Hi all. Visas granted, house sold subject to contract, movers quoted just waiting on the solicitors so nearly in Oz!!!!!!
When we get to Oz we are in the fortunate position of not immediately needing to find work so our plan whilst we wait 8-10 weeks for our belongings to arrive was to do some travelling. We plan to land in Sydney having rented a motorhome from the UK and travelling from Sydney to Cairns up the A1 then back down to Sydney for approximately 2 months.
Our questions are:-Has anyone on the forum done this or do they know anyone who has?Would they recommend a motor home of a car and hotel trip? There seems to be no shortage of trailer parks with electrical hookups on the internet is this the case?
Any suggestions for websites for motorhome hire, trailer parks or route planners would also be appreciated as would any general advice for someone planning our mini adventure!!!!
We've ordered the camps 7 book from Amazon so that should help but any personal experience would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for all your help and strangely we are actually looking forward to spending a day and night on a plane because it will be the start of life in Oz.
TAJ said
06:20 AM Mar 12, 2014
peacharchers welcome i think most caravaners have done this trip
my idea is go up the coast road come back via small
towns inland see the real oz plenty of freedom camps
or c/v parks in the camps 7 other members will give you
alot of info
suenray
Dougwe said
08:14 AM Mar 12, 2014
Welcome to the gang peacharchers, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have done that run a couple of times and find it no problem at all. It doesn't matter what you do it in, your choice. I am preparing to head that way again and will be on Hwy1 in about 3 weeks but with a few stops on the way to Townsville. I hope to be there by Late April and stay until late August, at this stage.
Wirroff said
09:10 AM Mar 12, 2014
Welcome (and welcome to Oz!). We made the transition to 'Pozzies' (Pommy Australians) over 16 years ago and haven't looked back!
As far as the Sydney/Cairns run goes, we have done this trip at least 8 times both in car/motel and motorhome so if you need any specific advice about areas etc, please message me and I'll do my best to help out/advise!
Paul & Val
Yuglamron said
12:32 PM Mar 12, 2014
I haven't done the trip myself but there is an app called Wikicamps for android devices which for a couple of dollars or so will show you some 9000 places around Oz. They even have a Kiwi and Pommie version. They have the sites on a map base that you can zoom into each site and bring in it's details and facilities. it's getting upgraded daily and it has a facility for people to add comments and even add photos. Well worth checking out if you have a smart phone or tablet.
I am about to travel from Melbourne around the SE NSW coast and then up the coastal route to Brisbane. Will be using Wikicamps to check out plaaces as I go.
Friar Park said
10:54 AM Mar 13, 2014
Welcome Peacharchers I came here from the West Midlands 45 years ago been back once all that did was con firm why i came here in the first place. To get back on topic i've done the trip several times, but like TAJ says it adds to the interest if you go one direction on the coast the other on the inland route. Which ever way it will be an experience you will want to remember.
Enjoy yourselves
Friar Park
-- Edited by Friar Park on Thursday 13th of March 2014 10:55:35 AM
-- Edited by Friar Park on Thursday 13th of March 2014 10:57:14 AM
peacharchers said
11:32 PM Mar 13, 2014
thanks for all your suggestions guys, Camps 7 arrived yesterday, theres no shortage of parks is there!!!!!!!
aussietraveller said
10:02 AM Mar 14, 2014
welcome to the forum peacharchers you will certainly enjoy the trip as there is so much to see on this scenic route make sure that you regularly visit the tourist information centers at each stop you make and discuss with the staff what is up ahead also have a chat to people in Car avan parks or at free camps you will in general find them iendly and a font of knowledge.
Traveling up the Bruce Highway you will find there is a lot of road work going on and the road can be fairly rough at times.
as for motor home or motel I think the costs of hiring a motor home will be somewhat dearer than a car but Caravan parks are much cheaper than motels and throw in a few nights at free camps and you will make considerable savings, I also agree that trip up the coast and then come back inland is a terrific option.
You will also save some more money if you book your car or motor home away from the airport and catc a taxi to pick it up as they charge a premium for pick up of vehicle at the airport
peacharchers said
08:41 AM Mar 15, 2014
aussietraveller wrote:
welcome to the forum peacharchers you will certainly enjoy the trip as there is so much to see on this scenic route make sure that you regularly visit the tourist information centers at each stop you make and discuss with the staff what is up ahead also have a chat to people in Car avan parks or at free camps you will in general find them iendly and a font of knowledge.
Traveling up the Bruce Highway you will find there is a lot of road work going on and the road can be fairly rough at times.
as for motor home or motel I think the costs of hiring a motor home will be somewhat dearer than a car but Caravan parks are much cheaper than motels and throw in a few nights at free camps and you will make considerable savings, I also agree that trip up the coast and then come back inland is a terrific option.
You will also save some more money if you book your car or motor home away from the airport and catc a taxi to pick it up as they charge a premium for pick up of vehicle at the airport
Thanks for those tips, in particular the tourist info centres, top tip!!!!
peacharchers said
08:43 AM Mar 15, 2014
Thanks Aussietraveller, especially the tourist info tip!!!!
_wombat_ said
09:56 AM Mar 15, 2014
peaccharchers
If you get a motorhome do not go too small, 4 or 6 berth and make sure you ask the hire guys if you can do free camping, really need a MH with solar panels.
Vic41 said
10:08 AM Mar 15, 2014
peacharchers wrote:
thanks for all your suggestions guys, Camps 7 arrived yesterday, theres no shortage of parks is there!!!!!!!
Welcome Peacharchers, as well as Camps 7, suggest you also purchase Caravan Parks Australia wide, a new edition has just been released, Camps 7 gives you the free camps and some low cost caravan parks but Caravan Van Parks gives you all (or most) CP's in Australia, sold by the same publisher, along with certain apps etc.
See this link http://www.campsaustraliawide.com/ which shows the caravan publication, can be bought online or at the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), camping stores and others and some newsagents and large bookstores when in Oz.
_wombat_ said
10:16 AM Mar 15, 2014
morning Vic, also if you are in Perth WA and want to get books or most things for caravaners go to the show next weekend.
Vic41 said
10:21 AM Mar 15, 2014
Morning Ron, you've been quiet lately, hope all is well ???
Or if in one of the other States when theirs is on PC they would be worth going to, they date vary between states but most around this time of the year, some exhibits moved from one state to another as they have theirs.
Hi all. Visas granted, house sold subject to contract, movers quoted just waiting on the solicitors so nearly in Oz!!!!!!
When we get to Oz we are in the fortunate position of not immediately needing to find work so our plan whilst we wait 8-10 weeks for our belongings to arrive was to do some travelling. We plan to land in Sydney having rented a motorhome from the UK and travelling from Sydney to Cairns up the A1 then back down to Sydney for approximately 2 months.
Our questions are:-Has anyone on the forum done this or do they know anyone who has?Would they recommend a motor home of a car and hotel trip? There seems to be no shortage of trailer parks with electrical hookups on the internet is this the case?
Any suggestions for websites for motorhome hire, trailer parks or route planners would also be appreciated as would any general advice for someone planning our mini adventure!!!!
We've ordered the camps 7 book from Amazon so that should help but any personal experience would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for all your help and strangely we are actually looking forward to spending a day and night on a plane because it will be the start of life in Oz.
peacharchers welcome i think most caravaners have done this trip
my idea is go up the coast road come back via small
towns inland see the real oz plenty of freedom camps
or c/v parks in the camps 7 other members will give you
alot of info
suenray
I have done that run a couple of times and find it no problem at all. It doesn't matter what you do it in, your choice. I am preparing to head that way again and will be on Hwy1 in about 3 weeks but with a few stops on the way to Townsville. I hope to be there by Late April and stay until late August, at this stage.
Welcome (and welcome to Oz!). We made the transition to 'Pozzies' (Pommy Australians) over 16 years ago and haven't looked back!
As far as the Sydney/Cairns run goes, we have done this trip at least 8 times both in car/motel and motorhome so if you need any specific advice about areas etc, please message me and I'll do my best to help out/advise!
Paul & Val
I haven't done the trip myself but there is an app called Wikicamps for android devices which for a couple of dollars or so will show you some 9000 places around Oz. They even have a Kiwi and Pommie version. They have the sites on a map base that you can zoom into each site and bring in it's details and facilities. it's getting upgraded daily and it has a facility for people to add comments and even add photos. Well worth checking out if you have a smart phone or tablet.
I am about to travel from Melbourne around the SE NSW coast and then up the coastal route to Brisbane. Will be using Wikicamps to check out plaaces as I go.
Welcome Peacharchers I came here from the West Midlands 45 years ago been back once all that did was con firm why i came here in the first place. To get back on topic i've done the trip several times, but like TAJ says it adds to the interest if you go one direction on the coast the other on the inland route. Which ever way it will be an experience you will want to remember.
Enjoy yourselves
Friar Park
-- Edited by Friar Park on Thursday 13th of March 2014 10:55:35 AM
-- Edited by Friar Park on Thursday 13th of March 2014 10:57:14 AM
Traveling up the Bruce Highway you will find there is a lot of road work going on and the road can be fairly rough at times.
as for motor home or motel I think the costs of hiring a motor home will be somewhat dearer than a car but Caravan parks are much cheaper than motels and throw in a few nights at free camps and you will make considerable savings, I also agree that trip up the coast and then come back inland is a terrific option.
You will also save some more money if you book your car or motor home away from the airport and catc a taxi to pick it up as they charge a premium for pick up of vehicle at the airport
If you get a motorhome do not go too small, 4 or 6 berth and make sure you ask the hire guys if you can do free camping, really need a MH with solar panels.
Welcome Peacharchers, as well as Camps 7, suggest you also purchase Caravan Parks Australia wide, a new edition has just been released, Camps 7 gives you the free camps and some low cost caravan parks but Caravan Van Parks gives you all (or most) CP's in Australia, sold by the same publisher, along with certain apps etc.
See this link http://www.campsaustraliawide.com/ which shows the caravan publication, can be bought online or at the RAC (Royal Automobile Club), camping stores and others and some newsagents and large bookstores when in Oz.
morning Vic, also if you are in Perth WA and want to get books or most things for caravaners go to the show next weekend.
Morning Ron, you've been quiet lately, hope all is well ???
Or if in one of the other States when theirs is on PC they would be worth going to, they date vary between states but most around this time of the year, some exhibits moved from one state to another as they have theirs.