Park bookings

Have a similar problem when needing accomodation in the cities with regard to height of our 4by, we ask first what is the clearance of your car park. Had a situation in Canberra and they said yes 3 metres only to find that as for the first 5 bays only and not the side with the A/C ducting running down. They had valet staff to direct you so left car in the middle of the drive handed them the key and said you fix it. I think it took them about an hour to move all the small cars around.

Thanks Notso, think that is what we will do in futue, but as said, have never had a problem previously. The sites in this park are really tent sites only and they are jammed in, everyone is extremely close to one another! It is peak holiday time and the park wishes to make the best it can!
Cheers
Jinki

Hi Miandering Fiander - yes, 4WD's can be interesting in car parks. I'm always mindful of the height, especially if we have the rooftop basket on with gear etc.
Cheers
Jinki

Experience has taught us exactly the same thing.
It's even worse with a large rear entry van where the door is often off the slab or well down a slope from the rest of the site.
My solution was to sell the rear entry van and buy a front entry plus tell the respective park the overall dimensions of the van. That way you may even finish up with somewhere to park the tow vehicle.

Traveller

One other thing. A lot of manufacturers quote an internal measurement for their vans. I have seen vans where the actual overall length of the body is up to 3' longer than these concocted internal/chassis/floor lengths. Most park owners expect vans to be measured over the complete body.

Thanks for your thoughts, most appreciated and as mentioned in earlier post, have never had a problem however in future will use the measurement from spare tyre to coupling. Even though we are across the site, not a problem and 2 20ft vans have since arrived and had difficulty. Thanks & cheers
Jinki & Harry

Hi Willawa

Decided not to take the Ultimate as we had spent 6 months in it this year April & May on Kangaroo Island and July to November, mostly in remote outback, (NSW, QLD, NT & WA) and the caravan needed an outing too!! Might add all sites at this park are really suitable tent sites only - 2 more 20ft vans have since arrived and had difficulty on their sites. Still we are ok on the angle across the site and as explained earlier can get out if there is an emergency.

Thanks for your thoughts -- notice you too have an Ultimate - we have only had ours for 12 months but love it. It is so comfortable, easy to pack and manage etc. During August & September did a 4 week tag along from Byron Bay NSW to Steep Point WA, across the centre and it handled all the roads and tracks extremely well.

We will be heading back to Milparinka sometime in 2013 to volunteer again and will definitely take the Ultimate.

Thanks again and cheers
Jinki

Hi again Jinki & Harry

Good to hear you are enjoying your Ultimate,we have had ours since Oct 2011 #1083)and loving it also,, been up to the Cape and Qld ,and spend some extended time in the High country of Vic & NSW.
Hopefully off to Nrthn NT etc later in 2013.
What do you do as volunteers at Milparinka? (or should one know?)

Cheers
Ed

Hi Ed

Our Ultimate is # 1094 - November 2011! Part of our 4 month trip this year was a tagalong with 8 other 4WD's from Byron Bay (the most easterly mainland point) to Steep Point WA (the most westerley mainland point). A wonderful experience. We had absolutely no problems with the Ultimate which is purpose built off road and the reason for buying it. Wanted to be as comfortable as possible, we are not young!! and wanted an inside kitchen!
The roads on trip varied from bitumen in the easterly part of NSW & QLD to very rocky gravel, sand, bull dust across the Centre etc and never one spot of dust in cupboards or anywhere else inside. When on dirt roads each night did need to remove up to an inch thick red powder talcum dust before opening back door and setting up, so as not to walk inside. Feel we are in living in luxury in our caravan with a full ensuite across the back & washing machine.
Do look up Milparinka on Corner Country website above, gives great details. There is a population of just 2 residents!!!! Unfortunately the Albert Hotel is closed at present -- rumour has it that it may reopen for the 2013 season! The Heritage and Visitor Info Centre is manned from March to September/October each year by visiting volunteers who come from all over Australia. The public toilets are cleaned by the volunteers and always get lots of good feedback about the cleanliness etc. My Harry looks after those and does some odd jobs required, such as painting, repairing and general small maintenance jobs around the centre and I look after the Info centre and shop, I love chatting to people. Accommodation is provided for volunteers in a delightful two room stone cottage which is very comfortable. This year we stayed in our Ultimate as we were heading further after our 2 week stint.
If this sounds like something you might like being involved with, then please make conctact through the website above.
Happy travelling and cheers
Jinki & Harry

Thanks for the info re Milparinka,I'll checkout the web site.
Like yourself the only dust we gathered on our trip to the Cape and NQld
was on the rear if the Ulti. but we think we have fixed that also.
If you checkout the Utlimate web 'owners forum' and follow the links in tips & tricks"to " dust problem solved" you can see how we have sorted the build up of dust with a full cover on the rear.

Cheers

Hi Old Girl, we too have stayed at Drouin, some years back and sites were wide with plenty of room and as you say, fantastic bush setting. Yes, this park is like the parks down around the Bay - crambed in like sardines. Thanks for your thoughts and happy camping. Jinki & Harry