Our Travel Tips

Here are some tips and things we have learnt that may be of interest to those who are thinking of travelling.

Hansen’s around Oz travelling tips

• If you can afford it get a van with an ensuite, not all parks have clean amenities and it is much more convenient than having to cart your gear to the showers everyday.  Can also use when free camping.  Downside is that you have to cart water around which is heavy.  Suggestion: only fill up tank if free camping.
• If using park amenities shower in your thongs, germies on the floor, argh.
• Get a washing machine installed in your van if you don’t have one. They soon pay for themselves and no need to have washing hanging around. Ours is a 2.5 kilo and I would do a load every 2-3 days. Some parks don’t maintain their machines and you never know what’s been in them before your stuff.
• Make sure your van has a/c you’ll need it. Reverse cycle ideal.
• Invest in a 15-20 litre water container particularly when travelling the top end and north WA - long distances between roadhouses, towns. And you pay big dollars for water up there.
• Invest in a jerry can, if driving into headwinds fuel economy drops and again long distances between roadhouses.
• A gazebo is great to have on hand, take it to the beach and for shade to sit under it outside your caravan.  You can buy special pegs that screw into beach sand – well worth buying takes the worry of your gazebo blowing down the beach.
• A caravan awning is a must. Gives you extra room particularly when in a spot for while. Ours is the old style where the roof is threaded through the side of the van and we have poles and guy ropes, newer vans have rollout roofs and 4 corner poles which are much easier to put up. Invest in the sides.
• If you plan on free camping, consider investing in solar panels (about $2K), word from travellers is these are better than a genni. If you can afford both, get both as a backup for each other
• Have a battery charger on hand. Yes we have had car and van batteries go flat at the same time when free camping.
• Have some wooden blocks on hand for balancing the van. We have sometimes had to sit the back van tyres on them for balance.
• Check date on all tyres, they have a 5-6 year lifespan. If buying new check the date.
• Don’t believe the pictures on websites, they rarely depict what the parks are really like. Sometimes we think it isn’t the same park?  Have an open mind. The Australian Caravan Parks reports is a good resource, other travellers submit their experiences about parks they have stayed at. Check out http://home.vicnet.net.au/~badger04/welcome.htm
• Avoid booking ahead and paying deposits in parks (not always possible during school hols). Stay as flexible as you can. We only pay for the first night before committing. If you don’t like somewhere you want to leave asap.
• Join the park associations for discounts, ie. Ozparks, Family Parks and Top Tourist.
• Try and avoid carting too many kitchen appliances. The thing we use the most is our Weber Baby Q and an electric frypan. I use my electric frypan for baking cakes and they turn out well. Can also use the Weber for baking. A couple of saucepans for vegies is ample and a small frypan for eggs etc is handy.
• Four plates, cups, bowls, knives, forks etc is ample for 2 people. Plus a couple of serving dishes, platters for nibbles, etc. Tend to wash up more often as things have to be put away to avoid clutter in a confined area.
• Where possible shop at Woolies or Coles they generally are cheaper than the independent stores.
• Airtight containers are a must. In some spots ants are a problem (ie Exmouth) and everything had to be packed away even unopened chips. These ants ate through everything.
• Scattering ant dust or talcum powder around your van tyres and anything else touching the van is recommended. Check out the ant situation before setting up as it may not always be necessary.
• Get some good sandfly repellent and after bite stuff – you will get nailed eventually.
• A fly swat is a must.
• If you are a reader and are in a place for a couple of weeks, consider joining the library as a visitor.
• Check out the park laundry rooms and/or office as many have bookshelves with a swap 1 for 1 deal. I’ve picked up a few good books this way.
• Always visit the visitors centres (even if you think you know the town), you always find somewhere interesting to visit.
• Get to know the locals if you can, they offer invaluable advice on their town/area and often give you ‘gems’ of information.
• Other travellers also offer good advice and places to visit.
• Check out the fishing regulations in each State as they do vary.
• Invest in the ‘Camps 5’ free and budget camping book. Great resource when free camping.
• Get set up for free camping as often these are the best spots and at no cost.
• If free camping try and get to your spot early to choose the best spot and spread out as much as you can so you don’t great crammed in. They do get busy.
• We have an EvaCool portable fridge/freezer. A great investment. Engel/Waeco are other brands. We leave ours in the car so we always have cold drinks and food on hand even if going out for the day. Also allows extra storage as you van fridge will get full.
• Leave your snorkelling gear, bathers and towel in the car as you never know when you will come across that lovely spot for a dip.