News • Member stories
Introducing the Camplify Owner Awards: a proper thank you to the people behind every adventure
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When we sat down to think about what makes Camplify special, the answer didn't take long. It's you - the 10,000+ owners across Australia who turn a set of keys into someone else's adventure.
This year, we wanted to find a new way to say thank you. The Camplify Owner Awards are our first-ever celebration of the people who make this community what it is. Not just the bookings, but the early-morning handovers with a thermos of coffee. The handwritten lists of local tips tucked into the glovebox. The 10pm texts that say "no worries, I'll sort it."
These are the moments that don't show up on a dashboard - but they're exactly what we wanted to honour.
How we chose the winners
Our team looked for owners who genuinely embody the Camplify spirit: a real passion for getting people outdoors, a willingness to go the extra mile for hirers, and those who quietly mentor newer owners coming through.
With 10,000+ owners doing brilliant work across the country, choosing just a handful was never going to be easy - and honestly, we know we've only scratched the surface. These awards aren't about ranking the best from the rest. They're about shining a light on a few of the stories that caught our eye this year.
If your name's not on this list, it doesn't mean you're not doing incredible things. It just means we haven't told your story yet.
We're excited to hear more of them as this community continues to grow.
The winners
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Owner of the Year: Jono & Chris from Only Vans
Eighteen custom-built campervans. Over 600 bookings. A 4.9 rating from 258 reviews. But what really stood out was how Jono and Chris treat every single hire - "like the van's heading out on its first date." When a mother and daughter reached out needing a wheelchair-accessible option for a trip to see a favourite uncle, the boys measured up, made it work, and even picked them up from the airport. That's the Only Vans way.
Read Jono & Chris's full story
Runners-up:
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New Owner of the Year: Jake
Jake joined Camplify in April 2024 with two self-built Toyota Hiaces and zero expectations. His second-ever booking? A one-month relocation from Perth to Brisbane - handed over by a mate, picked up on the other side, with an English couple doing half a lap of Australia in between. Thrown in the deep end? Absolutely. But that's how Jake does things. Less than a year later, he's earned a reputation for lightning-fast responses (his latest booking came through at 7am - he replied in four minutes) and a genuine love for helping first-timers discover van life.
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Legend Owner of the Year: Lauren from Outback 2 Sea Caravan Hire
When someone first suggested hiring out their caravan after finishing a lap of Australia in 2017, Lauren thought they were mad. Seven years and over 2,200 bookings later, she's running a fleet of 21 caravans with military-level logistics - delivering up to 13 vans on and off sites in a single day during peak periods. She's also built a network of fellow Camplify owners who help each other out when things get hectic. From one van and zero experience to possibly the most bookings on the entire platform - that's a proper legend.
Read their full stories
Every winner has a story worth telling. Head over to our Owner Awards page to see all the 2025 winners and runners-up - see their vans, hear how they got started, and find out what they reckon makes a great owner.
Your turn next year
If you didn't see your name this year, keep doing what you're doing. Keep sharing your local knowledge, keep going the extra mile, and keep creating those moments that turn a trip into a story.
We'll be watching - and we can't wait to celebrate even more of you next year.
Inspired by our winner's stories? List your van.
See how owners across the ditch are doing it
By the way, the Owner Awards aren't just an Australian thing. Over in New Zealand, we've celebrated owners like Tamie & Matt from Queenstown Campervans (who helped a Make-A-Wish family create an unforgettable trip), Kim & Nathan from Soel Outdoors (one caravan to 25+ vehicles in a single year), and John & Nicci, who've been with us since three months after we launched in NZ.
Different markets, same spirit. If you're keen to see how the Kiwi owners approach things - or if you're a hirer planning a trip across the Tasman - check out the New Zealand Owner Awards.
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.