Lower the bar from 5 star

You might think that you cannot manage a road trip around Australia without an expensive rig and all the creature comforts....

 

Okay, so you may not need something quite so luxurious but you don't need a new Landcruiser or late model caravan either. There are plenty of bargains to be found when buying a second hand caravan or camper trailer. Our caravan was a 70's vintage, old but still robust. We had it serviced and made a few upgrades but it was still very basic and small, 12 ft small! Our car was a '94 dual cab Ford Courier 2 wheel drive which proved to be very reliable. We added an annexe and a tent for extra space when setting up camp for more than a few days.

My point is, don't wait until you can afford the rig of your dreams, not if it means taking on a large debt or years and years of saving. Spend as much as it takes to get a reliable, fuel efficient vehicle that can tow a well looked after second-hand house on wheels and just go....

How to Survive a Road Trip with a Toddler

Spida and Sheree Everitt have a great TV show and website The Great Australian Doorstep. Check it out for heaps of travel tips and adventure stories.

How to Survive a Road Trip with Toddlers is just one of their helpful articles...

* Try and choose caravan parks where kids can get physical! Most parks these days cater enormously for kids. Plenty of space to run about. If not, tackle a beach or big town park, and really wear them out. Try to do this every day. Kids will get grumpy and irritable if they don’t have adequate outside running around time.

* Make a set time every day for ‘fun time’, one parent get washing in and start on dinner while the other does fun time with the kids. Run them ragged, then put them in the shower (always best in daylight with little ones) then have them ready for bed when they sit down for dinner. With tired legs and a full tummy they will fall asleep before you know it.

* Rewards – reward the kids when they are good. Extra play time is always a great option!

* Dirty nappies, dispose of them as far away from your campsite as possible! Double bag, put them in a plastic container with a lid and pour Listerine mouthwash inside the tub. Keeps ants, cats & dogs away.

How to Keep Preschoolers Busy on a Road Trip Without Using a Screen

There’s little that causes more angst in parents than the thought of taking a road trip with a preschooler in tow. The never ending chorus of “Are we there yet?” coupled with nonstop requests to use the toilet or stop for food is enough to make even the most joyful parent sing along to the blues.

While it can be tempting to put a DVD in and loop it continuously for the duration of the trip, or give your preschooler unlimited access to the iPad, using a screen to entertain your preschooler isn’t your only long-ride entertainment option.

Before pulling out the electronics, try these low-tech ways of engaging the kids.
Find a few good tips here

The Facts on Shark Attacks

As another ocean loving man is fatally attacked by a shark off a WA beach, the topic is again up for debate. Are shark attacks increasing? If they are, why? What should be done about it? Do we cull them or accept that entering the ocean is a risk?
Everyone thinks they're a shark expert at the moment but what are the real facts? I decided to find out.

Sharks live in all the coastal waters and estuarine habitats around the 35,000 km of Australia's coast.
As the population of the country increases, many more people are entering coastal waters for recreational and commercial reasons throughout the year.

Although Australia has had a bad reputation concerning the threat of shark attacks to swimmers, the statistics do not support these fears. The Australian Shark Attack File (ASAF) has been managed at Taronga Zoo for over 30 years and aims to gather all known information on shark attacks in Australian waters, provide source material for research and education relating to the causes of attacks on humans and publish analysis of the acquired data.

Human Population increase since 1900:
1900 = 3.7 million
1950 = 8.3 million
1990= 17 million
2011 = 22.7 million

10 Great Ways to Kill Time in the Car

Boredom, the silent enemy of family road trips, is a constant threat to ruin an otherwise fun vacation. Keeping the kids entertained on those long drives can be a challenge without some planning and a little imagination. Fortunately, there’s a great variety of activities for kids that can make your family’s summer road trip one to remember for all the right reasons. Here are ten great ways to kill time in the car on family road trips.