A BBQ isn’t just cooking equipment on the Big Lap; it’s the centrepiece of every campsite evening. The right portable BBQ turns a free camp into a feast, and the wrong one turns dinner into a frustrating battle with wind, cold spots, and flimsy legs. Caravan BBQs need to be compact enough to store in a tunnel boot, tough enough to handle daily use for months, and powerful enough to sear a steak properly.
This guide covers the best portable BBQs for caravan travel, from the undisputed king (the Weber Baby Q) to budget alternatives and the growing range of electric options that don’t require gas at all. Whether you’re looking for traditional gas-fired grilling or exploring modern electric alternatives, we’ve got you covered.
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☰ What’s In This Guide
1. What To Look For
☐ Buyers Checklist
- Cooking surface: Cast iron grates sear better and retain heat longer. Enamel-coated steel is lighter but won’t produce the same results. For a couple, a single-burner surface is fine. Families should consider twin-burner models.
- Wind resistance: Lid-style BBQs (like the Weber Baby Q) handle wind far better than open flat-plate designs. This matters more than you’d think when you’re cooking in exposed campgrounds.
- Weight and storage: A BBQ that lives in the tunnel boot needs to be manageable in weight and fit the available space. Check dimensions when folded/stored, not just when set up.
- Gas vs electric: Traditional gas BBQs offer familiar grilling, but require canisters or LPG connection. Electric models eliminate gas dependency and work anywhere with 240V power, making them ideal for powered sites.
- Gas connection: Most portable BBQs run on disposable gas canisters. An adapter hose ($25–$40) lets you connect to your van’s main LPG supply, saving money on canisters over a long trip.
- Accessories ecosystem: The Weber Baby Q has a massive accessories range (stands, pizza stones, side tables). Other brands are more limited. If you want to expand over time, factor this in.
2. Top Gas BBQs for 2026
Gas BBQs remain the most popular choice for caravan travel. Here are our picks across different budgets and needs.
1
Best Overall
~$300
Weber Baby Q (Q1200)
The most popular portable BBQ in Australia for good reason
Compact, solidly built, and the lid design retains heat brilliantly for roasting and baking as well as grilling. The cast iron cooking grate sears beautifully, and the huge accessories ecosystem means you can add a stand, pizza stone, side tables, and more over time. An adapter hose connects to your van’s LPG supply, so you never need disposable canisters.
Cooking Grate
Cast iron
Weight
8.5 kg
Burners
Single
Gas
Canister / LPG adapter
✔ Pros
- Excellent heat retention and wind resistance with lid closed
- Cast iron cooking grate produces restaurant-quality searing
- Enormous range of accessories (stands, pizza stones, side tables)
- Adapter hose available to connect to van’s LPG supply
✗ Cons
- Fixed shape, doesn’t fold flat for storage
- At 8.5kg, heavier than most portable competitors
2
Premium Pick
~$599
Weber Traveler Compact BBQ
Weber’s newest portable with amazing collapsible design
Weber’s answer to the space problem. The Traveler folds down to a compact briefcase-like shape while offering a larger cooking surface than the Baby Q when set up. Porcelain-enamelled cast iron grates, excellent build quality, and that trademark Weber heat retention. The collapsible legs and fold-down design make it much easier to store than traditional Weber models.
Cooking Grate
Porcelain-enamelled cast iron
Weight
9.5 kg
Burners
Single
Foldable
Yes (compact)
✔ Pros
- Folds to briefcase size for easy storage
- Larger cooking surface than Baby Q when set up
- Weber build quality and heat retention
- Collapsible stand included
✗ Cons
- Premium price point
- More complex setup than fixed-leg models
3
Twin Burner Pick
~$350
Ziegler & Brown Portable Grill
Twin burners and a larger cooking surface than the Weber
A direct competitor to the Weber Baby Q with a slightly different design philosophy. The twin-burner Ziegler & Brown offers more cooking surface and the ability to run burners at different temperatures. Excellent build quality and even heat distribution across the larger grill area. If you regularly cook for more than two people, the extra space is worth the size and weight premium.
Cooking Grate
Cast iron
Weight
9.2 kg
Burners
Twin
Gas
Canister / LPG adapter
✔ Pros
- Two independent burners for multi-temperature cooking
- Larger cooking surface than the Weber Baby Q
- Excellent build quality and even heat distribution
✗ Cons
- More expensive than the Weber
- Heavier at 9.2kg, larger footprint
4
Best Value
~$150
Gasmate Voyager Portable BBQ
Lighter, more compact, and half the price of the Weber
A mid-range option that’s popular with caravanners. The Voyager is lighter than the Weber, folds more compactly, and costs about half the price. Good cooking performance for everyday meals. The enamel-coated steel grate doesn’t sear quite as well as cast iron, but for burgers, sausages, and vegies it’s more than adequate.
Cooking Grate
Enamel-coated steel
Weight
~6 kg
Burners
Single
Foldable
Yes
✔ Pros
- Lighter and more compact than premium competitors
- Good cooking performance for the price
- Folds more compactly than the Weber for storage
✗ Cons
- Enamel-coated steel doesn’t sear as well as cast iron
- Less wind resistance than lid-style BBQs
5
Griddle Option
~$498
Blackstone 22 Inch Omnivore 2 Burner Portable Griddle
Flat-top griddle cooking for something completely different
A completely different approach to outdoor cooking. This flat-top griddle gives you restaurant-style cooking surface perfect for breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancakes), stir-fries, and anything you’d cook on a flat plate. The large 22-inch surface can feed a crowd, and the twin burners give you good heat control across the cooking surface.
Cooking Surface
22″ flat griddle
Weight
~12 kg
Burners
Twin H-burners
Foldable
Yes (legs fold)
✔ Pros
- Huge cooking surface for groups
- Perfect for breakfast cooking and stir-fries
- Easy to clean flat surface
- Legs fold for storage
✗ Cons
- No grilling capability (flat surface only)
- Heavier and bulkier than traditional BBQs
- Different cooking style may not suit everyone
6
Budget Pick
~$459
Dometic CADAC 2-Cook 3 Pro Deluxe Portable Gas Stove
Multi-function cooking with interchangeable surfaces
A versatile two-burner stove with interchangeable cooking surfaces. Comes with a ribbed grill plate and flat griddle plate, so you can grill steaks on one side and cook eggs on the other. The modular design means you can swap surfaces based on what you’re cooking. Folds flat for storage and the twin burners offer excellent heat control.
Cooking Surface
Interchangeable plates
Weight
~7.5 kg
Burners
Twin
Foldable
Yes (flat)
✔ Pros
- Interchangeable cooking surfaces for versatility
- Twin burners with independent control
- Folds flat, easy to store
- Quality build from Dometic
✗ Cons
- Higher price point for a portable stove
- Cooking plates need to be stored separately
3. Best Electric BBQ Options
Electric BBQs are gaining popularity among caravanners, especially those who spend most nights in powered sites. No gas bottles to manage, no running out of fuel mid-cook, and often more compact storage.
1
Best Electric
~$199
KickAss 50CM Portable Electric BBQ
Powerful electric BBQ designed for Australian conditions
A 1400W electric BBQ that produces genuine grilling heat. The 50cm cooking surface handles family meals easily, and the Australian-designed unit copes well with our conditions. Folds flat for storage and the electric element heats up quickly. Perfect for caravanners who prefer powered sites or have solar setups that can handle 1400W loads.
Power
1400W
Cooking Surface
50cm non-stick
Weight
~5 kg
Foldable
Yes (flat)
✔ Pros
- No gas bottles or connections required
- Folds completely flat for easy storage
- Quick heat-up time
- Australian designed and built
✗ Cons
- Requires 240V power (powered sites only)
- 1400W load may strain some electrical systems
- Limited to flat-plate cooking
2
Premium Electric
~$649
Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ, Grill, Air Fryer and Smoker
Multi-function electric cooking with real woodfire flavour
This isn’t just an electric BBQ, it’s a complete outdoor cooking system. BBQ, air fryer, smoker, and grill in one compact unit. The real drawcard is the wood pellet system that adds genuine smoky flavour to your food. Perfect for caravanners who want restaurant-quality results without the complexity of traditional smokers.
Functions
7-in-1: BBQ, Smoke, Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, Reheat
Power
1760W
Cooking Surface
472 × 338mm
Weight
~13.9 kg
✔ Pros
- Genuine wood-pellet smoke flavour, not just grilling
- Seven functions in one appliance saves space
- Smart probe takes the guesswork out of doneness
- Weather-resistant (IPX4) for outdoor storage
✗ Cons
- Requires 240V power (powered sites only)
- 1760W is a heavy load for most battery and inverter setups
- Bulky and heavy at ~13.9kg
- Grill stand sold separately
4. Quick Comparison
Here’s how all eight stack up at a glance. Weights and prices are a guide only, so confirm the current price before you buy.
| BBQ | Type | Weight | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Baby Q (Q1200) Best Overall | Lid gas grill | 8.5 kg | ~$300 | Most caravanners |
| Weber Traveler Compact | Foldable gas grill | 9.5 kg | ~$599 | Tight storage |
| Ziegler & Brown Portable Grill | Twin-burner gas | 9.2 kg | ~$350 | Families, flexibility |
| Gasmate Voyager Best Value | Compact gas grill | ~6 kg | ~$150 | Budget and weight |
| Blackstone 22″ Omnivore | Flat-top griddle | ~12 kg | ~$498 | Breakfasts, groups |
| Dometic CADAC 2-Cook 3 Pro | Gas grill + griddle | ~7.5 kg | ~$459 | Versatility |
| KickAss 50cm Electric | Electric grill | ~5 kg | ~$199 | Powered sites, no gas |
| Ninja Woodfire | Electric 7-in-1 | ~13.9 kg | ~$649 | Smoking and do-it-all |
Key Takeaway
- The Weber Baby Q is the safe default: it sears beautifully, handles wind, and has accessories for everything. If it fits your storage, buy it.
- Tight on space? The Weber Traveler folds down small; tight on budget? The Gasmate Voyager does the job for around $150.
- Cooking for a crowd or love a flat-top? Look at the Ziegler & Brown twin-burner or the Blackstone griddle.
- Mostly in powered sites? An electric BBQ ditches gas bottles entirely, but check your system can handle the load before relying on battery or solar.
- Grab an LPG adapter hose ($25 to $40) so your gas BBQ runs off the van’s main bottle instead of disposable canisters.
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