Caravanning News

Caravanning News

If freedom camping along the side of a picturesque billabong appeals to you, then why not contemplate stopping for a day or two at the Camooweal Billabong if your travels find you on the Barkly Highway in North-West Queensland.

The first group of sites along Lake Francis can be easily located heading west from Camooweal, by turning left after crossing Georgina River and a short drive down a gravel track.  With numerous sites stretching along the billabong, you will definitely find one that suits you.  About 2 kilometres further down the track brings you to Lake Canellan where more sites are available.

While the cost of a stay is free, there are no facilities provided and self-containment is a must.  There is a maximum stay of 48 hours.  A dump point is located in town.  Dogs are permitted.

If you want to do a little more than just relax and chill out, there are a few things to see and do in and around Camooweal.  The Camooweal Caves National Park is only a short drive out of town and the Drovers’ Camp, open from May to September, is a living acknowledgement to the contribution of Australian Stockmen and Stockwomen of all races to Australia’s cattle industry.  There is also the Barkly Tableland Heritage Centre and Camooweal Cemetery.

While staying at the billabong for free, don’t forget to support the town’s businesses by purchasing fuel and supplies in town, or buying lunch or dinner at the Post Office Hotel.

Just one word of warning.  This freedom camp cannot be used in wet weather.  If rain threatens, it is best not to stay.  The cost of a tow out might set you back some unbudgeted dollars.

The town of Peak Hill in the Central West of New South Wales is the venue for a Chairman’s Muster of the Australian Caravan Club (ACC) to be held next month.

The muster will take place from 18 to 23 May 2017 at the Peak Hill Showgrounds.

A full programme is in place for members attending.  The programme includes a farm visit, tour of The Dish, visit to Goobang National Park, a guided tour of Snake Rock including a traditional lunch and entertainment, a visit to the market night at the Services Club, a ‘Bring out the artist within’ art class with a well-known local artist, golf, barefoot bowls, an historic walk around town and a sunset tour of a Gold Mine.

“The purpose of our Chairman’s musters are three-fold,” ACC Chairman Craig Humphrey said.  “The first purpose is to provide a social event for our members.  The second purpose is to provide a venue where members can sit down with the Chairman and other Club Officials face to face at Happy Hour and provide feedback.  The third purpose is to provide economic support back into regional towns that support RVers.”

Mr Humphrey said that the Club are expecting from 70 to 100 members in 35 to 50 RVs to attend the Peak Hill muster.  The Club recorded an average daily spend per RV unit of between $100 and $110 at its Chairman’s muster at Kingaroy in South-East Queensland earlier this year.

“I’m really looking forward to the muster which will provide an opportunity for me to meet and chat with members which is what our Chairman’s musters are all about,” said Mr Humphrey.

“In addition to the attractions and sight-seeing, our members will naturally enjoy their daily Happy Hour,” he said.

The Chairman extends an invitation to fellow travellers and residents of Peak Hill and its surrounds who would like to use their RV more to join himself and Club members for Happy Hour at the Muster on Saturday, 20 May 2017 at 4pm. 

“This will provide an opportunity for other RVers to come along and learn more about the Club.  Interested travellers and residents with RVs should RSVP to me on 0409 605 890,” Mr Humphrey said.

Why not join the Australian Caravan Club, the Club for ALL RVers …where Friendships and Adventure begin, today?

As a member of one branch of our Club, you are entitled to attend the musters or tagalongs of any of our 45 branches throughout Australia, and share in the friendships and adventures of like-minded people.

 Click here to "Join The Club Now"

Our Club will be presenting its next series of RV Industry Workshops in the Gwydir Shire at Warialda on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at the Warialda Golf & Bowling Club, and at Bingara in the Roxy Theatre conference room at 6pm on Thursday 6 April 2017.

The workshops will focus on many topics including the economic benefits that can be gained by local businesses from catering to the needs of the RV traveller, how to engage with RVers, how to encourage RVers to visit, and opportunities to access the growing RV community.

For further information or to book, contact Georgia on 0409 901 540.

Our Budget Camp for the month of March is Underbool Rest Area Campground situated on the Mallee Highway at Underbool in Victoria.  The Campground has barbecues, toilet facilities, a shower and a 24 hour limit.  Unpowered sites are free and powered sites are available for $10.  There is a fee of $3 for shower use.   Pets are permitted.

Underbool is the gateway to the Pink Lakes area of Murray Sunset National Park.   If you are into history, while at the Campground visit the Pioneer and Early Settler Memorial, the replica of the Sailor Salt Co. train and the town's police cells, decommissioned in 2000.

 

Towing safely was on the minds of the East Gippsland Roadrunners and Gippsland Gypsies branches of our Club when they ran a ‘tug and van’ weigh-in muster at Mallacoota, Victoria last weekend.   Victorian Police and Vic Roads representatives attended to weigh in the rigs.

Members attending loaded up their RVs to full capacity as if they were going on an extended trip rather than just a few days for a branch muster.   Generators were loaded, and water tanks and gas bottles filled to capacity.

On the Friday afternoon of the muster, 20 tugs and vans were weighed in five areas – Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM), Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Gross Combined Mass (GCM), ball weight, and Gross Trailer Mass (GTM).  This was followed by a two hour Question and Answer segment on the Saturday morning.

While some of our members’ vans failed to meet their legal weights in one or more areas, for most, all that is required is a reconfiguration of how they carry their load.  The exercise was a public relations / educational exercise by Victorian Police and Vic Roads, and no infringement notices were issued for tugs or vans.

Members left the muster with a far better understanding of towing weights.  All attending considered the exercise was well worthwhile.

Not only is towing overweight illegal, but it can cause an accident.  It could also void a claim under your insurance policy.  We encourage all RVers who have not had their tugs and vans weighed recently to do so when departing on your next trip, fully loaded and with water tanks and gas bottles filled to capacity.  You may be as surprised as many of our members were at Mallacoota.

The Australian Caravan Club would like to extend special thanks to our members Derek Hale and Dennis Carstairs for their work in organising this event, to the Victorian Police, to Vic Roads, and to the many members of East Gippsland Roadrunners and Gippsland Gypsies who participated.
 

Are you travelling solo? The Lone Trekkers is a special interest group for Australian Caravan Club members who travel around this beautiful country of ours on their own.

Our Lone Trekkers have their own Facebook page and communicate on their own members’ forum so that no matter where they are in OZ, Lone Trekkers can join up with each other for a tagalong, give support, share experiences or just meet for a cuppa or Happy Hour.

So if you are travelling solo, why not join the ACC today?

 Click here to "Join The Club Now"

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