Page 2 - Caravan World Magazine Making the Most of IT

Schooling on the road: don’t underestimate the time this will take.
124 caravanworld.com.au
This pic:
Hughenden, along the Dinosaur Trail, Qld. Above left: Japanese Gardens in Cowra, NSW. Above: Barn owls in Caversham Wildlife Park, WA.
So, the time is fast approaching to take that long-planned caravan trip, or you’re already on the road and want to make the most of your hard-earned time and money. There are a number of ways to maximise your experience.
PLANNING
If you have a hobby or interest, bring along the toys you need: fishing gear for the fisherfolk, binoculars for the bird and animal lovers, a torch for spotting nocturnal animals, a pick and shovel for fossicking, an inflatable kayak, a surfboard, you name it.
Also, choose an itinerary that meets your interests: if the kids are coming along and they love dinosaurs, then Australia’s Dinosaur Trail in Qld between Winton, Hughenden and Richmond won’t disappoint.
Planning ahead will reduce stress on travel days. Pick a destination that doesn’t involve too much driving and allows for a few stops along the way.
Knowing where you are going to camp is important. Choose a campground
or caravan park based on your needs: does it allow dogs, is there a pool for the
kids to swim in, is it within walking distance to the shops? If you have a
large rig, ring ahead to make sure there is a large site for you.
Becoming a member of one or all of the caravan park associations
will give you a discount each time you check into one of the
affiliated parks – you can join at any participating park. A holiday or annual pass to
each state’s national parks will also save money on
entry fees, though (small) camping fees will be extra.
If you have a road atlas that includes maps of various towns, you’ll
already know how to get to your destination. A laptop with wireless broadband internet access
(Telstra’s Bigpond has the widest coverage) will allow you to research caravan park and national park websites and to log on to maps (Sensis, Google Maps, etc.). You can also log on at local libraries, internet cafes, etc.
Plan to arrive while there is still plenty of daylight.
If time is limited, you are better off concentrating on one region rather than covering vast distances. For example,
if you only have a month, focusing on the Qld section of the Savannah Way
is better than attempting the entire journey from Cairns to Broome.
There are also a number of websites that will help you find temporary jobs. This sort of work can extend your