The Friendliest Place in Australia

chezgo · Senior Member

The Friendliest Place in Australia

dave06 · Guru

good post cheryl well done, streaky bay, special people indeed, and why wouldnt you be, take a look around they have the best of everything right on their door, mine would have to be ross in tasmania, fantastic people never in a rush always happy to have a yak and guide one to a good camp spot always smiling and cheerfull, meals in the pub, they make you feel as though one is a part of the family and nothing is any bother, we had the publican and his wife sit with us as well as a couple of staff and locals, things were slow and it turned in to a fantasmagorical evening, lot of laughs and a lot of memorys built up by the fireplace. we have found many similar places, hahndorf is another, port douglas people are so laid back and freindly its incredible, darwin folks, well they are on "territory time", bunbury, albany fantastic people everywhere but I think my winner would have to be ross in tassie, trouble is they all go to bed by ten. oh yes and glad to see you back, did you see the cmca campgrounds at the showgrounds at melrose low cost camping for a weary traveller, ok, ok, I'll shut up about my stomping grounds, but it is so hard when one lives in paradise!!!

chezgo · Senior Member

Gee dave now iam a little worried there are only two friendly places in oz 59 views and no one can come up with another place. I don't know if I have been to Ross have been to tassie 5 times and lots of friendly people down there. Had a great moment when in Streaky though as we were there to do the finishing touches on the house and it overlooks the water on sat week ago a whale came into the bay everyone thought it was heading for the shore but it didn't it lingered close to the shallows for an hour or so and then headed back out what an amazing sight to be on your balcony whale watching. cheryl

dave06 · Guru

cheryl one thing to say to that, MEMORIES!!!! you cant buy them, you cant steal them but you can certainly make them and give them away to others and THATS when they become valuable, a bit like a smile, you can have a bag full of them but until you give one away they mean nothing, you brought back a couple to me and I graciously thank you for that, freindly places are absolutely everywhere and a lot of the veiwers know of them but cant be bothered listing in case they get ridiculed or whatever, then you just get the ones that have been to a lot of great places and wont talk about them, makes me very frustrated, I put MYSELF out there for all and sundry to read about, my life story is woven in amongst the web pages of this forum and yet we have hundreds of people who come in and view and then nick off without so much as a never you mind or a hello, two bob is trying to set a new record and it should be easily done with the numbers we have here, he breaks his neck to bring a smile to everyone on most days, wombat is a valuable member and a great contributer, peter is a fantastic resource and a great contributer, garys input is always highly valued as are all contributers, Basil hmmm!!!! welllll!!! he ummmm!!!! Hrrrrrmmmphhh!!! well he's been here a long time!!! then we have the solo's love em all, and ole grizz with his undies back to front, a hell of a lot of fantastic people in here and I count them all as my freinds, you well and truly included, BUT THE BLUDGERS WONT ALWAYS TALK!!! sometimes, fair dinkum, it's like pulling teeth, honestly I would love to get you all around a camp fire, with a couple of drinkypoo's, we would talk up a storm and not be able to pull away, or strike camp for a week, but to place a post or contribute to a thread, forget it, very frustrating, but they are out there, peering in, LOOK!! there's one now, YEAH!!! I SEEN YA!!, PEEKIN ROUND THE CORNER, GET BACK IN HERE YOU!!! thought you got away didnt ya!!! what about a small contribution, it doesnt hurt!!! go on, be a devil, you might like it. these may seem like private conversations but they are aimed at all grey nomads and open to all and sundry to comment on, just think about it,, just a little, hmmm!!!

-- Edited by dave06 at 12:31, 2008-10-29

drongo & wendy · Senior Member

GULP
Ummmm ya hit the spot there Davo.
WELL Tassie is a great place to wander on, we did a self guided tour over only 10 days staying at motels from Devonport arround and back to Devonport found that end of tassie was right up my alley, but thing i found was on our visit to the jail was the most haunting, last few ks of road there were 5 in the car and no one spoke had the feeling of should we be entering here, was so eerie untill passed the monument. what an amazing place to visit will live in my memory for ever.Another memory was that we stayed in HOBART n/ys eve we must have been on the elephant walk for the young, as sleep was never gunna happen but highlight was looking out from upstairs window into the back of a ute tears comming to my eyes, y arnt i 18 again and have the staying ability of that couple but i did give a whistle and a wave after there work was over got a wave back
now where was that motel again bugger

Basil Faulty · Guru

Now this is a hard one......I seem to remember only those places where the locals are openly hostile to tourists..... The Irish club at Mt Isa was overly friendly, blokes kept buying me Guiness..... Cooktown was very friendly....
Tathra must get a mention, when the Jackaroo spat the dummy the locals there came to our rescue with offers of help and support, a mecahnic jerry rigged the car to get us home and refused payment.
Surprisingly Bourke was very friendly, when we got robbed there the locals sprang into action gave us accomodation, organised the issue of new cards etc, rounded up "all the usual suspects" for us to identify the theves who we sprung goods in hand leaving the scene. The Police arranged new licences for us to continue on our trip.....

dave06 · Guru

jeezzz!!!! Basil I think you had better stay home!!!

twobob · Guru

Dave said it, and I am guilty too

I read the posts, but did not add - I correct this now - but disclose a personal interest, that does not degrade the post - I know the managers

Clairview Caravan Park Central Qld - about 200km north of Rocky - only 1 of 2 places the Bruce Highway meets the coast.

My mates have just in the last 12 months taken over, and I have spent some time there, with them. They cook "homecooked" meals, have a small bar area, and it is basic, but neat - priced accordingly.

My bias to one side - they NORMALLY get "passing trade" for an overnight stop, who stay for much longer, and return the next trip. It is very slightly, out of the way, but right on the beach. First impression, "what have I got myself into, lasting impression "hope no one else finds out, as I may not get in next time". Always have a good night there, talking to the locals and visitors from all over.

This caravan park should not be confused with the "free park" nearby - nothing wrong with it, run by council, but limited and sometimes used by those with little respect for others - well it is free

-- Edited by twobob at 20:55, 2008-11-01

dave06 · Guru

mate, learnt years ago not to let first impressions overrule common sense, some of the best of times have been in the most barren of places with the ugliest of people

twobob · Guru

Dave, I am shocked - my mates are not ugly!!

Well Dave (my mate) is not that good, Camilla is goregous. AND has a personallity that is infectous. She's the cook, and feed me went there. Basically they are travellers too, ex NT people, nothing is too hard.

Heh, they just purchased down your neck of the woods - retirement I think

dave06 · Guru

I met an old "bushie" once he was travelling the river system, we met up on the goyder laggon on the birdsville track, he had 3 camels as his only survival system, they carried everything needed for suvival, he the camels and his girl all smelt about the same and the same ammount of hair protruded from around their heads, we sort of "stayed away" a bit at first, they, camels included, jumped in the goyder and had a ball, and I tell you no lie they produced an oil slick big enough to rival the exon valdez, we prepared a fire for the nights cooking and over they wandered, I looked at the dragon and she looked at me and she said "well here we go, cant escape" you could have knocked me rotten with a rampant cane toad, he was exceptionally pleasant and not bad looking and she scrubbed up a treat even the camels "shone" we spent three days camped there and retain some of our best memories from this pair of ugly scruffy stinky people and their camels, I dont judge, I invite. camels are some of the freindliest "people we have met, this trio would not leave the old fellers side but they provided an exceptionally comfy backrest when sitting around the fire, most pleasant, made me think of how it would have been like for bourke and wills and the other explorers with no hope without these big smelly hopelessly loyal huge animals

NannyMon · Veteran Member

dave06 wrote:

cheryl one thing to say to that, MEMORIES!!!! you cant buy them, you cant steal them but you can certainly make them and give them away to others and THATS when they become valuable, a bit like a smile, you can have a bag full of them but until you give one away they mean nothing, you brought back a couple to me and I graciously thank you for that, freindly places are absolutely everywhere and a lot of the veiwers know of them but cant be bothered listing in case they get ridiculed or whatever, then you just get the ones that have been to a lot of great places and wont talk about them, makes me very frustrated, I put MYSELF out there for all and sundry to read about, my life story is woven in amongst the web pages of this forum and yet we have hundreds of people who come in and view and then nick off without so much as a never you mind or a hello, two bob is trying to set a new record and it should be easily done with the numbers we have here, he breaks his neck to bring a smile to everyone on most days, wombat is a valuable member and a great contributer, peter is a fantastic resource and a great contributer, garys input is always highly valued as are all contributers, Basil hmmm!!!! welllll!!! he ummmm!!!! Hrrrrrmmmphhh!!! well he's been here a long time!!! then we have the solo's love em all, and ole grizz with his undies back to front, a hell of a lot of fantastic people in here and I count them all as my freinds, you well and truly included, BUT THE BLUDGERS WONT ALWAYS TALK!!! sometimes, fair dinkum, it's like pulling teeth, honestly I would love to get you all around a camp fire, with a couple of drinkypoo's, we would talk up a storm and not be able to pull away, or strike camp for a week, but to place a post or contribute to a thread, forget it, very frustrating, but they are out there, peering in, LOOK!! there's one now, YEAH!!! I SEEN YA!!, PEEKIN ROUND THE CORNER, GET BACK IN HERE YOU!!! thought you got away didnt ya!!! what about a small contribution, it doesnt hurt!!! go on, be a devil, you might like it. these may seem like private conversations but they are aimed at all grey nomads and open to all and sundry to comment on, just think about it,, just a little, hmmm!!!

-- Edited by dave06 at 12:31, 2008-10-29

Oh Dave you make me feel so baaaad, I have been away not holidaying but visiting my sick father, I dont have an outlet in my van, I did go to the library but only had use of the computer for half an hour. Yes I am guilty I did have a quick look from the library and I did try and send you a private message perhaps it didnt go through. I did log in on Sunday for Bob's record breaking effort as soon as I got home but I think I was a bit too late, 4 minutes past 5pm arrrrgh. It is not just me Dave but perhaps many other members were in the same situation. Also I'm still an novice here, sometimes I have nothing to add to a particular post, why make a fool of myself talking about something I know nothing about. Anyway I hope to be here for the next record breaking effort. Hugs Mon.

dave06 · Guru

Mon, you are more than forgiven, in my eyes you can do no wrong, I know your circumstances and I feel for you, the regular readers of my shots in the dark know where I'm coming from but what annoys me is that we get fantastic regular contributers to our forum and then we get others who come along have a look and nick off, I know I can be abrasive and a pain in the bum but I do inject a little humour, impart a little knowledge and stir the pot, all I ask for is small payment to this forum, if you have a look, leave a message, doesnt have to be mind numbingly smart, something like "I agree" or "I think thats stupid" "great post mate" anything at all for encouragement otherwise we just give up, the record breaking attempt was broken after the 5pm deadline by people who wanted to see if the attempt was broken, how stupid and annoying was that, they didnt even bother to register or to log in, how do you make a fool of yourself if you are merely expressing your opinion and your thoughts on the matter, this I dont understand, my goal is not to make people feel bad, completely opposite, I want people to talk, when words are placed down in a manner such as this, the meaning is often construed to a point where it can sound argumentative, this is not the desired outcome, so people watch there p's' and q's I dont, I say whats on my mind, better or worse, I'm not having a go at anyone, just stating the obvious, it's how I talk around the camp, but the difference there is that people can see my smile, and know that most times I am full of it!!!! I just feel for BOB he had a fantastic idea and one that was easily achieved and could only have made the forum a richer place, I feel, as he would, dissapointed, so easily done, so easily passed over, but I do praise him for it and hold him as with others in high regard for at least trying to make this a better place in which to visit and have a yak!! as I stated not having a go at anyone and I dont want to make anyone feel bad, just expressing my dissapointment

chezgo · Senior Member

At last some response so there are more friendly places in Oz. And yes NannyMon you are right one thing for sure is that everyone on here have one thing in common a great love for this beautiful country we live in every square inch of her is magic and its a great thing to be in touch through this forum with people who feel the same. i can't wait to get on the road again March it will be for a few weeks with a couple of quick trips to Melbourne and Berry (NSW) one of my daughters has just taken over as Manager of motel there so it might make the friendliest list because I taught her well and she is a great addition to the hospitality industry and loves her job and does it with a passion. But maybe the friendliest place in Australia is where I am looking at the moment the forum Chezgo biggrin

dave06 · Guru

well I,ve done it again, me and my big mouth taking over a terrific post and turning it somewhere else, jeez will I ever learn to just shut up, anyway the freindliest and perhaps the most enjoyable places are the places where you have good freinds to talk to, good times to remember and great food to share, we adored a little place called geeveston, almost at the bottom of tasmania, an operational bakery of course, huge picture windows overlooking an idylic mountain scene, people next to us were fantastic, bakery owners absolutely amazing, smiles everywhere (and why not, living there), the only problem was the street was so cambered that when we pulled the motorhome in to the kerb the top almost wiped out a stobie pole. we love broome, except in the tourist season when you cant get on to cable beach without fear of getting run over by 4wds and camels,never lone running "nudie" on it the people in Bourke were exceptionally, freindly and nothing was too much trouble the dragon fell in love with ballarat, the gold diggings, the soldiers, the lollys, the stagecoach and atmosphere were fantasmagorical and stole her heart the kimberleys with absolutely no-one for miles (not anymore) gibb river road all just to die for darwin markets at sundown, chinese tucker with the locals, the nt stubby (do they still make those) cheryl I would love to fire up a convoy and take all you fantastic people to some of my favourite spots, I could then die a happy man, knowing you had seen paradise, might take a while. rest of our lives would be great, I got a lot of favorite places, but what a way to spend the rest of our days, look up "ME and the dragon" in under three years, hopefully we will be "out there" somewhere

-- Edited by dave06 at 16:05, 2008-11-05

chezgo · Senior Member

Dave tassie is n all round friendly place there are some places down there where they still put petrol in the car for you. And the NT stubby is still around. It would be nice to sit in darwin at the markets at sundown with a big feed of asian food that would be my dream place to be on a cold winters day here in the south. I'm a big fan of warm weather. And we will catch up have 2 trips over your way planned for next year and one of them will go the highway and to Port Pirie and drop in for a visit. The first I might be up in Melrose again have some friends from France coming over and want to show them up that way they came to Oz 2 years ago fell in love with it and coming back again. So if I dont catch you on trip 1 will do it on trip 2 when we take the boat to Streaky and leave it at the house there which we just rented today to some lucky people who are going to have a great view. My Friends from OS broke down in Alpha Qld and they told me the people there are friendly as they were stuck there for two weeks but I suppose that what happens when you ride an old Harley Davidson Shovel around the country they broke down 4 times on their trip but they never lost their enthusiasm for the journey. Cheryl