my wife and I are just starting out on our dream of travelling this wonderful country. I have taken leave from work (six months) and aiming at semi or full retirement. We have just come back home after travelling across the Hay plains to Wollongong, down the South Coast into Victoria and back into South Australia. This was a bit of a trial run where we took a tent with the aim of staying in caravan parks. Our biggest mistake was not taking into account the school holidays (peak season). We found it very hard to find somewhere to stay as most places were booked out and those that did have vacancies wanted around $60 per night to pitch a tent. How or where do other GN manage to stay during peek seasons to manage living costs, particularly when paying for a powered site? I am aware of free camping sites but I'm concerned about whether they have showers and toilets.
We are planning to travel up the Eastern coast from Sydney to Cairns latter this year and considering buying a Jayco camper trailer. Our reason for this is to reduce towing weight to save on fuel. Would it be better to spend a bit more and buy a caravan? I would appreciate anyone's opinion who has had experience with a camper trailer, travelled the East coast and/or used free camping sites as well as caravan parks.
I am probably asking a lot but I am aware of the wealth of experience and information out there and would really appreciate any help or advice.
Welcome you have started out the right way and have learn not to travel in school holidays if you don't have to , Camper trailer or caravan everyone is different and like different things look at both and workout how you would use it think about what would happen if it's rain , Do you want to pull up for lunch or a cuppa and walk into your caravan or take the time to take lunch and a cuppa with you in your tug has the camper trailer takes time to set up everytime you stop , You need to do your own research has we all do thing our own way .
Welcome to the gang 'gas art', enjoy here and out in the playground.
Tent, campertrailer, campervan, caravan or Motorhome, all a personal choice really. Me, I had a tent many moons back then changed to a small Cub campertrailer then when retired I decided to get a Avan campertrailer but when I decided to be a full time Grey Nomad I got my now Caravan as listed in my signature. I loved my Avan and had great times in it but love my caravan better.
The reason I chose caravan over motorhome was once you set up in a CVP or free camp, wherever, you are stranded unless prepared to put things away and drive it out for a bottle of milk or similar or site seeing the area. I told myself that I could make sure I have or see everything before setting up, but now that I am out in the playground full time it doesn't always work that way. You could tow a small car behind but I thought if I have to do that I will just tow a CV.
Yeh there are people around that will help out and get things for you or run you into town etc but if it becomes a regular thing it could be come a hastle to either party. I don't mind helping anybody and have done many times but also don't like being used, had enough of that in a previous life.
Yep, caravans have a down side too, like can't get where a campertrailer might but at least I can unhitch and drive in with the tug.
Just my thoughts to your question.
Keep Safe on the roads.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
We have been on the road for just over 2 months now full time, and over the silly season as well so i hear you.
First up is there is a ton of free camping that has toilets of some kind, so you don't have to spend a cent if you don't want to, we only go for paid camping when i need to be close to a city for some contracting work and to top up, then back to free camping.
With regards to school holidays the short answer is to head inland, all the families head for the beach and the cities over the holidays so you have to go elsewhere, but then you can head back once they go back to school.
We currently stay in a camper trailer,
The pros are that there is much more space, it cost a ton less to buy, it is easier to pull so less fuel used
The cons are that it takes a lot of time to setup and take down, you are not self contained so a lot of places are off limits to you (Lots of free ones unfortunately), not easy toilet & shower, and again the biggest for us is the setup and takedown time.
We will upgrade to a caravan with a toilet as soon as we can afford it
on the time taken, when you going to stay somewhere for a week plus the few hours setup is not bad, but when you heading cross country and setting up / taking down every day or so, it gets old fast
Thanks for the replies and help. I'm leaning towards buying a Jayco camper trailer as it is a compromise between a camping trailer (which does seem like hard work) and a caravan. I have heard these are quite good, light to tow and it would at least get us started.
