Kombi lovers motoring to Stanthorpe

One hundred Volkswagen Kombis are set to cruise into Stanthorpe over Easter weekend for ‘Bus Stop 2018’.
In its 12th year, Kombi Club Australia’s annual Bus Stop brings Kombi enthusiasts together in a different location across Australia every Easter.
Stanthorpe’s Top of Town Caravan Park will accommodate the Kombi lovers from Friday 30 March until Monday 2 April.
The event is set to attract more than 700 visitors to Stanthorpe for the Easter weekend and will inject more than $100,000 into the local economy.
Southern Downs Regional Council portfolio councillor for Regional Promotion, Tourism and The Arts, Rod Kelly, said welcoming ‘Bus Stop’ to Stanthorpe was a part of Council’s ongoing commitment to driving tourism in the region.
“Stanthorpe is an ideal location for the club members to come together and what appealed to them were our region’s beautiful natural assets and many tourist attractions,” Cr Kelly said.
“Bus Stop is just the beginning of a huge line-up of wonderful events coming to our region, including the Polocrosse World Cup and Queensland Eisteddfod in 2019.”
Kombi Club spokesperson Leo Rowan said Stanthorpe is an ideal location for the Bus Stop gathering.
“We have members that drive from all states to get to one of these and Stanthorpe is well located for travel and a great place to visit,” Mr Rowan said.
“We have worked closely with the Top of Town Caravan Park and the Showgrounds Society.
“They have been very helpful working with us on this event.”
The event program includes a photo shoot at Stanthorpe Showgrounds, street parade, fancy dress dinner party and remote control Kombi races.
Kombi van owner and club member, Brisbane’s Paul Henschke, said club members would be posting photos and stories from the weekend over the club’s forum and a number of Kombi related Facebook pages.
“We are expecting Stanthorpe to be given worldwide exposure,” he said.
The Kombi Club is an internet-forum based club with more than 12,000 members both in Australia and overseas, and was founded by Volkswagen parts supplier The Bus Stop, which is based on the Gold Coast.
Some club members will drive more than 3,500 kilometres to Stanthorpe and home again to attend.