4 ways to get lost on a road trip at Australia's historic sites and monuments

From dogs on tucker boxes and underground houses to a haunted old jail site in Tassie and the Stockman's Hall of Fame, there's something very Australian about these historic sites and monuments where  it's well worth the drive in your campervan rental around Australia. We also give you the lowdown of some great caravan park suggestions where you can park your wheels.

Coober Pedy underground houses, SOUTH AUSTRALIA (pictured)

THIS Outback park is on the corner of the Stuart Highway and Hutchison St in Coober Pedy, only 30km south of the mighty Breakaways. The family owned and operated park has access to a range of facilities including a swimming pool, kids’ playground, barbecues, a camp kitchen and an onsite pizzeria. The park also taken a hands-on approach to supporting local tourism by hosting daily coach tours of Coober Pedy and the beautiful desert surrounds including the Breakaways, Dingo Fence, opal fields, Moon Plains, Opal Mine and Museum, underground Home, underground Church and the Coober Pedy town area. Tours leave early afternoon daily in the high season and start from $65 for adults and $28 for children. When you aren’t exploring the Outback,  rest up either at your site or in one of the one and two bedroom apartments or a superior king spa suite featuring a luxurious living area, full modern kitchen and dining with a separate laundry. The park also has cabins and motel-style rooms that give guests a cost effective accommodation option that includes 24-hour use of a communal kitchen, BBQ facilities and laundry. Campers and caravanners are also catered for with a choice of 160 powered and unpowered sites.

Port Arthur Historic Site, TASMANIA

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the best-preserved convict settlements in Australia and among the most significant convict era sites in the world. When your not kicking back and relaxing in the beautiful grounds of the Port Arthur Holiday Park, just one kilometre from the town’s centre, experience a guided tour with a local guide at the Port Arthur Historic Site, climb aboard for a short cruise to the Isle of The Dead, or brave a ghost tour in the early evening. The Port Arthur Holiday Park garden and waterview cabins sleep up to five or six people, the bunkhouse is dorm style and sleeps up to nine in each of eight rooms, while powered, unpowered and ensuite sites are separated by shrubs or trees to offer privacy for campers and vanners.

Where to stay - Port Arthur Holiday Park portarthurhp.com.au

The Dog on the Tucker Box, NSW

When it comes to iconic landmarks, there’s no bigger Aussie name than the Dog on the Tuckerbox in Gundagai, just outside of Wagga Wagga. The statue was inspired by a bullock driver's poem, Bullocky Bill, about the life of a loyal dog that guarded the man's tuckerbox until death. An annual Dog on the Tuckerbox festival has been held each year in November since 1992. Experience the largest inland city in New South at BIG4 Wagga Wagga Holiday Park, one with the lot, and the perfect base for caravanners and campers to explore the region including the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox. Complete with all the comforts of home, the range of accommodation at BIG4 Wagga Wagga Holiday Park caters for all travellers, from large families to single campers. Choose from a large two-bedroom cabin with a flat screen TV and spacious balcony or a large grassy powered site to pitch the tent or park the caravan.

Stockman’s Hall of Fame, QUEENSLAND

Exploring the history and heritage of the Australian Outback is no better than at Longreach. After setting up camp, or unload into an air-conditioned deluxe cabin, or hook up to a powered site in your van or camper at Longreach Tourist Park, your first port of call should be the Stockman’s Hall of Fame which tells the story of our famous rural areas from the arrival of the Aborigines more than 40,000 years ago, to being settled by the British, exploration, the establishment of grazing, agriculture, mining, forestry and other industries in country Australia. It covers everything right up to the present day where technology is now playing such a big role in reshaping the way farming, business and communications are carried out including themes of Outback properties, life in the Outback, and life as a stock worker. Other nearby places to pop on your hitlist could be the Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach Powerhouse Museum and Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton an hour and a half drive away.

Where to stay - Longreach Tourist Park www.longreachtouristpark.com.au

Scott Podmore

Award-winning writer, editor, photographer, videographer and owner of October Grey Media. Specialising in travel and lifestyle content and a full member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. Has contributed regular content for the NewsCorp stable of newspapers and magazines, TravelTalk mag, The Departure Lounge and many more publications in Australia and internationally. Follow on Twitter & instragram #scottpodmore

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