Map copied from Microsoft Encarta World Atlas with thanks
If you enable JavaScript, the image in the above map changes as you roll the mouse over places that we've visited.
Weather Averages Comparison Tables copied from weatherunderground with thanks. Click on the link for full weather reports on their site.
Sydney January February March April May June July August September October November December High Temperature ( F / C ) 80 26 80 26 78 25 73 23 68 20 63 17 62 17 65 18 69 20 72 22 75 24 79 26 Low Temperature ( F / C ) 65 19 66 19 63 17 57 14 51 11 47 8 44 7 46 8 50 10 56 13 59 15 64 18 Precipitation ( in / mm ) 5 116 4 112 6 148 5 120 3 88 5 128 2 54 4 90 2 60 3 79 4 101 3 81
Bourke January February March April May June July August September October November December High Temperature ( F / C ) 95 35 94 35 89 32 81 27 71 22 66 19 64 18 68 20 75 24 83 28 89 32 94 34 Low Temperature ( F / C ) 70 21 69 21 64 18 56 13 49 9 43 6 41 5 44 6 49 9 56 13 62 16 67 20 Precipitation ( in / mm ) 2 51 2 39 1 37 1 35 2 41 1 19 1 28 1 23 1 22 1 26 1 26 1 27
Canberra January February March April May June July August September October November December High Temperature ( F / C ) 82 28 81 27 76 24 68 20 60 15 54 12 52 11 55 13 61 16 67 19 73 23 79 26 Low Temperature ( F / C ) 55 13 55 13 51 11 44 7 38 3 33 1 31 -0 34 1 38 3 43 6 48 9 52 11 Precipitation ( in / mm ) 2 54 2 58 2 54 2 53 2 45 1 30 2 41 2 51 2 56 3 65 3 65 2 52
Coffs Harbour January February March April May June July August September October November December High Temperature ( F / C ) 80 27 80 27 78 26 75 24 70 21 66 19 65 19 67 20 71 22 74 24 76 25 79 26 Low Temperature ( F / C ) 67 20 67 20 65 18 60 15 53 12 49 9 45 7 47 8 52 11 57 14 61 16 65 18 Precipitation ( in / mm ) 7 187 8 195 9 241 8 215 7 177 5 126 2 63 3 66 2 62 4 103 5 136 6 143
Williamtown January February March April May June July August September October November December High Temperature ( F / C ) 82 28 82 28 79 26 74 24 68 20 64 18 63 17 65 18 70 21 74 24 78 25 81 27 Low Temperature ( F / C ) 64 18 64 18 61 16 56 13 50 10 46 8 43 6 44 7 48 9 54 12 58 14 62 16 Precipitation ( in / mm ) 4 112 4 111 5 130 5 119 4 105 5 122 3 64 3 70 2 58 3 83 3 76 3 83
We've visited the following parks, so far. They are loosely categorised in relation to how they accommodate the requirements of a couple with no kids or pets. We want to be able to easily find the park, put the van in place, hook up to power, etc, and then start to relax or take in the local attractions. Some of the parks with tight sites will help you get your van in position, others don't. In at least one case when we asked for help, we've been told that we'd do better than the staff! We've refrained from making any specific commentary about the staff or permanents or facilities that we have no need for. (If you want to know more specifically what we thought of any of these, just write and we'll respond to you!)
Also check the reports that are included in Badger's caravan park reports site . Badger's site contains reports entered by ordinary travellers about their experiences with the caravan parks they've been to.
Our impressions are provided on the places we've stayed with our van so far:
Interesting park full of rock formations. Older amenities block which cater for the basics only. Water and power to most sites, but sullage is onto the grass. Dump point was an outdoors pit and no nearby hose or water. Peacocks were wandering about the park when we stayed. Up in the Great Dividing Range, so is colder and wetter than either the inland plains or the coast.
Lovely treed park with everything you'd want EXCEPT on the way in we were warned to keep everything locked and leave nothing on display, and if "they" bothered you, "they" were only after money! Apart from that, we were placed directly under flowering gums. During daylight, there was a continual splat of bird's droppings on the van, replaced at night by swarms of bats!
A lovely and relaxing place. Good amenities. Sites quite big at the back. Only concern was there appeared to be a number of cabins at the back that were related to the welfare department.
Dubbo City Caravan Park, Dubbo , New South Wales (Top Tourist) About half the park is drive through sites. About 10 or so have a concrete annex pad, and the rest are well grassed. 2 amenities blocks complete with soap and hand dryer and a kiosk. Very pleasant place to stay for a number of days.
On the banks of Lake Talbot. Quite a number of drive through sites, but they are very skinny (you can't put your awning out!) and on bitumen (when it's hot, the tar radiates up into the van!). The grassed areas are reasonably sized. Some of the sullage outlets are well in front of the van, so you may need additional sullage hose! Two older amenities blocks with soap and hand dryer, but one of them usually closed. When last there, the park was looking poorly maintained and tired.
27km north of Coffs Harbour. VERY spacious sites on level concrete slabs in a very pleasant wooded setting. It's a pleasant walk to the beach (past the permanents). Two older amenities blocks, but only one open out of peak season. Soap and dryer provided.
Park is mainly full of permanents. Also seems to be a lot of regulars that keep coming back. Apart from being close to the beach, we wouldn't rate it too highly. All the travellers we met here were wonderful though! Next time we go to Port Stephens we will stay at Fingal Bay instead.
Interesting place that is setup for school camps but also caters for a few caravans (they suggest 4, but I can only see where 2 could be setup) and tent campers as well. The camp is about half way between Coonabarabran and the national park. No mobile phone reception!
Camp Blackman is further into the Warrumbungles and has powered sites. There's about 3 water crossings (which are fine in dry weather), and the road may be a challenge for some of the bigger vans. Whilst we haven't stayed there, we had a look and took the following pictures:
Nepean River Caravan Park, Emu Plains (Penrith), Sydney, New South Wales (FPA) Park is mainly full of permanents. Thought the whole thing was very ordinary until I found the walk down to the Nepean River - that part was very nice. If you are looking to buy a Winnebago, this park is just up the road from the factory, otherwise nothing special.
A large park nestled in behind the breakwater wall in Port Macquarie. 3 amenities blocks which are tired and dated, but have soap supplied at least. Dump point is into the toilet bowl, so totally unsuitable for a motorhome. The concrete pads on some sites were from the old permanent's setup and are NOT suitable for annex pads as they are in the wrong position to use! Close to shopping centre and beach. We stayed during "schoolies week" and a band was setup and playing all day and into the night.
Monterey Tourist Park, Mannering Park, (Lake Macquarie), New South Wales (Big 4) A smallish park that is largely dedicated to permanents. 3 or 4 skinny and long van sites on the lake front (that cost $7 more a night) and 6 cabins. About a dozen very well grassed sites are just in behind those. Old amenities at one side of the park has soap and paper towel available. A pair of toilets are also situated beside the pool. Boat ramp in park. Lovely views across lake.
A small park on the northern entry to Goulburn. Whilst a number of the sites are drive through, they are nowhere near long enough to keep your vehicle hitched! (And they are quite awkward to navigate in and out of for larger vans). Amenities quite clean and have soap and dryer provided.
A smallish park that is largely dedicated to cabins. 2 level pebbled drive throughs with adequate shade and a few sites around the edge. Across the road from the shopping precinct. Toilet block is reasonably clean and soap and dryer provided.
