Hints & Tips, plus Useful Links
You will find a great list of hints, tips and links that may be useful when planning your next holiday.
We are looking for more information to add to this page and would appreciate any contributions you make. Thanks to those who have already contributed as the information we have received has been very helpful.Don't forget to check back every now and then to see what has been added.
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My Partner and I travelling to Darwin and the Kimberley next year.
We're going in a 2 wheel drive with a onroad camper trailer.
Does anyone have any hints or tips on what roads we can drive .
We're thinking of going end of April and all of May.
What is the weather like?
Just for a bit of fun we have added a link www.bigthings.com.au to a website that lists some of the Big Things you can visit on your travels. I am not sure if the list is complete but it fun to look at what is listed to see how many you have passed over the years.
Looking for an interesting and different travel experience?
Check out Friendship Force. You can find your nearest club by going to www.thefriendshipforce.org.
As part of a group of 14, my wife and I recently had a wonderful time in Canada and USA visiting Friendship Force members.
There are about 350 clubs worldwide. It's a great way to travel and it changes the way you see the world.
Having just returned from travels on GHAN, INDIAN PACIFIC, SUNLANDER, TILT all first class & Platinum, I haven't regretted for one moment on spending the extra money to do it that way. Those who chose Gold were VERY disappointed with room & sorry they didn't spend the extra on Platinum for nice double bed & large b'room but used same Dining Car. I'm at a loss how Senior folk manage bunk beds which difficult to negotiate the ladder especially with the bumpy tracks on all trains.
Sunlander from Cairns-B'bane Gold only. Disappointing due to one shower& toilet shared at end of carriage by all; food & staff wonderful, & you were presented with 'dillybag' gown, slippers,t'paste & t'brush due to bathroom location. We learnt Queenslander Carriages unavailable & in mothballs at Cairns hence the Gold for all on Sunlander.
Tilt from Cairns-Brisbane, fast train, smooth track, good food & staff.
Platinum is the way to go - save like we did, worth it believe me!
Spend the kids inheritance.
1. Recently on our travels around Queensland we called on our neice, and her husband, he showed us the Oz pig he made from an old gas bottle ,which he had cut, and made sure all gas was released before welding legs and making the fire door and hot plate ,it was as good as the ones you buy from camp stores and a whole lot cheaper.
2. Also a tip don't throw clothes you don't wear around your home town I put all our older clothes in the caravan ,that way the van is always packed with clothing and it's not such a big thing as to think what to pack, there are winter and summer clothes ready for the seasons.
Thanks Inez
Keeping the clothes clean is always a problem when travelling, and you can spend a lot of time doing this, instead of enjoying the trip. Two hints that we'd like to share...buy a couple of inflatable clothes hangers (from any travel goods shop). Squeeze out the excess water by rolling the garment up in a towel and jumping on it...then hang on the inflatable hangar. Your garments will dry overnight !
For heavy garments like jeans, which are hard to wash and dry in a hotel room...take a spray bottle of Febreze fabric deodoriser. (In the laundry section of your supermarket). At the end of the day, hang up your jeans and spray with the Febreze...hang them up, and next day they will smell like a spring breeze.
Happy travels !
If you would like to take your dog on holidays with you then visit www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au to find dog friendly accomodation all over Australia.
You will also find information about holidaying with you dog and taking your pet on a plane.
Travelling through three vast National Parks, spanning Victoria (Alpine National Park and Snowy River National Park), New South Wales (Kosciuszko National Park) and the Australian Capital Territory (Namadgi National Park), visitors can experience a range of mountain environments, from tall, wet, fern-filled forests to open expanses of alpine meadows, dotted in summer and autumn with colourful wildflower.
To find out more about this unique part of Australia visit www.australianalps.environment.gov.au
If you are travelling around Australia but need to find a bit of work from time to time then jobsearch.gov.au/harvesttrail/default.aspx may be helpful. It is the Australian Government Job Search website and has a section about seasonal jobs available on the Harvest trail.
If you are considering a holdiay overseas visit www.sacomment.com/travel.htm as it is a page full of information . It is well worth a visit as it has all sorts of great information and links to websites you may not be aware of.
If you are considering a holiday in South Australia spend a little time and visit www.sacomment.com/sa.htm as it has so much great information from places you can visits, festivals, links to local S.A. Tourism websites and lots more.
You will be surprised how much information it contains.
If you are travelling anywhere in Australia this map may come in handy. Caravan travellers may find the Caravan Dump Points of interest and perhaps the public toilets that offer showers facilities etc. Take a look at www.toiletmap.gov.au to see what this website has to offer.
It is a 5,330 kilometre self-reliant multi-use route through bush, wilderness and mountain areas. The Trail winds through some of the most magnificent terrain in Australia with unsurpassed views, wilderness valleys and the excitement of the pioneering spirit will keep you enthralled as you travel along the Trail or a section of it. It is suitable for horse riders, walkers and mountain bike riders.
For more information www.nationaltrail.com.au/index.html
Born U.K. but arrived Australia 1968 for a 2 yr holiday - never went back.
My husband and I have just arrived back from 4 months o/s, mainly France - our favourite destination and U.K. to catch up with family and friends. The reason for this email is, after years of travel and expensive travel insurance, we found that if you get yourselves a Gold Debit card - cost of $90 for the pleasure and a $10 per month charge, it does give you free travel insurance, also there are no other charges, i.e. exchange charges, ours was with NAB, saved us spending the $800+ insurance money. However, check with your bank as not all banks will do this.
Cheers and happy travels.
Ann - Hallidays Point, NSW
Are you planning a holiday and wondering what the weather might be at the time of your visit? A visit to www.bom.gov.au is a great place to start. This website has lots of excellent weather information, radar and lots more.