I so agree with that.
We want our kids to have some REAL life experience instead of a virtual one.

On the subject of virtual lives.. This may also seem like a stupid question, but does anyone have experience of Internet access coverage from the aussie campsites.

Is it the norm to have Wi-fi?, or do they they have very little access at all.. just interested to know really, as I am planning to do a blog as we work our way round our intinerary..

I'm looking into this, especially the wi-fi thing as I need to carry on working
to a certain extent whilst on the road.
When we were traveling there were internet points at many sites even back
then so I'd imagine it would be much better now.

Hmm site-wide wifi would be great.. but of course, just like everything else, I suppose it depends on how technically advanced the owners are!

The Camps 4 book tells you about internet access too by the look of it.

It's looking like THE OZZIE CAMPER'S BIBLE!

Just caught the end of this thread - not looked through all of it to be honest, but just wanted to say that generally Aussie campsites wee all over uk ones in terms of facilities etc.

We were never big campers in the UK but we have been a few times here - overe Christmas we had a road trip/camping trip up the east coast to Byron, just got back from a weekend camping in the blue mountains west of Sydney this weekend - absolutely bloomin' great!!! Not sure about wi-fi (as I was reading about in the first page or 2) - the campsite (Euroka - google it) was a few km's off the main road through dusty unsealed roads. Kankaroos bounding around everywhere, firewood provided, river nearby - bloody fantastic. Amazing walking nearby too.

Have a look in our website for some pictures and a bit more talking crap...

Hope I've not missed the point of this thread - just got back from the pub LOL so I may have!! Oh and I can vouch for Anaconda - a great shop for everything outdoorsy.

Graham

When we were travelling we bought a Sierra Wireless Aircard to put into the laptop. We were in a caravan though so we could also use a heavy duty aerial on the roof joined via a patch lead into the card for better coverage. We managed to get connected where ever we had CDMA coverage but the service was a bit of a rip off as it was Telstra and was meant to be broadband.

We had the Camps 3 and also had a book that ran along side it with all the pictures of the various campsites so you knew which ones look good and which ones looked a bit roadside pull in.

I haven't looked at the Camps 4 one but I would be interested if they have put the two together this time round.

BTW if you do get hold of one make sure it is the ring binder edged sort as that is great for travelling with instead of having to open a book and generally bending it back to have it on your lap. Seems to last longer for people that way. The other thing is on the ExploreOz website you can buy a great GPS mapping system that allows you to scan and download maps into your GPS system so if you pick up a map from say a tourist info place so long as there is a scale mark on it you can add it to your GPS system. It is a great way of finding out all the little tracks and also allows you to view from a 3D angle so you can see if you are heading into a gulley or up a mountain.

You'll have to get your skates on to do this trip in a couple of weeks!
Port Hedland is the most northerly town in the Pilbara and it's approx. 1500 kms from Wyndham where the Gibb River Road starts/ends. It's in the East Kimberley, not the Pilbara. And beware when you're driving in the NT, they've recently put speed limits on all their roads - and they're keen!

How necessary are bullbars?

I've been looking on carsales.com.au at various motors to do the trip in, and was wondering whether I definitely need something with bullbars.

If they are, and the motor doesn't have them, how much are they to fit?

cheers

Yeah i know we travelled up there, by car wanted to go off road next time by 4by4 and take in some of the rugged areas along the west coast. 2 weeks will be fine 3 days up there and back and a week or so doing some of the tracks if it takes longer it dosnt matter we arnt planning to go back to work till january! Cant believe they have put speed cameras in loved NT for driving just flew along without care in world thanks

I was wondering about GPS/Satnav, fellow Camperinos..

I would like to invest in a unit ready for our roadtrip, as it would seem that GPS units seem cheaper here than over there. Only problem is I cannot find one that comes with aussie data without it costing a fortune to buy the data seperately.. any unit recommendations and or experiences?

*edit- don't worry just found another thread. But I would still be interesteed to hear opinions from people.. especially if anyone has managed to find a way of getting reasonably priced *cough* aussie maps for TomTom or Garmin yet*

If you're going off the beaten track then I'd day they are a good idea.
If you think you may drive anywhere after dark (which is best avoided)
then they are a must.
Our vans looked liked they'd been whipped off a truck.
Wish I'd brought them back as thay'd be usefull at the M1 Junction 30
roadworks.
We never had a situation where we needed them apart from drying towels
which they were exelent for.

Don't know how much they are. I guess it would be around the same price
as having a tow bar fitted.

I was wondering the same. Also we're probably stopping over in Singapore / Kuala Lumpur, anybody any idea about TomTom prices there and what maps they're preloaded with.

Can vouch for that re: Wicked!!!

We initially booked with them for our trip in Perth. Luckily when we arrived they were all so knackered that they couldnt be rented out and we ended up getting upgraded to www.campette.com (wicked are an agent for them in Perth).

They really are heaps of shxx, that you would think twice about letting a dog sleep in!

A wonderful idea --- for those that arrive with enough money not to have to worry about jumping straight into a job!