What to leave behind?

Hi,
I wouldn't leave home without..
Plenty of wet ones & plenty of newspaper.
Duct tape & WD 40 or the like. Fire-lighters.
Warm clothes as the centre can get below freezing!
I'd also include alfoil & big garbage bags
There is the obvious like torch & batteries.I'm sure you've got packed.
Enjoy.
Take care, safe travels. Ma.

Hi Gerald,
I did similar last winter - up the west coast and down through the middle. Took 16 weeks and a great trip. I know space is always at a premium (particularly with 4 kids), but one of the handiest things I took along was a new STIHL Mini Boss chain saw ($299). I had it in a locked box on the roof rack where it was easy reached, and it put a whole new light on wood gathering. Of the 122 days we were away, only 23 were spent in Caravan Parks so with that amount of bush camping, the little saw was mighty handy. Not essential I know, but ...........................

Have a great trip. Cheers ..................... Kev.

Take as little as possible! You don't want to be burdened with heaps of stuff to be constantly packing and unpacking and hunting through. For that trip you will be able to buy anything necessary as you go when you find you really need it. Kids clothes etc can be discarded once they become destroyed (as they will) and replaced at cheap shops or op shops. The only thing we always take is the stove top coffee pot and a manual coffee grinder (we can buy coffee beans at intervals along the way) but we can't operate without decent coffee and that is not always available. Also perhaps a bird book so you can all learn about the birds you see and scrap books for the kids to keep a record of their trip and provide an occasional hour of peaceful activity. These will become treasures! With our kids years ago we limited their personal packing to what they could fit in a small backpack or we would have been swamped with their toys and treasures. Try to avoid toys that come in a million pieces! Don't forget the first aid box (with really good tweezers for removing splinters) and flu shots before you go. Nothing like a dose of a mainland virus to spoil a trip. Pack some balls for impromptu games so the kids can be run around to tire them out (hopefully) and provide a way to meet other kids. Have a great trip. You will be creating wonderful memories. Lynne

Hi Gerald V
We packed to many clothes and shoes. Rags are always handy.
Have a good trip.
We are like you leaving Ulverstone end of July for Cape York can't wait.

Tony.

a small inverter is invaluble to charge all sorts of rechargeable items,cameras,computers,torches ,toys,etc

Hopefully you have done a couple of 1-2 week shakedown trips to sort most things out.
The one thing we did was use the square plastic containers that you get preserved fruit in to store things for the kitchen etc, rice, sugar, rolled oats, flour etc. write on the lids and they are easy to see in drawers etc.

Wouldn't even contemplate taking a chainsaw, storing the separate two stroke fuel etc, take a little folding saw and small axe.

Agree about taking a good bird book and mark of the species as you see them.

Have done loads of these trips and always take too much if you have to ask this question I suggest you need to take more trips tell your boss ha ha Most things you forget can be bought on the road so take the minimum and buy as needed What one person cannot do without is what another does not need I for instance hate coffee and birds One thing you do need to take is the camper Agood sense of humour and adventure is all I need to take
Have a great trip
Steve

Gerald,
This may not help much but the thing I always love to leave behind is, work, stress, city, traffic and most important of all the bloody TV. I envy you and wish it was me.

If you take too much do not put up with it - pack it into postage satchels and send it home (we have done this more than once). If you do not have something then there is but only one choice make do till you can get it. It is amazing how little you really need and we all generally take way to much. After all the trips and years and years of traveling we find that we always have too much clothing and not enough port.

Have a great time, you lucky buggers.
David

Thanks all for your comments...

A few good tips there, a few we've already covered. Got some new ideas and have had a few of our own ideas 'cemented', so thank you all!

Gerald V & family.