MANY Aussies have done the famous trek from Melbourne to Sydney along the Hume Highway, but make sure you take the time to stop in a little town called Tumut.

Once grabbing a campervan rental in Melbourne head north and you will arrive at this amazing little destination after about six or seven hours later. Tumut is just before Goulburn, and is only a 25-minute drive from the highway – you won’t be disappointed! This is where you will find Australia’s only remaining original broom factory that makes good old-fashioned straw brooms. Prices start at just $10 each and have an impressive 10-year guarantee! There’s some serious sweeping to be had in these brooms, so you can’t really go wrong. Furthermore, these brooms are an absolute must for your campervan, caravan or motorhome, as they get into all the nooks and crannies. No matter what it is you are sweeping up, nothing beats a straw broom! And while at the factory you can actually watch them make one while you wait. It’s extraordinary to see them do it. All is original machinery and the process is relatively quick, too! They are a great bunch of guys who work there and they’re more than happy to let you watch them strut their stuff.

Also in Tumut, make sure you catch up on some Aboriginal heritage and culture. Pay a visit to the Tourist Info Centre (straight across the road from the Broom Factory) and ask for Shane. He is the area’s Aboriginal Culture Specialist and will give you an insight to the local Aboriginal history – it’s fascinating, and is a look at Aboriginal history like you have never seen before.

So when you’re next heading north or south along the Hume Highway, which can be otherwise quite boring, make sure Tumut is a must-visit destination on your itinerary. It’s an easy drive from the highway and quite picturesque, too, especially if you lob there in Autumn when the colours are amazing. It’s a great little town with all services, including a Maccas which will thrill the kids … and some grown-ups!

Tumut is certainly one of the best “hidden treasures” we have found in all our travels.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
The Great Australian Doorstep screens on Channel 7TWO in Australia. Visit www.thegreataustraliandoorstep.com.au for more information about Spida and his family’s travels throughout Australia.

On the must do list was finding out what it was like to join the “grey army “that travels around the camping grounds of outback Western Australia and escapes the Melbourne winter.

In May 2010 We convinced friends to join us – 4 people, two vans and plenty of open road. As non-seasoned campers the starting point was the DriveNow website to look at options for Campervan Rental in Western Australia.

Being chardonnay travellers we settled on a Mauri motor home with on board kitchen shower and toilet facilities. The planned route over 30 days was Perth to Broome via the coast and inland to Tom Price and the Pilbara region.

The DriveNow website made arrangements easy but we arrived at the Maui office in Perth for check in with some trepidation. The efficient reassuring staff provided a DVD of the on board facilities and their operation -gas /taking on water /power/and the toilet discharge.

First task was to turn right out of the Maui site onto the 6 lane Great Eastern Highway. Fortunately a generous driver sensing a novice in charge of a van gave way and we were off on the great adventure! We headed to stock up with supplies at the supermarket – A parking spot nowhere near any other cars was definitely the way to go at this early stage!

On the highway driving the van was effortless with our initial destination Crevantes on the coast 250 km north of Perth and home to the world famous Pinnacles Desert of natural limestone structures.

The Crevantes camping ground set the scene for many days to follow- connect in power /fill up with water and then join in “happy hour ” which goes on for more than the hour.

Then onto Port Dennison and Horricks. Both small fishing villages with camping grounds near the water.

The first major town is Geraldton site of the memorial to HMS Sydney with an outstanding foreshore museum. Scenic flight over the Abrolhos islands a must do.

Next stop Kalbarri 500km from Perth . Another idyllic seaside town where the pelicans come in for their morning feed and a tour into the nearby Kalbarri National park with stunning gorges.

Highway driving is easy although our travelling companions made the fatal error of pulling off the road for sight seeing and promptly became bogged after recent rain. Fortunately the grey army are passing in vast numbers and are well equipped to tow you out . But the number of dead kangaroo,sheep and cattle is evidence of the perils of driving at dusk or night.

Camping sites are all well situated with excellent facilities .The professional campers arrive with all manner of extras -outdoor areas /satellite dishes /portable washing machines etc.

Now to Denham and the world famous Monkey Mia Resort in Shark Bay where dolphins play in the shallows and boat cruises take you to see dugongs (10% of worlds population), giant turtles and dolphins. Off shore is Dirk Hartog island a peaceful retreat.

After 8 days on the road the task of emptying the toilet canister came to the top of the list, but lo and behold the canister was stuck .The frightening thought of a hot sun and maturing effluent was contemplated, however fortunately a roadside mechanic came to our rescue and fixed the problem.

Coral Bay the next site is 1150km from Perth and looks like a set from those beach movies. You snorkel within the marine park with huge fish of all colours and coral reefs and come night-time the local pub is the centre of great nightime activity and a haven for backpackers.

A short distance on is Exmouth and the Cape Range National Park where we camped right on the beach without power and water. A real back to nature experience with more swimming in the Ningaloo Marine Park. At the right time of year you can see the world’s largest whale sharks, manta rays and passing whales .Catch fish for dinner. It’s not hard to see why many travellers end up camping here for weeks.

Leaving the coast a long days drive to Tom Price in the Pilbara and home to the huge Rio Tinto uranium mine .A tour of the mine is a must do  with a purpose built town an oasis in the desert.

Nearby more rough camping (as rough as it gets in a 4 star van ) in the Karijini National park with stunning views of gorges and shady swimming pools surrounded by huge red cliffs.

The red dust follows you everywhere. A trip with a 4 wheel drive operator into rough terrain is the way to go as the vehicle shudders itself to breaking point, however the views are genuinely breathtaking.

Back to civilization via Port Hedland (a place to pass through and not stop) and onto 80 mile beach 300 km south of Broome .A camping ground virtually on the beach where many grey army come for 6 months. What can only be described as monstrous beach (a cut lunch required form shore to sea ) produced a monstrous fish caught at dusk. A real lazy haven.

Then on route to Broome a roadtrain spays us with rocks and a cracked window Not bad enough to stop travelling and fortunately the insurance taken out with RACV covers the cost for a  modest premium.

Finally Broome. Great weather for the last 4 weeks becomes perfect. Nothing to do except ride camels on the beach, sip cold drinks at the beach bar of the renowned Cable Beach Resort and contemplate how the “grey army” have got it so right.

Colin C

While Coffs Harbour and surrounds offer some wonderful sites, attractions and lovely beaches, take the time to head up the Pacific Highway for a coast-hugging journey of four hours or so to one of the most peaceful places in Australia – Crystal Castle in Mullumbimby.

Though the trip is easy on the eyes, it’s the final destination that truly treats all the senses. This beautiful place in the Byron hinterland is ideal to enrich your own spirit and that of your partner’s, so make sure you plan to spend a good day there. In a nutshell, simply get on Park Beach Rd on the way out of Coffs and pick up the Pacific and head north.

While a direct route with no stops will get you there in about 3 and a half hours, for road-tripping romantics it might pay to set up a seven-day campervanning itinerary that takes in a few stopovers along the way, such as Grafton, Yamba, Lennox Head and Byron Bay. For us on this trip however, we picked up a Rental Car in Coffs Harbour from DriveNow and headed north.

Certainly stay a night or two in gorgeous Byron Bay and we suggest getting up bright and early one morning, head into town and load up on some energy with a scrumptious breakfast at funky cafe, Twisted Sister. The juice, the coffee, the eggs, the everything about this little eatery is A+. From here, it’s time for an enchanting visit at Crystal Castle, about half an hour from Byron and nestled in the hinterland.

Crystal Castle has a breathtaking landscape like no other in Australia, with an ancient labyrinth walk amidst mystical statues, giant crystals, gardens and refreshing rainforest. In the Castle itself there are tons of exquisite crystals and jewellery, books, aura photos, tarot readings, and a Lotus Cafe with an excellent laid-back menu. It really is a peaceful part of the world to recharge your batteries, go for a romantic stroll and simply “be”.

AUSTIN BONHAM

WE decided to try out somewhere close to Melbourne, our hometown, but somewhere where it felt like we were on holiday.

So after a bit of research we chose Nagambie. This small town is only 90 minutes north of Melbourne, a great little place with all the services you need and a great little Victorian road trip. It has a great pub and an incredibly good bakery. In fact, people head from Melbourne to Nagambie for one reason – just to go to this bakery! There is nothing better than a loaf of extra-fresh bread.

We stayed at Nagambie Lakes Leisure Park. It’s an accommodation venue out of this world. It’s also funny because the park is almost bigger than the town. And to be perfectly honest, you needn’t leave the park either; aside from going to the bakery, that is.
This park has absolutely everything. It’s all new, luxurious and surrounded 360 degrees by water with the river on one side and the lake on the other. The park also has its own boat ramp, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball, two playgrounds, jumping pillow … the list is endless.

Just around the corner from Nagambie Lakes Leisure Park is beautiful Chateau Tahbilk winery and what a day we had there. Did you know that the cellar they use is more than 100 years old, still original and still working to capacity? Damn fine wine is produced and we bought about three dozen bottles. It’s actually worth pointing out that, at the moment, all wine is really cheap so you can guarantee yourself some awesome cellar door specials.

There isn’t much more to do around Nagambie, but relax, there doesn’t need to be! So if it’s relaxation you want, Nagambie is the place for you.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
The Great Australian Doorstep screens on Channel 7TWO in Australia

Ina little over a year the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off with New Zealand taking on Tonga in the opening game at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday 9th September 2011.  For those planning on attending the Cup, it’s fast approaching time to think about accommodation and how best to travel between matches.

With 40 matches and 12 venues spread across the North and South Islands travelling between venues will involve hitting the roads or airports and organising hotel accommodation in each location.

However, an increasingly popular alternative to emerge during recent Rugby Tours has been motorhome rental. Why rent a car and book accommodation separately when you can combine the two, throw in the flexibility of taking your bedroom with you and explore New Zealand between games!

These days Motorhomes are superbly equipped with complete kitchens, full bathroom facilities, TV and DVD players, easy to drive and can sleep from 2 up to 6. With Campervan Parks across New Zealand there’s no shortage of places to pull up overnight.

During the last British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand in 2005 the popularity of motorhome rental saw vehicles sell out quickly and there’s no doubt getting in early will be the best approach for 2011, to not only secure the right vehicle but also lock in the best rate. Rental rates have a nasty habit of rising the closer you get to an event or pick up date, as supply starts to dry up with ever increasing demand.

Booking a Motorhome or Campervan through DriveNow today involves no deposit and no credit card details. Your vehicle will be booked and secured in your name and full payment is not required until 6 weeks prior to pick up, so around late July 2011 for picking up in the second week of September.

With DriveNow you get to compare the latest New Zealand Rugby World Cup Motorhome Rental rates from leading suppliers including Britz, Apollo, Maui, Kea Campers and Backpacker Campervan Rentals, all on the one website, not only finding the best deals available but also saving you time and effort in internet surfing.

2011 New Zealand Rugby World Cup Schedule

IF you are looking for a great weekend away from Melbourne in your caravan or campervan, then Warrnambool is the place. There are always some great Melbourne campervan deals on the go.

Only a four hour drive from Melbourne, it’s easy driving with plenty to see along the way. There is great coffee in Colac and plenty of rest areas to stop off for a bit of driver reviver – pull over for a snooze if you’re a tad tired.

Once you get to Warrnambool, make sure you stay down on Lake Pertobe.

We stayed at Discovery Holiday Park, which has a fantastic location as you can walk to absolutely everything. The kids, especially, will love the Lake Pertobe playground. But you can’t really call it a playground as it’s more like 30 playgrounds all in one! It is easy to kill a day here and, besides, it will ensure the kids sleep very, very well that night after all that running around and activity.

The Whale nursery is also a great spot. Unfortunately on the day we rolled up there weren’t any whales, but this is the place where they come to give birth and at certain times of year it can be really busy in those waters. Would certainly make for some awesome photos. And if it’s deep sea fishing you are after, then this is definitely the place to be. Proline Charters will take you out chasing Blue-Fin Tuna! This was one of the most exciting things I have ever done! The sudden whizzzzz of the line when the lure takes off makes for a massive adrenalin rush. Then it’s all about the battle to haul the fish in. All in all, a great day, with a good lunch and a few beers while cruising about 22 nautical miles off Warrnambool.

While the boys are fishing, Mum can take the kids to the Flagstaff Hill Shipwreck Museum. This super venue depicts early life back in the 1800s when Warrnambool was one of Australia’s busiest ports. There’s plenty of room to run around, pack a picnic and take in the atmosphere of a life from more than a 100 years ago.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
Catch The Great Australian Doorstep on Channel 7TWO

BEING Sydneysiders, we didn’t want to visit another city on a romantic getaway from work and children, but after a friend’s big recommendation we hopped on a cheap flight to Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne after snapping up a hot last minute  Melbourne Car Hire deal from www.drivenow.com.au.

The escape from Melbourne’s hustle and bustle was a breeze for a great Victorian driving holiday  – we picked up the Western Ring Road off the Tullamarine Freeway and followed all signs to Daylesford and an hour and a half later we entered the sleepy country town in Spa Country. It was Saturday morning so there was a gentle hum about the place, busy, but not hectic. The moment we set down our gear at Campari, our accommodation, the R&R truly kicked in.

About 200 metres from Lake Daylesford, and easy walking distance to town, Campari is well priced and cosy.

We spent the first day poking around Daylesford’s quaint shops and sampling some seriously good food. We enjoyed a late, lazy, lunch at Frangos & Frangos (www.frangosandfrangos.com). After kicking off with the F&F Tasting Plate (a selection of local delicacies for two), we then sampled another sharing dish – beware the diversity which will have you deliberating for too long!  – and we finished off with the Gelati Trio before getting back on our feet to keep scouring this town’s offerings.

There are a few places worth the time investigating. Benjamin Bandicoot is a must for gorgeous gifts, so too is Ex Libris Prints which specialise in 17^th-20^th Century antique prints of Australian, architectural, decorative and botanical subjects. Even if you’re not buying, this shop is worth dropping into for a browse. Sweet Decadence @ Lacantro offers exquisite handmade chocolates and chocolate novelties, cakes, biscuits – all made on the premises.

Being smack in the middle of Spa Country, we thought a massage would be a must for the Sunday but soon found out bookings are made months in advance for the popular Hepburn Spa Mineral Springs Bathhouse and Wellness Retreat so we called Jenny at Abandon Stress who offer a mobile service and arranged deep tissue and relaxation massages for the following day.

After that late lunch we didn’t need a huge gastronomical adventure, so Saturday night dinner was ideal at La Finca Tapas Bar.

After a sleep in Sunday, treatment massages early afternoon we were then back at Tullamarine by 4pm for our flight back to Sydney by dark.

Top 5 to-dos for Daylesford:

1) Frangos & Frangos for modern Australian, Mediterranean, European cuisine.

2) Ex Libris Prints for a gallery of antique and contemporary prints.

3) Sweet Decadence for your sweet tooth.

4) Get a massage! Check out Abandon Stress for an alternative to the region’s retreats.

5) The Avant Garden bookshop for bookworms.

ANGELA DUNCAN

From country music events to spectacular Outback festivals, or food and wine extravaganzas to riverboats and jazz, there’s something worth driving to just about anywhere in Australia all-year round. Here are five diverse festivals worth packing your bags for and hitting the road in a drivenow campervan for a unique Australian cultural experience.

1. Riverboats, Jazz, Food & Wine Weekend – Echuca, Victoria.

Pick up your DriveNow Melbourne Rental Car and a leisurely three-hour drive along the Hume Freeway and Northern Highway will take you to the riverbanks of beautiful Echuca where this annual event creates a buzz in February every year. The region’s finest food and wine is on show, jazz musos from far and wide strut their stuff and the paddlesteamers from yesteryear chug along the mighty Murray. It’s a treat for the eyes, ears and tastebuds!

2. Tamworth Country Music Festival – Tamworth, NSW.

This one’s popular for lovers of Country music and is held every year in January. It’s a five or six hour journey predominantly spent on the Pacific and New England Highways from Sydney, but upon reaching the final destination you’ll be re-energised by the festival spirit. Country artists including Troy Cassar Daley, Felicity Urquhart, and hundreds more from all walks of life and ages, amateur or professional. It’s all about great food, friends, tents, caravans and super music over 10 days.

3. The Targa Tasmania.

One for car lovers, this amazing international event has been running since 1992 and basically is a tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads for some of the best touring, sports and GT cars from throughout the world – a calvacade of motoring history that is sure to delight as you discover the spoils of the Apple Isle. Visit www.targa.org.au  for more information.

4.  World’s Greatest Pub Crawl, Maryborough, Queensland.

This four hour journey along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane will get you to Maryborough, but that’s where you’ll have to pop the keys away for a few days as the ”world’s greatest pub crawl” whets your appetite for a good time. More than 3000 pub crawlers hit the streets in a bid to knock off the Guinness World Record for the most pub crawlers in one spot each year. Loads of fun … but don’t forget to pack the panadol and sleep well before the long trip back!

5. The Meeka Outback Festival, Meekatharra, Western Australia. Last but not least, this marathon nine hour drive from Perth along the Great Northern Highway will take you to this entertaining festival held every Queen’s Birthday Weekend in June. Enjoy the region’s unique culture as the festival ignites with fireworks, stalls and kids rides on the main oval on the Friday night. Then the colourful floats hit the town on the Saturday before the afternoon races encourage punters to have a tipple and a bet, before you enjoy watching and listening to bands perform under the desert stars.

AUSTIN BONHAM

NOT so long ago the Toyota Prius was the only option available to environmentally conscious car renters in their bid to fly the “green” flag. But in the words of a legendary singer/songwriter, those times are “a-changing”.

Much has happened since the Prius reached Australian shores in 2000, but the choice of “affordable” hybrids has broadened only marginally with Honda’s Civic and the much-vaunted release of Toyota’s Camry Hybrid in February.

Rental companies traditionally have kept the Prius as their green vehicle of choice and this is still very much in vogue. However, the popularity of the Camry brand and its larger capacity will drive change within rental green fleets. Only Hertz offers the Hybrid Camry on their books, but watch this space as other rental companies come into play in the near future. (Learn more and book the Hertz Camry Hybrid Rental).

As the Hybrid show rolls on, manufacturers of traditional carbon-fuelled vehicles have not merely been sitting idle. A new generation of small compact cars has emerged to dominate the Low Carbon Emission charts and become increasingly popular on the world’s roads. In fact, a quick glance at the Australian Government’s Green Vehicle Guide website (www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au) reveals that of the Top 10 Performer spots only two, the Prius and Camry Hybrid, are hybrid-based. All the other vehicles are 100% petrol-based.

Before we get too carried away with the idea that petrol vehicles “out-green” the hybrids, there are those little matters of engine and vehicle size to consider. The non-hybrid entries in the Top 10 Green list all have smaller engines than their Hybrid cousins and all are smaller cars. Interestingly, the popular Volkswagen Golf Trendview has emerged recently to slip into ninth position right behind the Hybrid Camry, and another 1.4-litre vehicle to hit the Top 10 is Alfa’s Mito. However, the top end of the Top 10 is dominated by small cars with the smallest engines; in fact, No.2 on the list is one of the world’s smallest cars, Mercedes Smart Fortwo, with a 1-litre engine and room for 2 and no more.

This engine and vehicle size does appear to limit their appeal in Australia. This is evident when you switch across and view the greenvehicleguide’s top 10 best sellers list, headed by the Holden Commodore at a commendable 4 stars – given we are talking about a 6 speed 3 litre full size family vehicle. The rest of the top 10 is dominated by 3 to 3.5 star vehicles with only the Toyota Yaris at number 10 coming in with 5 stars and sharing a top 10 ranking in both best Performers and best Sellers.

Clearly we have some way to go before these 2 top 10 lists overlap and it’s likely that the addition of the Camry Hybrid will go some way towards that in broadening the appeal of the Hybrid offering in family sized vehicles; however the price differential between Hybrid and pure petrol based cars still present challenges and this price difference is equally present in the rental market. It will be interesting to see whether the novelty in renting the new Camry Hybrid translates into a long term love affair with Australia’s travelling public. On a broader theme whether the Camry can become the first Hybrid to crack Australia’s top 20 best seller list remains to be seen.

DriveNow enables you to compare pricing on car and campervan rental across Australia and New Zealand. You can book the Toyota Camry Hybrid and other Hybrid rental vehicles by visiting www.drivenow.com.au.

ChrisC
DriveNow Partner and sometime Blog Contributor

PUT simply, anywhere you drive in this delightful little state known as the Apple Isle has romance written all over it. Best to allow a good 10 days at least to appreciate a full dose of romantic journeys, but for a trip with a difference, an idea might be to grab a DriveNow campervan from Melbourne and let it float a little while as you wine and dine in preparation for a tantalising Tasmanian road trip. By float we mean the Spirit of Tasmania, a charming overnight ferry trip across the Tasman. The value here is remarkable and to take your Camper it only costs from around the $80 mark most seasons.

Upon reaching Devonport, we made the decision to head for the hills – straight to Cradle Mountain and the Discovery Holiday Park which boasts powered sites for campers, pop tops and caravans, set in earthy little bush alcoves. It really is a drive of no more than 2 hours (heading there direct), but once settled in it’s time to give your campervan a rest before some serious road-tripping around the state as you burn some energy yourself with  the most amazing walks in and around Cradle Mountain. Some of the highlights include walks through parts of Cradle Mountain National Park including Marion’s Lookout, Dove Lake, Cradle Circuit and portions of the Overland Track. Be sure to get a parks pass from Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania (03 6233 2621). All these walks will work up a hearty appetite for fine wine and food back at the Lodge.

From here, the range of romantic drives is neverending, but one that we really enjoyed was from Cradle Mountain to Strahan in the north-west region via the mysterious Queenstown where groans and creaks of the mountain’s old mines might just prompt an extra cuddle or two for lovebirds!  The trip is winding and a little slow (but who’s racing when in this beautiful remote, isolated part of the world with stunning views everywhere you go?).

Strahan truly is a postcard perfect coastal hamlet in Tasmania. We lobbed at Strahan Holiday Park and set up camp for a few days to take our time exploring, walking and dining at some quaint little eateries and other establishments. A cruise on Macquarie Harbour is a must, as you pass through Hells Gates and head for Sarah Island to enjoy a tour. Then spend a little time up the Gordon River to Heritage Landing to check out a grove of ancient Huon pine.

Campervanning in Tasmania has never been so romantic – better still, you get enjoy some amazing views and wine and dine in class at the same time.

AUSTIN BONHAM