Anyone going to Melbourne 4x4 outdoors show?

[Oscartangotango Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Oscartangotango]

Parking tip, they're charging $15 to park your car but if you arrive relatively early you can park for free in open space on the right at the very end of Leonard Cresent. It's a bit of a walk but when I arrived this morning at 10am they were already parking cars in the parks at the end of Leonard Cres and charging $15.00, on the other side of the road (RHS) there is some vacant land, it has a fence around it but it is not gated from the lane behind it. I parked in there had a really good look around for any no parking signs, nothing....
Proud to say I seemed to lead the charge as plenty of people followed me in.
I was there for several hours, on returning the area was now chokkers with cars and no tickets.
There was still plenty of space there when I left.

You can see it in this link, the grass and dirt area with a kind of figure 8 on it.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37..../data=!3m1!1e3

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

So what was the show itself like?

[abcxyz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close abcxyz]

I went on Friday. My overall impression is I just wish that there was a 4x4 and Camping show that covered the stuff I like! I have been to all the shows in Melbourne this year (and probably most of the last 3), and there is always someone missing from the stuff I want to see in one place.

ARB do not have a big presence at this one, nor do Ironman (I think) - TJM do have a big stand.

The camper trailers weren't as well represented as previous years. First time I have seen Trackabout down here for a while, but no Complete Campsites or All Terrain.

It was enjoyable, but I am getting frustrated with the competition in these sorts of shows. I didn't make it to Explore Expo but it sounds as though they must have given very good offers to get some of the regular exhibitors to ignore this show in favour of theirs.

I liked Leisurefest more at Sandown last year. But there are so many caravans there, and the soft floor and hard floor campers are often too far apart.

For mine, Show Grounds just do not offer enough open ground for the camper element (of which I am firmly entrenched). But the fishing side of things is very well represented.

[Oscartangotango Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Oscartangotango]

I got away without spending anything although today was more of a research trip for me.
I saw some interesting stuff but a lot of the same thing in every stand.
If your in the market for LED lights just about every stand is pushing them.
ARB weren't there at all or had no exposure and even the TJM stand although very comprehensive was operated by only the one outlet, Carrum Downs.
When I enquired about a show special on a bull bar they just said pop into your local TJM and ask for a deal.
In the end I got the info I was after and now have a plan on fitting out my new 150 I purchased this week.
I didn't see a fitted out Prado on display anywhere but they can't have every vehicle.

Overall it has been a while since I have been to one of these shows, I guess things change and the shear number of leisure expos means some companies are forced to pick and choose which they want to attend.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

ARB announced via Facebook that they weren't exhibiting at the National 4 x 4 Show in Melbourne, they ran specials via their Victorian outlets instead. Think they run till Monday. They were at the Explore Australia Expo though.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Parking tip, they're charging $15 to park your car but if you arrive relatively early you can park for free in open space on the right at the very end of Leonard Cresent. It's a bit of a walk but when I arrived this morning at 10am they were already parking cars in the parks at the end of Leonard Cres and charging $15.00, on the other side of the road (RHS) there is some vacant land, it has a fence around it but it is not gated from the lane behind it. I parked in there had a really good look around for any no parking signs, nothing....
Proud to say I seemed to lead the charge as plenty of people followed me in.
I was there for several hours, on returning the area was now chokkers with cars and no tickets.
There was still plenty of space there when I left.

You can see it in this link, the grass and dirt area with a kind of figure 8 on it.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37..../data=!3m1!1e3

I got in your special car park early. Thankx or the tip.
By midday they were bringing other vehicles in @ $ 15 each.
Charging u to park anywhere! Even not their land.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

By midday they were bringing other vehicles in @ $ 15 each.
Charging u to park anywhere! Even not their land.

That's disgraceful ####! How do they get away with it? I didn't go, still suffering pain from my tooth extraction last Thursday :-(

Anything good?