Australian Caravan Park Reports
Links to
Caravanning, RV and 4WD Information
Links valid as of May 2008 - please report dead links to me (email from home page)
Click here for a Mortgage Broker for Victoria.
Click here for a Civil Celebrant for Melbourne.
Google Earth links. These will download my personal KMZ files that are read by Google Earth. These KMZ files are copyright by me. You must have Google Earth to use them. Click on a link, and either download the zip file or open it. Then click on the doc.kml file and Google Earth will open (if not already) and the placemarks will be loaded under the Temporary Places heading. Enjoy.
Our 2001 trip to Perth
Our 2003 trip to Perth
Our 2004 trip to Tasmania
Our 2004 trip to NSW
Our 2005 trip to South Australia
Our 2005 trip to Tasmania
Our 2005 trip along the Great Alpine Road
Our 2006 Gold Coast holiday
Our 2006 Gippsland holiday
Our 2008 NSW holiday
A trip report of the Editor's family trip to and from Perth over the Xmas 2001 holidays, some 9,020 kms, including some planned (and unplanned) 4WD travels.
Click here for a comprehensive report on fuel prices between Melbourne and Perth, compiled by the Editor (well, his wife) during their Xmas 2001 trip. You will notice some large differences in prices between near towns, so plan your fuel stops and you'll save heaps!
This is a Excel listing of all Coles Woolworths/Safeway fuel outlets in Australia, supplied by Ian Gliddon.
Ian Gliddon has put together a listing of all current TV Transmission Tower sites, and converted them into waypoints to suit the widely used navigational software, OziExplorer. Note that the package is only truly useful if travelers are using OziExplorer, although the ACMA’s .pdf listing is of some use on its own. Download Zipped files. Ian is happy for this file to be hosted on other sites, but please let me know if you intend doign that so Ian can advise of any updatesd. The files are to be supplied free and unaltered.
On the Wallaby is the "diary" of Ron and Wendy
Holland, who travelled 18,000 km through Victoria, South Australia, Northern
Territory and Western Australia over three months in 2000. I asked Ron how
he planned his trip, so he kindly wrote Wallaby Planning.
On the Wallaby: View text version or Download
Zipped Word Version
Wallaby Planning: View text version or Download
Zipped Word Version
Fuel Usage Report: Download Zipped Excel Spreadsheet
Tony and Molly Andrews
travelled up to the Queensland Gulf Country and back down along the Queensland and NSW coast in July and
August 2000, a distance of 9,262 kms. They also travelled Tasmania in
2001. They kept on-line diaries of both trips. The diaries are full
of caravan park reports, places of interest, things to do and things to avoid.
If you're planning a Qld or Tassie trip, or just want an interesting read,
download the files.
Queensland Diary: Download Zipped Word Document
Tasmania Diary: Download Zipped Word Document
Ron Holland is planning a trip up through Queensland in mid-2003. When I saw his draft planning spreadsheet I thought that it may give you some insight of how to plan trips, so Ron gave permission for it to be downloaded from here (zipped).
Click this zipped download link to read Ron Holland's advice to the novice on how to decide on what type of van you need; how he plans his trips; checklists for packing the van (from toothbrush to boat); and simple hints to make van life easier.
Jump over to here to read Ron's (aka Mudguts) latest trip planning advice, thoughtfully put together in September 2009.
Click this link to read a caravanners view (just over a screen) of planning for a trip around Queensland, by Kirragrey of Kirra, Queensland.
Click this link to read a caravanners view (just over a screen) of what he found of poorly designed caravan parks during his "big trip" in 2000, by Ken M of Bribie Island, Queensland.
Terry and Brenda Steen's trip around Australia. With an excellent map of the trip and thumbnail photos.
Pam and Peter Ranson's trip around Australia. With an excellent map of the trip and stories.
John and Bev Balding's trip around Tasmania.
Wayne's (Snowman) and Margs's 2008 trip around Australia.
Cuppa's 2008 trip around Australia.
HoboHome - Gavin and Tracey Murray's 5 year stint around Australia in a converted Bedford Bus. A unique site.
Aussie Wonders - Gary and Mary Ayres have been travelling Australia with their friends David and Merrilyn Peck since early 2006.
Nanapop's Travels - Ted & Mel Paine's current travels around Australia
David & Fiona - Around Oz travels since 2008
Frank & Brenda - 2007 Adelaide Perth Darwin trip
Frank & Brenda - 2009 Tasmania trip
Got a diary of your trips - want to share it with fellow caravanners? Send it to me and I'll link it here. See my email address on the home page.
Caravanning, Camping and 4WD Information
All Things Caravan is my list of caravan manufacturers, caravan dealers, caravan servicing, caravan repairs, caravan equipment, caravan supplies, caravan sales, caravan agents, and caravan industry bodies.
Australian Four-Wheel Driving provides information, hints, safety tips and articles for four-wheel drivers.
Caravanners Forum has been around since May 2000 and is THE place to find like-minded caravanners and motorhomers (etc). Interesting topics and discussions for newbies and "know it all's".
NSW Rest Areas and Driver Reviver map.
Australian Road Reports Site State by State road conditions.
Sanidumps.com is where you can find the location of Caravan / Motorhome Dump Points. See also below for National Dump Points.
The National Public Toilet Map shows the location of more than 14,000 public and private public toilet facilities across Australia. Details of toilet facilities can also be found along major travel routes and for shorter journeys as well. Useful information is provided about each toilet, such as location, opening hours, availability of baby change rooms, accessibility for people with disabilities and the details of other nearby toilets. Use this link to find National Dump Points which is a searchable facility.
Caravanning News has some great caravanning news and other help. Recommended.
Lionel Mussell has a regular feature, On the Wallaby, in Caravan World magazine. Lionel's website, Caravanning and RVing in Australia, contains plenty of information for the caravanner.
New South Wales National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA) has great information for the caravan and 4WD traveller on their website. Take the time to download the excellent indexed map of Australia (in Adobe PDF format).
VicRoad's has a caravanning information page with some useful, common-sense information. Follow the Road Safety and Vehicle Safety links.
Harding's Caravan Newsletters have some great articles and information. Well worth a read.
Caravan & Motorhome Magazine website.
Nullarbor Links is the worlds longest golf course and quite unique. A must for wanna-be golfers travelling the nullarbor.
Caravan Clubs and Associations
A list of caravan and camping clubs is supplied by Lionel Mussell.
Family Caravan Club, in south-east Queensland, caters solely for carvanners with kids.
Motorhomes Australia - the resource website for Australian Motorhome & Campervan owners & enthusiasts, message board, live ChatRoom, travel information, technical advice, CMCA and more.
Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia - with 24,000 members, the largest motor-homing (RV) club in Australia offers many benefits, including specially-tailored motorhome insurance, a free monthly colour magazine, social events through 55 local chapters throughout Australia, a Solos network for members travelling alone, two national rallies per year and lots, lots more.
Whether you use a Motorhome, Caravan or Camper Trailer the Australian Camper Trailer, Caravan and Motorhome Network say they have all the contacts you'll ever need. To get you started, keep you on the road or off the road.
The Australian Automobile Association. Not strictly related to caravans, but the AAA pages has some interesting facts and information concerning motoring in Australia.
Australian Caravan Park Photos & Reviews contains photographs and notes from places that John Townsend has actually visited. Highly recommended as it's a great visual representation of the parks listed.
OzCamps - Free-Camping Map and Database. This map has been designed for Caravanners who enjoy free camping. Free camping includes National and State Parks which may attract a fee. This free camping map has been designed so that anyone is able to add/edit/delete places.
ukcampsite.co.uk is a UK based guide to all things caravan and camping related in the UK and France. An excellent search facility and reports on caravanning and camping sites/parks. I have used this myself when planning a trip to the UK and Europe.
Camping In Victoria has listings of all caravan parks in Victoria which can be listed (wait for it) alphabetically, by town, by direction from Melbourne, and by distance from Melbourne! It has camping tips, checklists, and more.
Flinders Rangers Tourism is a nice web page on touring the Flinders Ranges and outback South Australia. You can select regions to explore.
Travel Australia - Internet is a very good site for picking accommodation in any area of Australia. Some very good regional information.
AusEmade bringing together all your travel information. They have holiday bargains, accommodation, attractions, eco, tours, national parks, maps, transport, and much more. You can even compare hotel prices between their online partners.
Where To Stay is a comprehensive search database of places to stay in Australia. You can search by various criteria - town, state, or region. You can select whole areas of a map, or selected areas, you can select the type of accommodation and even rates. You can create you own profile to be used each time.
Stay - the Australian Accommodation and Travel Search Site is another comprehensive search database of places to stay in Australia. This site is an online database search engine containing information about accommodation, including state, local, regional and Australia wide searches.
Tableland Times is your online resource for where to go and things to do on the unforgettable Cairns Highlands.
The combined Caravan and Camping Industry and Motorhomes Industry features caravan parks throughout NSW. Use the Holiday Guide drop-down list.
Visit Victoria is the official Victorian State tourist office website. The corporate marketing website (just for interest) is here.
The Main Roads of Western Australia web site has PDF (Adobe Acrobat) files that cover Roadside Amenities and Rest Areas. To download these files, go to the site, and search the words "rest area" and the guides will be in the search results. Or do as I did and ring (08) 9323 4387 and the lovely girl who answered will post you the guides free of charge. Also, see their Downloadable PDF Driving Maps.
Holiday OZ is an information web site with listings, hints, tips and scenic information.
If planning to cross the Nullarbor, then peruse Nullarbor Net to find out places to stay and things to see, from Port Augusta to Coolgardie or Esperance.
Yorke Penninsula, South Australia, caravan parks.
Doggy Holiday is a web site that lists caravan parks that allow dogs and details the restrictions imposed by each park, eg, on leash, at manager's discretion, off-peak only, etc.
Real Holiday Reports is an overseas web site that has reports on overseas destinations, as reported by the people that use them. Lots of interesting stuff.
Caravan Park and National Park Associations
Top Tourist Parks of Australia
BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia
Caravanning Queensland lists all caravan parks throughout Queensland.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service controls Queensland's National Parks.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Territory and Municipal Services looks after the Australian Capital Territory's parks, forests and bushland.
The Victorian Caravan Parks Association website is geared towards members only and offers no information to caravanners.
Parks Victoria looks after National Parks in Victoria.
Caravan Parks Association of South Australia lists most (not all) caravan parks throughout South Australia, with details of amenities, tariffs, etc.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources looks after National Parks in SA.
Caravan Industry Australia, Western Australia lists most (not all) caravan parks throughout Western Australia, with details of amenities, tariffs, etc.
The department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) looks after Western Australian National Parks.
The Parks and Wildlife Service controls National Parks in the Northern Territory. Visitors Information.
All Things Caravan is my list of caravan manufacturers, caravan dealers, caravan servicing, caravan repairs, caravan equipment, caravan supplies, caravan sales, caravan agents, and caravan industry bodies. Continually being updated.
Wilkins Tourist Maps have been around for awhile and you can now download a selection of their maps (in Adobe PDF format) from their Map Downloads area. I found the Great Ocean Road "booklet" (1.1Mb) most useful, as it has been designed for online use with plenty of clickable images and links. The site has more than just maps - such as useful information for major tourist regions.
U-TOW Caravan Hire - has caravan hire and storage in south-east Melbourne.
About Seniors is for senior citizens, retirees, those about to retire, veterans, pensioners and carers, who will find a comprehensive list of information and links extremely valuable. The Travel link is where you will find touring and accommodation information.
This is a free sales plug for a Melbourne company that I highly recommend for canvas products for your caravan, such as awnings, annexes, fly-ends, etc. The owner, Fred, is friendly and goes out of his way to be helpful. His prices are the best, too! Custom Canvas - ph: 03 5964 8485
The RACV's Journeys and Destinations website offers information for the traveller.
AAA Tourism is the national touring body of the Australian motoring organisations listed below. The AAA has responsibility for the STAR rating scheme awarded to caravan parks - follow the Star Ratings links.