Hi everyone! I'm coming to Australia next month. I'm landing in Brisbane, renting a campervan and taking the month to drive to Adelaide via Syndey and the Great Ocean Road. I'm traveling solo, plan to hike, horse back ride, spend some time on the beach, and enjoy your beautiful country. And thing I absolutely shouldn't miss? I'm not a city person and try to avoid crowds. Also, is any place too dangerous for a solo lady to visit?
Mike Harding said
08:20 AM Feb 24, 2017
Good morning Pam
And a warm welcome to Australia - for when you arrive :)
>Also, is any place too dangerous for a solo lady to visit?
No. Australia is probably one of the most safe of the Western countries in terms of personal safety. Of course we get the occasional loony and wandering around the nightclub areas at 1am is not a good idea but otherwise you will be quite safe as a solitary female camper.
We, of course, drive on the correct side of the road (ie. the left :) ) so you will need to be constantly on the watch for that - some people make the change more easily than others but, especially on empty winding country roads, it is easy to forget to keep left. The Great Ocean Road in Victoria has quite a few car accidents with tourists becoming confused.
Shouldn't miss things: Sydney Harbour/Opera House etc. The Great Ocean Road, others will add more
It is well worthwhile having a smartphone which will work in Oz both for safety and convenience purposes. Download the Wikicamps app. and it will show you many caravan parks and free camps sites with user reviews. I strongly suggest you use caravan parks for the first few days of your trip.
Keep in mind that Oz is about the same size as the USA but with only around one twelfth of the population and it is quite possible that even on major bush tracks you will not see another traveller for a day or two or more so probably best not to stray too far from the bitumen.
Have fun and enjoy our beautiful country :)
macka17 said
02:01 PM Feb 24, 2017
Hi.
And as above.
drive on correct side of road.
I find traffic light turns the hardest to get right every time.(in reverse)
Going past the centre line b4 turning.
It comes to you, eventually.
also roundabouts.
Hmm Why they all going the wrong way. oops.
Only joking.....
Just be sensible. park in van parks at night if anyway nervous.
WIKICAMPS free off google will help you a lot.
Plus.
If you see an office of RACQ. or NSW.
drop in there, they have some GOOD books on places to stay, and lists of van parks.
They MAY even have short term membership for tourists.
That covers towing. and any transport. BED wherever till fixed??.
I don't know but just maybe.
This country is same as most others of the Western world.
Mostly civilised. but we all have a %age of wierdoes.
Buy a can of Wasp spray and keep in your bag.
Just for the very unlikely off chance.
Enjoy. and just look forward to next time when you turn RIGHT...
Instead of left, out of Brissie, and see some of the REAL Australia.
You just going through towns and on highways really.
on that trip.
Not really Australia at all.
That starts around Bundaberg or Gladstone and goes up to Darwin.
But if you want civilisation. you'll enjoy it.
Cities. people. Bitumin.
warhorse said
02:35 PM Feb 24, 2017
jenolan caves in the blue mountains is a must see, any of the coastal areas of south aust is very pretty,try to travel inland a bit and see the real aust,small country towns =hidden gems.Where ever you go just enjoy our great country.oh and welcome 4thlady
Gaylehere said
05:33 PM Feb 24, 2017
If travelling south from Sydney on the coast road visit the Kiama Blowhole. We were there on a beautiful sunny day and loved it. You said elsewhere you were heading to Warwick from Brisbane so could go up the Cunningham's Gap road or the other highway to Toowoomba then to Warwick. If going via Toowoomba go up to Picnic Point for a look over the valley and Tabletop Mountain. 48k from Warwick are the Queen Mary Falls . In Brisbane drive up to Mt. Cootha Lookout for a good view over the city and/or hop on a Citycat and go for a ride up/down the river for a look at the city from the river. If your hotel in Brisbane is near the Roma Street Parklands go for a bit of a wonder there too. Brisbane and Sydney also have bridge climbs - The Story Bridge in Brisbane and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney. There are not too many bridges in the world that you can climb. Just some thoughts.
Lots to see everywhere. Different people like to look at different things though. Enjoy your time in Australia.
-- Edited by Gaylehere on Friday 24th of February 2017 08:54:05 PM
Chicken strangler said
07:52 PM Feb 24, 2017
some good advice from some knowledgeable people. I would say Keep posting please and see if you can hook up and get advice from some of our female Members. You will be made welcome I am sure.
have fun, with a little effort on being sociable you will be rewarded, it's a big country, perfect time of the year.
Ralph
chicken strangler.
jules47 said
10:04 PM Feb 24, 2017
Hi Pam - some great places in Victoria to see - The Grampians - a fantastic place for bushwalking/hiking, good camping, and a lovely little town of Halls Gap - lots of wineries in the area - lovely drives, and great lookouts.
Beautiful mountains to visit as well - Mount Hotham is fantastic in any weather. As is Mount Buffalo - not too far off the Hume Freeway, near Bright.
The Barossa Valley is a delight to see - and should be looking pretty good now, with Autumn (Fall) around the corner. Hahndorf is a quaint little town, in the Barossa that highlights the German heritage of the area.
Adelaide itself is a very busy city these days - but there are still some great places and things to see and do.
Enjoy every minute - use free camps when you can - meet some of the nicest people, who have lots of tips on things and places.
Basically.
Everybody is telling you. Look at the city from here. look at the city from ther.
Look at the winery;s
oooh the beautiful bridges.
That's "civilisation" all over the world. NO different anywhere.
That's NOT Australia.
You may as well hop over the border and go to Niagara falls.
(my brother lives there)
Next time you come.
book a 4wd and go on an escorted (guided) tour
from Sydney. Brissie, or the Alice, to Darwin or Top End of Q'LAnd.
Go bush. PAST the towns, Concrete buildings and lemming living in them.
See Australia itself. and it's people. AWAY from city's.
In them nobody smiles, they all look straight ahead.
Bloody Zombies mostly.
If you speak to one. YOU don't exist mainly.
Australia, and it's people is\are a beautiful place Different to a lot.
Nearest to Sth Africa if you ever get there.
Tanzania is a perfect example. Beautiful.
Which is why. MOST travel AWAY from the towns to see it.
ALL Cities are the same, and their peoples. anywhere you go.
Most on here are a good example of that too, moving to see elsewhere.
Lancelot Link said
01:35 AM Feb 25, 2017
Pam,
Sorry, but a month is nowhere near the time you need to travel that route. There is so much to see and do, that falls into want you want to do. The seafood experience would be unbelievable. The food experience would exceptional. You just have to avoid the expensive places. You don't have to avoid towns, you have to select them! Australia is a place of friendship, we love the road and I hope to meet you on it.
Waterfalls you can walk into.
Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, houseboat, just an idea for your trip and time out from the road.
All the best Pam, enjoy Aus!
Peter
the4thlady said
06:17 AM Feb 25, 2017
Thank you so much everyone! Your input is greatly appreciated and valued. I hope to meet you fellow travelers on the road. I've chosen Big 4 caravan parks for the first part of my trip, Warwick and Tamworth. I want to attend the Tamworth Australian Stock Horse Show. I have to be in Sydney by March 12th, so I have that route planned out.
The second half, I haven't decided yet where to stay because I don't know for sure where I'll be and I just want to wander. I'm staying in motels every once in a while. I know, like Lancelot Link said, a month isn't long enough, but that's all the time I could get off from work. :)
I'm used to driving long distances...I travel a lot in the USA and a 12 hour a day drive is easily doable. However, that's on the "correct" (ha!) side of the road. I will avoid cities whenever possible and I'm doing only 1 guided tour (not crazy about those, but it was easier this way) on Kangaroo Island for 2 days.
Thanks again for your help and support. I'm equal parts excited and terrified, but knowing there's kind folks like you out there give me more peace of mind.
NannyJam said
10:55 AM Mar 1, 2017
You could always extend your stay and pop up the road a bit and visit WA... little place on the west side of Australia! haha!
Enjoy your travels! :)
Good morning Pam
And a warm welcome to Australia - for when you arrive :)
>Also, is any place too dangerous for a solo lady to visit?
No. Australia is probably one of the most safe of the Western countries in terms of personal safety. Of course we get the occasional loony and wandering around the nightclub areas at 1am is not a good idea but otherwise you will be quite safe as a solitary female camper.
We, of course, drive on the correct side of the road (ie. the left :) ) so you will need to be constantly on the watch for that - some people make the change more easily than others but, especially on empty winding country roads, it is easy to forget to keep left. The Great Ocean Road in Victoria has quite a few car accidents with tourists becoming confused.
Shouldn't miss things: Sydney Harbour/Opera House etc. The Great Ocean Road, others will add more
It is well worthwhile having a smartphone which will work in Oz both for safety and convenience purposes. Download the Wikicamps app. and it will show you many caravan parks and free camps sites with user reviews. I strongly suggest you use caravan parks for the first few days of your trip.
Keep in mind that Oz is about the same size as the USA but with only around one twelfth of the population and it is quite possible that even on major bush tracks you will not see another traveller for a day or two or more so probably best not to stray too far from the bitumen.
Have fun and enjoy our beautiful country :)
And as above.
drive on correct side of road.
I find traffic light turns the hardest to get right every time.(in reverse)
Going past the centre line b4 turning.
It comes to you, eventually.
also roundabouts.
Hmm Why they all going the wrong way. oops.
Only joking.....
Just be sensible. park in van parks at night if anyway nervous.
WIKICAMPS free off google will help you a lot.
Plus.
If you see an office of RACQ. or NSW.
drop in there, they have some GOOD books on places to stay, and lists of van parks.
They MAY even have short term membership for tourists.
That covers towing. and any transport. BED wherever till fixed??.
I don't know but just maybe.
This country is same as most others of the Western world.
Mostly civilised. but we all have a %age of wierdoes.
Buy a can of Wasp spray and keep in your bag.
Just for the very unlikely off chance.
Enjoy. and just look forward to next time when you turn RIGHT...
Instead of left, out of Brissie, and see some of the REAL Australia.
You just going through towns and on highways really.
on that trip.
Not really Australia at all.
That starts around Bundaberg or Gladstone and goes up to Darwin.
But if you want civilisation. you'll enjoy it.
Cities. people. Bitumin.
If travelling south from Sydney on the coast road visit the Kiama Blowhole. We were there on a beautiful sunny day and loved it. You said elsewhere you were heading to Warwick from Brisbane so could go up the Cunningham's Gap road or the other highway to Toowoomba then to Warwick. If going via Toowoomba go up to Picnic Point for a look over the valley and Tabletop Mountain. 48k from Warwick are the Queen Mary Falls . In Brisbane drive up to Mt. Cootha Lookout for a good view over the city and/or hop on a Citycat and go for a ride up/down the river for a look at the city from the river. If your hotel in Brisbane is near the Roma Street Parklands go for a bit of a wonder there too. Brisbane and Sydney also have bridge climbs - The Story Bridge in Brisbane and the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney. There are not too many bridges in the world that you can climb. Just some thoughts.
Lots to see everywhere. Different people like to look at different things though. Enjoy your time in Australia.
-- Edited by Gaylehere on Friday 24th of February 2017 08:54:05 PM
some good advice from some knowledgeable people. I would say Keep posting please and see if you can hook up and get advice from some of our female Members. You will be made welcome I am sure.
have fun, with a little effort on being sociable you will be rewarded, it's a big country, perfect time of the year.
Ralph
chicken strangler.
Hi Pam - some great places in Victoria to see - The Grampians - a fantastic place for bushwalking/hiking, good camping, and a lovely little town of Halls Gap - lots of wineries in the area - lovely drives, and great lookouts.
Beautiful mountains to visit as well - Mount Hotham is fantastic in any weather. As is Mount Buffalo - not too far off the Hume Freeway, near Bright.
The Barossa Valley is a delight to see - and should be looking pretty good now, with Autumn (Fall) around the corner. Hahndorf is a quaint little town, in the Barossa that highlights the German heritage of the area.
Adelaide itself is a very busy city these days - but there are still some great places and things to see and do.
Enjoy every minute - use free camps when you can - meet some of the nicest people, who have lots of tips on things and places.
Everybody is telling you. Look at the city from here. look at the city from ther.
Look at the winery;s
oooh the beautiful bridges.
That's "civilisation" all over the world. NO different anywhere.
That's NOT Australia.
You may as well hop over the border and go to Niagara falls.
(my brother lives there)
Next time you come.
book a 4wd and go on an escorted (guided) tour
from Sydney. Brissie, or the Alice, to Darwin or Top End of Q'LAnd.
Go bush. PAST the towns, Concrete buildings and lemming living in them.
See Australia itself. and it's people. AWAY from city's.
In them nobody smiles, they all look straight ahead.
Bloody Zombies mostly.
If you speak to one. YOU don't exist mainly.
Australia, and it's people is\are a beautiful place Different to a lot.
Nearest to Sth Africa if you ever get there.
Tanzania is a perfect example. Beautiful.
Which is why. MOST travel AWAY from the towns to see it.
ALL Cities are the same, and their peoples. anywhere you go.
Most on here are a good example of that too, moving to see elsewhere.
Sorry, but a month is nowhere near the time you need to travel that route. There is so much to see and do, that falls into want you want to do. The seafood experience would be unbelievable. The food experience would exceptional. You just have to avoid the expensive places. You don't have to avoid towns, you have to select them! Australia is a place of friendship, we love the road and I hope to meet you on it.
Waterfalls you can walk into.
Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, houseboat, just an idea for your trip and time out from the road.
All the best Pam, enjoy Aus!
Peter
The second half, I haven't decided yet where to stay because I don't know for sure where I'll be and I just want to wander. I'm staying in motels every once in a while. I know, like Lancelot Link said, a month isn't long enough, but that's all the time I could get off from work. :)
I'm used to driving long distances...I travel a lot in the USA and a 12 hour a day drive is easily doable. However, that's on the "correct" (ha!) side of the road. I will avoid cities whenever possible and I'm doing only 1 guided tour (not crazy about those, but it was easier this way) on Kangaroo Island for 2 days.
Thanks again for your help and support. I'm equal parts excited and terrified, but knowing there's kind folks like you out there give me more peace of mind.