When Paul Tindale and family contacted GoSeeAustralia from the UK about their planned Australian Motor Home RV adventure it gave us food for thought.
Dear Sir said Paul’s email 'I, my wife and 3 boys will be travelling from Cairns to Sydney in a motor home this August. My wife wants me to book campsites in advance; however, I would prefer to have a more relaxed-see how it goes attitude and check in to a camp in an area wed like to spend sometime exploring. How easy would that be, what do you think?'
'I’m also not sure about the rule regarding parking overnight at the road side. I’ve read conflicting information where on one hand it seems to be alright to park up outside of city/town boundaries and on the other hand this is not allowed at all'.
'Any help you can give me before we leave will be appreciated. Hope you don’t mind me asking. Thanks'.
Now that is a big beautiful section of Australia Paul and his family is off to see. The Cairns to Brisbane leg is about 1736km and the Brisbane to Sydney section about 970km via coastal centres. There is about 36 hours of driving involved. They will have a great trip starting in August in Queensland and touring in to NSW Spring weather.
It will be quite cool as they get further south so they should be prepared with some warm gear. It is a massive stretch of Australia they plan to travel with many caravan, tourist and Holiday Park options. GSA thinks three weeks to a month or more is the least time to put into the experience.
Free camping is a matter of not rocking the boat in most states. Each council has a different view. Some are stiff about it others not. So watch the parking signs and be polite. Generally there is something just out of the towns. It is often a reserve or State Park related area.
Some of the more on the ball tourist friendly centres now provide overnight parking areas for big vehicles. If you are in doubt ask at the local information centre. Please help keep the balance. Stand-alone camping depends on how people on the road in caravans, camper trailers, campervans, tents mobile homes and RV vehicles handle rubbish and waste.
A big campervan or motor home might be OK for more than three nights. But they will be limited by their grey and black water storage. GoSeeAustralia is not keen on just stopping by the road-side. Apart from the noise, there are security issues. So be thoughtful about your choice of camp spots. Powered sites in caravan parks are cheap convenience and peace of mind. Around $15 to $25 a night is typical.
There are 'Old Head' GoSeeAustralia and Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia members on the road who are more than willing to help if asked. GoSeeAustralia features like Motor homes beat the hell out of the view from a flat, Learn to live with your camper trailer, Motor homers leave a light footprint, Camper family four wing north by Swan, Around Australia by the book, Ducato makes home any place at all, To Cape Otway by Dove, and Learn to live with your camper trailer, part two, is the 'Now don’t forget prompt for travelling' in the Information section of GSA which offers practical know how.
Relaxed travel and destination decisions are fine in August, but there are school holidays in Qld and NSW toward the end of September, so if September is in the timetable book ahead. Also keep an eye on big festivals or events and conventions in major centres. For example Rockhampton has the Capricana Festival in September and accommodation can get tight.
GoSeeAustralia’ 'must stops' would be beaches, beaches, beaches, Townsville (Include Magnetic Island), Airlie Beach/Proserpine, (See at least one Whitsunday Island), Mackay (Go to Eungella National Park and Cape Hillsborough). Rockhampton (Calliope Village, Croc Farm, Dreamtime Cultural Centre), Capricorn Caves), Hervey Bay (Whale watching and Festival is Aug to Oct) (Fraser Is), Noosa (Do Hastings St and the National Park walk), Brisbane (The Agricultural Show is in August) spring is big with racing carnival. Walk South Bank. Take in Moreton Island and see the dolphins at Tangalooma. Gold Coast, (tinsel town kids will like it) Coolangatta, (beaches) Ballina, (take a Richmond River cruise) Coffs Harbour, (Sail Week is in Sept) (Take the kids to the Big Banana Leisure Park) Port Macquarie, (Food and Wine Festival is in Sept) Port Stephens, (About two and a half hours from Sydney) ( Oysters, fishing, dolphins, great food) Sydney (Do The Rocks and eat seafood at Doyle’s, Cruise with Capt Cook Cruises). Use our trip planner. Aim for 300km a day unless in really remote areas. For example 300-500km at an average of say 85-90 kmh (which is normal even for those that travel at 100-110 with hills, stops and towns) is still close to 3.5 to 6 hours solid driving. And don’t not miss the magnificent hinterland which is behind the glittering coastal seascapes.
For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia Directory
Phone: 02 6294 1941
Fax: 02 6284 9275
Email: garth@contact.com.au
