80 Days Around Australia

So far we have been travelling for 80 Days Around Australia. We have really enjoyed a lot of this trip, though there have been a few rough times as well. We have learnt that you need to make the most out of every situation.

In 80 Days we have:

• driven 12 789 kms
• stayed 34 nights at free camps
• stayed 46 nights at paid places; prices have ranged from $10 per night to over $50 per night
• been to 3 different states
• spent just under $4000 on fuel
• had blue skies the whole time except for the 15 min shower that flew over us at the free camp near Kings Canyon
• Gone through lots of pairs of thongs: R on his 4th pair, B on his 3rd pair, Hubby on his first pair and I am on my 3rd pair.

Here are some other things we have learnt!

1. So far we have met many nice people, mainly older couples who have enjoyed spending time with us and our boys. We have had the odd older couple see us and our boys and hide in their vans, not wanting to have anything to do with a young family.

2. The amount of people that travel with a dog is unbelievable, considering you miss a lot of amazing places due to not being able to take a dog into them. Devil’s Marbles, Litchfield, Edith Falls and Karijini just to name a few. These are also the places that you have no contact with the outside world; no phone service or internet which can be quite strange at times.

3. Fuel prices.  We knew they were going to be up and down, but the difference in price in the same town is really something we weren’t expecting. We have now downloaded the Fuel App from Wikicamps so we can check the prices in each town before filling up. Also, at the Coles Express Service Stations, if you spend $20 instore (catch up on your groceries, like bread and milk), you get 10c off your fuel. If you already have a 4c voucher, that is a total of 14c off your fuel. This is also a great time to fill up your jerry cans!

4. White is not a good colour for travelling. The red dirt in the Northern Territory continues into Western Australia and it is really, really hard to get off your clothes. Karijini National Park has really red dirt and the dew in the morning helped it stick to everything that is left outside overnight. Therefore I am really glad that I decided to use black sheets and black towels in the van, though I do try and wash them as much as I can.

5. The Wikicamps App is worth every cent! We do have a Camps 6 book and were unsure as to whether to update it to the current edition before we left. We decided not to and purchased this app instead. Just remember to download the content so that you can use it when you are offline as well.

6. The National Parks in the Northern Territory are a lot cheaper than the National Parks in Western Australia. We were paying $7.70 per night for the family in the Northern Terriotory, while so far in Western Australia we have been paying $24.40 per night plus a $12 entry fee. They all have the same amenities, so why the difference????

7. The boys have started reading more books. They have found a new love for reading. They lay in bed at night and read and then read again when they wake up in the morning. I have purchased a few cheap novels from places and am always on the lookout for more. Currently R has decided to read the 7 books of the Chronicles of Narnia. He has completed the first 2 books and is on the 3rd. B is waiting for R to finish so that he can read them too.

8. Talk to others. As we drive around, we have been able to talk to others about where they have been and their experiences. We have found a lot of them all agree on many places to visit and places to avoid. Though with kids, we are in a different situation to most of these people, this does give you a good idea on what things to see and do in different towns. They also know some great places to stay.

9. Read the signs! At all the places we visit, we read the signs. The boys have learnt so much by reading the signs before looking at the monument/object or walking over the bridge etc. You can see them picture themselves in the situation which helps them to understand and remember everything.

10. Rest Days are important. Though it feels like you are on a holiday, you do need days to rest from the long walks or the late nights or the early mornings. We try to have a rest day where we are able to sleep in and just relax. Recharging the batteries for the next adventure will help you to stay positive, have enough energy to go on the long walks and make your trip more enjoyable.

11. Food can be quite expensive, especially in remote towns. I make sure to do a big shop at either a Coles or Woolworths at the bigger towns and then only have to top up on the fruit and vegetables at the smaller towns. I make sure the freezer is full of meat as well as a packet of frozen vegetables and always have some canned fruit in the cupboards, just in case we don’t get to a place to buy food. I buy long life milk in 1L containers as it is easier to stack in the cupboard. Long life custard and jelly are great for a treat!

12. Get in the photos! Make sure that everyone gets in some of the photos. I take a majority of the photos, but we make sure hubby gets some with me in them too. Though I don’t like having my photo taken, it is a great to have some photos of me with the boys that we are able to look back on. We have also found many people are willing to take a family shot of us, in return they often ask for a family photo of them, which we are happy to oblige. 

We have learnt so much and hopefully are able to pass along some of our hints and tips to you, so that you to will be able to enjoy your trip, wherever you many go.

Do you have any tips for us?

We would love to hear from you, just add your tips to the comments!