All kids should see the iconic things of Australia I think - The Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Uluru, Devils Marbles, Kings Canyon, The Olgas, Darwin and surrounds, Mataranka, Victoria Highway Katherine to WA B order, Ningaloo Reef, Purnululu ------the list could go on forever.
One thing I will say, please make time for you all to enjoy the journey - not just the destinations - this country has such diverse scenery, and terrain - here in WA we see the trees and flowers changing continuously - driving about 150k today we saw such an amazing range of wildflowers, bushes, trees, grass trees (I still call them black boys), the parasite tree that turns orange from now until just after Christmas, then goes back to green - apparently it suckers from a nearby tree. ( I call it the WA Christmas Tree).
Coming across the Nullarbor - have heard people say it is boring - been across five times I think, something new every time. Travel is what you make it.
Allow the time to enjoy the travelling - be flexible. Enjoy yourselves!
I also loved the sea cliffs between Port Lincoln and Ceduna in SA. The Breakaways outside Coober Pedy, Dubbo Zoo and others, The Parkes Radioscope, Tall Tree walks in WA's tall timber area and there's one near Port Macquirie I think and at Dorrego, Kiama Blowhole. You also have the Butterfly House at Port Macquirie and is the sled ride still there by the Big Banana. Train rides, most states have an iconic historic train ride somewhere. the Three sisters and the walking trails and rides inland from Sydney. Like Jules said the list can go on for ever. Waterfalls are great after recent rain but some don't have much water going over them in a dry season. A ferry ride up/down a river. I like going on the Brisbane Citycat. I'll leave it there and let others also have a say. And mazes. Quite a number in Tassie, WA. In WA there's also the Tin Horse Highway around Kulin. Cheers.
-- Edited by Gaylehere on Friday 20th of October 2017 11:52:42 PM
Just a tad different to all good ideas above some big ticket items that are well worth a visit and a day at each one are, I am also keeping the age of your two boys in mind.
Australia Zoo.....a must do (Sunshine Coast area)
Movie World (Gold Coast area)
Sea World (Gold Coast area)
Wet and Wild.....just for fun. (Gold Coast area)
Sovereign Hill (Ballarat VIC)
I have listed in the order I would do and maybe not all. I only did Australia Zoo in April this year and as an 'old fart' had a great day.
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DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Welcome to the forum Amanda and I hope your get away on the journey/s soon.
I am afraid the potential list of "places to see" are infinite. I have been travelling on and off for over 55 years and I have still not seen all of this fantastic country.
Even being a full-time traveller for the past eight years hasn't exhausted the wonderful places I have encountered - some by plan, some by chance.
I like your idea of a big map and to stick pins in "must see" places, but as you get more a detailed map those pins will ultimately cover the entire map.
I can offer only this advice -
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 21st of October 2017 08:41:05 AM
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Hi amanda expanta, feeding the dolphins, tin can bay, qld. Canberra war memorial on anzac day. Kuranda qld. ride an oldtrain up from cairns n get sky rail back. Spend a night at a b and b cane farm. Other farms wouldb fun too. Gold coast hinterland, binna burra,oreillys n c waterfalls, stunning forest, bird feeding N use as a base to c the coast. Enjoy.
All the places mentioned above and some IMHO see your own state or closer by stuff whilst your doing your trails tick them off then when your ready for the extended you can bolt through your state and get into the true adventure .
Thanks for all the input, just the kind of info I was hoping to tap into from the grey nomads. I am soo excited that you can travel this country for 55years & still feel like you have more to see....I better get cracking.
We have done a few of those places but obviously not in the van, as it is new for us. Love the sound of doing my state NSW first while I am green and expanding into the bigger adventures later.
Where do you get your inspiration & research for new destinations & journeys from....word of mouth? internet? Books? Do you find you return to places over & over or not so much? Do you do van parks or free camp or a bit of both.
Looking forward to hearing more.....have a good one.
Mr Google is a good mate of mine when checking out places I visit, also I like watching the Aussie travel shows as they have some good places to visit, sometimes Info centres and I always listen to what people have to say. I return to some places but not others, depends on what they are really. I tend to enjoy the coast more than in land.
I free/alternative camp a lot as I am fully set up for that and use show grounds in preference to CVP's. I have used camping grounds that allow CV's as well i.e. Byron Bay. It is also a place I like to return to but not long weekends or school hol's, I usually plan arriving on a Sunday afternoon there. I also do a little house sitting but only by word of mouth and usually friends or friends of friends and don't advertise. I love helping people so they too can enjoy the palyground. It's not my main pass time though.
I tend to go with the flow but when I want to move on I like to have some sort of a plan and not get to the gate and just turn left or right. I also have a habbit of changing those plans slightly as I move through the plan. I also like spending some time at one place but when on the move do a lot of what I call 'one night stands' I have also just pulled up in a way side stop for the night if no sign saying 'No Camping'.
Mainly, I really enjoy being in the playground as a full time GN. I am easy going in the playground but don't cross me or my braves get upset and start sharpening their scalping knives.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
Hi Amanda,
Our kids were "lucky" in the way we lived far from relatives (Ceduna, when the closest relatives were in Adelaide - 800kms away; Townsville - relatives n Toowoomba & Adelaide). This meant that we did lots of travelling but not following the same roads if possible & we all saw new or different places. On one trip back to Townsville (28 years ago) after going "home" to Ceduna, we went bush via Tarcoola, Andamooka, etc, & discovered many different colours of Sturt Dessert Pea. I told the kids that I'd give them 20c for each different colour they saw. We had lots of stops on that trip! Don't believe they come ONLY in red & black!
They nearly sent me broke & after they ran out of SDP, they wanted to get the same payment for all of the cattle they saw south of Hughenden!
Encourage your boys to see the bush as something that could be interesting. There may be peculiar lizards, butterflies, birds (we are bird watchers), trees, lichens (one chap I worked with was into different types of lichen) to see in an area that otherwise could be seen as "boring, there's nothing to see". Just be wary of the bities, though! Before we moved to Townsville, we took our two & a foster child over a couple of Len Beadell's roads & even they at the ages of 6 & 8 noted the different trees that grew on the different soils on the Anne Beadell Highway. Martha was an aboriginal child (aged 6) - her eyesight was incredible. She saw a wedge-tailed eagle well before anyone else did.
Visit your library & read books, magazines that cover areas of your planned travels - even locally as often you miss something that isn't very far away.
We generally use(ed) caravan/camping parks, National Parks, sometimes free camp but only if there are no other options & there are other people around. If travelling with friends, we would free camp.
As Jules mentioned, make special times for just looking at places. Do the "stuff" you have to do - eg visiting family, shopping quickly & take your time for the rest.
Warren
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
