Travel: Australia - Perth
-
I just come back for my family trip in Perth this month. For the entire stay there i rental house that are self contain (have kitchen and washing machine) in different town. With kitchen at every place i stay is good as i cook almost every dinner and breakfast for my kid so they dun have problem with eating (my DS 5 n 2), so i would say Perth is good place to visit with little children. Now Perth is going into Summer, Perth city will be low season, but the south side will be in high season as the temperture at the soutthern is lower then perth city that why alot of local like to go to the south during summer to cool off. I sugguest you do all the booking for stay before set off as you do not want to reach a place without a place to over nite especially with kid around. Just do a search on the internet and you could find them easily.
Ps/ Now there is filies everywhere is Western Australia -
Like lwm99, my family also stayed at Medina Grand last year and we were quite happy with the service and amenities provided.
Would strongly recommend staying at a service apartment if going on a holiday to Australia. Almost all service apartments come with a small kitchen (for simple cooking) and more importantly washing machine and dryer. I love the latter 2, as I can do my laundry whilst I'm there. So less washing to do when we return to Spore. -
[quote]Kitoh:
HI BusyBee,
I read on the forum about the campervan trip to Perth but there was no follow-on discussion.
I am planning for a trip in Perth during the June School holidays and greatly appreciate any suggestions or recommendation.
I have been to Perth about 5 years ago where we drive around with my parents & parent-in-law. Great fun but always wanted to try the campervan experience that we see so much of in Perth.
Thank you in advance for your help.[/quote]Kitoh, busybee's DH here on behalf. She said u r guy, better i share herewith u, and anyone else.
No follow-ups here, cos' looks like many tai-tai lifestyle posts here, hotels, spas, shopping holidays. etc..DW & me, more hiking, no-itinery, no pre-booking, go-as-our-hearts-pleases, prefer-to-get-lost-and find-our-way-out type...so she diam diam...
B4 i start writing a book here..and for appropriateness, ask yrself & tell us & everyone :
Family shape and size?
Length of stay? Coverage Plan?
Type of interests? Hiking/Sights/PhotographyShopping/Adventure/GetLost/Spa,Resort type (esp. DW)?
Budget or Splurh?
Food and Personal Habits.(brief). Chores allocation, other than DW?
Endurance of driver/s. No need for experience level of driver & navigator (w. aust too flat & ulu, to tackle or get lost)
To start with: info will help in which camper vendor/site?..What size/model, big hidden costs. (vendor & ccard co.). Dos & don'ts
Our last perth experience, Feb09CNY is only 2 wks, 800 km north+ 800 km south of Perth, (mostly coastal, Highway 1), covering Pinnacles, Geraldin, Karlbari, Margaret River, Albany and everything in btwn.
Western Aust, is very family-orientated cf. other OZ states. Encouraging family lifestyle. Plentiful free amenities and play facilities. Clan/free Electric stoves by scenic spots, for picnics/al-fresco lunch & dinners. Even the campers are 30-50% less than in NSW or Vic.
Restaurants closes early 6 pm, with bookings only..so our Singapore late dinner lifestyle makes campers more viable to catch max. daylight.
Look fwd to your info. -
thebusybee:
HI Bee's DH,
B4 i start writing a book here..and for appropriateness, ask yrself & tell us & everyone :
Family shape and size?
Length of stay? Coverage Plan?
Type of interests? Hiking/Sights/PhotographyShopping/Adventure/GetLost/Spa,Resort type (esp. DW)?
Budget or Splurh?
Food and Personal Habits.(brief). Chores allocation, other than DW?
Endurance of driver/s. No need for experience level of driver & navigator (w. aust too flat & ulu, to tackle or get lost)
To start with: info will help in which camper vendor/site?..What size/model, big hidden costs. (vendor & ccard co.). Dos & don'ts
Our last perth experience, Feb09CNY is only 2 wks, 800 km north+ 800 km south of Perth, (mostly coastal, Highway 1), covering Pinnacles, Geraldin, Karlbari, Margaret River, Albany and everything in btwn.
Thank you for your reply.
In my last trip to Perth in 2005, we went up north till Karlbari and back to Perth. Didn't go south then. Went with the extended family 6 adults & 2 kids, drove a Toyota Tarago. Totally enjoyed the trip.
Will decided whether to go North again or South this time round. But would like driving the CamperVan this time round, so that we could enjoy the flexibility you mentioned.
The current plan is just my family of 2 Adult & 2 kids. My relatives or in laws might decide to join later. But for now, I am planning for just the 4 of us.
Planning to be there for about 7-8 days for sight-seeing, shopping, maybe spa & just relaxing.
Wouldn't be spurlging but not on a shorstring budget.
No particular preference for food. Would like to have BBQ at the campervan park on some of the nights.
No problem driving the car. Not sure of campervan though.
Look forward to your advise on which campervan to choose and any other pointers. Thank you. -
Campervan is best & cheapest way to enjoy in OZ, esp when it is 2.5-3 x in Europe. In US, campervans are low-quality, runned down, and still 1.5-2 times. NZ is also nice but 1.2-1.5x...
And esp in WA (Western Aust.), amenities: public toilets, free water, beach side parking, playground, BBQ pits with free electric hotplates are plentiful...WA encourage family lifestyle a lot more than other OZ states. Dun really need to park/cook in van or campsites, esp, when weather's cool and parked on beachfront, unless u need to do laundry, heavy cooking, or enjoy the swimming pools..$10-$20 per vehicle per nite. Moreover, WA very ulu, parking in parks/beach/remote/scenic sites, no chase nor catch. uluness can also mean very safe or sleepy driving.
$50-$70 a day (min. 7 days) get u beds and transport for 3-4, gets you yr ocean view or mountain-top view when you wake up in the morning....(can't even get you a minicar rental or a decent slump-room in Singapore)....is a STEAL!
Moreover, saves you time & energy in planning, hunting and waiting for transport/accomodation/food...note the 3 stop serving early like 6 pm..not suitable for our late-dinner/sleep lifestyle..plus u can maximise daylight sightseeing and hiking.
Words of advice:
if u doing 5-7 pax, rent/drive 2 x 2/3-berth vans, than a single 6/7 berth tonner..the maths don't add up..$200-$250 per day...and the credit card deposit & return of $5,000..kills u about 10% 2-way on currenc exc, and ccard charges...small campers deposit only $1,500, lugi only $150..(They do not accept cash deposits..). Learn it the hard way, last year (Feb09), week 1: 2 berth Nomad, Week 2: 7-Berth Maui.
Book through: http://www.backpackercampervans.com.au/. They are operated by Britz/Maui (NZ-run company) in the same office..cheaper (no hidden costs like bedding packs)..You may still get a Britz/Maui vehicle, same model, same layout...(only targetting different markets)
Apollo (OZ-run) models and layout not so good..also nearer to Formulae..U can try another newer co, Australian Homes (i think)..vans look new and well laid out. Other companies, are likely home run, not reliable or just booking agents..
Worth driving and the Own-time-own Target Freedom..Have Fun! -
Earlier post was copied from my other threads…
Since u been to north, shd go south, unless u v miss sth up north.
(did u know u can drive into Pinnacles, park and sleep overnite amongst the rocks?)
Down South, Fremantle, Bunbury and Busselton nice eating/shopping stops. Lower South Margaret River wineries is a must for taste and smells, and Albany,vicinity and rocks are great sights and walks. The drive back along HW30 is quite boring, unless u r rushing back to Perth 8 hours, 700km.
On the other hand, u tell me u r into relax & spa, not too sure if camper holiday is it…But can check into some hotels for a couple nights. Then dunno how yr parents going to join u halfway, when u r already 300-400 km down south?..unless u meet them back at Perth and they only do perth, or they know how to catch a coach to your south location, then how to sleep 6 in van?..or they can check-in while u guys sleep in van. or unless u tel me your dad can drive another camper to meet you?.2 vans also got advantage: One cooks, the other go supermarkets for missing groceries, or just out for play.
Or you can go for 6/7 berth Voyager/Explorer, but it’s like $250-$300 per day, 5x more, lugi deposit charges, and fuel is hi, like 80 litres for 800km for van vs. 100 litres for 400 km for ‘lorry’
How big are yr kids?..if 1 is baby, a 2-3 berth will do…in yr case go for Britz.com.au, guaranteed britz/maui van…(slight layout diff). backpackercampers give u britz/maui van, provided the older vehicles are fully out…The site will illustrate in details thats suits yr needs…eg. bed size/ shower/toilet room, day/night layouts.
But in my opinion, just go for the Hi-top, Mum & bay on top (4 ft width bed), older child and Dad below (5 ft). Or the 4-berth Voyager, if kids are teens…You won’t really need the toilet/shower, afterall the space, water pressure and capacity is quite misly. Moreover add chore of pouring shit and maintain toilet,. The shower/toilets or extra berth spaces comes at a hi-relative premium.
Unlike Europe & US, …WAust. has tonnes with free toilets and shower-rooms…so u can do your businesses during any stops there, and your occasional campsites stops. Choose those with its own swimming pool, if you want dips & splashes. If not staying over, can pay couple of $ per head for baths only, and move on…or gatecrash for some excitment…lol.
For us, we dun stop every night, except heavy cooking/washing/laundry nights, as we prefer sleeping at remote undisturbed scenic spots and see stars and hear the waves in the darkness.
Campervan are only the likes of Toyota HI-Ace, Vitos or Fiats mid size vans, with a higher tops to faciliate walking inside, so very easy to handle…any way again WA is ulu. But sleepy, drive off and take a 15-30 mins nap, really helps.
If you are going off-track (gravel road, flat and wide only), like into Kalbarri NP, if you travel at 10-20kmh, you will hear all the crockery clanking, and your minihome shaking like mad, and u get good free massages…
Daringly step on it to 50-60kmh, and u’ll be shocked, the ‘clanging’ and the shakes get very much less…very amazing…dun worry the tyres, they are tough!
Perth, stay at a place near Public Paid Long term parking for your Van.
Suggest u buy me coffee, and talk, very tired typing, PM me for my contact. -
Hi kitoh,
my husband n i just came back fr perth, we took a hitop campervan and drove down south. Just thought to share a few notes…
In WA, it is actually illegal to park at roadsides or parks to sleep. U may be able to get away with it, but with young children, you may not want any unexpected interruptions at night. U need to be in the campervan parks.
It is also mandatory for all kids to be in seatbelts, booster seats etc. If u get into any accidents, and u have not followed the law, insurance is considered void. Do check with the campervan rental company if they will have any for u to rent, if not, u may need to arrange on your own.
We took a hitop with no shower/toilet facilities, and stayed at campsites. The BIG4 chain is good, a little more pricey but very well maintained. most have swimming pools, free bbq pits, camp kitchens etc. We usually took powered ensuite sites. These have our own toilet n shower facilities. Very clean and convenient right on our site. Esp useful if u have kids needing to use the loo at night. don have to walk in the dark to the shared washrooms. So if u want to save on the campervan and get one without shower, this is an option u can use.
We bought a calling card in perth, and use it to call ahead to sites we want in the mornings. This way we can decide where we wanna go for the day, and where we want to stop for the nite. Do note that receptions at campsites usually close by 5pm. We stocked up on food, and park in the evenings. We used their BBQ and pools to relax…
The south is very kids-friendly and we took our time to enjoy and drive around slowly. The campervan parks are also very good opportunities for the children to interact with the locals… swimming and going on jumping pillows.
Do check out tripadvisor.com for advice… and have a great trip!! -
When I went to Perth, it felt great! The weather there was great, cool and breezy. The people there were also so nice, patient and gentle!
-
Thank you for all your advise. Now I just need to do more research before deciding which way to go. Up north or down south?
-
Er, I've only been south.. but I chose it that way as it is cooler, the weather's more predictable.. and the destinations are closer to each other, so my husband didn't have to spend hours driving each day. Also, the wineries and choc factories are that direction too