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Planning a "trip of a lifetime" next summer to Australia.  Early itinery consists of flying to Cairns, picking up a camper van and driving down to Brisbane.  Any advice regarding hiring campervans / things to do and see / do's or don'ts etc would be much appreciated.  Kids ( will be 9 & 11) particularly interested in wildlife/nature etc.

Janet

Visited OZ for 4 weeks back in Feb 01.  Went via S Africa for 2 wks which is a great way of getting to Oz.First to Perth and via coast to Albany - beautiful.  At Melbourne we picked up a campervan from Hertz (Small one - Toyota from memory as only 2 of us though it would take another 2 kids ok but short on luggage space.   If you pick-up and return from same place it's ok as you can leave suitcases etc. otherwise it's a bit of a crush in.   Big outfits ane really expensive and don't compare favourably with B  & B (good in Oz) or even hotels if kids share your room, but you either want the camper lifestyle or you don't!

Don't miss Blue Mts and Sydney.  Canberra is worth a visit even if the Ozzies don't like it.   Gold country is interesting as are the national parks/rain forests.   Melbourne is lovely and don't miss the Great Ocean Road.  (Koala in the wild - heaps of them just a short walk from the Road. Didn't get North of Sydney (too wet in Feb) so that's all I can share.   Enjoy it.

www.australiancampervans.com - www.britz.com - www.maui-rentals.com - www.autorentals.com.au - www.keacampers.com/australia/depots -

You may find the cost of hiring a motorhome prohibitive if your trip is in Oz summertime. About £1k for 20+ days in a 4 berth in Jan (thier main school holidays). This includes all insurances etc but not fuel or camp site fees. Prices drop marginally after these holidays.

I agree it may be more economical and relaxing to go in motels and either take breakfast or eat out. (family rooms.) Standard of most motels are VG or better. Also more mpg with a car.

Holiday parks, probably the largest operator in Oz. www.big4.com.au

QLD tourism. www.tq.com.au/ - www.queenslandholidays.com.au www.tropicalaustralia.com.au (Cairns). A day trip to the barrier reef or Green Island or www.tablelands.org/kuranda railway trip and visit to Kuranda with an arial ride through the rainforest.

 www.sunshinecoast.org (probably the most underated coast in Oz- Noosa down to Marrochydore) Absolutely beautiful. Or inland to the beautiful scenery of the Glass House Mountains not far north Brisbane. www.australianexplorer.com/glass_house_mountains

Steve Irwins Australia Zoo at Beerwah Crocodile World http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/sunshine_coast/500904/index.cfm

Janet you'll have a great time, done it six times and still want more. Don't try to squeeze everything in. It's impossible unless you're there for some two months or more.

I almost forgot the numerous theme parks on the Gold Coast and Surfers.

Don M

Hiring campers is expensive in Oz.  I'd definitely think seriously about the car/motel option.

The drive down the coast from Cairns is lovely but in Feb it certainly rains.  The advice to stick to south of Sydney is good.  It's a lovely area and H-U-G-E.

Thanks for these replies - I will just have to knuckle down in front of the computer and do a load more research.  

We will be travelling next July/August due to school hols, so plan to spend most of out time in Queensland where weather should be better that time of year, although will probably be making flying visits to Melbourne and/or Adelaide for visiting.  Route out there will be via Hong Kong as hubby and I used to live there (pre-kids).  Will look into motels/B&Bs although don't really fancy living out of suitcases for the whole trip.  9 year old daughter has already written to Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo, she's that excited!

Just an idea.  Maybe someone in Oz with a camper van might like to do a swop for the use of your home while you're away.

It's worth having a look here. If you don't have a motorhome to swap, someone might be interested in a motorhome/house exchange.

http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/exchange.shtml

Redtuts

That's a great site.  My husband and I plan to do some serious travelling in a year or so and this site will be invaluable then as we have our homes in South Africa and London as well as our motorhome to swop.  It could save us a small fortune.

Glad to be of help.  I know some people are a bit dubious about doing swaps, but friends of mine have done it in Australia and New Zealand and swear by it.

Get to know the people you're swapping with as well as possible and also communicate well, so that everyone is aware of all the arrangements, what's expected etc. That way there shouldn't be any last minute surprises and no one gets disappointed.

Plus as you say, saves a fortune. If you're going to Aus there's no point staying for a week.  To hire a motorhome for a month costs a packet.

Janet

We took our tent to Perth, in March this year, as our daughter is back packing, and tagged along with her for a couple of weeks.  She booked us a cabin for the first night on campsite,so we had a decent night's sleep and shower etc. (need a day or so to get over jetlag). The campsites are fantastic with electric bbq's, swimming pools and jacussi. Even had Chinese meal delivered to site, for our last meal with our daughter before we left. We have hired a motorhome in New Zealand before and they are expensive. You can hire car, tent and cooking equipment as a cheaper alternative, as we were thinking of doing this, but my daughter had a van and cooking gear, so we didn't need transport. Sydney not to be missed, my husband and daughter did the bridge climb. (I got burnt up the tower taking video)

You will have a fantastic time whatever you decide to do.

one of the Big4 holiday parks we stayed at  www.glade.com.au