One night around a campfire in the Warrumbungles, we met a couple who were on their first caravan trip. They had travelled overseas extensively and discovered that some people on the other side of the world had visited here and knew more about their own country than they did. So they decided to fix that.... and they were learning that Australia is a pretty awesome country, compared to some of the places they'd been.

Do you think, in order to appreciate our own patch of paradise, you should see other places first?

I found that as well whilst being in Yaambah QLD (Probably under Water now)That overseas people new more than some of us.....Pity our Government and Councils stopped being so pig Headed and Greedy.....And relaxed a little when it comes to Over night stays...I don't call it camping.....

Well my perception is that all travel is good wherever it is. Management and I spent about 12 years living in different parts of the world, on four different postings ranging from strictly Muslim countries to the U.S.A and enjoyed the experience immensely. I have visited 64 countries. We have lived in Victoria, New South Wales, the A.C.T and now have decided to die in Queensland. We have seen a reasonable bit of Australia and hope to see a lot more, being part time Nomads we do about 4 months a year as management still volunteers at a school. I wouldnt take another overseas trip if I was given a ticket. Simply because I have seen enough and hate air travel. On the other hand though I would encourage anyone to go anywhere in Australia or overseas - if for no other reason just to satisfy their curiousity.

Guess I am guilty too

Saw a lot of OS in my 20's & 30's
Then discovered the south Pacific  Islands
Then began doing voluntary work in Indonesia and as a result have quite a few ties to that area now
Travelled to all but NT & WA - not too fond of the inland as I like to smell salt air

Sad part is that I can stay in reasonable accomodation in Asia for less than most caravan parks in Oz. With cheap air fares sometimes diesel works out dearer also.  

I hope my health allows me to do both for a few more years.  My dad often quoted St Thomas's saying that goes something like this "the world is a book and most people have only read a few pages"

I don't see this as a matter of priorities but rather a mix of overseas and local travel. I believe that if more Australians had travelled overseas they would appreciate our own country a lot more, would whinge less, be more tolerant, and less inclined to stereotype people from other nations. Just the experience of being a foreigner is worthwhile. Fortunately air travel is much cheaper than it used to be and many young people are now able to afford to travel and do so. This augurs well for the future.

Hi ..

When we retired in 1999 we got a van & 4WD to go round the block, then sell the rig to fund a European tour.

Well, we did the block but couldn't bring ourselves to sell the van, so we did the Europe thing & US & canada too & after 180,000KM of Aussie travel I wouldn't have done it differently.

Will probably give the 4WD & van to a deserving person when I can't hitch it up anymore.

Did the oversea bit quite a while ago now but after travelling round Aussie I can understand the saying :it's God's Own Country" Agree with what has been said you can't appreciate what we have here until you travel abroad. Helena

I agree that all travel is broadening to ones outlook, and am glad I saw a little of the rest of the world when younger, it makes me appreciate what we have here.

But as we grow more mature the thought of spending so much time on a plane puts us off, its so much easier to just hitch up!

Yes ... While I always enjoy overseas travel  ... & it certainly changes your outlook ...

From a purely economic aspect I estimate that that the way we do it, we spend around $10k extra per 3 mths vanning & an extra $10k/mth travelling overseas.

Having been over there & with my finances I know that I'd rather be here.




-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 5th of January 2011 03:31:52 PM

Travel OS broadens the mind and shows you how lucky we are to live here.But paradise does have its flaws.Its just that there are more flaws OS.I live on tropical island on the barrier reef, but have to go away to get de- magnetized at times-too much of a good thing, I suppose.

How can you be a good ambassador for your own country if you haven't seen it? I've seen a lot of Oz, I've seen most of NZ, but I have not real ambition to travel OZ. I just wouldn't feel safe, yet I do OZ by myself all the time. When I meet overseas travellers in their little campervans I take great delight in telling them about my country, and they tell me about their country. If I won lotto I would consider a cruise through Europe on the river systems, and maybe Ireland and the rest of the UK. If it was safe South America would be great. I have no real dream to go anywhere else. To each his/her own, but to be an ambassador for my country I need to have seen and experienced it first.

Unfortunately for many of the "see Australia first" brigade, that's all they see. To be a good ambassador one doesn't need to know every detail, just enough to be able to give an informative answer to likely questions. These questions will include issues such as how our machinery of government works and a little bit of history, as well as the geography of the nation. Answers to these questions need to be given in the context of their knowledge of their own country. More important is not being boorish and over promoting. Also keep in mind the overseas visitors will be most likely be time limited in how much they can see.