Planning for East Coast Tour 2007- input invited

[will and Lyn]

;D
Hi scoot
thanks for the kind offer for storing the van
we found a caravan storage yard who stores them with security for $225 for six months
we never got to Airlie to see my son Chris we had some motor probs but betty got us home last night
can you believe when we put it into the RACQ they told us that
we need a new motor
when we picked betty up from RAC she was running on 7 with two other pots on low spark not good
the further we drove the better it got
but we thought if it gets us to brisbane we will put it on a truck and fly home so we passed brisbane passed sydney passed Canberra passed adelaide then across the nullarbor
every morning we started up and ran beautifully for 5 days
then this morning she ran exactly the same as when we picked her up from the RAC rough as guts
hows that!!!!!!
ive got a 351 fully reconned to drop in next week

we bought a two storey brick and tile house house over there 7 bedroom two bath
2 garage
we can rent the top storey 4 bedroom
and keep downstairs 3 bedroom for holidaying
and we can park the van there and pick up an EH in one of the garages
and fly in it makes it a lot easier for the runs on the east coast
my son chris can have use for holidays and our family here can holiday there as well
Lyn and I have eight kids between us so it will be well used

Hervey Bay is a magic location and has every thing any major city has as well as being in a strategic coastal position
has a jetport and has access to water moreso than any other town in Queensland will never run out of water
great infrastructure and is growing as rapidly as bunbury and rockingham in WA

In fact they are the three fastest growing locations in Australia
the only difference is the property is affordable and the stamp duty is unblievably minimal
Lyn and I are ecstatic
In WA I would pay around $20.000 for stamp duty
in Queensland we pay $2500 so new kitchen and bathroom vanity and carpets thrown in
We have to say that we cant wait for the next run
everyone and I mean everyone we met were just amazing

thank you all for your hospitality your kindness and friendship
it means a great deal to us both


special thanks to Reddo and family
Sue and JB
for there extended hospitality
thanks to Maurie and family for picking us up and dropping us to the truck
Cobber and Yvonne
Chippy dave
Kingy and maryanne
barb and Clyde
the kaybees
Wayne and Sharon
Ray
with there kind offers to look after us after the runs

in fact everyone we met you were all fantastic

Will and lyn

[kingy]

Hi All,
After spending some hours at the Batemans Bay caravan & camping expo (big event, goes for 3 days)we went onto stay at the Nelligen caravan park overnight, which unknown to us has had a major makeover recently.
We can highly recomend this park as a stopover Reddo on next years tour as it rates up amongst the best we've stayed at on our short touring history.The park is spotless with 6 good sites right on the rivers edge with many more just behind. Being able to book well in advance should secure these sites.It has a great camp kitchen with lounge suits, tv,heating,micro's,etc.
Off peak rates are $22 a night (powered).
The Steampacket hotel is directly across the hwy. ;D which has good meals.Nelligen village is just down the road, and Batemans bay a 7 min. drive.
I mentioned the possibility of a future group booking for around October and received a welcoming response.
So there, another option to ponder, early days yet i know but its a good excuse to get the old girl out (the van) and check these spots out.
Your roving southern reporter
kingy

[will and lyn]

[glow=red,2,300][/glow]Hi kingy and maryanne
great photos looks like a real nice and well organised park
the van looks great

Will

[Deleted]

Hi Kingo our roving southern reporter.

thanks for the pix.... oooooo look..... green grass and a river with water in it. Bit of a change from this years "Diesel and dust " outback tour.

Looks like a good place to unwind after the run down Clyde mountain"
Can park the vans and cars in the water to cool the brakes while i shout the first drinks at the rubbidy dub.

looks like Sunday night Goulborn . Monday night nellingen???. I know batemans bay has a lot to offer but i sorta like the out of the way parks. BB is only 7 mins away from the Nelly so those that need a bit of retail therapy can head into town after we set up at the park. Me ?? a beer in one hand and a fishin rod in the other. That river looks like it'll be hiding some nice bream , flathead or nigger .
Whats on offer for Tuesday?? ... Sussex Inlet or Uladulla. I'm backing Uladulla. If i dont chippydave will shoot me.
Would like to do at least 2 nights ( tuesday and wednesday nights there) . Thursday .. up to kiama.??

Keep it coming Kingy. Bloody tough assignment. Who in thier right mind would want to hook up their van and travel around checking out exotic caravan park locations.

Reddo

[humpty2]

You didn't mention what a great caravan park you have at Moruya there Kingy..........spent a week there after Coledale.........then3 days at Huskisson and a day at Kiama...........all were great parks especially Kiama.........but the town was a bit "Yuppie"!!

Loved all of the Southcoast........Better put me down as a starter this time Reddodoitnow.

Regards Humpty

[kingy]

Hi Humpty,
Which park in Moruya did you stay at, was it the one right on the Moruya river. I'll gladly do a report on that one if members want to check it out as its also a great park,(45 second walk to the pub ;D ) I did'nt mention anywhere south of Batemans Bay thinking we were heading north from there, but hey Moruya is only 30 mins. south, we could have a luncheon at my place like we did at Reddo's. What ya's think, it's another option on the list
Cheers Kingy

[chippydave01]

Hi everyone,That park Kingy found at Nelligen looks alright,i could just image a game of pool and beer in that shed on Monday night.

The Marlin pub at Ulladulla was the first pub built after the war in NSW and was completed in 1948.This pub was promoted in Sydney as a weekend trip away to motorists.

www.shoalhaven.net.au/~cathyd/marlin.html
Reading between the lines there could be a fishing trip leaving Ulladulla harbour Wednesday morning 6am ;)After speaking to the owners they have a boat that will take 12 to fish plus they can supply another 2 boats each taking 9.
Cost is $800 for 5 hours divided by 12= $66.66 each or for 8 hour
trip $1050 divided by 12 $87.50 each with all rods and bait supplied.
www.users.bigpond.com/msn/ulladulla_divers/index.htm
So there you go guys and girls just a few ideas on offer and im sure we can all work out what we might do with a little input off everyone.Cheers for now Dave ;D

[Deleted]

Hi Chippy D and Kingy
Thanks for the input.

Kingy if your offering to let us loose in your back yard i am sure we can find the extra time to head south from Nellingen on tuesday morning. Lunch at your place and still make it back to Uladulla that arvo.

Fishing trip sounds cool. Most outside trips i have been on ( well the charted ones anyway) have been around 5 hours. If ya cant catch a fish in that time ya should give up trying.
We'll be back on terra firma by lunchtime and leaves us plenty of time for a beer at the blue marlin then back to camp for "happy hours".
those that dont wanna smell like tuna can hang in town for the day or go do a few touristy things like.... lookin for old vans, climbing over fences to check out vintage tin, etc, etc .

Outta bed late Thursday morning for a casual run up to Kiama or gerringong.

Humps glad to hear ya had a good time away with "hunter antique touring Society"

As JBJ has mentioned there is heaps of little towns that all have something different to offer. Like this years tour we dont have to hang together all day. drop off where ya like and catch up at the end of the day if it suits..

The idea of headin' out west this year was to dodge the high priced van parks and also the b doubles and heavy highway traffic. which made driving a bit less stressfull.
I started this thread as soon as we got back because all the issues that JBJ has mentioned where fresh in my mind.
The coast is allways more attractive especially if the western slopes is in drought. There is a lot of pretty towns out there around the mountains but they are suffering due to the drought.
Completely different scenery when the countryside has had a good soaking. green paddocks and running creeks and streams.
spare a thought for the poor buggers that have to contend with the drought every day. we only had to travel through it for a week.

If the spring tours stay an annual event then we are gunna end up runnin over some of the old ground sooner or later.
Simply cant be avoided. true ya can short cut around the bits ya dont like and end up at the same destination but then its not really a tour anymore.
This year was west ,north west, then down.
Next year will be South, then up.
Year after will probably be up towards Taree , Forster, Port stephens and down dodgeing Sydney to Coledale..

One thing for sure we wont be heading east

Gunna do a few sums on Kilometres per day now that Moruya looks like its on the list. Again those that dont wanna head any further south than Batemans can hang a left and head straight to Uladulla . We will all be there that night.
Stay tuned folks and keep the ideas coming. I said at the start that this could become a long thread but ya can see that everyone is having input which is a great thing and we are gunna end up with a real balltearer of a trip.


Reddo - unofficial tour dogsbody

[Roehm3108]

Hi all. Am watching this thread with interest. It's great that our organisation has grown so well nationall that we can draw on good local knowledge almost any direction of travel, and the input is great. No matter where we go, I'm going, because I really love that southern area. I soppose Eden is too far south? ;D ;D
Can we make sure we have dog-friendly parks wherever we go??
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER GREAT TOUR - I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES
Ray & Jack

[humpty2]

Moruya would be an ideal stopover as Tilba and Bermagui are within an hour of there................The van park I am referring to is the "Riverside"............quick walk over the bridge into town.
Tried to locate you Kingy when we were there.........saw you driving south one day..then saw you driveby with your van on, on the Sunday of the display at the park.
I found Batemans Bay too touristy......good to visit and look at but the coast road from there to Moruya was great.

Just a bit more for you to think about Reddo!!

We also found that some parks do NOT have many sites for tourists..........and not many dog friendly either. A lot that suggested they were dog friendly had the proviso of NOT in school holidays or long weekends. eg Swansea!!

[Deleted]

Hi Humpty.
Unfortunately we only have a week leading up to coledale.
There is a million greta spots that we could stay but in all fairness i/ we are trying to keep the driving to a minimum and partying to the maximum.
Just not enough days to fit all the great locations in.

There is a way that we could probably fit a night in at Moruya after kingys gourmet BBQ. and that is to meet at Goulburn saturday ( instead of sunday) and leave sunday( instead of monday) to stay at Nellingen. Monday @ Moruya, Tuesaday and wednesday @ Ulladulla, Thursday @ Kiama, and "Mecca" on Friday , saturday and sunday.

We will be travelling outside of school holidays so ionce we sort out what nights where i can chase the van parks and see if they take 4 legged furry piranahs on site. Those Jack Russells seem a well behaved breed but that fur bag of humptys needs a lion enclosure to keep it under control.


Reddogfriendly

[kingy]

Hi All,
Nelligen park could be a problem re. dogs as they don't cater for them , i to would'nt mind bringing my jack along next year but i'll go with the flow on that issue.
Re. BatemansBay Humpty, i agree on the touristy bit, (thats why we live just down the hwy) If we decided to stay at Moruya or beyond we could always make Batemans bay a brief stopover for the girls to checkout the shops etc. on our way north, there is quite a bit to do and see in the area.
Did you visit the Mogo Zoo Humpty?
Till next report Cheers Kingy

[chippydave01]

Hi Reddo,the unoffical tour dogs body,these dog friendly parks are few and far between but after a few phone calls this is what I have to offer.

I rang my first choice of park which was walking distance to town and could accommadate 20 vans plus in a row??but no dogs ..........rang the next park who could accommadate dogs but only 10 sites ....then rang the park that i stayed at the first time I ever holidayed in the area who can accommodate 20 vans plus ,all together and is dog friendly
Mollymook Caravan Park is in walking distance to the beach and golf club and would love to have us as a group booking.Cheers for now Dave

[jrod]

Hi All,

Well we have just thrown our hats into the ring for Coledale 07 and have booked a site with Norm for the Fri & Sat night.. I think we are in the new section he has opened up! We are happy to trade for a powered site.!! loL!

Also, we would love to join the ECST the week prior. The coastal run sounds great and considering we are pulling the Van with a 186 red Holden motor im sure we will have plenty of time to take in the surrounds!! As for the downhill bits, so we don't miss them if we blink i have decided to help out the HT's power assisted drums by putting electric stoppers on the van.. Expenny but we do both value our lives!

Anyways, the thread has been a great read and we look forward to hearing more about the event.. Pity its so far away! Reddo, if we can be of any help in planning or any other way, just sing out.

Cheers J-Rod & Sam.

[Deleted]

Hi All
I made enquires with governors hill van park which is on the northern end of goulburn.
here is a copy of the correspondence.

Customer - 13/Dec/2006 - 11:52:
Hi I am a member of a group who restore and use vintage caravans. you can check us on www.vintagecaravans.com. we are planning a week long spring tour in October 2007. commencing from Goulburn and heading south to Moruya via nellingen then up to Coledale near woolongong. i have been asked to enquire about reservations for a maximum of possibly 15 vans on powered sites for saturday 13/10/2007. If your park is able to accomodate us on that date Would you please reply with costs per site . Also appreciate any form of discount for large group booking.

Regards Glenn xxxxxx on behalf of the www.vintagecaravans.com group

Comments for this Booking Request
Park - 15/Dec/2006 - 01:26:
Dear Glenn
Yes we have 15 sites available for the 13th of October 2007 the price is $27.00 for 2 people for a powered site and $34.00 for 2 people for an ensuite site we will give a 10% discount to yourselves as a group, no other discounts to apply If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact us either by Email or phone [phone] Regards Allan & Margaret


there is another park at the southern end of town . havent approached them yet.
Also could consider kicking off from bundanoon caravan park or somewhere on the other side of the highway closer to sydney.
Berrima, mittagong???

cheers all
Reddo

[fcdriver]

Hi Reddo
I didn't know of a van park at Bundanoon....However ther in a good van park at Moss vale & Mittagong.
I still think Goulburn is a good starting point.
We are thinking of starting a few days earlier & starting at Narooma & meeting you all at Nellingar.
Its called keeping on side with ''Er indoors"". Jan likes Narooma.
Bruce

[fcdriver]

Hi Reddo
I didn't know of a van park at Bundanoon....However ther in a good van park at Moss vale & Mittagong.
I still think Goulburn is a good starting point.
We are thinking of starting a few days earlier & starting at Narooma & meeting you all at Nellingar.
Its called keeping on side with ''Er indoors"". Jan likes Narooma.
Bruce

[Koala]

Hi, I live in Canberra and have just joined this forum, it is good to see an outing being planned. Just a comment that there is a really great Big 4 park at Nelligen that has been modernised over the last few years, it has pleny of space, is right on the river and a good pub over the road. Batemans Bay is only a 10 minute drive away but I would choose Nelligen over the Batemans Bay parks just for the extra room. They even have a sports oval with a cricket pitch. I have an original 37 Chev. and have travelled the Brown Mountain many times with a trailer in tow and don't consider it any problem, just use your gears and drive sensibly.

Ken

[Deleted]

Hi Ken

Thanks for your input. Glad to hear of someone else that feels browns mountain aint mount everest .
Nellingen is almost " set in concrete" as our sunday night destination on the tour.
Also spotted your pix of your teardrop. looks good. I am at about the same stage with a TD i am building. Check it out under "Reddos teardrop .. the 20 year plan". Hope to have it finished in time for the lake munmorah get together for its maiden trip. sort a few bugs out before heading to wintersun festival in june..

We are starting to get a good collection of TD's on this site now.
Veedub nut, The kaybees, Royce, shultzys, the honeymooners and my apologies to the others i have missed.

keep us posted with photo updates on your progress and we look forward to catching up with you on the 2007 east coast tour.

Reddo

[fcdriver]

Done....
Leave arranged from work...so....We will be there with the Pixie.
See some of you at 'Motorfest' (Two tone Blue FC)
Now have to ring Norm for Coledale booking.
Looking forward to a great week touring the East coast.
Bruce & Jan

[Geoff & Jude]

gooday reddo

we'll be on the tour in 2007 if judy can get time off work. i don't need to worry because i'm a public servant and won't be missed for about 5-6 weeks anyway.

please book us in for the tour.

geoff 'n jude

[Deleted]

2007 tour Update

Goulburn booked 15 sites - Saturday 13th october cost= $27 for 2ppl less 10 % disc= $23.40 (no dogs )

Nellingen is now booked for 15 sites on Sunday 14th october.$24
less 10% = $21.60 (no dogs but there is boarding kennels locally)

Moruya - monday 15th is under control thanks to kingy and Maryanne - River Breeze caravan park allows dogs.
Here is kingys PM to me from the 15th of Jan........

Hi Reddo,
Jobs done, 15 or so sites booked at Riverbreeze park .They only have 8 sites on the river but they'll put us all together and power should'nt be a problem, they were very helpfull.
No deposit to be paid, just confirm later down the track and all payup on the day. They are getting back to me re.site fees.
Cheers Kingy

Thanks for that kingy.
i have just got in contact with judy at the riverview park. site fees are $23.00. they have a huge camp kitchen and we are welcome to it.

Chippy Dave done a bit of legwork down at Uladulla. looks like the headland park is the go on tuesday and wednesday . Not booked yet but it looks like $15 a site... no dogs.
Mollymook accepts hounds but has smaller sites, further from town and is on the highway .. hey perhaps we could take up semi spotting instead of the 2006 train spotters tour

i have promised all parks i will phone them the first week in september to confirm numbers. so will do a roll call around that time to see if we are above 15.

bye for now
reddo

[Koala]

A bit of feedback or useless information - whichever way you look at it.
I have just spent a week in a tent at the Nelligen Caravan Park and had a great time with family and friends. Drank and ate too much but that is another story!!
I really don't wish to encroach on the organisation for the tour which I understand is well in hand but just thought I would give my opinion that the part of the Nelligen Park best suited to our gathering would be along the creek side of the park rather than the river side. The reasons for this are that it has a nice central camp kitchen, the sites are a bit less crowded together, some sites have fireplaces and it is away from the speed boat noise. Powered and unpowered sites are available as well as some with TV antenna connection. I will be there with the new teardrop behind the 37 Chev.

Ken

[Deleted]

Hi Ken
thanks for the info. Always appreciated.
All i know is that the lady at nellingen has put us in one group on Powered sites. I have gone with powered sites at all parks as some of us will be using 3 way fridges and other lectrical gizzmos( not me but others ) while touring . We allowed ourselves a bit of luxury on the tour last year because when you get to coledale its k....ero, gas and ice for three days unless you are one of the lucky 6 to get a powered site.

Are the sites along the creek powered??

cheers mate.
Reddo

[Deleted]

Hi Again ken

Just realised we will be there on sunday arvo. powerboats should not be an issue on monday morning. If there is chickybabes out sking on sunday arvo we wont have time for TVs.

happy hour ( read here variable and extendable to 2 or maybe 3 hours) with deck chair and esky tend to bring people together and then....... undone.
Camp kitchen looks great in the piccies .. and so does the pub menu. Evening meals can be hit and miss with everyone doing thier own thing.
We should have no trouble with site sizes. no too many ( if any at all) people worry about putting annexes up for an overnight stay so no ropes to negotiate in the dark. campfires ... hmm might burn a chunk of animal on one of them for tea.

i imagine we will have the whole place to ourselves so elbow room and nieghbours shouldnt be an issue either.... biggest concern is "Whos shout is it".
A few posts back i made a statement that i would shout a drink for every driver that makes it down clyde mountain in one piece.

the offer still stands.

Reddo