NSW on a Campervan

[touchme]

Jb small road ok lah...saloon car or SUV I'm fine

plan to rent jucy condo for 2 A 1 C ...

Got link/pic/config? When going?

 

[kevin301]

Thanks for this very informative thread!

Certainly revived the itch to go on a campervan holiday again.

 

[touchme]

Thanks for this very informative thread!

Certainly revived the itch to go on a campervan holiday again.

Elsewhere in the world is a norm for short holidays, be them young or aged. Just do as normal.

Trying to get into topic main, about nsw
trip, parallel with tw/hkd/zjj trips this year.

Tw: not started thread yet

Hokkaido: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...lf-drive-sep-oct-2013-a-4441548-new-post.html

China (Central): http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/c...e-zhangjiajie-guangzhou-4441409-new-post.html

 

[vaxvms]

Got link/pic/config? When going?

JUCY Condo - Toyota Hiace Campervan Hire New Zealand

going in march as feb price abit dearer

 

[kevin301]

Elsewhere in the world is a norm for short holidays, be them young or aged. Just do as normal.

Trying to get into topic main, about nsw
trip, parallel with tw/hkd/zjj trips this year.

Tw: not started thread yet

Hokkaido: Hokkaido, Under and Across in 14 days Self-Drive (Sep-Oct 2013) - Page 4 - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

China (Central): CHengdu-Hailouguo-Chongqing-Yangtze-Zhangjiajie-Guangzhou - Page 3 - www.hardwarezone.com.sg

wah busy forumer....
My main gripe about campervans is the fact that I can't go fast in them. I guess I feel the need for speed more than the need to stop wherever I feel like it

 

[touchme]

JUCY Condo - Toyota Hiace Campervan Hire New Zealand

going in march as feb price abit dearer

Good find, Great new modern layout, and seating and sleeping up to 4/5 pax, i must agree.

Had thot of this layout before and wondered why the oldhands Britz, Apollo, Maui did not adopt this. But mighty heavy carrying 2x big tanks of clean and waste water. The periodic prices from the same city, are also 2-3x theirs, a bit hard to swallow.

Nonetheless, still about the same cost car + checking-in, and worth the convenience and doing away with all the pre-bookings.

btw, which part you exploring?

 

[vaxvms]

Good find, Great new modern layout, and seating and sleeping up to 4/5 pax, i must agree.

Had thot of this layout before and wondered why the oldhands Britz, Apollo, Maui did not adopt this. But mighty heavy carrying 2x big tanks of clean and waste water. The periodic prices from the same city, are also 2-3x theirs, a bit hard to swallow.

Nonetheless, still about the same cost car + checking-in, and worth the convenience and doing away with all the pre-bookings.

btw, which part you exploring?

going south island, driving anti-clockwise direction

rough plan

chc >>>kaikoura for whale watching than >>>hokitika>>>fox flacier>>>wanaka for activies>>>queenstown>>>paradise (problem heard of a place need pass through water) >>>lake manapouri + doutful sound over nite cruise>>>Invercargill (target bluff)>>>dunedin>>> moeraki ,staying for wild life watching + no caretaker ,as many miss out this place whom many think see alien rock only>>>mt cook (try white horse camping site no power site)>>>late takapo or str chiong to akaroa>>>>chc

 

[touchme]

going south island, driving anti-clockwise direction

rough plan

chc >>>kaikoura for whale watching than >>>hokitika>>>fox flacier>>>wanaka for activies>>>queenstown>>>paradise (problem heard of a place need pass through water) >>>lake manapouri + doutful sound over nite cruise>>>Invercargill (target bluff)>>>dunedin>>> moeraki ,staying for wild life watching + no caretaker ,as many miss out this place whom many think see alien rock only>>>mt cook (try white horse camping site no power site)>>>late takapo or str chiong to akaroa>>>>chc

Sounds good, at least 2 weeks for mid-pace.
Haven't heard of 'paradise'..Doubtful shd be more tranquil than milford. We only flew over it in a scenic flight (overpriced and not worth)

Cathedral cove is another seldom talk-about beach, where walruses beach and adventurers sleep and wait for hi-tide to flood into their caves. We din sleep inside, but a full horizon-to-horizon rainbow greeted us.

 

[vaxvms]

Sounds good, at least 2 weeks for mid-pace.
Haven't heard of 'paradise'..Doubtful shd be more tranquil than milford.
Cathedral cove is another seldom talk-about beach, where walruses beach and adventurers sleep and wait for hi-tide to flood into their caves.

more info on PARADISE Otago: Passing through the gateway to Paradise - Travel - NZ Herald News
it is next to glenorchy
map http://www.glenorchy-nz.com/VisitorInfo/Location/tabid/67/Default.aspx

actually i wanted to try dusky sound but not many blog on this sound
milford too many tourists

Cathedral cove i heard of it when i saw blog from other people
south island is big to explore

objective for me is to see animals + power of nature esp the super strong wind at inverargill region....

 

[touchme]

going back to Subject main topic.
Updated with roadtrip map, on first post too..

 

[kiss01]

hi touchme,

would you mind sharing some of your wife's recipe? or what are the 'must-have' grocery list for 7 days in a campervan?

we are first timers, and not sure how well we will cope.

thanks!!

 

[touchme]

hi touchme,
Would you mind sharing some of your wife's recipe? or what are the 'must-have' grocery list for 7 days in a campervan?

we are first timers, and not sure how well we will cope.

thanks!!

Are you masterchef in the first place?..lol (no need to be good).

Recipe? No in-camp contests or fellow campers to challenge culinary skills with. Your groceries depends on personal cuisine taste/habits also. We typically alternate btwn std western dine and quick easy chinese cooks.

Dun need to stock up 7 days, just 1-2 nights enuff. The fridge is only 20 litres. Many megamarts along the way to shop even just for the night itself, if you intend to eat-in. Take a breather to go shopping too. Moreover, normally it;s only for 1-2 of 3 dinners eat-in, lunchs usually fast food or noodle shops.

Tip: If budget dining out, eat at those jackpot/gaming clubs in cities or bigger towns. Their prices are about half of outside restaurants, nice, generous portions with fine ambience too. Cos their purpose is to entice gamblers to come and to stay.

For us, std Grocery List: (2-3 days stock each time)

1) Bread, butter, ham/bacon for mornings. Butter doubles as cooking oil.
2) Milk, 3-in-1 coffee/tea bags (latter ex- there, usually bring there from sg)
3) Sugar bags, ketchup/chilli sauces can kapu from fastfoods.
(pkg usually too big to finish within few eat-in meals)
4) Fruits (bananas. oranges, Australian apples and pears)
5) Rice/ Instant Noodles
6) Pre-marinated Steaks/Lamb Chops and other meats
7) Sphagetti, Pastas
8) Vegetables, Mushrooms, with (salt, soya sauce or desired sauces)
9) Eggs, Soup base or Canned soups
9) Wines(fine ones from vineyards, just-to-keep warm or cheap ones from marts), and Beers
10) 5-litres Bottled Mineral/Drinking/Cooking water (bigger=cheaper, preferably with mini-tap), 2-3x at a time
11) soup, shampoo, dishwashing, detergent in small bottles from singapore, check-in with sauces and paddy. If not, dig around van, some may be left behind by ex-renter, else bu in small nominations at marts.
12) Chips, Chocolates & candies/snacks
13) A piece of grill, in case you bump into older free campsites with firewood bbq pit, but no electric hotplates.

(Let's see if I can dig out the supermart trolley pics.).
Note: Coles' has petrol rebates for their supermart spends.

Personal taste: Shng-buas (plums), chilli paddy bring in yourself in small qty tactically (i find not so strict these days), hard to find, unless you visit their chinatown in big cities, usually our first stop after picking up vehicle.

Cooking/Grilling
Note that you can't really cook vigorously like at home too. Though with gas stoves, you won;t want to smoke out your bed and linens too. Do you steaks where there is stronger 2 ft x 2 ft big and very clean electric hotplates (free at campsites/beach parks, coin-operated at holiday parks). Scrub clean after use.

More romantically over firewood pits. Pileloads of free firewood logs, chopped up and gathered for your picking, at free campsites. Place your clean mini-grille over their attached chunky grill, which is too widely-spaced and charred. Seems like for grilling whole animal one. Some fire pits comes with hotplate pan, instead of grill.

Otherwise, also romantic with al-fresco dinner over sunset at any other spots, but with campchairs and table. (Costly daily-rated rent at depot, mind as well buy new at mart, giveaway or takehome after trip)


Basic tip for perishable shopping/cooking

Buy stuffs that are re-cookable or more flexi-cookable. Usually, we fine cook only when we turn in early before sunset, there we western-cook a little excess. Excess meat/vege keep in fridge, next day just cut in slices for quick cook lunch with rice, or tumba into maggi mee, for lunch or lazy/late dinner. Even unfinished rice can just fire it up for quick fried rice.
(I come from teochew family upbringing, very green/recyclable and kiam wan)

Note: OZ chinese food's out of sync with ours, mostly china-like.

Crockery and utensils provided quite sufficient, inc. wineglasses, may have some extra left by past renters. Only missing is likely skewers, or sharper knives. For them, of course, no woks or clay/china/medicinal pots. Check out their budget/half-price/$2 stores for these after-trip-throw utensils/essentials.

Washing Up
Again, dun rely on the water pump in van, waste own water and deadslow, worse if you are sharing limited water with ensuite shower/toilet. Park near toilets for after dinner washs and sleeps.

Excess fresh meats/groceries/detergent, etc after last night stay, give to fellow campers. They will really appreciate it.

So you checked out our nude pics on the hokkaido thread already?..lol

 

[kiss01]

wow thanks for the detailed list. i will take time to read through.

nah, not a chef like your wife la, but was looking for 1 pot recipes, easy to cook, tasty to eat that type. googled but found mostly western food. if everyday eat western also 'jelak'.. and cant always rely on instant noodles.

p.s. your nude pix means your little boy's swimming pic is it? censored one. haha. still waiting for other pix...

 

[touchme]

search for public campsites.

http://www.discovery-campervans.com.au/freestays3.php?state=nsw

http://www.findacamp.com.au

http://visitoutbacknsw.com/from-sydney.html

 

[kiss01]

hi touchme,

possible for you to share your camping experience on western australia ? and pics too if any. thanks !

 

[touchme]

hi touchme,

possible for you to share your camping experience on western australia ? and pics too if any. thanks !

Small family of three with a 1yo, only north of Perth to KalburriNP, 700km up. The same trip, extended to 500km south to Albany, joined by in-laws of 4 more pax in a 7-berth from same britz depot. Latter part not so adventurous due to folks.

Will share soon. Think better ask mod to change title to 'Australia on a Campervan'. No point creating another thread, since few interested in campervan. Still got Melbourne-Adelaide-Olangatta Desert Track and Darwin-Katherine to share..

 

[KieranC3]

Hi touchme,

I read your posts and am interested in trying out Campervan holiday in Australia. I have booked flights to Brisbane for a family holiday in Dec. There will be 3 of us, myself, my wife and my son who is 6 years old. We will have 12 days in total but I will need to meet some friends in the first few days in Brisbane. In the end, we will have about 8-9 days to explore. I am thinking of a one-way drive from Brisbane to Sydney. I believe it should be sufficient for the time we have.

I have searched the web and it seems that we will need a 3-berth vehicle. The Apollo Hitop is a natural choice. The price from the website is around AUD 70-90 per day depending on the combination of my start and end date. (No where near what you got and Dec is supposed not to be high season in Queensland). Apollo also offers the Cheapa Hitop at a lower price, but I guess these are older vehicles and should be avoided.

I am keen to book but just came across a whole litany of complaints about Apollo on Tripadvisor. See Apollo motorhomes BEWARE - Australia Forum - TripAdvisor.

It seems that the vehicles are dirty and usually not well maintained with multiple faults. The repair and service left much to be desired. Worse of all, they take a long time to refund the $5,000 bond and will chop carrots if there are slight scratch or damages.

Kindly advise if you have faced any of these issues mentioned? Apparently, one way out is to purchase the $0 excess package at additional $65 or $75 per day. Do you typically pay for this? This will add up the costs. The reason that I am considering this is because it states that it will include the $260 one way fee.

On tripadvisor, the advice was to avoid Apollo and go for other Campervan company. Another person suggested renting a regular car and staying in Motels. It will be more comfortable and the cost is not much more since rental cars are cheaper, use less petrol and with lower excesses and/or bond. Additional insurance if needed is also cheaper.

Do share your experience and let me know what you think? I have read your pros/cons and I guess the experience can be spoilt if one gets a faulty vehicle. Apparently, there are quite a lot of complaints on Apollo.

Btw, according to laws in Australia, it seems my son will need a booster seat. From a search of car rental companies, they will charge for it. It believe bringing one along will make more economic sense, right?

 

[touchme]

Hi touchme,

I read your posts and am interested in trying out Campervan holiday in Australia. I have booked flights to Brisbane for a family holiday in Dec. There will be 3 of us, myself, my wife and my son who is 6 years old. We will have 12 days in total but I will need to meet some friends in the first few days in Brisbane. In the end, we will have about 8-9 days to explore. I am thinking of a one-way drive from Brisbane to Sydney. I believe it should be sufficient for the time we have.

Haah..same here, boy's age at least. That's why we gg 4-5 trips this year, since he's gg P1 next year. And good time for the kids, when they are more observant about how things are differetn back home.

8-9 days is tight, considering:

1. 3-4 theme/farms parks (MovieWorld, Seaworld, Knottsberry Farm-midway btwn brisbane and gold coast) - 3 days.
2. Sunshine Coast (Noosa Heads) and Gold Coast along the way. ( 2 days)
3. Sydney and near vincinty ( 3days). Above considering travel times

Meaning you have to skip the here featured Waterfalls HW and Dorrigo NP (between Coffs and Sydney), i.e if ou are not the scenery type, thou I strongly suggest Dorrigo, a short 60-80km driveoff inland.

Nice walks in Dorrigo NP, with its forest falls.







Guy Hawkes Falls


Danga Falls, Dorrigo Town


Rest of statements in parts tbc.

 

[touchme]

Hi touchme,
I have searched the web and it seems that we will need a 3-berth vehicle. The Apollo Hitop is a natural choice. The price from the website is around AUD 70-90 per day depending on the combination of my start and end date. (No where near what you got and Dec is supposed not to be high season in Queensland). Apollo also offers the Cheapa Hitop at a lower price, but I guess these are older vehicles and should be avoided.

As I told kiss01, in OZ it's few campervans players, with many many booking agencies. Further to that, they are managed by the same depots, and they seem to change managing agencies and depots every few year. (Maui and Britz franchise are always together.)

Generally, besides model, seasonal prices usually commensurate with age of vehicle. You may be booking from Cheapa, they may give Apollo painted newer van. (cheapa rates higher than apollo). Last time I booked a cheaper backpackercampervans.com (site changed to Mightycampers.com), and bonus gave me a Britz van (inc linens, britz rates exclude linens - hidden costs). The older vans are usually re-sold, repainted, re-mod to other cheaper franchises' names.

Thing is agencies, inc. their commission rates, are usually are lower than their direct brand sites. And different agencies charge vastly different commission, ranging from 15% -40% of the actual rate paid to the renter. It all boils down to how nice they design, PS the vans' pics and manage their booking website, for their target consumer class. Afterall, all one needs to do is to sit in front of a computer at home, running a few campervan websites, waiting for depots' commission, remotely from US or UK, so their tech knowledge sts zero too, and sts you get reply from the same person on the same van with different rates from different booking sites. Tis paragraph comments refers to worldwide US/UK/OZ/NZ/EU rents. In a nutshell, no updated advice which to go for.

Before I continue, you might wanna check out Jucy campervans for a more modern config and luxy interior. Britz are well-runned, newer and budget, Maui slightly better/pricier.

I rented from Apollo last time, thru phonecall, and being ex-customer. No complaints nor problems with their AUD30 low-season price/service/van, except for the un-lined fibreglass ceiling. Then again, it depends on the depots staff's morale. Perth's Brtz/Maui CSOs attitude weren't that pleasant.

You can ask the agent which franchise vans you getting. The depot addresses also tell which franchise that would be.

 

[KieranC3]

Haah..same here, boy's age at least. That's why we gg 4-5 trips this year, since he's gg P1 next year. And good time for the kids, when they are more observant about how things are differetn back home.

8-9 days is tight, considering:

1. 3-4 theme/farms parks (MovieWorld, Seaworld, Knottsberry Farm-midway btwn brisbane and gold coast) - 3 days.
2. Sunshine Coast (Noosa Heads) and Gold Coast along the way. ( 2 days)
3. Sydney and near vincinty ( 3days). Above considering travel times

Meaning you have to skip the here featured Waterfalls HW and Dorrigo NP (between Coffs and Sydney), i.e if ou are not the scenery type, thou I strongly suggest Dorrigo, a short 60-80km driveoff inland.

Nice walks in Dorrigo NP, with its forest falls.
.

I was in Brisbane more than 10 years ago and visited the theme parks. For this trip, we are more for exploring nature and will likely skip the theme parks since my wife and son are not riders. Anyway, theme parks tickets are expensive and they are almost the same around the world. Crowded, long queues and lots of waiting. Will likely do the farm thing and maybe heads up to Sunshine Coast (Noosa) for a day. The Gold Coast is too commercialized and probably stop there for supplies and pictures only.

Thanks for the heads up on Dorrigo. I backpacked and did a lot of waterfalls in my younger days. Would love to rough it out a bit with some trekking and maybe a white-water raft if there is one along the route.