Long gone are the days of lugging around hefty travel guides, maps and translation dictionaries; worrying about how much of your precious baggage weight allowance they will take up like I remember doing during my trip to Europe in 1998.
With the freedom to download travel apps, games, music and books - your phone or tablet is probably one of the most essential pieces of travel equipment you really need to carry with you.
If you are planning an up-coming trip backpacking around Australia and are looking to customise your mobile or tablet with useful apps then make sure you check out these 5 top apps for Australian travellers:
Appy Travels
This travel app is a great companion to any backpacking adventure and covers all of the main cities and major towns in Australia. One of the best things about this app is that other travellers constantly update it, so what you’re reading is up to date tips and advice.
This app includes:
If you’re visiting down under, then hiring a campervan is probably on your bucket list of things to do. After doing it myself I can assure you if it isn't on that list it should be! This app has over 40 detailed driving itineraries for your campervan trip, with information on top picnic spots, local hidden gems and scenic lookout points.
This app even has over 3000 photos of destinations and stop offs on the way – so know what to look out for. Either follow one of the pre-planned itineraries or plan your own unique road trip.
Wi-Fi Finder
Wi-Fi is essential for everything; from booking tomorrow nights hostel and researching campervans for sale online, to keeping in touch with your friends and family back home or for writing on and posting to your blog. Wi-Fi finder is a great app that helps you to identify the best Wi-Fi spots around you. In OZ these can be few and far between so it really is a great idea to have some idea of where you can hook up next!
The app works online and offline and is available for phones and tablets. You can even filter your Wi-Fi hot spot results by location (e.g. hotel, café, library).
MotorMouth
If you are on an Aussie road trip then petrol is likely to be one of the biggest outgoing costs to eat into your backpacker budget.
Download the MotorMouth app and save money by making sure you buy the cheapest fuel on your journey. This app is committed to making sure Australian’s get a better deal on their fuel, and lets you know when the best time to buy cheap fuel is each week, and where the nearest (and cheapest) petrol station is.
This app is essential if you are about to embark on the long leg of a road trip.
Trip Journal
Trip Journal is a great way to store and document your travel memories. This app is a quick and easy way of creating an online map of your journey that friends and family can follow on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Add pinpoints to highlight your current location and upload photos, videos or comments as you go along – making it easy to impress everyone with your latest adventures.
With the freedom to download travel apps, games, music and books - your phone or tablet is probably one of the most essential pieces of travel equipment you really need to carry with you.
Appy Travels
This travel app is a great companion to any backpacking adventure and covers all of the main cities and major towns in Australia. One of the best things about this app is that other travellers constantly update it, so what you’re reading is up to date tips and advice.
This app includes:
- Local guides and tips on places to go
- Maps
- Local daily deals (great for a backpacker on a budget)
- Built in currency converter
- Video and photo gallery of places
- Weather updates
If you’re visiting down under, then hiring a campervan is probably on your bucket list of things to do. After doing it myself I can assure you if it isn't on that list it should be! This app has over 40 detailed driving itineraries for your campervan trip, with information on top picnic spots, local hidden gems and scenic lookout points.
This app even has over 3000 photos of destinations and stop offs on the way – so know what to look out for. Either follow one of the pre-planned itineraries or plan your own unique road trip.
Wi-Fi Finder
Wi-Fi is essential for everything; from booking tomorrow nights hostel and researching campervans for sale online, to keeping in touch with your friends and family back home or for writing on and posting to your blog. Wi-Fi finder is a great app that helps you to identify the best Wi-Fi spots around you. In OZ these can be few and far between so it really is a great idea to have some idea of where you can hook up next!
The app works online and offline and is available for phones and tablets. You can even filter your Wi-Fi hot spot results by location (e.g. hotel, café, library).
MotorMouth
If you are on an Aussie road trip then petrol is likely to be one of the biggest outgoing costs to eat into your backpacker budget.
Download the MotorMouth app and save money by making sure you buy the cheapest fuel on your journey. This app is committed to making sure Australian’s get a better deal on their fuel, and lets you know when the best time to buy cheap fuel is each week, and where the nearest (and cheapest) petrol station is.
This app is essential if you are about to embark on the long leg of a road trip.
Trip Journal
Trip Journal is a great way to store and document your travel memories. This app is a quick and easy way of creating an online map of your journey that friends and family can follow on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Add pinpoints to highlight your current location and upload photos, videos or comments as you go along – making it easy to impress everyone with your latest adventures.
A year ago my family and I had the great opportunity to spend a week in a motor home touring Australia. I can tell you first hand that is NOT nearly enough time. When looking on a map we only covered about 1 inch of territory. It was an absolutely perfect way to get around and something we all hope to be able to do again one day, but this time for much longer. You can also get around in a small car, in some ways that would be easier, but for a large family or an extended amount of time a motor home would be our pick.
Take my advice and find out more about motor home hire first, you won't be disappointed I can promise you that. Once you secure your ride you can head out on any adventure you want.
I wrote an article here that documented how easy the rigs were to handle. I was really nervous at first but we all ended up pleasantly surprised by the ease of use. On our trip we ended up seeing Sydney, the Blue Mountain area, and Jervis Bay. It was lovely but in a dream world I would spend a year in a motor home and explore each and every corner of that beautiful country.
Read on to see all the amazing things you could see by taking a caravan around Australia:
New South Wales
NSW has a lot to offer and it goes far beyond the city of Sydney. Although if you only get to enjoy the Sydney area you will not be disappointed, it is a playground for all between the harbor, the beaches and the water sports. In this state you can camp from the city all the way up the Blue Mountains and beyond. There are hiking trails, animal encounters, cave exploration and more.
When you've had your fill in the mountains you can drive back towards the coast to some beautiful beaches in Byron Bay where you can enjoy the small towns and lovely beach side campgrounds in Jervis Bay or take on new adventures of surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and diving. Next stop in NSW for us would be Hunter Valley where wine, antiques, and artwork merge together for a completely different experience.
Victoria
Melbourne is a city we would really like to explore. Around every corner it seems there is something new to discover. From casinos to art shows and theater, there is something exciting going on nearly all the time.
If the city life is not for you can explore the Great Ocean Rd, one of Australia's most iconic road trips, visit penguins on Philip Island, drink your fill of wine in Yarra valley, relax in spa country of Daylesford, or simply laze on one of the many beautiful beaches in the state.
Tasmania
Tasmania is perhaps the place we want to explore most. You can start out in Hobart, the birth place of the convict history on the continent, where even though you are in the biggest town on the island you will find that nature and beauty is always close by. There is also Wineglass bay in Freycinet peninsula. It is stunning!
Enjoy a Victorian vibe in downtown Launceston and head out towards the wine country and marvel at the small villages ripe with grand old farms and mansions. As if all that is not enough, do not forget all the amazing wilderness around you. In Tasmania you can do everything from hiking Cradle Mountain, river rafting in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to meeting up with a wild platypus or Tasmanian devil.
South Australia
When most people think of Australia a few images come to mind. Kangaroos is typically one of the first. In South Australia you will find the city of Adelaide which is renowned for its fine dining, fun food festivals and stunning gardens. But the main draw are the kangaroos.
On Kangaroo Island you will get up close and personal with hundreds of kangaroos but you can also swim with wild dolphins, watch penguins frolic and enjoy stunning views and delicious food.
Other notable spots to visit include Flinders ranges and Eyre Peninsula. Both locations will give you ample opportunity to camp and really enjoy life in a motor home.
Western Australia
Perth, Kimberly, Margaret River and Ningaloo are all main highlights of this area. Perth is a large cosmopolitan city with some of the most beautiful beaches and family friendly activities in the country. Kimberly is where you can have a true outback adventure. Ride a camel through the desert, hike through ancient gorges, marvel at the bungle bungles, or visit a cattle station, all things done far easier in a motor home.
Margaret River is all about fine cuisine, local honey, home made cheeses, and world acclaimed wineries, not to mention, as per the norm in Australia, more beautiful beaches. Ningaloo is a spot I have been hearing about for decades so finding our way there would truly be a privilege. It is home to a shark nature preserve and one spot that you can hop in the crystal blue water to swim alongside whale sharks. Diving here is first class and the beaches are some of the best in the world!
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is the true outback of the country. Here you can visit Darwin, the culture capitol of the country, or Alice Springs, the quintessential outback town. Both will give you a true sense of Australian history. Lesser known Kakadu is also in this area and is both a cultural an biological wonder.
.jpg)
Ayers Rock or Uluru can also be found in this territory and really is the penultimate of all the Australian experiences. You can witness the sun rise and fall over the mountain while examining the fading and changing colors. You can also walk the path of a real aboriginal by taking a guided tour which I highly recommend.
Queensland
Brisbane is the main city in Queensland. It is a tropical, laid back city that offers all you could want in a city experience. The Gold Coast is famous for fabulous nightlife, beautiful forests, and international theme parks making it the capital of fun!
The real thrill and draw though in this state are the beaches and underwater experiences. Whitsundy islands are about the closet thing to Heaven I think I've ever seen, Google search that image and you'll want to head there this minute.
One of the seven wonders of the natural world can be found here as well. The Great Barrier Reef is like no other underwater ecosystem in the world. You can snorkel or dive, charter a boat and explore, or even find an uninhabited island and leave a set of your footprints in the sand.
As you can see there is just so much to see in this amazing country. I have not even scratched the surface with the list of places to explore but it certainly is a good starting point. In my view really the only way to see all these things is to travel around by motor home. You can either buy one to resell when you are done or rent one long term. Either way you will be glad you did!
Take my advice and find out more about motor home hire first, you won't be disappointed I can promise you that. Once you secure your ride you can head out on any adventure you want.
I wrote an article here that documented how easy the rigs were to handle. I was really nervous at first but we all ended up pleasantly surprised by the ease of use. On our trip we ended up seeing Sydney, the Blue Mountain area, and Jervis Bay. It was lovely but in a dream world I would spend a year in a motor home and explore each and every corner of that beautiful country.
Read on to see all the amazing things you could see by taking a caravan around Australia:
New South Wales
NSW has a lot to offer and it goes far beyond the city of Sydney. Although if you only get to enjoy the Sydney area you will not be disappointed, it is a playground for all between the harbor, the beaches and the water sports. In this state you can camp from the city all the way up the Blue Mountains and beyond. There are hiking trails, animal encounters, cave exploration and more.
When you've had your fill in the mountains you can drive back towards the coast to some beautiful beaches in Byron Bay where you can enjoy the small towns and lovely beach side campgrounds in Jervis Bay or take on new adventures of surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and diving. Next stop in NSW for us would be Hunter Valley where wine, antiques, and artwork merge together for a completely different experience.
Victoria
Melbourne is a city we would really like to explore. Around every corner it seems there is something new to discover. From casinos to art shows and theater, there is something exciting going on nearly all the time.
If the city life is not for you can explore the Great Ocean Rd, one of Australia's most iconic road trips, visit penguins on Philip Island, drink your fill of wine in Yarra valley, relax in spa country of Daylesford, or simply laze on one of the many beautiful beaches in the state.
Tasmania
Tasmania is perhaps the place we want to explore most. You can start out in Hobart, the birth place of the convict history on the continent, where even though you are in the biggest town on the island you will find that nature and beauty is always close by. There is also Wineglass bay in Freycinet peninsula. It is stunning!
Enjoy a Victorian vibe in downtown Launceston and head out towards the wine country and marvel at the small villages ripe with grand old farms and mansions. As if all that is not enough, do not forget all the amazing wilderness around you. In Tasmania you can do everything from hiking Cradle Mountain, river rafting in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park to meeting up with a wild platypus or Tasmanian devil.
South Australia
When most people think of Australia a few images come to mind. Kangaroos is typically one of the first. In South Australia you will find the city of Adelaide which is renowned for its fine dining, fun food festivals and stunning gardens. But the main draw are the kangaroos.
On Kangaroo Island you will get up close and personal with hundreds of kangaroos but you can also swim with wild dolphins, watch penguins frolic and enjoy stunning views and delicious food.
Other notable spots to visit include Flinders ranges and Eyre Peninsula. Both locations will give you ample opportunity to camp and really enjoy life in a motor home.
Western Australia
Perth, Kimberly, Margaret River and Ningaloo are all main highlights of this area. Perth is a large cosmopolitan city with some of the most beautiful beaches and family friendly activities in the country. Kimberly is where you can have a true outback adventure. Ride a camel through the desert, hike through ancient gorges, marvel at the bungle bungles, or visit a cattle station, all things done far easier in a motor home.
Margaret River is all about fine cuisine, local honey, home made cheeses, and world acclaimed wineries, not to mention, as per the norm in Australia, more beautiful beaches. Ningaloo is a spot I have been hearing about for decades so finding our way there would truly be a privilege. It is home to a shark nature preserve and one spot that you can hop in the crystal blue water to swim alongside whale sharks. Diving here is first class and the beaches are some of the best in the world!
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is the true outback of the country. Here you can visit Darwin, the culture capitol of the country, or Alice Springs, the quintessential outback town. Both will give you a true sense of Australian history. Lesser known Kakadu is also in this area and is both a cultural an biological wonder.
Ayers Rock or Uluru can also be found in this territory and really is the penultimate of all the Australian experiences. You can witness the sun rise and fall over the mountain while examining the fading and changing colors. You can also walk the path of a real aboriginal by taking a guided tour which I highly recommend.
Queensland
Brisbane is the main city in Queensland. It is a tropical, laid back city that offers all you could want in a city experience. The Gold Coast is famous for fabulous nightlife, beautiful forests, and international theme parks making it the capital of fun!
The real thrill and draw though in this state are the beaches and underwater experiences. Whitsundy islands are about the closet thing to Heaven I think I've ever seen, Google search that image and you'll want to head there this minute.
One of the seven wonders of the natural world can be found here as well. The Great Barrier Reef is like no other underwater ecosystem in the world. You can snorkel or dive, charter a boat and explore, or even find an uninhabited island and leave a set of your footprints in the sand.
As you can see there is just so much to see in this amazing country. I have not even scratched the surface with the list of places to explore but it certainly is a good starting point. In my view really the only way to see all these things is to travel around by motor home. You can either buy one to resell when you are done or rent one long term. Either way you will be glad you did!
There is no better way to explore a new area than to drive through the cities and countryside in a camper. The freedom of the open road, the slow moving scenery, and the natural habitat within campgrounds makes for an excellent adventure.
When we were first offered a camper van for a week in Australia I was definitely concerned as we knew next to nothing about campers. When I realized it was a large camper and not just a van I was even more concerned. I knew I would be the only one driving since my husband would not be able to drive it because his license is written in Spanish.
The week before the actual trip my mind filled with worries about everything from if I would be able to steer it well enough, to if I would remember how to empty the toilet without making a mess. I will get into more details but the short and sweet of it is that managing this beautiful camper from Apollo Camper vans was so easy to manage that even my 14-year-old could do it all, in fact he did quite a bit of it, aside from the driving of course!
The driving
As with everything else on this self-drive holiday with Apollo, the driving was a piece of cake. We had the 6 berth Euro deluxe so it was sort of large compared to a van or a car that I am used to driving. I was shocked at how easy it maneuvered. The turning radius made it surprisingly agile. I had a Ford Expedition that was harder to turn!
There are two things you want to be particularly aware of if you're planning to hire a camper in Australia. Insurance covers most things on the camper but the two things it does not cover are the two things most likely to get damaged: the overhead and under carriage. While driving it is best to have a passenger and to have both of you maintain an awareness of any overhead situations like bridges, overpasses, and even low lying branches. The clearance on our camper was 3 meters. Equally important is the undercarriage so take special care to go slow when approaching any large potholes or speed bumps. Whatever you think you need for space give yourself a little bit extra and you can avoid causing damage to the vehicle.
Also remember that they drive on the opposite side of the road in Australia. Luckily I was quite used to it after being in Asia for over a year but either way it is easier than you might expect!
The electric and gas
The electric and gas tanks were also a source of concern for me, so much so that I downloaded and saved a video (Apollo provides on it's site) regarding the basics and 'how to' functionality of the lights and cooking in the motorhome.
Again this ended up being very straight forward and easy to manage. Only the cook top itself runs on gas, the rest is electric. We camped four nights and had a powered site each evening. For the electric it was as simple as plugging a cord to the side of the camper and the other end to the plug provided at the campsite. There is an electrical fuse box in the kitchen area all marked and easy to use. Once plugged in just flip the switches of what you want to use and that is it. There is some capability of using the lights from just the charge of the battery and there is also a gauge inside so you know how much time you have left. It doesn't charge very much and on the charge you cannot use the microwave or the air conditioning. As an aside, the TV will work even while driving, a particularly great thing by my children's standards.
The gas for cooking is also simple to use. The tank(s) is stored under the motor home in an easy to access compartment. You simply turn the valve on and then flip the switch in the electrical panel to power up the push button to ignite and fan above the cook top. Cook to your hearts content (3 burners provided) and then simply turn the gas off at the valve under the camper when you are done. It can stay on as long as you are not driving, but for peace of mind we turned it off as soon as the cooking was done.
The water tanks
The water system on the motorhome is 3 fold; a grey water waste tank, a sewage waste tank, and a usable water tank for the taps and shower. Both the grey water and usable water tanks have a gauge inside the electrical panel so you can stay on top of how full or empty you are getting. All intimidating at first but all simple to use. This part my son handled himself.
The grey water tank was simple to empty, you just connect the provided hose until it clicked in pace, pulled the lever to open it and the water flowed right out. Of course be sure the other end of the hose is pointed where ever it is appropriate to dump. We found most campsites have an easily accessible area.
The waste water tank was my biggest concern, but it turned out to be the easiest of them all. On the Apollo motorhomes it is a self-contained bin that you remove and roll down (think a suitcase of poo with wheels) to the area of disposal (also offered at most campgrounds). Open the bin at the spout, dump it out, give a quick rinse and place it back into it's spot. Very little odor and no mess at all. Apollo includes a biodegradable tablet to place in the tank that we found really worked well to alleviate any odors. The tablet plus keeping the lid down helped a lot. Campers have come a long way!
I also encourage people to use the campground facilities whenever possible. By doing that we only had to empty the waste tank every other day.
The tap water tank lasted quite a long time, too, especially since we used the campground facilities for dish washing and showers. We ended up not having to refill the tank the entire 5 days, yet at each campsite we had our own spigot for easy filling. Attach the hoses and wait until the tank is full, easy as that! (The water was not expected to be full upon returning the camper.)
On top of the ease of systems the camper also provides great storage compartments under the motorhome, under the seats inside, and in various compartments around the interior. We also found we could use the overhead bed space as storage for our large packs during the day. The overhead bed compartment has a netting that covers the open space and locks your stuff in so it also is secure and there is no chance of it falling out as you drive. If we were actually moving all the drawers and doors locked up tight so nothing moved around or broke.
Everything inside the camper was made for movement and very well thought out. Remember to keep the camper clean, return it with both grey water and sewage tanks empty, and full gas tank.
Now you know how easy it is to drive around Australia in a motorhome. Truly, no previous knowledge was needed to operate it. So if you're planning a trip Australia, we highly recommend that you rent one. It's an amazing way to experience this beautiful country.
When we were first offered a camper van for a week in Australia I was definitely concerned as we knew next to nothing about campers. When I realized it was a large camper and not just a van I was even more concerned. I knew I would be the only one driving since my husband would not be able to drive it because his license is written in Spanish.
The week before the actual trip my mind filled with worries about everything from if I would be able to steer it well enough, to if I would remember how to empty the toilet without making a mess. I will get into more details but the short and sweet of it is that managing this beautiful camper from Apollo Camper vans was so easy to manage that even my 14-year-old could do it all, in fact he did quite a bit of it, aside from the driving of course!
The driving
As with everything else on this self-drive holiday with Apollo, the driving was a piece of cake. We had the 6 berth Euro deluxe so it was sort of large compared to a van or a car that I am used to driving. I was shocked at how easy it maneuvered. The turning radius made it surprisingly agile. I had a Ford Expedition that was harder to turn!
There are two things you want to be particularly aware of if you're planning to hire a camper in Australia. Insurance covers most things on the camper but the two things it does not cover are the two things most likely to get damaged: the overhead and under carriage. While driving it is best to have a passenger and to have both of you maintain an awareness of any overhead situations like bridges, overpasses, and even low lying branches. The clearance on our camper was 3 meters. Equally important is the undercarriage so take special care to go slow when approaching any large potholes or speed bumps. Whatever you think you need for space give yourself a little bit extra and you can avoid causing damage to the vehicle.
Also remember that they drive on the opposite side of the road in Australia. Luckily I was quite used to it after being in Asia for over a year but either way it is easier than you might expect!
The electric and gas
The electric and gas tanks were also a source of concern for me, so much so that I downloaded and saved a video (Apollo provides on it's site) regarding the basics and 'how to' functionality of the lights and cooking in the motorhome.
Again this ended up being very straight forward and easy to manage. Only the cook top itself runs on gas, the rest is electric. We camped four nights and had a powered site each evening. For the electric it was as simple as plugging a cord to the side of the camper and the other end to the plug provided at the campsite. There is an electrical fuse box in the kitchen area all marked and easy to use. Once plugged in just flip the switches of what you want to use and that is it. There is some capability of using the lights from just the charge of the battery and there is also a gauge inside so you know how much time you have left. It doesn't charge very much and on the charge you cannot use the microwave or the air conditioning. As an aside, the TV will work even while driving, a particularly great thing by my children's standards.
The gas for cooking is also simple to use. The tank(s) is stored under the motor home in an easy to access compartment. You simply turn the valve on and then flip the switch in the electrical panel to power up the push button to ignite and fan above the cook top. Cook to your hearts content (3 burners provided) and then simply turn the gas off at the valve under the camper when you are done. It can stay on as long as you are not driving, but for peace of mind we turned it off as soon as the cooking was done.
The water tanks
The water system on the motorhome is 3 fold; a grey water waste tank, a sewage waste tank, and a usable water tank for the taps and shower. Both the grey water and usable water tanks have a gauge inside the electrical panel so you can stay on top of how full or empty you are getting. All intimidating at first but all simple to use. This part my son handled himself.
The grey water tank was simple to empty, you just connect the provided hose until it clicked in pace, pulled the lever to open it and the water flowed right out. Of course be sure the other end of the hose is pointed where ever it is appropriate to dump. We found most campsites have an easily accessible area.
The waste water tank was my biggest concern, but it turned out to be the easiest of them all. On the Apollo motorhomes it is a self-contained bin that you remove and roll down (think a suitcase of poo with wheels) to the area of disposal (also offered at most campgrounds). Open the bin at the spout, dump it out, give a quick rinse and place it back into it's spot. Very little odor and no mess at all. Apollo includes a biodegradable tablet to place in the tank that we found really worked well to alleviate any odors. The tablet plus keeping the lid down helped a lot. Campers have come a long way!
I also encourage people to use the campground facilities whenever possible. By doing that we only had to empty the waste tank every other day.
 |
| Using the campground facilities was a huge relief on the camper systems |
On top of the ease of systems the camper also provides great storage compartments under the motorhome, under the seats inside, and in various compartments around the interior. We also found we could use the overhead bed space as storage for our large packs during the day. The overhead bed compartment has a netting that covers the open space and locks your stuff in so it also is secure and there is no chance of it falling out as you drive. If we were actually moving all the drawers and doors locked up tight so nothing moved around or broke.
Everything inside the camper was made for movement and very well thought out. Remember to keep the camper clean, return it with both grey water and sewage tanks empty, and full gas tank.
 |
| By day storage, by night a fun loft |