Where do we go till the school holidays are over?
We are just starting out with our mobile retirement home ( caravan) and trusted 4 B, we are in Goulburn till the 12th Jan 18 and were hoping to get in somewhere along the Murray River for a few weeks, or are we dreaming?
RustyD said
05:08 PM Dec 8, 2017
Heaps of free, self-contained camping along the Murray & Goulburn rivers that there always appear to be space. Get yourself Wikicamps (android or iPad/iphone). For paid, try Yarrawonga.
Dunmowin said
06:02 PM Dec 8, 2017
Once you have been on the road a bit longer and the initial novelty has worn off (I will come back to that), try house sitting. You can usually get a house sit over school holidays which ties you over till school goes back, be it xmas, easter or other.
As for the novelty, I don't really mean it like that. WE have been on the road now for 6 1/2 years, and use the above (house sits) as valuable down time to strip the van, maintenance, clean into all the little corners both inside and out, wash curtains etc, etc. Often house sit, you are invited (or expected) to live in the house, so tis is an ideal time for spring cleaning.
Just a suggestion
Desert Dweller said
06:43 PM Dec 8, 2017
There's unlimited camping along the Murray on both the VIC & NSW sides.
Unfortunately at the time of year that you're looking at being there it's HELL ON EARTH. Speed boats, jet skis, trail bikes & drunken yobbos everywhere. There are even a few guns around in some locations.
Find a small more secluded spot next to a creek somewhere & you'll enjoy it more. If a place on Wikicamps seems popular avoid it because it will be crowded & noisy.
Ozzie_Traveller said
08:07 PM Dec 8, 2017
G'day BB
Okay - you're in Goulburn & the Murrumbidgee is a bit closer than the Murray. As others above have said - 'great plan' but you might need a plan-B if the site is noisy/over-run/awful etc.etc.
We also like our waterfront camping sites, and go looking for quieter river frontages ... there are some along the 'bidgee, but also along rivers like the Tumut south of you or the Lachlan to the north of you
Whether you use the Camps Oz book, or the smart-fone WikiCamps, each will show heaps of places available to both you and the [screaming hordes] sorry, ankle biters that also are looking for a legitimate holiday destination. Choose wisely :)
Hope this helps
Phil
Aus-Kiwi said
08:03 AM Dec 9, 2017
Mainly inland or away from large coastal popular beach resorts / camping grounds . I donât mind some families around . But I get what your seeking ? Most free camp places are not popular with families . Especially with young children ..
Bushbaby said
08:48 AM Dec 9, 2017
Thanks guys good ideas and feedback!
PeterD said
04:16 PM Dec 9, 2017
For the Christmas break i would suggest keeping away from any of the popular rivers and the coastal towns. There may be plenty of camping there out of school holidays. However over the Christmas holidays and popular long weekends you get all the highly charged younger people come out of the woodwork as that is their only time to take their breaks. You have all of the rest of the year to enjoy these places without crowds. Why do you wish to compete these types for the overly busy places?
I suggest you head for the out of the way unpopular places for a bit of peace and quiet and head for the nicer river spots after Australia day.
banjo said
11:38 PM Dec 11, 2017
Last year we ceased 6 1/2 years full time on the road, our nemesis was to escape the usually thoughtless noisy crowds that invade every popular spot over the holidays.
Eventually as PeterD suggested the only escape is the inland country towns away from the maddening crowds, we had a few "boltholes" in WA wheatbelt and a few more over the Eastern states.
We became very welcome in these places and looked forward to our rest away from the hell which can be school holidays. Only downside is it can be very hot, dusty etc but the bush welcome we got far outweighs that, we had a good reliable Split AC and thoroughly enjoyed our times in these towns when were usually the only visitors in the usually very cheap CP's.
After the 6 week xmas stint it was sometimes hard to leave, one particular country town had a mother and son sheep farmer in residence and we were gobsmacked one pre christmas to have a knock on our door welcoming us back and giving us a large leg of lamb for our xmas dinner, real bush hospitality indeed.
Tony Bev said
01:58 AM Dec 12, 2017
As others have already said, families do not normally stay in free camp, away from the larger towns, as there is nothing there for their children
I have been in some camps where families have come in the afternoon, just to stay overnight, while travelling to their destinations
I usually stay away from the camps close to the larger towns
If you are thinking about staying in caravan parks, over school holiday periods, it pays to book as early as possible
Once you have been on the road a bit longer and the initial novelty has worn off (I will come back to that), try house sitting. You can usually get a house sit over school holidays which ties you over till school goes back, be it xmas, easter or other.
As for the novelty, I don't really mean it like that. WE have been on the road now for 6 1/2 years, and use the above (house sits) as valuable down time to strip the van, maintenance, clean into all the little corners both inside and out, wash curtains etc, etc. Often house sit, you are invited (or expected) to live in the house, so tis is an ideal time for spring cleaning.
Just a suggestion
Unfortunately at the time of year that you're looking at being there it's HELL ON EARTH. Speed boats, jet skis, trail bikes & drunken yobbos everywhere. There are even a few guns around in some locations.
Find a small more secluded spot next to a creek somewhere & you'll enjoy it more. If a place on Wikicamps seems popular avoid it because it will be crowded & noisy.
Okay - you're in Goulburn & the Murrumbidgee is a bit closer than the Murray. As others above have said - 'great plan' but you might need a plan-B if the site is noisy/over-run/awful etc.etc.
We also like our waterfront camping sites, and go looking for quieter river frontages ... there are some along the 'bidgee, but also along rivers like the Tumut south of you or the Lachlan to the north of you
Whether you use the Camps Oz book, or the smart-fone WikiCamps, each will show heaps of places available to both you and the [screaming hordes] sorry, ankle biters that also are looking for a legitimate holiday destination. Choose wisely :)
Hope this helps
Phil
For the Christmas break i would suggest keeping away from any of the popular rivers and the coastal towns. There may be plenty of camping there out of school holidays. However over the Christmas holidays and popular long weekends you get all the highly charged younger people come out of the woodwork as that is their only time to take their breaks. You have all of the rest of the year to enjoy these places without crowds. Why do you wish to compete these types for the overly busy places?
I suggest you head for the out of the way unpopular places for a bit of peace and quiet and head for the nicer river spots after Australia day.
Eventually as PeterD suggested the only escape is the inland country towns away from the maddening crowds, we had a few "boltholes" in WA wheatbelt and a few more over the Eastern states.
We became very welcome in these places and looked forward to our rest away from the hell which can be school holidays. Only downside is it can be very hot, dusty etc but the bush welcome we got far outweighs that, we had a good reliable Split AC and thoroughly enjoyed our times in these towns when were usually the only visitors in the usually very cheap CP's.
After the 6 week xmas stint it was sometimes hard to leave, one particular country town had a mother and son sheep farmer in residence and we were gobsmacked one pre christmas to have a knock on our door welcoming us back and giving us a large leg of lamb for our xmas dinner, real bush hospitality indeed.
I have been in some camps where families have come in the afternoon, just to stay overnight, while travelling to their destinations
I usually stay away from the camps close to the larger towns
If you are thinking about staying in caravan parks, over school holiday periods, it pays to book as early as possible