The Nomad … news, views, comment, opinion

February 2 (cont'd from front page)

a more serious law enforcement situation when the person being contacted provided false information.”
However, witness Michelle Babcock told the San Francisco Chronicle the ranger never gave Hesterberg an explanation as to why he was being detained and then hit him with the stun gun in the back.
“He just tried to walk away,” Ms Babcock said. “She never gave him a reason. It didn't make any sense.”
The park service allege the tasered man refused to provide the ranger with printed identification, and the ranger realised he had told her a false name when she called dispatchers to verify. According to a spokesperson while the ranger was on the telephone, 'the man failed to heed repeated orders to remain at the scene' and was then tasered.
Hesterberg was then arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order, having dogs off-leash and knowingly providing false information.
In the US, any park ranger is considered a peace officer just like any police officer, corrections officer or officer of any court with full law enforcement powers. They can enforce national laws as well as park regulations, depending on the location. They do not carry firearms but are allowed to carry stun guns in some areas.
According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers suffer the most number of felonious assaults, and the highest number of homicides of all federal law enforcement officers.
Would you like to see Australian rangers gets stricter with rule-breakers like dog walkers, noisy campers, and illegal campfire wood collectors? Or are rangers too strict already? Should they be given more powers? Email us here with your views on this story

February 1

Don't give me a home among the gum trees
The dangers gum trees pose to campers, picnickers and general members of the public has once again been brought into the spotlight following a series of near disasters.
The extreme weather conditions being experienced in many parts of the country has only exacerbated the risks posed by the notoriously unpredictable species. Giant branches and entire trees regularly fall down with absolutely no warning … making them a camper’s worst nightmare.
Despite the known threat, there are still many camping areas and even caravan parks where sites are situated directly beneath imposing gums.
But it is not just campers at risk. Just a couple of days ago, a woman narrowly avoided serious injury as a gum tree came crashing down in an Adelaide park. According to witnesses quoted in Adelaide Now, children had been playing by the tree just moments before they heard a sound "like firecrackers" and saw the woman, 67, run to avoid the falling branches.
Ambulance officers treated the woman for leg lacerations before she was taken to hospital. Simon Chappel, who witnessed the incident, said there were around 200 people in the park, including families.
"The woman was under it but it was a bit of a lucky break because there were so many people around, including a lot of children," he told Adelaide Now.
State Emergency Service volunteers have been kept busy over the last few days with the sustained hot weather and stiffish winds bringing down dozens of trees.
Two girls, at Botanic Park, were also lucky to escape when a gum tree dropped a large limb metres from their picnic rug.
In South Australia alone, there have been some very serious accidents due to falling gum limbs. Back in 2009, Jim Duthie was left a paraplegic after a tree branch fell on him during a school sports day. And, according to Adelaide Now, the Coroners Court has yet to deliver its findings into the January 2009 death of 20-year-old Rebecca Jolly, who was killed when a gum tree dropped a seven-metre limb on her car.
Have you had a close encounter with a gum tree limb? Have you ever, and would you ever, camp underneath a gum tree? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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January 31

Mississippi motorhomer gets that sinking feeling
Here’s a cautionary tale for anyone who has ever jumped out of the rig in a hurry … and then wondered if they remembered to put the handbrake on!
While there is no word yet on why exactly it occurred, an American motorhome owner had the unthinkable happen to him when he was forced to watch his vehicle roll into the mighty Mississippi River.
The owner of the Rexhall motorhome, James Gilmore, told police he had the 38-foot vehicle parked in the Mississippi town of Natchez. He was reportedly preparing to leave the area when he stepped out of the vehicle to close a door and the motorhome started to roll. The frantic RVer tried to jump back into the vehicle but it was moving too quickly and he had to jump away.
According to the Natchez Democrat newspaper, the vehicle — valued at approximately $250,000 — then rolled into the river. A police officer who responded to the incident apparently saw the vehicle floating down the river and then disappear out of sight.
The motorhome owner suffered a shoulder injury during the drama, and was treated at a local hospital. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the incident.
Have you had any close escapes with ‘runaway’ cars, caravans, campervans or motorhomes? How careful are you when leaving your vehicle? Do you have a set procedure you follow to ensure you don’t make a mistake? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 30

Will visitors desert the desert if it dries up?
The fact that travellers no longer need the services of the Cooper Creek ferry to negotiate the Birdsville Track is a sure sign that the
spectacularly unusual water levels in the area are on the wane.
From all reports it seems that the inland sea of Lake Eyre is slowly drying up again and the colour and life that exploded in the centre
will soon follow on and disappear. The ‘blooming’ desert has brought
unprecedented numbers of visitors into this normally dry and dusty area … and tourism operators fear their numbers could dwindle with the water.
Adrian Kellow is the owner of the Lyndhurst Hotel-Motel that sits on
the junction of the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta tracks, 300km north of
Port Augusta.
"We're hoping some of that rain will come down from Queensland way," he told the Australian newspaper. "It's been pretty bloody dry out here, and this may well be the last chance to get the water levels back up … that said, it's still pretty spectacular."
According to the South Australian Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, Lake Eyre now has a surface coverage of about 15 per cent.
"However, there is still about two months of potential cyclone
activity in northern Australia," the department told the Australian.
"If cyclones do occur, this may contribute significant rainfall in to
the system."
Even if the latest cyclonic weather to inundate parts of Queensland –
closing roads and causing some van parks to be evacuated – does cause significant water to wend its way into the lake system, it is expected to take months to do so.
It has now been four years since the La Nina weather patterns opened up the Diamantina, Georgina and Cooper Creek river systems … but with rainfall levels returning to their negligible norm, it could soon be business as usual in the dry continent.
Have you seen Lake Eyre recently? Will you rush out to view the
blooming desert while you can? Have you seen Lake Eyre both dry and wet? Email us here with your views on this story

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January 27

Extreme weather keeps travellers on their toes
Extreme weather helped to make it an Australia Day to remember for grey nomads on both the east and west coast.
While Perth sweltered in near record high temperatures and a cyclone
alert was issued for the north-west, much of the east coast was copping a severe drenching.
Northern New South Wales and the south-east of Queensland saw the heaviest rainfall with some homes and caravan parks inundated with floodwater and roads closed. The Pacific Highway was unpassable in a couple of places between Coffs Harbour and Grafton although the weather bureau said downpours should gradually ease over the weekend.
Earlier, about 500 caravans from eight caravan parks near Tweed Heads were evacuated, although residents and holidaymakers were later able to return.
Clearly, road conditions were – and are – horrendous, and there have
been many accidents. Fallen trees and branches have caused driving
hazards, and vehicles have also become stuck in water. Around 10
vehicles had to be rescued when they became stranded together at a creek near Corindi, north of Coffs Harbour
"The message to motorists is, do not go on the roads," NSW Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said. "If you are in a dry, safe place, stay where you are, and wait for this weather condition to pass over."
Meanwhile, Peth has been sweating its way through 40 degree plus
temperatures with beaches offering the best place for holidaymakers to cool off. Any nomad still up north in WA though should be aware that a cyclone advisory warning has been issued in parts of the Pilbara and Mid West-Gascoyne regions. The Bureau of Meteorology says category 1 Tropical Cyclone Iggy is expected to intensify as it moves towards the Pilbara coast.
Have you been affected by extreme the floods or the heatwave? How do you stay cool when the mercury tops 40 degrees? How do you entertain yourself when heavy rain effectively traps you in the van? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 25

Tourism venture to take flight at Uluru
Hot air balloon flights that will allow tourists to view Uluru from above are to take to the sky in March.
Such flights have never been previously allowed but, with Ayers Rock Resort also set for a major makeover, it seems things are changing quickly in the Red Centre.
The balloon deal follows two years of negotiations between Australian adventure company, Outback Ballooning, and the Central Land Council.
It is stressed that the balloon flights will not occur in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park or over the Rock itself but rather in the Patji region between 10 and 25 km to the south. The operators assure potential customers that Uluru will still be clearly visible.
The flights will last approximately 30 minutes and will typically cover between 10 and 20 kilometres.
Organisers say the balloon will be a perfect viewing platform for sunrise at Uluru with no turbulence, vibration or noise “other than the occasional reassuring roar of the burner”.
The four-hour package, including an ‘exclusive’ tour as well as the flight, will cost $450 per person, with each balloon carrying a maximum of 10 or 16 passengers.
Will you take to the skies over Uluru? Have you previously taken a hot air balloon flight? Is the whole Rock experience just becoming too commercial? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 24

A slippery slope to van park shortage
Move over caravan parks, the water slides are on the march!
Fraser Coast Regional Council deputy mayor David Dalgleish has shocked many by calling for the largest of council-owned beachfront caravan parks to be scrapped … so that a water park next door can be expanded!
He reckons all the grey nomads and other holiday-makers who currently visit the Pialba Beachfront Caravan Park in Hervey Bay can stay in one of the other caravan parks along the Esplanade instead. And with a sudden shortage of places for vans to stay, Clr Dalgleish reckons the profitability of each of these other caravan parks will increase. Genius!
It’s all part of the deputy mayor’s scheme to attract more families to the area and he points enviously to the success of the large theme parks, such as Wet n Wild, on the Gold Coast.
He told the Fraser Coast News that the newly expanded WetSide Water Park would be a privately owned enterprise, taking the burden of its running costs off the ratepayers.
"The way WetSide is now is great for young kids, but it needs some bigger and better attractions to keep the older ones interested," Cr Dalgleish told the paper. "I've heard lots positive feedback from holidaymakers, but people consistently say the park should be bigger."
A revamped WetSide would become a paid attraction under Cr Dalgleish's plan, although he suggested that the existing part of the park could remain free as the entrance to the new area, where people could still play as they waited to get in.
Cr Dalgleish’s plan is just an idea at this stage and he says extensive public consultation on the proposal is vital before it moves ahead.
Do you think scrapping another one of our rapidly disappearing scenic van parks in favour of a giant water slide is a good idea? Have you stayed at Pialba? Email us here with your views on this story.

January 20

Newsletter delivers the best of times
The latest edition of our free fortnightly e-newsletter, the Grey Nomad Times, is now on the streets and in more than 3,000 excited in-boxes.
In the new issue, we examine the arguments in favour of banning the use of skateboards and scooters in van parks, we meet a couple who say the grey nomad lifestyle is in their blood, and we explore a massive motorhome that offers parking space for a small car within its vast interior.
Time is also running out for those of you aiming to win a pair of deluxe Coleman campchairs in our ‘Happy Hour story’ competition. Join us also for great drive down South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula and duck for cover as Heidi takes aim at a rig rage ‘victim’. 
There are also all your favourites,  including the greatest grey nomad quiz on earth, the usual full page of the Big Lap’s liveliest letters, and a sensational smattering of news snippets.
Enjoy everybody.
If you would like to subscribe to the Grey Nomad Times, please email us here with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.

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January 19

Beachgoers on alert following shark attack
A third shark attack in as many weeks along Australia’s east coast has got a few summer swimmers a little nervous … including many grey nomads.
Around 500 people were on Newcastle’s Redhead Beach yesterday afternoon - about 100 of them in the water – when a two-metre shark, possibly a Bull shark, attacked a surfer.
Witnesses described the scene as like something from Jaws as Glen Folkard was dragged under by the shark, his leg and torso severely injured, and chunk taken from his surfboard.
With the predator circling, possibly getting ready to attack again, the 44-year-old victim somehow managed to get back on his board and, with the help of surfing mates, get back to shore.
The Newcastle Herald said he had been the furthest out of a group of about 15 surfers.
Lifeguards met Mr Folkard on the beach and he was rushed to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition. He has since undergone surgery on his leg.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Westpac rescue helicopter began air patrols after the attack and spotted several large groups of sharks off Redhead and Blacksmiths Beach. It says the patrol saw clusters of sharks as big as 4.5 metres close to the shore, including one that came within 10 metres of an unsuspecting surfer.
Dr David Powter, a marine scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle, told the newspaper there had been ‘‘quite a few’’ reports of shark sightings close to shore in recent weeks.
“In the past month some of the currents moving up and down the coastline had been closer to shore than usual,” he said. ‘‘That’s brought the bait fish in, which inevitably will bring the predators in - including sharks.’’
On January 4, a surfer was bitten on the arm by a shark at North Avoca beach while further up the New South Wales coast in Yamba, another surfer had a lucky escape when a shark rammed his board and bit off a huge chunk last month.
Redhead Beach is generally netted as part of the New South Wales government's shark net program that covers more than 50 beaches north and south of Sydney.
Twenty-seven people have been killed by shark attacks in Australia in the past 22 years.
Do stories like this one put you off going in the water? Do you swim in un-netted beaches? Have you ever seen a shark in the wild? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 18

Council considers new camp to lure visitors
Plans to allow camping at Lake Canobolas near Orange in New South Wales that have been mothballed since 2006 could finally be about to be acted upon.
The artificial lake that sits beneath Mount Canobolas has long been a popular spot for day trippers. As well as hiking up the extinct volcano to enjoy spectacular views and to spot a multitude of wildlife, visitors to the area can also enjoy a more leisurely stroll around the lake itself or fishing or swimming.
Although picnic facilities have long been established here, overnight camping has been a no-no.
Orange City Council did adopt a plan in November 2006 to allow for the development of accommodation and camping facilities at the lake, pending approval from Cabonne Council.
However, Orange City Council city presentation manager Nigel Hobden said the council hadn’t previously pursued the camping concept because of ‘higher priorities’..The $900,000 plan would see the establishment of six tourist cabins and caravan facilities. An additional $300,000 plan would also see 23 camping pods established in a woodland setting.
According to the Central Western Daily newspaper, the council is now ready to look again at the proposals in a bid to boost tourism to the region … and to lure more grey nomads.
The operator of the kiosk at Lake Canobolas, Ben Crawley, said camping at the site would be a good idea only if it were closely monitored.
“I’m in support of trying to get more activities out at the lake, but it needs to be controlled,” he told the Great Western Daily. “There needs to be a lot of thought put in to it and campers will need to respect the reserve.”
Have you been to Lake Canobalas? Do you think camping facilities there are a good idea? Does Orange need better camping opportunities? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 17

Back on track for floods of travellers
It’s been a long, long road but the flood-ravaged Birdsville Track is finally about to fully re-open.
After six months of being forced to use the ageing Cooper Creek ferry, travellers along the iconic South Australian route will soon be keeping their wheels in their dirt.
More than 12,000 vehicles have used the ferry in the past six months but many more are believed to have been deterred from taking on the track by tales of hazardous conditions and long delays. Tourists on their way to last year’s Birdsville Races, for example, report having to queueup to 24 hours to use the ferry.
Water has now been completely pumped off the track and urgent repair work is being undertaken prior to the re-opening. However, South Australia's Transport Department says the ferry will stay on standby as more flows are forecast from the north.
"It's hard to know just whether it will have an effect,” the Department’s Alan Morris told the ABC. “I think the evaporation is such that it would take a considerable flow of water to come down to have any detrimental effect on the Cooper Creek and particularly around the ferry."
Phil Gregurkie from the Mungerannie Hotel told the ABC he welcomed the news of the track’s imminent re-opening.
"I think 'You beauty!' Hopefully the Cooper never runs again," he said. "It's cost us a lot and it's just been a disaster."
Did the ferry necessity put you off taking the Birdsville Track? Did it make you want to take it on more than ever? Have you travelled to Birdsville recently? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 16

Highway horror sparks calls for urgent upgrades
The latest tragic deaths on the Pacific Highway have once again brought about pledges of significant spending and speedy action from politicians at all levels of government.
Any grey nomad who has travelled the road up or down the east coast of Australia will know that, in parts, the road richly deserves its unwanted tag as the ‘goat track’.
It is obvious to all that the state of the road as a key link between Australia’s major cities, and one which is heavily used by both freight and tourism traffic, is simply unacceptable.
While much work is being carried out on the road and, in parts, the dualled highway is excellent, the contrast with the yet-to-be-upgraded stretches, is ridiculous … and dangerous. One such stretch is, of course, around Urunga, 20 minutes or so south of Coffs Harbour, where an 11-year-old boy was killed after a B-double truck smashed into the house where he was sleeping last week. The truck had collided with a Ute – whose driver was also killed – before it hit the house.
Around Urunga, the Pacific Highway twists and turns and the death toll over recent years in this short stretch has been horrendous. Local anger at the delays in bypassing the town have now reached fever pitch.
It is certainly not the only stretch which is in urgent need of upgrading. According to the Road Traffic Authority’s progress report late last year, some 51% of the Pacific Highway’s 664-kilometre length is now dual carriageway. As at November 31 last year, 341 kilometres are completed dual carriageway, 61 kilometres are under construction, and about 128 kilometres are being prepared for construction. The RTA also says planning is also being progressed on the remaining single carriageway sections of highway.
The question is how long does it take to move from planning to construction … and now many lives will be lost in the meantime?
All travellers who have been along the narrow and winding stretches of the highway driving a motorhome or towing a van know it can be frightening and intimidating experience, especially when there are so many big trucks plying the route.
Is this the tragedy that will finally get the road brought up to the standards that locals and visitors have every right to expect from such a major route? Only time will tell.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott has backed the Gillard Government's call to spend an extra $6 billion on an upgrade of the deadly Pacific Highway. And Transport Minister Anthony Albanese called for both Federal and State governments to join together and improve the roads between Queensland and Sydney by 2016.
"What we've said is both governments need to do more,'' Mr Albanese said.
Hopefully, the words will now become action.
While an improved road will countless save many lives in the years to come, another accident just a couple of days ago has underlined the fact that a dualled Pacific Highways is no silver bullet.
The two people killed when their car left the road and hit a tree.south of Kew were actually travelling on a section of new Pacific Highway,
What do you think of the state of Pacific Highway? Do you choose ot travel inland instead? What is your most frightening experience on the road? Email us here with your views on this story.

January 13

Actions of few spoil camping joy for many
It is sad to report that the abuses of some over the holiday period have put yet more free camping areas under threat.
A case in point is the Ellenborough Reserve west of Wauchope on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, which has been a free public camping ground since at least 1930. Residents living near the popular area on the Hastings River have complained about overcrowding, campers ignoring signs, people camping on the river’s edge and leaving rubbish, fires being lit during times of total fire bans campers not using fireplaces, campers not using toilet and garbage facilities, overloading of toilet and garbage facilities, excessive noise, and, people riding loud unregistered motorbikes in the reserve.
One of the upset residents, Les Keane, told the Wauchope Gazette that urgent action needed to be taken.
He said that, about five years ago, Port Macquarie Hastings Council had considered closing Ellenborough Reserve to campers and should do so again. At the very least, he says, the facility should be managed in an appropriate way.
"Council is supposed to be the custodian of the river and the reserve and although there has been some attempts to stop vehicles from accessing the river front people still drive their vehicles to the river causing considerable erosion,” Mr Keane said. “People are camping, lighting fires and burning their rubbish on the riverbank."
Mr Keane said 90% of campers behaved appropriately but the remainder were causing 90% of the headaches. He said the actions of these few not only disturbed the peace of nearby residents and other campers, but also put the health of the river at risk.
Mr Keane says he has sympathy for those campers who do the right thing but believes someone needs to bite the bullet and close the reserve to camping. He says the reserve already costs ratepayers enormous amounts of money and the money could be better spent elsewhere.
The NSW Crown Reserve came under the control of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in the 1990's.  Since then council has made various improvements to the site, including upgraded toilet facilities, improved road access, sealed car parking area and bollards to exclude vehicular access to certain parts of the reserve.
Liam Bulley, Acting Infrastructure Director for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Manager Recreation and Buildings, told the Wauchope Gazette that the council was in the process of reviewing the management model for Ellenborough Reserve. However, she said there was no intention to close the reserve to camping at this stage.
"Council will certainly look at improved signage, and make it clear which parts of the reserve are open to camping,” she said. “Council is also in the process of deciding future management of Ellenborough Reserve, and as part of that process it will look at the possibility of re-opening sections of the reserve fenced off in previous years ... there is certainly a role for council in policing the reserve ordinances."
Do you sympathise with the concerns of residents? What can be done to control the behaviour of the irresponsible few? Have you experienced rowdy and irresponsible campers where you have stayed this holiday period? Do you know of other free camping areas that could be in jeopardy? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 12

Tropical Cyclone Heidi made landfall on the coast of Western Australia early this morning, bringing with it wild winds of up to 130km/h and torrential rain.
The full brunt of the category two cyclone’s power was felt in Port Hedland, and communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek are still on red alert.
Heidi is however expected to weaken as she moves inland.
Noel Puzey from the WA Cyclone warning centre told Sky News that Heidi crossed the coast about 10km to the east of Port Hedland, and was moving southwards. He said wind gusts were still in the 80-90km/h range, but would weaken as Heidi moved south.
Peter Widdup, who lives in a local caravan park, told Sky News that the noise from the wind and rain overnight was ‘horrendous’.
‘‘Everyone in the caravan park has their vans secured with chains and straps so you have no chance of flying away,’’ he said. “The van still shakes and rocks. The noises Heidi was making were very, very frightening.”
The Bureau of Meteorology said earlier a dangerous storm tide was predicted for coastal areas.
Have you felt Heidi’s effects? Have you ever been caught in a cyclone which on the road? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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January 11

Grey nomads still travelling in the north of Western Australia are certainly experiencing the full range of drama that nature can deliver at this time of the year.
Heavy rain has forced the closure of two national parks in the Pilbara, and a huge bushfire near Carnarvon has burned through more than 200,000 hectares and forced the closure of the North West Coastal Highway.
The Karijini National Park received 97 millimetres of rain overnight while the Millstream Chichester National Park recorded 125 millimetres. The ABC reports that the rain has caused flash flooding and inundation of roads and campsites in the parks.
A flood warning has been issued for Port Hedland, Karratha, Nullagine and Newman, with rainfall of up to 150 millimetres forecast.
The Department of Environment and Conservation says there is significant danger associated with flash flooding and gorges because water levels can rise very high, quickly.
Travellers are being to avoid the parks and stick to major roads. Travellers already in the parks are advised to stay with their vehicles and move to higher ground but not to cross floodways and streams.
Authorities are telling people to be prepared to leave if the situation worsens.
The DEC says with more rain forecast, the parks will remain closed under further notice.
Near Carnarvon, the massive bushfire which has been burning for several days, closed the North West Coastal Highway between Carnarvon and Minilya. It’s caused significant disruption for travellers, as well as stopping supplies getting through to the coastal communities.
Main Roads spokesperson , Sam Whitburn, told the ABC that any alternative routes would add a lot of time to an already long journey.
"Alternate routes would have to take people around the area on local shire roads and then the Great Western Highway,” he said. “Most people are choosing to stay in Carnarvon and wait for the highway to reopen."
Are you still up north? Have you been caught up in the bushfire or flooding drama? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 10

Rising costs may bust budgets at the bowser
The cost of taking the ‘Big Lap’ looks set to get even bigger over coming weeks as fuel prices look poised to rise significantly.
Iran’s threat of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage for oil transport, is the latest global issue to affect fuel pricing. And it’s already meant a nasty shock at the bowser for diesel-driving grey nomads.
According to data released through the Australian Institute of Petroleum the average national diesel pump price last week (to Sunday 08/01/12) was $1.51. The average for the last 12 months was a more modest $1.48.80. And according to most analysts the only way is up. Expensive crude oil, bubbling political issues in some key Middle Eastern oil producing regions and changes in refinery operations are cited as the key reasons.A rise in diesel prices can be a double whammy for budget-conscious travellers as it generally means higher food prices as well.
In a state by state breakdown, the Northern Territory is still the roughest place to chew up the highway … with diesel prices peaking at a worrying $1.60 last week. The high in NSW / ACT was $1.51.10; in Victoria it was $1.48.70; in Queensland it was $1.50.60; in South Australia it was $1.50.80; in Western Australia it was $1.53.90; and in Tasmania it was $1.54.30.
While unleaded petrol prices have dipped slightly in recent weeks, they are also expected to increase due to various political issues. Drivers in New South Wales are already being warned to brace themselves for significant price hikes when the sale of regular unleaded fuel is banned from July and demand for ethanol-blended and premium unleaded fuel rises.
''We believe demand will exceed supply,'' said BP spokesperson, Jamie Jardine. ''Consumers, particularly in rural areas, will have to pay more.''
How do you try to keep you fuel budget down? Do you limit the kms you travel each week? Do you make use of supermarket discount vouchers? Does lugging full jerry cans around really save you cash? Do you use the UHF to tell other nomads of cheap fuel outlets? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 9

"Big Lap Brain' kicks in as nomads seek thrills
The nightmare ‘snapped-bungee-cord ordeal’ of an Australian tourist in Zimbabwe is a cautionary tale for the army of ever-more adventurous grey nomads hitting the roads.
With the experts telling us that the over-50s are increasingly game to take on just about anything while they are travelling … the story of Erin Langworthy is a timely reminder that things can – and do – go wrong.
The 22-year-old plunged headfirst into the Zambesi River, on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, when her bungee cord snapped. She was then forced to swim through the rapids with her feet still tied together. Incredibly, she survived with nothing worse than a fractured collar bone and severe bruising.
It is unlikely that the story would have had such a relatively happy ending if a significantly older person had been taking the plunge. And all the indications are that many grey nomads would have been prepared to do so!
A recent British survey found that the over-50s are growing old dangerously, with the study revealing that some 13% of mature-aged travellers take part in extreme sports while on a trip. The study said ‘holiday brain’ kicked in when older funseekers became less inhibited away from home.
Water-skiing and parasailing are the most popular activities, with scuba diving, windsurfing, rock climbing, bungee jumping and caving close behind. Gnu Insurance, which carried out the study, said over-50s were throwing caution to the wind to take part in activities they'd never normally dream of.
The Australia Skydive Group told www.thegreynomads.com.au that it is actively seeking to promote skydiving as a fantastic activity for grey nomads touring around Australia. Similarly, Tiger Moth Aerial Services says it sees a large proportion of baby boomers who are ready, willing and able to take to the sky in the historic aircraft.
But it’s not all up in the air. Whether it be diving, bushwalking, quadbiking, cycling, windsurfing or 4WDing, it seems experience-seeking grey nomads are ready to give it a try.
Hmmmm! Has ‘Big Lap brain’ kicked in on your trip? What unexpectedly adventurous pursuit have you or your partner taken up while on the Big Lap? Are there any activities you would draw the line at, or are bungee jumping, skydiving and deep sea diving all still on the wish list? Email us here with your views on this story.

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January 6

Is time running out for shower stealers?
With caravan parks both very busy and very expensive during the holiday season, the free camping phenomenon is once again at its most visible … and ‘shower stealers’ are roaming the amenities blocks.
While overseas backpackers tend to draw most attention from council rangers for kerbside camping in residential districts, budget-minded grey nomads are also increasingly looking to save a few dollars,  And, it’s not just on the streets of towns like Byron Bay where the ‘problem’ is upsetting local residents and caravan park owners.
Western Australia’s Department of Environment and Conservation has just launched a crackdown on people illegally camping along the coast. The recently opened Indian Ocean Drive has made it easy to access the coastal areas between Perth and Geraldton and these are increasingly popular for free campers. Department spokesman Brad Rushforth says various areas are being patrolled frequently over the holiday period and move-on notices issued to offenders.
He says some areas are environmentally fragile and can be damaged by illegal campers.
Not surprisingly, van park owners are particularly upset when these non-paying campers ‘sneak’ into their premises to use the facilities.
It’s not just an Australian problem, either. Across the Tasman, the New Zealand authorities introduced the Freedom Camping Act earlier this year  allowing councils to fine freedom campers parking in restricted public areas … but the law has not  stamped out the practice.
‘Shower-stealing’ freedom campers have reportedly been sneaking into holiday parks around the country to use the facilities in big numbers.
The New Zealand Holiday Parks Association said it received daily complaints about the problem from parks. Dubbed ‘shower-stealers’, they ghost into parks to use toilet, shower and laundry facilities … before making a clean getaway.
"It can get people into very heated situations - on both sides,” chief executive Fergus Brown told the New Zealand Herald. “It's one which is very difficult to handle."
Van park owners say it can be easy to spot ‘interlopers’ when they appear lost and confused as they  first enter a park. Some proprietors try to charge those they catch in the act for a full night’s accommodation.
Are you a shower stealer? Do you consider it a victimless ‘crime’ or are you consumed with guilt afterwards?  What drove you to commit such a deed?  Or have you paid to stay at a van park and spotted ‘shower stealers’ clogging up the facilities? How did you react? Email us here with your views on this story.

January 5

Lessons to be learned from Outback ordeal
The amazing tale of the grey nomad who became stranded in remote bush country and then walked nearly 30 kilometres to safety in searing summer temperatures has lessons for us all.
Beth Lawrie, 56, waited out the heat of the day after her campervan broke down in Murray Sunset National Park, 550km from Melbourne near the South Australian border … and then decided to take matters into her own hands.
With daytime temperatures above 40 degrees the resourceful lone traveller decided, that having been unable to fix her van’s mechanical problem, trekking through the night was her only option. According to the Melbourne Herald Sun, Ms Lawrie had a small amount of food, and four litres of water. Despite having two phones, on different networks, she was not able to raise 000.
"I tried everything, but I just couldn't get the car mobile ... so I decided to pack my bag and off I went," Ms Lawrie told the Herald Sun. “I know I should have stayed with my vehicle, but people didn't know I was there, so I knew that wasn't going to work. I knew I was at least 40km from a town."
The experienced hiker walked about 16km the first night, then rested the next day with only an umbrella for shade, before striking off again at sunset.
Ms Lawrie, who is on a solo trip around Australia after having sold her house in 2010, said there were several times during the trek when she thought she wouldn't make it.
Her feet were blistered and swollen and she was barely able to walk when she finally got mobile phone coverage and contacted police. She was rescued from the fittingly named Last Hope Track at 1am on Wednesday after her near two-day ordeal. She was admitted to Mildura Hospital and later discharged.
Apparently, the hardy traveller, who is originally from South Australia, is gearing up to hit the road again but she warns like-minded adventurers to be prepared.
“The only way I was able to survive was because I had everything I needed," she told the Herald Sun. "I could have been in real trouble otherwise."
Sergeant Tony Keeley from Ouyen police says the woman was sensible, but would have avoided having to leave her car if she had advised someone of her plans.
"No matter how well and organised a person is you stick to that basic thing of filling out a trip intention form and leaving it with the local police, friend or family,” he said. “That would alleviate a lot of problems."
Has Ms Lawrie’s story changed the way you feel about remote travel? Would you have behaved differently to her? Will it make you do things differently in the future? Have you ever been stranded in the Outback? Email us here with your thoughts on this story

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January 4

Hoons hit camping spots in Tasmania
While the Christmas holidays aren’t generally the most peaceful time to go camping, they aren’t supposed to be a living nightmare either.
But grey nomads and others are being warned that if too many police and park rangers are withdrawn from popular Tasmanian holiday spots anarchy will soon rule.
Tasman Mayor Jan Barwick has told the state government that the sole policeman and sole park ranger on the peninsula in Tassie’s south-east had no hope of stopping hoons and yobbos. She said troublemakers’ actions at camping areas had become increasingly extreme.
The mayor said six weeks ago "mongrels" had raided the Lime Bay camping ground, north of Saltwater River. Cr Barwick said the youths chainsawed 18 trees and blew up several campers' tents by throwing in butane gas cannister and sparkler "cocktails".
"There have been a number of incidents," she said. "By the time the police get there the hoons have gone."
Cr Barwick told the Mercury newspaper she wasn't aware of any serious problems at the peninsula's Fortescue Bay camping ground, which had a caretaker's residence.
She said the Tasman Council had asked for extra police to watch over the district's holiday population, which grew from about 2000 to 10,000.
Dover caravan park operator Albert Lamm told the Mercury that police and the councils had so far failed to deal with illegal campers, some of whom pitched tents and parked vans next to his premises.
He said illegal campers who pitched tents on prime foreshore between the beach and his caravan park expected to use his washrooms for free. Mr Lamm said one man, when asked for $5 to use the shower, got angry and slashed the cable on the hand dryer.
Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Bertrand Cadart said his council tolerated campervans and motor homes stopping next to public toilets and barbecue areas, provided they moved on the next day.
Tourist operators contacted by the Mercury at Arthur River, Gladstone, Tomahawk and along the East Coast all reported that camping areas in their districts were problem-free.
Have you been disturbed by ‘hoons’ this holiday period? What is the answer to the anti-social behaviour problem at some camping areas? Where are the hoon hotspots to avoid? Email us here with your views on this story.

January 3

Fire risk extreme as temperatures soar
The scorching temperatures in southern states are making life interesting for grey nomads … and just about everybody else!
Emergency services have been extremely busy fighting a large number of grass fires in both Victoria and South Australia. Much of Victoria remains under total fire bans, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees plus. A severe fire warning has also been issued for South Australia's north west pastoral, north east pastoral, Flinders and Riverland districts.
Fire authorities are even warning people driving between Adelaide and Melbourne to delay their travel if possible because of the extreme fire danger.
Victorian Country Fire Authority deputy chief officer Steve Warrington told the Australian newspaper that this summer's main danger came from grass fires which could travel quickly and trap people in their cars. He compared conditions to those during the 1969 Lara grass fire, which killed 17 people near Geelong, many as they tried to escape on the Princes Highway.
"If you're driving from Adelaide to Melbourne, we'd be concerned for those people," he said. "I would prefer people weren't on those roads on a day like today, but I understand that's not practical."
Mr Warrington said it had been at least 10 years since an abundance of long, dry grass created such fire conditions.
Victorian Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley warned people who are camping to ensure they met fire ban conditions.
"There are lots of examples where fires have actually started from an old campfire," he said.
Another reminder of just how dangerous human carelessness can be in such volatile conditions came in the South Australian town of Robe where a marine flare sparked a scrub fire near the town during New Year’s celebrations.
Kiri Marshall, who was staying at the SeaVu Caravan Park in Robe, said the CFS fought valiantly in the hot weather to stop the fire reaching the town.
"It got quite big and there was a lot of ash coming over the place (caravan park)," she said. "It was threatening to come to the town. They (the CFS) are worth their weight in gold."
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster David House said a cool change would bring some relief for South Australia, but any relief would be short-lived. He said the long-range forecast showed a high likelihood of continued above-average temperatures through January.
Have you been affected by bushfires? Are you delaying your Melbourne-Adelaide drive? How are you keeping cool in the heatwave? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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December 30

Happy New Year!
Best wishes to all grey nomads for a happy, adventurous and fun-filled New Year.
We hope that 2012 will see you fulfill at least some of your travelling dreams and take you to new and exciting destinations, as well as seeing you meet some wonderful new friends.
As more and more of you take to the open road, the grey nomad experience is evolving and new challenges and new opportunities are being thrown up. In uncertain economic times, the contribution grey nomads make to the wellbeing of many rural communities has been increasingly acknowledged. While there has been some criticism in some quarters over the provision of the free and cut-price camping areas for self-contained travellers, many businesses are now more openly appreciative of the positive effect grey nomads have.
We can only hope that the coming year will see free and cut-price camping areas preserved, especially in Tasmania where a government review of their value is underway.
Whatever the outcome of this, and other grey-nomad related issues, you can be certain that www.thegreynomads.com.au will keep you informed and updated.
It has been an exciting year for us, with the successful launch of our free fortnightly newsletter, the Grey Nomad Times, as well as a period of ever-increasing visitor numbers. We hope that we have helped to make your on-the-road experience just a little more enjoyable.
The New Year will no doubt bring more excitement for those of you out there exploring this amazing country and hopefully for us at www.thegreynomads.com.au, as well. We plan to improve and upgrade the website in the coming months and to bring you more competitions, more stories and to put more resources at your disposal.
We look forward, as ever, to sharing the journey with you all.

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December 29

Council decides to give region a rest
Amid growing concern that grey nomads are bypassing the Queensland town of Bundaberg due to a lack of cheap camping areas, a new free overnight rest stop is about to open.
Bundaberg Regional Council hopes the 20-hour overnight area on Rollings Rd in Yandaran will lure more travellers into the area. The concept was approved last month and new signage will be erected shortly.
Health and environmental services spokeswoman, councillor Mary Wilkinson, said it was difficult to balance the interests of grey nomads and that of local caravan and tourist park operators.
"Council cannot provide everything for everybody for nothing," she told the Bundaberg News-Mail. "We understand the concerns but there has to be a balance."
The new rest area will boost the number of rest areas in the region to five, with existing facilities in Apple Tree Creek, Gin Gin, Sharon and Childers Rd, in between Bundaberg and Childers.
Yandaran Store manager Janette Campbell said the rest area should help attract caravan travellers again following the closure of the Norval rest area by the former Burnett Shire Council.
"It can really help local business having a few travellers passing through," she said. "The income these visitors generate can be substantial."
Mrs Campbell said the new rest area would come as a much-needed revenue boost for businesses in Yandaran.
"We're only a small town and many of the locals here drive into Bundaberg to do their shopping," she said. "It's going to attract a lot more people to the area and if they have somewhere to stop here in town, then local businesses would have been able to take advantage of their patronage."
Have you bypassed Bundaberg due to a lack of free camping areas? Will you use the new rest area? Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 28

A short walk in the park for Fitzgerald River NP
Plans to build a full walk trail in Western Australia’s Fitzgerald River National Park have been rejected.
Instead, two short distance walk trails on either side of the wilderness management zone have been approved for people to enjoy one of Australia's biggest national parks, east of Albany.
The Environmental Protection Authority argued that a full walk trail could lead to the potential introduction of Phytophtora dieback into uninfected areas of the park's wilderness area.
The Government announced plans for the 40km trail in December 2009 and since then relevant Government authorities and concerned citizens have argued whether the proposed trail meet environmental objectives for biodiversity.
Western Australia. Environment Minister Bill Marmion has set down strict conditions for the project's implementation including a dieback risk assessment, management plan and response plan to protect uninfected areas of the park.
"Fitzgerald River National Park is extremely significant,” he said. “Nearly 20 per cent of WA's flora species are found within the national park - many of which occur only within the park."
The two approved trails and accompanying camping facilities and trail heads will be built along the southern coast from Point Ann to Fitzgerald Inlet and from Hamersley Inlet to Quoin Head.

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December 23

Happy Christmas to all grey nomads!
Whether you are still out on the road or have parked up for a while to spend time with family, we hope you have a fantastic festive season and that 2012 brings you many more wonderful adventures.
We would also like to thank you all for your support throughout 2011. The web-site has gone from strength to strength in recent times and our visitor numbers continue to surge. That, of course, is in large part thanks to the wonderfully welcoming and friendly atmosphere that you have all helped to create and develop. Thank you.
We have some exciting plans for the New Year and look forward to sharing the journey with you.
Have a safe and happy Christmas.

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Campers prepare for Big Itch
It’s mozzie misery season in the south and grey nomads are being warned to cover up.
While it’s bad enough when the buzzing intruders spoil what could have been a pleasant evening around the campfire or sitting under the awning, they can of course do a lot worse.
There has been a substantial spike in mosquito-borne diseases of late and it is important to understand the health risks of mosquito bites and how to protect against them.
In South Australia alone 1164 cases of Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis were reported from last December to May …. a fivefold increase on the same period the previous season. Since October 1, SA Health has already reported 32 cases of Ross River and 13 cases of Barmah Forest virus.
It’s a similar story in the south of Western Australia where authorities are battling high insect numbers after a warm, wet winter.
Mandurah, Capel and Busselton shires have reportedly resorted to using helicopters to spray the region with larvicide in a bid to reduce mosquito numbers ahead of the holiday season.
The West Australian newspaper reports that the number of mozzies caught in university monitoring’ traps between Rockingham and Busselton has trebled in some areas when compared to last year.
On a brighter note, the Department of Agriculture and Food says recent unseasonal rainfall across large parts of southern WA may actually reduce bush fly numbers - which often torment grey nomads and others - as flies do not reproduce well in wet dung.
South Australia has launched a ‘Fight the Bite’ campaign and it urges everybody to cover up, repel mosquitoes and eliminate potential breeding sites where possible.
The state’s health authorities say wearing long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing that protects as much of the body as possible is an effective ant-mozzie weapon. Similarly, it says repellents containing DEET or Picaridin work well.
Have you noticed an increase in mozzie misery this year? What has been your worst ever on-the-road mozzie experiences? Do you have any tips to stop them? Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 21

Grey nomads lead way in tourism resurgence
The ever reliable grey nomads are playing a major role in what is being described as something of a domestic tourism resurgence.
New figures from Tourism Research Australia show an overall rise in overnight trips, visitor nights and spend despite “undeniably challenging circumstances”.
Tourism authorities in Queensland were particularly pleased with the news, given the summer of natural disasters that put tourism in the Sunshine State in the doldrums.
Across the country, over-night trips in the July to September quarter climbed 4.3% - largely in line with the 4.2% growth for the year to September – visitor nights increased 3.5% (0.5% for the year) and spend rose 2.1% (0.8% for the year).
There had been concerns that the strong Aussie dollar and a difficult period many superannuation funds would see would-be grey nomads leave the caravans and motorhomes parked in the garage … but that doesn’t appear to have been the case.
“The thing about grey nomads is that they still want to go while they can and to enjoy Australia while they are still fit enough to get the most out of it,” said the CEO of Caravanning Queensland, Ron Chapman. “So we know they’ll still be here in numbers in the years ahead ... it’s just too wonderful not to.”
Queensland Tourism Minister Jan Jarratt said a recent publicity campaign urging people to holiday at home had hit the mark.
"With the summer holidays gearing up there's still time to plan a break, whether it's to enjoy our surf beaches, the reef, rainforests, the wonders of the outback, or something in between," she said in a statement. "There's a lot on offer in Queensland and much to see and enjoy."
Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 17

Grass and bushfire risk growing on the Nullarbor
There is growing concern over the threat of bushfire on the Nullarbor Plain.
The vast area has seen plenty of rain in recent times and foliage has been growing steadily.
Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) Regional Manager Trevor Tasker told the ABC it was "one of the worst seasons for bushfires in living memory".
He says the thick green scrub that now covers much of the Nullarbor is a major concern.
"The growth out there is the most I've seen since the early 60s," Mr Tasker said. "Pretty well right across the Nullarbor from where the Nullarbor Plain starts right across the Nullarbor from where the Nullarbor Plain starts right across to the South Australian border … it's just like grass gone mad out there - in some places foliage is a metre high."
There hasn’t been a really major bushfire on the Nullarbor since the 1970s when huge tracks of pastoral country were burnt out.
The ABC reports that, for the first time, FESA, the Department of Environment and Conservation and local pastoralists have teamed up to try and combat the bushfire threat.
Mr Tasker says they are carrying out large-scale firefighting operations, including prescribed burns.
"In the past we have virtually relied on pastoralists to do their own firefighting out there, but now we and the Department of Environment and Conservation are starting to get more involved," he said. "We're really trying to help the pastoralists, who keep cattle and sheep in the area, because the thing that they want to protect is their pasture, because that's their livelihood."
Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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December 16

A new national park ... too little too late
North Stradbroke Island in Queensland has been declared a national park.
As we reported last week, the the government is anxious to map out future plans for the popular tourist spot once sand mining operations are ended there. The new park will be called Naree Budjong Djara, which means "My Mother Earth".
Environment Minister Vicky Darling said that declaring 13,000 hectares on North Stradbroke Island a national park honoured an earlier pledge.
"We remain committed to delivering on our promise to protect a further 30% of North Stradbroke Island and end sand mining by 2026," she said in a statement.
However, conservation groups are not impressed and say that two-thirds of the area that has been declared a national park has already been damaged or destroyed by mining.
"This government has declared high conservation areas will be national park in the future but only after they have been irreversibly damaged and destroyed by sand mining," said Nikki Parker, a spokesperson for Friends of Stradbroke Island.
Public access to parts of the new national park will be restricted while it undergoes rehabilitation.
The local indigenous Quandamooka people and the state government will jointly manage the park.

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December 15

And the winner is ...
Wow! The record-breaking ‘Life on the Road’ grey nomads photo competition is at an end.
With a staggering 900-plus top-class entries, it is fair to say the response was nothing short of overwhelming. Of course, the sensational top prize of $1000 worth of tyres from Cooper Tires, as well as the second prize of a huge canvas print of a chosen photo from Brilliant Prints persuaded many a budding photographer to dust off the lens cap. However, we would like to think also that the potential glory of being named ‘Grey Nomad Photographer Supreme’ had something to do with the contest’s popularity.
Thanks to the competition’s two major sponsors. Thanks also to Judge Steve Jones for filtering the mountain of entries down to just 10. And thanks also to the hundreds of you who took the time and trouble to vote for your favourite image. Voting was heavy and the results were extraordinarily tight. The polls closed at midnight (AEST) on Thursday night/Friday morning and any votes received after that were deemed invalid. All votes have now been tallied and verified … and a winner determined.
And so, without further ado … the winner is ….
Click here to find the top three

December 13

New future for Stradbroke when sands of mine stop
North Stradbroke Island near Brisbane could become a mecca for grey nomads when sand mining operations are phased out there, largely by 2019.
The Queensland government has just released its draft economic strategy mapping out its ideas for where the island may go after mining – which currently directly employs 270 people – ends.
And it seems spreading the word about the island’s white sandy beaches, improving camping spots, and developing walking and cycling tracks is high on the agenda.
The government strategy identifies it is difficult to attract tourists, other than locals familiar with the island’s appeals, to ‘Straddie’.
Although tourism generates $25 million per year in direct value to the Stradbroke Island economy and supports an estimated 213 full time equivalent jobs, the report says very few interstate and international tourists travel to the island.
Domestic overnight visitors make up the majority of visitation to the island (75%), with day-trippers (22%) and international overnight (3%) accounting for the remainder.
Interestingly, visitors to North Stradbroke Island spend an estimated $20 per person per day, “well below” other coastal communities.
The state government recommends a ‘Straddie specific’ marketing campaign, estimated to cost $350,000, over the next three years to bring more interstate and overseas tourist to the island.
Better campsites are reportedly one of the major areas on Environment Minister Vicky Darling’s ‘Straddie’ wish list.
About $5.3million is slated to be spent upgrading and designing several camping grounds, which will become part of the Minjerribah Recreation Area. About $3million will go to the campsite at Home Beach and $1.5million to Flinders Beach.
About $2.6million is allocated to developing island trails, walking and cycling tracks with $1.96million for a cycle track linking Amity to Point Lookout. Other short-term tourism plans include $2.5million to establish the Minjerriba Knowledge Centre and $65,000 on a committee to set up a dive site. $350,000 is also to be set aside for constructing a whale platform.
The government’s 22-page draft strategy will be up for public consultation until January 31.
Do you think Straddie is a top spot for grey nomads? Is it worth a visit by interstate nomads? What do you think of the high-cost campsite upgrade plans? Should Straddie be left alone? Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 12

Rangers asked to take on the toilets
Grey nomads and other campers are being warned that budget cuts could mean toilets are not cleaned in some New South Wales national parks.
Public Service Association (PSA) of NSW Industrial Officer Geo Papas said toilet cleaning, rubbish removal, lawn mowing and general maintenance had already been hit, with park rangers and office workers told to take up the slack.
"Park rangers are being asked to clean toilets because cleaning contracts have been cut," Mr Papas said in a statement on Friday. "They are being asked to take rubbish home with them because rubbish removal contracts have been cut."
He says the 20 per cent budget cuts had particularly affected parks in the Blue Mountains, Kuring-gai and the Royal National Park.
The PSA says it has advised its members to boycott the cleaning jobs, which used to be done by outside contractors.
“We have told our members to not do the work - it simply is not part of their job description," Mr Papas told the Daily Telegraph. "What we're saying (to campers) is bring your own lawn mower, toilet paper and toilet brush."
Mr Papas said the union was very concerned about the reduction in the budget for the metropolitan branch and reductions through all national parks, especially as thousands of campers are expected to flood the national parks during the Christmas holidays.
The Environment Department has rejected the union's claim of a 20 per cent cut to budgets.
"NPWS operating budgets have not been cut by 20 per cent,” a spokesperson said. “Nonetheless all agencies, including NPWS, are expected to make productivity savings as part of improved efficiency in service delivery."
Have you noticed a decline in standards at NSW parks? Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 9

Tassie free-for-all threatens tourism
The growing backlash against proposals to stop Tasmanian councils from operating free and cut-price campsites appears to have the authorities running scared.
With grey nomads leading the chorus of criticism and talking ‘boycott’, the Tassie government has issued a statement saying it wants the budget camping options maintained.
The Deputy Premier Bryan Green said a review of council-managed camping services would definitely not mean the end of low-cost services and would not force people into caravan parks.
He was speaking as public submissions on the review - which was instigated at the urging of Tasmania’s Economic Regulator in reaction to caravan park complaints of unfair competition - closed.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding that there will be no low-cost options following the review,” Mr Green said.  “The Government is not supportive of a process that will jeopardise low-cost camping services for people travelling in self-contained vehicles.”
There has been widespread anger in the grey nomad community that an ‘effective’ accommodation cost hike, coupled with the significant expense of getting the rig across the Bass Strait, would make the Apple Isle unaffordable.
“The Government is working with local councils to achieve the lowest possible prices,” said Mr Green. “The feedback from councils is that they are keen to keep prices as low as possible … from around $5 per night.”
However, he said the review would ensure that local government-owned services would charge appropriate prices to recovers costs.
“Currently, toilet, water and other facilities are being provided at the expense of ratepayers and this is not fair on taxpayers or local businesses,” he said. “This review will make sure that where those services are in competition with a private caravan park that they compete on a level playing field.”
Hmmm! The government does say however that council services are basic, which means the cost of these services will be lower. 
“I am committed to helping local councils strike the right balance between attracting visitors and supporting local investment in private tourist facilities,” Mr Green said.
For his part, the Minister for Tourism Scott Bacon reiterated that recreational vehicles users and caravanners were important to Tasmania’s tourist industry. 
 ‘I don’t want to see people in Tasmania, across Australia and from overseas missing out on experiencing the many different travelling experiences our state has to offer because of misinformation about the range of options still available,” her said. “Tasmania is very competitively priced in comparison to the mainland and the Government is committed to ensuring we retain our competitive advantage.”
The public consultation phase of the review has been completed and the Government will now consider its recommendations.
Watch this space!
Do you buy the government line? Will you give Tassie a miss if free and cut-price camping is restricted? Is it worth the cost and the hassle anyway? Email us here with your views on this story.

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December 7

No power to the people at Leyburn
It seems that the irresponsible and selfish actions of a few have once again had a negative effect on the travelling experiences of the many.
As noted by our forum members, the electricity used by free campers at a spot near Leyburn in Queensland has been turned off … and it’s not going to be turned on again. There have been efforts to restrict power use ‘excesses’ by various methods in the past, but the powers-that-be have finally decided that enough is enough.
“It is a real shame that normal travellers who are not abusing the privilege will no longer be able to use the free power,”  a Southern Downs Regional Council spokesperson told the Grey Nomads website. “Sadly, people stayed there for months instead of for a few nights and took advantage, so we had to act.”
Engineering staff had previously tried locking the power supply and leaving the key with a local store owner, but the owner reportedly stopped looking after it after being abused.  Locks on the supply have been smashed twice and the internal switch damaged as access to the power was sought.
Engineering director Peter See said he had simply had enough.
"We've had people living there for weeks at a time," he said. "It's not the power, it's the vandalism."
The council has put an out-of-reach isolation switch in place to permanently deny power access to free campers. It will still be able to be used when the Leyburn Sprints committee stages its annual sporting event.
Have you camped at Leyburn? Did you see the power privilege abused? Where else have the few spoiled a travelling perk for the many? Email us here here with your views on this story.

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'Marine creature' kills fisherman
A fisherman who was killed by a marine creature in far north Queensland was probably the victim of a crocodile attack.
The body of 49-year-old Cairns man, David Fordson, was found near Bushy Islet, off the east coast of Cape York. Police say the man's wounds indicate he was the victim of a marine animal attack but they still cannot say for certain whether he was killed by a crocodile.
Cape York locals believe the attacker was a 4m saltwate crocodile that lives on a small island nearby.
"It's a monster, very territorial — it's been there for years," nearby resident Paul Munro told the media.
Police are also considering the possibility that Mr Fordson was killed by a reef shark.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted and a report on Mr Fordson’s death is being prepared for the coroner.
"He'd been snorkelling and spearfishing with another male and they were returning to a boat when he was noticed missing," said Senior Sergeant Peter Banaghan. "Spearfishing and all that sort of thing on the Barrier Reef close to land where crocodiles live is always a big risk."
Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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The Top Ten Revealed
After two months, close to 1,000 entries - and nearly as many sleepless nights for our frazzled judge - the great ‘Life on The Road’ photo competition is nearing its end.
Today, Steve Jones reveals his top 10 photos and you, the voting grey nomad, will now select the three winning shots.
“This has genuinely been an exhausting process,” said the Travel Today editor. “The theme was a broad one so, not only did we have a huge volume of entries, we also had we had a huge variety of entries.”
Despite the scale of the task. Judge Jones has finally come up with a top 10 ... but not without a fair degree of soul searching and hand wringing.
“I was very aware of being true to the theme of the contest but life on the road can be interpreted so many different ways,” Steve said. “Really, it can be said to anything that you come across as you travel but I did give special weight to anything that I though gave an insight into the lifestyle.”
Thanks as always to Steve. This was no small undertaking and I am sure that all of you, whether you are one of the chosen ones or not, will join us in thanking him for embracing his task with genuine diligence and enthusiasm. Steve always takes his responsibilities seriously and we are in his debt.
“The standard as always was, exceptional and it was a near impossible task so I hope I haven’t made too many enemies,” he said. “I know grey nomads are understanding bunch but I think I’ll still wear sunglasses and a big hat when I go near a caravan park or a national park for a while ... just to be on the safe side.”
And without further ado … click here to see Steve’s top 10.

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December 2

Parks authorities lose their bottle
With some of our more popular national parks becoming ever more ‘civilised’ and ‘commercial’ it is interesting to speculate on where it might all end.
Certainly, the experience at perhaps the world’s most iconic national park, that at the Grand Canyon in the US, is a sobering one.
This spectacular natural wonder has long been sullied by excesses of litter, with plastic bottles being the most common item of rubbish found in the canyon. There is a growing feeling however that enough is enough, and more than 90,000 people have now joined a campaign calling for plastic water bottles to be banned in the park.
Zion National Park, in the state of Utah instituted a similar ban on the sale of water bottles in 2008 which eliminated 60,000 plastic bottles from the park in its first year.
The Grand Canyon National Park had been due to implement its ban back in January but it was put on hold at the last minute.
Park officials said it had decided to get more information before acting.
“Reducing and eliminating disposable plastic bottles is one element of our green plan,” a spokesperson said. “This is a process, and we are at the beginning of it.”
However, environmentalists say the real reason for the delay is the lobbying efforts of Coca-Cola, which has donated more than US$13 million to the parks.
Coca-Cola says it would rather help address the plastic litter problem by increasing recycling. “Banning anything is never the right answer,” said a company spokesperson.
Discarded plastic bottles account for about 30% of the park’s waste.
Should plastic water sales in the Grand Canyon be banned? Have our national parks got a litter problem? Which ones? What can be done about it?
Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 30

Grampians on the 'road' to recovery
One of Victoria’s most popular grey nomad destinations, the Grampians, is now fully open again following the devastating floods there at the start of the year.
The Northern Grampians Road (Mt Victory Road), a major link through the Grampians National Park, has officially been re-opened by VicRoads. The road, which takes visitors to attractions including Mackenzie Falls and the Wartook Valley and is also a scenic route to Horsham, has been closed since January when it was impacted by flood water and landslides. The Grampians Road between Halls Gap and Dunkeld was re-opened back in August.
"The council is very pleased the road is being reopened as we understand just how important it is for visitors and, in turn, the businesses of Halls Gap, Wartook and Horsham," said the mayor of the Northern Grampians Shire, Cr Ray Hewitt. "The road is a vital thoroughfare to some of the most impressive and popular tourist attractions in the Grampians National Park and to have it open again is sure to help reinvigorate visitor numbers."
The council is now planning to run a series of advertisements branded 'Grampians exposed' to let potential visitors know that many areas of the park closed since January are accessible again.
Council CEO Justine Linley said the council wanted  people to see the bare rock revealed by the flood waters, and to explore the areas accessible by road again.
"Visitors have the chance to see a unique landscape that has, in places, been vastly altered by the immense amount of water that fell on the Grampians in January," she told the Stawell News-Times. "We're really excited that tourists will again be able to access some of the Grampians' major attractions and walks."
Will you be taking a look at The Grampians? Do you recommend the area to fellow nomads? Email us here with your views on this story.

November 29

Overhaul for van park ravaged by floods
A caravan park totally devastated by floods in Victoria earlier this year is to be completely re-built.
The $4.1 million redevelopment of Bridgewater’s public caravan park has been approved by the Loddon Shire Council. The town which sits astride the Loddon River is well located on the Cader Highway north-west of Bendigo and is a popular spot for grey nomads.
The Bendigo Advertiser reports that the council will reopen the site as a camping ground over the Christmas, New Year and Easter periods, but its grand plan is to reopen the park to state-of-the-art standards.
The park would consist of 110 sites, with 31 powered, 27 premium with water views, 42 standard and 10 ensuite cabins. Plans for the redeveloped park also include a significant area for public open space and improvements to the foreshore area.
When completed, it is expected that the redeveloped park will be leased to a private operator.
Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 28

Deadly floods cause chaos in inland NSW
Heavy rain has caused havoc in north western New South Wales, throwing the travel plans of many into chaos.
The State Emergency Service (SES) warns that many roads have been closed and those that have been opened could face heavy congestion. The Newell Highway is closed between Moree and the Queensland border and will be reassessed tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.
The Carnavon Highway is closed in both directions between Mungindi and Moree. The Gwydir Highway is closed between Moree and Collarenebri and 20km east of Moree. The Kamilaroi Highway is also closed in parts. Thunderbolts Way near Emu Crossing at Bundarra is closed in both directions. The Oxley Highway is closed between Carroll and Gunnedah. Travellers should check with the RTA for up-to-date road status information. 
Hundreds of properties are cut off at Moree and flooding is also affecting towns further south at Gunnedah and Wee Waa. There have also been casualties. A three-year-old boy has drowned in a stormwater drain at Bingara, west of Inverell and a seven-year-old boy has been swept away in the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga. He had been playing with friends nearby when he fell and was swept out of sight. He has yet to be located.
About 1800 residents in Wee Waa and about 200 rural properties in the Moree area were left isolated over the weekend … and are likely to remain so for several days.
"We drop off food, water, any medicine and I know of one area where they flew in a doctor just to make sure everyone was okay," said an SES spokesperson.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that although the weather has mostly brightened, emergency services remain on red alert as rain that has lashed some rural parts filters through rivers.
Half a dozen flood warnings remain in place across NSW and more rain is expected in the days ahead.
Have you been affected by the heavy rain? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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November 26

Firefighters battle to control blaze
Bushfires are continuing to burn in Western Australia's southwest, threatening homes and lives.
Around the grey nomad mecca of Margaret River, a blaze which escaped from a prescribed burn in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park on Wednesday, has destroyed 28 houses and nine holiday chalets over 3177 hectares.
Some 400 firefighters have been tackling the fire.
Hundreds of residents and holidaymakers have been evacuated and an emergency warning remains in place for residents south and west of the Margaret River township. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that an emergency relocation centre has been operating at the Margaret River Cultural Centre. Roads around the fire zone have been closed and will not reopen until deemed safe by authorities.
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has defended the state's prescribed burning system but says an inquiry will be held into the Margaret River fire, which is likely to be declared a natural disaster.
Elsewhere in the southwest, a bushfire watch and act alert has been issued for people in the Blackpoint and Glenoran areas in the Shire of Nannup.
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) says the bushfire is moving fast in a easterly direction towards the Vasse Highway and is out of control and unpredictable.

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November 24

Decision to keep campers in the dark under fire
Authorities in South Australia’s Eyre peninsula have been criticised for not warning campers in Gawler Ranges National Park that a burn-off had got out of control.
Firefighters are still monitoring the bushfire has been burning for more several days.
An ecologist who was camping in the national park, Andrew Smith, is upset he was not told on Monday when the fire got out of control.
"They should have at least notified the campers that there was some risk," he told the ABC. "As it was we were left completely uninformed."
Country Fire Service regional co-ordinator Justin Woolford says 15,000 hectares havebeen burnt and the fire perimeter now extends about 90 kilometres.
However, the Environment Department has defended its decision to burn off vegetation despite some locals warning of a danger.
The Department says it will conduct a review of the decision to burn off vegetation.
Other fires in outback pastoral regions are now under control, after they were sparked by lightning nearly two weeks ago. Your thoughts about this story? Email us here.

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November 23

Karijini tragedy prompts questions
No extra safety measures have allegedly been put in place at the spot in a Western Australian national park where a man fell to his death last month.
Father of two Chris Majewski died after plunging 14m at Dales Gorge in Karijini but a parliamentary hearing has been told that no remedial action has been taken at the site.
Mr Majewski's son, Patrick, 7, who also toppled off the cliff, remains in a stable condition in hospital.
Upper House Labor MP Ken Travers told the hearing that a constituent who claimed to have visited the site recently had been "horrified" to discover it had been largely untouched since the incident.
However, Keiran McNamara, the director-general of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) disputed the claims, saying the department had erected signs to warn people of risks. An internal review into the tragedy is also under way to determine whether further safety upgrades are needed..
A report in the West Australian newspaper said Mr McNamara also defended the DEC's broader national park safety policies, saying it would be virtually impossible to ‘sanitise’ nature reserves. Millions of people visit WA's national parks each year, her said, and the parks were often inherently dangerous.
Do you agree that national parks are inherently dangerous and only so much can be done? Could more safety measures be put in place at Dales Gorge? Email us here with your views on this story.

• A reminder everybody that no more entries to the great Grey Nomads ‘Life on the Road’ photo competition will be accepted after midnight (AEST) tonight, Wednesday, November 23. Click here for details of how to enter.  Good luck everybody.  
  

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November 22

The deadline is looming
Hurry, hurry, hurry! Quick, quick, quick!
The great grey nomads ‘Life on the Road’ photographic competition is about to draw to a close. At midnight (AEST) tomorrow, Wednesday, November 23, entries to our most popular contest ever will no longer be accepted. Getting onto 1,000 high quality entries have already been posted. The man with the most unenviable task in Australia is our judge, Travel Today editor, Steve Jones, who must attempt to whittle down the field to just 10 finalists. And then, of course, it will be up to you, the voting public to decide the ultimate winner.
The first prize is $1,000 worth of tyres, courtesy of Cooper Tires. The second prize is a fantastic 16”x24” canvas print of your chosen photo, courtesy of Brilliant Prints. The value of the prize is $141. The third prize is a copy of the much sought-after Grey Nomad’s Guidebook.
“As usual, I have been overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of the entries,” said Judge Jones. “I have been monitoring the photos so I am not completely swamped in a day’s time but even narrowing he field down to a top 200 is a pretty big ask … and they are still coming in.”
They are indeed … and if you want to make Steve’s job even harder, you need to get your entries in quickly. Click here to see how to enter. Good luck everybody (especially Judge Jones).  

November 21

Celebrate good times
The forum attached to this website has just reached another important milestone … first reaching and then surpassing the 3,000 membership mark.
It is another cause for celebration and a sign that www.thegreynomads.com.au is reaching  - and hopefully helping - more and more grey nomads and wannabe grey nomads get the most out of their trip.
Thanks to all of you who have visited and contributed to the site and the forum over the years. Even as the forum has grown, it has managed to maintain its reputation as one of the friendliest and most welcoming around … and that is a tribute to you, our wonderful members.
Long may it continue!

November 18

Campers urged to keep an eye out for snakes
The numerous warnings about the number of snakes on the prowl this summer have been given greater resonance by a frightening incident at a Gold Coast caravan park.
A 65-year-old man was taken to Robina Hospital recently after he was bitten by a suspected brown snake in the Mudgeeraba Caravan Village.
The Queensland Ambulance Service has asked residents to be cautious and vigilant as the warmer weather can cause snakes to become more active.
''Snakes are on the move and people need to take care particularly when they are outside gardening, bush walking or using public parks,'' QAS North Coast Assistant Commissioner Chris Broomfield told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
He said one of the main things to remember if you are bitten by a snake is to remain calm.
''Immediately dial triple zero (000), stay as still as possible and let the help come to you,'' he said.
''You must stay calm, as panicking will cause your heart rate to increase and spread the poison around your body quicker.''
Symptoms of snakebite can range from nausea, headache or blurred vision, through to difficulties in breathing and loss of consciousness.
Have you seen more snakes than usual? What steps do you take to avoid being bitten? Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 17

Free Stuart camping moves front and centre
The tourism slowdown is certainly helping to change the way some Outback communities treat long-term caravanners and motorhomers.
In another encouraging sign that the contribution grey nomads make to remote areas is being more fully appreciated, by-laws that allowed travellers camping next to the Stuart Highway to be forcibly moved on have been scrapped.
The Barkly Shire says the move will not significantly affect local caravan parks, and that the by-laws are no longer necessary.
The bottom line is that in tough economic times, the powers-that-be have recognised they need to do all they can to encourage tourists to stay longer in certain areas.
"Basically what they're trying to do is encourage the feeling, or foster the feeling that Tennant Creek and Elliot are areas that are friendly to travellers and we welcome them here,” Shire chief executive, David Shoobridge, told the ABC. “We're not trying to force them to go into a caravan park."
Hooray!
"Those that are going to use caravan parks will go into a caravan park,” Mr Shoobridge said. “And the people that run the caravan parks in Tennant Creek have admitted as much to us.”
Could this be the dawn of a new era of enlightenment for less-than-welcoming-to-free-campers-communities across the country? Will this move make a big difference to your travel plans as you cruise through the Centre? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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November 16

Renovation for resort at rock
With Australian tourism in something of a slump, changes are being made to the way the country is marketed and the sort of tourists it attracts.
Of course, much of this activity is centred on iconic destinations, such as Uluru and it can affect the experience for everybody … including grey nomads.
The cost of visiting the Rock is already something of a bone of contention with many but the whole place looks to be taking yet another lurch upmarket.
It has been announced that the Ayers Rock Resort is to be given a major makeover that will see a desert golf course, wildlife enclosure and spa and wellness centre being built. The iconic resort has come in for plenty of criticism in recent years for being ‘rundown’ but was bought for $300 million last year by a consortium led by the Indigenous Land Corporation.
Under its new management, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia, a new conference centre has already been built, and the flagship Sails in the Desert hotel is undergoing renovation.
"Our overall objective is to reposition the resort as an indigenous centre of excellence, where guests learn about indigenous culture and have some interaction,'' said Voyages managing director Koos Klein. “We are really going to invest in this property for the future - we can return our profits and invest them back in the property until we have it back to the required level of quality.”
Mr Klein admitted that while Uluru would always be a major natural icon for Australia its reputation could do with some polishing.
"You can have gold and marble dripping off the walls of your five-star hotel but what people really want to take home is the indigenous experience," he said. “It's going to take a few years but we're going to focus on the big ticket items first so people will see a big difference.''
Last year, just two resort employees were indigenous, while the resident didgeridoo player was an Irishman. The number of indigenous employees has already increased to 55 out of a workforce of 580.
The resort is also partnering with the world's largest hotel operator, Accor, to help market the resort to emerging markets such as China and India.
Is Uluru a destination you would recommend? How was your experience camping at Yulara? Is it a ‘once-only’ destination? Email your thoughts on this story here.

November 15

Controversy over camel cull heats up
The culling of thousands of camels in Central Australia recently is continuing to spark controversy and heated debate.
Since Federal Government contractor Ninti One killed about 5,000 camels southwest of Alice Springs many have vented their anger at both the way the animals were destroyed and the fact that their carcasses were left to rot in the desert sun.
An outback camel meat butcher now says he could have gathered and exported the camels … but was just not given a reasonable period to do the mustering,
“I simply cannot satisfy the export demand, because I cannot get enough live camels,” said Mike Eathorne from Camooweal. “It's convincing people like the Central Land Council (CLC) that we can muster and remove more efficiently than they can put people in helicopters and shoot them.”
However, CLC Director, David Ross, told the ABC the company left too little time to muster before the harsh heat of summer.
He says the Queensland-based exporter is welcome to muster next year, once favourable conditions return.
“The weather's not all that user-friendly,” Mr Ross said. “You've got to consider the humane treatment of animals at this time of year, and it's not a normal thing to be mustering at this time of year."
Email us here with your views on this story

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November 14

Lower limits on the cards for dirt roads
A proposal to reduce the speed limits on South Australian dirt roads has come under fire.
The Transport Department is considering whether to reduce the limit from 100 kilometres per hour to 80 on some roads.
However, Ceduna Mayor Allan Suter says road conditions vary, so a one-size-fits-all approach would be ridiculous.
"They'll have us back to horse and cart the way things are going at the moment," he told the ABC. "There should be more emphasis on proper road maintenance and more emphasis on proper driver training.”
He said it was currently too easy for new motorists to get licences.
"If people were more skilled in their driving it wouldn't be necessary to keep lowering the speed limit,” he said. “It's getting to the ridiculous stage."
Do you think it is a good idea to reduce the speed limit on dirt roads? Do people drive too fast on unformed roads? Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 12

Still time to give our photo comp a shot
The excitement is building to ridiculous levels as the great www.thegreynomads.com.au ‘Life on the Road’ photo competition gets down to the business end of proceedings. With entries closing at midnight AEST on November 23, the time to frame that perfect shot and post it on our forum pages is fast running out. Be warned though, competition is going to be fierce. With some truly amazing prizes up for grabs, the most successful grey nomads photo competition ever has attracted a staggering 750 top quality images … and counting.
“I have had a sneak peek at some of the entries and am absolutely overwhelmed by the size of the task ahead of me,” confessed competition judge and Travel Today editor, Steve Jones. “I am breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about how I am going to narrow such a top quality field down to just 10 finalists.”
Once the judge and the voting public have had their say, the winning photographer will receive a voucher from Cooper Tires for an amazing $1,000 worth of tyres; the second prize will be a photo of your choice converted into a magnificent canvas print measuring a monster 16 inches by 24 inches, courtesy of Brilliant Prints; and the third prize will be a copy of the Grey Nomad’s Guidebook.
The theme of our competition is 'Life on the Road’ and the judge will be looking for entertaining shots that capture the spirit of the grey nomad lifestyle.
Click here for full details of how to enter.

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November 10

Aussies robbed in NZ free camp
Here’s a tale from New Zealand that will give us all the shivers. It seems that two Australian tourists have been robbed at gunpoint while parked in their campervan at a South Island camping spot.
Police say two men approached the tourists at a freedom camping site at the end of the Cobden Bridge near Greymouth. The men allegedly said they had a gun and demanded alcohol, money and the campervan. As well as threatening to leave the tourists naked on the side of the road, police say the men also threatened to shoot the victims. Inspector John Canning said the victims were young and "very shaken up" by the incident.
"They did not come here to be treated like this,” he said. “They are both very frightened."
Victim Support was giving support and a number of locals had reportedly come forward offering any help they could.
Rapahoe camping ground owner Jan Fletcher told the New Zealand Herald that another couple staying in the same area were frightened off because of what happened.
Mrs Fletcher said they told her that they had seen a knife and a gun as well as the attack - "and they did a runner and stayed with us".
Police have arrested two men, aged 18 and 19, in connection with the alleged offence. The pair has been remanded in custody.
Do you feel safe while free camping in the bush? Is Australia the safest place in the world to camp? Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 8

Coastal van parks on the edge in the UK
It seems that Australia’s coastal van parks aren’t the only ones facing an uncertain future in the face of rising sea levels and widepread erosion.
In Wales, a cliff has collapsed at Porthkerry Caravan Park in the Vale of Glamorgan, sending hundreds of tonnes of rock dropping onto the beach below and 15 caravans teetering on the edge.
The authorities have responded quickly and put in place a new Flood and Coastal Erosion Strategy.
“While we are grateful that no one was hurt, this incident demonstrates the re-enactment of Captain Cook’s landing at the Endeavour River in 1770 on Queen’s Birthday weekend.
Taking place on the closest weekend to the true date of Cook’s arrival of June 17, the Discovery Festival is heralded as the start of the four-wheel-drive and tourism season for Cape York.
Cooktown Chamber of Commerce president Greg Whittaker told the Cairns Post that the decision to shift the holiday could be a potential economic disaster for the region’s already fragile tourism economy.
He said that the Discovery Festival forms part of a Regional Events Strategy, encouraging visitors – particularly grey nomads – to stay in the area for Port Douglas Carnivale in May, the Discovery Festival and Laura Dance Festival in June, and the Laura Races and Rodeo in July.
The changes will come before the Queensland Parliament shortly.
Will the change affect your travel plans? How much of your Big Lap is scheduled around attending certain events? Email us here with your views on this story.

November 7

People power to the rescue
A magnificent but neglected coastal caravan park looks set to get the facelift it desperately needs ... thanks to people power.
It took a petition by outraged residents and tourists to trigger a detailed inspection of the council-owned Beachside Caravan Park in Queensland’s grey nomad hotspot of Yeppoon.
The results were shocking. Councillors were told that the park had been neglected since at least 2000 and that it would cost nearly half a million dollars to fix.
There was reportedly no maintenance schedule in place, and customers had been complaining about the rundown state of the amenities for more than a decade.
Cr Sandra O'Brien was disgusted such a grey nomad drawcard could have been allowed to fall into such disrepair.
"We should never get to this stage again,” she told the Morning Bulletin. “It is embarrassing that it took a petition from residents and visitors to bring this to our attention."
Bob Holmes, the council's general manager of commercial services, said the council had allocated $120,000 to the park for the construction of a new amenities block, but that money should be diverted immediately to carry out emergency repairs.
Councillors unanimously backed his recommendation that additional funding of $310,000 be identified at the next budget review.
Mr Holmes said that the only solution might be to seek a private company to take the park on a long commercial lease and pay for repairs and refurbishments up front.
Have you stayed at the Yepoon Park? Is it as bad as it sounds? Is putting it in the hands of private operators the answer? Email us here with your views on this story.

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November 4

Snakebite tragedy prompt eastern brown warning
A Queensland woman has died after being bitten by an unidentified snake … but people are being warned that an unusually high number of eastern brown snakes will be out and about this summer.
The deadly reptiles, which carry powerful venom and become aggressive if confronted, are said to be breeding in high numbers following two good wet seasons which has left food sources like rats and mice in plentiful supply.
Narelle Pails, 43, died after being bitten several times through her trousers as she was working in her garden at Wheatvale near Warwick. The snake is understood to have bitten into Ms Pails's blood vessel, depositing venom directly into the bloodstream, which would have killed her within minutes.
Following the incident, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said officers from Stanthorpe had been asked to transport a vial of antivenene from Stanthorpe Hospital to Warwick Hospital. However, Queensland Health director-general Tony O'Connell insisted that this was simply a precautionary move as Warwick Hospital had 14 vials of antivenene on hand, more than enough to treat the woman.
"If snake venom gets into the bloodstream straight away, rather than just being deposited in the muscles, then it's a much more difficult challenge to maintain the patient," said Dr O'Connell.
Ms Pails was a wife and mother and worked as a nurse at Warwick Hospital.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics show 1750 Australians were hospitalised for snake bites from 2002-05. On average, however, two to three people die each year from snake bite, with eastern browns generally responsible for about half of them.
The need for caution when camping, bushwalking, collecting firewood or simply being out and about can scarcely be over-emphasised.
Have you had a too-close encounter with a snake? Do you have any snake safety tips for your fellow grey nomads?
Email us here to share your views on this story.

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November 3

Coast guards needed for another van park
Another coastal van park has been identified as a likely future victim of coastal erosion.
Regional councillors in Bundaberg, Queensland, are calling for urgent action to be taken to save the Miara holiday park from being lost to the sea.
As we reported in the latest Grey Nomad Times experts fear global warming could pose an even bigger threat to our most scenic caravan parks than luxury-apartment-building developers.
A number of businesses are literally living in the edge.
At Miara, some 45 kilometres north of Bundaberg, some councillors want rocks in the existing groyne wall to be piled along the eroded parts of the beach. They warn that if something is not done before the high tides at Christmas, more land will be lost at the caravan park.
"We've got to do something sooner rather than later," said Cr Alan Bush. "In private enterprise, we wouldn't sit there and watch an asset being washed away.”
According to the Bundaberg NewsMail, the problem of erosion at the Miara caravan park has a long history, with a report provided to the council showing it was identified as a problem back in the 1990s.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommended then that the Burnett Shire Council sacrifice the infrastructure on the foreshore and retreat. However, the council decided that would ruin the amenity of the caravan park and began investigation into options to stop further erosion.
In 2005, consultants WMB recommended a groyne field of 10 groynes be built, which could need to be extended if erosion continued. The council decided to install one rock groyne as a trial, and this was finished in September 2006 at a cost of $45,000. Current estimates to install sandbag groynes would be $80,000 each.
The latest council meeting decided that an expert should inspect the beach and report back on the remedial options available.
Have you seen coastal erosion eating away at your favourite van park? Do you think we can fight back against Mother Nature? Email your thoughts on this story here.
Click here with the word 'subscribe' in the subject line to receive regular editions of the fortnightly Grey Nomad Times.

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November 2

A new option for the lap of luxury
If the rigours of life on the road are getting a little much for you, it could be time to splash out in order to travel in the style to which you would like to become accustomed.
For a mere $3 million you could be the proud owner of 'The eleMMent' luxury motorhome and be guaranteed to turn heads whenever you pull up at the van park or free camping area.
This remarkable vehicle from Austrian firm Marchi Mobiles, has actually been designed specifically to ensure people are fascinated when they see it. Marchi says the eleMMent "will create admiration among others". I’m sure they’re right. Perhaps you could charge admission to allow curious fellow grey nomads to have a look around. You could pay off the purchase price in no time!
The 12-metre-long vehicle can be expanded to 30 square metres of interior space when stationary. It boasts a pop-up rooftop patio complete with sun shade and safety railings. Its space age exterior is matched by its ridiculously luxurious interior that includes an en-suite bathroom, separate toilet, driver's cab with bunk bed and a spacious lounge. The eleMMent can also have heated flooring, satellite TV, mobile internet, a rainfall shower and video surveillance if required.
Marchi Mobile claim that the unique design will reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent.
The company’s website says: "The eleMMent series from Marchi Mobile is a new class within the premium segment of vehicles, targeted to enthuse lovers of the extraordinary and visionaries that are stylistically at ease."
Tempted anybody? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

November 1

Disease poses a threat to forests
Thousands of trees in Western Australia’s Margaret River region are being killed by a mysterious disease that will change the face of the area forever.
The magnificent Marri trees - some of which are more than 150 years old - are dying due to a form of tree cancer called Marri canker which slowly kills the trees’ tissue.
Some 80 per cent of Marri trees along Caves Road and Bussell Highway are apparently affected and there are concerns the dead trees will begin to fall and pose a risk to traffic.
The Centre of Excellence for Climate Change, Woodland and Forest Health  has launched an investigation into the epidemic.
The Centre’s Director, Giles Hardy, said there was no cure.
“Marri is an iconic tree species in Western Australia, but this cancer is destroying them and therefore the character and beauty of our famous Margaret River wine region is suffering,” Prof Hardy said.  “The deaths are impacting on flora and fauna biodiversity in the region. For example, the carnaby’s black cockatoo rely on the Marri’s large fruit, known as honky nuts, for food.”
The PerthNow newspaper revealed in September that large areas of northern jarrah forest in the Perth Hills have also suddenly collapsed and died from drought and may never recover.
Other trees including the Wandoo, Tuart and WA Peppermint have similarly shown severe recent declines, with some of the dead trees between 150 and 200-years-old.
“Driving down the South-West Highway you can see trees are falling, branches are breaking, it’s a very dangerous as well for motorists,” said Dr George Matusick, another researcher from the Centre of Excellence for Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health. “These trees are the lungs of the South-West. They provide us with our clean, fresh air, they provide habitat for our flora and fauna and Western Australians have a huge emotional tie to their native forests.”
And so do the grey nomads and other tourists who regularly visit this wonderful part of the world.
Have you seen the Marris in decline? How will this tree devastation affect your enjoyment of the region? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

October 31

Gambling on Casinos to boost tourism
Tiny outback towns in Queensland could be turned into Las Vega style gambling meccas to help reduce problem gambling and to help boost tourist numbers.
The radical plan – which has gained the support of state MP Aidan McLindon  – would see pokies taken from gambling-saturated cities and moved west. The ABC reports that the plan could involve construction of a ‘Birdsville Bellagio’ or see a pyramid-shaped casino beside Mount Isa's famous mining stacks.
"It just needs someone with the money who wants to do it," Diamantina mayor Robbie Dare said. "There's plenty
of room there."
Diamantina - which takes in Birdsville, covers 6 per cent of the state. It has 305 residents and not a single gaming machine.
Over in Mount Isa, mayor John Molony said his town was the ‘Damascus of tourism in Queensland’ - all roads led to it - and would be a logical location for ‘Aus Vegas’.
He nominated nearby Lake Moondarra as a potential site that could draw international tourists.
"My council is a consultative council and that would be something my council would take to the people," Mr Molony told the ABC. "We've got a couple of the biggest clubs in Australia here . . . and it may well be that one wants to take it on. At the moment, you've got people from South-East Asia flying to (Melbourne's) Crown Casino."
Mr McLindon - who has campaigned against pokies - says venues would relocate gaming machines to a central area. He previously suggested Cairns as a location but local officials rejected that idea.
Almost nine million visits are made to Queensland casinos and millions of dollars lost each year.

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October 28

Hit us with your best shot for great prizes
The unbelievably exciting www.thegreynomads.com.au ‘Life on the Road’ photo competition is just about to enter is final lap ... and the race looks set to be an incredibly close one.
With well over 400 top quality images already posted, the unveiling of the much-anticipated second-place ‘mystery’ prize is bound to spur yet another flurry of entries.
As already stated, the winning photographer will receive a voucher from Cooper Tires for an amazing $1,000 worth of tyres and the third placegetter will receive a copy of the Grey Nomad’s Guidebook. We now reveal that second prize will be …. drum roll please … second prize will be …. your photo of choice converted into a magnificent canvas print measuring a monster 16 inches by 24 inches, courtesy of Brilliant Prints. This sensational prize will immortalise a treasured moment from your trip and be a talking point for years to come. Valued at $141, the prize includes delivery to you anywhere in Australia.
Wow! And that’s the second prize!
Hesitate no longer, budding photographers.  Post your shot to have a chance at scooping up one of these incredible prizes.  The theme of our competition is 'Life on the Road’ and the judge will be looking for entertaining shots that capture the spirit of the grey nomad lifestyle.
Entries will not close until midnight AEST on November 23 so there is still time.
Click here for full details of how to enter.

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October 27

those areas," he said. "Obviously they can't be everywhere. What's more, there are no internationals, or very few internationals, compared to what we'd had in the past.”
Mr Collins says that although international visitors were never a big Outback market sector, numbers had been growing … at least they had until the cyclone factor kicked in.
Have you noticed less overseas tourists in Outback Queensland? Did you ever notice a strong overseas  contingent? Are travellers who stick to the coast missing out on the best bits of the Sunshine State? Email us here with your thoughts on this story

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October 26

Caravan bursts into flames on the Bruce Hwy
A caravan being towed behind a car has burst into flames, causing traffic to grind to a halt on the Bruce Hwy in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
It is believed that a gas bottle in the van exploded. No one was injured in the incident yesterday, although the southbound lanes of the highway were blocked and traffic was being diverted down Bli Bli Rd towards Bli Bli or via Nambour to Forest Glen.
It took emergency services about an hour to clear the mess and for the road to re-open. Were you caught up in the traffic chaos? Has the incident made you think more carefully about how you transport your gas bottles? Do you have any safety tips?
Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

October 25

Shark hunting in deep water
Helicopter shark patrols have begun along Perth beaches following three fatal attacks in Western Australian waters in the past couple of months.
The move will bring some reassurance to those of nervous disposition who like to take a dip in the ocean … many grey nomads among them. 
At the same time the search is also continuing for the shark responsible for the fatal attack on a 32-year-old American scuba diver off the coast of Rottnest Island a few days ago. There is considerable debate over the controversial shoot-to-kill order placed on the shark, which was largely imposed due to the fact
two other shark attacks occurred in a similar part of the ocean.
Shark ecologist Charlie Huveneers told the ABC that despite widespread media attention, shark attacks are still rare events.
He says killing one or two sharks probably will not affect the already slim chances of an attack.
"The culling of one or two individual sharks in a specific location is really unlikely to make a significant difference in the probability of a shark attack, which is already very low," he said.
And the Conservation Council's Tim Nicol says more shark patrols and better alarms at beaches are more practical ideas than hunting sharks.
"It seems it's a very impractical policy because it's almost impossible to know whether a shark will pose a threat," he said. "You know the same shark may be a threat one day, it may not another day; we really don't understand sharks well enough to make that call.”
The 'should we kill' or 'is it just nature at work' is a similar one to that played out after every crocodile attack. Is it really a sensible solution to go hunting an individual ‘killer’ shark? Has the mini-spate of attacks made you nervous to swim in the Indian Ocean? Have you ever seen a shark? Email us here with your views on this story.

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October 24

Fires still burning in the red centre
Smoke from bushfires still burning in Central Australia are continuing to cause a hazard for grey nomads and others travelling the Stuart Highway.
Despite weekend storms in the region the fires that have been raging for the past couple of months remain an issue ... and a concern.
Bushfires NT says there was not much rainfall north of Alice Springs and so fires on Neutral Junction, Anningie and Ammaroo stations are still burning. The organisation will now be sending up a surveillance plane to report on the fires.
"We're aware that any satellite passes that give us information ... sometimes have problems when there's clouds around, and there's certainly a few clouds around,” Bushfire NT’s  Ian Fox told the ABC. “So we'll need to get our own first hand intelligence and see what's going on."
Not surprisingly, the fires in the region are taking their toll on resources and the Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, is promising support.
"It has been a huge effort,” he said. “I take my hat off to those volunteers. To the Bush Fire Council people. To the South Australians who came up and helped, as well as many of the pastoralists, and to Parks and Wildlife and emergency service people.”
However, with the bushfire season still in its early days and experts warning of a long, and difficult few months ahead, action is called for.
The NT Goverment has just allocated an extra grass fire unit to the Alice Springs Volunteer Bushfire Brigade and  it is to undertake a review into the arrangements for resourcing volunteer brigades. It’s all part of a wider look at the bushfire management program in the Territory.
“Bushfires NT and bushfire volunteers do a great job and we are keen to improve outcomes if possible,” Mr Hampton said. “This review will focus on the best way to deliver operational and equipment support to volunteer brigades, and will have input from our volunteer brigades and Bushfires Council.”
Have you been affected by the ongoing fires in Central Australia? How do you prepare for the e possibility of being caught in an affected area while travelling? Email us here with your views on this story.

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October 21

New Broome sweeps away caravan parks
An iconic caravan park in the heart of the grey nomad mecca of Broome in Western Australia is to be bulldozed and re-developed.
The Palm Grove Holiday Park, which is situated ‘within splashing distance’ of Cable Beach will be transformed into a resort and apartments in a multi-million dollar redevelopment.
The first $15 million phase of the three-stage project will see most or all of the sites' 124 caravan and 21 camping spots removed.
In their place, 80 short-stay and 42 permanent residential apartments will be built around a big pool. The first phase will also include a restaurant, two bars, reception area, two retail tenancies, function room, day spa, gym and a second pool. The park's tourist cabins and chalets will remain in the short term but will be removed if Stage Three of the project goes ahead.
The site's developer, Broome Resort Developments, said the first stage of the 4.5-star resort development should be completed by about October 2013.
The developers will then either put the site on the market or seek approval to develop the final two stages. The total development of the 41,826sqm corner site, which is about 200 metres from Cable Beach, will cost up to $50 million.
According to the Palm Grove Holiday Park website, powered van sites currently cost $35 in the November-March  ‘low’ season and $45 in the June-September ‘peak’ season.
There is no word yet on how much guests at the soon-to-built luxury resort will be charged for the privilege of staying there.
However, Keith Williams, senior town planner at surveying and consulting firm Whelans, which represents Broome Resort Developments, told the West Australian newspaper that the resort, which will incorporate historical architecture out of “respect for Broome's style”, would target the luxury tourism market.
From a grey nomad perspective, is Broome changing for the worse? Will this leave the already challenging task of finding a peak season van site all but impossible? Have you stayed at Palm Grove in the past? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.  

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October 20

Another town set to fine 'free campers'
Bundaberg is gearing up to be the next Queensland town to introduce fines for people who camp ‘illegally’ in public places.
The issue has flared up following a complaint about the increasing numbers of travellers who have apparently been camping out in Lions Park near the river.
Councillor Mary Wilkinson said although camping was prohibited in the area, there is no signage in place warning visitors.
“Camping in public parks is not allowed,” she told the Bundaberg NewsMail.  “At this point in time looking to have them introduced when the new local laws were introduced early next year.
"A lot of people think they can just park and camp anywhere,” she said. “But unfortunately that is not the case."
One Bundaberg resident told the NewsMail that some campers had been in Lions Park for nearly two weeks and had been using electricity outlets there.
"We pay water rates, rates, and a lot of people have to pay rent and yet they are getting it all for free," the resident said.
However, another local Jordan Peace said he did not mind the campers staying under the bridge.
“They are fairly quiet and I don't even notice them there at all," he said. "We even get louder people here with their boats."
Have you camped at Bundaberg’s Lions Park? Can you understand the concern of local residents or should camping there be allowed? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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October 19

Travel dreams go up in smoke
A caravan has gone up in flames and been completely destroyed … just hours after excited new owners had taken possession of the vehicle.
The heartbreaking drama played out on Monday evening in Innisfail, far north Queensland, when the caravan was bought and then moved to its new home.
Police say the van caught fire and was destroyed soon after midnight. A police spokesman told the Brisbane Courier-Mail that the fire wasn't being treated as suspicious and was thought to have started when a burning candle was left unattended in the caravan.
Police apparently noticed the blaze as they patrolled the area and quickly notified the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. However, by the time they reached the scene, the caravan … and its new owners’ short-term travelling dreams … had gone up in smoke.
There is no word yet on what exciting plans the devastated owners had for their new van, but every grey nomad will no doubt be able to sympathise with them.
Have you ever lost or broken a new travel-related ‘toy’ soon after taking possession? Do you ever use candles in your van or motorhome? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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October 18

Fraser 'no-go' insult sparks war of words
A British newspaper report that has labelled Fraser Island “a certified no-go zone” has sparked a savage response from locals.
In a time where the tourism industry as a whole is suffering, Queensland could well do without the publicity given to it by the London Daily Telegraph.
The paper told its 1.7 million readers that among the six killer reasons to avoid the island was the fact that it was home to "one of the world’s most dangerous beaches".
Would-be travellers were then further warned:
"The seas surrounding Fraser Island, to the south-east of Queensland, are a certified no-go zone. That is unless you mind swimming with sharks, saltwater crocodiles and box jellyfish, while battling strong rip currents. Head inland and you're likely to bump into some of the world's deadliest spiders, as well as dingoes, which are known to occasionally attack humans."
Ouch!
However, the local newspaper, the Fraser Chronicle is certainly not taking the jibes laying down.
It has issued a blanket welcome to all international visitors, “particularly pasty-white, long-suffering Poms”.
And it says that: if you leave snakes, spiders and dingoes alone, they will return the favour; the last crocodile to be seen on Fraser Island was of the plastic, blow-up variety; and, as for sharks, stingers and rips, visitors should swim in patrolled areas, under the watchful eye of a bronzed, chiselled lifeguard and all will be fine.
And if that feisty riposte wasn’t enough, the Chronicle then goes in to tell its own readers that those planning a trip to England who are similarly concerned about personal safety may want to consider the following travel alert:
 "The land that makes up England, to the west of continental Europe, is a certified no-go zone. That is unless you like crowded, dirty cities, drinking warm beer, or battling rioters on the High Street. Head inland and you're likely to sample some of the world's most miserable food, weather that is even worse, and whingeing and whining like you would not believe."
Goodness me. The battle for the tourist dollar really is heating up, isn’t it?
Email us here with your views on this story.

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October 17

Shooting for glory
Wow! The great Grey Nomads ‘Life on the Road’ photo competition is shaping up to be an absolutely cracker.
With just over one month still to go before entries close, more than 300 high-quality shots have already been submitted.
A reminder that the top prize is a voucher from Cooper Tires for $1,000 worth of tyres!  The third placegetter will receive a copy of the 'Grey Nomad’s Guidebook.' And, the ‘mystery’ second prize will be revealed in these pages very shortly.
So, all of you, don’t miss your chance to have shot at winning and don’t miss your chance to share a moment from your big trip with your fellow nomads.
The theme of our competition is 'Life on the Road’ and the judge will be looking for entertaining shots that capture the spirit of the grey nomad lifestyle As mentioned in the competition’s rules and regulations, the winning entry might be a shot of a companion landing a monster barramundi, or a fellow traveller panning for gold, or falling asleep in a campchair. It might be your rig with a flat tyre, or camels crossing in front of you on a remote highway. It might be a spectacularly scenic campsite or a bush poets’ night around a campfire. Have a look at some of the photos already entered and you’ll get the idea.
When you post your entry, please feel free to tell the story behind the picture and also to comment on each other’s entries. There are three great prizes to be won but fun, friendship – and maybe a bit of frivolity – are the real aims of the game. Please enjoy.
How to Enter: Post your entries on the 'Photo Competition – Life on the Road' section of our forum. Note that you must be a member of the forum to post your images. If you are not a member already, you can join up by clicking this link and following the prompts in the sign-in box.

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October 14

A call to pass on new national parks
The New South Wales Nationals' state conference has called for a freeze on new wind farms and on new national parks.
Delegates have passed a motion calling for a complete audit of national parks, an assessment of the impact of new national parks on regional economies and a moratorium on wind farms.
NSW Nationals' leader Andrew Stoner says while he understands concerns in his party over the creation of new national parks, the State Government will determine policy on the issue.
Mr Stoner says the Government is not bound by the weekend resolution.
"This is a motion that reflects the frustration of many people in regional NSW about the continued expansion of the national parks estate without the necessary resources to actually look after those national parks," he told the ABC. "That said, this is not a motion that was supported in any way by the NSW Government."
Some Nationals' MPs have been critical of new red gum national parks declared in 100,000 hectares of state forests in the Riverina last year, but government ministers have ruled out reversing the declarations.
Email us here with your thoughts on this story

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October 13

Speed Limit plan to slash the road toll?
South Australia has launched a new safety strategy aimed at cutting the state’s alarming road toll … and that could mean lower speed limits.
The government is to consider applying a limit of 100km/h on about 50 country roads which currently have a 110km/h limit. It is estimated this could potentially save 11 lives a year. Other options under consideration are the application of an 80km/h limit on unsealed country roads, and the default 50km/h limit on more suburban roads.
The final say on what measures are to be implemented will rest with a new ministerial taskforce to include the road safety minister and the SA premier.
The chairman of SA's Road Safety Advisory Council, Eric Neal, said that despite significant reductions in the state's road toll over the past decade, there was still much more that could be done.
"Each one of us must play our part in preventing road crashes,” he told the ABC. “By accepting that people make mistakes, we can encourage solutions that can dramatically reduce the risk if a crash occurs."
The government's stated intention is to reduce road deaths in SA by 30 per cent by 2020, which would bring the annual toll to under 80.
The state’s Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond says the government also needs to look at the $200 million road maintenance backlog.
“South Australians expect the government to look after our roads," she said.
What do you think of the state of South Australian roads? Do you support the reduced speed limits under consideration? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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October 12

Change is afoot for the Flinders Ranges
Access to some tourist spots in the Flinders Ranges is to be restricted, and different campground  arrangements put in place as changes are made to the way in which the South Australian national park is run.
An agreement has been reached that will to give traditional owners, the Adyamathdanha people, a greater management role.
South Australian Environment Minister Paul Caica told the ABC that some areas could face restrictions, but thinks it could also bring more tourists to the northern region.
"What it does offer in the contrary to that really is a great opportunity for what is a broadening respect for non-Indigenous Australians to learn more about the first Australians, their cultural heritage and actually that should in turn attract more people to parks for that experience," he said.
Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association chairman Vince Coulthard says the agreement will let them use more traditional techniques to manage the national park.
"You would close certain camp grounds for a period of time and reopen them and allow for some regeneration in the area but when you close one, you open another," he said. "So you'd have an equal amount of camp areas but you're just rotating the use and the impact on those camp grounds."
A management plan will now be developed for the 900 square kilometres involved.
Hundreds of people have attended a smoking ceremony at Wilpena Pound to celebrate the agreement.

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October 11

Delay for nomads keen to cross over
The supremely wet wet season has turned some normally dry Outback destinations into spectacular locations filled with colour, wildlife and wildflowers.
It has been a treat for thousands of adventurous grey nomads but the visual magnificence has come at a cost. Roads have been damaged, favourite destinations temporarily closed off to traffic, and once manageable creek crossings turned into death traps.
Ivanhoe Crossing near Kununurra in far north Western Australia is probably the most famous creek crossing photo opportunity in the country … but it’s been a huge disappointment this year. Even now, the wait continues for water levels to return to normal so both locals and travellers can drive across the mighty Ord River.
The river is fed by Lake Argyle, which swelled to more than double its normal capacity this year, meaning over 10 million megalitres has steadily been pouring out of the spillway and keeping crossings like Ivanhoe completely impassable.
Of course, it’s a disappointment for visiting grey nomads and others, but it’s a nightmare for some locals.
The ABC reports that Rod McColm normally takes 10 minutes to get to work using the Ivanhoe Crossing but this year he's been forced to take the long way around … which can take him up to an hour!
"It's a 100 kilometre round trip and when the road is a bit rough it can put an extra two hours on the day,” he said. “And the thing is we're still doubtful on whether we'll be able to use it at all this year, with such a high water level - we're not expecting to."
The Water Corporation says Lake Argyle is still discharging 216,000 litres per second. It's expected to continue overflowing until mid November ... provided there's no more rain.
However, if you’ve got your fishing rod somewhere in your van, it might not be all bad news.
Local fisherman Francis Bright told the ABC that the high water level means the fishing ahead should be great.
"Ivanhoe Crossing is usually an obstruction to fish migrating upstream, but not this year," he said. "The bait run has been nothing short of phenomenal and it means there will be a lot of small barra up the Ord River and way up the Dunham River."
Havre you been disappointed at not being able to use the Ivanhoe Crossing this year? Have you crossed it in the past? Email us here with your thoughts on this story

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October 10

Are we too soft on flying fox colonies?
The dangers and nuisance value of flying foxes is under the spotlight like never before after yet another Hendra virus scare in Queensland.
While the virus is famed for its effect on horses, it is the flying fox that is the primary carrier … and the bat haters are now out in force. The hendra virus has killed four people in Australia since 1994, and 21 horses already this year.
Of course, many grey nomads will be all too well aware of the noise and smell that a colony of flying foxes can generate … whether it be from a camping site they have stayed at, or from visiting popular destinations such as Mataranka Hot Springs just off the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. The Livistona palms near the thermal springs come alive with a huge Little Red flying fox colony for a few months nearly every year. As well as bat droppings making life unpleasant, apparently the sheer weight of large numbers of flying foxes hanging from them can cause hefty palm fronds to give way and fall. Look out below!
While the Hendra virus is grabbing all the headlines, the bats can spread other diseases, too. A Brisbane woman is now being treated for exposure to the deadly bat disease lyssavirus after being attacked by three flying foxes.
Local media reports that Carolyn Martin was hanging out a towel on her balcony when the bats struck. One wrapped itself around her ankle and the other two flew around her face. Ms Martin will now require a series of injections over four weeks to protect her from rabies and lyssavirus.
Last year, three men were treated for lyssavirus after being bitten on the head and ears by a flying fox at a park near the town of 1770, south of Gladstone.
Queensland's chief veterinary officer Rick Symons says it is extremely rare for healthy bats to approach or attack humans but a flying fox infected with lyssavirus may be aggressive towards humans.
"Lyssavirus is within the bat population and, unlike Hendra virus, it affects the bats," Dr Symons says. "It does make them sick and it can kill them. Sometimes they can get aggressive and attack people.”
While flying foxes are a protected species in Australia, many local authorities are calling for a change that will allow them to reduce the bat population.
Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Cr Steve Jones told a meeting of councils on the Gold Coast that it was time something was done.
"These bloody things are vermin and they are being put above people,'' Cr Jones said. "No one wants to wipe them out but keep the numbers down to proportions whereby the humans get a fair go.''
A motion, which called for the state to "introduce controls to immediately reduce flying fox populations and adopt a system that allows for the maintenance of those populations at a sustainable level", was carried.
Flying foxes are nomadic animals that can travel up to 50km each night in search of food. With trees blossoming and fruit on the way, there are many anxious people wondering just where and when flying foxes may set up camp this season.
Have you been affected by a flying fox colony? Would you avoid camping areas or destinations with large numbers of bats? Should it be made easier for local authorities to be allowed to move on the bats? Email your thoughts on this story here.

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October 7

Making way for more travellers
The money spent improving and promoting the Savannah Way, which links Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland, appears to be paying off.
A significant increase in traffic along the 3,700 kilometre route has been reported this year and grey nomads are a major reason why.
Cape Crawford Tourism, which runs helicopter flights and other adventure activities in the Gulf of Carpenteria, says this season has been one of the best on record for visitor numbers and there has been a noticeable increase in grey nomad numbers.
"This region is very isolated and we haven't had a lot of people coming through previously,” said the tourism company’s owner Sandra Schleter. “People are wanting to go to more isolated regions and experience the outback."
They sure are, Sandra.
The ABC reports that it is the marketing of the Savannah Way, which links 15 national parks and five World Heritage areas, that is behind the growth in tourist numbers. In a year in which many outback areas have reported significant downturns in tourism visitors, the Savannah Way’s apparent success is indeed impressive.
As the route’s websites says travellers “can explore just a section or cross the continent enjoying its wide horizons, ancient gorges and abundant wildlife, connecting with Aboriginal and pioneer heritage in today’s friendly outback”.
Have you travelled the Savannah Way? What makes it so special? Have you noticed a big increase in traveller numbers? How has the route been able to defy the tourism trends that have hit other areas. Email here with your thoughts on this story.

October 6

Industrious nomads reap sweet rewards
The mining boom is throwing up plenty of lucrative opportunities for income seeking grey nomads.
Up in Far North Queensland, for example, so many local men have been lured into the mines by the big dollars on offer that the sugar industry has been forced  to look beyond its traditional employment pool … and that means more women and more older workers.
One of the larger companies, Mackay Sugar, happily admits that recruitment has been a challenge recently.
"Back to 2005, we had 200 people working for us. And if you look at 2011, we've only got 60 of those people left," the company’s cane supply manager, Mike Huxley, told the ABC. "What the industry's actually done is looked at employing more female drivers and shunters and that's been a great asset for us."
Mackay Sugar has also attracted grey nomads, many of whom who have been earning their tickets to drive the sugar cane locos. Lorraine Emery from Gympie is among them
"It's a seasonal job. It suits me down to the ground because I don't like to work full time," Ms Emery told the ABC. "It's wonderful to come to North Queensland and we're assured of about between five and six months work every season and that's fantastic. That keeps us for the rest of the year."
Companies like Mackay Sugar source seasonal workers nationwide. A loco driver can apparently earn more than $52,000 for a 25-week season.
Have you worked in the sugar industry? How was it? Is it a great opportunity for grey nomads? Email us here with your views on this story.

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October 5

Proposed park set to protect more coast
A massive new marine park looks set to be created at Western Australia’s iconic Eighty Mile Beach.
The state government says the plan will provide higher levels of protection for marine biodiversity while allowing recreational activities and `sustainable' commercial fishing. Eighty Mile Beach, which lies between Broome and Port Headland, is a ‘must-stop’ destination for grey nomads and is popular for beach fishing, camping and four-wheel driving.
The new marine park would cover an area of about 209,000 hectares of coast, stretching from the south-west to the north-east of the state and encompassing all of Eighty Mile Beach, protecting migratory shorebirds and unique marine life. while promoting collaborative management with traditional owners. The park is one of four proposed new marine parks to be considered as a part of the new Kimberley Wilderness Parks, a key component of the state government’s major conservation strategy for the Kimberley.
Marine parks would also be created at Camden Sound, Roebuck Bay and the North Kimberley.
Together, the four new parks would nearly triple the total area of marine parks and reserves in WA coastal waters and would also protect the largest Humpback whale calving area in the southern hemisphere.
“The proposed Eighty Mile Beach marine park will provide protection for a unique and spectacular part of the lower west Kimberley coastline,” WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion told the ABC. “As well as providing for sustainable tourism use and enjoyment of the area and the maintenance of Aboriginal culture and heritage.”
Pew Environment Group Kimberley manager John Carey said the proposal was 'a big improvement on the previous plan', which was criticised for allowing oil and gas exploration and commercial fishing.
“This is a good start for the Kimberley marine park program,'' Mr Carey told the ABC. “It does set a reasonable benchmark in terms of sanctuary zones.”
The period for public comment closes at 5pm on January 20, 2012.
Email us here to share your thoughts on this story

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October 4

Concern grows over car reverse deaths
The safety of modern vehicles – particularly 4WDs – has once again been called into question following the tragic death of a one-year-old at a Katherine caravan park.
The little girl was run over by her father as he reversed the family's four-wheel-drive.
The Northern Territory Automobiles Association says today’s vehicles are making it harder to see small objects and people behind them … and that’s how these sorts of accidents happen.
The organisation’s president, Robert Bradley, says he remembers a near miss involving his own child nearly a quarter of a century ago. A neighbour reversed towards his tricycle-riding young daughter but was stopped just in the nick of time by his wife who thumped on the car's bonnet.
"Fortunately a tragedy was avoided by probably about a metre,” Mr Bradley told the ABC. “There was absolutely no way he would have seen her."
While that happened 25 years ago, it seems the dangers today are even greater.
“What happens now, particularly with saloon cars, drivers are sitting lower and vision out the back has always been poor and now it's even worse,” Mr Bradley said. "You just can't see things lower than about hip height for probably up to about 20 metres behind you."
He said while more cameras were being installed with new cars they were often only with luxury models, and while commercial vehicles have mandatory-installation of an alarm sound when reversing towards objects or people, there are still other dangers.
"One of the issues these days is cars are so quiet and people don't get that audible alarm," Mr Bradley said. "The message is just try to be careful - we always try and encourage people to walk around the back of their car and look - that's probably the best start."
What do you think should be done to help avoid these sorts of tragedies? Have you had any near misses? Do you have any tips for reversing safely. Email here with your views on this story.

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September 30

Coast's project to lure doggy dollar
A big push is on to attract more pet-owning tourists to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
As most dog, cat or lorikeet loving grey nomads are already aware, travelling with a furry or feathered friend can be a challenge. However, with the domestic tourism dollar more important than ever, no town wants travellers – even pet-owning ones - to drive on by.
The Sunshine Coast's peak tourism body, Sunshine Coast Destinations, has just announced plans to roll out the best fur-friendly welcome in the state in a bid to tap into a tourism market they say is worth ‘millions’.
Recent surveys show one in five tourists would bring their dog or cat with them if they had a pet-friendly place to stay. Already almost 180 places on the Coast promote themselves as pet-friendly. Many of these business operators say their business has surged since they advertised the fact  they allowed dogs.
The problems facing long-term, pet-loving travellers visiting the region were highlighted recently by ‘local’ grey nomad Debbie Baldwin who said she and her husband find it difficult to return home for the occasional visit in their caravan because of their poodle.
"There is nowhere on the Sunshine Coast from Noosa to Caloundra that will take a pet in a caravan park," Ms Baldwin wrote in a letter to the Noosa News. "Now there are quite a lot of us nomads out there who travel with their pets and the Sunshine Coast is missing out on a lot of tourist dollars."
Pet-friendly advocate Suzanne Wright said Noosa needed all the help it could get in attracting visitors.
"Councils and governments just need to put some guidelines in place and then allow the businesses to work out how to best service their clients," Ms Wright told the Noosa News. "Noosa needs customer service not restrictions."
However, change is not going to be easy.
Boreen Point Campground park manager Steven Young said it was out of the question for his campground to become pet-friendly despite it being nominated by some residents as a possible option.
"This spectacular piece of the Noosa Biosphere has a unique biodiversity of plants, birds and wildlife, visited by nature lovers from around the world," Mr Young said in a letter to the Noosa News.
And Tourism Noosa Marketing and Media Director Diane Ainsworth said there was a definite need for balance with there being just as many Noosa holidaymakers looking for pet-free zones.
“People are passionate about their pets but there are those who are equally as passionate about not having their holiday interrupted by other people's pets," she said.
Sunshine Coast mayor Bob said the council is still reviewing its rules governing dogs on beaches.
"We have got to get places where dogs can go and places where people can go without dogs," he said.
So, is the situation improving for pet-owning grey nomads? Where is the best place in the country to visit with your furry friends? Where is the worst? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 29

Couple devastated by heartless vandals
A grey nomad couple have been shattered after their beloved campervan was stolen and torched by vandals.
The white 1996 Hiace Toyota campervan was stolen from a Cairns unit complex and then found dumped in nearby parkland. It had been set alight.
A camper chair and a water canister is now all that remains of the pensioners' ‘pride and joy’.
Roy Assan, 86, and Alma Vines, 80, had only recently added solar panels and new tyres to the $17,000 campervan.
"I just started crying," Ms Vines told the Cairns Post. "We have worked hard all our lives and had finally reached a point where we could just step back and enjoy life … I'm just disgusted someone could do this."
It is understood the offenders broke into the vehicle and found a spare set of keys in the glove box.
Ms Vines' son, Russell McMurdo said the campervan was the couple's only means of transport.
"This was their whole life, they loved it," he told the Cairns Post. “I just want these low-lives to know what they've done."
The couple will return to Brisbane next week to see if their insurance will cover the cost of the extensive damage to the campervan.
How do you protect your rig when parking your rig in cities and big towns? Have you had any security scares? Email here with your thoughts on this story.

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September 28

Nomads encouraged to take a power trip
Solar panels are being touted as a way for home-owning grey nomads to gain an income while they are away travelling.
According to the industry, grey nomads ‘on the adventure of a lifetime’ can help fund their lifestyle by turning their idle homes into power stations, at the same time as increasing the value of their homes.
A press release from Auzion Solar Power claims solar is the perfect short and long-term investment for grey nomads, and others, who leave their homes on extended trips.
“Solar power is at its most cost efficient when you maximise the energy fed back into the grid,” said Auzion CEO, Mark Leckenby. “For most households this means trying to reduce the energy used throughout daylight hours but when you are away on holidays, your household uses very little or no electricity.”
This apparently means that all the energy you don’t use while your home is unoccupied will be fed back into the grid and bought off you by your energy supplier at a premium rate.
“So while the cost of energy is set to continue increasing, installing solar makes sense for everyone,” said Mr Leckenby. “For travellers the investment is even more of a no-brainer because the additional power generated means they will pay their systems off much sooner.”
In Queensland, householders get paid a minimum of 44 cents per kW, one of the highest government feed in tariff rates in Australia.
The Auzion press release unveils ‘part time grey nomads’ Paul and Pauline from the Sunshine Coast, who it says installed a 3kW Auzion PV Solar System on their home in July and are apparently already experiencing the benefits.
“We travel for three to four months of the year and saw solar as a good return on investment, far better than the return we would receive from having our money in the bank,” Paul is quoted as saying. “My wife and I recently returned from a four-week holiday and while we were away, our system fed 344kW back to the grid and, at 50c per kW with Origin, we have already made $172 in just one month.”
Auzion’s Mark Leckenby reckons that, depending on their solar system size, grey nomads can earn well over $1,000 per year for doing virtually nothing.
Right then, solar panel owning people, is this as good as it sounds? How much did it cost you to get a solar set-up for your home, and how much does it earn you while you are away on a trip? If you were travelling full-time, how long would it take you to earn back the cost of the system? How much value does having a solar system add to your home? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 27

Lucky escape for intrepid nomads
A pair of British grey nomads have had an amazing escape after their motorhome collapsed a remote bridge deep in the Amazon rainforest.
Bruce Scott, 62, and Lesley Norris, 64, called family back in the UK on a satellite phone after their vehicle plunged 30ft down a ravine.
After taking down their GPS co-ordinates, UK coastguards sent calls to colleagues in Brazil and a helicopter was sent to track down the stranded pair. The couple got some tarpaulin from their vehicle and waited in the humid rainforest for 17 hours before being airlifted to the city of Manaus. They are now recovering from their ordeal and suffered no major injuries.
“The weight of the vehicle was excessive and the bridge couldn't handle it … it was a bridge too far,” said Bruce. "Luckily we were able to leap out before it fell."
Lesley added: "I thought it was all over when the bridge started to collapse. It's amazing we escaped unharmed."
The pair have been travelling in Central and South America for five and a half years in their Mercedes Unimog – an off-road adventure vehicle adapted to include a double bed and porcelain flushing toilet.
They started their adventures in January 2006 from the Mexican port of Altamira, accompanied by two other couples from the Silk Route Motor Caravan Club, which specialises in extreme expeditions. Later they continued on their own and drove through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia before reaching Brazil.
The pair are now focused on salvaging their motorhome, which still contains all their belongings.
“The truck is 30ft down the ravine on its side,” Lesley told a British newspaper. “If we can get it up again and on the road we will continue at some stage because we enjoy what we are doing.”
Would you travel in South America in a caravan or motorhome? What is your scariest moment on the road? Email us here to share your your views on this story.

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September 23

Flower power reigns in sunny capital
The country’s biggest flower show – Canberra’s iconic Floriade – is well and truly under way and it’s blooming marvellous.
The event, which started last Saturday and runs until October 16, will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the nation’s capital … large numbers of them, grey nomads.
Last year an estimated 131,000 of the Floriade faithful either travelled from interstate or from overseas.
This year’s theme, A Feast for the Senses, has already received rave reviews as visitors enjoy more than a million bulbs arranged to represent red hot chillies, crumbly cupcakes, bottles of wine, bowls of citrus fruit, a chocolate box and a cup of coffee, complete with foam.
Floriade designer John Easthope said there was even a flaming hot barbecue with red, orange and yellow bulbs which, when stared at long enough, appeared to move as though they were flickering flames.
Wow!
Planning for this amazing floral spectacular is spread over a colour-filled 4800 square metres begins in February, when artists, festival organisers and gardening teams work out designs and mark out patterns on the ground. The first bulbs, including tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, were planted in April.
Last year the festival drew some 417,000 people and generated $27 million for the local economy … and  a new record attendance s being predicted.
Australian Capital Tourism marketing director Ian Hill said this year’s event provided the perfect balance, with plenty of activity for flower enthusiasts and general visitors alike. Besides just enjoying the sights and scents, there is an awful lot going on which will be of interest to any grey nomads.
The Canberra Times reports that workshops on organic gardening, rose pruning, hanging baskets and bouquet design will be held by leading florists. Also, food enthusiasts will share the delights of pasta-making, spice mixing and wine matching.
Have you been to this year’s Floriade? Are you planning to? What’s the atmosphere like? Is this the best floral display around? Email us your views on this story here.

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September 22

Shocking start to bushfire season
It has been an absolutely shocking few weeks for bushfires in central Australia and things seem to be going from bad to worse.
Three massive blazes in the area have now broken containment lines on their western flanks and westerly winds are fanning the flames.
Bushfires NT director Steve Sutton says a fire at Yambah Station, about 100 kilometres north of Alice Springs, is being pushed towards Napperby Station on the Tanami Road. Another fire on Angas Downs, near the Luritja Road, has broken away and is reportedly heading towards Kings Canyon.
Mr Sutton told the ABC that the fire of greatest concern is burning on three fronts, south and east of Alice Springs, and is threatening several homesteads.
"(It is moving) towards Maryvale and Deep Well, the stations in that area," he said. "We worked overnight, with some assistance from volunteers and staff from Alice Springs, to try to put in place some containment lines during the cool of the night … they weren't entirely successful.”
Mr Sutton told the ABC the fire started more than a week ago in the Simpson Desert and has burnt on three fronts across hundreds of kilometres.
The two fronts on the edge of the Simpson Desert are approaching Nummery and Indiana stations but there are a limited number of people available to defend the area.
There is slightly better news in the Sunshine State where the Queensland  Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) says weather conditions across the state have improved and all bushfires are now under control.
Blazes are burning within containment lines in the state's far north, central region, the Wide Bay-Burnett, and south-west.
It goes without saying that grey nomads and others should remain alert to fire risks at this time of the year, no matter where they are travelling.
Have you been affected by a bushfire? Any tips for staying safe? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

September 21

Snake spottings surge as mercury climbs
Spring has well and truly sprung and, as the mercury climbs, so too is the number of snakes being spotted around the place.
It always pays to be vigilant, especially when engaging in ‘high-risk’ activities such as collecting firewood or bushwalking. And grey nomads should certainly take into account their immediate surroundings when deciding where to set up camp. Parking the van in long grass, for example, could well be asking for trouble.
The unusually warm weather in many parts of the country and a couple of nasty incidents has just underlined once again the need for travellers to be ‘snake aware’.
In the last couple of days in Victoria, a 15-year-old girl was bitten by a snake near Mildura and a 40-year-old man was bitten while trying to kill a snake in his Sunbury home. Both were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition.
Snake catcher Raymond Hoser told the Melbourne Age that he had been called out to collect eight snakes across Melbourne on Monday and three on Sunday.
The most dramatic call-out involved an adult brown snake in the loungeroom of a home in Donvale, in Melbourne's east.
"What usually happens on a warmish day is a snake will simply slither through an open door," Mr Hoser told the Age. "The family was actually pretty calm considering the circumstances.”
Mr Hoser said it was unusual to be so busy in September.
"We don't usually get busy until October or November,” he said. “But we've had a few warmish days and I think that's flushing them out early."
Have you seen snakes yet? Do you have any advice on how to avoid unwanted reptile contact? Would you ever try to kill a snake?  Email us here with your views on this story?

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September 20

Would you rather camp with cougars or crocs?
Does Australia really deserve its reputation overseas for being such a dangerous place to travel and camp?
Sure, we’ve got crocodiles, killer snakes and hugely venomous spiders, but there are definitely worse things around. For example, bear attacks are on the increase in North America, as are those by the cunning cougar. Indeed, two of the ‘mountain lions’ have just been shot and killed on Canada’s Vancouver Island after being spotted near areas where people were camping or swimming.
The killings come shortly after another cougar, which has not yet been found, attacked an 18-month-old boy at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, east of Vancouver. The cat pounced on the child and sank its teeth into his skull before the boy’s grandfather drove it away. The boy is recovering from his injuries.
 “People are definitely more aware and people are a little worried about cougars right now,” said  British Columbia conservation officer, Peter Pauwels. “More so than they normally would be.”
He said one of the cougars that was shot recently had been dangerously close to campsites for three days.
“There were lot of little kids there and it’s summer and a long weekend, the campground was completely full,” Mr Pauwels said. “It was a dangerous situation.”
The cougar was apparently not scared off when people threw rocks at it.
Signs have now been put up warning people of the cougar and campers are very concerned, given the recent attack at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
Cougar sightings have increased on Vancouver Island this year, possibly because higher snow levels last winter allowed cougars easier access to deer and elk, increasing their survival.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment’s tips for cougar safety include never approach a cougar, always give a cougar an avenue of escape, stay calm and speak to the cat in a confident voice.
Gulp!
Would you rather camp near grizzlies and cougars or crocodiles and dingoes?  Have you travelled in the US or Canada and did the wildlife make you nervous? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 19

Visitors cautioned to avoid dingo dramas
Grey nomads visiting Fraser Island are being urged to be extra cautious of dingoes as whelping season gets underway.
Environment Minister Vicky Darling said visitors should consider staying in fenced campsites as dingo pups are weaned and leave their dens to learn how to hunt, find water and to socialise.
"More dingoes may be seen at this time, they may be more determined and aggressive in their search for food and adults will aggressively defend their young," Ms Darling told the Fraser Coast Chronicle. "Learning to hunt is a vital part of the pups' rearing and it is important to conserve the natural behaviour of dingoes by not interfering with them during this crucial stage of their lives."
The overlap between the dingo whelping season and the holiday camping period could also lead to an increase in human-dingo encounters.
"Families with children are strongly urged to camp in fenced campgrounds at Central Station, Dundubara, Lake Boomanjin, Dilli Village and Waddy Point,” Mr Darling said. "Parents should ensure children are supervised at all times and should never allow them to walk alone as attacks could happen very quickly."
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers will be visiting campgrounds and tourist spots to talk to visitors about dingo safety.
Do dingoes make you nervous? Have you had a close encounter with one of them? Do you stay in fenced campsites when available? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 16

New photo contest gets on the road
It’s on again for young and old. The third great Grey Nomad photo competition is about to get underway and the prizes are bigger and better than ever.
A massive thank you to our major sponsor, Cooper Tires, who have kindly donated a $1,000 tyre voucher … redeemable nationwide. Wow! As many grey nomads have already discovered Cooper Tires’ commitment to quality and more tread makes them a favourite in the bush and on the bitumen. Our lucky first prize winner can look forward to many, many, many kilometres of safe motoring in this wonderful country on these wonderful tyres.
And so, the theme? In this competition we will be looking for a picture that captures the spirit of ‘Life on the Road’. Whether it’s a wedge-tailed eagle feeding on roadkill or a group of grey nomads enjoying a happy hour drink, we’re looking for a picture that tells a story and resonates with fellow travelers. Full details of the theme and how to be enter can be found by clicking here.
We are also very lucky and very proud to announce that Travel Today Editor Steve Jones will once again be our judge for what promises to be our most epic and most entered competition to date. I hope you will all join me in thanking Steve for his sterling efforts. He regularly gives up his time free of charge to perform this important task and always takes his responsibilities seriously.  In the last ‘Seeing Red’ competition, we received more than 500 entries and judging such a vast array of pics is no easy task. Click here to learn more about our esteemed judge.
Some of the finalists may be selected to feature in Travel Today, an online travel publication that is read by the movers and shakers of the Australian tourism industry.
As always, please take the time to tell us a little about your photo when you enter it, and take the time to ask about - and to praise - other competitors’ efforts. It is always appreciated.
Good luck, have fun … and happy snapping!

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September 15

Bauple overnight site given funding boost
A proposed RV overnight camping park in Bauple on the Fraser Coast is to receive a $50,000 boost from the Queensland Government.
Fraser Coast Regional Council spent several months earlier this year consulting with residents about the proposed park which it is hoped will attract more grey nomads to the region.
It sparked something of a local debate. Several parents expressed concern about the site's proximity to Bauple Primary School, while local business believed the town would benefit from increased tourist traffic drawn away from the Bruce Highway.
A site was finally decided on in May.
Minister for Tourism Jan Jarratt has announced that grants will be given to Fraser Coast Regional Council and Gympie Regional Council for tourism projects designed to attract the drive market. Ms Jarrat said the park's location in the centre of Bauple would encourage tourists in their cars and caravans to linger in the town.
"The grants have helped regions throughout Queensland that rely heavily on the drive tourism market," Ms Jarrat said.
The camping site will include a transit stop for bus passengers, picnic areas and signage on Bauple's history.
Email here with your views on this story.

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September 14

UFOs send visitor numbers sky high
A flurry of UFO sightings in the Katherine night sky has caught the imagination of grey nomads travelling in the Northern Territory.
For some adventurers, a good happy hour is now not complete without spotting an unexplainable red or white light darting across the sky. There have been at least 10 sightings in the last month.
NT based UFO spotter Alan Ferguson says the time for doubt is over.
“When I came to Katherine I did not expect to find so many people who had seen and documented their UFO experiences,” Mr Ferguson told the NT News. “Katherine is in a UFO mecca.”
Carrina Turner was one of a group of 10 people who last week claim to have seen a light fly across the sky at least twice as fast as a satellite would travel.
She said the light was hovering in the sky, “really, really bright”, before it disappeared. "But a few seconds later it was back,” she said. “And it was kinda going on and off, like it had a pulse.”
David Schuman told the NT News  that back in July he saw a craft that changed shape and colour over Katherine with an "almost silent woosh" as it faded out of view.
Mr Schuman described it as an orange double ringed orb with two "hotspots" of fuzzy silvery grey.
And Tracey Graham reported seeing something like a giant spotlight due west from Limbunya station near Timber Creek.
"The light plummeted vertically to the ground but I didn't see it hit as the main shed was in the way," she claimed. "It wasn't a shooting star or a heavenly body but a large light ... there was no fire, tail or attachment to it as far as I can tell. I heard no impact.”
Mr Ferguson says that instead of trying to conceal the truth , the NT Government should embrace it. He said tourism campaigns weren't diverse enough, especially now as visitor numbers were down.
"It's like the only things we advertise are barra fishing, national parks and Aboriginal paintings," he said. "There's more to the NT than just that. If you were to add a UFO in some of them posters, I guarantee that'll grab attention."
Are you a UFO believer? Have you seen unidentified flying objects in the Outback sky? Have you been in Katheirne recently and been grabbed by UFO fever? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 13

Lane six croc shock for pool swimmers
We are told that freshwater crocodiles are pretty harmless unless cornered … but that doesn’t mean we want them joining us for a dip at the local pool!
But that’s what happened in Darwin recently when swimmers got the fright of their lives after spotting a 50-centimetre freshie in the shallow end.  Happily, a quick-thinking lifeguard was on hand to scoop up the uninvited guest.
Tim Dupe was holding a swimming boot camp in the suburb of Parap when a member of the public alerted him to the intruder’s presence.
Tim said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the croc but says it was lucky the reptile 'had a lane to itself'.
"I went down the shallow end and in lane six, right up in the corner, was a little freshwater croc,” he said. “So I grabbed the leaf scoop and scooped it up."
The croc was taken away by Parks and Wildlife Rangers and released into the wild.
Pranksters are thought to have been behind the bizarre incident.
"It is pretty dry all around the place, so it is not as if there have been any crocs living in here,” said Tim. "Someone must have jumped the fence or got in here and thrown the croc in the pool."
Ranger Tommy Nichols said it was the third crocodile to turn up in a public pool in the past few years.
“They didn't get there by themselves. It's just a stupid thing to do,” he said: “'Certainly, a croc this size isn't going to hurt anyone, but if it was bigger it could have ended badly.”
Would swimming with a freshie give you the heebie jeebies? Have you ever shared a rock pool (or a swimming pool) with the more friendly members of the crocodile family? And can you tell the difference with enough confidence to risk taking the plunge with them? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 12

Thinking big, starting small
Grey nomads who find life in the van or motorhome a bits squishy sometimes should spare a thought for two couples about to travel the country … in a Mini.
Sunshine Coast pair John and Lynne Kornbrekke were inspired to embark on the journey when Canadians Rick and Elaine Higgs contacted them two years ago with the idea.
"If you drive around in a caravan, it's just a trip,” John told the Central Telegraph. “But if you drive around in a Mini with a trailer, it's an adventure."
The foursome decided the trip should coincide with the Mini Owners Club of Queensland's celebrations to mark the Mini's 50th anniversary in Australia.
The Higgs' flew out from Vancouver two weeks ago and have spent this week running in their newly-acquired 1973 Clubman panel van.
The adventurers are setting off today in their quest to drive 22,000 kilometres of Australia's sealed roads in an anti-clockwise direction, in 70 days, without air conditioning.
The Kornbrekkes will use a trailer, custom made from the rear end of a Mini panel van, to store equipment.
The Higgs have driven tens of thousands of kilometres, including a west to east coast of Canada in one marathon journey, but the longest John and Lynne have spent in a Mini at one time is six days.
Please keep an eye out for the Minis and drop us a line if you spy them.
Your thoughts join this story. Email us here.

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September 9

Desert drama sparks Outback travel alert
An Outback motorcyclist who went missing while on his way to last weekend’s Birdsville races in far south-west Queensland has been found alive.
Police say 45-year-old South Australian man Michael Cronin became fatigued and disorientated while on his trip and was lucky to survive.
'Had it not been for the efforts of locals, and Emergency Services the missing man would have died,' police said.
The man had last been seen a full week ago near Warburton Crossing in the Simpson Desert. The alarm was raised when he failed to contact his family as had been expected. The rescued motorcyclist was described as an experienced bushman.
Nonetheless yet another near fatality in the South Australian Outback has prompted authorities to warn travellers again of the potential dangers of desert exploration and adventure.
Police, as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service have warned  travellers contemplating trips to remote areas that preparation and planning are vital before setting out. They say visitors in the Simpson Desert are required to have a Desert Parks Pass that provides information about what to take and emergency.
'Motorists should travel as a group, have appropriate communications between vehicles/bikes such as UHF radio, plus either HF or a satellite phone, and an EPIRB (emergency positioning indicating radio beacon),' said South Australian police spokesperson. “'Travellers to remote areas should provide a communications travel plan with relative or friend which would include regular check-ins, vehicle details, who is travelling, and a detailed itinerary.”
The police say travellers should carry vehicle spare parts including additional fuel, enough food and water for the trip, plus at least three to four days food and water supplies for emergencies.
'Missing person searches by Police, Emergency Services and volunteers, involving aircraft and other resources are difficult in remote areas,” police said. “And they are both costly and time consuming.”
Have you ever found yourself in trouble while travelling in the outback? How did you cope? Have you seen fellow grey nomads venture unprepared into potentially hazardous country? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 8

Views divided over Kimberley Heritage
The decision by Federal Environmental Minister Tony Burke to award the Kimberley region National Heritage Listing has not surprisingly received a mixed response.
Environmental groups, aboriginal groups and many in the travel industry say it will help to protect the ‘unique’ landscape of the region, which attracts more than 300,000 visitors annually. However, mining companies, pastoralists and developers are less impressed.
The heritage listed area covers more than 19 million hectares of land and includes the West Kimberley coast from Cape Leveque to Cambridge Gulf, the Kimberley plateau, the Fitzroy River and land south of the Oscar and Napier ranges.
The proposed site of a controversial gas hub 60 kilometres north of Broome is however a notable omission from the heritage listing. The dinosaur footprints on tidal flats south of James Price Point where it is understood the gas hub proponents plan to carry out dredging and build a 6 km jetty are protected however.
In a statement, Woodside says it believes the proposed development can successfully co-exist with the heritage values of the area. But environmentalists and protesters against the gas plant going ahead, disagree and say they are upset by the decision.
Environs Kimberley spokeswoman Emma Belfield, who has joined protesters blockading the site, told the ABC she was bitterly disappointed.
"This community campaign will keep going, the resolve is just growing by the day, and I have no doubt that we will ultimately prevail," she said.
As well as being home to over 300 species of birds, the Kimberley offers some of the oldest rock formations on earth and the largest and most significant stretches of dinosaur footprints in the world.
Tourism in the region has been struggling a little in recent times and some in the industry say the decision is recognition that the economic value of the region doesn't just lie underground … and that tourism is a viable future for the Kimberley.
With National Heritage listing for the region confirmed, some are now setting their sights even higher and believe a World Heritage listing would be the next logical step.
With a World Heritage listing, the Kimberley would stand alongside renowned sites like the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, the Acropolis, the Pyramids … and the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu.
Does the Kimberley belong in this heady company? Do you support the heritage listing decision. Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 7

Lucky escape for all in van crash drama
A caravan-towing grey nomad has had a lucky escape after he was involved in a three-vehicle collision near Cooma in New South Wales.
The accident happened near a bridge on the Monaro highway. The 71-year-old driver of a four-wheel drive towing a caravan was being overtaken by a semi-trailer when a third vehicle, a sedan driven by an 88-year-old man from Sydney, attempted to overtake the semi-trailer.
The Cooma-Monaro Express reports that, with all three vehicles alongside each other, the semi-trailer driver braked heavily to allow the sedan to get past. The driver of the overtaking sedan reportedly overcorrected and lost control of his car and collided with the caravan, causing the caravan to jack-knife on the bridge.
The truck driver who managed to avoid the collision clipped the bridge in the incident. There was significant damage to the other two vehicles and caravan, which required towing from the scene.
Wow! Incredibly no-one was hurt in the accident but it must have been terrifying for all concerned.
Your views on this story. Email us here

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September 6

NT National Park plan undermined
The Northern Territory Government is under pressure to delay declaring a national park in the Gulf of Carpentaria region.
More than one million hectares of land in the south-west of the Gulf that was gazetted as a proposed national park more than 20 years ago is set to be ‘declared’ in the near future.
However, the Minerals Council of Australia now says no announcement on the formation of Limmen National should be made until mining leases are granted. One of two iron ore mines planned for the region is within proposed park boundaries.
"If the whole region is to be declared a national park ... that concerns us because we do have a number of companies that have been given licences to explore in that area," Mineral Council Territory branch president, Peter Stewart, told the ABC. "The area is fairly open tract of old, degraded pastoral land."
Mr Stewart says the eligibility of the land for national park status should be re-assessed.
"It does not make sense to start looking at declaring national parks on areas that clearly have a resource and potential to be mined," he said, adding that such a decision would repel potential investment.
Access to the proposed park - which is located approximately 300km southeast of Katherine and 76km northwest of Borroloola - can be difficult and this has contributed to the isolated and wild character of the area. The NT Government says much of the area is rugged with spectacular weathered sandstone formations and intervening alluvial valleys
The Environment Centre NT says the park should be declared and the uncertainty ended … and it says a new Mary River national park should also be declared.
"We have Limmen national park as a park in limbo, we don't also want to have Mary River Park as a park in limbo that never gets declared," Environment Centre spokesman, Stuart Blanch, told the ABC.  "The Territory Labor government needs to bring to the end of this journey, declaring more parks."
The government has released its draft joint management plan for the proposed Mary River national park and it says the plan is being finalised in conjunction with the process for declaring the park.
Should the Gulf region be protected ASAP? Or should mining opportunities be fully explored first? Email us here with your views on this story.

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September 5

Bushfire traps runners in Kimberley gorge
The real danger of bushfires and their horrific capability to destroy lives has sadly been graphically illustrated yet again.
Eight runners in an ultra-marathon event were trapped when fire ripped through a gorge near El Questro station, in Western Australia's remote Kimberley region. Two female competitors are fighting for their lives after suffering 80 per cent burns. Thirty-five-year-old Kate Sanderson from Victoria and 24-year-old Argyle diamond mine engineer Turia Pitt are in a critical condition in hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne.
The incident also left two men, aged 56 and 44, with major burns. One of the injured men told the ABC they had been forced to choose between becoming human fireballs or running through a wall of flame.
"We got to a situation where the flames were about two metres away from us,” he said. “It was just horrendously hot and we were scared for our lives."
He and the three other competitors tried to run away from the blaze, but were eventually trapped by the wall of fire.
"We had a quick choice of being a human fireball and burning and that was the end, or what we did, instantaneously, is just stop and run back through the wall of flame," he said. "We knew the flame, while it was high, we knew on the other side of it there was nothing left to burn."
Other competitors in the three-day outback ultra-marathon then came to their aid.
Mr Hull and the other man are both in a stable condition in the Royal Perth Hospital.
The organisers of the 100-kilometre race say they will investigate how the runners came to be trapped.
Racing The Planet event organiser Samantha Fanshawe said they had been told there was no chance of a fire occurring on the course.
""Everyone we spoke to prior to the race said there was no risk on the course to fires," she told the ABC. "This fire flared up very suddenly.”
A terrible, terrible reminder once again then that remote Australia can be a frightening place to be. We must all remain ever vigilant and ever cautious as we venture into Outback areas … and we must have bushfire strategies in place.
Your views on this story. Email us here.

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September 2

Kingscliff faces up to a sea of troubles
The massive erosion problems at Kingscliff which have left visitors to the local caravan park living on the edge are continuing.
While recent wild weather and destructive seas have thankfully not made things dramatically worse, the local authority is cranking up its sandbag strategy.
Since the beach at the popular grey nomad destination started disappearing in huge chunks, councillors at the New South Wales town at the very southern end of the Gold Coast have been left searching for answers.
Now it seems as far as sandbags are concerned the Tweed Council thinks bigger is better.
Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust executive manager Richard Adams, who manages council's tourist parks, said the decision to use bigger 2.5 cubic metre sandbags for Stage 2 of the construction of a four-metre high protective wall was a good one. The wall will run for 70 metres along the front of the tourist park to join up with an existing wall at the Kingscliff Bowls Club.
The bags, which weigh 4.5 tonnes each when filled, are 3.5 times bigger than the 0.75 cubic metre bags used in the first 130 metres of the wall, and are expected to better withstand the force of the ocean.
"They are serious bags and are probably much better suited for this particular event because of their size, weight and mass,” Mr Adams told the ABC. “They are more impervious to wave action and waves smashing on them and are less likely to slump and deform.”
Time will tell if they will be enough to hold back the furious force of Mother Nature.
Have you seen the changes at Kingscliff beach? Would you fancy an ocean front site on the night of a big storm? Email us here with your views on this story.
** The second bumper five-page edition of the Grey Nomad Times fortnightly newsletter is released this weekend. If you haven’t already done so, email ‘subscribe’ here to receive your free issue. This edition delivers great stories, a chance to win a week away in a Kea RV, a sea of funny travel stories, letters to the editor, and, of, course our unique grey nomad etiquette guide.

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August 31

It's all ready set go at Birdsville
South-west Queensland businesses are the only certain winners when the Melbourne Cup of the Outback goes under starter’s orders tomorrow.
Up to 6,000 people are expected to attend the iconic Birdsville Races and grey nomads will be as well represented as ever.
In  Quilpie, south of Longreach, the travelling hordes have already been making their presence felt.
Local bakery owner Cathy Wendelborn says the flow of traffic through the town has been constant over recent days as racegoers made their way west.
"It's been good so far the ones that have come no longer afford to maintain the track and is to ask WA Main Roads to take over its control.
"A council our size just doesn't have the financial backing to be able to spend what really should be spent on that road," Shire president Fred Mills told a shire meeting. "We either need greater funding or we need them to take it over, so that's the pitch we're putting. “
However, Cllr Mills said the chances of getting support from Main Roads was probably next to nothing … but said the shire had to at least try to get something done."
Anne Koeyers, from Drysdale Station on the Kalumburu Road agrees, and says the iconic road desperately needs more maintenance grading … and she doesn't care who's in charge of it.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I don't care who maintains the road or gets control of the road. I just want to see it with a reasonable service to drive on for most of the dry season," she told the ABC. "I understand the shire's problems in that it's a huge job and we get big wet seasons, but for quite a lot of years it (the road) was getting better and better and it didn't seem to be a problem coming up with the funding.”
She said part of the problem over the last few years has been the clearing of the drains.
“It's got to the point where this year and last year, the road during the peak tourism season has been absolutely horrendous," she said.
Have you ever tried to get to Mitchell Falls or Kalumburu? How bad was the road when you went? Is the bone-shuddering, shockie-challenging trip worth the effort? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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Auguast 30

Wet weather fuels bush fire danger
The heavy rains of last summer have seen grass flourish across inland Australia and that is causing experts to predict a truly ferocious bushfire season.
Forecasters from the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre say the grass, which is growing waist-high in some areas, has now started to dry out, creating ideal fuel for fires.
Just yesterday, we reported on a huge bushfire north of Broome that burned 100,000 hectares of land and forced more than 100 campers to be evacuated.
Richard Thornton from the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre said most of the country will face an above average risk of fire this summer. He said the at-risk-areas encompassed just about everywhere west of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales, almost across the entire continent right across to the Pacific Ocean in the west.
He said grassfires were quick and dangerous.
"They can be very fast moving and they can change direction very quickly with changes in wind speeds,” he said. “This presents a whole load of issues for suppression agencies and particularly for the ability to be able to warn communities and populations who may be out on roads for example."
In the New South Wales Riverina district, fire evacuation points are being planned for the region's new red gum national parks. The operations coordinator for the Western Rivers region, John Brickhill, says the National Parks and Wildlife Service has bought new equipment to protect its 100,000 hectares of red gum forests in the region.
New fire trucks and pumps are ready to go in the river red gum parks for when the fire risk intensifies.
"We don't actually call them safe havens,” he told the ABC “There's certainly discussion about creating evacuation points but certainly we'll be developing in our fire strategies for the river parks where we expect lots of people to be camping over the summer time because there's access to water."
Are you planning a trip to the new Red Gum parks? Have you got a bushfire plan in place?
Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

August 29

Blazes near Broome threaten campsite
With spring nearly sprung and the mercury starting to rise, the threat of bushfires becomes all the more real for all who live or travel in blaze-prone areas.
The reality of the risk was graphically illustrated last week when more than 100 people at camping sites north of Broome had to be evacuated due to a fire threat.  Several bushfires had been burning in the vicinity for a couple of weeks, blackening more than 100,000 hectares of the Dampier Peninsula, and the situation became just too dangerous for them to stay.
Among the tourists and locals evacuated for their were about a dozen protesters permanently camped on Manari Road to argue against the proposed gas hub at James Price Point.
Kimberley FESA regional director Rob Cox has dismissed claims the blaze was deliberately lit, believing the seven fires which started on the Peninsula in the past three weeks were due to human inattention.
“It is too late in the season for any prescribed burning and the Shire would not issue any permits to burn,” he told the West Australian newspaper. “There is not enough temperature to cause ignition in the bush and no lightning strikes or electrical storms, therefore the fires have either started by accident or … through people having campfires that aren’t extinguished in the morning.”
Other smaller fires included those around Aboriginal communities including Beagle Bay, Djarindjin-Lombadina, Ardyloon and Koolymon at Cape Leveque.
Clearly, the suggestion that campfires may have been involved in sparking of some of these fires is a reminder to us all of the responsibility we have to be careful and to respect all regulations relating to fire safety. And, as we head out into remote areas, we should all ensure that we have an effective bushfire plan and that we remain eternally vigilant.
Have you ever been caught up in a bushfire situation while camping? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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August 26

Rats in the Ranks
In scenes reminiscent of a B-grade horror movie, campers in outback south-west Queensland have been forced to jump in their vehicles and flee hordes of invading rats.
The rodents have been breeding in huge numbers as a result of ideal seasonal conditions and have been chewing through computer and phone cables as well as car wiring … and now it seems they could be coming to a campsite near you.
Don Rowlands from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service told the ABC that campers at Birdsville certainly need to be aware of the long-haired native rats.
"If you have a camp fire, make it a little away from where you are camping,” he said. “And make sure everything in your camp is either zipped up or off the ground,".
Are you kidding, Don? I’m not setting foot outside of my van!
"I was talking to a couple yesterday and they said the rats were friendly it would seem,” Don told the ABC. "They just crawled all over them and they really didn't know how to get away from them … in the end they got on the back of their vehicle and were able to escape."
Oh great! At least they ‘escaped’ … perhaps the next couple won’t be so lucky. Now this really is sounding like a horror movie, isn’t it?.
Don says the rats have also been attacking a lot of vehicles.
"All the wiring and some of the cars have been unable to be started and then had to be rewired," he told the ABC. "They can be destructive and you've got to hang everything off the ground before you go to bed, otherwise they'll get amongst that as well."
Eeeek! Have you come across the rat plague? How did you cope with the rodent rampage? What other wildlife or insect plagues have you had to deal with on your travels? Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 25

And you thought the Outback was scary!
It’s already been a bad year here for people getting lost in our national parks or coming to grief in the vastness of the Outback but - awful though these incidents have been - things could certainly be a lot worse.
Over in the United States, incredibly, 17 people have already died in 2011 in just one national park … California’s Yosemite National Park. And the Americans think our spiders, snakes and crocs.are scary!
In the latest incident, a 23-year-old man, fell off Half Dome, the park's soaring granite formation in the Sierra Nevada. Last month three hikers were swept over the powerful 317-foot Vernal Waterfall Fall near the renowned Mist Trail … and two of the bodies are still missing. And at around the same time, a 26-year-old woman died when she slipped down Half Dome while descending the steep cabled slope.
Authorities are searching for answers to explain the recent rash of deaths at the national park, which receives more than 4 million visitors a year. The 17 fatalities are about twice the usual rate.
While five people have died this year from natural causes in the park, the others were accidental and often preventable.
Rangers say some visitors partake in dangerous practices such as hiking treacherous trails in thongs, climbing over safety rails to take better pictures or swimming perilously close to waterfalls.
Witnesses told park authorities that the three hikers who were swept over the waterfall in July had climbed over a safety rail.
Amazing stuff! Have you witnessed people taking crazy risks in our remote areas? Perhaps a fisherman or a climber? Have you been to Yosemite? Can you explain why so many people die there? Do they have less warning signs than our parks, or less safety rails?
Email us here to share your views on this story.

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August 24

Pristine Tassie is down in the dumps
The supposedly pristine island of Tasmania has been named and shamed as the dirtiest state in Australia.
The just published Keep Australia Beautiful's National Litter Index survey found Tassie had more rubbish lying around on its once beautiful beaches and recreation parks - as well as in its car parks, highways, recreation parks, industrial sites and shopping centres - than anywhere else in the nation.
The survey counted of all litter at 983 sites across Australia found, for example, that a total of 53 cigarette butts were found for every 1000 sq m at Tasmanian sites surveyed compared with the national average of 29. Plastic was little better with the national average of 12 plastic items being overshadowed by Tasmania’s 15. Squeaky clean Victoria had a relatively paltry seven plastic items per 100 sq m.
The National Litter Index found that while cigarette butts were the most frequently identified item littered across all sites in Tasmania, paper and paperboard such as takeaway food containers or utensils contributed the largest amounts of volume to the state’s litter stream.  The Tasmanian litter rate for paper and paperboard food containers was typically two to three times higher than the national average.  
Over on the mainland, there was little cause for celebration in the increasingly grubby Sunshine State. The survey found 15 per cent more litter in Queensland than in any other mainland state. And it said the figure would likely have been higher if the summer floods had not washed litter off the streets and into nearby stormwater drains and waterways.
Shockingly it seems the amount of litter found on Queensland’s beaches have increased 100 per cent in the past year. Wow! Those magnificent beaches tainted and tarnished by an ignorant few. Isn’t it truly appalling?
Have you noticed an increase in litter as you travel the highways and byways? Would you agree that Tassie is the most rubbish-strewn state in the country? What is the worst case of littering you have come across on your travels? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

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August 23

Will Coalmine plans change Cape York?
Queensland’s Cape York peninsula looks set to become the next battleground in the ‘benefit-from-our-country’s-natural-resources’ versus ‘safeguard-our-country’s-natural beauty’ debate.
The ultimate destination for the adventure-seeking grey nomads could be changed forever with coalmining companies lodging a raft of new applications to explore for a rare, highly valuable form of coal.
The Australian newspaper reports that the Queensland state government is considering 16 applications for coal exploration permits in the area, 13 of which have been lodged in the past six weeks.
The paper reports that the government - under increasing pressure over mining on prime agricultural land - has already signed off on four separate permits near the Rinyirru National Park, north of the Aboriginal community of Hope Vale on eastern Cape York.
The Wilderness Society warns that Cape is the "next big target" for the coalmining industry, and it says it could have disastrous environmental consequences.
It seems none of the mining applications affect basins already protected under the government's controversial wild rivers legislation -- which bans mining within a 1 kilometre buffer zone of the waterway -- but some rivers have been earmarked for future declarations.
Mines Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Queensland had some of the world's toughest environmental protection regulations, with very few exploration permits leading to a viable mine.
"Those permit holders have got a long, long road ahead of them and they know it," Mr Hinchliffe said.
Anthracite, a particularly rare and valuable form of coal, was first discovered on the Cape's southeast in the late 1800s.
Colin Randall, the managing director of Mineral and Coal Investments, one of two companies to secure an exploration permit in the area, said Australia currently imported all of its supply of the mineral from Vietnam.
"Of all the coal in the world, it's in the shortest supply," Mr Randall told The Australian, explaining the company was planning a small-scale, niche mining operation on the Cape. "It's high-rank, high-value coal, and very rare."
Hmmm! Wedge, thin end of, springs to mind!
With the battle over plans for a massive gas hub just north of Broome in WA really heating up, a number of this country’s most iconic travel destinations are facing the prospects of major change in the coming years.
And the moral of the story is …enjoy it while you can!
Your views on this story? Email us here.

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August 19

It's a red newsletter day
It’s here! It’s a red newsletter day for all grey nomads and dreaming-of- being grey nomads. A link to the first edition of the fortnightly Grey Nomad Times should now have arrived in the in-boxes of all forum members … or will do very shortly. We hope you enjoy the articles, quizzes and competitions in the PDF publication. We have exciting plans for the future and ‘the Times’ will be getting bigger and better in upcoming editions, bringing you some truly unbelievable  prize-winning opportunities, discount deals and fascinating features.
Please take the time and trouble to give us your feedback on this first edition and let us know what you liked or didn’t like, and what you would like to see in future issues.
We realise that many visitors to this website are not forum members or may have registered with the forum a number of years ago and have since changed email addresses. If, for any reason, the newsletter doesn’t arrive in your in-box by midnight (AEST) on Friday, August 19 – and you want it to – please email us at thetimes@thegreynomads.com.au with ‘subscribe’ in the subject field and we will ensure you are put on the emailing list.
We would like to assure all readers that the newsletter is the only thing that ever be emailed to you from  www.thegreynomads.com.au, and  your email details will never be passed on to a third party. Anyone who wishes to unsubscribe from  the newsletter can do so instantly by using the ‘Unsubscribe’ facility at the bottom of the email you will receive.
Happy reading.

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August 18

Feral Pigs might fly and go camping
One of the joys of life on the open road is that you learn to expect – and enjoy - the unexpected.
You can bet your bottom dollar, for example, that adopting a pet pig was the last thing on grey nomad Jill Taylor’s mind as she set up camp at Mulgrave River in north Queensland.
The Cairns Post reports that Jill and her kelpie-cross pet, Leah, were sitting outside their caravan last Sunday when a tiny porker known as "Pig" and its sibling wandered into their camp.
Incredibly, the dog and the pig struck up an immediate, and highly unlikely, friendship.
Dressed in a purple collar, Pig now competes with Leah to fetch frisbees and sticks when she is not curled up in the camper at night time.
"The dog should be killing the pigs but they seem to have fallen in love with each other – Leah especially loves Pig," Jill told the Cairns Post. "They cuddle up with each other and follow each other around – they are the best of friends.
Jill believes the piglets’ own mother may have been killed by one of the many hunting dogs in Mulgrave and she wants to find a new home for the animals before she continues her travels.
"Pig is so cute and so intelligent and very easily trained … it only took a few hours before she was playing frisbee with us," Jill said.  "If I had a property up here I would have her because I would hate to see her slaughtered by a dog. "But I can’t keep her in the camper, there will be no room when they grow."
Wow! A feral pig as a camping companion! That does just about take the biscuit.
Or does it? What is the most surprising thing that has happened to you on the road? What is the most unlikely travelling companion you have seen for a grey nomad. Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 17

Don't stay away from Tassie, nomads told
As has been widely reported, the Tasmanian Economic Regulator recently ruled in favour of caravan parks which claimed that a number of local councils were acting unfairly by providing free sites for visitors.
However, reacting to growing fears that grey nomads and others might stay away from the island state in their thousands, the government has attempted to reassure caravanners and motorhomers that it is very much business as usual..
“I want to dispel rumours circulating in the wider caravan and motorhome sector in response to the recent decision from the Tasmanian Economic Regulator," said Minister for Local Government, Bryan Green. “Tasmania has long been an attractive destination for people who enjoy freedom camping or having parking facilities available for overnight stops for caravans ... we will continue to promote this market to our world-class destinations.”
Now, that is a relief!
In a statement, Mr Green said the State Government was working with local government, tourism operators and industry stakeholders to look at the broader issues and propose a statewide policy and uniform pricing methodology for councils for freedom camping and self-contained caravans and motorhomes.
“I am aware that councils are keen to support economic growth in their municipalities, particularly in regional areas where they and Tourism Tasmania are actively encouraging caravans and motorhomes to visit,” he said. ““It is also crucial for these smaller communities to attract and maintain viable tourism businesses, including privately-owned caravan parks.”
Mr Green said the Regulator’s findings would only ensure that there was a level playing field for private operators.
“I understand that some councils are finding it difficult to balance the competing demands of regulatory requirements, economic benefits, consumer demands and ratepayer requirements when providing low-cost or free parking sites for caravans,” he said. “In order to support councils in their decision-making we will develop a directions paper looking at the issues for councils and propose a statewide policy and uniform pricing for councils for freedom camping and self-contained caravans and motorhomes.”
Now, that will make for interesting reading. Mr Green said he expected to receive the paper by the end of next month.
Watch this space everybody ... and keep your fingers crossed!
So, would you still visit Tassie if the many free camping opportunities there were curtailed? Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 16

Chainsaw 'massacre' at state forest camp
Sometimes the mind boggles! Incredibly, vandals have apparently used chainsaws to fell a dozen trees in Victoria’s Yarra State Forest in the latest of a series of attacks which have caused an estimated $40,000 worth of damage in the area.
The vandalism has occurred over a series of weekends, and includes destruction to signs, walking tracks and the cutting down of native vegetation.
Last month, two large eucalypt trees were cut down at the Yarra Ranges Latrobe Camping Area.
“The felling appeared to be intentional and in the direction of the toilet block resulting in one tree falling across the toilet shelter and destroying it,” Department of Sustainability and Environment district manager Geoff Scales told the Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader.  “This incident occurred only days after a new shelter was completed.”
Unbelievable!
In the latest attack, a dozen trees were felled.
“The trees, clearly cut with a chainsaw, fell on wooden bollards and wire that was used to fence off a sensitive forest area to protect it from motorised use,” he said. “This type of behaviour is so destructive and ruins the forest experience for all forest users.”
Too right, Geoff.  Now while some grey nomads might guiltily confess to picking up the odd piece of dead wood to keep the campfire going, this mindless destruction is on a totally different and hard-to-believe scale.
 “While forest officers conduct regular patrols it is impossible to be everywhere all the time,” Mr Scales said. “The number of attacks over recent months is very frustrating. What these vandals don’t understand is that each time facilities are damaged or rubbish is dumped it costs money to fix, which could be used on other facilities.”
Surveillance cameras which have recently been installed, show footage of trail bikes being ridden in the area and images of teenagers collecting the wood from the destroyed toilet block.
Sigh!  
What is happening to the world when we have to install surveillance cameras in our state forests? What is the worst case of vandalism you have seen at a camping area or van park? Email us here to share your views on this story.

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August 15

West's blazing blooms brighten the horizon
It’s that time of the year again … and the wildflowers around the place look set to be more spectacular than ever this season.
For those of you lucky enough to be in Western Australia now, the word is that a combination of weather events has meant bright bursts of yellow and pink are adding a new dimension to the wildflower watching experiences.
Experts say the yellow pom-poms and pink everlastings are thriving after heavy winter rain on the back of a dry winter last year.
Mullewa Community Resource Centre co-ordinator Elsie Park said the crowd favourite the wreath flower would also be blooming within a week.
"Wildflowers really only need that rain to start them and they don't need a lot of rain to keep them going," she told Perth Now. "As soon as it rains, up comes their seedlings and off they go. You can see the first crop of everlastings has already come up and underneath that there is another crop coming up so it's going to be a very big season for everlastings."
She said that the wildflowers, which had become a major drawcard for the Mid-West communities of Mingenew and Mullewa, would be blooming until the end of September.
"Every year there is something that shines," she told Perth Now. "This year blue fairy orchids have done really well, they're everywhere at the moment. Last year it was the spider orchids and milky orchids."
The Coral Coast is also gearing up for a bumper wildflower season after heavy rain in some parts and bushfires in others. Bushfires in January will apparently promote the growth of orchids and other species.
Of course, many grey nomads will also find the area far more accessible due to the new Indian Ocean Drive, which means Lesueur National Park – with its estimated 900 species of wildflower – is now less than three hours drive from Perth.
The wildflower season in the west generally starts in July in the north and lasts until mid-December in the south. While weather variations makes every season different and changes the location and timing of the most spectacular displays, there are more than 12,000 species of wildflower in the state. Wow! According to the tourist authorities, pink boronias, red and green kangaroo paw, magenta paperbark blossom and orange-flowering banksias are top of the list for wildflower spotters.
So, what is your favourite? Have you been blown away by the wildflowers so far this season? Where do you think the best place to view them is? How important is wildflower watching to you when planning your itinerary? Email us here with your thoughts on this story

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August 12

Will scrapping speed limits make us safer
Open speed limits may be re-introduced in the Northern Territory if the Country Liberals win the election there next year.
Opposition transport spokesman Adam Giles has declared that a CLP government would scrap the 130 km/h restrictions as a road safety review had shown speed was not the cause of most accidents.
Indeed, Mr Giles said while 44 people died on Territory roads in 2006, some 57 were killed the following year after the 130km/h speed limit was introduced on the Stuart, Arnhem, Barkly and Victoria highways.
“Speed was never isolated as the sole cause of the majority of accidents,” he told the NT News.
The Country Liberals now says that within the first
100 days of it forming a government it would review the state of the Territory’s major arterial routes and identify safe locations for open speed limits to be reintroduced. It says it would work to repair roads deemed unsafe before introducing open speed limits on them.
Of course, faster traffic on roads such as the Stuart Highway will affect driving conditions and driving safety for all road users, and that includes most grey nomads who will not be inclined to test the upper limits of their rig’s speed.
Open speed limits in the Northern Territory were removed in 2007 by the Labor Government after undertaking a road safety review. That review found that tourists, young drivers and indigenous Territorians were over represented in the Territory’s road toll.  It also identified drink driving and not wearing seat belts as the two main contributing factors.
“Driver education and training must be implemented for young motorists, indigenous drivers and tourists unfamiliar with our environment,” said Mr Giles. “Drink driving and seat belt laws must be enforced and this will help bring down the number of accidents and reduce the Territory’s road toll.”
Any thoughts anybody? Do you support open speed limits in the Territory? What do you feel is a fair speed limit for drivers on long, straight stretches of highway? Does the prospect of something unexpected happening ahead mean open limits are never acceptable? What is your preferred ‘cruising’ speed on the Stuart Highway? Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 11

Are Hoons driving grey nomads out?
Grey nomads have long been drawn to the gem-seeking paradise of Emerald in central Queensland … but could the love affair be about to fade?
According to media reports, local hoons have been hassling campers at night there … and businesses fear the town could develop a bad reputation that could hit the lucrative tourism sector.
Apparently, more than 20 visitors were parked at the Vince Lester Bridge last Saturday night when a group of people arrived at midnight and started yelling abuse. All but two of the campers packed up and left before dawn.
Emerald bookshop owner, David Baker, told the Central Queensland News he was appalled when he had heard had happened.
“Emerald’s reputation was very good but it’s starting to slip,” Mr Baker told the paper. “People are beginning to drive straight through the town and local businesses are missing out because of it.”
He said Emerald was a gateway to other regions, with many grey nomads stocking up with supplies planning to replenish their groceries in Emerald before heading further west.
The Central Queensland News said grey nomads spend an estimated $9.2 billion in regional Queensland annually … and determine their travel routes through word of mouth.
“People who haven’t got the right information are causing the travellers to rethink their stay in Emerald,” Mr Baker said. “With the way the economy is going, no business can afford a loss of trade and that’s what these select few local people are doing to Emerald by scaring away the travellers.”
He said often the tourists would comment they had never seen so many ‘hoon cars’ such as Ford XR6s and Holden Commodores in one town.
“I often see these sorts of cars speeding through the roundabout going sideways, and it’s only a matter of time before they hit someone,” Mr Baker said. “We’re getting a bad reputation as a hoon town because of these hoon cars.”
Hmmm! Emerald has always previously been considered as a friendly and welcoming place for grey nomads. Have you found it so, or have you encountered ‘hoon’ issues there? And what about elsewhere? Have you run into problems in other areas or other states? Is this ‘problem’ getting worse?  Certainly many grey nomads are wary about free camping too close to towns – particularly on a Friday or Saturday night – because of potential encounters with local party people. Do you have a policy for your own security? Do you have any tips for other grey nomads?
Email us here to share your views on this story.

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August 10

On with the Showground
Renewed talks about the possibility of opening up Cairns Showgrounds to caravanners and motorhomers has enraged local caravan park owners.
Plunging superannuation funds, high fuel prices and a strong Aussie dollar have combined to leave many operators struggling with low occupancy rates ... and say they can’t take much more.
Crystal Cascades Holiday Park owner Russell Drayton told the Cairns Post that if the showground was opened to motorhomes and caravans, it would ruin his business.
"It’s a joke,” he said. “Why bother wanting the showground opened up when we’ve got commercial operations that can’t fill up in absolute peak season?"
There are already concerns in some quarters about the large numbers of ‘free-campers’ who illegally stay overnight in areas such as the Cairns Esplanade, and the site known as Green Patch on the banks of the Mulgrave River near Gordonvale.
Fishery Falls Holiday Park manager Dianne Stepniewski told the Cairns Post that free camping facilities for motorhomes and caravans would also drive her out of business.
"It’s been a very hard year for us, and I think it would just complicate the whole thing if the showground were open," she said. "I don’t know what else we can do ... you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink."
There have been claims that Cairns is missing out on millions of dollars in revenue because it doesn’t provide a central area close to the city for grey nomads to park up and stay the night.
However, Cairns MP Desley Boyle, who was formerly the Minister for Local Government and also held the tourism portfolio, dismissed the showground idea, claiming that grey nomads only spend a minimal amount of money in the Far North.
"As good as it is for them to go exploring Queensland and Australia, they in fact spend very little money,” she said. “They are inclined to use local resources, particularly in terms of water and waste management, without paying for it."
Grrrrr!
The council has received applications to try to create free parking spaces across the city and these have been opposed by caravan park owners. There is currently free parking at Babinda, and council staff are considering other areas.
Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 9

Broome swept up in gas controversy
Trouble is well and truly brewing in the iconic grey nomad hotspot of Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
As we have reported extensively in these pages, the plan by Woodside Petroleum to build a $30 billion land-based facility to process gas from the giant Browse field in the pristine beachside camping spot of James Price Point have sparked intense debate.
While the plans have yet to receive final approval from Canberra, site testing started recently in the area just north of Broome and this has exposed deep community divisions. Woodside workers have even been harassed and feel intimidated enough not to wear their uniforms if they go to certain pubs. While environmentalists are cranking up the pressure, many locals in the town of 16,000 – with a population that swells to 50,000 at this time of the year – are also starting to fear for their laid-back lifestyle.
Save the Kimberley co-chairman Mark Jones, told the West Australian newspaper that what is happening at James Price Point may be a stalking horse for the wider industrialisation of the Kimberley.
"The Premier, Colin Barnett has publicly stated that the Pilbara has underpinned the economy of WA for the last 50 years, and the Kimberley will underpin it for the next 50," he told the paper
Mr Jones believes the State Government wants a new port in the Kimberley. It cannot be built at Derby because of the huge tides, he argues, which makes an ever-expanding footprint at James Price Point likely.
The massive gas facility will be built over five years and  a 6000-bed camp will house its construction workforce, The fact that all of this will happen just half an hour north of Broome means there are most certainly big changes afoot for the town.
But the General Manager of Broome’s Roebuck Bay Hotel, Mike Windle, says the development offers a brighter future for the area.
“"The tourism industry is being hit by the high dollar which means fewer people coming here from overseas and local people are going to Bali,” he said. "The pearling industry is in critical condition. The gas hub is the only thing which will keep the town kicking on and making sure people here have good jobs for the future."
Wow! There really does seem to be serious trouble in paradise. Have you noticed a change in Broome’s atmosphere? Do you think this is the thin end of the wedge and that the ultimate grey nomad mecca will soon be just another industrialised town? Should we act before it is too late or should we let ‘progress’ take its course? Email us your views on this story here.

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August 8

Will crash help night drivers see the light?
The dangers of travelling Outback roads at night have once again been highlighted by a horror crash in the Northern Territory.
A 35-year-old Queensland man was seriously injured last week when the car he was travelling in hit a herd of camels on the Lasseter Highway about 60 kilometres east of Yulara.
The man was airlifted to Alice Springs Hospital with serious head injuries. Police say the Hyundai Sonata hit two camels, seriously injuring the man, and leaving the driver, and another passenger with minor injuries.
Sergeant Shaun Gill of Yulara Police said the crash was a wake-up call to motorists of the dangers of travelling outback roads in the dark.
"This is not the first time we have had to deal with car crashes involving animals on these remote roads," he said. "Motorists should be wary of the very real dangers of hitting wandering stock or large animals like camels which tend to roam across roads, especially at night when there is not so much traffic."
In the Northern Territory between 2003 and 2006, 9 people were injured in 26 separate motor vehicle collisions involving camels and horses. In 2008, two people were killed when their vehicle hit a camel while travelling near Alice Springs. 
When you also take into account the increased likelihood of running into other wildlife such as kangaroos at night, there really is only one way to go.
"It is far more sensible and safer to plan your trip so that you arrive at your destination during daylight hours when there is less chance of this sort of collision," said Sergeant Gill.
Very sensible advice.
Do you ever find yourself forced to travel at night? Have you ever collided – or nearly collided - with a camel or kangaroo on your travels? Do you have any driving with wildlife safety tips? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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August 5

Van Park Development Struck with Cabin Fever
There is growing concern in some quarters - not just at the dwindling number of caravan parks in Australia – but at the way in which their character is changing.
Certainly in mining areas in states such as Queensland some parks appear to accommodate more workers than tourists as operators attempt to balance the books.
There are a number of parks in Central Queensland, for example, that are commonly booked out with workers for months at a time due to an accommodation shortage.
Caravanning Queensland's CEO Ron Chapman says it has become an even more acute problem as some parks have struggled to attract tourists after last summer's floods.
“The mining boom has certainly presented us with another real challenge,” Mr Chapman told www.thegreynomads.com.au. “If a van park operator is approached by a company which wants to book out the whole park and do so for the long term … what is the operator to do? He has to put bread on the table for his family?”
Mt Chapman said there was no way operators could realistically be expected to keep half the park ready for tourists … just in case they came.
There are fears also that this is not just a short-term issue. The Central Highlands Regional Council has recently discovered it is virtually powerless to stop so-called caravan park developers from building a new park in Blackwater which will boast a whopping 426-units and just 20 van sites.
The developers are apparently exploiting a loophole in the former Duaringa Shire planning scheme’s definition of a caravan park which states: “Any combination of the parking of caravans or relocatable homes, camping or pitching of tents, or the use of cabins with a maximum total area of 80sq m for each cabin, whether for the travelling public or long-term residents.”
The local council’s development services manager Luke Lankowski is not impressed.
“They’re planning a large cabin and van site… but for all intents and purposes it is workers’ accommodation,” he told the Central Queensland News. “It’s fair to say this is a major failing of that planning scheme document identifying workers’ accommodation accurately.”
Mr Lankowski said the planning department had pushed for 60% to be van sites in discussions with Neri Investments, but was hamstrung.
“In later discussion with the developer he was not keen on reducing the density of workers’ accommodation for the caravan park,” Mr Lankowski said.
Neri bought the vacant greenfield 3 hectare site in 2009. According to the Central Queensland News, its development application was lodged two days before the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA), took over responsibility for the future development and master planning of Blackwater.
Mr Lankowski said the project would not have been approved under the ULDA interim planning scheme. A council-wide planning scheme to be introduced next year will redefine the definitions of caravan park and workers’ accommodation and development standards.
Interesting stuff. Have you noticed a change in the atmosphere at some caravan parks. Is there more workers’ accommodation than there used to be? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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August 4

Hands on the prize... our winner collects
It’s official! Dunco, aka Gary Duncan, is the winner of our wildly successful ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition … and he’s got the Isatphone Pro to prove it!
Earlier this week, Dunco took a trip to the headquarters of TC Communications in the Sydney suburb of Auburn to lay claim to his richly deserved first prize, valued at $599. 
Happily for the self-confessed satellite phone novice, Diana Minglis and Mark Nowakowski from TC Communications were on hand to talk him through the many features and benefits of the device.
And not surprisingly, Dunco is over the moon.
“The phone itself is such a great piece of kit that I will be using more often than not, now that I know the cost factors,” he said. “There are no ongoing fees and the phone is prepaid with calls costing 75c a minute to landlines and 90c a minute to mobiles.”
Like many grey nomads, Dunco says the satellite phone will be very reassuring to have when he is travelling into more remote areas where he may not be able to receive phone reception and where there is a chance that emergency assistance may be required.
And Dunco is not the only person celebrating the success of the ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition.
“It was great for TC Communications to be involved in the Grey Nomads photo competition and we were blown away with the beauty of the photos that were submitted and wanted to send our congratulations to all the winners,” said TC Communicatons Diana Minglis. “We hope that Gary will get great use of the Isatphone in his future travels - both around Australia and further abroad.”
And TC Communications hopes its products and services will continue be of use to many, many grey nomads.
“We know how important it is to have a reliable communications link back home when you are travelling to the remote regions of this great continent,” said Diana. “We would like to thank all the new friends we have made within the grey nomad community who, with their new Isatphone Pro, can now feel secure that they are always just a phone call away from friends and family - no matter where they go."
Thank you once again to all of our competition sponsors – TC Communications, Robyn Scotland and her SmartKlean Laundry Ball, and author Berni Homan.

• And just as one door closes another is about to open. Stand by grey nomad photographers for yet another amazing competition. On September 15 we will be launching our next photographic showdown in which another mind-bogglingly magnificent first prize will be up for grabs. Watch this space! 
  
  

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August 3

Drug-addled wallabies on your 'must see' list?
No matter how long you have been travelling or how many times you have been around the block, it seems there is always something new to see in this great southern land.
And I’m not just talking about a gorge you haven’t been to before, or a mountain, or a lake.
It seems that ‘stoned’ wallabies are becoming something of a tourist attraction in Tasmania as they wobble around the place after eating opium poppies!
Before she got the top job, Tassie’s Premier Lara Giddings told a parliamentary hearing on security for poppy crops that the marsupials were creating crop circles as they hop around "as high as a kite".
The BBC reports that Australia supplies about 50% of the world's legally-grown opium used to make morphine and other painkillers.
"The one interesting bit that I found recently in one of my briefs on the poppy industry was that we have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles," Lara Giddings told the parliamentary hearing back in 2009.. "Then they crash … we see crop circles in the poppy industry from wallabies that are high."
Wow! Wildlife watching on the road will never be the same again after this!
Rick Rockliff, a spokesman for poppy producer Tasmanian Alkaloids, told the BBC that wallaby incursions were not very common, but other animals had also been spotted in the poppy fields acting unusually.
"There have been many stories about sheep that have eaten some of the poppies after harvesting and they all walk around in circles," he said.
Say what?
Retired Tasmanian poppy farmer Lyndley Chopping also said he had seen strange behaviour from wallabies in his fields.
"They would just come and eat some poppies and they would go away," he told ABC News.
"They'd come back again and they would do their circle work in the paddock."
Some people believe the mysterious circles that appear in fields in a number of countries are created by aliens. Others put them down to a human hoax. I think this is the first time they have been put down to drug-addled wildlife!
Have you seen wallabies, sheep or kangaroos acting strangely? Do you think the authorities should introduce random drug testing for our native animals? Email us here with your views on this story.

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August 2

Countdown to Tally Up
Okay, everybody. Prepare for a night in the van with the laptop out or the pen hand ready.  The 2011 Census night is coming … and there is no escape!
Collectors have already begun hitting the streets in order to deliver 14.2 million census forms to 9.8 million households … and on August 9 it’s time to let the powers-that-be know where you live and how you live.
Easy isn’t it? “We’re free, Mr Statistician … we’re free!”
For those of you staying at caravan parks or campsites, census packs can be collected from special census collectors at tourist information centres or recognised truck stops on August 9. Exact collection locations are available by visiting www.abs.gov.au/censushelp or calling the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776.
As well as the traditional paper form, an online option, eCensus, is being made available at www.census.gov.au.  We are told that if you decide to complete an eCensus form, you will need a computer that is connected to the internet, an internet browser such as Internet Explorer V7 or later, Firefox V3 or later, Safari 4 or later or Google Chrome V3. A census form number and an eCensus number is also needed.
The Head of the Population Census program Paul Lowe says it’s the second time the eCensus option has been available.
“We’re expecting 30 per-cent of the population will choose the eCensus option,” he said. “But there is plenty of reserve capacity to cope with more people than this choosing the online option.”
While the census should be completed on August 9, the eCensus website is already open and will remain so until September 5.
Participating in the census is compulsory as dictated by the Census and Statistics Act 1905. Data aims to accurately count the number of people in Australia, their key characteristics, and the dwellings in which they live.
Mr Lowe said an accurate census count will help people get the services they needed.
“Sporting facilities, education and health services are all planned using Census information so we need everyone in your household counted,” he said. “If you need some help completing your Census form, the ABS has employed local staff across Australia who can help you fill out your form.”
The information people give about themselves or their families on the Census form is completely secret and will not be shared with other government agencies such as Centrelink, the Department of Housing, the Department of Community Services or the Tax Office.
Good luck everybody. I can’t wait to find out what the Australian Bureau of Statistics - once they have processed all the data - will tell us about the number of grey nomads on the road. Email us here to tell how you think grey nomadding has changed since the last census in 2006? And if, as Mr Lowe claims, the census data will help people get the services they need, what extra services do you think long-term travellers should have access to?

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August 1

Motorhomer's Brush with Death
A British motorhome driver had the scare of his life when his brakes failed at a railway crossing and he crashed into a moving train.
The 71-year-old driver and his wife was apparently unable to stop when barriers came down at a crossing in Littleport, Cambridgeshire. According to his family, the driver realised his brakes were not working and that he wouldn’t be able to stop in time to avoid a collision. He then steered around a stationary car in front of him and on to the track before hitting a train which had just left the station.
The driver suffered a compound fracture and had surgery on his foot. His 67-year-old wife, who suffered a broken nose, broken fingers and cuts to her hand and arms, has had surgery to her hand.
The Ely Standard reports that British Transport Police have been investigating the incident and officers have examined CCTV footage from the scene, as well as collecting witness statements.
The man’s daughter, Jo Rust, told the local paper she thinks her dad is a “hero” after he avoided hitting the car in front and pushing it into the train.
“The brakes failed and he had no choice,” she said. “He wasn’t overtaking or trying to jump the barriers to beat the train.”
The couple bought the motorhome several months ago and had been out several times with no problems.
“My dad was a professional driver before he retired and is very experienced,” said Ms Rust. “It was his quick-thinking that saved the incident from being much worse than it was.”
Road diversions were set up to send vehicles around the crossing, which is protected by both alarms and automatic half-barriers when a train is passing.
Wow! Sounds terrifying. Have you ever been unable to stop at a level crossing or at any other scary time? Does this sort of story make you want to dash out to check your brake fluid levels? What’s been your narrowest escape with disaster on the road? Email us here to share your views on this story.

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July 29

Bungled fee plan a road to nowhere
There is widespread outrage and shock at the decision by a Kimberley cattleman to charge grey nomads and others to access the world heritage listed Purnululu National Park, or the Bungle Bungles.
The dirt road into the Bungle Bungles runs through the Mabel Downs cattle station, and – from the start of this month - owner Jack Burton has been charging a fee of $20 per standard 4WD, $10 per trailer, and $50 per truck or tour bus entering the station.
The WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC),, which manages the 320,000-hectare park, already charges people $11 per vehicle to enter.
There had been speculation that Mr Burton was creating the toll in protest about the ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia. However, in a letter to the ABC, Mr Burton says it's purely for the upkeep of the road.
"After thorough consideration on our part and continued requests from the public and tour operators, we feel it necessary to maintain the road on Mabel Downs, leading to the Purnululu National Park,: he told the ABC. “However, these improvements will result in significant financial outlay by the Yeeda Pastoral Company.”
He said that  in order to recoup some of these costs, he has introduced a fee in the form of a Wilderness Road Fee, promising that all fees that are collected will be used solely for the improvement and maintenance on the road.
But DEC regional manager Daryl Moncrieff says the road has always been maintained by his department at a cost of about $15,000 a year.
He says Yeeda Pastoral never negotiated the new toll with the DEC and, not surprisingly, he's worried about the extra fee's implication on tourist numbers.
"We've had plenty of feedback from tourists, and people aren't happy at all," he said. "They think it's excessive and they think they're paying twice for the same thing."
Under the terms of his lease, Mr Burton may charge a "reasonable" sum for the use of his road provided all fees are used for road maintenance.
In 2010-11, there were 27,124 individual visits to Purnululu, which is about 220 kilometres south of Kununurra. Most people arrive by road.
The acting boss of Tourism WA, Laura Dawson, said Mr Burton's decision was a concern.
"Purnululu National Park is one of WA's premier natural destinations,'' she said. ''We are concerned that the introduction of a new toll to access Purnululu may negatively impact on the visitor experience to this spectacular destination.”
Too right, Laura!
Have you been slugged with this extra ‘wilderness’ fee to enter the Bungle Bungles? What was the state of the road when you last went through? Will the charge put you off visiting, or is this simply a must-see whatever the cost? Email us here to share your views on this story.

July 28

Of mice and nomads
There should be a collective sigh of relief going up from grey nomads - and from all who live or travel in the Red Centre - now that the feral mouse plague there is beginning to abate.
It’s still not quite safe to come down for the chair though, and it will pay to keep your foodstuffs well sealed and well protected from the marauding hordes of rodents for a while yet.
Hopes are high though that the worst is behind us.
Chief district ranger Chris Day told the Northern Territory News that there have not been many horror stories lately but warned that mouse numbers could still spike again with warmer weather.
He said at the height of the plague residents had caught hundreds of mice each night in ‘bucket traps’.
"That's a good indication of the severity,” he said. “It's still fairly bad south of Alice but it dropped pretty rapidly with the frosty weather."
The falling mice numbers will certainly be good news for the region’s tourist industry which has apparently been hit hard by the invasion.
The Northern Territory News says that while locals used their nous to deal with the furry problem, nomads skirted rural centres like the plague.
Chris Day, who is based at Simpson Gap, has declared that it is safe again.
"If I had taken my swag out bush a couple of months ago I would have been covered in mice,” he said. “I went camping a couple of nights ago and it was fine."
Pheww!
Of course, the Red Centre is not the only area to have been affected by a mice plague this year. New South Wales’ Riverina district has also been in the firing line. One of the standard responses is, of course, to bait - but there is growing concern about the effect that mouse and rat poison can have on the food chain.
The Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) says rats and mice baited with readily available baits may be taken by a raptor such as the endangered barking owl, boobook or wedge-tailed eagle.  All carnivorous native animals and birds are affected by these chemicals including kookaburras and magpies, quolls, goannas and antechinus. Domestic pets can also ingest and die from rat-baited food.
According the website www.feral.org.au, the mus domesticus probably came to Australia with the First Fleet. Normally population levels are relatively low, however, when conditions are favourable mice numbers can increase exponentially to plague proportions and they become a serious pest. A plague is officially declared with more than 1000 mice per hectare. Every mouse that is not snatched up by a predator has an average of 60 babies. Mice breed in the southern hemisphere from August to May. One breeding pair of mice and their offspring has the potential to produce 500 mice in just 21 weeks.
Eeeek!
Have you been affected by the mice plague? How have you coped? Would you change your travel plans to avoid the pest? Email us here to share your views on this story.

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July 27

Body of missing nomad discovered
The body of a grey nomad who went missing more than a week ago has been discovered in Central Australia.
The remains of 71-year-old Peter Worthington were found less than four kilometres from his abandoned car and caravan. The vehicles were located near Erldunda, about 200km south of Alice Springs, on July 17 shortly after Mr Worthington was reported as missing. He had been travelling north along the Stuart Highway on the way to visit his son in Darwin.
Acting Senior Sergeant Shaun Gill from Yulara Police said emergency services personnel, police and an Aboriginal tracker from the nearby community of Impana conducted land and air searches last week.
He told the Northern Territory News that the police search covered 300 square kilometres but it was only recently that footprints were found north-east of Mr Worthington's car.
Senior Sergeant Gill said a tracker followed footsteps heading away from the car and found a body fitting Mr Worthington's description. DNA testing will be used to formally determine the identity of the body.
"It looks like at this early stage that his vehicle was bogged at the side of the road," Senior Sergeant Gill said. "Whether he ran off the road or stopped to look at something, we don't know."
Have you ever become bogged or broken down in a remote location? How much ‘emergency’ water do you travel with? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

* In a separate incident, police have called off the search for missing Victorian man Jason Richards, who disappeared in Darwin on June 19, heading for Ballarat. Extensive ground and air searches failed to find any trace of the missing man.

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July 26

Boulder Death a Freak Accident
The death of a grey nomad in the Northern Territory last week has been described by police as a ‘freak accident’.
As has been widely reported, a 65-year-old woman was killed instantly when a small boulder smashed through the windscreen of the four-wheel-drive that she was a passenger in. The woman's husband, who had been driving, was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in a state of shock.
While events such as this are clearly very unnerving for all travellers who drive long distances on gravel and dirt roads, it is being seen as a very, very unusual set of circumstances.
Crash investigator Sergeant Trevor Seears told the NT News that a Darwin-bound vehicle drove over the mango-sized boulder moments before the Cairns-based couple passed them.
"It tumbled underneath the vehicle and flicked back up off the road and got the outbound vehicle unluckily enough on the passenger-side and just went straight through the windscreen," he said. "It's just damned unlucky,"
The accident happened on the Arnhem Highway, 30km east of the Adelaide River Crossing and 200 metres from a quarry entrance. There was no evidence that.the boulder - which was 15cm wide and 12 cm thick - came from the quarry.
The Cairns couple were on their way to Wildman River in Kakadu, about 160km southeast of Darwin, where they were due to meet friends for a fishing getaway.
What is the biggest stone that has ever hit your windscreen? How do you minimise the risks? Is a windscreen stoneguard a good idea? Email your thoughts on this story here.

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July 25

Grey Nomads the pick of the bunch
The contribution grey nomads make to the rural economy is being increasingly appreciated by those who live in the bush …and it’s the work we do, as well as the money we spend which is getting attention.
In Western Australia, for example, it is estimated that about 80 per cent of seafood is processed by grey nomads, and although the percentage is not as high in other industries … it is growing.
"In the next 20 years the number of people beyond 65 is going to double in this country,’ Brian Wexham, the. CEO of careers development website Skills One, told the ABC. "If we can combine the tourism experience with the harvest trail experience we can actually get these mature aged workers to travel the country.”
I think a lot of people are way ahead of you already, Brian.
The fact is that the high Australian dollar has meant there have been less overseas backpackers around … and that means less people to pick the fruit.
Grey nomads … the country needs you!
Of course, older travellers’ well-deserved reputation for hard work and reliability also stands them in good stead, and it is estimated that as much as 60 per cent of seasonal labour could eventually be done by grey nomads … a massive increase on the current situation.
The attraction of grey nomads is especially strong in horticulture industries where seasonal pickers have been in short supply this year.
The ABC reports that the citrus industry has been particularly badly affected by the crisis, with some producers in South Australia's Riverland seeing their costs increase by up to 50 per cent due a shortage of labour.
Orchardists like Cathy Lowe from Amaroo orchard in Renmark are having to pay contractors to source labour in Victoria as they help bring in a bumper orange harvest.
"You're paying an extra $10 or $11 a bin having to have a contractor bus them in," she told the ABC. "That sort of an increase in cost equates to $50-$100 a tonne extra on a bad market, where we're probably not even going to return the picking prices."
The labour shortage also means fruit isn't being picked as quickly as it's needed for overseas markets.
"Everyone's screaming for pickers and instead of getting... 50 or 100 bins off in a day, we're getting half of that off," she said.
One orchardist who's had several elderly workers on his property is Brad Taylor from Gillainey orchards in Paringah, South Australia.
"They're reliable because they have to work to make a living," he said.  "You'll find a lot of the young ones they'll work a couple of days and then you won't see them for a week."
According to CEO of Skills One, Brian Wexham, the key to increasing the number of older workers on the harvest trail lies in educating them about the benefits of getting out on the road. "There are lots of opportunities, there are lots of things going on in regional and rural areas where you can have a truly rewarding experience." he told the ABC. "We all have this lovely romantic image of the land and the harvest trail provides an opportunity to sample that."
What do you reckon? Are you ready to ‘pick’ your way around the country? Are you already doing so? Is it as ‘romantic’ as it sounds? Have you noticed lees backpackers keeping you company on the orchards and farms? What is your favourite crop? Email us here to share your rural work experiences.

July 22

And the winner is ....
Amazing! The incredibly successful and hotly contested great grey nomads ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition is at an end.
After a frantic burst of last-minute voting, the polls closed at midnight (AEST) last night and the votes have now been counted, verified … and a winner  determined. Before we get down to the serious business of naming the winners of the IsatProPhone, the SmartKlean Laundry ball and A Drop of Rain prizes, a few thank yous.
Thanks of course to our sponsors, thanks to our hard-working judge Steve Jones, and thanks to the hundreds of you who took the time and trouble to vote for your favourite. But most of all thanks to all of you who entered the competition itself. We received more than 500 high quality entries covering everything from sunsets and snakes to planes and trains, and from bridges and boats to traffic lights and tulips. It was a sensational competition which brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people. Thank you.
And now, without further ado … the winner is ….
Click here to find the top three

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July 21

Don't Miss the Vote
The end of our epic competition is nigh. Today’s the last day to vote for your favourite shot in the great grey nomads photo competition ‘Seeing Red’.   
With over 500 entries of incredibly high standard, our esteemed judge, Steve Jones, announced the top ten shots last week and we now await the verdict that you, our grey nomad voters, will deliver tomorrow.  The winner will be the photo with the most votes and will get a new IsatPhonePro satellite phone kindly donated by TC Communications.  Our second place winner will get a SmartKlean Laundry ball generously supplied by Robyn Scotland and our third place winner will receive a signed copy of A Drop of Rain kindly provided by author Bernie Homan.
You can view the top ten pics and vote for them by clicking here.
Votes will be accepted until the stroke of midnight tonight (AEST) and only one vote per email address will be counted.
Voting has been heavy and the race for top spot looks set to be an incredibly tight one. Every vote could make a difference, so please cast your vote now.

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July 20

Kingscliff van park faces shifting sands
Although we often hear about coastal van parks being swallowed up by developers, a van park on the north coast of NSW is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that fifteen metres of land has been lost from the foreshores of the town of Kingscliff over the past week as heavy seas pound the coast and part of the Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park is also in danger of slipping away.
Last week, residents of park were told to evacuate as authorities worried that a 12 metre tree near the park may collapse. The edge of an eroding sandbank was only a metre from the tree and a decision was finally made to cut the tree down.  Five residents were advised to evacuate.
Since then, an additional four metres of land in front of the van park was washed away. 
The Tweed Shire Council had to relocate five cabins, two villas and several caravan sites on Sunday, all under threat of falling into the sea.
Richard Adams, Tweed Coast Holiday Parks Reserve Trust executive manager, is hoping that he can get government funding to help solve the problem. 
"We would really love to see the State Government or the Federal Government come to the party with some money so we can get a long-term solution in place to bring the beach back because the beach is essential for the community."
In the short term, three graders will work on the beach for the next several weeks to build a five metre double wall of sandbags to prevent further sand loss in front of the caravan park. 
Hopefully, the government will step in with funds and a plan to save Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park from the sea.  It would be a shame to lose another coastal park, albeit for a different reason.
Have you stayed at the Kingcliff Beach Holiday Park? Do you know of any other coastal parks at risk from the sea or beach erosion? Email us here to share.

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July 16

Will marine park sink tourism in the Gulf?
The prospect of the Gulf of Carpentaria being declared a protected marine park is causing some deep concerns in the north.
While no detailed plans have yet been put forward, Carpentaria Mayor Fred Pascoe says the Federal Government has pledged to ‘protect’ the Gulf and that could mean fishing would be restricted, keeping away grey nomads in their thousands.
The mayor says Karumba and Normanton depend on vibrant fishing and tourism sectors, both of which would be impacted if a marine park goes ahead.
"We've heard rumours up here that the whole of Cape York is going to be heritage listed,” Councillor Pascoe told the ABC. "You can certainly bet your bottom dollar that the 'whole' is going to be a huge marine park ... ordinary everyday Australians up here are having trouble sleeping."
Sounds pretty dramatic. But clearly Councillor Pascoe feels the stakes are very high.
"They have already said very clearly that there will be a marine park in the Gulf but now the State Government has also indicated that it will also create a marine park in its waters," he told the national broadcaster. "That will certainly have a big impact on recreational fishing, on tourists, grey nomads ... the 80,000 to 100,000 people that we get up every year.”
So, would the creation of a marine park in the Gulf keep you away from the area …or is the beauty and serenity as mush a drawcard as the fish? Email your thoughts in this story here.

July 15

Reddy, Steady, Vote!
Wow! Thanks to everyone who entered our ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition. To say the event was a success would be a massive understatement. The quality and quantity of the entries took our breath away and we know both snapping and viewing the photos has given many of you an awful lot of pleasure. Thanks also to all of you who took the time and trouble to post encouraging comments on the various entries ... we know this would have been very much appreciated by the artists behind the lenses.
In the end, we received well over 500 entries to the competition. You collectively captured stunning scenery, spectacular sunsets, marauding wildlife, quirky outback scenes and all manner of red coloured modes of transport. The quality and creativity of the shots is a testament to the enormous bank of talent out there, and offers a genuine insight into the fun and magic that travelling Australia can bring.
We must thank, of course, our sponsors. The major prize of an IsatPhonePro satellite phone has been donated by TC Communications. 
The second placed photographer will receive a Laundry Klean Laundry ball courtesy of Robyn Scotland and the third place getter will receive an autographed copy of ‘A Drop of Rain’ by Berni Homan.
And last but not least our thanks go to the ever-industrious Steve Jones, editor of Reed International’s Travel Toady online publication and once again our esteemed judge. I am sure Steve had no idea that he would be faced with such a challenging job when he agreed to help us out again. As we have come to expect, Steve set about his task with enthusiasm, and a steely determination to be as fair, as thorough and as considered as he possibly could. Thank you Steve.
A reminder once again everybody that Steve has only half completed the job of naming our ‘Seeing Red’ top three. He has narrowed the field down to 10 stunning shots but the final selection will now be up to you, the voting grey nomad.  Only one vote per email address will be accepted.
Okay, ladies and gentlemen without further ado, I hand proceedings over to super Judge, Steve Jones:

"Hello everybody. Goodness, I’ve had to make some difficult decisions in my time but this just about tops the lot. I can only thank Cindy for allowing me to choose 10 top pics as opposed to the six I was originally intending to select.  I must confess I wasn’t expecting to end up judging more than 500 photos and I wasn’t expecting he standard to be half as high as it has been ... well done to all of you who entered.
"I have been on travel journalism for well over a decade now and a great number of these pictures are easily of a high enough standard to have graced the pages of any number of publications I have worked for.
"It’s been a difficult job but one that I agreed to do and I promise you  that I have done to the very best of my ability.  Given the quality of the entries it was always inevitable that some very worthy shots would be omitted from my top 10 list.  I know that some of you will say 'Goodness, he should have chosen this shot,' or 'why didn’t he choose that shot' but judging a photographic competition is a subjective task. Different things appeal to different people.
"Having said that, I make no apologies for having tried to present a variety of Seeing Red shots for you to vote on. I was keenly aware for example that I could easily have chosen 10 stunning sunsets, none of which would have looked out of place as a top 10 picture.
"For me, one of the most pleasing aspects of the competition was the variety of ‘red’ shots that you were able to come up with. Your ingenuity and invention does you all credit and I urge any of you who may not have looked through the competition entries to do so. While not all of the entries were technically perfect, the ‘eye’ for an opportunity is clear for all to see, and some of your clever interpretations of the red theme brought a smile to my face.
"I was always open to persuasion on the ‘Seeing Red’ theme and was anxious not to interpret this too rigidly. Nonetheless, the competition  was based around the colour red and I enjoyed seeing this theme enthusiastically embraced.
"Apologies then to all of you who may not have made my final cut. If it is any consolation I have agonised  over the job and have changed my mind dozens of times as the final list was whittled down.
"And so without further ado .... Gulp! ...here are my top 10 (and how to vote for them)."

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July 14

Campers Reject Private Holidays
The possibility of national park camping areas being fully privatised at some stage in the future sends a shiver down the spine of most grey nomads.
Indeed, with van parks commonly increasing their services and increasing their prices, budget camping options can already appear severely limited. While it’s true that not all national parks offer genuinely ‘cheap’ stays, they certainly do offer some relief from the relentless van park fees paid by travellers who prefer to stay in managed camping environments.
There can be little doubt that if private camping ground operators were to take over in some of our beautiful national parks, the fees would not be going downwards.
Looking overseas at future trends that might be coming our way, it is gratifying to note that our American counterparts were up in arms at proposal to privatise camping at some of their national parks.
Indeed, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has just been forced to scrap its plans to privatise portions of Honeymoon Island State Park to turn them into high-impact campsites.
 “After seeing the public’s reaction, it is clear that this is not the right time to expand camping at Honeymoon Island State Park,” said Governor Rick Scott. “These natural treasures belong to all the tax-paying citizens of this state and it would be unfair to proceed with a plan that so many Floridians are so adamantly opposed to.”
Hooray for commonsense.
The Florida Times reports that every single one of the state’s lawmakers were opposed to the plan and wrote to the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vineyard to says so.
“Due to the popularity of some sites during holidays or peak camping season, campers have found it difficult to book a camping spot without making reservations months in advance,” said Mr Vineyard. “Regretfully, the Department’s desire to meet the demand and provide this amenity to more Floridians was overshadowed by the timing of the process.”
He went on to say that his department recognised that “adding amenities in state parks should be a citizen-supported effort and should not appear rushed” and that privatization efforts at other state parks will undergo further evaluation.
Good call, Herschel.
So, do you think privatising certain national park camping areas has any merit? Would you like to see the practice extended here? Is camping in national parks getting too expensive as it is? Which state offer the best national park camping options and prices? Email us here with your views on this story.

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July 13

Illegal Campers get the boot in Busselton
The Western Australian town of Busselton is set to toughen its penalties for illegal camping.
The shire says the practice is a major eyesore and is causing problems for local tourism and caravan facilities.
“There are a lot of issues such as toilet facilities, litter and anti-social behavior,” said Busselton Shire’s ranger and emergency services manager, Tim Wall. “We’ve had people dumping their waste in reserve areas which is totally unhygienic and unacceptable.”
Yuk!
Mr Wall identified backpackers going around Australia as the major illegally camping offenders but there is no doubt that some grey nomads will be caught up in the dragnet.
“How are we going to keep caravan parks afloat if backpackers keep illegally camping?” asked Mr Wall. “The message gets around to a lot of these people, who don’t have accommodation, that if you come down to Busselton you can stay in the jetty car park or reserve areas.”
Fair point, I guess. You certainly don’t want the problem getting out of control.
“We have an obligation to our rate-payers and accommodation providers to make sure people can use the facilities here,” Mr Wall told the Busselton-Dunsborough Mail. “It is 10 bucks a night to put your caravan in a park, if you can’t afford it, how are you travelling around Australia?”
Ten bucks a night! In Busselton! Pull the other one, Tim! I am certainly not defending people who camp illegally and disrespect the environment but let’s get our facts straight as we discuss the issues. Parks charging what some may consider exorbitant fees for services and facilities that many travellers don’t want or need is certainly one of the issues.
“We’ve had people string clothes between trees on the jetty foreshore and it’s something we don’t really want tourists seeing,” Mr Wall said. “If they’re parked in front of a sign where there is no camping permitted, then they will receive an infringement.”
Okay. Mr Wall. That doesn’t sound unreasonable … but enough with the 10 bucks a night stuff!
Up until the end of last month, the Shire of Busselton had received 48 complaints and has issued 74 warnings and 171 fines to illegal campers.
So should budget-minded travellers like many grey nomads who simply want a place to park their van for the night have reasonably priced and secure options available to them in towns like Busselton. Or should the “pay top dollar at full service van parks or get out of town” mentality rule the roost. Does the toughening stance of towns like Busselton make you feel unwelcome or do you understand the need to keep ‘illegals’ from taking over public reserves? Is there a happy medium? Email here with your thoughts on this story.

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July 12

Be prepared ... avoid food poisoning risks
Here’s a bit of a cautionary tale from the UK about the importance of preparing and cooking your food well even when out and about in your caravan and motorhome.
Sure, the kitchen space may not be as well appointed or as spacious as it might be in a house but that doesn’t mean standards should slip.
British publication, the Caravan Times, reports that a man who cooked a pork chop in is caravan stove became paralysed after eating it. This happened some five months ago and father of three Darren Ashall from Chorley in Lancashire, is only now on the road to recovery,
Darren has finally been released from intensive care and he is adjusting to life at home.
Local media reports that, despite still suffering some of the side-effects of listeria meningitis - the bug he caught from the ill-prepared chop - the plant operator is in good spirits.
"I am definitely getting better. The feeling of going out in the fresh air after being stuck indoors for months was amazing,” he said. “The first thing I did when I got home was eat a bacon buttie - I'd been really longing for one after being in hospital for so long."
Darren is one of just 200 people worldwide to have been diagnosed with this rare disease, which he caught after failing to cook his meat properly on a caravan stove.
He said: 'I thought one of the chops wasn't cooked properly. I regretted eating it straight away. I knew it was a mistake,” he said. “'A month later I went to hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. After three days, my face started drooping on one side and people thought I was having a stroke. 'I was treated for that, but nothing helped.'
Darren had picked up the listeria bug, which can lay dormant for up to 70 days.
Caravan owners are advised that the symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of the common cold. The elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at greatest risk of developing Listeria meningitis. While the illness is often fatal it is extremely rare so there is no need to panic.
However, it is a reminder that we should all take care in preparing and cooking our food correctly wherever we are. See our story on food hygiene for some guidance.
How do you cope with the challenges of cooking and food storage while on the road? Do you have any tips for your fellow grey nomads? Have you ever become sick due to poor food handling? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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July 11

The terminator of fruit picking jobs?
Yikes everybody! Could it be that an important income source for hard-working, budget-minded grey nomads is about to be cut off.
A southeast Queensland strawberry farmer is reportedly developing a fruit picking robot that could cut production costs dramatically … and presumably put pickers out of a job.
The ABC reports that machine moves up and down a strawberry field and judges the ripeness of the fruit using digital imaging technology.
Glasshouse Mountains farmer Ray Daniels says he hopes the robot will help growers become more competitive.
"Strawberries are labour intensive, and in the US they work picking for $10 and $12 US a tray, whereas in Australia we can't even pick them for $18," he said. "So to keep competitive in an international market we need to lower our cost of production."
And if they can do it with strawberries, who’s to say they won’t soon be able to do it with every fruit and vegetable under the Australia sun?
This is not the first time that a fruit picking robot has reared its mechanical head to threaten an enjoyable, though tough, income provider for all manner of travellers?
Late last year it was revealed that Japanese researchers were developing a robot that could automatically identify and pick ripe berries.
Developed by the minds at the Institute of Agricultural Machinery's Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (IAM-BRAIN), the machines can apparently harvest more than 60 per cent of a strawberry crop.
The robot targets berries that are at least 80 per cent red.
Even though each machine takes nine seconds to pick a strawberry, they can cut harvesting time from 500 hours to 300 hours for a 1,000-square-metre field (about a quarter-acre), said BRAIN's Shigehiko Hayashi.
The robots can also pick strawberries at night.
The berry ’bot has a stereo camera system that images the strawberries in 3D. Image-processing algorithms gauge their ripeness, and if a berry is at least 80 per cent red, the machine neatly snips it at the stem and deposits it in a bin.
A commercial version might also be able to harvest crops like tomatoes. However, it may be that fruit that doesn't colour while ripening will prove more challenging for robots to recognise and pick properly.
There’s hope fruit-picking grey nomads, there’s hope!
Do you rely on fruit picking to fund your travels? Do you feel threatened by the rise of the robot? Email here with your views on this story

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July 8

A Red Photo Day
IT’S TIME! All of you who have been waiting to submit your photographic masterpieces to the great Grey Nomads ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition at the very last minute …. your time is now. There are no tomorrows. At midnight tonight the shutter will come down and all entries – no matter how magnificent – will no longer be considered by our judge. There will be no exceptions. Do not risk being caught up in the last second stampede of entries that could cause a computer meltdown and disappoint some would-be entrants.
With more than 500 outstanding entries already received, the competition is fierce but yours could be the one. Do not wish this time week that you had decided to enter this shot or that shot. Enter it now!
The theme of the competition is the colour Red and the top 10 entries will be chosen by our esteemed judge, Travel Today Editor, Steve Jones. The top 10 will be announced on this website on July 15 and you, the voting public, will then have one week to vote for your favourite. Only one vote will be accepted from each email address and the winning three will then be announced.
The first prize in this record-breaking popular contest is an IsatPhonePro. The second prize is a SmartKlean laundry ball which is a super convenient, environmentally friendly washing option for on-the-move grey nomads. Third prize is a signed copy of Berni Homan’s book, Drop of Rain, a series of accounts about the devastating impact of Coffs Harbour’s 2009 floods. Many, many thanks to all of our sponsors.
Thanks also to you all for the overwhelming response to the competition. Please take some time to peruse the entries and maybe add some comments (click here). I know any feedback would be much appreciated by our many, many entrants.
And, finally, please spare a thought, for our judge, who is about to embark on a grueling, challenging, near impossible mission. How on earth do you pick out just 10 pictures from such a magnificent and wide field?
Good luck, Steve,

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July 5

You're not dreaming ... Bonnie doon booms
Like many lakeside communities, Bonnie Doon, the town made famous by Australian movie 'The Castle', has been enjoying a remarkable revival over recent months.
Healthy rains have put Victoria’s Lake Eildon at over 80% capacity and now grey nomads and other tourists are flooding back into the area and the caravan parks are often filled to capacity.
It’s a startling reminder that this year’s unusually wet weather has brought benefits as well as disasters.
Whereas not so long ago the lake was as dry as bone (the level was at 6 per cent in May 2007) and cattle grazed there, now water reaches nearly to the treeline, birdlife has returned and tourists lap it all up.
"It's given the town a new lease on life. People are out and about enjoying the lake. People are certainly feeling more confident, it’s really lifted spirits," Bonnie Doon resident Paul Sladdin told the ABC. "The local businesses had a boom time over the recent summer with all the caravan parks being full and the local auto marine business putting on more people."
Kathy Octigan, co-owner of the Bonnie Doon Caravan Park, said that at the height of the drought the water was 10 kilometres from her home. But today it's much closer.
''It's less than a minute's walk from the back door of my house,'' she told the ABC. ''It is just lovely. It's made a huge difference to spring and summer bookings just gone, and the coming spring and summer bookings this year.''
The lake generally reaches its peak around September-October. A full lake holds a massive 3,334,158 megalitres, making it six times the size of Sydney Harbour.
David Roff, chief executive of Mansfield Shire, said a full Lake Eildon generated a lot of economic activity. ''It's a real good driver,'' he said.
Have you been to Bonnie Doon to see the transformation? What other areas have you visited this year that have been given a healthy boost by the rains? Email us here to share your dry-as-a-bone to healthy waterway experiences.

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July 4

Offers of help flood in to communities
The publicity surrounding the Queensland floods may have subsided a little, but the offers of help from grey nomads keen to help in the cleanup and rebuilding effort have not.
In the small community of Theodore, for example, displaced residents have started to return to their homes during the past few weeks following record flooding earlier this year.
Sharyn Holmes from the Theodore Chamber of Commerce says a lot of grey nomads passing through the area have been keen to help those in need.
"They've been gardening or cleaning, a lot of the people still need their houses cleaned in some areas when it has become a little bit overwhelming," she told the ABC. "So it has been wonderful that somebody can come along and ask them if they need any help and usually it's not knocked back."
Isn’t it great when we can give something back and help to make a real difference?
Have you volunteered to help in post-flood cleanup and rebuilding work?  Did you feel you made a difference? Is it something you would do again? Email us here to share your views on this story.

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July 1

Get your entries in for a fantastic photo finish
Hurry everybody! Time is running out for you to enter the great Grey Nomads ‘Seeing Red’ photographic competition. In just one week, at midnight on Friday, July 8, entries will no longer be accepted and your chance to win one of our sensational prizes will be gone forever. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your photographic skills to your fellow grey nomads and share with them a spectacular shot or spectacular scene. The theme of the competition is the colour ‘red’. Click here to read full details of the requirements and how you can enter.
The first prize in this record-breaking popular contest is an IsatPhonePro. The second prize is a SmartKlean laundry ball which is a super convenient, environmentally friendly washing option for on-the-move grey nomads. Third prize is a signed copy of Berni Homan’s book, A Drop of Rain, a series of accounts about the devastating impact of Coffs Harbour’s 2009 floods.
Entry numbers are already closing in on the historic 500 mark, and the quantity of quality is giving our esteemed judge, Travel Today Editor, Steve Jones, nightmares. His task is to whittle the entries down to just 10, before throwing the final decision over to you, the voting public to determine the top three.
The excitement is building everywhere …. except in the Jones household!
“What have I let myself in for?” said Judge Jones. “I am really excited to thoroughly look through all of the entries but I am truly daunted by the size of the task in front of me.”
And who can blame him?
“I just hope everyone understands that judging a competition like this is very much a subjective matter,” said Steve. “I know I will have to cut some awesome shots and I don’t want anyone to be too upset with me or discouraged … all I can do is my honest best.”
Fair play, Steve. I am sure everybody understands what a nearly impossible task you have been set.  Good luck with it!

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June 30

Kimberley Heritage Hangs in the Balance
It should be decision day today for the magnificent Kimberley region in Western Australia.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke has been considering the Australian Heritage Council's proposal to make a large portion of the Kimberley Australia's 90th heritage listed site and is scheduled to announce his verdict shortly.
If listed, the Kimberley would join a coveted list of world-renowned places such as Uluru, Bondi Beach, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Fremantle Prison and Port Arthur.
Aboriginal traditional owners, tourism operators and environmentalists fear one of Australia's last remaining wilderness areas could become a giant quarry if it is not heritage listed.
But with significant pressure from the mining sector, many people are concerned the decision could be delayed a second time.
Worse still, some fear the area being considered for heritage listing may be reduced in size or that the proposal could be struck out entirely.
Many tourism operators believe the Kimberley - with its ancient rock formations, diverse flora and fauna, fossils, dinosaur footprints, strong Aboriginal culture and important history - needs greater protection from inappropriate development.
Intrepid Travel co-founder Darrell Wade told Channel 9 that the Kimberley was one of the most spectacular parts of Australia which travellers were only starting to discover.
"I am drawn back to the Kimberley time and time again because it's so extraordinary," said Mr Wade. "A strong national heritage listing would protect the Kimberley and ensure future generations have the opportunity to experience this amazing region."
Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) executive director Don Henry said heritage listing would stimulate the economy and create jobs through appropriate tourism.
"We know, for example with the Great Barrier Reef heritage listing, that now brings four to five billion dollars a year in tourism and recreational-use income to Queensland and Australia," Mr Henry told reporters at Windjana Gorge. "There is a prosperous future here with appropriate tourism and development that doesn't damage values. If we allow massive development, and the pressure is there, we will turn it into a giant quarry."
With a handful of mines already operating across the region and more than 700 mining tenements currently in place, the WA government hopes the Kimberley will become another one of the state's world-class resource provinces.
Many locals and pastoralists claim heritage listing the area will stifle the economy and make it difficult for any new projects to get off the ground. However, heritage listing does not prohibit new mining and agriculture projects, nor will it affect existing operations. National heritage listing recognises and seeks to protect the values of an area - not the entire place.
Interesting times in a truly remarkable part of the world. Do you think much of the Kimberley should be heritage listed? Does natural beauty and a fascinating history trump progress and potential profit? Email your thoughts on this story here.  

June 29

A Whale of a Show in Coastal Waters
The great humpback whale migration is well and truly under way now, bringing grey nomads flocking to the coast to catch a view of these elegant giants.
A number of humpbacks have already been spotted playing in Great Barrier Reef waters off the coast of the Port Douglas in the far north ... and it’s promising to be a spectacular season.
A record 13,500 whales are expected to be making their journey north from Antarctica to the warm waters of the Reef for their annual mating season. Among them is the famous all-white whale, Migaloo, which has been spotted swimming off Fraser Island and is expected to make it to Cairns within the next two weeks.
The skipper of Quicksilver Cruises’s Silversonic Shane Dowd said the humpbacks were already putting on quite a spectacular show off Port Douglas, including amazing breaches.
"It is always exciting to see the humpbacks arrive, and a positive for all our passengers and crew," he said. "Our guests are just in awe, everyone was on the decks and just delighted to see such an amazing sight."
Of course there are strict regulations governing how close boats can get to whales and, in the Great Barrier Reef marine park, for example, they are not allowed within 100 metres.
It certainly doesn’t pay to get too close as 13-yearold Drew Hall will testify after he was knocked unconscious by a whale. He was fishing off Redcliffe (just north of Brooms Head) with his parents, Karen and Steven, when the tail of a whale rose up above their boat and crashed down on top of him.
Drew was knocked unconscious either by the impact of the tail or being driven into the floor of the boat. His collar bone was broken in the incident.
Geoff Ross from National Parks and wildlife told the ABC is was very rare for whales to attack vessels, especially unprovoked.
His only explanation is that the whale involved may have been harassed by other people or boats before coming into contact with the Halls.
He believes the whale may have surfaced and been frightened.
"It would have reacted to try to dive very quickly and when whales dive, the flukes come up and then they slap down very hard,” he said. "That would have explained why the flukes came down on the child in the back of the boat."
Terrifying. Have you had a close encounter with a migrating whale? Have you seen many this season? Have you been lucky enough to spot Migaloo? Do you adjust your itinerary to go wildlife watching? Email us here with your thought on this story.

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June 28

Are grey nomads taking the plunge?
Could we about to enter a bold new era where the ‘grey’nomad is being forced off the road and re-emerging as ‘blue’ nomad ready to take to Australia’s oceans and waterways.
Certainly there are those in the sailing/cruising fraternity who would have us believe so.
Peter Nicholson, a broker at Ensign, the largest independent boat brokerage in Australia, says it’s a very exciting time in the 'pre-loved' boat market … and it’s the mature traveller who is helping to drive things.
“The grey nomad segment is cashed up … they’ve done the campervan trip and now they’re ready for the next challenge, sailing,” he told Sail World online magazine. “We have seen a lot of interest in first time yachting, particularly sail. People entering the market for the first time are attracted to the lifestyle, and looking for a large cruising boat to live aboard, both new and old.
According to Peter, this frequently overlooked older market is an interesting evolving market in power and sail.
He says that is it currently a buyer’s market and people can expect to pay 5-10% beneath the asking price.
Tempted anyobody?
There has also been some media interest in the apparent trend for grey nomads to park up the van, take a break for the rigours of the road and break the budget to, at least temporarily, enjoy the pampered luxury of life aboard a cruise ship (see forum post http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t43558730/hello-sailors/)
So, are we really ready to say “Ahoy there me hearties” and abandon van? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

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June 27

Lakes Lure Visitors to Western NSW
While the floodwaters are finally receding in Outback New South Wales, tourist numbers most certainly are not.
The small regional town of Menindee, near Broken Hill, is a perfect example. The area has long been popular with grey nomads for its authentic Outback character and exceptional fishing.   
The fact that Lakes Menindee and Cawndilla were filled with water from the Queensland floods for the first time in a decade only added to the allure. Now, it seems, we can’t get enough of the sort of experience on offer ... water or no water.
"Our numbers have been higher, even before the water came ... we were enjoying huge visitor numbers when there was no water in the lake," Regional Tourists Association President Karen Page told the ABC. “Now we are getting a lot of people returning to experience it full ... they’re telling us they simply had to come back to see what the lakes were like full.”
But the small Central Darling Shire town is enjoying a boom time thanks not only to the tourism trade but also to an influx of workers who have been busy improving the road and rail infrastructure.
Of course, the camping at the rest area near Lake Cawndilla, beside Emu Lake or along the river in Kinchega National Park really adds to the area’s appeal to grey nomads.
Have you been to Menindee to check out the lakes? What do you make of Kinchega National Park?  Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

June 24

Drive to keep council from paving the way
They say you can’t stop progress but try telling that to the fire-in-the-belly residents of a Melbourne suburb who are determined to stop the local council from sealing the rustic dirt road that services their homes.
It’s a fight that somehow seems back to front, yet it might resonate with adventure-seeking grey nomads whose hearts sink at talk of bitumening the Gibb River Road, or of sealing a Great Outback Highway, or of adding more black stuff stretches to the route north up into Cape York.
Yes, access will be improved. Yes there will be less dust. Yes there will be less potholes. Yes, there will be less  punctures … but does ‘progress’ mean we are also losing something uniquely Outback, something that makes the adventure special?
You can’t help thinking that the residents of Melbourne’s Surrey Hills who are banding together to fight  Boorondara council over plans to seal Delta Street and its continuation, York Street, would be in the ‘let’s-keep-the-Outback-as-wild-as-we-can’ camp.
 They argue that their municipality would lose a piece of ‘living heritage’ if councillors vote to press ahead with paving the roads.
The Age newspaper described the streets in question as being lined with sugar gums and native scrub and dotted with perambulating chickens. It says this dirt road is loved by many of the locals as a unique pocket of rustic tranquility in the heart of Melbourne.
Wow! Sounds like a great base for grey nomads to take a break from the rigours of the open road ...and perhaps train up for the next big adventure.
The council is concerned about drainage problems and has recommended that the country-style road be paved at the cost of $250,000 from the federal government's road program.
Friends of Delta Street spokesman Gerard Holmes told the Age that the road was built in the early 1900s when the area was subdivided and locals had lovingly maintained it - filling in pot holes - for the past 20 years.
''We all bought houses along this road because of the rustic charm of the area and to seal it will make it like any other road in suburbia,'' Mr Holmes said. ''There's so much progress going on (in Melbourne) that this is a chance for us all to stop and smell the roses - just enjoy what we've got - rather this constant need to change.''
A petition of residents in the local area in support of leaving it as an unpaved road garnered more than 600 signatures, Mr Holmes said.
Interesting stuff. We’ll keep an eye on this one to see if perhaps it gives us a clue to the long term future of some of our most iconic dirt roads. In the meantime, get out and safely enjoy as much of the wild Outback as you can ... while you can!
Is it selfish to try to stop the march of progress and perhaps deny others access to the beauty spots we enjoy simply because some grey nomads like their roads rough? Will sealing some dirt roads just mean that adventurers will discover new adventurous routes elsewhere? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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June 23

Business stays afloat through sea of troubles
With many parts of the country - and many businesses - still ‘doing it tough’, the positive economic contribution that grey nomads continue to make is finally getting some recognition.
It is obvious that many caravan parks, tourism attractions, rural stores and fuel outlets depend heavily on the ‘grey dollar’ to keep them profitable … but our influence goes well beyond that.
Bigger companies – such as caravan makers, tyre sellers, bull bar manufacturers – all depend to a greater or lesser extent on the custom we provide … and even more so in trying economic times.
It is perhaps positive once in a while to highlight the benefits we indirectly deliver and the difference we can and do make to people’s lives.
Bundaberg-based aluminum boat builders Sea Jay are a classic example. The family owned and operated business started in 1989, and father-and-son team Col and Troy Glass are happy to credit grey nomads as a major reason they were able to weather the economic storm.
“The grey nomads who were looking for a tinnie to put on the top of their caravan really became our saving grace,” Col told the Bundaberg NewsMail. “Things were tight for a while … from small operators to the really big boat companies … but we were able to survive because there was still that passion to get on the water, but more at that entry level,”
Judging by the number of grey nomads with a tinnie or a kayak perched atop their vehicle, Col’s faith in our passion for the water is certainly not  misplaced.
It’s backed up by more substantive evidence and the love affair only seems to be getting stronger.
Marine Queensland CEO Don Jones said last month’s Brisbane Tinnie and Tackle Show was a proven success for many of its members.
“At previous Tinnie and Tackle shows you could see people were there just to look and dream,” he said. “This time round was certainly a different story. Things were generally more buoyant.”
Great to hear, Don. Great to hear.
And it’s also great to receive some recognition for the positive effect we have on others as we get out there and make our dreams come true.
Has taking a tinnie or a kayak helped to enrich your around-Australia experience? Would you recommend it to others?  Email us here with your thoughts on this story, and water craft in general.
Click here to read about the growing popularity of kayaks on the Big Lap.

EXCITING NEWS, EXCITING NEWS!!!!! Final details have now been released regarding second and third prize in our photo competition, Seeing Red. Click here to learn more.

June 22

Miracle escape from road train smash
As the great grey nomad migration really gets into full swing, the roads are becoming noticeably busier and the need for patience and concentration is becoming ever more critical.
Sadly, this week has seen another serious accident involving a grey nomad who was incredibly lucky to escape with his life. The 74-year-old Victorian man cheated death on Monday when his Toyota LandCruiser, towing a caravan, collided with a road train on the Gregory Highway just minutes north of Emerald in Queensland.
Amazingly, the man escaped from the horrific-looking crash with only minor injuries and was treated by ambulance officers and taken to Emerald Base Hospital for observation. Needless to say, arguments with road trains rarely have such a relatively happy ending.
 “There is more traffic on the road at this time of the year and it is important all motorists plan their trips - we’re asking everyone to be more vigilant over the coming period,” Queensland Police Regional Traffic Inspector, Virginia Nelson told the Central Queensland News.  “As it is tourist season, there are a lot more grey nomads on the road and everyone just needs to be a bit more patient… most of the accidents police attend are completely preventable.”
Hopefully, it is a message that will resonate with grey nomads but that, of course, it is only half the story. All road users need to exercise the same patience and care that we have to have while driving.
“People seem to get impatient sitting behind caravans and they end up taking risks that they really should not have,” said Emerald Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Captain Logan Macintosh, who also urged drivers not to ignore signs of fatigue. “Unfortunately history shows it to be a busy time of the year for us.”
Let’s all play our part in keeping the roads as safe as possible at this, and all other times of year. Let’s drive with courtesy, patience and consideration … and hope and pray that others do the same.
Have you had any scary ‘on road’ adventures? What can we do to stay safer on the roads? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.
Read more about driving with roads trains here.

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June 21

Here comes the sun .... and the visitors
There is no doubt that Queensland tourism has been doing it tough since the double whammy of extensive flooding and then the devastation caused by Cyclone Yasi set it back on its heels.
But there is no doubt now that the state is fighting back … with that glorious tropical sunshine proving just too good to resist for shivering southerners.
At Port Douglas – where about 80 per cent of residents work in tourism or related businesses – local operators say the industry is bouncing back from its longest summer of sorrow.
In his first-quarter report, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree chairman Gordon Wellham said 135 businesses in the area had closed their doors during the past five years, including five since Christmas.
"The constant hits to tourism viability are wearing people down," Mr Wellham said in the report. "It’s death by a thousand cuts."
Apparently, occupancy rates at Port Douglas dropped to about 10 per cent in February, with some accommodation houses near empty for two months.
Mr Wellham says he is concerned that layoffs made during the downturn could dilute the pool of tourism expertise needed at Port Douglas as tourist numbers grow.
"This could also have consequential impacts on perceptions of quality and service and hence our long-term reputation," the report states.
"It was a tough three months because people didn’t realise that we weren’t affected by the cyclone and the floods,” Port Douglas accommodation provider Carmel Angelino told Cairns Now. "But it’s picked up like you wouldn’t believe and I put it down to the weather."
Indeed, Ms Angelino says the seaside town is thriving again with the onset of clear skies, and her forward bookings are now solid through to mid-October.
Another operator, Laura Unwin, said travellers from southern cities are heading for the warmth of the north in their usual large numbers.
"It’s a lot of people from Sydney and Melbourne who are making the calls and they all comment on how cold it is down there at the moment," Ms Unwin said. "It was like a ghost town in Port Douglas at the start of the year, but the way it’s turned around in such a short time is amazing."
And it all goes to prove … if the sun keeps shining, then we will keep coming!
Has news coverage of the Queensland floods and the cyclone put you off visiting the Sunshine State? Have you been up to Yasi-affected areas such as Mission Beach recently? Does it feel like business as usual in that glorious part of the world? Email us with your thought in this story.

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June 20

Punt back on track as floodwaters rise
It’s the wet season that just doesn’t know when to end …. with the Pacific Highway still closed in places due to water on the road, we now hear that the Birdsville Track is about to be cut off again.
The Cooper Creek punt is expected to be running again in just over a week as floodwaters make their way from Queensland.
"It has started arriving here,” tour operator Peter Weir told the ABC. It's rising gradually … about 50mm a day."
He says Lake Killamperpunna is nearly full and water should reach the crossing in just over a week.
"It hasn't quite reached the road yet but it's given us quite a bit more water here in the ferry channel," he said. "At the moment the ferry's back floating again, so it's a gradual rise and it's still rising at the moment and it'll keep rising for quite a while."
Alan Morris from the Transport Department says the punt is ready to go as soon as the water crosses the Birdsville Track.
"We'll be responding quite quickly to ensure that it causes minimal disruption to the travelling public," he told the ABC. "Everything is ready to go, we've had the engine serviced and we've looked at the accommodation and vehicles etc, so as soon as the water crosses the road we'll get that underway."
The punt has also been extended so it can carry vehicles with campervans.
Hooray for that but, wow, is this the wettest year ever to be a grey nomad or what? Can anyone remember more rain issues affecting travelling and camping than this? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

June 18

Highway to nowhere causes traffic chao
What a nightmare week it’s been on the Pacific Highway as heavy rain and floodwaters cut the main artery along the New South Wales east coast in several places.
At time of writing, the highway remains closed in both directions between Clybucca and North Kempsey …. several days after the road there was initially sealed due to water on the road.
It has meant chaos for grey nomads, truckies and locals and has hit highway-dependent businesses hard. Travellers between Sydney and Brisbane have been forced to take the longer inland New England highway, which itself is feeling the strain of a massive increase in traffic.
The amount of rain that has fallen has been excessive ... and incidentally caused the evacuation of a number of caravan parks … but the extended closure of this vital road has renewed the focus on fixing the Pacific Highway.
"Rain makes treacherous conditions on the Pacific Highway, from water across the road, right through to an increased number of potholes," said state member for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser. "I think it demonstrates clearly the fact that the highway needs to be upgraded as soon as possible.”
Too right, Andrew. There is a lot of major upgrade work going on at various places along the Pacific Highway but the state of this major road remains a disgrace in many places … and does present real dangers to the travelling public.
Meanwhile, the New England Highway has been feeling the strain as traffic continues to divert from the Pacific Highway.
Road crews have been working around the clock to repair flood-damaged sections of the highway in the Hunter Valley. The Roads and Traffic Authority says the bulk of surface damage between Singleton and Scone has now been repaired and potholes north of Scone have been heavily signposted.
Police say the poor road surface may have contributed to the death of a 75-year-old man, who lost control of his three-wheel motorcycle on the New England Highway north of Scone.
The ABC reports there was also widespread damage to cars.
Muswellbrook tyre specialist Chris Kelly estimates well over 100 motorists damaged their cars on the road.
"We're getting a lot of impact fractures on tyres," he said. "But we're seeing a lot of rim damage also, and pretty severe rim damage too, so the potholes that these guys are hitting are fairly significant."
Have you been affected by the Pacific Highway chaos? What do you think of the general state of the road? Do you think the New England Highway should be upgraded to offer a better inland alternative? Email us your thoughts on this story here.

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June 16

Judge stymied by quantity of quality
Wow! Interest in our ‘Seeing Red’ photo competition has gone through the roof … with a staggering 400 plus entries already received. And there are still several weeks to go before entries close!
A huge thank you to everybody who has already entered, to everybody who has viewed the pics, and to those of you who have added so many encouraging comments.
And, of course, a massive thumbs up to our kindly sponsors TC Communications for donating the first prize of an ISatPhone Pro which has helped to inspire so many of you to get clicking. Exciting news on second and third prizes will be announced shortly.
Okay, to the big question. Have we now become victims of our own success?
“Yeeeaaasssss!!!” says stressed-out super-judge Steve Jones. The panicked editor of Reed International’s  Travel Today had no idea what he was signing up for when he kindly agreed to take on grey nomad judging duties once again.
“To say I am daunted is an understatement,” he said. “I have no idea how I am going to narrow down these entries to  manageable number … there are just so many stunning shots already … and they keep on coming!!!!”
They sure do, Steve.  Now, I certainly don’t want anyone feeling sorry for Steve and to stop submitting more amazing images. And - for anyone who has not yet submitted an entry, information about the competition can be found by clicking here. Remember, your job is to make Steve’s job as difficult as possible!
However, as a way of acknowledging that his task is indeed all but impossible, it is perhaps fairer if we ask Steve to select a top 10 rather than a top six as originally planned. Steve’s 10 pics would then be posted on this site for you, the voting public, to separate.
More about the voting procedures later.  For now … just keep snapping!

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June 15

Seal of approval for highway plan?
Could the long talked about Outback Highway – which would stretch from Laverton in Western Australia to Winton, Queensland, via central Australia – really finally be a happening thing?
The Laverton Shire is certainly hoping so. It is pushing for the proposal to be discussed at the next Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting. Indeed, a delegation of shires from Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland are heading to Canberra this week to lobby for the idea.
Early plans for the project involve sealing roads between Laverton and Winton in outback Queensland at a cost of $700 million over 10 years.
Laverton Shire president Patrick Hill says the highway could release billions of dollars worth of minerals in the country's interior.
"There's a big minerals province that hasn't been touched in the central desert just yet, with nickel, cobalt and iron ore," he said. "We see this as one of the major factors."
Hmmmm!
There is no doubt that a new transport corridor traversing Australia from the south west to the north east would open up the Centre. A lack of safe and predictable road routes inland have significantly restricted opportunities to populate and develop the potential of inland Australia.
As things stand, what is known as the Outback Way, is made up of seven inter-connecting roads including The Great Central Road (WA); Tjukaruru Road, Lasseter Highway, Stuart Highway and Plenty Highway (NT); and Donohue Highway and Min Min Byway (QLD).
It is currently a combination of 1700 kilometres of unsealed gravel road and 1100 kilometres of bitumen.
Laverton’s Patrick Hill, who is also the Chairman of the Outback Highway Development Council, says the proposed new road link will change this. He says it will significantly reduce costs for local communities, and create new opportunities for business, industry, tourism and access to health and education facilities for people living there.
The Outback Highway would travel through Warburton, Uluru, Alice Springs, Boulia, and on to Winton where it would rejoin existing sealed roads.
It’s a massive project and would undoubtedly make a huge difference to many communities … but would it all be for the better? Is this the beginning of the end  for the insanely adventurous adventure that is travelling Outback - or is it just great news that grey nomads who once found vast tracts of country inaccessible could soon find them accessible? Email us here with your thoughts on a new west-to-east bitumen highway crossing through the centre? And, importantly, let us know if you would use it.

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June 14

A Wet blanket on the nomad lifestyle?
Eeeeeek! If you thought rising fuel prices, sinking super funds, and upwardly mobile van park fees were the biggest threat to the future of the grey nomad lifestyle … think again!
The full implications of a report released last week on the risk of climate change to Australia's coasts are only just beginning to sink in. The study predicted sea level rises could claim thousands of buildings and significant infrastructure by the end of the century … and no doubt a stack of van parks and idyllic oceanfront camping areas, as well.
The report, titled ‘Risk to Coastal Settlements and Communities’, was commissioned by the Federal Government and assesses the potential damage caused by a worst-case scenario sea level rise of 1.1 metres within 90 years.
Wow! That sounds scary. Perhaps the loss of some top places to camp will be the least of our worries … and perhaps we are being churlish to even think about it. Indeed, the report identifies $226 billion worth of assets at risk of erosion or being wiped out. It found up to 274,000 homes were at risk of inundation and erosion along with over 8,000 commercial buildings, and up to 35,000 kilometres of roads and rail around the country.
It warns any future developments in coastal areas must take account of potential sea level rises.
The report also warns climate change will increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters, which currently cost around $1 billion a year.
This is genuinely sobering stuff and underlines not just how important it is that we enjoy what we’ve got while we can, but also that we do what we can to ensure others will have the same opportunities in the future.
Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet says the research is designed to help people adapt.
“We've got to do the work to understand what the potential risks are so we can prepare for it," he said. "One thing obviously we have to do is cut our pollution in partnership with other nations internationally, but we've also got to make sure that we adapt to the potential consequences of climate change and that's what this report is intended to understand."
He says 85 per cent of Australia's infrastructure is along the coastline.
If nothing else, this is thought provoking stuff. So, where do you think the grey nomads of 2101 will be going, where will they be camping, and what will they be driving? Will the Outback of today become the coastline of tomorrow? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

June 10

The Search for buried treasure heats up
While the Queensland floods have been a living nightmare for tens of thousands of people, there is one group that has been absolutely revelling in the aftermath of the devastating rains ... the gem seekers!
Apparently, eagle-eyed fossickers have been rushing to the gem fields in central Queensland  eager to be the first to spot the newly exposed treasures. The Brisbane Courier-Mail reports that the fierce floods cleaned out creek beds and gullies in the gem towns west of Emerald, and treasure hunters are descending on the towns of Rubyvale, Sapphire, Anakie and Willows in record numbers.
Pat Vine who has run Pat's Gems fossicking park at Sapphire for 34 years said it had fuelled "a mini gem rush".
"There are so many people just going down into the creek and digging," she told the Courier-Mail. "They've been finding that many sapphires . . . I heard one fossicker collected a kilo of them."
Wow!
While the massive amounts of rain experienced in Queensland over the summer have flushed the normally dry waterways and brought sapphires to the surface, in normal times even a few specks of rain are appreciated by fossickers who then find it easier to see the object of their heart’s desire glistening in the sunshine. Of course, fossicking is an enormously popular pursuit for many grey nomads as they meander around the country in search of adventure and new experiences ... and it can also be a lucrative one.
Read more about the grey nomad fossickers here.
So, are you one of the lucky ones who has been striking it rich in the flood aftermath? Is it really a fossicker’s paradise at the moment? Or is it something you want to keep quiet about in case hordes of other grey nomads descend on the area looking for a slice of the action? Are the gemfields already more crowded than ever? What’s your best ever find? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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June 9

As the permanent switchover to digital television gets ever closer, there is growing concern about the effect it will have on grey nomads … particularly as they head out to more remote areas.
For many long-term travellers, the importance of being able to catch up with the news or a favourite show cannot be overstated. TV brings a sense of familiarity and as sense of home to even the most out-of-the-way location.
However, uncertainty rules as the end of analogue nears.
Even people in well populated areas such as Queensland’s Bundaberg region say poor reception is a huge issue. Those who have switched to digital there, ahead of the official December analogue switch-off date, say the service constantly drops out, or available channels are severely restricted.
At the centrally located Finemore Holiday Park, poor digital and analogue reception is apparently not helping local tourism, and the caravan park says it is losing money to dissatisfied tourists.
“People are complaining all year,” park manager Ross Harrison told the Bundaberg NewsMail.
Mr Harrison said he received a booking from a group recently that had left a Burnett Heads caravan park because it did not offer clear reception.
He told the group that Finemore also struggled to get even analogue reception, but they continued with the booking.
“Then they just didn’t turn up,” he said. “That happens all the time – after one night of no reception, they just go.”
Desperate to hang on to business, Mr Harrison wrote a letter to Senator John Hogg about his concerns, who then received a response from communications minister Stephen Conroy.
The letter said because the holiday park was located on the banks of the Burnett River, large neighbouring trees may be to blame for the problem.
“There are no trees there that would affect reception,” he said. “You’re looking at $70,000 to get decent reception at the park. They reckon the reception is fine, but it’s costing the town money.”
Mr Harrison believes not enough has been done to improve reception.
“Anyone who travels has to have a $300 TV aerial, cabling and a booster – the majority of people don’t travel with that,” he said.
Senator Conroy’s office told the Bundaberg newspaper that some in the area may be experiencing difficulties receiving digital TV services from the Mt Goonaneman transmitter, near Biggenden.
A spokeswoman said the Digital Switchover Taskforce was carrying out works on the transmission site.
“These works may result in short periods during which digital services go off air,” she said. “Once maintenance work on the site is completed, digital services should return to normal.”
It is not clear when that will be however.
Hmmm! It doesn’t inspire confidence, does it? Are you struggling with TV reception as you travel? Do you understand how the switchover will affect your Neighbours addiction? Is satellite the solution? What do you do instead of watching TV when a decent reception isn’t available? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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June 8

Grey Nomad joy turns to horror
The potential perils of driving big rigs – or indeed of driving anything at all – on Australia’s ever more busy highways and byways has been highlighted once again by another accident involving a caravan.
The van involved flipped and was torn in two after it was sideswiped by a car on the Pacific Highway south of Woolgoolga on the New South Wales Mid North Coast a couple of days ago.
The force of the impact apparently caused the caravan to overturn and smash on the roadway and buckle its axles.
Police are investigating why a north-bound Mitsubishi Magna sedan veered onto the opposite side of the road and into the side of the caravan. An elderly driver was cut from the wreckage of the Mitsubishi and rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition.  Two passengers in the same car were treated by paramedics and assessed for injuries in hospital.
The two occupants of the south-bound Nissan Pathfinder that was towing the caravan were apparently visibly shaken and treated for shock at the accident site.  It was believed they were travelling south, intending to spend the night at a van park in Nambucca Heads.
The accident caused the closure of the highway for about two hours.
The crash happened on a tight section, where road works are under way as part of the Sapphire to Woolgoolga Pacific Highway upgrade.
It’s a frightening tale that, bad as it is, could easily have been even worse. It is a reminder to us all that things can change in the blink of an eye. It is a reminder also, not only that we should always take extra care on the roads, but that we should treasure every moment of our wonderful lives as grey nomads. We are very, very lucky.
Are you finding the roads busier than ever this grey nomad season? Do you find some of our highways too intimidating to drive on? Is the state of the roads a cause for concern? Have you had any close shaves on the road? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

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June 7

Mitchell Falls out of reach - for now
The unusually heavy wet season up north is continuing to disrupt the travel plans of many grey nomads ... not to mention the lives of local residents!
Up in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, sections of the Kalumburu Road - which leads from the Gibb River Road to the Indigenous community of Kalumburu and to the sensational Mitchell Plateau – remain closed due to severe water damage.
In normal years, tourists can travel the Mitchell Plateau and Kalumburu roads after the wet season ends, and the first opening grade has been completed, usually in May. The tourist season lasts until late October.
However, as of June 1, only the stretch of road from the Gibb River Road turn-off to Drysdale River Station was open to vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. The rest of the Kalumburu Road is closed.
An assessment by the local shire of the 280-kilometre track has revealed many kilometres of damage, with an estimated repair bill of some $4 million, money which the authority doesn't have.  They are in the process of applying for natural disaster funding.
The closure of the road is obviously a huge setback for the region's growing tourism sector, particularly with vehicle access to Mitchell Plateau Falls currently impossible. Adventure seeking grey nomads who often choose to drop their vans and head down the rugged track in their 4WDs will perhaps have to wait for another season to check out the mythical falls.
While most parts of the Kalumburu Road will gradually reopen, it seems the road north of Theda Station could be closed for a lot longer. Indeed, Kalumburu residents have been warned they could be cut off from the rest of Western Australia until 2012.
"We probably have enough money to do maintenance grades on that road to a degree every year, but beyond Theda Station, there are severely damaged sections and many kilometres that are still underwater,” said Wyndham-East Kimberley Shire chief executive Gary Gaffney. “If we don't get the disaster money, it's going to take a lot longer than a year or so to fix this problem, because council does not have the funds."
And that of course would be awful, primarily for the communities that would be left isolated for so long, but also for all of those travellers who dream of taking on a genuine challenge and revelling in the beauty of an area that only a relatively few get to see.
“There are three layers of economy that depend on this road being open," said Mr Gaffney.  "You've got pastoralists that need to bring cattle out, there's a massive tourism dollar coming into the area now and that relies on this tourism trade, and also there's the community that actually live up there .. this is a vital piece of infrastructure for the north Kimberley."
Fingers crossed that funding can be found to fix this road as soon as possible everybody.
Have you been to Mitchell Falls or up to Kalumburu? How was it? Where did you camp? Email us here to share your views on this story.

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June 6

Indoor van park hitting the Mark?
As you sit in your luxury campchair soaking up the tropical sunshine and gazing out at some ridiculously beautiful country, spare a thought won’t you for our European counterparts?
While we slap on the sunscreen and seek shade beneath our awnings, the ever inventive Germans have come up with the perfect solution to caravanners who want to pursue their passion … whatever the weather. Yup, it may sound crazy but indoor caravan parks could be the next big thing … and they come with more than a hint of luxury.
According to a report in the Metro newspaper, the Hütten Palast – or Huts at the Palace – in Berlin is the first hotel to replace conventional hotel suites with caravans. Featuring washing lines in trees and communal areas, the three caravans and wooden cabins in the hotel have also had their original fittings replaced with individual themes.
Mad? It certainly sounds a bit bonkers.
One of the caravans has been transformed into a cocoon-like hideaway with a wooden mosaic interior while another has been fitted with a full size double bed.
The whole unusual set-up is based in a converted vacuum cleaner factory.
“We wanted to preserve the integrity of the building but at the same time create a  communal atmosphere for guests, said co-creator, Silke Lorenzen. “A place where people actually meet each other and not only get a key at reception and disappear in their rooms forever.”
Sounds like every caravan park and camping ground in Australia.
“We thought about a room-in-room concept and decided to build little wooden cabins in the hall but we wanted more flexibility inside the place so it could be used for events of all kind as well so decided to put wheels under the cabins,” Silke said. “It was then we realised there are already cabins with wheels – caravans.”
Hooray! No word yet on what a night in this upmarket indoor caravan park would cost but it sounds like it would make a night in a luxury Bussleton caravan park in peak season sound like a bargain!
Goodness me. While in Europe they are creating artificial ways for people to enjoy a communal holiday experience while not getting rained or snowed on, we’re sitting here getting all of the above for next to nix.
We really don’t know how lucky we are, do we? Your thoughts on this story? Email us here.

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June 3

Mother Nature rules as closures continue
Some of the tropical north’s most iconic natural attractions remain off limits to grey nomads and other visitors even as the tourist season there kicks into high gear.
In the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park, for example, top spots including Koolpin Gorge, Maguk and Jim Jim Falls are still closed to visitors.
While it would take a lot to spoil the joy and excitement of arriving in the tropical north - and most people understand that Mother Nature rules the roost in this rugged country - there is naturally still some disappointment that access to these incredibly beautiful locations is being denied.
It’s a fact recognised by the Northern Territory Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, who urges visitors to be patient.
"I think we have to realise that we did have an incredibly long and heavy wet season," she said. "I'm sure those who are out at Kakadu are very conscious of the impact that is having."
That is almost certainly true and we all understand that safety is of paramount importance.
The bottom line is that after seasonal rainfall of about three metres, waters are yet to recede to normal dry season levels in some areas, and crocodile surveys are still being carried out at Maguk, Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls.
Park operations manager Hank Schinkel says staff are also working to repair sections of Jim Jim Falls Road that were washed away during the wet season.
He says he hopes it will reopen later this month.
"Everything is prioritised and we have worked with the tourism industry to ensure that we can get Jim Jim and Twin Falls open as soon as possible," he said.
Good work, Hank.
On a more positive note - and in a sign that things are improving - three Top End swimming holes have just re-opened including the popular one at Berry Springs Nature Park, south of Darwin. Authorities say the swimming hole has now dropped to a safe level, debris has been cleaned up and the feeder creek has been surveyed for crocodiles.  There were apparently no sightings over five nights but checks for crocodiles will continue throughout the dry season. The other swimming holes to re-open are at the Northern Rockhole and Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine.
Unfortunately, Howard Springs Nature Park's waterhole remains closed while half of Litchfield's swimming holes are also shut. The Northern Territory News reports that the closure of three Litchfield waterholes at Sandy Creek, Surprise Creek and Wangi Falls is due to impassable roads and these are all are expected to re-open by the middle of this month.
The Manton Dam, 60km south of Darwin, remains closed due to high water levels and the risk of saltwater crocodiles. The dam was expected to re-open for swimming last month but crocodile surveying is being conducted.
Sigh! While it’s obviously a shame that some of the spots we can normally enjoy at this time of the year aren’t available, I am sure we all understand that it is better to be completely safe than very, very, sorry! And there is still plenty to keep us occupied!
Have you been disappointed at not being able to get out to Jim Jim or not being able to take a dip at Wangi Falls? Email us here to tell us of your early season Top End experiences.

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June 2

Trouble in Paradise
We may be lucky enough to be able to live and travel in one of the most beautiful places on earth and to meet some of the friendliest people on earth as we do so … but, sadly, not everyone seems to appreciate their good fortune.
The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling on members of the public to help bring an end to what it has described as a ‘spate of vandalism’ in the South East Forests National Park.
And we’re not talking minor stuff here.
NPWS staff recently found a tree felled with a chain saw and two large park entry signs cut to pieces at two locations at Big Jack Mountain Picnic Area and at the entrance to the park.
“This is public property destroyed in a mindless act and our staff take a great deal of pride in their work which has been undone by really stupid people,” said NPWS area manager Franz Peters. “This isn’t the first time we’ve witnessed this type of vandalism within the park … this is a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.”
Too right, Franz. I’m angry, too.
Apparently, the matter has been reported to the police who are now investigating and anyone who knows anything about the incident is asked to contact the NPWS or the police as soon as possible.
It really is hard to get inside the heads of people who can visit these wonderful beauty spots and then leave carnage in their wake. Perhaps even harder to understand though is the behaviour of those who would do harm to, and inflict pain on, our beautiful native creatures.
Recent incidents in which one kangaroo was shot twice with a bow and arrow at Wyangala Dam near Cowra, and another was shot with an arrow in Bathurst has forced  NPWS to remind people that native animals, such as kangaroos, are protected and penalties are in place for those who disobey the laws.
They really shouldn’t have to remind anyone, should they?
“In both cases, the kangaroos were left with arrows impaled in their bodies,” said “NPWS ranger Steven Woodhall.  “I am shocked and appalled that anyone would want to needlessly injure a kangaroo in this way … this is incredibly cruel.”
Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 heavy penalties are in place for those who harm or kill native wildlife, including a maximum penalty of $11,000 and or six months in jail.
Let’s hope they catch the person or persons responsible soon.

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June 1

Croc attack victim carries on fishing
Winter is here and, for obvious reasons, the tropical north is a fabulous place to spend the cooler months … but we certainly do have to take care as we venture into unfamiliar areas.
As well as the long hours of driving that are often involved, there’s the fierce tropical heat, and we mustn’t forget the creatures such as the stingers … and the crocs.
News is just emerging of another crocodile attack on a fisherman … this time on a dentist near Derby in Western Australia. The details are enough to give even the most careful of anglers the heebie-jeebies.
Apparently, a 59-year-old Broome man was fishing from a dinghy when a 2.5-metre saltie leapt into his boat and clamped its jaws around his right shoulder. Incredibly, Bruce Rudeforth survived the attack at Secure Bay and, after putting up a fight, suffered nothing worse than a number of minor puncture wounds to his upper chest.
"Fortunately, my elbow was free and I was able to stand up fairly rapidly and whack it in the throat with my elbow and it fell off," he told the ABC.
The crocodile slid back into the water but returned again, forcing Bruce and his fishing companion Neil Fong to hit it with an oar.
The pair then returned to a larger fishing boat where three other colleagues were waiting. Mr Rudeforth's brother-in-law - and fellow dentist - stitched closed the puncture wounds.
Incredibly, the group then decided to continue their fishing trip in the remote region ... and that is why news of the attack is just emerging.
"It takes a lot to organise a trip like that, so why come home?" asked Bruce.
Wow! Now there’s a man who loves his fishing adventures. Unfortunately, we are not all made of the same stuff  and I have to admit that just hearing about the incident has made me want to ask the question ... “Anyone want to buy some second-hand fishing rods?”
Bruce told the West Australian newspaper the experience had not put him off returning to the fishing spot, but he wanted to warn others that the behaviour of the crocodiles in the area appeared to have changed inexplicably.
Not long before the attack, he and the other man had caught two barramundi and lost two others while fishing along the side of a creek.
"There was no warning whatsoever," he said. "We have been doing this for years and years and there are always crocodiles around.”.
The Department of Environment and Conservation's chief zoologist says he is unsure what prompted the unusual attack. Zoologist Peter Mawson says the crocodile could have been desperate for food or overly familiar with fishermen in the area.
"One of the things about a very heavy wet season is that it puts a lot more water into the system, so more distance between each fish," he said.  "So, the crocs might be doing it a bit tougher but it's also possible that the croc has associated fishermen visiting the area with an easy meal or a free handout."
Last week also, Town Beach in the grey nomad hotspot of Broome was closed after a three-metre croc was seen just 10 metres from the shoreline. Officers from the Department of Environment and Conservation then monitored the reptile’s progress as it headed north. They are out there.
Okay, a couple of questions out of this one. Firstly, how croc-safe are you when you’re up in the north and have you ever had a close encounter? And secondly, Bruce’s decision to carry on fishing after being attacked by a saltwater crocodile begs the question … how committed are you to your Big Lap adventure? What on-the-trip disasters have you overcome in the past and then decided to carry on camping? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

May 31 (cont'd from front page)

Are driving jokes getting a bit old?
As more and more grey nomads head north in search of winter warmth, no doubt the usual jokes about the way we drive will begin to do the rounds.
Of course, it is understandable up to a point that people get frustrated when they get stuck behind a relatively slow moving convoy of caravans or motorhomes … but that’s about volume of traffic , not about driving skills, isn’t it? … and safety and moving at a pace we are comfortable with should always be paramount.
And, anyway, what do those young whipper snappers flashing heir lights behind us know? We were on the roads when they were still in their nappies!
But …. Gggggulp … a new study has revealed that older drivers aren’t nearly as good behind the wheel as they reckon they are.
Queensland University of Technology analysed the ability and the driving confidence of a group of 98 men and women aged between 65 and 85 ... and the results ain’t pretty.
The  participants in the study, with an average age of 71 and with an average of 51 years of driving experience, were asked to self-rate their driving ability and to react to computer-simulated potential road hazards.
"The older they were, the less well they did on this task," said QUT neuropsychologist Professor, Karen Sullivan. "In a nutshell, people weren't as good at driving as they thought they were, and this tells us that older drivers are not necessarily reliable judges of their own driving ability."
Eeek!
Participants had to rate their driving confidence and how well they avoided dangerous situations when driving at night or in the rain.
"Our analysis showed little relationship between the participants' performance on the hazard perception test and the ratings they gave themselves," Prof Sullivan told the Courier-Mail. "Decreases in the ability to perceive potential hazards were not matched by a reduction in confidence in the ability to handle difficult driving conditions nor by avoiding these many potentially dangerous driving situations."
Participants aged 65-74 had a mean response time of 3.5 seconds and those aged 75-84 had a significantly higher mean response time. And before you all ask, there were no gender differences in hazard perception.
As things stand, drivers aged over 75 are currently required to undergo a medical check which is overseen by their GP. They must also carry a medical certificate flagging any underlying conditions when they drive. However, Prof Sullivan says the study results might force a rethink into government policy on older drivers, particularly with an ageing population.
"It's starting a discussion on whether relying on self-assessment is a good thing,'' she said, adding that it might also be worth offering older drivers special training programs.
It is probably no surprise to learn that the study also found some participants were more likely to listen to their GP's opinion on their driving safety rather than family members.
Problems with eyesight, physical, cognitive disabilities and old age are main factors affecting elderly people's driving ability.
So, what do you think? Are you surprised by the findings of this study? Do you think grey nomads should face extra training or extra tests as they get older, or as they drive bigger rigs than they have been used to?  Do you reckon some of your fellow grey nomads are problem drivers? Or have you noticed yourself not being as quick to react to situations as you once were? Email us here to share your views on this story. 

May 30

If they dump it will we come?
There has been great excitement in the Northern Territory in recent days at the news that the first dedicated aircraft-storage facility in the southern hemisphere is to be built in the Red Centre.
The ‘boneyard’ - an area set aside for planes to be retired, stored, or destroyed for scrap - will be constructed at Alice Springs Airport. We are told the area set aside will be up to 100 hectares, with room for up to 300 planes, making it perhaps the second largest airport storage facility in the world.
All good stuff. Obviously, the dry climate of Central  Australia - much like that in southwestern America - is ideal for aircraft storage as corrosion of the metal is minimised. There are, of course, a few aircraft ‘boneyards’ in the US including the 1,000 hectare Pinal Airbase facility in Arizona where more than 4,000 aircraft have been mothballed. These places, naturally enough attract plenty of curious tourists. It is indeed an eery site to see millions, if not billions of dollars worth of technology just wasting away in the desert sun. Depending on the sort of aircraft being stored, public access to these sites can be limited – but that doesn’t stop the people coming. At Mojave in California, for example, the streets in the airport are open to traffic, but the aircraft storage area is closed to the public. That isn't too much of an issue since it is clearly visible from the main roads.
There is no doubt that many in The Alice are hoping the new aircraft storage facility will bring even more grey nomads to Central Australia to see these retired giants of the sky … but will it?
The new plane graveyard will be built to the south of the runway, and will include new taxiways as well as a dismantling pad. According to the Northern Territory News, the plans were signed this week in a deal between Alice Springs Airport and the Asia-Pacific Aircraft Storage company.
APAS managing director Tom Vincent said the facility's birth was "an extremely exciting step".
"While aircraft operators/owners have historically been forced to ferry aircraft to the west coast of the United States, APAS will now provide a local alternative," he said, adding that Alice Springs offered a suitable climate, existing infrastructure and the capacity for major expansion.
He says development of the new facility is already under way and should be finished by the end of the year.
"Shortly thereafter we'd be expecting to see our first customers to arrive," he said.
But will hordes of aircraft-loving grey nomads follow in their wake? Email us here to let us know what you think about the Red Centre’s latest potential tourist attraction.

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May 27

Hot toddy time in the frozen north
As most of you will have already noticed … it’s ffffffffffreezing at the moment, even in places where it should know better!
As the great grey nomad convoy slowly wends its way northward, the question on everybody’s lips is … how much further do I have to go before I can kiss goodbye to the hot water bottle?
Most of outback Queensland has woken it seems to yet another chilly a winter morning, with some centres more than 10 degrees Celsius below the May average.
At 6am it was zero at Blackall, two degrees at Longreach, and four at Mount Isa. Blimey!
And the weather bureau says frost is likely for several parts of the interior and even into the north-west around Urandangi.
Forecaster Tony Auden told the ABC the cooler temperatures were due to drier winds and clear skies.
"We've seen temperatures well below average this morning - anything up to 13 degrees below average so far at 3am," he said."The coldest in terms of the average temperatures was 3.2 degrees so far at Julia Creek and they might even be nudging a record in terms of May, so we'll have to see what happens there in the next couple of hours … I wouldn't be surprised if there's a fair bit of frost."
Too right, Tony. Many of our forum members are already reporting a cleansing coating of the cold stuff. It’s all very pretty to look at but it’s not quite the way it was advertised in the great grey nomad ‘you’ll-never-have-to-be-cold-again’ brochure, is it?
And for those of you who have yet to flee the southern winter – or who have chosen not to – things aren’t an awful lot brighter. Indeed, it is widely expected that Sydney will record its coldest May in 41 years.
The Weather Channel says that while the temperature has peaked at just 14.2C in the CBD on some days this week, the driving wind has made it feel more like 9C or 10C.
So far this month Sydney's minimum temperatures have averaged just 10.7°C which is below the long term average of 11.5°C and the lowest in May since 1970.
However, the recent cold spell does not indicate an upcoming severe winter.
"Despite the cold May most seasonal forecasts predict a warmer than normal winter over most of southern Australia,” Weather Channel meteorologist, Tom Saunders told the Daily Telegraph. “This is due to favourable sea surface temperatures surrounding the country. Historical records also show little relationship between autumn and winter temperatures."
But what about the north, Tom? What about the north?
Okay ladies and gents, stoke up the campfire, keep those slippers handy, and roll out the hot toddies. It’s going to be a tough winter in our tropical paradise ... but hey, somebody’s got to do it!
How do you survive the colder than normal temperatures? Have you been shocked by unexpected frosts? Are Ugg Boots the answer? Email us here with your chilly tales. 

May 26

Time for Action on Flood-prone Bruce
The death late last week of a 53-year-old woman in a road accident near Gin Gin in southern Queensland's Wide Bay region has highlighted once again the need for urgent work on the Bruce Highway. The woman died when her car was in collision with a truck on what police described as a ‘notorious blackspot’.
Of course, the incredible wet weather experienced in the Sunshine State over the past few months has meant many roads have taken a real battering and the ‘Bruce’, which is Queensland’s main transport artery, has been cut by flooding a staggering 446 times in the past two years. RACQ road closure data shows that Queensland's most flood-prone section of the Bruce Highway is between Mackay and Cairns, with the 750km stretch of bitumen closed 334 times since 2009.
Happily, the recent Federal Budget did set aside significant funds for major upgrades to the Bruce Highway, which will see flood-proofing as one of the main priorities. However, some influential voices are calling for an upgrade of the alternative inland routes, as well.
“During the Brisbane floods, because all the food distribution comes out of Brisbane, all of Queensland and half of the Northern Territory were at a critical level because they could not get food,” said Ed Warren from Queensland’s Central West Council of Mayors. “The roads were closed at Rockhampton and Emerald and the only conceivable route accessible to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns and that area was by the inland routes.”
Mr Warren said the Government should consider those routes as an alternative and keep up the capital improvements and maintenance on it which he said was some 15 or 20 years behind.
Certainly, many grey nomads have already discovered that missing out the Bruce – or at least parts of it - in order to travel inland is a pleasant and interesting alternative. A large number   now choose to travel from the Queensland capital to Rockhamption via the Burnett Highway, enjoying some fantastic country along the way.  Depending on your itinerary and your schedule, a glance at the map shows there are also a number of fascinating and guaranteed-to-be-an-experience alternative routes further north.
That’s not to say that the improvements to the Bruce are not absolutely essential. Five highway projects, which had been under threat, are now to be reinstated as part of the Federal Budget.  These will include realigning the highway north of Gin Gin between Cabbage Tree Creek and Carmen Road, as well as at Back Creek Range to provide a wider road surface on flatter grades.
The constant flooding of the hghway has, of course, been a nightmare for all concerned. As well as the huge cost to productivity of closing a major highway so regularly, it has also affected grey nomads and other travellers ... and that in turn has had a further economic effect.
"The Bruce Highway is the major east coast transport and communication corridor for freight, tourists and general traffic," said RACQ traffic and safety executive manager, John Wikman. "It is essential to the economic wellbeing of the state and it underpins the huge drive-tourism market, on which Queensland's tourism industry depends."
Spot on, John.
So, what do you think of the state of the Bruce? Have you been inconvenienced by flood-realted closures? Can you recommend inland alternatives to northward-bound nomads? Email us here with your thoughts on this story.

May 25

How Long should the Big Lap take?
When plotting their Big Lap, grey nomads are faced with an impossibly difficult  dilemma ... how long do I need get a true taste of this magical country ... two months, two years, two decades, two lifetimes?
Of course, the answer is always the ‘longer the better’ but time restrictions, financial restrictions and family commitments  mean – sadly – that most of us have to draw the line somewhere. And that leads on to the next big question ...  at what stage do those commitments and restrictions mean time will be so short that there is simply no point hitching up the van and hitting the road?
Well, according to our friends across the world in the UK  ... Australia is a destination that can satisfactorily be knocked off in just a fortnight ... and that’s taking into account jet lag recovery as well!
No less an organ than the respected London Daily Mail has jumped on the ‘you-can-do-a-continent-at breakneck speed’ bandwagon.
“Even if you have just two weeks' holiday available there's no reason why you shouldn't consider a trip to Australia,” says the Travel section. “You'll be amazed at just what you can fit in.”
Strewth, fellas! You’ll be amazed at what you’re missing out on, as well!
 “You're on a 'holiday of a lifetime’, with the implication being that you are unlikely to pass this way again,” says the Mail. “And you should have come for a month, everyone says, so that you can see absolutely everything.”
Everything in a month! Tell them they’re dreaming.
The Mail says that, according to travel companies, visitors to Australia have seven experiences on their 'to do' list:
1. The Outback
2. Nature
3. Cities
4. Journeys
5. Aboriginal Australia
6.Aussie coastal lifestyle
7.Aussie food and wine
Now, a quick glimpse into the mindset and itinerary of the Mail’s travel team.
“In Sydney you can tick off three of these at a stroke,” they say. “A city, a coastal lifestyle and excellent food and wine.”
Great, been there, done that ... what’s next?
“Fly further afield to Ayers Rock - about a four-hour flight,” says the Mail. “And you can tick off another three great Aussie experiences the Outback, nature and Aboriginal Australia.”
Of course, the ‘two-week Poms’ have the luxury of jumping on a flight or two or three but can you realistcially even get a taste of a country as varied and as interesting and as huge as Australia in two weeks? And how long is the minimum you can set off on a big Around Australia as a grey nomad?
Of course, we can have trial runs just chasing the sun in the southern winter, or a separate checkout of the Kimberley or some other region run ... but how long do you need to ‘see Australia’?
Email us here with your thoughts and to tell us how long you took to do it. Oh, and if you see any lily white tourists sprinting past your campsite any time soon, give them plenty of room . they’re probably Brits on a ‘holiday’ that will take them about three months of work to recover from!

May 24

Photo Comp a Judge's Nightmare
Wow! Our ‘Seeing Red’ photographic competition has really caught your collective imagination and looks set to break every record in the book.
The response has been nothing short of absolutely phenomenal, with well over 200 entries already received, and that’s with the deadline for posting new pics still more than a month away. It is going to be a cracking competition. Don’t forget all you budding photographers, the first prize is a fantastic ISatPhone kindly donated by TC Communications.  Now that is certainly worth winning. We will be revealing details of the second and third prizes shortly.
Of course, the man with the almost impossible task of sorting through the avalanche of top-quality entries is the somewhat daunted Steve Jones, Editor of Travel Today (click here to find out more about him). Steve has agreed to narrow down the entries to a top six, from which, you , the voting grey nomad, will then be asked to choose a winner.
Although Judge Jones  has not yet started separating the possibilities, from the probables, and the certainties from the not-this times, Steve has nonetheless been keeping an interested eye on proceedings and a couple of things have struck him.
“I cannot believe the volume of entries and I cannot believe the quality of entries,” he said. “There are some absolutely outstanding shots already entered, the sort of shots that would grace the cover of a top travel magazine.”
And so, how is he going to approach the job of narrowing the huge field down to just half a dozen?
“I have got no idea, no idea at all,” he admitted, shaking his head in near-despair. “I can see some sleepless nights ahead and I can see seem heart-wrenching decisions will have to be made … I just hope that I won’t have to put on a disguise the next  time I go camping … I know there will inevitably  be some disappointed grey nomads out there.”
Don’t worry, Steve. I think anyone who has looked through the amazing quality of the entries to date will have nothing but sympathy for the unenviable task that lies ahead of you.
Remember though, it’s not your mission to make Steve’s life easy, you want to make it as hard a possible by keeping the torrent of incredible images coming. The theme is ‘red’ so you can be imaginative, you can be creative- but the judge will be expecting to see at least a tinge of red in your shot. Click here to see entry details.
The closing date for entries is not until July 8 but don’t leave it until the last minute. The sooner you post your entries, the more chance your fellow grey nomads will have to enjoy your pictures.

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May 23

Scenery, Adventure ... and Party Nights
The economic benefit that grey nomads bring to the Outback has never been more valued by rural communities, and so it is no surprise to learn that tourism bigwigs want to find out exactly what we love about travelling there.
What is a surprise however is that it’s not the scenery, or the wildlife, or the night sky that gets us most excited  ... it’s the nightlife!
A study by the Outback Queensland Tourism Association (OQTA) found that most  visitors to the state’s central west ... covering such towns as Blackall, Longreach, Winton and Boulia ... were aged 54 years plus, mostly travelled in pairs, and liked free camping spots as well as paid ones.
Sounds like us.
Interestingly, the study of 500 visitors conducted last August, also discovered that while most visitors consider they are effectively passing through western Queensland, they still like to have a good time while they are there ... and it ain’t just the bushwalks and the bandicoots we’re talking about.
"It's camp fire dinners that the caravan parks put on,” said Outback Queensland Tourism Association's Matt Bron. “It's that social side of the travelling community that a lot of locals don't actually see in these country towns."
Party time!
The tourists told researchers they found there were more things to do in the west than they had realised and this has prompted the OQTA to fight harder for more marketing dollars ... and the ways it can be achieved is now being explained to local councils.
"We want to try to tell them more about what's here before they get here and that might get them to stay an extra night or two," said Mr Bron. "They see outback Queensland as a staging point or part of their journey, it's not a destination in its own right."
The research showed that half of the visitors surveyed came from south-east Queensland, with the remainder from southern states ... but they only spent six or seven days out of an average 35-day trip, in the central-west.
The average budget was approximately $90 per day, per person.
Eeeek! That sounds a bit steep if you’re on a Big Lap. So, what do you consider to be your average on the road budget ... and do grey nomads deserve their newly acquired ‘party animal’ tag? Email us here with your views on this story.

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May 20

Just Plane Needed
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has experienced a dramatic increase in life-saving call-outs … and the ever-growing army of grey nomads out on the open road is one of the reasons why.
There has been has a 21 per cent increase in the number of people transported by the service throughout South Australia up until April 30 this year when compared to the same period in 1996. Newly released figures show that equates to more than 2000 patients in just four months, or the equivalent to 16 people every day. In certain grey nomad hotspots such as the Eyre Peninsula, the figures are even more dramatic … with the number of patients dealt with there up a mind-boggling 36 per cent over five years. More than 250 people have been transported from the region since the start of the year – that’s more than two patients flown to Adelaide every day – for life-saving treatment or higher levels of hospital care
While there are no hard figures as yet indicating just how many of those transported were grey nomads, the RFDS says most cases related to existing medical conditions and heart attacks.
"Whilst we don't do the hardened numbers on whether people are grey nomads or not, anecdotal evidence is showing tourism and tourist regions are a significant part of our workload," said the RFDS’s Charlie Paterson "There are more people travelling through regional areas either working, playing and visiting people ... and they unfortunately fall every now and again.”
The RFDS is reminding travellers of the importance of taking all their medications while they are on the road. The service says that, with cardiac cases, the RFDS can usually get to patients anywhere in South Australia and the lower Northern Territory within 90 minutes, and that speedy response time is obviously greatly improving the chances of many people’s survival.
The release of the figures coincides with the 83rd anniversary of the first flight of the RFDS.
“RFDS aircraft and crew land in Port Lincoln practically every day, and other key centres such as Ceduna, Cummins and Streaky Bay at least once a week,” says Mr Paterson. “It is more important than ever that essential services are maintained.”
The RFDS currently operates 54 aircraft, five remote health facilities and employs more than 900 staff across the nation, providing vital emergency medical and primary healthcare services to more than 250,000 Australians each year.
Donations to the RFDS Anniversary Appeal can made by calling 1300 669 569 or visiting www.flyingdoctor.org.au
Have you had cause to be thankful to the RFDS? How much reassurance does its existence give you when you are travelling in the Outback? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

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May 19

Money in the Tank
While budget-minded grey nomads can trim their costs by free camping more often, or catching more fish, it is very difficult to dodge the biggest cost of them all ... fuel.
Barring a still impractical solar-powered adventure around the country, we all still need to keep filling the tank in order to keep the wheels rolling. We can travel more slowly to make the weekly hit lower, but the sad fact is that sooner or later we need to cough up at the bowser if we want to see all that we want to see.
With diesel still considered to be the fuel of the bush, many grey nomads can expect yet more pain at the roadhouse following China’s decision to ban exports of the fuel in order to conserve domestic supplies.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that although Australia doesn't import diesel from China, the decision to restrict exports will probably drive up demand for the fuel on global markets, potentially lifting the diesel price here.
"There is potential for this to affect our diesel prices, not due to direct imports from China but the influence that China must have on world prices," RACV general manager of public policy Brian Negus told the newspaper.
Australian Institute of Petroleum data shows the retail price of diesel rose steadily from about $1.40 a litre in mid-February to $1.56 a litre in the past week. The SMH says that, in the same period, the price of unleaded petrol rose from a weekly cycle of $1.34-$1.38 a litre to $1.44-$1.50 a litre.
Ironically, China's announcement came as the price of oil, which has risen steadily since the beginning of 2009, fell on concerns the global recovery may be running out of steam and commodities have become overpriced.
However, relief from rising prices may be temporary. Recent flooding in the US is expected to curtail refining capacity, helping to keep global oil prices high.
Demand and costs for diesel have risen in recent years, with data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries showing the share of diesel-burning vehicles rose from 13.8 per cent to 25.2 per cent from 2006 to 2010, while petrol vehicles fell from 84.3 per cent of the market to 73 per cent.
Hmmm! How are you coping with rising fuel prices? Is it affecting the speed with which you travel, or the places you choose to visit? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

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May 18

The mouse-sized town that roared
As the competition for the grey nomad dollar gets fiercer and fiercer by the day, the list of ‘attractions’ designed to lure the excitement-hungry traveller grows longer and longer … and occasionally more bizarre.
As well as the ridiculous number of big things sprouting up in all sorts of unlikely locations – the Big Meat Ant at Augathella being the latest - we also have towns merrily proclaiming themselves the capital of this or the king of that. We have Celtic country capitals, fossicking capitals, and even Outback capitals. Now, the small Queensland town of Winton has begun promoting itself as Australia's 'dinosaur capital'.
But does it all make a difference? Well obviously somebody thinks it does.
Labels notwithstanding, Winton, north-west of Longreach, does have a lot to recommend it, and the dinosaur trail is one which simply has to pass through.
Several large dinosaurs have been discovered near the town, dating back 98 million years … and the Lark Quarry is currently the only recorded site of a dinosaur stampede in the world.
Winton shire tourism manager Craig Templeman says logos are still being finalised but the aim is to promote the destination for tourists keen on the dinosaur theme.
"Our new branding for the region will be 'Winton - the Dinosaur Capital of Australia', which we are hoping will attract more visitors … the six biggest dinosaur skeletons in the world have been found here,” he said. “The Lark Quarry footprints or trackways are the only location in the world where you can see a stampeding footprint of a big carnivore sauropod.”
Wow!
Now, we all know that children love just about anything to do with dinosaurs, but you can bet your bottom dollar that there are a fair few grey nomads which are just as exicted about seeing these giants’ footprints.
Are you one of them? Have you been dinosaur spotting at Winton?  Is it worth the trip? What’s the silliest ‘capital’ in the country? Email us here to share your thought on this story.

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May 17

Will tourists fall for the soaring dollar?
The soaring Aussie dollar has left many of the thousands of businesses that rely on the tourist dollar to survive with a severe case of the heebie jeebies.
Not only is it feared that overseas tourists will stay away from these shores because of the extra expense involved, but also that ‘domestic’ travellers will be lured overseas by the almost unprecedented affordability on offer. If a significant percentage of grey nomads, for example, were to be tempted to park up the van for the winter and head to the US, the UK or that lovely-looking Greek island instead of exploring the highways and byways of this amazing country, the consequences could be absolutely devastating.
But will be tempted? And how bad would our absence hit the Bush?
Well, a new report says the Central Australian region outside Alice Springs is the most vulnerable in the nation to sudden changes in the tourism sector. The Tourism Research Australia report says 24 per cent of the economy in the region is dependent on tourism. This compares with a national average of 3 per cent.
Tourism is estimated to generate 5 per cent of the Alice Springs economy.
Tourism Central Australia's Peter Grigg told the ABC the region could be significantly affected by the strength of the Australian dollar.
"Obviously that will be a huge challenge for Australia in itself," he said. "But for a region that is so reliant on the tourism dollar, it could really start to feel that effect."
Mr Grigg says the report highlights how the economy is vulnerable to sudden changes in the tourism industry.
"If tourism is such a vital economic return to an economic region, and there are a number of challenges and a number of - let's call them shocks that could come - you then find yourself having that one string to your bow that could be affected."
Eeek! That really is a worry for a lot of areas … not just Central Australia.
But are we changing our travel plans as the Aussie dollars soars? Are you, for example, now heading overseas instead of heading north? Is this the year you swap Uluru for the Eiffel Tower or Broome for Big Ben?  Or will Kakadu always conquer California, no matter how the sums add up? Email us here to share your views on this story and to tell us whether you are considering changing your travel plans.

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May 16

Tropical Businesses get Back on Track
As many grey nomads begin their annual northward odyssey, the flood-ravaged tourist destinations of Queensland are desperately trying to make sure everyone knows it is “business as usual”
However, given the enormity and the scale of the flooding, it is inevitable there will be some commercial casualties along the way. Sadly, some of the businesses along the magical Bloomfield Track between Cape Tribulation and Cooktown look set for a challenging start to the season.
The Bloomfield River causeway on the Cape Tribulation Rd was washed out as a result of the heavy rainfall that followed cyclone Yasi in February, and it has been closed to traffic ever since.
There were even fears that the iconic Lion's Den Hotel at Helenvale and other businesses including many tour operators would have to close their doors unless immediate action was taken.
Cairns Regional Council, however, has just announced that it will be able to begin work on restoring the Bloomfield River crossing now that the 10 tonne load limit between Bloomfield and the Peninsula Developmental Rd has been lifted.
Construction will start pretty much immediately and will take approximately six to eight weeks to complete, weather-permitting.
During construction a rock crossing will be built to allow limited four-wheel-drive vehicle access across the river, with crossing times to be advertised by council. The passenger-only ferry service will continue to operate.
The news will come as massive relief to the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce which had expressed its  "extreme concern" at the lack of communication and urgency over reopening the route.
"For Cooktown businesses, they only get a chance to make money six or seven months of the year so they can't afford to miss out," the President of the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce, Greg Whittaker, told the Cairns Post.
Maryanne Jacques from Cairns-based Adventure North Australia in Cairns told the paper she had lost 90 per cent of her business and $100,000 in the "horrific" time since the closure.
The Bloomfield Track is billed as one of the great driving experiences of Tropical North Queensland, as the rainforest track winds along the coastline, soaring up steep mountain passes, and lunging earthwards to reveal secluded beaches.
Just north of Cape Tribulation the road becomes unsealed and continues for 5 km to Emmagen Creek.  The Bloomfield Track then becomes 4WD only, as it continues north for 28 kilometres to the Bloomfield River and onto Cooktown (another 63 km).
During the wet season (February to May) the rivers may flood after heavy rainstorms and the causeways become impassable for several hours on the Cape Tribulation road. Each causeway has a depth metre marker to indicate how much water is flowing over the causeway. In a normal vehicle, you will need to wait until the water drops to 0.2 metres before attempting to cross.
Have you had a beer at the Lion’s Den? Are you planning to take the Bloomfield Track soon? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

May 13

End of the Road for Tassie free camps?
Tasmania’s glowing reputation as a free camping friendly destination could be about to take a bit of a battering.
Over the past decade, councils up and down the island state have seized the initiative and, in a bid to attract their share of the lucrative grey nomad market, have set up many free campsites.
It’s a gesture that has been appreciated by an endless army of travelers, and has resulted in huge economic benefits for many communities hosting more grey nomads for longer periods of time.
However, the good times could be about to end. A number of Tasmanian caravan park owners have joined forces and complained to the economic regulator about anti-competitive behaviour … and their arguments have found favour.
Lloyd Meakin from Gowrie Caravan Park says a free camping spot just 300 metres away from his business has hammered his bottom line. It is estimated that the free camping area cost him between $20,000 and $30,000 over the summer season.
“I want to be able to employ local people,” said Lloyd. “I don't have a problem with free camping, it shouldn't be paid by ratepayers' money."
Hmmm! And the economic regulator agrees.
Spokeswoman Jane Hyland says the private operators are required to pay for things like insurance, rates and rubbish collection.
“The caravan park owners have these costs and are applying charges that reflect these costs, and local councils should be doing the same thing.” she said. "That doesn't allow competition on an even footing.”
 Eek!
Happily, the regulator’s recommendations are non-binding, and Tassie’s nomad-loving councils are in no hurry to risk having convoys of motorhomes and caravans grey nomads bypass their municipalities.
“The cost to collect money from people overnight would be significant,” said Kentish Mayor, Don Thwaites,. “It would make it unviable for us to do that … not a good idea.”
Spot on, Don. Not a good idea at all!
Would a severe crackdown on free camping put you off visiting Tassie? When on the ridiculously beautiful and varied island, how often do you pay to stay in a van park each week? Email us here to share your thoughts on a possible free camping crackdown.

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May 12

Our 'secret' park's no secret any more
The stunning Karijini National Park in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has long been a favourite with grey nomads … and it seems everybody else is now getting in on the act.
Which one of you told them all?
With its rugged landscape, sensational gorges, shimmering waterfalls, challenging walking trails and pristine swimming holes, the reasons for visitors to linger at WA’s largest park are numerous.
It is no surprise to learn then that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has increased camping capacity there by opening a new overflow campground. The extra camping bays at Warlu Loop are connected by paths to the popular campsite at Dales Recreation Area, where facilities include toilets, picnic areas and barbeques.
DEC Pilbara senior operations officer Geoff Passmore told the Pilbara Echo that the Warlu Loop site provides 44 new camping bays, increasing the park’s capacity to almost 150 bays.
“Because of its spectacular scenery, ancient geological formations and recreational opportunities, Karijini is one of the most popular national parks in Western Australia, and DEC has created these new camping bays to accommodate growing visiting numbers,” he said.
“This campsite will allow more visitors to enjoy the park’s natural and cultural values, and replaces the old overflow campground which was 12 kilometres away and lacking the appropriate management and facilities.”
The DEC does not currently take bookings for campsites at Karijini, so camping is on a first come, first served basis … and demand is always strong, particularly over busy periods such as Easter and Christmas long weekend.
Despite its growing popularity, the park is still very much a wilderness and should therefore be treated with the utmost respect … a fact underlined by a recent incident that left a French man, and a St John Ambulance officer, badly injured. The ambulance officer was struck by falling rock and sustained serious wrist injuries as she tried to rescue the tourist who had slipped on wet rocks at Junction Pool and fractured his tibia.
"The tourists obviously didn't read the signs properly and went further than they should have," said Tom Price SES volunteer manager, Jen Aberle. "We pull people out of there all the time and  we're putting ourselves in danger rescuing them.”
Indeed, a volunteer was actually killed during a rescue in the park in 2004. Ms Aberle cautioned tourists to be careful at Karijini, warning the gorges could be a treacherous environment. She said people should be prepared before they enter the gorges and should always read the signs.
Although this was the first rescue of the season, up to 10 carried out in the park each year.
Is Karijini the best national park in Australia? If not, which is? Are all parks, even the remote ones, getting ‘too’ popular now? Email us here to comment on this story.

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May 11

For many grey nomads, fossicking for gemstones is as much a pat of the Big Lap as Happy Hour drinks, sitting by the campfire, or complaining about the price of the van park.
 The thrill of successfully seeking out zircon, topaz, amethyst or sapphire can far exceed the profit that can be made from its sale. Indeed, to some, it is the best feeling in the world.
Des Volk, a veteran fossicker at the Willows Gemfield in Central Queensland described finding a sapphire like this.
“It is like a bottle of champagne - it puts a permanent smile on your face.”
Now that, I can relate to!
Fossicking for sapphires here involves digging from old creek beds and sieving the material to separate out the sand from larger rocks. When it is washed, eagle eyed fossickers can hopefully pull out their glistening sapphire from the other heavy gravels. It can be hard work but there’s always the dream that this is the day and this one will be the lucky ‘wash’.
Of course as well as the thrill of the chase, some nomads are able to make a bit of pocket money from their hobby and some even cut their own stones … but is this wonderful lifestyle under threat?
Certainly there are those from Willows who believe it is, and they are calling on the authorities to take the necessary action to protect fossickers’ rights and to ensure grey nomads and others can continue their quest to find hidden treasures long into the future.
“This township was donated to council generations ago under the agreement that the fossickers and their rights, which overrule the grazing leasehold rights, would be protected,” Mr Volk told the Central Queensland News. “It’s all changing now, the cattle property is slowly taking priority over fossicking and something magical is withering away.”
Willows Gemfields , some 45 minutes  west of Emerald, is particularly popular with grey nomads  as very little machinery, and no corporate mining, has been permitted there in the past. 'The area is well known for having unusually coloured sapphires.  Indeed, some of the world's most famous sapphires have been found on the Willows Gemfields, including a 332 carat rough yellow, named the 'golden Willow'.
The Centrsal Queensland News reports that the problem for those who love fossicking at Willows is that a grazing leasehold sits right on top of the town and its designated fossicking area. With grazing properties come fences, gates and general farm infrastructure. Fossicking legislation protects tracks from being interfered with, but does not prevent anyone from simply fencing over them.
“New fences are going up everywhere and gates are always being shifted without anyone in town knowing,” Mr Volk said. “I think we should be able to co-exist on this land as fossickers and graziers but unfortunately there has been a gradual wearing down of all that is magical about this area and what this place stands for and once was is disappearing.”
Sounds grim, doesn’t it?
Have you been to the Willows? Have you noticed any changes there? Did you have any luck with the sapphires? Do you know of any other fossicking areas that are under threat? Email us here to share your thoughts on this story.

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May 10

One Million Camels .... and Counting
Grey nomads have been asked to help limit the damage caused by the million-plus feral camels occupying the Outback by reporting all sightings of the feral creatures.
CamelScan has been developed by a number of groups including the Invasive Animals CRC and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and is part of the FeralScan program being rolled out across the country to help management of feral animals. The other species to be monitored include rabbits, foxes, myna birds, wild dogs and feral pigs.
“Australians are great travellers and we are confident that if rangeland landholders, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, grey nomads, outback workers and other travellers record feral camel sightings and other data within the site, our body of knowledge and intelligence will grow quickly,” said Jan Ferguson, from the Australian Feral Camel Management Project. “With estimates of more than one million feral camels spread across over 3 million square kilometres and four states and territories, and an annual damage bill of over $10 million, we need community support to track and monitor significant populations and sites being damaged.”
The Australian Feral Camel Management Project is attempting to address the urgent need to significantly reduce feral camel density to lessen their impacts in remote Australia on biodiversity, wetlands, waterholes and other sites of cultural value to Aboriginal people, infrastructure (fences, houses, cars) and personal safety.
Grey nomads can report sightings of the feral beasts at CamelScan www.feralscan.org.au/camelscan. Reported information will be collated and used to prevent future camel damage.
Have you had a close encounter with a feral camel? Email here to tell us about your views on the ‘Ships of the Outback’

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May 9

At What Price?
The battle to build a super gas hub at the idyllic James Price camping spot north of Broome has moved one giant step closer towards a conclusion … and there is no surprise that the ‘victory’ looks like going to those who want it built.
In a major slap in the face to environmentalists Kimberley Aborigines have given the go-ahead to Woodside's $30 billion Browse Basin gas project. In return for relinquishing their native title interests in the land, the traditional owners will now receive more than $1.5 billion in benefits such as business opportunities, housing, education and funds to address social issues.
Woodside said the vote removed one of the key barriers to taking a final decision by mid-next year, assuming that the federal government granted it environmental approval.
WA Premier, Colin Barnett said the "historic agreement" would ensure Western Australia and the Kimberley benefited from the enormous gas resources in the Browse Basin and he congratulated the Goolarabooloo Jabbir Jabbir native title claim group and the Kimberley Land Council.
The Premier had been threatening to compulsory acquire the land to ensure the project went ahead
Mr Barnett said once Woodside was finished with the land, the site would be rehabilitated and returned as freehold land to the Aboriginal people. However, he said, because it was a long-term project, that was not expected to happen for 50 to 100 years.
Environs Kimberley chief Martin Pritchard said there was still enormous opposition among Aborigines and the wider community. "It's not popular and there's still a long way to go," he said. "It still needs approval by the federal Environment Minister and this is a critical habitat for endangered humpback whales, on top of everything else."
If it is eventually built the liquefied natural gas hub will of course have a huge impact, not just on James Price Point but on the whole area which will change in character completely. The section north of Broome has long been a favourite with grey nomads seeking adventure and top fishing at spots such as Quondong Point, Beagle Bay and the stunning Case Leveque.
I guess ‘progress’ always has a price but this is a very heavy one indeed.
Have you been to the area? Would you like to visit before the bulldozers move in? Email your views on the gas plan here.    .

May 6

Is the West Too Wild for Nomads?
A new reality television program set in the Goldfields of Western Australia has sparked heated debate among locals after it described the place as a 'powderkeg guaranteed to explode'.
The Kalgoorlie Cops eight-part factual series premiered on Foxtel recently and follows police as they attempt to combat violence and alcoholism in the region.
But Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor Ron Yuryevich says the reality show undermines the council's work to promote the city as family friendly and could frighten away grey nomads.
"The council and myself have been trying to change the wild west name tag Kalgoorlie has been given for 20 years," he said.  "We want to portray Kalgoorlie-Boulder as a great place to come and see, not as murder and mayhem, as they are proposing."
Mr Yuryevich says he remains concerned older tourists could be put off by the rough portrayal of the town by the TV show.
However, that has not been an issue for grey nomad Wilma Pearson, who told the ABC she was travelling all around Australia and had a great time in Kalgoorlie.
She says she visited the superpit, WA museum and the Mining Hall of Fame and was not put off visiting Kalgoorlie due to security concerns.
"I wasn't concerned about what happened with security in Kal, from what I can tell it seems to be a fairly safe place," she said.
Kalgoorlie Inspector Darren Seivwright, who appears in the program, says although the show is sometimes dramatic, it gives an accurate depiction of Kalgoorlie night life.
"It was just a snapshot of what occurs in Kalgoorlie almost every night, particularly on the weekend nights when there are lots of people out," he said. "If people find that image disturbing and then want to change that image and change that culture, then we think that's going to have a positive impact as well."
It seems that many Kalgoorlie locals, including the mayor, were upset by a particularly dramatic promo for the show which depicted a cop car chasing down a red dirt road in the outback after a huge mining truck, a vehicle which is generally not registered to go on the road.
With a promise of a town that is “rife with money, murder, miners, hookers, gold-theft, crooks and outlaw bikers as well as plain old-fashioned Friday night punch-ups” the promo certainly didn’t seemo designed to attract grey nomads to hang out.
So, would a TV reality show put you off visiting a place like Kalgoorlie due to security concerns? Is the Goldfields icon really part of  “Australia’s Wild West” as the show would have us believe or is the truth a little less exciting than that. What are your thoughts on Kalgoorlie and would you visit again? Have you seen the show? What did you think? Email us here to share.

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May 4

PHotographers left Seeing Red
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to round two of the Great Grey Nomads photographic competition.  Many of you will recall some of the outstanding entries we received in last year’s water-themed contest. Our hard-working and much-valued judge, 'Travel Today' Editor, Steve Jones had the unenviable task of sifting through the hundreds of quality entries and narrowing them down to just six. You, the voting grey nomads then emailed in to register support for your favourite pic, and the winner was ….. the shot entitled 'Lake Hart, SA' taken by Shane & Robyn Bell (click on cont'd link below to see the winning pic).
Back then, the delighted Shane and Robyn walked away with a set of Caraview towing mirrors and, more importantly, the honour of being crowned our inaugural photo competition champions.
This time around the prizes will be bigger and better than ever. Keep reading these columns in the coming days for more details of the eye-popping goodies up for grabs.
We have firmer news on the judge. We are absolutely delighted to reveal that, in spite of busy work and family commitments, the ever-enthusiastic Steve Jones has agreed to once again take on the tough task of sorting the wheat from the wheat!  It was universally agreed that Steve did a first-class job last time around and we are eternally grateful to him for having another go.
Okay, okay … I know you are all desperate to know what the theme of the new competition will be.  Before I announce that though, I would remind everyone that all pictures must be original shots and that, by entering, you give permission for them to be used on this website and potentially in ‘Travel Today,’ an online newspaper for the travel industry.   
Right then. Tripods ready. Lens caps off. The theme of the competition will be the colour ‘red’. One of the people, places or things featured in the shot must be red. It may be the dust, it may be the rock, it may be the colour of the van, or a dress, or a hat ... but it must be there.  Of course, there is red and there is red and there is lots of red and there is a tiny speck of red and the whole issue is open to interpretation … and that’s part of the fun. Last time around, we had some suspiciously waterless shots trying to win the ‘water-themed’ competition. Good luck to all of you envelope pushers trying to get your red-free shot past gatekeeper Steve. A reminder that, as far as this competition goes, it’s Steve’s opinion that matters. His decision will be final, his word will be law. Still game? Click here to get details of how to enter and how the contest will work.

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May 3

The Big Picture
Wow! We knew the grey nomad network was spreading and that our lively and adventurous membership is pretty much everywhere in Australia where there is a road or a track … but even we are impressed by the speedy response to our call for a photo of the newly erected Big Ant at Augathella in Queensland.
Late last week in the Weekly Mailbag column we discussed the relative merits of the Big Meat Ant and promised a special mystery prize for the first to send a pic of themselves standing next to the Big Meat Ant!
Not 48 hours had passed and John and Wendy claimed the coveted title of the quickest grey nomad Meat Ant visitors in the country with this shot of a vaguely alarmed looking Wendy underneath a distinctly menacing tourist attraction! Congratulations to the lucky pair … a copy of the highly sought after Grey Nomads Guidebook will be on its way to them shortly (whether they want it or not).
“We called in to Augathella on our way to Blackall from Charleville today, and took a photo of the new Ant,” the victorious couple writes. “Given Augathella is slightly off the highway, it’s not a bad idea to have something to lure people into taking the turnoff instead of scooting straight past … a traveller might even be tempted to spend some money in town.”
Score one to the Big Meat Ant proponents of Augathella. It seems if they build it, we will come!
Now then … given the instant success of the speedy photo call competition, we may well ask readers to record their visits to another landmark in this week’s Weekly Mailbag. The new edition of the fun-loving column that gives you a voice on all the hot issues of the day will be posted on Friday …. so have your cameras ready and your engines running!
In other exciting news, the next great Grey Nomads’ photographic competition will be officially launched tomorrow. Just one more sleep everybody until the details are revealed in these pages.
The last photo competition based on a water theme attracted some outstanding entries, and expectations are high this time around.

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May 2

Nap Plan for Nomads
As the vast majority of grey nomads head north now, the issue of long distance driving and fatigue has once again fallen into the spotlight.
Driving large rigs for long periods of time in unfamiliar areas on often flood-damaged roads can be a lethal combination, and the need for extreme caution is obvious. Nonetheless, people are still tempted to push on for those extra few hours to get to that great camping spot they have heard about down the road, or drive past a rest area because they want to get to their night’s destination before the crowds. It is not worth it. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau Fatality Crash Database Study of 2002 showed that 16.6% fatal crashes were fatigue related.
Falling asleep at the wheel is a real danger as you chew up the kilometres on a long straight Outback road. A micro sleep, where a driver of a vehicle falls asleep and awakes almost immediately, is frighteningly common. The driver continues with his previous activity without interruption and usually drives along without any incident. However, if an oncoming vehicle cuts into opposite lane, or if the driver is negotiating a curve, or if the vehicle in front suddenly slows or stops, the  normal reflexes are absent to react fast enough and an accident is the result.
Some overseas reports have shown that fatigue induced accidents have some common features. Single vehicle accidents where the vehicle has veered off the road, head on collisions, accidents occurring between 2 to 4 pm and 1 to 5 am and if the driver has been driving continuously for more than five hours are some typical examples of accidents caused by fatigue.
While rest areas may not be as common as they should be on some remote drives, grey nomads should certainly take advantage of them when they are, or any other excuse to stop.
Grey nomads in particular and motorists in general though are not the only ones vulnerable to the temptation to push their bodies too hard.
Air traffic controllers in the US have been advised to take 26-minute naps, after a string of incidents involving workers falling asleep. Five cases of air traffic controllers falling asleep on the job have been revealed since March. Scary, huh!
The BBC reports that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over there is calling for ‘controlled naps’ to be built into night shifts.
Referring to a 1995 study from NASA, which he co-authored, NTSB member and fatigue expert Mark Rosekind said that a 26-minute nap would improve performance by 34% and alertness by 54%.
There was other supporting evidence that said naps of between 20 minutes and 30 minutes were beneficial, he said.
However, the length of the optimal power nap is the subject of much debate. Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Council in the UK, which advises the government on guidelines for drivers, says 26 minutes is a bit too long and risks you falling into a deep sleep.
“Once you get beyond 20 minutes, you risk a deep sleep and you can be much more groggy when you wake up,” he said. "What we recommend is that a nap is combined with a cup of coffee so you have some caffeine, and that takes about 20 minutes to kick in. Have a cup of coffee and get your head down. Done together it has a more powerful effect."
If you haven't had a wink of sleep the night before, then this tactic won't be enough to refresh you, says Mr Horne, but for those that have had merely a poor night's sleep, it will work. Apparently, longer naps can work if they become part of your daily routine because your body gets used to them and people can wake up quite easily without feeling too groggy.
So, a few micro sleep guidelines.

• A 20-minute snooze can enhance alertness
• Limit the nap to 45 minutes if you need to spring into action on waking
• A 60-minute nap improves alertness for 10 hours
• Naps of 90-120 minutes encompass all stages of sleep and help clear the mind.

So you take a power nap during long stints at the wheel? Do they work? Is it better just to find an ‘acceptable’ camp for the night if you are that tired? How do you cope with long drives? Is super loud rap music blaring out of the motorhome CD player the answer? Email us here to share some long distance tips.

April 29

Royal High Fliers Give RFDS a lift
I know not every grey nomad will be glued to their television sets today as dashing Prince William ties the knot with his soon to be Princess, Kate Middleton ... but there’s an awful lot of you who will be!
Without getting into a great Royals versus Republicans debate, I just hope all of you who love a touch of pomp and ceremony mixed with a dash of glamour have parked the van in a good spot to get perfect TV reception.
Of course, things over in the UK are reaching fever pitch as the big moment nears and the usual barrage of street parties are being organised up and down the country. Major Royal occasions like this always make us think about where we were and what we were doing the last time something on a similar scale rook place ... Princess Diana’s funeral, her wedding to Charles, the Queen’s Jubilee or her Coronation. Many of you will recall following some of the earlier events glued to your radios and will recall the excitement they generated.
This wedding of course has generated extra excitement for one iconic Australian organisation ..the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The RFDS was one of only three non-British charities that the Royal couple to be requested  wellwishers donate to instead of buying them gifts.
Already, South Australian Premier Mike Rann joined his West Australian counterpart, Colin Barnett, and Julia Gillard in pledging money to the famous outback medical service.
"The Royal Flying Doctor Service is an icon of Australia and is critically important to outback South Australia," Mr Rann said as he announced his $10,000 donation. "We couldn't think of a better way of honouring the royal wedding than a gift in its name."
Earlier this week, Mr Barnett said his government's $10,000 gift was being split 50-50 between the RFDS and the Save the Children Fund.
The Prime Minister set the pace early last week, when she announced a $25,000 donation from the Australian people.
Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, have set up a foundation to receive and distribute public and private donations to the selected charities.
RFDS chief executive Greg Rochford said the funds could ensure people in remote areas received medical checks as well as improving emergency services.
Anyone wanting to give a wedding gift to the royal couple can visit www.royalweddingcharityfund.org
So, get your hankies out everybody and enjoy the show. I haven’t heard yet of any grey nomad Royal Wedding Happy Hour parties but I would love to hear about any that do kick off. A photo of the festivities would be even better. Email us here to share your grey nomad royal party news.

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April 28

Fuel for Thought
We have seen some horrific bushfires in recent years and all the indications are that – despite so much rainfall this summer – the risk of further disasters is larger than ever.
Indeed, Bushfires NT is warning the Territory is facing its biggest bushfire season in years, with huge areas of Central Australia expected to experience ‘intense’ grass fires as the weather dries out.
The organisation’s Director, Steve Sutton, says record rainfall during the wet season has resulted in large amounts of grass growth across the Territory. He says that means there is plenty of fuel for bushfires and that unlike other years, bushfires are not expected to be isolated to the Top End.
"We're going to have widespread fires all over the Territory," he told the ABC. "Normally we have fires in the Top End every year, as you know, and rarely in Central Australia. Fuel loads in the Top End are going to be higher than we've experienced in the past and that means hotter, more dangerous fires.”
Mr Sutton believes that this is one of those rare years where there will be fires in Central Australia … and they are not going to be mild. He says for the first time in years, grass in some areas in Central Australia is waist-high.
"Central Australia has had well above [average] rain over the last couple of months and that's led to fuel growth," he said. "So parts of the Territory that haven't really had any vegetative fuel on them for five to seven years have now got waist-high grass as far as the eye can see."
Mr Sutton says people need to be prepared for the worst bushfire season in years.
Of course, the threats are the same across the country and new research suggests the bushfire menace will grow larger year on year.
The CSIRO says our bushfire risk will increase by 25 per cent in less than a decade if climate change pushes up average temperatures by just 0.4 degrees by 2020.
The research shows that risk could more than double by 2020, with the number of extreme fire danger days increasing by up to 65 per cent, if average temperatures rise by one degree.
In a newly published CSIRO collection of peer-reviewed research outlining the climate challenges facing Australia, climate scientist Kevin Hennessey said it was likely the world would see a 2-degree rise in global temperatures ''on top of changes already experienced within the lifetime of a current generation''.
He said the research showed the Australia’s fire index was ''trending upwards'' in some areas of southern Australia as a result of higher temperatures and worsening drought.
It’s sobering stuff and a reminder yet again for us all to be careful with campfires, cigarettes and any gas appliances. It is also a reminder to be ever aware of the bushfire danger, particularly when we are camping in remote areas.

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April 27

What Should we do?
A spate of dingo incidents on Fraser Island has once again put the way the animals are managed in the spotlight.
In the latest incident, a three-year-old girl escaped serious injury after being bitten on the legs by two dingoes near the barge at Hook Point. The dingoes responsible for Monday’s attack were caught and destroyed following a search by park rangers.
According to a report in the Brisbane Courier-Mail, the little girl had spent the day on the island with her mother and grandmother, fishing and playing, and the family was preparing to head back to the mainland when the attack occurred.
She suffered bite wounds to the legs and spent Monday night in Gympie Hospital under observation.
The girl's father, David Kennedy, said his daughter would be OK.
"Understandably she's not particularly happy with all that's gone on, but she's only three years of age," he said.
Dingo expert Dr Ian Gunn, from Monash University, has called for an immediate review of the dingo management strategy on the island, and says parents need to supervise children more closely.
"(Attacks) are a problem that will keep recurring because there are more tourists coming on to the island," he told the Courier-Mail. "With people wandering down and, by all accounts, letting kids wander off and then confronting a dingo then running away, that just encourages them."
Department of Environment and Resource Management marine general manager Terry Harper said the dingoes involved in the attack were the fourth and fifth to be destroyed this year after a number of "fairly serious or concerning instances".
The Save Fraser Island Dingoes group has previously complained about the dingoes starving, calling for them to be fed and for the euthanasia of dogs to end.
But Mr Harper yesterday denied that natural food supplies were dwindling on the island, or that the dingoes were starving.
"The research that we have done shows that that isn't the case," he said in a radio interview.
"The dingoes on Fraser Island are on average 3-5kg heavier than their mainland counterparts. There is plenty of natural food around for them."
Any ideas about how dingoes should be managed at Fraser Island and/or elsewhere? Email us here to share.

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April 22

Happy Easter
A very happy Easter to one and all. For those of you travelling over the holiday period, please take your time and stay safe. This year’s super long weekend means there will be even more people on the move than usual, and so the need for patience on the roads will be all the greater. Sadly, the headlines around this time of the year are all too often about the road toll and the carnage on our highways and byways.
On top of the heavy traffic, motorists this year will also have to contend with the poor state of many of our roads due to the recent floods and heavy rains. Just a few days ago, we reported on these pages about the dangerously potholed condition of the grey nomads’ traditional gateway to adventure, the Stuart Highway. Sadly, since that story appeared there has already been a fatal accident there. One man died in a crash that temporarily closed the highway about 50 kilometres north of Marla near the border of the Northern Territory and South Australia.  There is no way of knowing at this stage whether the accident was in any way related to the road’s poor condition but the tragedy does nonetheless underline the absolute need for caution and commonsense when out and about. Grey nomads towing caravans or driving big motorhomes are more vulnerable than most to the strains of long hours of driving. Please, please take care.
Hopefully, most of you though are settled in for the Easter/Anzac break in a relatively quiet spot in a relaxed and tolerant frame of mind. It’s a wonderful time to get together with family or old friends, and perhaps new ones, too.
Enjoy.   

April 19

Hairy Potholes
It’s been a bone-rattling but exciting experience for years, but has the Stuart Highway now crossed the line to become just downright dangerous?
The road running through the Centre of Australia is the grey nomads’ gateway to adventure but are the potholes which pepper the iconic highway ruining what should be a wonderful and liberating rite of passage?
Well, there are plenty who say the answer is a resounding ‘yes’, claiming the vital artery  is effectively falling apart.
Kununurra-based Ord Fuel Supplies owner Guy Kimpton told the Northern Territory News that not nearly enough had been spent on the Stuart Highway.
"You've got your hold-ups naturally enough and you don't expect everybody to build a bridge over every floodway," Mr Kimpton said. "But the actual road itself is breaking up and that is purely through lack of investment over the years."
Even some of the politicians agree. Member for Drysdale Ross Bohlin has been criticising the highway's perilous state after driving from Darwin to Alice Springs recently.
The Country Liberals politician said the first 600km was "extremely" bad and that he'd had to weave and dodge his way down to Katherine. Apparently, there is even more damage on smaller sections over the 300km after that – including a 10 metre-long strip, almost the full width of the road, where the tarmac had been destroyed.
Mr Bohlin told the NT News there was also a 50 metre stretch at Wycliffe Well where the southbound lane had a trench carved out in it.
Not surprisingly, both the Federal and Northern territory governments are under fire for the Stuart Highway's ragged state, and the lack of long-term investment in it.
But Infrastructure Minister Gerry McCarthy's spokeswoman Claire March said the Wet was to blame. She said record rain and flooding had put huge pressure on Territory roads.
Ms March said the Federal Government squared away $20 million a year for maintenance on the three national highways.
 "There are 10 crews of six working seven days a week to repair damage caused by the wet season," she said.  "As soon as conditions permit, heavy machinery will be brought in to commence more major repairs.
Over to you guys. Have any of you travelled the Stuart Highway recently? Are you planning to do so soon? Is it worse than it has been previously? Are the conditions all part of the adventure or just a death trap? Does the time you spend panicked about safety mean you can’t enjoy what should be an amazing journey? Email us here with your thoughts on the Stuart Highway.

April 18

Are you ready for holiday 'chaos'?
The school holidays are in full swing and one of the biggest camping weekends of the year is looming … so have you got your Easter survival plan in place?
It’s that time of the year where you may have to pay exorbitantly inflated fees, share caravan parks with hordes of cycle-riding children, and find that your ‘secret’ bush hideaway ain’t no secret any more.
Gosh, it’s lucky we are cheerful, positive people who are happy to share our wonderful lifestyle with the masses … at least for a couple of weeks a year!
Seriously, this is a time when you need to know where you are staying in advance and have ‘staked your claim’ to a camping spot. Parks and camping grounds fill up really quickly and it can become a tense time.
Happily, Parks Victoria is planning to allow campers back into at the northern part of the Wilsons Promontory National Park over Easter.
The Tidal River camping area was closed last month because of flash flooding and landslides. Parks Victoria ranger Brett Mitchell says campers will be offered alternative sites over Easter.
However he says they are still hoping Tidal River will be reopened by the long weekend.
Over in Western Australia though there could be some problems caused by the decision of the Department of Environment and Conservation to target illegal campers on beaches north of Perth over Easter.
The department says the coastline between Lancelin and Dongara has become an increasingly popular camping destination since the opening of the Indian Ocean Drive last year.
The department's George Watson says camping in the area is illegal and people will be fined if they ignore the warnings.
"The area, particularly north of Lancelin, is either a nature reserve or national park and at this stage we don't allow camping in those areas," he said. "There are plans in place to provide those facilities in the future but at the moment camping between Lancelin and Cervantes for instance is not permitted."
The DEC says the increase in the number of people four wheel driving, camping and leaving waste on the beach has put pressure on the coastal environment. So, what are your Easter survival plans? Do you have any Easter tips for your fellow grey nomads? Email us here to share.

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April 15

Hi-Tech Health
Millions of Australians are heading towards retirement and a life as "grey nomads" without adequate electronic health applications to support them, according to some technology trailblazers.
In the internet age, there is certainly an argument for travellers in remote areas being better equipped to access potentially lifesaving information.
Philip Cronin, general manager of Intel's Australia and New Zealand operations, told an American Chamber of Commerce meeting in Sydney that in the next four years, 76 million baby boomers around the world would join the ranks of retirees.
Talking specifically about grey nomads heading off into the wild dry yonder in a caravan, Mr Cronin said,
"And where do they go? Anywhere but where there's a hospital!"
He said that baby boomers making a "sea change" or "tree change" were pushing the budgets of regional healthcare authorities to breaking point.
"To satisfy that type of need, we will need to invent online healthcare,” he said. “And why is that important? Because the public purse will not support 76 million people because if we do, we won't be doing anything else."
Technology website ZDNet says Intel Australia continues to pursue e-health, and recently participated in tele-health trials in the Hunter region. Elderly residents were given equipment to measure their own vital signs at home and transmit them to a registered nurse monitoring the incoming data.
All interesting stuff. So, would having some sort of online healthcare support reassure you as you travel Outback? Would you like to have this instant access to medical support? And how prepared are you in the event of a remote emergency? Have you or your travelling companion received first aid training? Email us here to share your views on medical issues on the road. 

April 14

With more and more caravan parks being sold off so the land can be redeveloped, governments and local authorities are finally beginning to act.
Of course, it is our most beautiful and often our most popular coastal parks that are generally targeted by developers, and that means the long-enjoyed ability to stay at some of Australia’s most special places is being denied to us and to future generations.
The trend is nothing less than a clear and present threat to this country’s great caravan and camping tradition.
And it is not just grey nomads and other travellers who are suffering. In many cases permanent residents at parks are also being evicted and effectively left homeless.
In Western Australia, the Government is reportedly considering a plan to buy up some caravan parks to stop them falling into the hands of developers.
Housing Minister Troy Buswell said the Government was looking at bringing forward a review in laws needing "a workable balance between the rights and requirements of residents and the property rights of the people who own the caravan parks".
He said the Government was canvassing a plan to buy caravan parks and putting in place planning protections requiring them to remain as such.
"The Government would look at using operators to run the parks and look at the mix of accommodation that's provided, whether that be bays that people can bring park homes to when they're displaced or a mix of park homes that the Government owns and leases out," Mr Buswell said.
The idea follows on from the Government’s support of an Opposition motion in Parliament calling for urgent action to help permanent park home residents obtain certainty over their future living arrangements.
Shadow housing minister Mark McGowan said many caravan parks were being sold for redevelopment, potentially leaving thousands of West Australians with nowhere to go.
About 10,000 people lived in caravan parks in WA.

April 13

Wet All Round
With so much ridiculously unpredictable weather about it is getting increasingly difficult for grey nomads to effectively plan their Big Lap calendars with any degree of certainty.
Trips north and into the Outback are on hold as eager travellers are forced into a holding pattern while Mother Nature has her say.
The wet weather on the east coast and in Outback Queensland and South Australia has, of course, caused well-publicised chaos, but the situation is not much better in the west. Indeed, last month yet more rainfall records were broken in the Kimberley region in what meteorologists are calling an "exceptional" period of weather.
All time monthly rainfall records were broken at Gibb River, Mount Amhurst, Ruby Plains and Warmun. The Durack Range recorded the highest total for March with a staggering 739 millimetres!
Recent heavy rain in the East Kimberley has also seen Lake Argyle reach a new water level record, breaking the mark set just a couple of weeks ago. Water is now pouring 9.13 meters over the spillway at a rate of nearly 1.4 million litres per second. The surface area of the lake currently stretches over 1,500 square kilometres.
The ABC reports that, after a record wet season in northern WA, there are plenty of people in the Kimberley hoping the dry season is about to begin. Spot on, Auntie.
Long range forecaster Patrick Ward says the region should see a brief period of relatively dry conditions, but warns of a system forming in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf late next week.
"It'll be some sort of weak low and just depending on how that moves will depend on where that rain falls."
Mr Ward says the three-month outlook is showing no indication of being wetter or drier than average. But, he says, the La Nina system in the Pacific is slowly breaking down.
Hooray!
"We're running into what's called a predictability barrier, where the climate system is essentially re-setting itself," he said. "We're seeing the breakdown of a very strong La Nina.... and expecting neutral conditions into winter.”
Hooray, hooray! But what’s this, Patrick isn’t finished.
“Having said that,” he says (uh oh!). “The water temperatures are so warm off our north coast, that if we were going to get an extended wet season, this would be the year to get it."
Jeez! This timing the trip business is getting tougher and tougher, isn’t it? At least Happy Hour is always reliable. Hmmm! Talking of which ….

April 11

Access for All?

Councils across inland Queensland are banding together to lobby for improved access to digital television services in remote communities.
The switch to digital will not happen in remote Queensland until 2013 but councils are now being asked whether they will opt into a new satellite service.
McKinlay Shire Council spokesman Shane Cagney told the ABC that many remote councils want to continue rebroadcasting TV signals themselves because a satellite subsidy only applies to households, and public TV services will not be available for tourists, schools or motels.
He says it is an issue in many areas, and generally in towns with a population lower than 500.
"If you can picture the grey nomads travelling throughout the outback, which is the lifeblood of a lot of the towns ... unless they have a satellite dish on their caravan, they won't be able to receive any television at all,” he said. “And that is going to have a negative impact, especially when you are competing for tourists. I imagine a lot of them like to watch the news at night and they won't even be able to do that."
Sure do, Shane. And don’t forget about Neighbours and the Biggest Loser!
The Federal Government's Digital Switch-over Taskforce says it is working with councils on technical assistance but there is no financial help for them.
Taskforce spokeswoman Nareeda O'Loughlan told the ABC there will be a subsidy offered to households to convert to satellite.
She says many grey nomads already are using the system.
"Travellers can already access the VAST [View Access Satellite Television] service, as many travellers through regional and remote Queensland already access the Aurora system," she said.
"They can already access the VAST service and many have already taken up VAST."
Any feedback, guys? Do you use the VAST system? How is it for you? Is TV an important part of your Big Lap experience or are you happy to sip Chardonnay in the moonlight and forget all about the good folks of Ramsay Street? Email us here.

April 8

More to Love in SA
Two of South Australia’s most popular national parks are today a little bigger following two land donations to the state government.
Grey nomads will now have more areas to explore on visits to the Coorong and the Flinders Ranges … although the camping options are likely to remain the same.
A 16-hectare parcel of land next to Salt Creek in the south east of SA has been added to the Coorong National Park, giving the area greater protection.
It was donated by Christopher Legoe QC, as a gesture of respect to the late Australian author Colin Thiele, who featured the Coorong region in his popular children's book Storm Boy.
"Mr Thiele, an award-winning author of more than 100 books, often depicted life in in rural South Australia, particularly the River Murray and Coorong regions and his stories clearly had an impact on Mr Legoe," said Environment and Conservation Minister, Paul Caica.
Meanwhile, a 26 square-kilometre parcel of scenic rangeland in the state's mid-north has been donated by the owners of Commodore Station, Ian McAuley and Carola Cox, to form part of the Flinders Ranges National Park.
Mr Caica said it would be familiar to visitors to the Flinders Ranges, who have witnessed the stark and unforgettable saw-tooth outline that emerges from the floodplains to the west.
"It includes some scenically impressive range country and some steep gorges," he said.
The owners of Commodore Station are descendants of the original pastoralist, Michael McAuley, who took up land in the area 1882.
The Flinders Ranges National Park forms part of the Flinders-Olary NatureLink corridor, which connects nature conservation and restoration efforts on both public and private lands.
Are you fans of the Coorong and the Flinders? What is your favourite camping spot? Will the expansion of the parks lure you back sooner? Email us here to share.

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April 7

Freeing Up the Fraser?
Okay, this free camping issue is beginning to get really interesting. Last month, we reported that Fraser Coast Regional Council was considering introducing free camping at Bauple – despite some residents’ concern over the possibility of grey nomads wandering around in their underwear! – and now it seems they are set to add more free sites to the plan.
Hooray for the Fraser Coast councillors!
As well as Bauple, it seems that Maryborough, Torbanlea, Teebar, Tiaro, Teddington Weir, Munna Creek, Lenthall Dam, and Petrie Park could all soon unveil the: “Free Campers Welcome” sign.
The Fraser Coast authority says it is seeking to attract new tourists while being careful not to white-ant existing accommodation providers.
Councillor Gerard O’Connell said he understands there will be concerns over the proposal but that any new free campsites are not designed to compete with existing businesses.
“This is not an attack on our phenomenal caravan park owners,” he told the Fraser Coast Chronicle. “It is about seeing new visitors bringing new business to the region.”
The principal target of the proposed campsites are the grey nomads in RVs and motorhomes as it is believed we are currently avoiding the Fraser Coast due to the lack of free campsites.
Local van park owners, however, ain’t too happy about the latest plans.
They say the decision will affect regional businesses and ratepayers and there will be flow-on costs to ratepayers due to the need for site improvement and maintenance.
Ray Shah, who owns the Palms Caravan Park in Torquay, says backpacker hostels, tour operators, cleaners and suppliers of accommodation businesses might also suffer … and he disputes the theory that an increase in “grey tourism” would lead to an increase in profits for local stores, pubs and restaurants.
The Fraser Coast Chronicle quotes him as saying most grey nomads do not leave their motorhomes to eat out, have a drink, or go on tours of an area, and that it is naive to say the campsites will not negatively affect caravan parks or hostels.
“Would you stay somewhere for free or would you pay for it?” he asks.
Good question. What would you do? And does Mr Shah have a point when he says free camping grey nomads don’t go out for meals or to have a drink? Do you make an effort to support local businesses when staying in rural communities? Would you spend more time on the Fraser Coast if there was a network of free camps to enjoy? Email us here with your views on this one.

April 6

Big Lap Plans Off Track
Those of you itching to get into some serious adventuring in the real Outback will just have to put your plans on hold for a little while longer as the effects of this year’s flooding are overcome.
Indeed, the ABC reports it may be another two months before the Simpson Desert National Park in Queensland's far south-west reopens, and nearly all roads in the Diamantina Shire are closed, including the Birdsville Track.
The Diamantina Shire Council says renewed rises in the Eyre Creek at Bedourie, north of Birdsville, are also expected to cut access to that town later in the week due to recent rain in the upper part of the Georgina catchment.
 The Simpson Desert National Park is normally closed through summer but massive flooding in Channel Country river systems have prevented the park from reopening as usual. Similarly, Birdsville is still isolated by floodwaters and more rises are expected in the Eyre Creek after rain in the upper catchment.
The ranger in charge of the park, Don Rowlands, says the wet desert conditions are almost unprecedented.
"Last year we said it was the biggest we'd all seen it and this year it's totally capped that - it's metres above last year out at Big Red," he said. "Last year we used all these superlatives and I think we've just run out of them now because there is so much water.”
He said all the tracks were under water still and he didn’t believe they could get to Big Red for another month at least.
Mr Rowlands says the park will be assessed again in May but it could be some time before it becomes accessible for travellers.
"I have a feeling that it won't be until towards the end of June," he said. "That's just the reality, although around Birdsville the country is totally green. It's a magic site really.”
Council chief executive officer Scott Mason says locals were keen to get back to normal and move around but overall they had got to be happy with the long-term impact it's going to have on tourism and grazing.
"Normally Birdsville would be flourishing with tourists at the moment and Bedourie would be benefiting from some of the spin-off tourism as well,” he said. "We are a bit worried but we are optimistic that as soon as the roads open, people will come. It is difficult - we understand that people plan their holidays and things like that but we are optimistic that we will still get those big numbers for this year if we can get people in."
How have the conditions around Birdsville changed your travel plans? Are you itching to get out there ASAP? Email us here to share your experiences.

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April 5

The outback town of Wagga looks set to be the latest battleground in the ongoing fight over the future of centrally located free camping spots.
A number of local caravan parks have voiced anger at the popularity of Wilks Park, a free camping ground on the North Wagga flats, and they want the local council to act.
According to the owner of the nearby Horseshoe Motor Village, it is not unusual to see up to 20 occupants choosing to stay the night there free, and it's an issue starting to impact bottom lines.
Jim Williams is rallying other local caravan parks and together they want Wagga City Council to downgrade Wilks Park to a barbecue area, once again banning people from staying overnight.
"It would be like having a section of Wagga with no rates - wouldn't people who lived in parts of the city that did have rates be upset?" Mr Williams asked the local paper, The Daily Advertiser.
"I'm not against free camping altogether, but I just don't think it should be allowed in the middle of Wagga."
Clive Renahan is one of those who makes use of the free camping at Wilks Park.
"This park is in the RACV guide book, all the freebies are ... I chose to come here because it's free and it's green," he said. "I'm travelling the country and there are plenty of costs involved once you take into account petrol and food so if I don't have to pay caravan park fees, I don't."
We hear you, Clive, we hear you!
And so it seems, at least for now, does Wagga City Council. The authority’s tourism manager, Sally Nolan, says there are currently no plans to discourage campers from using Wilks Park.
Watch this space.
Have you stayed at Wilks Park? Would you visit again Wagga if free camping was no longer available? Do you know of any other free camping spots that are under threat? Email us here to share your your thoughts.   

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April 4

Hmmm! I’m not entirely sure if this is good news for grey nomads … or bad in the sense that life on the road could be about to get a lot more crowded.
It seems that Generation Y no longer see recreational vehicle holidays simply as something their daggy parents would do. A new survey shows that six out of 10 young holidaymakers say caravanning is becoming cool again. The research undertaken by Jayco involved asking 1004 Australians their thoughts on RV holidays, with 313 of the interviewees aged between 18 and 34 years.
While half of this age group has not yet experienced a caravan holiday, 65 per cent said they would consider caravanning around Australia rather than embarking on the traditional rite of passage of backpacking overseas.
The majority of those surveyed stated that the appeal of caravanning was the freedom an RV trip brought: 63 per cent liked that you could pack up and go wherever you wanted, whenever you wanted, and 47 per cent were eager to embark on a holiday where their friends could join them along the way.
An RV holiday is also seen as economical, with one in two Gen Y-ers believing a holiday in a caravan was a cheaper option than paying for overseas flights and accommodation. An equal number of patriotic Australians would rather see more of their own backyard than travel abroad.
The survey also found that Queensland was the most popular RV holiday destination among this age group, with 26 per cent of respondents listing it as their first choice to explore by RV.
In second place was NSW with 24 per cent.
Canberra was the least favoured destination, with no respondents indicating a desire to travel to the capital in an RV.
Okay … it seems that the future of the grey nomad lifestyle will be preserved for at least another generation but what about now? Are we ready for an army of Gen Y-ers to colonise our favourite campsites? Should over-50s only campsites be established in national parks? Have you noticed more youngsters on the road? Email us here to share your views on this emerging trend.

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April 1

Mozzies Multiply
A combination of late summer rainfall, larger than usual high tides and the warm conditions over recent weeks have provided worryingly favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes in many parts of the country.
The mozzie is, of course, one of the grey nomad’s most persistent and irritating foes … and it can also be very dangerous.
In the north coast of New South Wales alone, where weather conditions have been perfect for the insect’s breeding, some 93 cases of the mosquito-spread Barmah Forest Virus have been reported so far this year … which is 75% above the five-year average for the same time period. And that’s before we move into April and May, the most dangerous months for the virus in that region.
The North Coast Public Health Unit has warned of an expected seasonal increase in the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases over the coming weeks and over the Easter holiday period.
Acting senior environmental health officer David Basso said both Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses were common on the coast.
“The diseases caused by these viruses can result in painful or swollen joints, sore muscles, skin rashes, fever, fatigue, and headaches,” Mr Basso said. “The only way to avoid mosquito-borne diseases is to not get bitten by mosquitoes.”
Great advice, of course, but sometimes easier said than done!
Mr Basso said wet weather had helped the disease-carrying mosquitoes, but the bigger factor was a run of king tides which had helped create stagnant pools of salt water.
Unlike other varieties of mosquito, the insects carrying the Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses liked to breed in salt or brackish water rather than fresh water. That meant the greatest danger of contracting the illnesses was along the coastal strip and along saltwater or brackish reaches of the region’s rivers.
And it’s not just in New South Wales where problems are occurring. In Western Australia, the Health Department has upgraded its mosquito warning for people living in northern and central parts of the state.
The department's surveillance program has detected the Murray Valley encephalitis and Kunjin viruses at several locations in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne.
It says there have been no confirmed infections to date but the diseases can cause severe illness or even death. There has also been an increase in reports of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses there.

HOW TO AVOID MOSQUITO BITES

• Try to avoid areas where mosquitoes are common, such as bushland, wetlands and swamps.
• If you need to visit these mosquito-prone areas avoid peak times when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk).
• If you must visit high-risk places or be outside when mosquitoes are most active you should wear loose, light fitting clothing with long sleeves and trousers to cover your skin.
• Wear personal insect repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin. Apply as directed by the label on the product and re-apply regularly.
• If you start feeling mosquito bites then it’s time to re-apply the insect repellent.
• Get rid of mosquitoes in and around your rig. You can do this by emptying any water holding vessels outside and ensuring flyscreens are intact for all doors and windows in your home.
• You can also use plug-in insecticide mats, flying insect knock-down spray, sleep under mosquito nets or a fan to reduce your chances of being bitten.
  

Have you noticed more mozzies than usual around your campsite? How do you combat the buzzing menace? What is the worst mozzie experience you have had? Email us here to share.

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