My wife and I plan to become GNs in the nest 12 months, so we have huge gaps in our knowledge and lots of questions. Can someone help with a couple of basics - what are the average fees at dumps points and what's the cost of fresh water? Thanks a lot.
Helena said
06:42 AM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome to the forum I am sure you will get lots of info from here. dump points are free at least we have never paid for the use of them if you go to the infomation agencies they will usually tell you where you can get town water in fact some of them have taps outside that you can use to fill up with hope this helps I am sure others on the forum will come up with more suggestions. Helena
Jeffrey said
06:47 AM Nov 26, 2011
Thanks very much, Helena; I didn't expect that quick a response. Or that reply. You don't expect "free" very often these days. Thanks again.
Ma said
07:03 AM Nov 26, 2011
You will only usually have to buy water when you are in the outback but you do get some places like Banka Banks Station where they have as much water as you could want and you can even wash your van, but then on the other hand power is not available there.
I guess you do get the odd place around the traps that will charge you for water but this is rare in our experience and it's a case of once bitten twice shy in those circumstances.
If somewhere has to truck their water in then you can understand that they do need to charge for it as they have to pay in the first instance.
Welcome to the forum Jeffery. Ask as many questions as you want there will be someone on here that will have the answers.
Jeffrey said
07:07 AM Nov 26, 2011
Thanks, Ma. Two replies in 20 minutes, both saying the same thing. I'm saving money already! I'm sure you'll hear from me again.
Ma said
07:10 AM Nov 26, 2011
Look forward to it Jeffery
Dougwe said
07:28 AM Nov 26, 2011
Hi and welcome from me as well Jeffrey, if you stay in caravan parks it's not a problem off course. You might like to free camp your way around. Enjoy your time on "The Grey Nomads" and travelling.
Jeffrey said
07:37 AM Nov 26, 2011
Yes, free camping appeals, Doug and not only because it's free.
We like seclusion and peace and quiet, so we'll stay away from parks
as much as we can.
valnrob said
07:39 AM Nov 26, 2011
Hi Jeffery, welcome to the forum. Great place to learn here. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.
cheers
Jeffrey said
07:51 AM Nov 26, 2011
Yes, I've gathered that already.
pauline said
07:52 AM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome....................
jules47 said
08:30 AM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome Jeffrey - you will enjoy this site - there is a wealth of knowledge here - ask questions, read posts on the various forums - one of your best assets would be to purchase the Camps Australia book - lists all the free and low cost camps all over Australia - you will see references to it in some of the posts - people also recommend places in the recommendations section - feel free to join in any discussions that interest you - do you have a van? what do you tow with - someone will ask, and want to see pictures of your rig
Rip and Rosie said
08:58 AM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome to the forum Jeffrey
Jeffrey said
09:14 AM Nov 26, 2011
Thanks to all the welcomers, what a nice bunch of people.
Happywanderer said
09:32 AM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome Jeffrey, 99% of dump points are free. The only one I have heard of where they charge is the csravan park here in Echuca. I've been told they charge $10 which is a rip off when there are at least 3 free dump points within a 50 ks radius. Most places you will get water free including my carpark garden tap as jazzinaround found when she needed water while staying around here. Haha She was being real cheeky. But as the others say you can get water just about anywhere. You can even plug into power free or for a very small amount in some places, as long as you don't abuse the priviledge.
dazren said
10:59 AM Nov 26, 2011
WELCOME !! from us to Jeffery, you know what you have done now 'don't you' you have joined this forum and it is going to take you from ' a little interested' --- to totally addicted --- to the vanning lifestyle ??? some addictions are not so great, but this addiction is terrific, you have picked the right forum all friendly and helpful people here and a wealth of knowledge and experience, enjoy your time with us, and your planning, AND then your Travelling Rgs dazren
ozi2 said
11:52 AM Nov 26, 2011
jules47 wrote:
Welcome Jeffrey - you will enjoy this site - there is a wealth of knowledge here - ask questions, read posts on the various forums - one of your best assets would be to purchase the Camps Australia book - lists all the free and low cost camps all over Australia - you will see references to it in some of the posts - people also recommend places in the recommendations section - feel free to join in any discussions that interest you - do you have a van? what do you tow with - someone will ask, and want to see pictures of your rig
G'day Jeffrey, welcome to GN's! Jules47 suggestion of Camps 6 book is a great idea, it also includes dump site locations and water points.
How cool is it to be able to access thousands of years of knowledge on a great forum? ( Jules is just a spring chicken!)
cheers,
ozi2
the rocket said
02:10 PM Nov 26, 2011
Hello, welcome. you will enjoy this site. you will always find someone who is able to answer your questions. knowledge is power. I learnt - buy a van with a toilet. when out on the road it is easier to duck into the van than drive round a strange town looking for a loo.
Jeffrey said
03:15 PM Nov 26, 2011
I posted at 6.11 this morning and the floodgates opened.Thanks to everyone who replied with advice, encouragement and general good wishes. I've already learned quite a bit.
Pejay said
04:16 PM Nov 26, 2011
Hi Jeffrey, was a tad busy this morning, so our welcome comes a little late, but never the less - welcome! 'Imself and I have been retired for just on 12 months, and we have learnt S-O much on this forum, had a lot of fun tripping around, have had a couple of phone calls from some GN's whilst on the road, and looking forward to meeting up with another couple, come Christmas!
Sheba said
08:30 PM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome from me too Jeffery. You can often find some answers to your queries by using the "Search" button, as well. [Middle, top line.]
Cheers,
Sheba.
Cruising Granny said
08:46 PM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome Jeffrey and wife. Newbies became oldies fairly quickly here. A little questions can generate a lot of friendly responses, all based on experience. I'm an old hand but there is always lots to share and learn. I hope you enjoy your stay.
Esmeralda said
10:16 PM Nov 26, 2011
Welcome from me too Jeffrey - enjoy your time with us.
shazartist said
05:00 PM Nov 28, 2011
Welcome Jeffrey,
Yes, the camp 6 is a must have, with lots of useful information. We are newbies also and have only had our Van for a few weeks.
Although, it is worth noting on our last trip we have found the co ordinates for two of the four free dump sites we used in camp 6 were wrong and one had been moved and is no longer there, and the new site was not been included in the camp 6 book which was relocated three years ago and they said camps have been notified numerous time.
I also found some taps were only water available with a bucket or jug and found that some free night time rest stops had "no camping" signs. We also found that some co ordinates for rest stops and parks were wrong as well, and a lot do not have an address so you really need a GPS, and with our GPS she needs a street name AND number so be prepared for an alternative plan. We tend to be too well organised and incorrect information throws us out as we don't intend to get to a rest stop till 5 or 6pm, so we are going to have to start getting somewhere earlier or be prepared to sleep under a tree somewhere...lol..we were only away for three weeks and travelled over 2000 km..so we did try lots of different stops and that was the plan for this trip. Also, I have been told that different states are more accommodating for the RV community.
Maybe someone can answer me on this issue, with the rest stops on the highway in NSW, has anyone ever been moved on or bothered by local authorities if you stay over night and leave early the next morning? In America, it is known if it is raining you can pull over anywhere and stay the night, I was wondering if that was the same in Australia? We were in some terrible weather coming back to QLD a few days ago, and it would have been lovely knowing that we could pull over and not have a "Move on" knock on the door.
cheers Sharon
Happywanderer said
05:21 PM Nov 28, 2011
I have stayed in quite a few rest stops in NSW, never been moved on. They are rest stops and noted in my Camps book. Mainly along he Newell. Always others there doing the same thing so knew there wasn't a worry.
My wife and I plan to become GNs in the nest 12 months, so we have huge gaps in our knowledge and lots of questions. Can someone help with a couple of basics - what are the average fees at dumps points and what's the cost of fresh water? Thanks a lot.
Thanks very much, Helena; I didn't expect that quick a response. Or that reply. You don't expect "free" very often these days. Thanks again.
You will only usually have to buy water when you are in the outback but you do get some places like Banka Banks Station where they have as much water as you could want and you can even wash your van, but then on the other hand power is not available there.
I guess you do get the odd place around the traps that will charge you for water but this is rare in our experience and it's a case of once bitten twice shy in those circumstances.
If somewhere has to truck their water in then you can understand that they do need to charge for it as they have to pay in the first instance.
Welcome to the forum Jeffery. Ask as many questions as you want there will be someone on here that will have the answers.
Thanks, Ma. Two replies in 20 minutes, both saying the same thing. I'm saving money already! I'm sure you'll hear from me again.
Look forward to it Jeffery
Hi and welcome from me as well Jeffrey, if you stay in caravan parks it's not a problem off course. You might like to free camp your way around. Enjoy your time on "The Grey Nomads" and travelling.
Yes, free camping appeals, Doug and not only because it's free.
We like seclusion and peace and quiet, so we'll stay away from parks
as much as we can.
cheers
Yes, I've gathered that already.
Thanks to all the welcomers, what a nice bunch of people.
99% of dump points are free. The only one I have heard of where they charge is the csravan park here in Echuca. I've been told they charge $10 which is a rip off when there are at least 3 free dump points within a 50 ks radius.
Most places you will get water free including my carpark garden tap as jazzinaround found when she needed water while staying around here. Haha She was being real cheeky. But as the others say you can get water just about anywhere.
You can even plug into power free or for a very small amount in some places, as long as you don't abuse the priviledge.
G'day Jeffrey, welcome to GN's! Jules47 suggestion of Camps 6 book is a great idea, it also includes dump site locations and water points.
How cool is it to be able to access thousands of years of knowledge on a great forum? ( Jules is just a spring chicken!
)
cheers,
ozi2
Hello, welcome. you will enjoy this site. you will always find someone who is able to answer your questions. knowledge is power. I learnt - buy a van with a toilet. when out on the road it is easier to duck into the van than drive round a strange town looking for a loo.
with advice, encouragement and general good wishes. I've already learned quite a bit.
Welcome from me too Jeffery. You can often find some answers to your queries by using the "Search" button, as well. [Middle, top line.]
Cheers,
Sheba.
I'm an old hand but there is always lots to share and learn.
I hope you enjoy your stay.
Welcome from me too Jeffrey - enjoy your time with us.
Yes, the camp 6 is a must have, with lots of useful information. We are newbies also and have only had our Van for a few weeks.
Although, it is worth noting on our last trip we have found the co ordinates for two of the four free dump sites we used in camp 6 were wrong and one had been moved and is no longer there, and the new site was not been included in the camp 6 book which was relocated three years ago and they said camps have been notified numerous time.
I also found some taps were only water available with a bucket or jug and found that some free night time rest stops had "no camping" signs. We also found that some co ordinates for rest stops and parks were wrong as well, and a lot do not have an address so you really need a GPS, and with our GPS she needs a street name AND number so be prepared for an alternative plan. We tend to be too well organised and incorrect information throws us out as we don't intend to get to a rest stop till 5 or 6pm, so we are going to have to start getting somewhere earlier or be prepared to sleep under a tree somewhere...lol..we were only away for three weeks and travelled over 2000 km..so we did try lots of different stops and that was the plan for this trip. Also, I have been told that different states are more accommodating for the RV community.
Maybe someone can answer me on this issue, with the rest stops on the highway in NSW, has anyone ever been moved on or bothered by local authorities if you stay over night and leave early the next morning? In America, it is known if it is raining you can pull over anywhere and stay the night, I was wondering if that was the same in Australia? We were in some terrible weather coming back to QLD a few days ago, and it would have been lovely knowing that we could pull over and not have a "Move on" knock on the door.
cheers Sharon