My wife & I are from Mandurah, WA which is not at all RV friendly. We are currently touring off the beaten track Qld.
We entered Qld from Woodenbong NSW, along the Mt Lindesay Rd through Killarney our first overnight stop was Nobby. With a donation box for the camp area across the road from the pub. Power is available for a small fee, pay at the pub, we usually dont plug in.
At Nobby, there is a free BBQ, toilets, a general store and Rudds Pub where we had an excellent meal at reasonable prices for the quality & quantity of the meal. Middys of beer where cheap. We stayed 2 night, All up we spent $108 most at the pub some at the only other store.
We did a shop at Toowoomba $300 and moved on to Oakey Creek a free camp. The grounds were in excellent condition because of rain about 10 days prior, the flush toilets are good, there are pergola type shelters with benches & seats. The other people there seem to be semi-permanent, most very friendly and informative of other local sites around the area. We really enjoyed our week at Oakey Creek Reserve Bowenville.
Our next stop was Dalby, spent $157. Theres a fresh water tap at the little park as you enter Jimbour St. At 20 Eileen st just over the railway line theres a little independent fuel servo, Butters Warehouse whose fuel prices are slightly dearer than the big servos but they fill gas bottles by weighing them and only charge for what they deliver. We filled a half full 9 Kg bottle & a half full 4.5 Kg for a total of $20. This is an excellent service. We are a bit sorry we did so much shopping at Woolies Darby because although it would be slightly dearer we should have waited until we arrived at Tara, the Foodworks store has a good selection and prices are little different to Darby.
The Tara Bakery has a wonderful selection of home baked pies & cakes, make a good cup of coffee, 2 coffees & a pie for $11.80. At the Tara cafe 2 coffee $8. The same price as the Kountry Kitchen. The Vinnies shop is clean and well stocked, theres a huge 2nd hand shop, chemist, bank, medical centre, Post Office, 2 hardware stores, Bowling Club a fuel servo and mechanical service. The Caravan Park is also in charge of the RV area which costs $5 with power, for the first 3 nights. Thats $5 all up not per night. Then the price goes to $15 per night for up to 2 weeks. This means $65 for the first week in a great location, very good amenities, hot showers, power, pleasant surroundings a short walk to town centre, very friendly people and Ray & Marge the Caravan Park owners, who collect the RV fees are welcoming, friendly and informative. We have been here for a week and will feel sad to leave. We only spent $150 at Tara, probably would have spent more but its been a bit too hot to walk to town for an evening meal at pub, club or café.
Our total spend over the last 3 weeks is about $900 which belies some of the figures we often see posted by the CMCA, we are members. We enjoy good self prepared meals, steak, fish, poultry there is nothing we go without if we want or need it. We enjoy a meal at a restaurant, pub or café at least once a week when the opportunity presents itself and do not resent paying up to $35 ea per meal. Nor do we resent occasionally booking into Caravan Parks that have reasonable prices and cater for what we need and want. We resent paying inflated prices for parks that provide and expect us to pay for, childrens playgrounds, swimming pools and other services we do not want and we hate and will not enter Parks with special cards for entry boom gates and ablution blocks.
For what we want & use $25 is fair, $30 is only just acceptable any more than that, we are not interested.
I live in my small motorhome full time, sometimes 'parked up' and working or volunteering, sometimes travelling....I live on a fixed weekly amount and wherever I am gets my amount....ok so my fixed weekly amount as a single woman may not be that much, but it is roughly the same as what a local older person may be putting in to the coffers of whichever town I am visiting at the time!
I am not really happy about the way that we are all seen as wallets on legs though, there are many other ways that travellers often contribute to a locality, sometimes volunteering, sometimes just having a good old yarn session with locals who may not have too many 'outsiders' to talk with, doing a bit of cleaning up in parks or rest areas, and so on and so on.
annie
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Connor - Whippet
Ciaran - Whippet
Annie - after my 2nd cup of coffee I'm almost human! Together we are pawsaroundoz!
My wife & I are from Mandurah, WA which is not at all RV friendly. We are currently touring off the beaten track Qld.
We entered Qld from Woodenbong NSW, along the Mt Lindesay Rd through Killarney our first overnight stop was Nobby. With a donation box for the camp area across the road from the pub. Power is available for a small fee, pay at the pub, we usually dont plug in.
At Nobby, there is a free BBQ, toilets, a general store and Rudds Pub where we had an excellent meal at reasonable prices for the quality & quantity of the meal. Middys of beer where cheap. We stayed 2 night, All up we spent $108 most at the pub some at the only other store.
We did a shop at Toowoomba $300 and moved on to Oakey Creek a free camp. The grounds were in excellent condition because of rain about 10 days prior, the flush toilets are good, there are pergola type shelters with benches & seats. The other people there seem to be semi-permanent, most very friendly and informative of other local sites around the area. We really enjoyed our week at Oakey Creek Reserve Bowenville.
Our next stop was Dalby, spent $157. Theres a fresh water tap at the little park as you enter Jimbour St. At 20 Eileen st just over the railway line theres a little independent fuel servo, Butters Warehouse whose fuel prices are slightly dearer than the big servos but they fill gas bottles by weighing them and only charge for what they deliver. We filled a half full 9 Kg bottle & a half full 4.5 Kg for a total of $20. This is an excellent service. We are a bit sorry we did so much shopping at Woolies Darby because although it would be slightly dearer we should have waited until we arrived at Tara, the Foodworks store has a good selection and prices are little different to Darby.
The Tara Bakery has a wonderful selection of home baked pies & cakes, make a good cup of coffee, 2 coffees & a pie for $11.80. At the Tara cafe 2 coffee $8. The same price as the Kountry Kitchen. The Vinnies shop is clean and well stocked, theres a huge 2nd hand shop, chemist, bank, medical centre, Post Office, 2 hardware stores, Bowling Club a fuel servo and mechanical service. The Caravan Park is also in charge of the RV area which costs $5 with power, for the first 3 nights. Thats $5 all up not per night. Then the price goes to $15 per night for up to 2 weeks. This means $65 for the first week in a great location, very good amenities, hot showers, power, pleasant surroundings a short walk to town centre, very friendly people and Ray & Marge the Caravan Park owners, who collect the RV fees are welcoming, friendly and informative. We have been here for a week and will feel sad to leave. We only spent $150 at Tara, probably would have spent more but its been a bit too hot to walk to town for an evening meal at pub, club or café.
Our total spend over the last 3 weeks is about $900 which belies some of the figures we often see posted by the CMCA, we are members. We enjoy good self prepared meals, steak, fish, poultry there is nothing we go without if we want or need it. We enjoy a meal at a restaurant, pub or café at least once a week when the opportunity presents itself and do not resent paying up to $35 ea per meal. Nor do we resent occasionally booking into Caravan Parks that have reasonable prices and cater for what we need and want. We resent paying inflated prices for parks that provide and expect us to pay for, childrens playgrounds, swimming pools and other services we do not want and we hate and will not enter Parks with special cards for entry boom gates and ablution blocks.
For what we want & use $25 is fair, $30 is only just acceptable any more than that, we are not interested.
TommyG.
Thanks for the info on the area up there. Havent been that way and it's good to have a bit of an idea what's on offer.
pawsoz,I quite agree with you it is a point that gets me hot under the collar.I used to get the "Seniors" paper till I was sick of seeing everything involving lots of money (accommodation,travel etc),virtually nothing within the scope of the lower income seniors.
Pawsoz, You got that right, the cost of some of the tours are out of reach for the people of our generation. The newbies coming up with their super & big retirement packages can afford them, Just a case of bad luck for many of us. We just didn't see it coming. However we are generally better of than our parents ever were.
Tours that include meals in resorts are far too expensive for Glo & I but they do a roaring trade so obviously the many can afford it. The price gouging by Caravan Parks on the coast, especially during peak periods is outrageous, they hate overnighters, reckon we just use them up to do a laundry and refill water tanks and that's pretty true. If they had a standard (reasonable) charge for that and left us to freedom camp, they and us would all be better off.
Depends on where we are, what we are doing, and what is about. We mostly prepare our own food, and have just been gifted a coffee machine, so there goes $10 a day from the local economy. That being said, we buy our fruit and veg at the local markets/farm gate when we can, use the local shops wherever possible. I go to the only op shop at least once a week, and we haven't missed a market since we got here.
We are in Tin Can Bay, and do our big shop in Gympie (Woolies at Cooloola is not the best). Our weekly spend varies, but we pay rent to the park, which then goes back into the town, as well as any random purchases. We buy bait locally, bread, prescriptions, hardware (when they have what we need), and just spent $3000+ on a new awning with a local business. Our petrol we buy just up the road, and when the car is due for a service, we'll get that done locally too.
Our being here has seen family and friends visit, which has increased income to the area. So I'd say we do our bit.
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
Just being the two of us, our expenses when we travel is within our budget. As for cost of living ( Groceries Fruit etc) we would have that expense at home, so our expenses budget is more for Petrol, gas refill, camping fees and sight seeing.Good to see petrol down so low, but I am not sure if the city prices are reflected in the bush / outback towns. ( must allow for cartage I guess).
Still the best and lowest cost holiday anywhere in Australia is the modern family unit we tow behind us, thus allowing us a unit to holiday in anywhere in this great land.
Jay&Dee
In 2014 we were on the road for 8 months and spent $6248.62 on fuel $7705.64 on caravan parks and accommodation and $10604.30 on what we call other eg food drinks tours etc. During that time we travelled 28,837 kms.
Geoff and Bev
Geoff and Bev,
We couldn't spend at that rate for a prolonged period. Although we have spent one third of that amount on a 21 day cruise.
It's all a matter of budget, spending over $1500 per fortnight, would eat into savings and small investment too quickly.
You must have had a great trip nearly 29K is extensive.
Regards Tom& Glo
Jay&Dee,
Our normal food and toilet costs are same as at home, other than we are more inclined to eat at Pubs and restaurants when travelling. While we are away our solar system makes money for us. Gas use is nil but the supply costs remain the same. We put our home phone on locked to emergency only and incoming calls. This is twofold 1. in case of someone breaking in they cannot run up a huge bill, 2. it's cheaper and we aren't using it anyway.
We have noticed a reduction in fuel prices in the outback but it's not at the same % as the city. If it goes down by X cents in the city. Why not by the same cents in the country, the cartage is already added to the higher prices that were, before the drop. The way I see it is the discount should be the same.
I'm glad you mentioned gas. There's a huge difference in the pricing of LPG refills. It seems to be a charge what you like pricing system. Even in the same small towns there can be a difference of $10 for a 9Kg refill.
We were surprised and pleased when we found Butters Warehouse in Dalby who weigh a partly full bottle and only charge for what they fill. When on long trips and planning to sometimes freedom camp, one can feel that if you don't refill a part empty bottle, you may run out before you can find another re-filler. Our motorhome has limited carrying capacity for LPG bottles. The 90L fridge loves gas especially on very hot days.
As you say, traveling around Oz in your own unit is the way to go.
Regards Tom & Glo.
it totally depends on whether the stay is for a week or more or just a day or two, we don't free camp so our average C/P costs are around $280pw and we use about 25 litres of fuel per 100km when driving, so our costs are relatively high although we only dine out on average once a week, we would still spend around $400 to $500pw as we live as we would at home (food, wine, beer, entertainment, etc....therefore our costs on the road would vary between about $800 to $1000 pw.
that does not include such extras as home expenses like, rates, charges, insurances, etc, etc...I have no doubt that others could live a lot cheaper whilst others could spend a lot more, it all depends on oneself and lifestyle.
Wizardofoz
That's well above what we could afford. As you say, there are still the rates insurance, car rego etc to cope with as well as traveling costs, fuel & gas extra to home life but living costs pretty much the same, including entertainment.
It certainly depends on lifestyle and disposable income available.
I wouldn't pay $40 per day for a caravan park, nor would most of the people I know but no doubt there are many who will and do. It's a thriving business and doing very well.
Regards Tom & Glo.
Hi TommyG,
Yes it was a far more expensive trip than our usual but it did include our car and van services and all tours food etc in fact it took in every cent we spent on the trip and it was $24558 but as it is highly unlikely we will get to do a trip of that magnitude again we spoilt ourselves rotten and made the most of every day.
Geoff and Bev
Geoff and Bev,
" we spoilt ourselves rotten and made the most of every day" And why not, one may ask. Life isn't a dress rehearsal as they say, so do it while you can.
We have several mates who were going to next year ................ well maybe next year again and again. five years later. There we all are standing around a hole in the ground saying "Poor bugger never did get around to it". Yours must have been a ripper of a trip 8 months and nearly 29 thousand Km. We did 8 months in 2004 but only about 24K, mind you I suppose an extra 5K, 10 years later when some of the roads are better isn't so much extra BUT I'd hate to walk it on a hot day.
One of our favourite trips was across the Great Central Road - Laverton WA to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) NT with two other couples, all in standard motorhomes. What a bonzer trip.
It's about 1100Km all dirt road, we took 10 days but it could be done in 2.5 to 3 in a 4X4 with big soft tyres if one was in a hurry. The road wasn't too bad on the WA 800Km stretch but absolutely deplorable on the 300 Km NT side. The last 40 Km took 2 hours. We had to drive along the shoulder, as everyone before us had obviously done. This means driving down onto the road at every spoon drain. That road would be a huge tourist drawcard and is the shortest route from Kalgoorlie to Alice. It would cost a fortune to bitumen, so I doubt if it will ever happen.
Regards Tom & Glo.
Rosie & Troy. We loved Tin Can Bay, but a while since seeing it 2004 Tom & Glo
Tommy - I doubt it has changed much, maybe a few shops different, and a few more houses. The small town atmosphere and the views are heavenly.
As for cost of living, we pay $60 a month more in rent (which includes power and water) here in Tin Can Bay than we did just rent in NW Tassie (government housing). Our other costs are about the same, as is the access to services, although doctor appointments are easier. It's warmer and prettier here too.
-- Edited by RosieW on Wednesday 21st of January 2015 04:10:13 PM
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The Mobile Madhouse: me (Rosie), him (Troy), a kelpie, a kelpie-dingo, a husky & a rainbow lorikeet.
Rosie & Troy,
I just had a look at Tin Can Bay on Google earth. It appears to have changed quite a lot since we were there, From memory I think the Country Club was only just in the early stages of construction. The number of houses is significantly bigger than we remember.
Neither Glo or I remember the Marina but it was 10 years ago and we sometimes confuse places and also what we saw on which trip. I have CD's of most places and trips but they are at home, of course!
Regards Tom & Glo.
