Whatever doubts you have about campervans will be cleared up. But for that, you will have to go through this post until the last word. Driving in Australia is amazing fun and camping in Australia is truly the essence of freedom. There are very few restrictions except be self sufficient, clean up after yourself, and don’t set the place on fire. But it requires effort, stamina, planning and experience.
First, decide whether you just want to “do it” or whether you want to travel and explore at the same time. If you just want to “do it”, it will take a day Melbourne to Adelaide, a day Adelaide to Marla, a day to Tennant Creek and a day to Darwin. While the distance is only about 4000 kilometres, don’t drive from about an hour before sunset until an hour after dawn - the animals don’t have much road sense.
So if you travel at a more sedate rate, it can take five to six days. If you want to make it a memorable trip, take two days (at least) and explore along the Western Highway/Freeway - Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell, the Grampians, Nhill, the Little Desert and the towns along the Dukes Highway in South Australia.
In Adelaide, explore the city, the surrounding areas and, if you like wine, the Barossa and MacLaren Vale. All the little seaside places along the coast, on the way up to Port Augusta, are worth a look, as is Port Augusta. If you have time on your hands, explore the Flinders Ranges.
There are worthwhile lookouts along the way to Erldunda. Stop in at each roadhouse as each has a unique character. Take the time to actually look at the scenery you’re travelling through - while at first glance it looks the same and monotonous, if you look carefully you will see the different landscape and flora. Of course, Coober Pedy is a unique town!
At Erldunda, take a detour to the west and visit Uluru and Kings Canyon. That will take another four days at least. Then head back on up to Alice Springs - and if you take the time to explore the town, then the two roads to the west and out to the east, add another week at least.
On the way to Darwin, again call into each roadhouse. Spend some time at Tennant Creek as it has an interesting history. There are historical sites from WW II along the way, as well as mining sites. There are caves, hot springs, historic pubs and such if you care to look.
At Katherine, explore the town and the gorge - the tours are excellent. Then you pass by Litchfield NP and the turnoff to Kakadu NP - but you can visit them from Darwin. once you’re at Darwin, spend a few days to experience the character and the sights. So, take your pick - just drive up and say you’ve done it, or take your time and see, explore and learn about places en route.
Here are the reasons why campervans are ideal for road trips in Australia.
1. You Get Amazing Facilities
Believe it or not, but campervans provide incredible amenities to holiday makers. From comfortable berths and washing facilities to kitchen tools and sufficient space for loading luggage, campervans are perfect for road trips. If you plan a road trip, you can't rely on your regular car. It's not only about you not getting the necessary facilities, but the fact is those cars are not suitable for long road trips.
If you travel by them on dangerous roads, they might stop performing effectively. Whether you talk about the engine power or the capacity of the tires, campervans are far ahead when compared to the vehicles you use for daily purposes.
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2. You Can Relax In Your Vehicle
People who opt for road trips, often drive continuously for hours, which makes them tired as well. However, since a campervan comes with comfortable sleeping berths, you can pull over it to relax every time you feel exhausted. No matter how long or short a trip you are planning, a campervan is always an ideal option for you.
3. You Can Scale Down the Cost
As we have already discussed that campervans have comfortable berths for sleeping, you can cut your accommodation cost in a big way. Yes, you got that right, you don't have to spend an extensive amount of money on booking your accommodation in expensive hotels. Why do that, when you can use your vehicle for the same.
4. You Can Stay Healthy
Most people fall sick during their road trips because they rely heavily on outside food. However, when you travel by campervan, you can avoid all that. You can use the cooking facilities that you get to cook mouthwatering and healthy meals. It is not only an effective way of staying healthy but also helps in saving money considerably.
Also, when you are on a road trip, you might not always reach a destination on time where you can get good restaurants. What will you do then if you feel hungry? Well, if you have no option, you will have to wait for the restaurant to arrive. But when you travel by campervan in Australia, you can cook your food immediately as you start feeling hungry. You don't have to wait for the arrival of anything.
So if you are on a tight budget, make sure that you prepare yourself to cook your food during your road trip. Learn quick recipes that do not demand too much time.
5. You Can Reach Remote Places
In case you are planning to explore Outback destinations for which you have to take dangerous roads, 4WD campervans are best for that. You will hardly confront any issue, no matter how difficult the route is.
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6. You Get Flexibility
One of the most crucial reasons for people preferring campervans over other vehicles for road trips is, they experience colossal flexibility. As a traveler, you not only get the freedom to drive wherever you want but also get the luxury to pull over your vehicle for relaxing. Isn't that awesome? Of course, it is.
7. Unparalleled Privacy
When you opt for a campervan road trip, you enjoy unparalleled freedom as well as privacy. One of the most vital parts of saying yes to a campervan road trip is that you don't have to share your journey with strangers. And when nothing like that happens, you can be yourself all the time.
You don't have to be quiet all the time or restrict yourself from performing crazy activities. You can have all the fun with your loved ones. In short, the kind of privacy that you get during a campervan road trip helps you enjoy every bit of it.
To summarize, no matter whether you are planning to explore Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia or Victoria, stick to a campervan road trip. It is the best way to explore any destination in Australia. And the best part is that it's not even expensive. If you travel by flight and stay in luxury hotels, you will have to save a lot for your holidays.
You can't think about enjoying sophistication on a tight budget. So if you don't want to burn a hole in your pocket, but still want to explore beautiful places, stick to a campervan road trip.
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