Archive for the ‘Travelling in Australia’ Category

Here are a few for planning a trip travelling Australia.

When Travelling around or part of Australia your main costs are fuel, accommodation, food, activities and souvenirs. Allow for repairs for your vehicle or camping equipment and any other unforeseen costs that may occur.

As a general rule visit southern Australia in summer and northern Australia in winter
If you have 2 or 4 months available this is enough time to travel half of Australia either the Eastern half or Western half, but is more suited to 3 to 4 months. The extra month allows for plenty of sightseeing.
If you are flying to a location remember you have to be at airport at least an hour or maybe 2 hours before departure – take into account that flights can be delayed occasionally
Holidaying with toddlers and older children is fun, they see everything different to the way adults see things and they are always ready for adventure.
Are you interested in saving money when you camp or travel and hope to stay in as many free or cheap campsites, look for a map or camping guide book that will advise you of free and cheap camp sites
When you are starting to plan your initial itinerary you need to have worked out about how many weeks or months you have to travel.
Pack as least as possible, which is not easy to do as there is a lot of things required especially if you are travelling as a family. Remember an overloaded vehicle has to work harder, placing more strain on tyres and chassis etc .and increasing fuel consumption
Having travel insurance will help make your holiday stress free. You will have the comfort of knowing help is there if the unexpected does happen, I certainly hope it doesn’t happen to you. But unfortunately it does happen and it can happen anytime. Things get stolen or lost, we get sick or injured, flights or holidays have to be cancelled for unexpected events.
Australia is so vast that it is not likely that you will see it all, but even to see parts of it is spectacular, you will have an amazing adventure!!
The distances and the time required to travelling Australia can vary because of a lot of factors like what vehicle used, are you towing an RV or trailer, type of roads or terrain, how long you stay at each destination etc.
Central Australia can get temperatures up to 40 to 45 degrees Celsius in summer. Coober Pedy has been known to get extreme temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius that is why they have underground homes. So the best times to travel in these areas is April to September. June and July are very popular being the coolest months and also it is around school holiday time.

So now you’ve got all the excuses you need to set off somewhere in Australia, but how can you make sure you get around with minimal fuss and maximum enjoyment? You’re going to print out and hold onto our nifty travel tips, that’s how!

Ride in style

• On your departure day call the airport or look up the Internet to check that your flight is on time.
• Try to drink plenty of water whether you’re driving or flying so you don’t become dehydrated from the air-conditioning.
• Reduce the pain of popping ears on the plane by sucking a lolly, chewing gum or gently blowing your nose.
• Make regular stops when driving and walk around on the plane to kick-start your circulation.
• When travelling wear comfortable, loose shoes that you can slip on and off easily and that will allow for your feet to swell.

Know the Aussie climate

• Regularly apply repellents and only sleep with the window open if you have flyscreens to avoid insect bites.
• Apply sunscreen regularly. If you are snorkelling or swimming, make sure your back and all other exposed areas are well covered. Four days lying on your tummy in agony does not spell fun.
• Only swim in the safe area at the beach – between the red and yellow flags.
• If walking for long periods of time, make sure you take a bottle of water or better yet, a sports drink, to replenish fluids quickly.

Stay safe and sound

• Keep your shoes on when outside and wash hands before eating.
• Jetlag isn’t pretty, but fight the temptation to dive into the hotel bed at 2pm and go for a walk instead. Sticking to regular sleeping patterns will help you bounce back quicker. Also try essential oils such as eucalyptus, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemongrass or peppermint dabbed on your forehead or on the balls of your feet for an extra boost.
• Going on a boat or a long car trip? Combat travel sickness by taking ginger tablets one hour before leaving. Peppermint, spearmint and lavender will also help.
• If you’re trekking at high altitudes make sure you give your body time to adjust to the thinning air and carry adequate supplies.

Get around town

• If you’re new to a city, the best way to get your bearings is to take a tour so you don’t spend hours with your nose in a guidebook.
• If hiring a car carefully check it for dents and scratches and insist the rental company makes a written note to confirm them, so you’re not lumped with a repair bill.
• Collect local bus, train tram and monorail timetables so you can catch as much public transport as possible — it’s cheaper and often quicker than taking taxis.

Quick, super smart tips

• To safeguard your holiday pics, take a photograph of your address on the first frame, then if they go missing you’ll have the best chance of getting them back.
• Avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room, it’s expensive! Use reduced rate phone cards.
• Divide your money into cash, traveller’s cheques and credit cards and keep each in different spots in case you lose your wallet.
• Don’t use laundry services at hotels, instead go to a local Laundromat or take some clothes soap and wash underwear in the bathroom basin. It’s much cheaper.
• Keep a travel journal so you have something to look back on when you get home.
• Always check under the bed and in the cupboards before checking out of a room. You’d be amazed what people leave behind.
• Late night shopping is different in most states in Australia — ask locals for the insider info.