Author Archives: Explore Australia

Top 5 scenic campsites

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Australia has such a variety of campsites, it’s hard to choose at which campsite to stay.

The first step is to decide what sort of scenery you are after (do you want mountains, beach, desert or forest?), what style of camping (rough and ready, family-friendly and glamping are only some of your options) and how far you want to travel.

Explore the camping options on our website to get your camping ideas rolling – we’ve also picked our top 5 scenic campsites in Australia to help you get started.

1. Devils Hole camping area, Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales

While this campsite may be simple, its 1400-metre-high vantage point across World Heritage–listed Barrington Tops National Park offers a spectacular view of the subalpine forests and ranges.

2. Cullyamurra Waterhole, Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

This waterhole is one of Australia’s most spectacular and attracts visitors for its range of water and bird-watching activities, as well as the gorgeous red gums.

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Getting heavy

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Mat from Diary of a Truck Driver tells us about driving Australia’s roads from the perspective of a truckie.

From Mornington, Victoria to Mossman, far north Queensland; Adelaide to the Alice; Darwin to Derby; Broome to Bunbury and across the paddock back to home there isn’t a city on the mainland I haven’t hauled a load into or out of.

I’m well on the way to having travelled every road in the country that isn’t a dirt track and I’ve done my share of those too.

I have a bricks-and-mortar home but mostly the road is my home and my office and every six weeks I eclipse the average driver’s annual mileage. My uniform is a blue singlet and thongs. I’m a truckie.

I started out five or six years ago. I was looking for a change of pace, too long in an office, I needed to get out again – and being a truckie was on my bucket list.

I got started hauling fertiliser around northern New South Wales before I moved on to general freight, mostly between Sydney and Brisbane up the New England Highway.

Eventually I progressed to the 26-metre B-Doubles and started hauling a little further afield. Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide were regular destinations along with various places in between. I’d average around 5000 kilometres a week, getting home late on Friday night and kicking off again on a Sunday afternoon.

The constant rush of express freight and being away from home six nights a week took their toll. Having earned my wings, so to speak, I took up an offer to drive the Heavy Haulage rigs for a Perth-based company.

I’m still based on the east coast, about an hour south of Tamworth but my commute to the office is around 4500 kilometres each way and it’s usually a slow haul with anything up to 50 tonnes sitting on the trailer and most loads are wider than the standard 2.5-metre ‘gauge’ width.

Truckies generally have a poor reputation. Greasy, belligerent bullies, tripping on ‘shakers’ and in a mad rush to make it to the next coffee pot. I’ll admit there is the odd copy book example still haunting the roads but generally they’re a good bunch of family-oriented boys and girls trying to earn a quid in a dangerous and hard job.

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Top 5 bike rides for families

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There’s no need to leave the kids behind when you want to go bike riding. There are plenty of family-friendly bike trails around the country. We’ve picked our top five.

Ride around Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Rottnest Island, famous for its adorable quokkas, is also a great spot to ride around with the family. You can hire kids’ bikes, bikes with child seats or tandem bikes on the island, or bring your own bikes across on the ferry.

It’s possible to cycle around the island in five hours, but there are some steep sections.

You may prefer one of the more leisurely trails around the eastern side of the island that will take you past many of the landmarks, like the lighthouse and the salt lakes. And, of course, there are various beaches to stop at for a dip around the island.

Explore Sydney Olympic Park and surrounds, New South Wales

Hiring bikes at Sydney Olympic Park gives you easy access to plenty of interesting places – mainly away from traffic. You can ride around Sydney Olympic Park and explore the location of modern history’s best Olympics, or there’s the beautiful Bicentennial Park, which has lots for kids to explore, including playgrounds.

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Visiting Echuca and the Murray River

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Port of Echuca, courtesy of Tourism Victoria

Kerri Bennett spent the Easter long weekend amidst the delights of the Murray River.

As the closest access point to the Murray River from Melbourne, it’s no wonder the regional twin towns of Echuca and Moama are flooded with visitors whenever a public holiday appears on the calendar.

The Murray River is popular not just for houseboat gazing and paddle-steamer cruises, but also for fishing and a variety of water sports, such as canoeing, boating and waterskiing.

You’ll find many returning visitors in this holiday hot spot, my family among them. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve packed the car, boat and bikes and headed for the mighty Murray.

So when Easter came around, I packed up the family and headed back to the river.

This idyllic destination on the border between Victoria and New South Wales offers a variety of accommodation and during my countless visits I’ve tried all types: riverside camping, a luxury hotel, B&Bs, a riverside villa and even a houseboat.

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Top 5 Mother’s Day destinations

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From the foodie paradise of the Barossa Valley in South Australia to a dawn flight over Uluru in the Northern Territory, we’ve picked our top five places to visit this Mother’s Day.

Whether your mother is an adventurer or a creature-comfort lover, we hope these destinations inspire you to hit the road or explore somewhere spectacular this Mother’s Day.

1. Spend a weekend in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales

From historic towns to national parks, the Southern Highlands is a region with many charms – not least that it is only two hours from Sydney. Take the scenic driving route down the coast through Kiama, home to the natural phenomenon of the Kiama Blowhole, or down past the Fitzroy Falls into Kangaroo Valley.

2. High tea in Melbourne, Victoria

Treat your mother to high tea at one of Melbourne’s historic tea spots, such as the Hopetoun Tea Rooms or the Windsor Hotel in the CBD. Madame Brussels, a rooftop bar named after one of Melbourne’s early brothel owners, celebrates the city’s shadier history and also does a fantastic high tea.

3. Tour the Barossa Valley, South Australia

The Barossa Valley is a produce-lover’s paradise. The region is rich in farms, wineries and specialty food shops, like Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop near Nuriootpa. Put together a picnic of local food to enjoy while exploring the stunning Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park.

4. Visit MONA in Hobart, Tasmania

Tasmania is becoming a favourite destination for many Australians, and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) is a big part of the reason why. Catch the ferry to the museum, or ride along the Intercity Cycleway from Hobart and then be shocked or awed by the spectacular exhibitions.

5. Hot-air balloon over Uluru, Northern Territory

Outback Ballooning received permission from the traditional owners to fly over Uluru earlier this year. Take to the dawn skies over the giant monolith and marvel at one of the most spectacular sites in Australia for a magical Mother’s Day.

Where are you going for Mother’s Day?

Image credit: Barossa Valley, Tourism Australia; Hotel Windsor, Tourism Victoria; MONA, courtesy of MONA.