I'm arriving Cairns early Dec for my first trip to Australia. I've rented a small campervan in Cairns and will pick up my daughter who will have just completed a semester at the School for Field Studies (actually located in the rainforest). I returning to the US from Brisbane 12 days later. We are thinking of going inland to the caves at Chillagoe and then to Undara and back to the coast below Townville and down to Bisbane.

Any comments would be appreciated.

In particular comments about campervan etiquette.  Where is it polite to stop for the night?  What do people do about toilet facilities (lack thereof)? Any dangers?  Answers to questions that I should have asked but am too naive to have thought of.

No answers to your questions John but a big welcome from the G/N's Forum.You will recieve the best answers to your questions from the wiser minds than mine.Happy and safe travels to you and your girl.Cheers.Ibbo.Enjoy Australia.

 . G/Day mate ,,,,,John ;

Welcome ,,

Enjoy this country , i think the best advise is to just treat all as you would like to be treated , should have no problems .

Hi John welcome to you, as for your questions #Where is it polite to stop for the night?# any designated camp spot (easily found by enquiring at an information centre) any national park after due fees are exrtacted, and any area deemed for "overnight parking", you may also be able to buy a book called "camps australia" you may get a secondhand one from secondhand book stores or off the net, this will show all camps in a given area, there are dozens of free camps if not hundreds of them in any given state, the trick is to find them #What do people do about toilet facilities (lack thereof)?# usually a loo at the area designated for camping or we carry a "portaloo" or a shovel and a roll of loo paper, go for a walk and dig a hole, remember the woods are safe, no bears out here, only drop bears, dont stand under a tree for long, oh and the Koals get a bit drunk now and then and also fall out of trees, may be best to avoid trees when making a "loo break"

Hi John & welcome. I hope that you understand that it will be VERY hot in inland Queensland at that time and hot and sticky along the coast. Re your specific questions.... It is safe to wander this country. Camp where you are comfortable to do so, unless there is a sign saying that you can't. Treat private property with respect and ask permission before camping. Free camping along the coast is quite difficult in many areas. There is a publication called "Camps 5" that has all the maps that you would require plus low cost and free camping areas and National Parks. I recommend that you purchase one of these when you arrive. Toileting can be interesting....take a decent shovel, and use it if proper facilities are not available. Altennatively, hire a portable cassette style toilet for the trip. Camps 5 lists places where you can empty the toilet. Cheers, Peter

I just talked to my daughter and she confirmed "it is VERY hot"! And she is up in the mountains.  When I got up this morning it was below freezing here in Connecticut.  I think I'm in for a shock.

Thanks for the info.  Appears as though a shovel is an essential camping item.

Any suggestions of places to see between Cairns & Brisbane?  Low-key, non-touristy places that have the feel of the local.  I grew up on a farm so I actually enjoy looking at cows and tractors and strange crops...  My daughter is an environmental science major - one of her accomplishments this semester was to learn to recognize by sight or sound 30 birds - a lot of use that will be back here in the states since I don't think we have a single bird species in common.

Welcome John! Its been said before, but be prepared to be HOT!

We travelled between Undara and Chillago last year, and the road is unsealed and was OK for a 4WD but might be a bit of a problem with your campervan rental company, some of whom object to their vehicles being driving over corrugated roads.  Theres a couple of caravan parks in Chillago, they both seemed a bit ordinary, the one in the main street might be the better of the two. The Visitor Information Centre is a good place to start. Its such an interesting place we were surprised how much there was to see in that area.

On the other hand Undara is very well set up for tourists with a good caravan park and lotsa guided tours and activities. Very enjoyable.

Re: toilets...if they are of the composting type, be sure to leave the lids closed, and dont put any plastic down there. If you need to "go bush and dig a hole" remember that natural substances dry up/rot away but toilet paper doesnt. Take it, along with any other rubbish you may accumulate, with you to the nearest town and dispose in their garbage bins. Some people burn it, but at that time of year bush-fires start too easily.

Your daughter will have already been exposed to the Aussie sense of humor, and she'll know about snakes and any other nasties, so dont worry too much.

A place I'd like to recommend is Eungella.... inland from Mackay on the top of a steep rise. Best view from a Caravan Park in Australia! There are other camping grounds in the area too, listed in  We saw platypus there for the first time not in a zoo. You cross sugar-cane farms to get ther, the once in the hills its National Park or cattle country. Magic! But we were there in August when it was cooler. I wish you luck in our summer in Queensland!

Keep us all posted as you travel?

Welcome to Australia, Cairns and Nomads JohnTheys. It is getting pretty hot in Cairns now. I went out to the lava tubes and Chillagoe last year and the roads were fairly good for open surface roads (unsealed). The small bus handled it ok. It will be hot and dusty out there, but I think you will enjoy it. I'm currently in Cairns, but if you want to see farms and cows etc the tablelands is the closest place to enjoy the countryside. There are some great dairies up there, and they make beautiful cheeses and chocolates. The country from here south is sugar cane, banana and other primary producing country. Each visitor has their plans of things to see and do, and each place has it's characteristics. Whatever you do take care on the main highway heading south. It's called the Bruce Highway and it presents its own problems. You will encounter numerous "B-Double" and larger road trains. Take all due care and stay safe. The Sunshine Coast hinterland is very beautiful, and the Glasshouse Mountains provide some spectacular experiences. You will be travelling through some beautiful parts of Australia. Enjoy your time here with your daughter, and stay safe.

You will be welcomed in Australia John. Particually by the Grey Nomads. The suggestion of the tablelands, by Cruisin Granny, is a great one. Beautiful country side, and plenty to enjoy. My suggestion is... when you start off down {or up} the Bruce H/way {east coast road} why don't you bunny hop. That is...set no actual course, stay in touch with Grey Nomads and they will set you right. We for one would make you welcome in Hervey Bay. Cheers ..Dellie

Thanks so much for the encouragement.  I take it that some of the camp sites must have internet - wireless?  I will, when possible, post as we go along. I'd love to meet some real people - not just merchants, etc.  Especially anyone that might have a college age son/daughter that is fed-up with hanging out with the old folks (as I'm sure my daughter will be after a few days).