Stan's 09 14.44.2 expanda

[Stan Lee]

hi all

merry xmas / new year to u all

well we'r 2 days from embarking on our 2 month trip from Radlaide to Qld and returning via the east coast 'slightly' excited!!

we were very lucky over this festive season purchased the webber q220 so we r u just about ready to go! just for the usual last minute packing! oh and installed a transmission cooler on the VY ... apparently they help!!

as anyone been to the 'wild plains zoo'??? any feedback on it??

 

[fishinglizard]

Good Idea on the trans cooler, Ill be putting one on my dunny door before my next trip. Although it did pretty well, it only got a bit hot between brooklyn and hornsby but got really hot up the blue mountains, it was 40 degrees but, enjoy ya trip

 

[Stan Lee]

1) what essentials should i b packing for a 2 month journey on the east coast ??

and

2) what destinations / cvan parks would u recommend?? (from brisvegas to adelaide - hugging the east coast!)

 

[fishinglizard]

scotts head, turn off about 2 km south of macksville

 

[Stan Lee]

thanks FL .... just googled it amazing area .... have u done the north coast trip?? if so what time frame did u give yourself??

 

[fishinglizard]

Stan,
Never really done a north coast trip, just pretty much picked spots and stayed there. I grew up in sydney and lived in the Maclean area for quite a few years so traveled it up and down to visit family. I find it hard to drive past Scott Head, and if I cant stay there I go to grassy head, which is just around the the corner. I have always thought that you could spend a good year just doing the east coast of New South Wales, I guess that doesnt help your 2 month trip, my wife is a mad wax head long board rider, if your a board rider you cant go past Scotts head and the beach fishing there is not to bad either. Id skip Yamba, I lived there for a while too, didnt like it, (sorry if you do) but hey we cant all like the same places it would be packed out to often. Then theres myall lakes, south west rocks, seal rocks, cresent head. I better hurry up and retire, Ill need a few years just to get off the east coast. Have a good trip.

Lizard

 

[shiraz]

1) what essentials should i b packing for a 2 month journey on the east coast ??

and

2) what destinations / cvan parks would u recommend?? (from brisvegas to adelaide - hugging the east coast!)

Hi stan
We did a trip up there 6months ago, went to Lamington np walking,Look up Wooli in northern NSW GREAT COMPSITE free canoes,and river is shallow.

look up Markets Northern NSW if you are there at the right weekend the Channon Market is great

Mt Warning if you like a hike can recomend the caravan pk

also Google Beerburrun State Forest just north of Brisbane turn Off at Roys RD there is a tunnel under freeway we found out the long way 22ks till next turn off.

the RAA has a series of books called Boiling Billy if you use free sites stay at one and the books paid for.

Have a Great trip .

we left our van at Nerang stayed two nights and they let us leave it there for the week
Binna Burra were going to charge us $28 a night to park van the group had already paid $500 pr night for the hut.

check the internet for specials we found a few places offer stay 2 thirds free.

Repton by the river just outside Coffs near Bellingen / Dorrigo worth a look

hope this helps we where lucky the Bellingen Jazz Festival was on.always a bonus.

regards Shiraz

 

[Brad]

1) what essentials should i b packing for a 2 month journey on the east coast ??

and

2) what destinations / cvan parks would u recommend?? (from brisvegas to adelaide - hugging the east coast!)

I love the foreshore camping along the Mornington peninsula. We have camped in the McCrae area but take your pick of suburb to be closest to down there. [MENTION=2080]maccayak[/MENTION] is a local of that area so he may have some suggestions of the really good spots. Plus he is excellent at suggesting some fantastic tourist spots to visit down there.

 

[chartrock]

Stan, we used to drive from Gold Coast to Sydney 3 or 4 times a year, used to stop at Taree (I have a daughter there) then on to Sydney. One time we decided to take 2 weeks to get to Sydney and 'bunny hopped' all the way down the coast. They were all caravan parks but we did not find a bad one but a couple of standout were Darlington CP and Trial Bay CP. There are freebie stops along the motorway but they are only worth an overnight stop. Camps Australia is the 'bible' for free stops and is well worth using. If you need to leave the van on the Gold Coast and run a few days without it, give me a pm.

 

[macca]

Great Ocean Road Tourist Part at peterborough, (near port campbell). Say your a friend of Geoff's for discount. It is where the 12 apostles are!

Thanks for the kind words Brad. He is correct in that there are heaps of places to stay on the Mornington Peninsula side, then get the Sorrento ferry to Queenscliff and beyond. Also the Westernport side has some nice Caravan parks also.

Geoff

 

[Stan Lee]

cheers guys

yeah i got given one of those 'bibles' for xmas so looking forward to having perusing thru that one!!

i'm not much of a board rider but thinking of smashing the buggie boards

guess we r doing the same really just turning up to different locations and just 'seeing' what happens !!



i'll try and keep u guys in the loop

 

[Stan Lee]

Update;

We arrived in Normanville SA on 8 Jan to coolish weather but over the last few days the weather has been awesome hi 20's low 30's.

We r here with about 7 other families on our annual trip where we take over part of the park.

Beachside caravan park is on the Lady Bay side of Normanville and highly recommend the park.

The kids and us adults r having a blast.

The van towed superbly with the introduction of wd bars

 

[Stan Lee]

The 'lads' enjoying Normanville beach South Australia

 

[cruza driver]

Perfect weather Stan and good to hear the wdh worked too

 

[Stan Lee]

hi guys. Stinking hot in Dubbo today, a lazy 40 today. Im chasing some advice please. Should i stay in Morree or Narribri?? On our way to Brisvegas??

 

[Stan Lee]

A very quick rundown on our journey to date

Day 1: Normanville SA to Murrayville Vic

Ok trip. Cruised along at an ave pace. Murrayville park is a community honesty based park located next door to the town pool. The kids loved the dip in the pool whilst i sweated my proverbials off

Day 2: Murrayville Vic to West Wyalong NSW

a slow start to the day as the ball and chain and kids reluctantly woke up.... So much for getting away early!! Def nit much to see on the way. Hay plains pretty boring AND my passengers slept most of the way. About 55 ks out of West Wyalong my tyre on the expanda exploded!! "WTF was that" i thought to myself. Fortunately the torsion bars held the car and van pretty straight!!

 

[Cootay]

What ever is closest to the ocean .... sorry don't know the area

hi guys. Stinking hot in Dubbo today, a lazy 40 today. Im chasing some advice please. Should i stay in Morree or Narribri?? On our way to Brisvegas??

 

[Stan Lee]

Day 3: West Wyalong to Dubbo

Boring 290 odd clicks. Still a little annoyed at the tyre issue!!



Oh we called into The Dish which was kind off cool. Now when we get home we have to show the kids the movie!!!



Anyway got into Dubbo thinking may call into the Wild Plains Zoo but called in a bit late. Stayed in a dodgy park got some bad advice re dinner and went to bed!! . I wont name the park or dinner venue incase someone knows them !!!

Day 5:

Dubbo - wild Plains Zoo - unfortunately it was 40 + degrees and the animals were very similar to us ... They wanted shade and fo do sweet FA . Anyway its one of those when in rome type of things u had to do!!!

 

[chartrock]

Stopped in Moree and love the thermal pools but in this current weather may not be as appealing. :violin: Never been keen on Narrabri but that's a personal preference.

 

[Kenshi123]

Sounds like you're having fun mate. Hope the whole tyre issue was sorted ok.

We have never stopped in either Narribri nor Moree, but have stayed at Goondiwindi, which was a nice Park next to a small creek.
We liked the drive through sites at West Wyalong.