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Flicka9736


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Mapping out our first trip
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Hi guys.

As some of you may recall, we get our van in October and we'll stay in this area and do smaller trips (with the grandkids)for the first few months, then we plan on heading south after Christmas for our first big trip. We've got an idea of the direction we are heading, but we're really not sure of how to map out axactly where we want to go. We will head out fro Brissy after Christmas and slowly over a few days to a week, head down to see Russell's Mum in Moulamein NSW and brother in Mildura, next we'll go see my extended family in Swan Hill, then head to Melbourne for a night or two as both of our sisters still live down there. After that, our plan is to head for Tassy for the hottest part of the year. We've travelled the Newell HWY to and from Moula a few times, but we'd like to go a slightly different way on the way down and do some exploring. Once we get down there we've got a pretty good idea of where to go as we lived there, same as Melbourne (that's where I was originally from), but we've got no idea of how to start deciding where to go first, last or otherwise once we get to Tassy and  the trip from Brissy to Moulamein.

After that very long winded explanation, my question is, hw do you guys decide where to go? Where do you get your info from? How do you know which little towns are worth stopping at and which ones are not? We're not looking for expensive tourist attractions, but just finding out about history, the towns themselves and any other interesting (preferably free) things the town may have to offer. Do you spend hours online or at information centres collecting pamphlets? Or should I just use the time from our intial shorter trips to chat to other GN's about the most interesting places to go? Im so embarrassed at how little I know about our beautiful country...but Im planning to rectify that ASAP. We were thinking of spending at least a month in Tassy (providing I can stay away from our babies for that long) , do you think we will more or less time? Do you think Jan/Feb is a good time of year to go? It sounds odd coming from a Queenslander, but I cant stand the heat, so my plan is to run way from it. At the same time though, I do love to swim and Im told Tassy still gets hot, but the water is generally too cold to swim in. See, I told you I was confused lol.

Im really keen to hear what you  guys think.
Thanks in advance.

Julie



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Gerty Dancer


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Flicka9736 wrote: Moulamein.

After that very long winded explanation, my question is, hw do you guys decide where to go? Where do you get your info from? How do you know which little towns are worth stopping at and which ones are not? We're not looking for expensive tourist attractions, but just finding out about history, the towns themselves and any other interesting (preferably free) things the town may have to offer. Do you spend hours online or at information centres collecting pamphlets? Or should I just use the time from our intial shorter trips to chat to other GN's about the most interesting places to go? Im so embarrassed at how little I know about our beautiful country...but Im planning to rectify that ASAP. We were thinking of spending at least a month in Tassy (providing I can stay away from our babies for that long) , do you think we will more or less time? Do you think Jan/Feb is a good time of year to go? It sounds odd coming from a Queenslander, but I cant stand the heat, so my plan is to run way from it. At the same time though, I do love to swim and Im told Tassy still gets hot, but the water is generally too cold to swim in. See, I told you I was confused lol.

Im really keen to hear what you  guys think.
Thanks in advance.

Julie

 To answer all your questions Flicka... Yes!

Yes we get info/ideas from multiple sources, magazines, internet, forums, other travellers, visitors centres.

Yes you need to spend longer than a month in Tassie, there's soooo much to see, and you have to justify the expense of getting there on the ferry!

Yes you can swim, but the waters not as warm as Qld.

Yes I've been embarrassed sometimes, especially when a young overseas visitor has seen more of our country than us. Theres something you can do about that... go and find out!

Don't make too rigid a timetable, although you will have to book the Tassie ferry ahead.



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Roving-Dutchy


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Don't do much planning before we go just decide which major highway to set out on, how far to drive for the first overnight stop, then take it from there, every trip is different some times it's to visit the grandkids, so we set out to get where were we are going without too many stops, other times it's a touring trip but we just make plans as we go stop when we come to an interesting place.
If going across to Tassie in the Xmas hols you will definitely need to book the ferry well in advance and you are able to cross in daylight if you wish rather than a night trip,
In the Xmas hols stay away from the coast or other touristy areas as the costs to stay will be much higher also minimum stays will apply and you would need to book your stays in advance in many places.
Cheers
David

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aussietraveller


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I agree with Gerty D there are multiple sources to obtain info and we usually contact the tourist organisation for the area we are travelling to and do some internet research just to put together some basic ideas on what to do and what to see, we then talk to as many other travelers as possible and exchange info with them.

One month in Tasmania definitely not enough to have a reasonably good look around you need at least eight weeks in Tasmania and this also makes it more viable when taking your rig over on the ferry, the important thing is to remain flexible and don't set yourself too tight a timetable or tight itinerary.

Hope you have a great trip

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neilnruth


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We also hope you have a great trip. there is so much to see. Take your time and do it in 'chunks' or 'bits' - whichever you feel comfortable with.

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NeilnRuth
Flicka9736


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Goodness, I can't believe I didn't even think about it being school holidays. What a Wally! Hmm, I might have to reconsider our plans and consider heading over there at another time. What do you guys suggest would be the best time of year to go? Maybe we'll put off the Tassy trip till after winter... That will give me more time to getyused to being away from the kids for so long. That is going to be the hardest part. My 4yo grandson was very very sad when we told him we'd brought a van and are going to go away. He said "Lady (that's what they call me) don't tell me about your caravan it makes me upset. I'm going to miss you, I don't like caravans" it broke my heart. My granddaughters (4&6) will be ok as they lived in Vanuatu for 18 months so they're used to being away from us, but we've never been away from our other daughter (jaimie) or her kids. How do other grandparents cope? Or am I just abnormally attached to my kids and grand kids? The latter, methinks. Lol. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

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bowlerbear


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Ficka there's always skype and you can always talk to him now and get him used to it before you go. And they love getting postcards too.

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Bowlerbear (Chris)

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Hi Julie, the gran kids are the hardest part of the decision we have made, have a look at the discussion thread I started a while ago. The members her have some great ideas.

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t53596895/grand-kids-contact/

good look, Paul



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Pejay


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Hi Julie,

I totally agree with all that is said above, but we too look for different ways to head south as we have family down that way, so last year instead of heading down the Newell through Moree etc, we headed further west and went down through Lightning Ridge - why? 'cause we could, and we had not 'explored' that area before. Had a ball, stayed a couple of days there and did a half day (I think) tour of the area which was really great. However, have to say, watch the cattle grids on the road from Hebel to the Ridge - they can be a 'killer' of coffee mugs etc in the van, and Pete is a real careful driver when it comes to things like that.

A little further down we spent a night at the little caravan park at Galargabone - what a visit!! Each night they put on a camp fire and cook damper (different one each night) for their guests to have at happy hour.

However you go, take your time and enjoy the journey, not just the destination - and keep safe.

Pete & June

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hanoman


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Talk to fellow travellers along the way, we've found and given good information that way.

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