It’s a sad day… but it had to come, sooner or later. We’re returning our campervan in Sydney. It’s been an amazing experience that we’ll cherish forever… and we know we’ll be back. Many of you have requested information about the costs of our trip, so we’ve included a short overview, both in the video …
We’ve had an incredible time caravanning here in Australia. The people we’ve met and places we’ve seen are now cherished memories that will last a lifetime. And we know we want to come back! But now that our time here is coming to an end, let’s review our experience and cover some of what it …
Like many first-time visitors to Australia, we had certain expectations of what we’d find here. Of course one of the things we’ve heard is that Oz has more poisonous critters than just about anywhere else. So stepping on a large snake might cause sudden death… from a heart attack, if nothing else. Even though we’ve …
With 17 stellar swimming and surfing beaches, Port Macquarie, NSW is a crown jewel along Australia’s Legendary Pacific Coast. It’s also home to the world’s first hospital dedicated solely to the care and preservation of koalas. We’re staying at our 3rd excellent Big4 Holiday Park, and we also spotted camels on the beach in Port …
“Mob” is the correct term for a group of kangaroos. Fitting, since we felt like we were about to become victims of a mob hit after being surrounded by them! We’re in beautiful Yuraygir National Park along Australia’s Legendary Pacific Coast. Besides the rugged coastline and beautiful beaches, Yuraygir is known for its huge kangaroo …
After the blast we had at Bluesfest, we want to see more of this beautiful area, including the magnificent Cape Byron Lighthouse, perched on the easternmost point of mainland Australia. So we’ve relocated to our second Big4 Holiday Park, right here in Byron Bay. From our experience so far, Big4’s reputation as Australia’s premier place …
We’ve crossed from Queensland into New South Wales to attend Australia’s epic annual blues & roots music festival – Byron Bay Bluesfest. With over 200 performers on 7 stages over 5 full days, Bluesfest showcases music from around the world. Despite the name, there’s far more than blues here. We saw Jackson Browne, Melissa Etheridge, Tom Jones …
To enable us to fit into just about any size campsite, we rented one of Maui’s smallest fully self-contained campervans. But we know that small size can sometimes require compromise. At first glance, it appears that our RV has no awning, leaving us exposed to sun and rain. But there’s actually a simple, clever, compact …
We’ve had no problem driving around Australia for the past couple of weeks. But as a former bus driving instructor, I’ve keyed into many nuances that differentiate Aussie rules of the road from those we’re used to. Even though we’ve been doing fine, we thought it would be a great idea to learn all we …
Our video introducing Boondockers Welcome shared this clever way to connect RVers with free, legal camping on private property. Not only were we welcomed like family by our gracious BW hosts here in Australia, but we also toured the most mondo custom-built 4-wheel-drive outback-tackling motorhome we’ve ever seen while we were staying with them. Doug …
It’s pretty widely known that Australians like to throw things on the barbie to cook them. But we’ve recently learned another Aussie word: Brekky (sometimes spelled brekkie), which is short for “breakfast.” Since our campervan came equipped with a cool barbecue….. uhhh… barbie, that slides out from behind a door on the side of the …
In our continuing quest to experience Australian wildlife in its natural habitat, we’re eager for our first kangaroo sighting. We’ve heard that Cape Hillsborough National Park is a slam-dunk. Every morning at sunrise, a mob of wallabies and kangaroos gathers on the beach to feast on mangrove seed pods, seaweed and coral sand dollars. All …
When you’re planning a trip and certain destinations keep coming up again and again, it’s probably for a reason. Every guide exhorted “Don’t miss The Whitsundays!” and everyone we spoke with urged “You have to see the Whitsundays!” So of course we made it a priority and… Wow! We totally understand why every trip to …
There are times when the most practical way to view certain animals is in a zoo or sanctuary (like our recent encounter with Tasmanian Devils). But there’s something really special about experiencing wildlife… in the wild. That’s most feasible when the species in question frequents known accessible areas and isn’t dangerous to humans. And it’s …
We’ve been getting lots of interest and questions about the campervan we’re renting down here in Australia, so come on in for a tour! It may be compact, but the space is perfectly usable and the smaller size lets us fit just about anywhere, even in most parking spaces. Lots of things are different than …
One of our primary missions while caravanning Down Under is to see as much indigenous wildlife as we can. Not in a zoo or sanctuary, but in the wild, whenever possible. We especially want to see animals that are completely different than anything in North America, and Australia is chock full of them. So began …
How would you like to dump your black tank without moving your RV to the dump station, even when you’re not in a full-hook-up campsite? In Australia, you can! Getting hooked up and dumping tanks in a caravan park in Australia is different than in the US or Canada. They use 240 volts, so the …
Of all the things we’ve always dreamed about doing in Australia, nothing came close to snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. We’ve snorkeled in Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Florida Keys, and we expected the grandaddy of all reefs would blow them all away. Boy did it ever. You can add up all the coral …
Sorry it’s taken us a little time to get our first campervan video up, but here it is! We’ve been in a whirlwind of exploring, driving and videoing the whole way, and didn’t want to miss anything by taking time out to edit footage! We have a ton to share and lots more to do, …
As you’re reading this, we are officially aboard our campervan in Australia! As we prepare to experience and share its features and the locations we’ll be visiting, we’ll be showcasing beautiful destinations and experiences, the details of operating our campervan (lots of things are very different than in North America), places to stay, and the …
We’re in port again, this time in Napier, New Zealand. And just like everywhere else we’ve been Down Under, we’re seeing lots of RVers here. We’re taking a rafting trip down the Mohaka River and happened across yet another beautiful Freedom Camping location along its banks. We even met someone with a very rare feature …
While in port in Akaroa, NZ, we were excited to find a “Freedom Camping” location within walking distance of the harbor. Freedom Camping is officially designated dry camping, and a popular way to camp in New Zealand. We were pleased to connect with a lovely couple from Denmark, who were traveling in a rented campervan. …
We know that our first time driving on the left side of the road, and from the right seat, will be no big deal. But every time a family drives past, we do a double-take, thinking there’s a little kid behind the wheel! We also brain-fart about which way to look when crossing the street, …
Until you’ve seen Tasmanian Devils in full-on feeding frenzy, it’s hard to imagine such small animals being so ferocious. We arrived at the Wings Wildlife Park in Gunns Plains, Tasmania at feeding time, and we were stunned by how aggressive they are. They’re totally fearless and will stop at nothing to get food away from …
While we’re cruising ahead of our Australian RV road trip, we’re of course eager to learn whatever we can from local RVers. While in port in Melbourne, we had a good idea that we might find people dry camping along the waterfront. Sure enough, we came across several couples “free camping” in a parking area …
We’ve been dropping some hints for a while about big RVing plans that have been nearly a year in the making. So we’re excited to officially announce: We’re going caravanning in Australia! We’re typing this on a very long flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, and will upload both the post and video when we …