Holiday in a Campervan in Australia - What Do I Need to Know?

geek001 on 16/12/2015 - 09:52

Hi OzB Brain Trust,

I am thinking of taking my family of 4 for a campervan/motorhome holiday this Christmas holidays. Is it a good idea? What do I need to know? We have never been camping before, have always stayed in a hotel whenever we go travelling, so I thought we should do something different this holidays. I guess this is like half-camping? :)

Do you have any tips on:
1. Special Road Rules for driving a campervan/motorhome?
2. Life in a campervan/motorhome?

Specific questions:
1. Where can I legally stop for the night? Do I need to go to a caravan park or can I stop at the secluded beach/area?
2. If I rent a motorhome, where should the people in the motorhome be sitting while it is moving? I am not sure if the seats inside the motorhome has seatbelts.

Travel

Comments

  • 0031nek on 16/12/2015 - 10:04

    please remember stock up heaps of beers, you'll be surprised at how many neighbours will ask for it later.

  • tre180 on 16/12/2015 - 10:05

    I'm doing the same after christmas, hiring a campervan for 8 days to drive from Melbourne to Sydney via the coast when my parents are over visiting. From what I gather most of the caravan parks have a 7night booking minimum for this time of the year so I'm planning to stop at legal overnight camps where I can, as I'm pretty sure you cant just park at any secluded area. Check the wikicamp app (http://www.wikicamps.com.au/), you can plan your route and check user reviews of all the campsites on the way. As for the rest of your questions, I'm as clueless as you are so I'm hoping someone with a bit more knowledge chimes in to help us both out!

  • cypher67 on 16/12/2015 - 10:18

    Id recommend against it if you haven't already booked, gotta imagine most places would be book or charging through the nose.

  • Master Bates on 16/12/2015 - 10:52

    We drove from Brisbane to Cairns in a camper over 5 days quite a few years back. Pretty much everywhere we stopped had signs saying no overnight stays, but we ignored them and had no issues. It was a fun trip!

    With that said we weren't doing it during the busiest time of the year and didn't have kids in tow. I imagine all of the legal camping sites will either be booked up and/or charging silly prices.

  • JoyVee on 16/12/2015 - 23:50

    Why not contact your Automobile club in your state? I am sure that in Vic the RACV used to have a comprehensive Caravan and camping book. Might be a useful resource.
    You can phone ahead now and see if you can make bookings and change your route to fit these in.

    Think all passengers must ride in car. Not sure how it fits with a motor home. Ask the hirer.

    Depends when you are travelling as to availabiity. Up till middle of January is often the busiest time. School starts at end of January so should be easier after that to find accommodation.

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