A Virgin Nomad about to start "the journey" needs advice !
ChrisOscar9 said
05:50 AM Feb 10, 2013
I finish work on March 29 and soon after want to start my new life/ big adventure, just me and my dog Oscar, who has seem me through some tough times!
I currently live in very hot Wodonga and would love to go down to the sea and spend a few weeks getting my bearings and recuperating. I would like my first experience camping to be a pleasant one, and this is where you all come in!
Can you recommend a nice spot on the southern coast, east of Melbourne that would meet my need and give me a positive experiance for a good start. I have bought a Mitubishi Callanger and a semi off road Millard van.
I truly appreciate your thought and ideas
Chris n Oscar
villatranquilla said
06:11 AM Feb 10, 2013
welcome Chris and Oscar - do you want to go into caravan parks or are you set up for free camping and how far east do you want to go?
Boothie said
08:46 AM Feb 10, 2013
I have spent a lot of time of time down there, retiring in September this year, intend to spend next year march and april down there. Lake Tyers is great. The beach is great. You have also have Wingan Inlet, Marlo and plenty of places in between. I am at Benalla, just down the road and hot as hell as well!
Bucko said
10:43 AM Feb 10, 2013
Hi Chris & Oscar,
I'm on the east coast of NSW near Eden, starting from there are an enormous amount of free camps and C/P's running along the coast, if you haven't got one yet, get the Camps Australia wide book, it lists them all, or most anyway, ninety mile beach has a few good free camps and from there you can coast hop for weeks or months, I always do enjoy that area, I have family in Melbourne and it always takes a few weeks to drive to their place from mine, 500k"s, so I'm a slow driver!!! enjoy, see you on the road.
kevin.
-- Edited by Bucko on Sunday 10th of February 2013 10:44:05 AM
ChrisOscar9 said
09:26 PM Feb 10, 2013
I am absolutely thrilled at the response from such friendly people. I am going to buy Camps 7 soon, I have a Camps 5 some nice person donated. My plan (such as it is) is to start gently and get more brave as I go! I thought I'd start with a mixture of free camping and camping sites, just so I can get the feel of living in a small box and to pick up as many tips as I can from anybody with experience. Like a lot of souls I am not very rich and spent most of my money on the setup so I have to be budget conscious. I also have planned to go around this beautiful continent counter clockwise and over time build up to the north and west, when I have some more experience. Keep the tips coming, I am like a giant sponge at this stage!! Kind regards Chris
Gerty Dancer said
09:45 PM Feb 10, 2013
Welcome to the forum, we look forward to getting to know you and hearing about your travel plans/experiences.
Theres quite a few really nice Caravan Parks in the Lakes Entrance area, also Bairnsdale and Mallacoota. We are heading down that way in a week or 2 so will let you know. Would suggest starting off in a caravan park on a powered site till you get used to your new home, then try an unpowered site in a caravan park till you are sure you can manage with your solar panels or whatever. You'll find other caravanners and campers nearby will be very helpful, sometimes just observing how somebody does a particular job is a great inspiration. Then go wherever you like in full confidence!
Enjoy, Chris and Oscar!
GaryKelly said
10:04 PM Feb 10, 2013
Welcome, Chris. I'm a newbie too, and hoping to leave on my big adventure soon. Like many in my position, I'm both nervous and excited. But the more experienced nomads tell me that once you're on the road, it doesn't take long before you're feeling "at home" and loving every moment of it. Keeping reading the forums... they're packed with useful info.
neilnruth said
05:05 AM Feb 15, 2013
Welcome from us too ChrisOscar9. I'm sure you will always find this forum very helpful whenever you need help.
bowlerbear said
07:42 AM Feb 22, 2013
Welcome Chris and Oscar...I'm about to hit the road too and to start off with I'm tagging along with other solo females as I don't quite have the confidance to venture too far on my own just yet. I am all set up to free camp and have just bought a new red Xtrail so everybody will see me coming. We might catch up on the road somewhere. Enjoy it all.
johnnz said
01:29 AM Mar 11, 2013
You know, we all started off probably with the same aprehensions that your experiencing. As time goes on you gain confidence about free camping etc, those doubts will fade away. I have been full timing now for four years. visited some great place and some great people.
I have just spent the last week traveling from the Gold Coast to where I am now which is a free area just south of Shepperton, Victoria. Free camped every night. My plan is to make my way to the Eyre Peninsula SA.
Happy traveling
John
ChrisOscar9 said
05:31 AM Mar 11, 2013
Been busy with getting cataracts in both eyes fixed, quit job, getting ready for the Big Trip. My son thinks I've become senile and lost my marbles. I thank you all for your help, will be joining you all soon. If you're passing through Wodonga John give me a call 0497855101 and I'll shout you a coffee !! Chris
Big Gorilla said
07:21 AM Mar 11, 2013
Welcome Guys. I spent some time around Gippsland last year and found it rather difficult to find free camps. You might like to read my very first post when I joined this Forum.
Port Albert, Paradise Beach and on the road from Orbost to Marlo there are a number of free camp spots alongside the river. However it has been rightly suggested that you limit your stays to Caravan Parks until you feel confident to venture into the free camping arena..... Good luck
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Monday 11th of March 2013 07:21:58 AM
Kay said
01:51 AM Mar 16, 2013
Hi John, It was great to see your reply as I will be going from Toowoomba, then down the coast to Port Macquarie, at the end of April.
There arent many free camps in the Camps Aust. book. I have No.4.
Kay.
way2gokev said
02:55 AM Mar 18, 2013
G'day and welcome Chris and Arf,Arf to Oscar. You will be right mate, slow and easy for a start, pick some quite spots and in no time you will be a seasoned traveller.
Cheers
Kev
Phillip and Cheryl said
02:06 PM Oct 26, 2013
do you have an iPad (or iPhone) if so I highly recommend an app "wiki camps" it has more places than Camps 7. we are currently in Marlay Point (a great spot with lovely views) right on a lake, there is no-one else here, it's very peaceful and quiet. We found this place in wiki camps and it's not mentioned at all in Camps 6 or 7.
-- Edited by Phillip and Cheryl on Saturday 26th of October 2013 05:04:52 PM
I finish work on March 29 and soon after want to start my new life/ big adventure, just me and my dog Oscar, who has seem me through some tough times!
I currently live in very hot Wodonga and would love to go down to the sea and spend a few weeks getting my bearings and recuperating. I would like my first experience camping to be a pleasant one, and this is where you all come in!
Can you recommend a nice spot on the southern coast, east of Melbourne that would meet my need and give me a positive experiance for a good start. I have bought a Mitubishi Callanger and a semi off road Millard van.
I truly appreciate your thought and ideas
Chris n Oscar
I have spent a lot of time of time down there, retiring in September this year, intend to spend next year march and april down there. Lake Tyers is great. The beach is great. You have also have Wingan Inlet, Marlo and plenty of places in between. I am at Benalla, just down the road and hot as hell as well!
Hi Chris & Oscar,
I'm on the east coast of NSW near Eden, starting from there are an enormous amount of free camps and C/P's running along the coast, if you haven't got one yet, get the Camps Australia wide book, it lists them all, or most anyway, ninety mile beach has a few good free camps and from there you can coast hop for weeks or months, I always do enjoy that area, I have family in Melbourne and it always takes a few weeks to drive to their place from mine, 500k"s, so I'm a slow driver!!! enjoy, see you on the road.
kevin.
-- Edited by Bucko on Sunday 10th of February 2013 10:44:05 AM
I also have planned to go around this beautiful continent counter clockwise and over time build up to the north and west, when I have some more experience. Keep the tips coming, I am like a giant sponge at this stage!! Kind regards Chris
Theres quite a few really nice Caravan Parks in the Lakes Entrance area, also Bairnsdale and Mallacoota. We are heading down that way in a week or 2 so will let you know.
Would suggest starting off in a caravan park on a powered site till you get used to your new home, then try an unpowered site in a caravan park till you are sure you can manage with your solar panels or whatever. You'll find other caravanners and campers nearby will be very helpful, sometimes just observing how somebody does a particular job is a great inspiration. Then go wherever you like in full confidence!
Enjoy, Chris and Oscar!
You know, we all started off probably with the same aprehensions that your experiencing. As time goes on you gain confidence about free camping etc, those doubts will fade away. I have been full timing now for four years. visited some great place and some great people.
I have just spent the last week traveling from the Gold Coast to where I am now which is a free area just south of Shepperton, Victoria. Free camped every night. My plan is to make my way to the Eyre Peninsula SA.
Happy traveling
John
Chris
Welcome Guys. I spent some time around Gippsland last year and found it rather difficult to find free camps. You might like to read my very first post when I joined this Forum.
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t50188714/victoria-south-australia-over-3-months/
Port Albert, Paradise Beach and on the road from Orbost to Marlo there are a number of free camp spots alongside the river. However it has been rightly suggested that you limit your stays to Caravan Parks until you feel confident to venture into the free camping arena..... Good luck
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Monday 11th of March 2013 07:21:58 AM
Hi John, It was great to see your reply as I will be going from Toowoomba, then down the coast to Port Macquarie, at the end of April.
There arent many free camps in the Camps Aust. book. I have No.4.
Kay.
G'day and welcome Chris and Arf,Arf to Oscar. You will be right mate, slow and easy for a start, pick some quite spots and in no time you will be a seasoned traveller.
Cheers
Kev
do you have an iPad (or iPhone) if so I highly recommend an app "wiki camps" it has more places than Camps 7. we are currently in Marlay Point (a great spot with lovely views) right on a lake, there is no-one else here, it's very peaceful and quiet. We found this place in wiki camps and it's not mentioned at all in Camps 6 or 7.
-- Edited by Phillip and Cheryl on Saturday 26th of October 2013 05:04:52 PM