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Grey Nomad Times
In this issue:
•Colossal captive croc
•“Don’t go, mum!”
•Fishing for shortcuts
Will bowser price cuts
fuel a nomad boom?
still up to 8 cents higher than
they should be. It says the
industry is less inclined to pass
on wholesale savings to diesel
consumers.
Last week, the average cost of
diesel was $1.42.9 in Adelaide
and $1. 64.8 in Coober Pedy.
The impact of lower fuel prices
on grey nomads can scarcely
be overstated.
The RACQ estimates a diesel
4WD towing a caravan would
consume approximately 685
litres of fuel on a trip from
Brisbane to Cairns and back,
at an average 17 litres per
100kms. If diesel cost $1.30 a
litre, the trip would cost $890;
if it were $1.50 the cost would
rise to $1,027.50; and at $2 per
litre, it would be $1,370.
Safari hunters should be
allowed to pay to shoot
crocodiles. And so says
79.3% of respondents to
our poll on the issue in the
last GNT.
“We should encourage controlled hunting for crocs and
other feral animals such as
goats or camels,” said Mike
S. “With the proviso that all
the money goes back in the
management of wildlife as is
practised in the USA.”
Rod and Pam K agreed.
“Croc numbers should be
controlled,” they wrote. “But
any culling by trophy hunters must be monitored by
Parks and Wildlife rangers.”
Maca was more blunt.
“We should be payin’ THEM
to shoot the bloody things,”
he said. “It’s way overdue!”
However, Maurie Y argued
that any croc culling
required should be carried
out officially by rangers.
And David C could see
things from the saltie’s point
of view.
“It’s their territory,” he
wrote. “You come to my
place uninvited and I’m not
happy either … that’s why
they bite! Respect them you
mongrels!”
Click to comment
Click to comment
Long-term travellers
set to save a bundle ...
even in the bush
With van park fees surging,
superannuation struggling, and
food costs on the rise, budgetminded grey nomads have
been hanging out for some
good news.
And it’s come from an unlikely
source … falling fuel prices!
Unleaded petrol is cheaper
than it has been for 18 months
in many areas, with motorists
in some big cities paying under
$1.20 a litre. Experts say things
should get even better over
coming days.
It’s all a matter of the stars
aligning. In the past week, the
average crude oil price fell
$US3.86 per barrel, the Aussie
dollar rose 0.4 cents against the
US currency, and Sydney’s Terminal Gate price for unleaded
fuel fell 5 cents per litre.
Of course, extreme competition guarantees keen pricing
in the cities but it’s the bush
where most grey nomads feel
the pinch. However, NRMA
Senior Economic Adviser, Wal
Setkiewicz, says regional prices
in NSW have also dipped.
“There is a 17 cents per litre
difference between the cheapest town (Singleton $1.32.9
cents per litre and the most
Budget breakthrough ... go while the going is good
expensive town (Tumut $1.49.9
per litre),” he said. “Coffs Harbour had the biggest drop in
prices during the week, falling
more than 10 cents per litre.”
The regional disparity is also
raising eyebrows in South
Australia.
The RAA says some outlets
in places such as Port Lincoln
and Whyalla have been slow to
pass on savings. Senior analyst
Chris West warns regional centres may harm their tourism
prospects.
“There are clear questions with
why retailers aren’t passing on
the saving and they should be,”
he said. “If you want to attract
tourists to your town you’ve
got to offer competitive prices
for fuel.”
The RAA said with ULP and
LPG falling, diesel prices are
Croc hunting
okay with most
GNT readers
Issue 24: July 6, 2012
the
Your news and views? Email us at [email protected]
Grey Nomad Times
Characters of the Road
Adventurous pair set for
wild and woolly journey
Jamie, 59, and Beryl, 56,
are ready to travel … and
work in the wool industry
What do you travel in?
Nissan Navara and Regent
Series 111, 6 metres. It’s our
home on wheels. Being totally
self-sufficient, we are able to
set up camp anywhere. We
realised we needed a bigger
caravan with a shower and loo
after our first trip from Cairns
back to WA in 2006.
How long do you travel for?
We live in Brookton, WA, and
our trips last from three days
to four months. In 18 months’
time we will hit the road for a
couple of years ‘wool classing’
around Australia.
Likes of the lifestyle?
No lawns to mow, housework
done in a flash, different views
all the time, meeting new people and socialising, stopping at
the markets and buying from
roadside fruit & vege stalls …
absolutely everything really!
Dislikes of the lifestyle?
We do miss the kids and
grandkids at times, and are
wary of the big trucks on skinny roads. Also, the quarantine
stations. I understand they are
necessary but I get tired of
Caption Competition
Our winner (submitted by Matt)
Jamie and Beryl plan to hit the road for two years
making vege soup on the side
of the road to use up the veges!
driving stock trucks that probably saved us.
Hobbies?
Jamie loves to fish, talk, discuss
and compare vehicles with
other travellers. I make cards,
scrapbook, knit, photograph
and sell the soaps that I make.
Advice for grey nomads …?
Take the time to enjoy where
you are. Don’t get up at 6am
crashing and bashing just
because you are leaving. Be
considerate and do all the
noisy things the night before.
Take time to talk to people –
they may know something you
don’t.
Favourite places?
Barn Hill, Cape Leveque,
Great Australian Bight (laid
in bed listening to the whales
singing), Bremer Bay. So many
wonderful places.
Scariest experience?
A B-double nearly pushed us
off the road near a bridge near
Townsville. There was nowhere
for us to pull over but he came
through anyway with oncoming traffic. It was terrifying! It
was Jamie’s experience at
… and wannabe grey nomads?
Just because you can tow a
trailer, don’t take it for granted
you can drive a car and van.
Practise towing and reversing your caravan a lot. Don’t
embarrass yourselves yelling at
each other when trying to reverse the caravan. Learn how
to do it quietly and effectively
with signals.
Nomads in Brief
Runaway tragedy
The body of a 15-year-old
boy has been found in a river
at Borroloola in the NT. The
boy had been reported as
missing after running away
from a caravan park where
his family had been staying.
The body was found, fullyclothed in the water near the
Rocky Creek boat ramp.
Van park thieves
Thieves have struck at a
Darwin caravan park stealing
wallets, handbags, phones,
cameras and personal belongings. Police found two
cabins at the Hidden Valley
Tourist Park in Berrimah had
been broken into.
Sacred sites ‘safe’
The NT Government says
a dirt road from a Roper
Bar iron ore mine to Bing
Bong port near Borroloola
will not disturb Aboriginal
sacred sites. Western Desert
Resources plans to build the
160-kilometre road to open
up mining on the fringes of
the recently declared Limmen National Park.
Star turn
Conditions at the Great Barrier Reef are ripe for another outbreak of the dreaded
crown of thorns starfish. The
starfish, which eats its size
in coral every day, poses a
significant threat to the reef.
However, scientists hope an
infectious bacteria, that is fatal
to the species in high doses,
may be able to thwart the pest.
Grab a Cuppa and test your grey matta
This week’s challenge:
Do You Know
Email a funny
caption here
to accompany the
picture right.
Best entry shown
in our next issue.
1. Which NSW town frustrates rubbish collectors?
2. Road distance from Adelaide to Alice Springs?
A) 1531km B) 2014km C) 1832km
3. Which Australian prime minister served the shortest term?
4. Where are the Swan Bells?
5. NSW rock formation named after siblings.
(Answers on page 5)
“I said it’s my turn!!!!!!!”
Click here to see more funny entries from last week.
Issue 24: July 6, 2012
the
Letters to the editor? Email us at [email protected]
Grey Nomad Times
Dear Editor,
Re: national driving licence
(GNT: Issue 15). Major
changes to provide a national
licensing and registration system require the agreement of
all the states and territories, as
well as the federal government.
Austroads is the association
made up of all Australian and
New Zealand road transport
and traffic authorities commissioned to gain agreement and
progress elements of national
harmonisation of vehicle registration and driver licensing.
It has undertaken a body of
work to develop processes to
ensure transferring vehicle registration and drivers licenses
interstate are as simple as possible. The Standing Council on
Transport and Infrastructure
is also currently developing a
national program of legislation
for heavy vehicles designed to
provide consistent regulation
across the country. Once implemented and reviewed, this
system may provide a suitable
framework for registering light
vehicles across Australia.
Hon. Patrick Conlon, MP,
SA Minister for Transport
and Infrastructure
Dear Editor.
Re: Great Free Camping Debate
(GNT: Issue 23). I rang five caravan parks in Dubbo. We are
a couple with a small van who
need a powered drive-through
site for one night. Prices ranged
from $25-$40. No guessing
which one gets our money! I
think that $15-$20 is reasonable for a night in a clean, basic
park. Also, I wish there was a
fairer way to grade power consumption. Some outfits use a
huge amount with all their appliances, while others are small
and use barely any. I realise this
would be very difficult and, if
it was a coin in the slot system,
very expensive to implement.
Mon
Dear Editor,
It is virtually impossible to gain
a free camp in or around any
city or major provincial town.
Having a fully self-contained
rig, we take exception to paying
top dollar when we have to use
a caravan park. This industry
will always have the traveller
who wants the security and
lifestyle of parks, whilst there
will always be travellers like us
who want the freedom to park
our van along the river under
the famous gum tree. The most
important person in this industry, THE CUSTOMER, should
have the freedom of choice.
JBR
Dear Editor,
RE: Jaclyn & Heidi column
(GNT: Issue 23). As a kid, I
grew up with country music
and not much else. I guess
it gave me a lot to be happy
about. To this day, Slim Dusty
is still number one with me. At
our stage in life memories are
a wonderful thing so just let
Don have his new found love
of music and say ‘well, now
I have gone to maybe some
other type of music. I just want
a bit of variety.’ Hell, it sounds
that you have a great bloke
there. Tell him the truth. He’s
big enough to handle it. Keep
on rollin’, Don.
Peter M
Dear Editor,
What about some Pink Floyd,
Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin!
My wife made up a computer
song list and downloaded it on
to a thumb drive. We put the
stereo on random play so neither of us has to suffer repeated
attacks of the other’s choice
of music. We have a play list
of around 40 hours of music
we can both tolerate now. Life
is good when you can cruise
down the highway or back
road enjoying the music and
each other’s company.
Terry (T1)
Dear Editor,
Spot on, Heidi. Dora, you
should know that those little
white fibs just grow and grow
and grow.
Doug
Dear Editor,
Re: Dogs in national parks
(GNT letters: Issue 23). I really
wish there was some system
whereby we could take our
pet with us to national parks.
Maybe we could pay a fee on
entering and get a partial refund on leaving if we still have
the dog with us. There are so
many stunning spots I would
love to see but, alas, my dog
comes first. My choice I know,
but I’m certain I’m not the only
dog lover in this situation.
Trish W
Dear Editor,
Re: Gadgets (GNT: Issue 23).
I would still have to walk
slowly to see the cane toads
and snakes in low light areas
between the amenities and our
caravan at night! Those little
(and big) pesky guys blend in
so well to the vegetation. Great
idea for the thong lights. Tevas
are great, as well.
Yvonne W
Dear Editor,
Re: photo collections (GNT
letters: Issue 22). Emmybak.
We went to Hawaii years ago.
Those photos like many others
we have collect dust. We now
have ours on the computer and
come up on screen saver for
my wife and my enjoyment.
Glen D (Havago)
Dear Editor,
Re: Booze ban survey (GNT:
Issue 22). Banning anything
only works when there are
sufficient officers to ‘police’
the ban. I cannot imagine that
there would ever be enough officers to do that in the national
parks system.
Annie
Issue 24: July 6, 2012
the
Dear Editor,
All national parks should be
dry areas. No booze allowed.
There are council recreational
areas and camping areas which
could be used for this purpose.
National parks are there for
everyone to enjoy the wildlife,
the atmosphere, and environment. National parks are a
definite NO NO for boozing
hoons.
Christine (Cruising Granny)
Dear Editor,
Re: Toll roads (GNT: Issue 22)
Just another way to rip off the
caravanners. As if we don’t pay
enough on our registration etc
to maintain roads. When we
reach the ‘nomad’ stage, leave
us alone to enjoy our retirement/semi retirement. What
do they want us to do? Stay at
home, become couch potatoes
and eventually cost the government more money for hospital
costs.
Jack
Dear Editor,
Why are we paying so much
tax on fuel? This money should
be used to maintain the country’s roads. If they must introduce tolls on new roads, then
they should reduce the excise
on petrol or at least get rid of
the GST on the tax proportion
of the fuel price.
Alan J
Dear Editor,
If councils and states didn`t
waste so much money on
roads, there would be more
for upgrading. For example,
$11 million spent on a piece of
road at Corindi, north of Coffs,
and that was only for the initial
building. It was washed out
during heavy rain as it was not
done properly. Also, councils
fill in potholes which are full
of water and the next day, after
a few trucks, back are the potholes. The list goes on.
Natalie
Comments or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]
Grey Nomad Times
Where to find all the
other fish in the sea
The cost of fuel and rising
caravan parks fees are putting
the average grey nomad budget
under huge pressure … so it’s
the perfect time to slash food
costs. _Forget those carefree
days of fishing when you
innocently pitted your skills
against the mighty barramundi
and the rest in the hope of putting the occasional morsel on
the table … and in the freezer.
When times are tough, it’s
time to get serious. Enter the
‘Deeper’ fishfinder.
In a high-tech world where
you can find everything from
the nearest van park to the
cheapest fuel on your smart
phone … why wouldn’t you be
able to find fish?
The Deeper is a six-centimetre
wide sphere which can be
attached to a fishing line and
cast out onto the surface of an
ocean, river or lake. The floating fishfinder emits ultrasound
waves down into the water
to discover the number and
A new angle for anglers
location of any nearby fish.
The data is transmitted via
Bluetooth up to a distance of
50 metres to your Android or
iOS device. A special app then
allows you to then view the
information.
After that, it’s simply a matter
of hooking up, baiting up and
casting to the target area …
you can’t miss!
The Deeper app also allows
you to post fishing updates to
Facebook or Twitter so you
can share your triumphs with
family and friends, or give
your partner back at the van
a clue as to which size frying
pan to get out.
The device – which is still in
the prototype stage – will be
water- and shockproof, and
will run for approximately
six hours on one charge of its
lithium-ion battery. It would
also provide you with information on the air and water
temperature, water depth and
moon phase.
Florida-based tech company
Friday Lab hopes to be able to
offer the technology to consumers at a price of US$199. It
is searching for partners to sell
the product and expects it to
be available this October.
Would you consider buying
a Deeper or do you reckon it
would be like ‘cheating’?
Click to comment
Monster croc snatches record
A monster crocodile captured
in the southern Philippines last
September has been officially
recognised as the largest saltie
in captivity in the world.
The 6.17-metre reptile known
as Lolong took the top spot
from an Aussie croc that measured more than 5 metres.
The Guinness World Record
announcement sparked celebrations in Bunawan, the remote
farming town where Lolong
was captured.
Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said
It’s a whopper!
he had mixed feelings.
“We’re really proud because it
proves the rich biodiversity of
our place,” he said. “But, at the
same time, there are fears that
Lolong may not be alone.”
Lolong was blamed for the
deaths of a nine-year-old girl
and a fisherman. It was captured
after a three-week hunt. About
100 people pulled the crocodile
from a creek using a rope.
Find out more
Website highlights
Weather the weather
Recently our website
www.thegreynomads.com.au
reported that ‘alarmist’
weather reports were being blamed for keeping
would-be holidaymakers
out of British caravan parks
… but has our culture of
blame and litigation made
‘err-on-the-side-of-caution’
weather forecasts inevitable? In the UK, the caravan
industry is slamming the
BBC for driving tourists
away from seaside resorts
with forecasts of floods and
storms that never eventuate.
But, as Queenslanders will
know, perception is just as
important as reality when it
comes to tourism.
Read more here
SURVEY
Do weather forecasts
affect your travel plans?
Yes
No
Other website must-reads:
Weekly Mailbag
Readers shaken and stirred
Dog gone drama
Shayda’s leap of faith
Thunderbox farewell
Are we ready to lose the loos?
Issue 24: July 6, 2012
the
WANTED
900+ grain harvest
casual employees in
VIC, QLD, NSW & SA
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Grey Nomad Times
A blooming brilliant journey up north
Pristine rainforests,
wateralls and gorges on
the Bloomfield Track
The Daintree in far north
Queensland is one of the ultimate grey nomad destinations.
The World Heritage Listed
area includes 12,000 square
kilometres of rainforest, waterfalls, mountains, gorges and
spectacular coastal scenery.
Like the Gibb River Road and
the Oodnadatta Track, the
Bloomfield Track is one of
those unsealed roads which
holds almost mythical status among around-Australia
travellers.
The track, opened in 1984
despite fierce opposition from
environmentalists, runs for 32
kilometres from Cape Tribulation to the Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal. It’s not a
drive for the faint-hearted, and
the creek crossings and steep
sections mean it is 4WD-only
and not suitable for caravans.
The road becomes unsealed
as you head north from Cape
Tribulation, although the going
is fairly easy for six kilometres
or so until you reach the giant
Strangler Fig tree and, shortly
afterwards, Emmagen Creek. A
refreshing dip in the swimming hole here is the perfect
preparation for the adventure
ahead.
The difficulty of the drive varies wildly depending on recent
weather and road conditions.
There can be at least four tricky
crossings and there are also
steep sections at Donovan’s
Independence Day?
kids to stand on their own two
feet. Have you sat down and
talked to your daughter about
what your trip would really be
like. Yes, you may visit some
remote places but it’s not
1950 any more. You can keep
in touch via satellite phone,
emails, Skype … and even flying visits. Ask your daughter if
she might like to fly to Darwin
or Broome or Cairns to visit
next university holidays and
she might be more supportive
of the plan! The idea of not
having mum and dad at home
might be a little unsettling for
her at first but give her time,
Sue. I’m she’ll get used to the
idea.
Jaclyn
Dear Jaclyn and Heidi,
Last year, my husband and I
sold our business and bought a
motorhome. We were excited to
become grey nomads and were
all ready to go … but now we
can’t! Our youngest daughter,
who is in her second year of
university, is begging us not
to leave. She says we shouldn’t
just “abandon” her and says she
might need our support. We feel
so guilty. She is a good girl and
has her head screwed on so we
assumed she would be fine. In a
way, we feel like we should just
do what is right for us but what
if she does need us, and we are
camping in the middle of nowhere oblivious to her troubles?
Sue
It’s always a challenge knowing when we should force our
Sue. Ask your daughter to rearrange these words ‘up’ and
‘grow’ and then tell her to do it.
Photo courtesy of Queensland Tourism
Pristine waterways in the Daintree
Range, 20% (1:5), and Cowie
Range, 33% (1:3). You should
take local advice before taking
on the track.
It’s worth the effort though, as
the track takes you to pristine
rainforest, swimming holes,
beaches and stunning waterfalls. Donovans Lookout
offers sensational views over
the coastline, while remote
South Cowie Beach is simply
magnificent. There’s another
swimming hole at Woobadda
Creek, and then it’s on to the
Bloomfield River crossing, now
open again after being closed
How selfish to try to jeopardise
your trip of a lifetime. Yes, I am
sure we would all love to have
our mummies there around the
clock to give us a cuddle and
tell us everything is going to
be all right. Sadly, however, we
can’t stay six years old forever
and we have to learn to face the
big, bad world all by ourselves.
In the bigger scheme of things,
your daughter seems to be a
very lucky young lady and she
should perhaps start to count
her blessings. You have put in
the hard yards, Sue, and now
it’s time for you to reap the
rewards. And it’s time for your
daughter to learn that she can’t
always stomp her feet and get
everything she wants. Be cruel
to be kind, Sue … and have a
fantastic trip.
Heidi
Click to comment
by Cyclone Yasi. Don’t try
swimming with the crocs here!
The 40-metre Bloomfield Falls
near Wujal Wujal are a fittingly spectacular climax to the
drive. While this is where the
Bloomfield Track proper ends,
most travellers continue north
through Bloomfield, Rossville,
and Helensvale (where a stop
at the historic Lions Den Hotel
is an absolute must).
Just north of Helenvale is Black
Mountain (Kalkajaka) National
Park and its stark and imposing granite boulders.
It’s then an easy 30 kilometre
drive to the grey nomad mecca
of Cooktown. After exploring
and relaxing here for a while,
more adventures further north
will beckon, or it’ll be time to
shoot back south along the
Mulligan Highway to pick up
the van!
Click to comment
Issue 24: July 6, 2012
the
ot