Manufacturing

The Eco-tourer was initially built in Australia but manufacturing has since moved to China, with locally approved appliances installed. The design and engineering remain Australian, and the vans are sold and serviced through Caravan Court in Springvale.

Market Position

The Eco-tourer occupies a unique niche in the Australian caravan market as a folding/expanding caravan with strong towing characteristics. It does not compete directly with conventional caravans but rather appeals to buyers who want more than a camper trailer but prefer the compact towing profile over a traditional full-height caravan. Pricing is competitive for the category.