While the onset of cooler weather might conjure up images of warm fireplaces, hot porridge and indoor activities for some, for sporting aficionados it means only one thing - the beginning of the Australian ski season and crunch time for football clubs.

With most parts of Australia enjoying relatively mild temperatures over winter, it is the perfect time to pack up the caravan and camping gear, hit the road and follow your favourite sports team throughout the season fixtures.

Caravan, RV & Accommodation Industry of Australia (CRVA) chief executive Ben Yates recommends that travellers following their team take advantage of the activities offered in regional and inland towns and cities over the winter months.

"There are plenty of attractions to see outside the cities and there is no better way to experience Australia than hitting the road," Yates said.

Winter is the best season to visit tropical areas such as north Queensland and the Top End in the Northern Territory, with pleasantly mild temperatures and low rainfall. Yates says many travellers from southern states will make the trek up north each year to escape the chilly weather.

"Winter is a great time to head north and seek out sunshine, but for people who enjoy the cooler months, major sporting matches in the cities and festivals in regional areas prove to be big drawcards in the southern states," he said.

Sporting mad

For many Australians, May marks not only the beginning of winter, but more importantly, it signals the main part of the footy season. Although the football season technically starts in March, major matches are played from May to August, with finals held at the beginning of spring in September.

Aussie Rules, or AFL, remains an iconic game in the national psyche, and with games held across the country, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a match in your home state. If you happen to be in AFL's heartland of Victoria, make sure that you catch a game amongst the home crowd.

While you are on the road, make the most of the delights that regional Victoria has to offer by going off the beaten track. Travel outside the city and visiting the famous Great Ocean Road, or head inland and relax in a regional setting, with Lake Nagambie, Badger Creek and Lake's Entrance all offering beautiful locations where you can unwind.

Great local caravan holiday parks to stay at include BIG4 Badger Creek Holiday Park, Nagambie Lakes Leisure Park and Eastern Beach Tourist Park, for travellers looking for a range of accommodation options to suit different budgets.

If NRL is more your game, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a match across the country, with the season running from March until the grand final in September. Of course, as any 'cockroach' or 'cane toad' supporter will tell you, the ultimate rivalry comes head-to-head with the annual State of Origin series, which this year will be held on May 26, June 16 and July 7. Tickets often sell out well in advance, so fans will need to be quick to secure a spot.

The first and third NRL State of Origin will be held in Sydney, so if you are planning a trip to watch the game, why not make a holiday out of the trip, and stop off at some outback locations, such as Dubbo in New South Wales. Dubbo City Holiday Park is only a stones throw from the iconic Western Plains Zoo, as well as a range of accommodation options.

For the avid footy fan, why not make the most of the winter season and travel between cities to follow your favourite team? At the very least, travelling across the country for a major match between rivals is a great excuse to see the countryside in the off-peak travel season.

Yates says travelling outside peak seasons allow visitors to take advantage of value season rates outside of school holiday times, while also enabling motorists travelling long distances to feel safer with fewer cars on the road.

Rug up in the high country

If footy is not really your passion, there are still plenty of outdoor activities to keep you warm during the cooler months. One option is to head to the high country in Victoria for a romantic stay in a luxury cabin in the secluded Grampians.

With five spectacular sandstone ridges forming the Grampians National Park, bush walkers can enjoy stunning panoramic views, waterfalls, rock formations, cave paintings and up-close encounters with native wildlife, ensuring that there is never a shortage of things to do for the active traveller. For those looking for a more relaxed holiday, quality cabins in the area mean that holiday-makers can enjoy staying warm indoors with a hot cup of chocolate and a good book.

Lake Fyans Holiday Park is located near the towns of Halls Gap and Stawell and offer private, self-catering red cedar cabins only minutes from the Grampians, as well as caravan and camping grounds. Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Grampians National Park, Parkgate Resort also offers a range of options for all budgets. In nearby Ballarat, travellers can choose from a range of CRVA accredited parks, including A Welcome Stranger Holiday Park and Gold Nugget Tourist Park, both of which offer a range of facilities to suit couples and families.

If you are looking for a longer winter trip away, why not pack up the RV and travel in style to the Australian ski slopes? The official ski season opens on the weekend of June 11 at the major resorts, including Perisher and Thredbo in New South Wales and Hotham, Mt Buller and Falls Creek in Victoria. Save money by travelling in your own RV or hiring a comfortable campervan, staying in quality caravan holiday parks along your journey. Not only will you have a chance to enjoy the stunning scenery of the southern states, but you can also meet like-minded travellers at caravan holiday parks and pick up tips of places to see on your journey.

Ben Yates said caravan holiday parks offer a range of facilities and activities to cater for travellers in the winter months, with everything from heated pools to indoor games rooms and barbeque facilities on offer at modern caravan holiday parks.

"Of course, for many travellers, there is nothing better than simply rugging up indoors and relaxing during winter," he said. "Many regional caravan holiday parks in particular offer guests the opportunity to unwind in secluded locations, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the cities."

Head north for the winter

If you really would prefer to avoid cold weather altogether, winter is the perfect time of year to plan a road trip up north.

Ben Yates said many travellers head towards Queensland each year in April and May in search of sunshine and warmer climates. He says many travellers enjoy the camaraderie in caravan holiday parks, where people stop to share travel tips and information about nearby destinations.

"For many people, it becomes an annual event and we find that some travellers will stop at the same caravan holiday park each year to catch up with friends," he said.

The Gold Coast in south-east Queensland reportedly receives up to 300 sunshine-filled days each year and is a great place to start your northern journey.

Ocean Beach Tourist Park is a small private park nestled into the cliff-face of a bush land reserve in Miami on the Gold Coast.  As well as the patrolled beach in front of the park, other activities close-by include tennis courts and an Olympic sized swimming pool.

The park also boasts the Gold Coast's first ocean front cabins which offer all the mod cons you would expect from a four star property, as well as beautiful views over Miami Beach.

If you are travelling with family, including grandchildren, during this period, parks such as BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort in Airlie Beach will keep people of all ages entertained. Operations manager Chris Sergent says the Kermit's Kids Club offers special activities during school holidays such as face painting, arts and crafts and movie nights to keep children entertained while facilities for adults include BBQ nights, cheese and wine afternoons, bingo and much more.

"Each school break, the park puts on 'Family Fun Days' where kids are encouraged to play with their parents in fun games and activities like egg races, bobbing for apples and three leg races," Chris said.

In the north-west of Australia, enjoy stunning sunsets and warmer temperatures at Wintersun Caravan and Tourist Park at Carnarvon in Western Australia. Carnarvon is an excellent base to explore the Coral Coast, and there are plenty of on-site facilities to keep guests entertained over winter, including a bowling green, recreation room, pool and wireless Internet access.

Further north, Lake Argyle is Australia's only inland sea, storing water about nine times the size of Sydney Harbour. Stay at the nearby Discovery Holiday Park - Lake Kununurra and explore the East Kimberley's many attractions, including fishing, boating, bird watching, and enjoy the Aboriginal rock carvings in the area.