From here, it’s a leisurely drive  offering spectacular scenery, dramatic coastal cliffside views and sandstone heaths inland. Stop off at the Hindu Temple in Helensburgh or enjoy a spot of  horseriding at beautiful Otford to really fire up the romance-o-meter before jumping back in the camper to head to Stanwell Tops for some amazing views. Before long, you will reach the charming seaside suburb of  Thirroul – reportedly the Aboriginal word for “Valley of Cabbage Tree Palms”. Thirroul was a former coalmining hamlet boasts excellent surf beach at Sandon Point. It’s golden beachfront has a wonderful grassy area to enjoy a coffee from a local cafe or kick back with a picnic. This was the place that inspire writer DH Lawrence to pen his novel, Kangaroo.

It’s only a half hour cruise along the seaside drive from here to reach Wollongong, one of the most liveable regional cities south of Sydney. A magical place to park your campervan for a night or two is at Shellharbour Beachside Tourist Park. This park’s lovely beachfront location is only a short stroll away from Shellharbour Village and its restaurants, shops and cafes. At night, I highly recommend an evening spent at the Lagoon Restaurant to set the mood and enjoy a wonderful feast of fresh seafood right on the oceanfront.

Some of the nearby attractions worth exploring here include Blackbutt Reserve, Seacliff Bridge and the Illawarra Fly treetop walk (pictured).

AUSTIN BONHAM

They say it’s wrong to judge a book by its cover, but there’s another cliché that should ring true: don’t judge a car by the number of airbags.

Almost all new cars on sale in Australia today have airbags but, despite these worthwhile safety features, crash protection varies markedly from model to model.

Of course, all cars must meet a minimum crash safety standard set by the Federal Government, but the emphasis there is the word “minimum”. The regulations regarding crash protection have not been revised in more than a decade.

This is part of the reason the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) was established.

Funded by the motoring clubs and state government authorities in Australia and New Zealand, ANCAP aims to improve vehicle safety by independently testing, assessing and then rating the safety of new cars.

The idea was a world first. ANCAP was established in 1992. Euro NCAP, which follows the same procedures and protocols, was established in 1997. ANCAP has no power to approve – or ban – vehicles from sale. But it has become a priceless consumer guide that could save your life.

Before ANCAP, and its associated authority, Euro NCAP, trying to compare the safety of like vehicles was pure guesswork. Rather than simply saying a car “passes” the minimum Federal Government regulations, ANCAP gives car buyers more detail on how each vehicle’s crash worthiness compares.

For those who want to know the finer points of difference, ANCAP scores the cars out of 35 points and the data can be found on the ANCAP website, www.ancap.com.au. But generally, most people judge a car by ANCAP’s simple star rating, from one to five.

Originally, ANCAP said a car with a one star rating was deemed as having an “unacceptable” risk of injury, the safety of two star cars were regarded as “poor”, three stars cars were regarded as “marginal”, four stars were “acceptable” and five stars were “good”. But following pressure from the car industry ANCAP dropped the names and retained only the star ratings.

ANCAP has not been without its controversy. Car makers initially opposed ANCAP’s findings and methods. The manufacturers said they tested cars for the real world, that it was unfair to judge a car based on one test, and that the ANCAP tests were too severe.

One of the claims made by some car makers during this debate in the late 1990s was that designing a car to achieve a high score could make the car too rigid for lower speed crashes, and potentially cause injuries. This was found not to be the case. Indeed, cars as small as the Fiat 500 are now capable of achieving a five-star rating.

Further, subsequent studies have shown that cars with four stars or above have significantly lower deaths and serious injuries. Over the past 10 years resistance to ANCAP has subsided, as the safety of each manufacturer’s cars has improved. Indeed, some of the most vocal opponents of ANCAP now use the five star results in their advertising and promotional material.

There is no doubt that ANCAP and its affiliates have markedly improved the safety of new vehicles, more so than any government agency or regulation. Indeed, government regulations are only just beginning to catch up to ANCAP.

ANCAP announced that from the beginning of 2008 only cars with stability control would be eligible for a five star safety rating.  The Federal Government recently announced this technology will be compulsory on all new passenger cars introduced from November 2011 onwards, and all other new passenger cars have until November 2013 to have the technology fitted as standard.

How ANCAP testing compares…

Australian government regulations require passenger cars to be crash tested into an offset barrier at 56km/h and light commercial vehicles to be crash tested into a full frontal barrier at 48km/h. ANCAP crash tests all vehicles at 64km/h into an offset barrier.

ANCAP also tests side impact protection and cars with side and/or curtain airbags typically do well. Cars without side and/or curtain airbags typically show life-threatening injuries. In the side impact test, a 950kg sled designed to simulate another vehicle strikes the driver’s side at 50km/h. To qualify for the full five star rating, the car also has to pass a side pole test where the car is pushed sideways into a rigid pole at 29km/h.

Recent results have included pedestrian tests. These are a series of tests carried out to replicate crashes involving child and adult pedestrians where impacts occur at 40km/h.
Contributed by NRMA Insurance

About NRMA Insurance
NRMA Insuranceis a provider of insurance products, including car insurance and home insurance in NSW, ACT & TAS.

Forget the caravan of love, our focus is the campervan of love and you needn’t worry about forking out for a costly mobile love machine with wheels as you can hire a camper for a steal on the DriveNow website. Click up a pick-up and drop-off deal from Melbourne and you are all set for the first of our Romantic Drives series in 2010 – Great Ocean Road. Without further adieu, pop a rose in your front grill and hit the Princes Freeway and Bellarine Highway to make your way to the charming township of Queenscliff.

There’s nothing like a bit of coastal road cruising to kick-start your journey along the Great Ocean Road, which is possibly Australia’s most romantic scenic route. But make be sure to stop off at Queenscliff as a starting point for a day and night spent absorbing the spoils and sights of this historic township. Meander around town and check out grand Victorian-era buildings, great pubs, an ice creamery and if you happen to be there in the last week of November you just may catch the legendary Queenscliff Music Festival.

From there, you’ll be all loved up and ready to let your camper hug the coastline and enter little hamlets townships in surfer territory, particularly Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Torquay (where Great Ocean Rd officially starts and what is home to some iconic surf shops and famous surfing hot spot Bells Beach) and it’s well worth setting up camp in Anglesea for a stop over to enjoy the spoils of a superb beach and an amazing 35km surf coast walk. The drive from Queenscliff to Anglesea is a leisurely 1hr and 15 minute drive (with no stops).

The last stretch of this romantic itinerary recommendation is to set off early after check-out from Anglesea and take in Airey’s Inlet for an hour or two (beautiful lighthouse to explore and great fish’n'chips for lunch) before heading to Lorne for a stay for multiple days. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Lorne from Anglesea without any stops.

Lorne is a tourism hotspot very popular in the warmer months but don’t just stick to the perimeter of the township – explore yonder and discover amazing waterfalls and rainforest in the Otways, or dart off in your car to nearby Wye River (check out the amazing pub on the hill overlooking the ocean!) and Apollo Bay.

Fresh sea breezes, quaint little hamlets, top beaches, seaside restaurants, lovely holiday parks to set up camp, interesting shops to wander through … why wouldn’t you choose a romantic weekend or week away along Great Ocean Rd?

AUSTIN BONHAM

It’s a long drive (18-20 hours straight, a few days including stops) that hugs the coast from Brisbane all the way up to Townsville. Most importantly, there are loads of great stops to make along the way. The direct route on the Bruce Highway is more than 1300km, so it would be well worth allowing a couple of weeks at least if you have the time as there are at least five stops that simply shouldn’t be missed. Pop these down for consideration when planning your itinerary:

STOP 1: Maroochydoore. God’s own country with one of the most magnificent little beaches you’ll find Down Under. It should take you no more than 2 hours to reach from Brisbane. Maroochydore boasts some super family attractions including Top Shots mini golf park, Underwater World to meet some of the ocean’s mighty creatures  and the Sunshine Plaza shopping strip. Stay at the Maroochy River Cabin Village and Caravan Park.

STOP 2: Bundaberg. A lengthy six hour drive or more, so pack a picnic and probably best to get an early morning drive planned for this one. Awesome little spot with plenty to do, including a visit to the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery and the Mon Repos Turtle Rookery. Of course, as everywhere else along this route, there’s the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Stay at Big4 Cane Village Holiday Park, a beauty!

STOP 3: Gladstone. Almost a 200km journey and shouldn’t take much more than two and a half hours if cruising at a slow but steady pace. The drive’s easy and the destination a treat. Simply cannot miss Kroombit Tops National Park for some outstanding waterfalls, creeks, and if you can spare the time and cash, head to Gladstone Marina (a whopper) and grab a charter for a spot of fishing or just for a quick cruise in the sunshine.

STOP 4: Mackay. Another big drive for this point of the trip, almost six hours and there is plenty to see and do during this road trip so maybe allow a full day on the road and hit points like Rockhampton. There are more than 30 beaches to explore here, believe it or not! There are also excellent golf courses and the Botanical Gardens is a beautiful hot spot for visitors. Stay at the Premier Caravan Park, which is a gem and has superb facilities.

STOP 5: Townsville. The last part of the journey and possibly the best, as you pass the waters that house Hayman and Hamilton islands – the trip is another lengthy one that will likely take you 5 hours if heading straight there. Townsville is an interesting part of Australia, full of history, contrasts of wealth and poverty, and has a beautiful Strand area. There’s a great little casino called Junipers in town and it’s well worth catching a ferry to Magnetic “Maggie” Island to spend a day. Stay at the Walkabout Palms Holiday Park.

AUSTIN BONHAM

Introduction:

The first thing to say about self-drive holidays in Australia is that you have a wealth of choice to select from as well as a vast country to explore. Given that Australia is roughly the same size as continental USA with a population less than Texas there is plenty of empty space and a country widely diverse in climate and terrain to discover.

Australia is fortunate to be home to some of the World’s leading Campervan rental companies offering a wide range of vehicles from adventurous four wheel drives to luxurious Motorhomes.

Long gone are the days when a Campervan holiday involved cramped beds, awkward bathroom facilities, limited cooking options and generally a step away from home comforts. Today’s vehicles have evolved to offer European styled kitchens, spacious air-conditioned living areas with audio-visual equipment, large double beds and well-equipped bathrooms. What’s more they are surprisingly easy to drive with no special licensing requirements other than holding a full driving license and over the age of 21 (with some exceptions).

Power steering, automatic transmissions and modern design have taken the hard work out of travelling in a vehicle larger than most of us regularly drive.

Finding & Booking … How?

Most of the leading rental firms have online booking facilities and in some instances reservations can be made through your local travel agent. However as alternative option, we would suggest visiting drivenow.com.au, a website dedicated to pulling information together on the top Australian (and New Zealand) rental suppliers. In addition to being able to compare rates and vehicles from competing rental companies the website also offers:

• Latest Discounted Rate Comparisons
• Early Bird and Long Term Rental Discounting
• Vehicle Rental Company profiles
• Rental branch locations and services provided
• Detailed Vehicle descriptions and specifications
• Fleet comparisons
• Insurance detail options
• Travel information

DriveNow is focused on doing all the leg work for prospective road travellers in Australia and New Zealand to ensure that you have all the information required to compare and select the vehicle that most suits your travelling needs.

Rental Companies … Who to use?

There are many high quality rental companies in Australia, some are highly specialised and offer services in particular states or cities whilst others are national and operate across all states and territories. The top 5 in terms of size, range of fleet, widest choice of branch locations and quality of service are:

• Apollo Motorhomes
• Britz Australia
• Backpacker Campervan Rentals
• KEA Campers
• Maui Motorhomes

Vehicle Definitions … What’s in a Name?

The term Campervan, Motorhome, RV (Recreational Vehicle) and even 4 WD Campervans are all often inter-used to describe the same vehicle. Whilst there are exceptions a set of rule-of-thumb definitions could include:

• Motorhome
  Generally top end luxury vehicles on a long-wheel base and provide the most generous living space and facilities.
  These range from 2 to 6 berth vehicles and come equipped with European styled kitchen appliances, comprehensive bathroom facilities, full reverse cycle air-conditioning, LCD televisions, DVD players and in some instances even Playstations.

• Campervans
  Campervans cover largely 2, 2.5 (2 adults & 1 child) and 3 berth vehicles. Today many of these are equipped with bathroom and complete kitchen facilities and often TVs & DVD players. Most have air-conditioning and heating in the Driving and Living cabins.

• Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
  North American term to describe both the above sets of vehicles, although in the US the size of RVs can far exceed Australian models.

• 4WD Campervans
  4 Wheel Drive Campervans are designed on their namesakes, the most popular of which is the Toyota Land-Cruiser. Whilst limited in internal features (generally bedding for two) these often provide additional external sleeping through tent extensions and some can accommodate up to 5 travellers. Vehicles are all Diesel with manual transmissions and generally long-range fuel tanks.

Campervan Classes … What’s the difference?

• 6 Berth Motorhome – 6 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Top end luxury vehicles, generally largest in a suppliers fleet with 3 double beds, comprehensive kitchen, onboard shower & Toilet facilities and Air-Conditioning/heating. Large entertainment area and audio visual equipment often includes LCD TV & DVD players. Turbo Diesel engines with manual and auto transmissions depending upon supplier. Examples include the Britz Frontier and Apollo Euro Deluxe Motorhomes.

• 4 Berth Motorhome – 4 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Luxury vehicles with 2 double beds comprehensive kitchens, generous entertainment area, Air-Conditioning/heating and onboard shower & Toilet facilities.Often equipped with LCD TV & DVD players. Turbo Diesel engines with manual and auto transmissions depending upon supplier. Examples include KEA Campers 4 berth and Maui Motorhomes Spirit 4.

• 3 Berth Motorhome – 3 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Luxury 3 berth (1 x double & 1 x single) with comprehensive kitchen, onboard shower & Toilet, Air-Conditioning/heating and audio visual equipped. Turbo Diesel engines with manual transmission. Examples include Apollo’s Cruiser.

• 3 Berth Campervan – 3 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Accommodation for 2 adults & 1 child, Cooker, Fridge and sink (hand pump), no onboard bathroom facilities, Air-Conditioning/heating in Driver’s cabin. Unleaded Petrol engines with manual transmissions. Examples include Backpacker’s Nomad and Apollo’s Hitop campervan.

• 2 Berth Motorhome – 2 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Luxury vehicle, 1 double bed, comprehensive kitchen and onboard shower & Toilet facilities, Air-Conditioning/heating and often equipped with LCD TV & DVD players. Turbo Diesel engines with manual transmissions. Examples include KEA’s ST/TV and Maui’s Spirit 2 T/S.

• 2 Berth Campervan – 2 Berth Motorhome Rental Comparisons
  Widest choice of vehicles, 1 Double Bed, well equipped kitchen, usually with onboard shower & Toilet facilities. Turbo Diesel and unleaded Petrol engines with manual transmissions depending upon supplier. Examples include BackPacker Wanderer and Britz Elite.

• 4 Wheel Drive Campervans4 Wheel Drive Campervan Rental Comparisons
  Often equipped with sleeping accommodation onboard for 2, 4WD Campervans also supplement their sleeping quarters with tents. In the case of the Britz Toyota Adventurer this takes the form of the quirky Dome tent that sits atop of the vehicle. Vehicles largely based on the Toyota Land Cruiser short and long wheel base, Turbo diesel engines with manual transmission and often equipped with long-range fuel tanks – 135 litres. Examples include Apollo’s 2 Berth Adventure and the KEA Camper 3 Berth Pop-Top 4WD Campervan.

Selecting a Vehicle … What’s right for me?

In selecting the right vehicle for your holiday there are certain key considerations to make including:

• Number of Travellers
• Age of Travellers
• Travel Itinerary
• Budget
• Time of Year
• Style of Holiday

Obviously the number of passengers is going to dictate the type and size of your vehicle. But it’s also worth checking out the sleeping configuration of each vehicle.  For instance in many instances the 6 berth luxury Motorhomes have 3 x double beds and whilst perfect for 3 couples or young families it would not necessarily work for a group of friends or family with large number of adolescent children.

For those looking to have all the mod-cons whilst on the road then the Motorhome range of vehicles will fit the bill with accommodation starting from 2 berth up to the aforementioned 6 berths. These will provide the most leg-room, fittings, furnishings and bathroom facilities. Remember that many of the electrical appliances (including auxiliary Air-conditioning/hearting) will only operate when the vehicle’s power cable is connected to the mains (most Holiday Parks in Australia will offer this facility).

For those who are happy to live without some onboard facilities then the range of Campervans, of which the most popular and widest choice are the 2 (+1 child) berth will be ideal and easier on the pocket.

If you’re travelling on a budget and require 2 or 3 berths look for the Cheapa Campa from Apollo and Backpacker Campervan Rental options. Though often you will be surprised at the prices and deals available so comparing all your options is highly recommended.

If you plan to take your vehicle off the bitumen then the 4 Wheel Drive is the only option to look at and you must let the rental company know of your plans when you pick up the vehicle. In parts of Outback Australia you are required to have a permit to enter Aboriginal Lands and depending upon the season some areas are closed due to climatic conditions. The 4 Wheel Drive option caters for 2 travellers through to parties of 5 with tents – so very flexible.

Depending upon the time of year and where you wish to travel, it’s worth booking well in advance. In the Southern states in summer, particularly around Christmas, Motorhomes book out fast and well in advance. Conversely in the Winter period – June through August – Northern Queensland and the Top End – Darwin and the Northern Territory become popular.

If you have younger children or infants that require booster and/or baby seats check on the DriveNow website as to whether your vehicle of choice accommodates them.

DriveNow allows you to book well in advance so once you have your travel dates locked in it’s highly recommended to lock in your vehicle of choice to avoid disappointment and higher rates that generally come around the closer you get to popular travel times. Another advantage of booking early are the Early Bird rates. Most of DriveNow ’s Campervan partners offer aaded discounts to rentals that are booked 6+ months in advance.

ChrisC
DriveNow Partner and sometime Blog Contributor

The roadtrip was surprisingly easy thanks to good roads and not a lot of road trains, thankfully on this particular day. There were plenty of cattle, though, so you still have to be careful. The cattle around these parts seem to have sound road skills. Believe it or not, I actually saw a herd of cows stop and wait and then cross the road, unlike the horses up around Cooktown who wait, then run out in front of you!

There is little warning that Quamby is approaching, so don’t blink or you will miss it. The town of Quamby – and, yes, it still is a registered town – has a population of only 5 (three of whom are the barmaids!) and just one property. However, many moons ago Quamby was a vibrant little village and one of the main Cobb & Co stations. Now it’s a great pub, with accommodation out the back – donga style. You can hook up your van to their power or use a donga.

It’s such a neat, quaint and interesting place that you do really have to stay a night. They have their own resident bull, Camel, who is a real character and they have their own Bundaberg Rum water tank sitting in all its pride and glory on the hill out the back. Yes, it’s all very Outback and very welcoming. The pub is big, with tons of room, so sit inside or sit outside, fire up the Barbecues and enjoy the best cooked breakfast you will find on the road. All the facilities are nice and clean and, of course, you will always get a nice cold beer, not to mention the mean roast dinner that’s on the menu! And the barmaids here are tourists and have some cracker stories to tell.

Situated just 120kms out of Cloncurry, it’s also worth noting that there’s no mobile phone reception unless you drive about 250m up the road and around the next corner.

You will not find Outback style or hospitality like you do at the Quamby Pub.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
The Great Australian Doorstep – visit www.thegreataustraliandoorstep.com.au

1) Riverboats Jazz Food and Wine Festival. Every July this one attracts jazz and wine lovers in their droves from all corners of the country, so head down the Hume Highway in your campervan or hire car to this historic river port township set on the banks of the mighty Murray River for some smooth jazz, great food and wonderful nearby attractions. It all happens in late February. Visit www.riverboatsjazzfoodandwine.com.au

2) Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival. Any time of the year is a good time of the year to visit this beautiful coastal hotspot. Enjoy the best of both worlds whether it be the beach or the hinterland. This world renowned music festival attracts some of the biggest artists in the world. Held over five days every Easter, visit www.bluesfest.com.au

3) Chill Island. Head south from Melbourne and find a patch on charming Phillip Island, home of Australia’s best known penguins and the Phillip Island motorsport circuit. Every January it comes alive to the sounds of easygoing, chilled music including artists covering such genres as folk, reggae, blues and pop. Visit www.chillisland.org

4) Womadelaide. This one stands for World of Music Arts and Dance and simply must be experienced if you’re ever cruising around South Australia. Thousands “bliss out” as they enjoy the sounds of the planet, street theatre, exhibitions and great food. Visit www.womadelaide.com.au

5) Tamworth Country Music Festival. No Aussie list of music festivals can be without this mighty country music fest when the greats of country music, and promising up and comers of all ages, hit the town for a fun time. Celebrations continue for 10 days every year from mid-January. Visit www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au

AUSTIN BONHAM

]]>

Definitely take the short-cut and head along the top of the Atherton Tablelands, and cut out going back through Cairns. It’s a great drive that’s fairly easy until you reach Rolleston. From then on its only bitumen for the width of one car, down the middle of the road, so drive your campervan and carry your load carefully especially on corners, as chances are others coming towards you are using the middle of the road too! The other half of your lane is orange dirt and badly corrugated, so it’s slow going. Every now and then you will get a double land of bitumen, but not often, and no there’s no phone reception from thereafter either.

It feels like the road is never ending, but it’s because of the slow going and the frequent pull-offs you have to make. But once you enter Mt Surprise, this little town never fails to surprise! It’s a tiny town with a pub built in the back of someone’s barn, a petrol station, post office, fish and chips shop and café. Just remember there’s not much phone reception here but there is a pay phone out the front of the petrol station.

We stayed at Bedrock Caravan Village and we can’t recommend it highly enough and you needn’t worry about staying anywhere else but there. It’s awesome! Fantastic hosts Joe & Jo bend over backwards to make your stay totally and utterly unforgettable, with singalongs around the camp fire, camp dinners and the best part is that they also own the local tours company out to the Lava Tubes and Volcano Rim. The Lava Tubes are amazing, still in their pristine, natural state, including the bones of many dead animals littering the floors of the tubes. It’s grea to see they haven’t commercialised it and it really hits home about how often we have ruined national treasures through tourism. You will not be dissapointed, not for a second. Joe is full of knowledge and has a great relationship with the local elders, which only lends charm to a very memorable experience.

Make sure you stay at least three or four days in Mount Surprise. You definitely will not regret it.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
The Great Australian Doorstep is coming to 7TWO on Australian television. Visit www.thegreataustraliandoorstep.com for more information