Horizons by RAC Podcast

For generations caravan parks have been at the heart of the West Aussie holiday - road trips, sandy feet, camp kitchens, and that unmatched sense of freedom, and today, they’ve evolved into a new era of modern holiday parks!
What’s driving the renaissance? Why are WA travellers hitting the road in record numbers? Are parks raising the bar - or are travellers demanding more? What do familiesexpect now that they didn’t a decade ago?
And as RAC invests in upgraded facilities and landmark destinations like Ningaloo Reef Resort, is itredefining the future of the great WA road trip? Chapters:
00:00 WA’s Iconic Holiday Parks: Why We’re Lucky
01:26 Childhood Memories: Freedom, Bikes & Beachside Vibes
03:48 Why WA Loves Road Trips & Holiday Parks05:56 From Caravan Parks to Modern Holiday Resorts
07:11 WA Geography, Seasonality & Picking Park Locations
09:50 Holiday Park vs Caravan Park: What’s Actually Different?
12:28 How Parks Have Evolved: Comfort, Safety & Multi-Gen Travel
16:56 Keeping Kids Busy (and Off Screens): Activities & School Holiday Programs
20:57 Post-COVID Boom: Staying Local, Standards & Repeat Visitors
24:22 WA Hotspots & Who’s Visiting 28:14 Family-Friendly Park Culture: Early Nights, Safe Spaces & Dolphin Mornings
29:16 Comfort vs Camping: Why Glamping Is Taking Off
33:23 Why RAC Got into Holiday Parks 
35:30 Big Investments & New Acquisitions
36:46 Coral Bay/Ningaloo Redevelopment38:48 Building Lightly: Environmental Design, Recycling and Solar Plans
40:28 Boosting Local Tourism
43:15 Who Works in the Parks: Lifestyle Staff, Backpackers and Moving Between Regions
45:20 What’s Next: Future Locations, Eco Stays, Self-Contained Cabins & 10-Year VisionGuests: Doreen Thomson (Senior Marketing Manager, Travel & Tourism), Dean Massie (General Manager, Operations) and Mark Weller (Chief Operating Officer).
Subscribe and share  If you liked this episode, subscribe to RAC’s Horizons podcast and share it with your friends and family.     Find us online:Website: ⁠https://rac.com.au/horizons⁠   YouTube: ⁠ / @horizonsrac⁠  Instagram:   www.instagram.com/racwa   Facebook:   www.facebook.com/racwa   Legal disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.  This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only.  Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice.  References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.  RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.

We’ve all had a crack at a Western Australian road trip, but how many of us have tried to visit every single town on the map? Meet the WA photographer who’s doing exactly that.

Myke Bartlett sits down with Aaron Green — an electrician by trade and the man behind Lands Unseen, an ambitious solo mission to document every town and ghost town in WA! From well-known regional centres to barely marked dots on the map, Aaron is chasing down more than 600 small towns across WA!

From navigating bushfires and camping solo beneath WA’s vast night skies, to meeting locals who live and breathe their communities, this conversation dives deep into exploration, resilience, and the beauty of slowing down.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
01:15 Aaron's Journey of Self-Discovery
03:32 Learning the Hard Lessons
05:12 Exploring Small Towns
11:35 The Troop Carrier Upgrade
14:40 Life on the Road
25:38 Hidden Gems in WA
29:31 Memorable Characters and Community Passion
31:48 Top Five Small Towns to Visit
33:55 Unexpected Discoveries in Esperance
36:45 The Charm of Muck and Surrounding Areas
37:53 Ghost Towns and Historical Trails
40:03 Simple Pleasures: Best Meals and Bakeries
43:28 Tips for Aspiring Road Trippers
51:24 The Journey of Self-Discovery

Guest: Aaron Green, Lands Unseen www.instagram.com/lands.unseen

Subscribe and share 
If you liked this episode, subscribe to RAC’s Horizons podcast and share it with your friends and family.    

Find us online:
Website: ⁠www.rac.com.au/horizons⁠  
YouTube: ⁠ www.youtube.com/horizonsrac⁠ 
Instagram:   www.instagram.com/racwa  
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/racwa  

Legal disclaimer:
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.  This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only.  Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice.  References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.  RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.

We’ve all had a crack at a Western Australian road trip — but how many of us have tried to visit every single town on the map? Meet the WA photographer who’s doing exactly that.Myke Bartlett sits down with Aaron Green — an electrician by trade and the man behind Lands Unseen, an ambitious solo mission to document every town and ghost town in WA! From well-known regional centres to barely marked dots on the map, Aaron is chasing down more than 600 small towns across WA!From navigating bushfires and camping solo beneath WA’s vast night skies, to meeting locals who live and breathe their communities, this conversation dives deep into exploration, resilience, and the beauty of slowing down.Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:15 Aaron's Journey of Self-Discovery 03:32 Learning the Hard Lessons 05:12 Exploring Small Towns 11:35 The Troop Carrier Upgrade 14:40 Life on the Road 25:38 Hidden Gems in WA 29:31 Memorable Characters and Community Passion 31:48 Top Five Small Towns to Visit 33:55 Unexpected Discoveries in Esperance 36:45 The Charm of Muck and Surrounding Areas 37:53 Ghost Towns and Historical Trails 40:03 Simple Pleasures: Best Meals and Bakeries 43:28 Tips for Aspiring Road Trippers 51:24 The Journey of Self-Discovery Guest: Aaron Green, Lands Unseen www.instagram.com/lands.unseenSubscribe and share  If you liked this episode, subscribe to RAC’s Horizons podcast and share it with your friends and family.     Find us online:Website: ⁠https://rac.com.au/horizons⁠   YouTube: ⁠ / @horizonsrac⁠  Instagram:   www.instagram.com/racwa   Facebook:   www.facebook.com/racwa   Legal disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.  This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only.  Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice.  References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.  RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.

As grid electricity prices continue to rise and governments look to accelerate home battery adoption through subsidies and incentives, many households are asking the same question: does investing in solar and battery storage really pay off?
On this episode of the Horizons by RAC podcast, Jason and Bronson unpack how modern solar and battery systems work, what’s changed in recent years, and the key factors to consider before making the switch.

Guests: Jason Skodt and Bronson Davies - Directors of Unplugged Energy and Perth Solar Force

RAC has partnered with Unplugged Energy to help deliver savings to its members, learn more here: https://rac.com.au/membership-benefits/discounts-and-special-offers/member-benefit-unplugged-energy

Chapters: 
00:00 Introduction to Home Energy Storage 
00:58 Understanding Home Battery Systems 
02:52 Financial Benefits and Government Rebates 
05:35 Market Trends and Future Prospects 
09:12 Technical Considerations for Homeowners 
17:53 Virtual Power Plants and Grid Stability 
29:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Subscribe and share:
If you liked this episode, subscribe to RAC’s Horizons podcast and share it with your friends and family.

Find us online:
Website: https://rac.com.au/horizons 
YouTube:    www.youtube.com/@horizonsrac  
Instagram:   www.instagram.com/racwa    
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/racwa   
  
Legal disclaimer: 
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.  This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only.  Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice.  References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC. RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.

Hikers Robyn and Patrick share a firsthand account of a multi-day hike along the Stirling Range ridge that took an unexpected turn. One small misstep led to an injury that saw Robyn onboard RAC Rescue, they join us to share their story.

The RAC Rescue helicopters are sponsored by RAC, funded by the State Government and managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Guests: Robyn Boulet and Patrick Carter – hikers from Perth, Western Australia
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Training and Preparation for the "Half Ridge" Hike
05:53 The Weight of a Hiker's Pack: What to Carry
07:35 The "Snap": Robyn Describes Her Horrific Ankle Injury
10:07 Emergency First Aid and Stabilising the Injury
15:57 The Mental Game: Using Box Breathing to Stay Calm
20:25 The Rescue: The Crew Arrive
39:56 Lessons Learned: Why You Should Never Underestimate the Ridge

Subscribe and share:
If you liked this episode, subscribe to RAC’s Horizons podcast and share it with your friends and family. Find us online: Website: https://rac.com.au/horizons
YouTube:    www.youtube.com/@horizonsrac  
Instagram:   www.instagram.com/racwa  
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/racwa  

Legal disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and may not be shared by the Royal Automobile Club of WA (Inc) or its related bodies corporate (together “RAC”) or any of its or their councillors, directors or employees.  This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only.  Listeners should not rely on the content as a substitute for independent advice.  References to a product should not be construed as an endorsement by RAC.  RAC accepts no liability for any reliance placed on the content.