2010 - Ön The Wallaby "East Coast Spring Tour

[Deleted]

;D ;D ;D ;D
Hidey Ho thar intrepid travellers....

After a lay off last year due to work commitments ( or the lack of ) i am happy to announce that the infamous Ëast coast tour is back on the vintage caravaning agenda again this year.

I have dubbed it the "On the wallaby Tour"this year as part of the tour retraces the road that the diggers took on thier recruitment march back at the start of the war.

As some of you know i have started planning a Vintage van / classic car / Hot rod expo to be held on the weekend of 9th and 10th October (the weekend before Coledale ) at Barnsley as a fundraiser which i hope to get the go ahead for soon. .read planning for this even elsewhere on the foum.

This years tour involves a fair bit of travelling each day ( hey .. it is a tour) will leave from Barnsley NSW on
Monday morning 11th Oct

Day one .... Monday 11th
Barnsley to Nundle
Via Maitland, Muswellbrook, Murrurundi
Approx 4 hours - 267ks
Staying at the fossickers tourist park
www.fossickersatnundle.com.au/
unpowered....$17
powered,,,,$22

Day Two.. Tues 12th
Nundle to Dubbo
Via Tamworth, Gunnedah, Coonabarabran
Staying at .http://www.big4dubboparklands.com.au/contact/

aprrox 4.5hrs - 435ks
Powered.. $38

Day Three
Dubbo to Katoomba
Dubbo, Wellington, Orange, Bathurst
Or
Via Dunedoo, Gulgong, Mudgee, Bathurst
4.5hrs 335ks
Staying at Katoomba Falls Caravan Park
www.australianexplorer.com/campsites/9054369/profile.htm
Havent check tariffs there yet.

Day four
Katoomba to Coledale
via
Penrith, picton rd, down stanwall park and into coledale via the sea bridge etc.. etc arriving around 11 or 12 oclock..

Approx 2.5hrs 145ks

Like i said at the start.. a lot of driving/ sightseeing
Approx 1082 ks over 4 days.
travelling for roughly 4 hours per day..

There is no rules that state that you have to do this in a set period during the day... its not a rally and you can cover the distance in 1 hour hops if you wish..
Dropping off and on the caravan congo line as we travel around the countryside.
In the passed we have set our own pace and all still managed to be at the van park in time for happy hour of an arvo.

Please consider this before committing to coming along. I know a lot of people like to spend time in each town we pass through.. but this year the emphasis is on touring and seeing the NSW countryside which ... after all the rain is looking magnificent.

Hopefully by about the end of May i will have replys here on this thread / some sort of feedback on the plan and commitment from those intending to go "on the wallaby" with us .
A word of warning..
There is NO STRUCTURED PROGRAM OF EVENTS...
On this tour ... we make up the fun as we roll along. ;D
That'll do for now...
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this years plans .

Reddo.. aka.. Capt Wally the Wallaby

[sutcac]

Aw ...............alright then ......if we have to. ...............ya twisted our arm again ...........

[Cruz]

Hi Reddo,
Sounds good to me.
See on the wallaby
Cruz

[Deleted]

;D ;D ;D
Non forum... but keen vintage vanners John and Pam Daniels have signed up for this years East Coast Tour. We go through thier home town of Muswellbrook on Monday on the way to Nundle.
So they will grab hold of our tail on the way past.

Welcome aboard the wackiest trip ya will ever go on John and Pam. ;D ;D

Reddo

[Deleted]

;D
Hi Vintage vanners

Ok... Its the end of May and i am dusting this post off to see if we have any more starters for this years East Coast .. pre Coledale .. Spring Tour.

Still plenty of time to get your act .... towcar... and caravan together and register your name here.

I have just contacted Nundle and Gilgandra Van parks and booked a dozen sites at those parks...
Will talk to Katoomba Caravan Park when we stay there for "Xmas in July" ( see seperate post for that event)

l Have specifically asked/ stressed ... that we all be grouped together as near as possible to camp kitchens and toilet facilitys.
Looks like the going rate is $24 / 2 persons/ powered site/ per night.

At the moment we have 4 starters and i have promised the park managers i will contact them around september and give them firm numbers on sites required.

Soo..... go back.. peruse the planned stop overs..daily travel distances .. and reply here with names /numbers or ... if you feel we need to change the planned route by lengthening/ shortening/ diverting then that info would be greatly appreciated too.

Reddo

[Cruz]

Hi, Just wanted to bump this up to the first page. (Told a new member Bugsy where to find it as looks like he may be a starter). 55F100 and Crusader.

[Deleted]

Hi All

As you may or may not be aware i have had to cancel the idea of the "Caravans for Cancder "event i had suggested for sunday 10th October.
This leaves those of us going on the wallaby tour this year without booked accomodation for the weekend .
I have been scatching around the van parks in the Lake Macquarie / Newcastle / Port Stephens region for the past day or so looking for a dog friendly park for us to stay at before moving out on Monday 11th and heading to Nundle...

Most parks i have apporached have given me a blanketting "NO "to dogs.. no matter what the size.. or how well behaved they are... I even told one caretaker that our dogs can use flush toilets / shovel thier own poop..
Made no difference... No dogs.

However......I have 2 parks that may be persuaded to let us in for the weekend with the k9s.
One is the Belmont Pines Caravan Park. This is the one we stayed at on the last night of our last tour in 2008.
A great spot when the weather is nice ... but as we found out last time we stayed there it is wide open to the wind from all directions.... so... i have earmarked this park as a "back up "choice .

So... who come first..
I have just got off the phone to the girly looking after "Shoal Bay Caravan Park" which is at Port Stephens about 1 hour north of Newcastle.
www.beachsideholidays.com.au/SBfacilities.phtml
( Peak season powered sites are $45 will work on the manager for pensioner bulk booking rates )

The manager is away until Tuesday next week and the park has a "" no dogs "during first week of October school hols policy ( a bit odd dont ya think.. either the dogs are in or thier out ??) .

I stated that we would be there on the last 2 nights of the school hols and all the dogs are well behaved .. etc.. etc.
She seems to think that seeing as though there could be a dozen of us there on the day that a lot of sites will become vacant .the manager might be swayed into letting us in with the hounds...

I know this issue might only effect one or two of those going on the tour , but i feel it is worth me pursuing so that we can all be together in the same park... its not a big thing to sort out and i am happy to keep pestering these parks until i get the answer we want...
Hope to know more by mid next week.
I do hope we can get in up the bay somewhere.. it really is a great part of the world...and .. an ideal kick off point for the tour.

Stay tuned
Reddo....aka .. wally the wallaby

[kaybee]

So what you're sayin' is....if we stay at Belmont etc, the Sat. nite at the club is a goer.....and if we go north.....no feeding frenzy at the club? ....seems a simple choice,bring on the wind...... ;D ;D

[Deleted]

Hi Kaybees..

Experience tells me that... any sort of feeding frenzy will... "Bring on the wind" eventually. ...all be it an Ïll wind...or at least smells like an ill wind

The RSL i referred to back on the Caravans for Cancer posts is about 10 or 12K from Belmont Pines van Park. Wouold have been handy if we where staying in the big shed.. but a bit of a hike from Belmont.

Dont panic about the club on saturday night. If we end up at shoal bay its a 2 minute drive to Nelsons Bay RSL or Bowlo club. Both of the have good restaurant / Bistros.
More than likely be a courtesy bus that we can whistle up as well.... ;D
Ifd we end up at Belmont... There is a good feed to be had at Swansea RSL or .. Belmont 16ft Sailing Club.

Also had a call from John Daniels who suggested we could do a night or two at Glenbawn dam up the Hunter Valley .... where we stayed on the first tour. Problem with out there is that its a long way back to civilization if we want to have an night out or get supplies etc.
Just thought somewhere near the populated coast would be a good staring point for the tour as people who have travelled some distance to get here might like a few days to unwind from driving in a pretty part of the world.
A chance to refresh while they are sight seeing and be all stocked up and ready to roll when we head bush on Monday

Its all good brothers .. sisters.. ..and ....................k9's
Reddo

[Deleted]

Okey Dokey
Just got a call from The shoal Bay Caravan Park..
The hounds are in. ... oh... and so are we. ;D

The management has asked for a deposit of 1 nights site fees.
At the moment the girly has stated $45.. i have asked for a discount for bulk booking up to 10 sites ... and also "Pensioners rates". So even if we only get $5 off the site fees its better than zit all.

They require payment no later than the start of the last week in July. ( all other parks are cool with just roll up on the day and pay) . So those of you that intend coming along and want to stay the 2 nights at Shoal Bay could you please check out the link to the park and organise payment before the last week in July and then send me a pm saying you have done so??
Those that choose to stay elsewhere.....catching up with us along the way to Nundle .. or.. at Nundle on Monday could you either send me a pm or phone me and let me know what your plans are.. .


Other news??
There is a swapmeet on the sunday ( 10/10/2010) morning at Maitland showground. Thought we might be able to slip over there for a look early .about 60ks. Then do a bit of a site-seeing meander back to the bay.. Lunch somewhere along the way at a pub or club....
Can bounce this around on the saturday when we meet up .


Will bump this message a few times over the next 4 weeks .
Cheers all
Reddo

[neilncheryl]

Hi Reddo
Cheryl & I will join you on the tour this year.
Will probably meet you at Nundle and start from there but I will confirm that as time gets closer.
Looking forward to it
Neil

[Deleted]

Hi All
After a bit of a discussion with the vint van crew at Katoomba i have decided to cancel our group booking at Gilgandra for Tues 12th.
Just got off the blower to this mob at Dubbo..
www.big4dubboparklands.com.au/contact/
Appears to be a lot bigger/better park than at Gilgandra . Also Dubbo has a lot more attractions / eat out places etc, etc in the region.
The down side...
Even with all my negotiating skills i could not get a group discount. Site fees for the night are $38 due to it being school holidays at that time of year.

They also want the site fees for the night paid up front.
So.. I have taken the liberty of reserving 10 sites and ask that those that are going please ring the van park on the 1800 toll free number that is in the link.
State that you are with the vintage caravan park mob and are staying there on Tuesday October 12th.

Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

Also .. need to phone "Shoal Bay Caravan Park "and book site for saturday and sunday being 9th and 10th of October.
Here is the link to that park..
www.beachsideholidays.com.au/SBcontact.phtml
Sorry for sounding pushy but this is brought upon us by the park managers and i cant sway em into letting us pay on the day.

I will bump this post every few weeks .Could you please send me a pm when you have contacted both parks and sorted things out with them.

Dont want to pull up at the gate of the park in October and find that you havent got a place to stay for the night

Cheers all
Reddo

[Deleted]

Hi East Coast Tourers..

Just a reminder that we all need to have paid a deposit at Shoal Bay Caravan Park by the end of July.
Thanks goes to those who have already done so..
Dont wanna sound bossy but if we ya havent squared up witrh the park i cant gaurentee you will get a powered site with the rest of us.... or .. even get into the same park ( its school hols remember)

Those of you that havent paid could you please get on to it ASAP and forward me a pm to let me know its done..
Thanks in advance.

Reddo

[1954homemade]

Hi Reddo,

Please count me in.

I have paid my deposit at Shoal Bay and also paid for Dubbo.

Talk soon
Di

[Deleted]

Thats great news Di.
Welcome aboard

This rounds the starters up to 10.

Which is good... cause thats all the tour info packs i have managed to score from each of the tourist info joints in the towns we are staying at.....
Can you please pm me your ..
Towcar details
What van you are bringing and......
If its OK with you a contact mobile number.

Cheers
Reddo

[Deleted]

Okey dokes kiddies.
Capt'n Wallaby here..
Just givin ya all a rev up...
Its.. Roolly . Rooly. Verrry... close to crunch time...

Its just on 2 months off The www.vintagecaravans.com....." On Wallaby East Coast Tour"".
Now is the time to ask yourself .......
Is ....the van ready
Is....The car is ready
Do...I have enough annual leave
Can.. I find someone to drive my truck for a week or two.
...and/or.
Say....
Stuff work ..
Life is too short''
I need a good giggle.........
I / we are going on a wacky week away with my favourite hobby with some real good mates.

It aint too late to sign up...
I'll give ya until this Friday to sign up and take advantage of the million dollar show bag offer i put together for the tour
At a cost of around 4 shillings and 6 pence ;D ;D
.........
PLEASE CONSIDER
And,,,
sign up soon
Reddo.

[Cruz]

Hi V Ver,s

Car is ready just given her the once over oil, filter, brakes, checked all those bits and pieces underneath that come lose. Gidget has a couple of small jobs including working out a catch to stop the hatch lifting when traveling . Original is in place but hatch still lifts when traveling, this is starting to knock the hatch around. have replaced flyscreen on door(don,t ask why i had to cut a hole in it). Also had to machine a wheel as it was not square in the hub. ( Noticed at rego Check).
Should be all good for "On the wallaby".
Cruz

[1954homemade]

Hi Reddo and rest of the Intrepid Travellers,

When I first booked the tour, I was going to be traveling from Sydney so was going to start at Port Stephens.

That has now changed and as I will be travelling from QLD I have decided to start on the tour from Nundle on the Monday.

I have booked and paid $45 (equivalent to one nights fees) at Port Stephens. The cancellation policy is lose $30 of the $45 or get a credit for use later in the year. Or I am able to transfer the site/money to someone else. So if anyone that is going on the tour hasn't booked their site as yet for Port Stephens, please PM me and I can transfer my booking to you.

If no luck, I will just transfer the date of the booking for sometime after Coledale and stop there on the the way home.

Thanks
Di

[Cruz]

Well not long to go now.
Swap meet sounds good,but the camp kitchen TV may have my attention on Sunday. BATHURST.
Looking forward to catching up with some, and meeting new members of the mad mad world of V V's
Who's going Reddo?
Leanne

[Deleted]

Hi Cruz

Been a bit busy just lately..
FB van got its 3rd gerbox in as many months..
F100 rego
The purchase and organising of the retrieval of a collectable/ desirable old ply van from deep south of Mexico over the October longweekend.
Shopping around for goodies to stash in the tour showbags...
Its all coming together ..
Starters for the tour are as follows..
Cruz, Bugsy, Sutcacs, Dossie, Earlee, Kaybees, Neilncheryl, John and Pam Daniels, Reddo, Homemade 1954..
Just the ten this year . Thats a manageable number. especially with the distances we will be traveling each day. The K's a re a bit up on what we would normally do but the route takes us on a good loop out west.
The more cars you have on a big trip the higher the likelyhood of breakdowns etc..
So yeah.. we should be in for a great week away culminating at the NSW mecca for old vans.. the annual Coledale getogether.
Planning going on every day..
Not long now..
Cant wait...
Sunday Bathurst in front of a telly. Will probably find time to stick my head in for a few updates during the day...

Reddo

[Deleted]

URGENT . URGENT. URGENT
I have just been ringing around the van parks that we plan on staying at on the tour.
There was a missunderstanding at Dubbo. I thought they where sweet with roll up and pay on the day. Apparently not.

Could those of you that have not booked in to Dubbo Parklands Caravan Park please phone them IMMEDIATELY .. as in NOW!!
and book yourselves in ....as in pay for your site .. with the vintage caravan group for Tuesday 12th October.

Please pm me when you have done this so i know all is sweet.
If you dont get on to this ASAP i cannot guarantee you will get a site with us.. or even in the same park.

I dont really wanna ring everyone individually and ask them to do this but if i havent got 7 replys by the end of next week i will take it you arent coming...

If any of the QLD mob spot this message can ya please spread the word as a matter of urgency.

Cruz and Bugsy .. you guys are OK thanks for paying early. ;D
Will rerun this message every day so that it doesnt fall off the last 30 posts...

OOh how simple tour organising use to be

Cheers
Reddo

[kaybee]

Sorry Reddo, bad time to bring this up, but the BIG4 Park doesn't allow dogs
The lady there , when i said no problem , I will ring The Poplars coz my book says they will allow dogs ,told me that she thinks that they have had a change of policy, but never mind, and she gave me a number to call for a Park about 10 minutes out of town, near the Airport

Luckily I rang The Poplars Caravan Park( 02 6882 4067 ) in town and and found dogs are very welcome, so we have booked in.

KB

[sutcac]

Hi Reddo.......we're gunna have to book into the Poplars CP also(..with Talley dawg)
......it'll split the group for that one stay at Dubbo..........but thats no major drama... .
we'll still get together for our evening meal/drink/yarn ..........just won't be able to go to bed together.....so to speak

[Deleted]

Hi Kaybees and Sutcacs

Really , really sorry about not doing my homework properly when chasing up a park at dubbo.
I actually thought they said dogs where cool at the big4.

I just rang the kaybees as i wasnt aware they had a pooch now.
They have stated the same as Sutcac.. and are happy to bunk down at the poplars.
Seeing as though 4 of us have already booked in to the Parklands Big 4 we will leave things as they are. Not worth all of us pulling the pin and moving over to the poplars for just the one night..

A similar thing happened a few years ago at Uladulla ( no dogs allowed park) and we still managed to all get together for happy hour and a great evening in the camp kitchen.... still remember the Klaxon horn on Barb and Clydes EH getting stuck on as they where leaving after "Lights out"with Tallie dog being smuggled out stuck up thier jumper ;D ;D ;D

Once again .. sorry about the stuff up..
Bloody stupid Wallaby.. Cant trust it to get the bookings right on the tour.....i knew i should have done the organising this year. ;D

Reddo

[1954homemade]

Hi Reddo,

I booked and paid at Dubbo back in July.

Regards
Di