Tuesday, Jul 13, 2010 at 22:09
Our experience with caravan parks.....the ones that cater for kids (a quick
check of their website gives great clues) are great fun! Giant jumping pillows, swimming pools with beach entries and water park features, playgrounds,
camp kitchens, games rooms (for raining days), pancake breakfasts, outdoor movies on the big screen, craft or kids clubs etc etc. Plus other kids!! Your kids will make friends in 2 seconds flat. Many are a destination in their own right. A $40
membership (2 years) to Big 4 is usually recouped in 1st two visits, plus 10% off local tours/tourist attractions. (Last year we saved $120 in discounts in 8 days). In caravan parks you will also meet many many like minded travellers, so very social environment. Caravan Parks also have a habit of occupying prime real estate(ie beach front, river front)
Safety.....some towns are reknown for lacking in security - Dubbo has signs posted everywhere (and this
forum also suggests same) saying dont leave anything in your cars overnight, coz the windows get smashed in. Many caravan parks have boom
gate entry/exit therefore offer additional security - particularly in cities and large towns.
Free Camping.... others on this
forum suggest choosing a spot at least 5-10kms from nearest town to avoid the 'hoons' doing donuts/ too far for drunks to walk etc, and 'safety in numbers' - always choose a spot others are already in.
Boat Storage....some caravan parks offer 'storage' for when you do side tours - ie to
Cape York, Fraser Island etc etc. Some are free (if you choose to stay at least 1 night with them at usual price) and some have token price to put van/car/boat onto paddock. Ie,
Cairns caravan parks charge about $5 per day to 'store' your van/car/boat in their adjoining paddocks. Also, you could
check out the commercial storage sheds (available in every town) ie Storage King, which may cost $25 per week?? Or
check local
classifieds if any resident is willing to offer storage for couple bucks. If leaving on the side of the road, then invest in a trailer coupling lock or wheel clamp.
Surely your boat would get lots of use inland, there are so many rivers, lakes, weirs etc. You could even add wheels and join the "
Todd River Race"!!
Happy planning and happy travels!
We're on the Road To Discovery
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: tas130 - Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 06:42
Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 06:42
Thanks for the reply.
We will certainly look at getting a big 4 card. Do you just get that online or a tourist info place or park?
Great to hear that there are
places like
Cairns canavan park that offer storage at a resonable price. as for
places like storage king i looked into that as an option awhile ago and was more like $25 a day.
When i say inland i was thinking more in the centre. The boat will mainly be for exploring the rarely seen coast line of our great country. We are also toying with the idea of taking a smaller zodiac that we could use the aux motor off the bigger boat to
check out the smaller river systems (that dont have crocs).
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Follow Up By: Road to Discovery - Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 18:33
Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010 at 18:33
I'm pretty sure
membership with Big 4 Parks can be purchased on-line, otherwise you can just join over the counter at the 1st Big 4 Caravan Park you choose to stay at. Top Tourist Parks also have similar
membership, but I have found these parks market better to the
grey nomads than the
young nomads/families (ie very few have playgrounds/jumping pillows etc - instead do devonshire teas and craft sessions).
A road-side service provider
membership (ie RACV, RACQ, NRMA) also provides discounts at many tourist spots - we saved 10% at Dubbo Zoo for example - but you would definately join these for the security of road-side service, not tour discounts.
My brother & family did 1 year around Oz - took a camper trailer with small tinnie on top. I think they got great use out of the boat, so no doubt you will too with your proposed options. Have fun!
R2D
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694466