PeachArchers

Hi again all and thanks for all your help in the past. Visas granted, house sold subject to contract, movers quoted just waiting on the solicitors so nearly in Oz!!!!!!

When we get to Oz we are in the fortunate position of not immediately needing to find work so our plan whilst we wait 8-10 weeks for our belongings to arrive was to do some travelling. We plan to land in Sydney having rented a motorhome from the UK and travelling from Sydney to Cairns up the A1 then back down to Sydney for approximately 2 months.

Our questions are:-Has anyone on the forum done this or do they know anyone who has?Would they recommend a motor home of a car and hotel trip? There seems to be no shortage of trailer parks with electrical hookups on the internet is this the case?

Any suggestions for websites for motorhome hire, trailer parks or route planners would also be appreciated as would any general advice for someone planning our mini adventure!!!!

Again thanks for all your help getting us this far and strangely we are actually looking forward to spending a day and night on a plane because it will be the start of life in Oz.

Bermudashorts

You should ask a mod to move your post into the main Australia forum, more people will see it there. Not everyone reads the immigration forum.

Trip sounds nice, can't help with the questions though.

spuddyo

There are plenty of caravan parks and camping grounds if you decide to go the Motorhome option. I have noticed though that many of these squeeze too many 'units' onto each site In England each motorhome, caravan or tent must have a clear area around them for fire safety and privacy ( I think it's 5m ) but not here. Expect to be 2m from you neighbour in most places.

2 months is heaps of time to do the Sydney-Cairns-Sydney trip, should be fun. Maybe go up the Pacific Highway via the coast and come back taking an inland route.

PeachArchers

if a mod could move me into a more appropriate thread that would be appreciated

Red_V_Roger

Why not check out my 9 months drive round Oz at www.travelsroundoz.com

You'll find the Cairns to Sydney drive in there!

Kelli28

What time of yr you thinking of doing the trip? In the wet season roads can be shut in the dry fires ect. There's a handy book you can use called " camps" not sure what number issue there up to but it lists all camps even the free ones and is usefull inn areas with no internet connection.

TimbersBack

Finding campsites is a doddle.

BigFour seem to dominate. When you get to QLD, and heading to Cairns, make a b-line for Tannum Sands, a lovely little stop. Airlie is gorgeous, but do not come this far without going to Port Douglas.

Kelli28

Yes I can vouch for tannum I used to live there and still own property there, the pub has to have one of the best views, sitting in the garden with a schooner of bundy and coke over looking the southern barrier reef with all the lovely parrots that come to feed there it's beautiful.

The only problem being that to get to see the areas attractions you'd need a 4w drive, Beautiful Betsy the plane that crashed in the 1940s and was only recently found, the freshwater filled old volcano that you can swim in, only most of the older residents know it's whereabouts though, cania gorge not sure if that's accessible in a 2wd and 1770 although I'm sure there's a proper road all the way there now. There's plenty of other stops too both costal and inland tin can bay, airlie beach, Harvey bay, Bundaburg, the hinterland areas are beautiful too tambourine mountain, maleny and loads of others I'm sure you'll have a great time.

KJCherokee

Travelling inland (you should do this in at least one leg of thetrip) you will find that most towns have a showground which (unless it is Show week) will be available for overnight camping. Usually powered sites and basic but clean showers and toilets for much less than you will pay at Big 4 or similar - and much more space too.

PeachArchers

Wow thanks all, locations noted, looks like a mobile home it is then!!!Are Big 4 the main campsite group?

ozzieeagle

Yehp, but you'll be paying for a lot more than you really need... Give one or two ago... the one at Merrimbula for instance has a fantastic outlook...but thats way south of where you are going. Everyone that knows about these things always mentions the showgrounds, so give them a go.

You probably also need to register on one of these forums as well....

http://thegreynomads.com.au/

ozzieeagle

Go beyond Port Douglas and you run into this.... I broke down and was stranded at Palmer River for about 10 days last time i was up that way...

Twas a bit bleak, like this.

Kelli28

Big4 are generally the most expensive and usually provide lots of facilities some are really fantastic especially if you've got kids but please don't just stick to them there's plenty of independent sites in beautiful locations with plenty of facilities to offer.

PeachArchers

Thanks again, no kids,just the two of us. We'll definitely try independents, Big 4 and showgrounds. Are rest stops safe to use and are they legal to stay in overnight?

PeachArchers

Thanks for that, just ordered it from Amazon, its up to number 7 and costs £40.00 but as it says it should be worth its weight in gold!!!!!