First timers that can use some advise.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

First timers that can use some advise.

bensuz29 · Veteran Member

G'day, We have just sold our home purchase a large van and plan to live and travel till who knows when. Having bought a seconed hand van I didn't realise on how much we needed to buy before we could take off, as the only thing the seller left was the sullage hose. After many trips too and from suppliers and the help from friends we are ready. Two weeks at Tweed Heads and then onto SWR is this to far to travel in one day or should we stop at a free stop overnight?

Could someone also advise us on somewhere to stay in Sydney, we plan to stay there for around two weeks and are traveling with a small dog.

Cheers Ben & Suz

beiffe · Guru

Hi Ben & Suz welcome to the forum.
The distance to travel in one day /week is really a personal thing.
I bush camp all the time and I prefer to travel no more than 300Ks a day and have a policy where I stop for a minimum of 3 days in one stop every week, with the new week starting the next day so if I find another good site the next day I can stay there for the 3 days as well.
I take each day as it comes. I decide in the morning if I will move and I never plan past that day.
In the morning I select three or more spots where I may stop and then when I find a good one I stop. May be only 10kms or may be the 300km.
You will get a rhythm once you start travelling so try all types of camping as you will not know unless you try.
I advise not to buy anything until you have really needed it a few times and then go and buy. Most of us buy all the bits and never use them and finish up disposing of them on the road, so better to pay a bit more for what you need instead of buying everything and then not using.
You need your sullage hose, plus a food quality hose for you tank fill. You need a set of hose fittings to fit most taps as they are all different sizes. You will need the special tap head from Bunnings to open the taps where they have removed the handle to stop the vandals and animals from turning them on and then leaving them on.
A good torch and some rope for a clothes line and some pegs etc if you propose to wash out on the road.
I you prefer to bush camp you need the Camps book . 7 out in late Feb.
Look through the recommended sites given on the forums and mark in the book. I highlight on the map as well as in the listings.
Best of all you need an open mind and be prepared to learn as you go. Lots of things will seem strange and sometimes scarey when you start but after a while they will be so natural that you will wonder what you were worried about. We all do it so don't worry.
Ask questions as you find something that is worrying you and someone will give a solution
Regards
Brian

wasn_me · Guru

Great post Brian, my thoughts exactly, keep it simple & basic. Every thing in my van is used & is stored in cupboards or in the boot. I looked under the bed in a womans' van recently, (she had a battery problem), there must have been 100kgs of crap she carried, just in case she needed it.

I'm not on the road all the time, a bit of a home bod I quess. I like to be away 6-10 days & then home for a week or so. Welcome Ben & Suz, enjoy the good life.

Cheers Pete

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome from me too Ben and Suz, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I strongly recommend you check through all the sections of this forum as Beiffe has said, I like looking through "Hints, tips and great ideas" you will pick up so much info, if you don't know or want to know something just ask, there are a lot of very knowledgeable and friendly people on this forum and some that have a bit of fun as well, it's like one big family here. The Camps Australia book mentioned is great and there is also one Caravan Parks Australia by the same mob, so enjoy and,

nomadic1 · Senior Member

When visiting Sydney I stay at one of two places - either the Wanderest at Richmond or at the council caravan park in Corrimal (north Wollongong). There are caravan parks in Sydney closer to the CBD but they are really expensive and to be honest I don't like taking my van through Sydney traffic if I can avoid it. The Richmond place is really well located and just $10 a night for a powered site. It's within walking distance of the railway station where, if you have a seniors card, you can get the train to the city for $2.50 (that's an all day ticket too). There's a club right across the road if you want a nice meal and supermarkets close by. At Corrimal you are very close to the beach. There's a railway station at Corrimal but it's not within walking distance of the caravan park. There's also a supermarket in Corrimal but again not within walking distance - but it is a very nice park and reasonably priced.

Hope that helps - have fun on the road.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Welcome to the site - (can I ask what SWR is please) - you will have a ball - get to know some amazing people and make some really good friends. This forum is a great place to learn about this travelling life - we are on the road full time in a motorhome - and can never imagine living anywhere else -

Ask questions here, read all the sub forums, join in, and if you see there is a get together somewhere, go along - it is a great way to meet other nomads!

Happy travels

justcruisin01 · Guru

We do a similar trip fairly often, northern gold coast to kempsey for family visits. It can be done in one day but its a big day when towing, road conditions as a lot of road works between Coffs & Woolgoolga, also sth of Broadwater, & rough sections.

I suggest that if there is no hurry then break it into two days, then you arrive at a earlier time & able to set up with out being tired on arrivall.

We have done it a few times lately just by car in the day & thats ok, towing is another story.

Just my thoughts, its a personal thing .

JC.

justcruisin01 · Guru

jules47 wrote:
Welcome to the site - (can I ask what SWR is please) - you will have a ball - get to know some amazing people and make some really good friends. This forum is a great place to learn about this travelling life - we are on the road full time in a motorhome - and can never imagine living anywhere else -

Ask questions here, read all the sub forums, join in, and if you see there is a get together somewhere, go along - it is a great way to meet other nomads!

Happy travels

Jules, in local lingo its South West Rocks. Half an hour from us.

JC

bensuz29 · Veteran Member

Hi Jules

Sorry SWR is South West Rocks which is about 40kl from Kempsy. Thanks for the advice I will be checking out this forum on a regualar basis.

Regards

Ben

bensuz29 · Veteran Member

Thank you all for your replies, it is appreciated and will be taken on board. Will be using this site for further information when needed.

Cheers

Ben & Suz

jetj · Guru

I often stop at New Italy Rest Area for the night between Tweed and SW Rocks. I like it there and free, flush toilets around the back and electric BBQ.

Richmond is good for dogs and 3 night limit and free for no power or $10 with power (need to join club $4. Lane Cove has no dogs from memory. Robert Martin Centre at Londonderry is quite cheap I think and plenty of CPs near the Hawkesbury River around Windsor.

the rocket · Guru

welcome to the forum and enjoy.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Thanks for clearing the "SWR" up JC and bensu smile smile

Sheba · Guru

Welcome bensuz29. The water tap head beiffe was talking about can also be bought at other Hardware stores. I bought a Plumbworx one from Home Timber and Hardware, for $14.50. Ask for a Vandal Proof Tap Key.

Cheers,

Sheba.

RodLainie · Senior Member

Welcome Ben & Suz.

There is a few places in Sydney however most do not allow animals. North Narrabeen on the northern beaches or Lane Cove near the National Park. But try caravan parks on the central coast. Not that far to Sydney and on some beautiful beaches, well worth a look. A lot welcome dogs too wink I should tell you where on the central coast I guess... Bateau Bay, The Entrance, Umina Beach is a good one, Blue Bay, Avoca Beach, Norah Head, a bit more north and very basic is Kanwal Caratel. Plenty to choose from, hope this helps.

-- Edited by RodLainie on Saturday 19th of January 2013 08:20:23 AM