Australia So Much to See

Due to changes in staffing, these informative and interesting tours of the weather station have been changed. Watching the release of the weather balloons will no longer be part of the tour and can only be seen from the car park. This tour in its full form was the highlight of our trip across the Great Central Road. See our travelogue here

Media release from Bureau of Meteorology:

Guided tours of station are available at 11am, Mon to Fri (South Aust. time)

Meet at Visitors Centre for guided tours of station. (Please be sunsmart)

Also

Weather balloon releases can be viewed daily, looking towards the radar tower, from the car park near the visitors centre, at the following times:

Non Daylight Savings: 8:45am and 2:45pm. (South Aust. time)

Daylight Savings: 9:45am and 3:45pm. (South Aust. time)

Paul Lainio

Senior Meteorologist, Media and Community Relations

Updated 15 November 2012

Albury New South Wales – services for caravanners and campers

The Albury Railway Station Precinct caters for caravanners and campers with provision of big rig parking, potable and non potable water, and a dump point. This area is not to be used for staying overnight.

8 April 2013

Three Springs Western Australia – free caravan park open

The Short Stay Caravan Park is well under way. Hot showers will be included in the development with this stage planned for construction in 2104. Meanwhile the free campground is open without amenities at 32 Hunt Street and accessed from the corner of Hunt and Hall Streets. Toilets may be accessed at the nearby hockey field as an interim measure. Generators may be used within specified hours and pets are permitted on a leash. Please register at Shire Office or Visitor Centre.

A dump point and water outlet can be accessed from the Lane which runs between Hall and Waters Streets at the rear of the Shire Office Railway Road Three Springs.

8 April 2013

Want to know the latest in communication for travellers?

We are pleased to announce the release of a free eBook covering the complexities of modern communications for Australian travellers.

In a world where technology and communications are advancing at an amazing rate, one travellers has filled in the gaps producing an eBook which can be downloaded free. This has been researched and created by a fellow caravanner and a few helpers voluntarily for the benefit of many, with all costs covered by the author.

Donations to the Royal Flying Doctor Service may be made in appreciation of the service that they too provide. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is not associated with this eBook but is a worthy cause in the eyes of remote area travellers and anyone who has had occasion to thank the RFDS in medical emergencies, where ever they live or travel. Those who live in the north of the Northern Territory may prefer to direct their donation to CareFlight, who are providing the aero-medical cover in this region. Just download your copy of the eBook and go to Donate to CareFlight to make your donation.

Learn how to get the best results possible and understand the latest devices, programs and applications that can make life so much easier when you travel.

Facts include:

Mobile Phone Selection

Service Provider Selection

The Best Modems

External Antenna Selection and Set-up

System Set-up and Testing

Also see our Communications page.

17 April 2013

Ravenshoe Queensland Railco Low cost camping open again

After being closed to campers for around two years, the Ravenshoe Railway camping grounds have undergone a major upgrade and I am pleased to advise that the camping grounds are now open.

The ablutions block now has two laundry tubs and houses two male and two female toilets as well as two male and two female showers (showers work on an honesty system). There are an additional three female toilets in the Station House. A disability toilet is under construction and should be completed mid May 2013.

There are 26 powered and 24 unpowered sites, a camp fire, drinkable water and an onsite “grey water” dump point. (Council dump point is in Ascham Street)

The camping grounds can accommodate any size vehicle and pets are allowed. Maximum stay is seven consecutive nights. There is mobile phone reception and a public phone close by in Grigg Street.

Powered sites are $12.00 per day and unpowered sites $8.00 per day.

Businesses to be found in Ravenshoe are: Doctors, clinic, chemist, two supermarkets, an auto electrician, motor mechanics, two pubs, three cafés, a bakery, a hardware store, two real estate agents, two banks (Bendigo and NAB), two service stations and a number of speciality stores.

While during the closure of the Railco campground, unauthorised camping was taking place on adjacent land. This will no longer be condoned.

21 May 2013

Satellite Telephone Subsidy Scheme

This scheme which was due to expire on 30 June 2013 has been extended until 30 June 2014. See media release here.

14 May 2013

New National Park on the Burrup Peninsula recognising the largest concentrate ancient of Petroglyphs in the world.

The new Murujuga National Park will be the first Aboriginal freehold land to be leased back to the State of Western Australia and jointly managed as a National Park, with formal protection under the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984.

The park will be jointly managed by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Environment and Conservation under the guidance of the Murujuga Park Council. The park covers an area of 4,913 hectares of non industrial land on the Burrup Peninsula near Dampier, and hosts the largest concentration of ancient rock art in the world, dating back over 30,000 years.

See Murujuga National Park

17 January 2013

New Management for Western Australian Parks and Reserves.

A new Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) and a Department of Environmental Regulation will replace the existing Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) with the changes taking place 1st July this year.

See the Media Statement

22 June 2013

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Emergency service 000 from satellite telephones

As of 1 July 2013 all hand held satellite phones registered in Australia are required to be able to call emergency services 000. This includes the international network Inmarsat. Previously 000 could only be called fro an Australian satellite network such as Iridium. See more about satellite telehones and other communications

1 July 2013

Note that as of 14 January 2014 Nyngan have regained their status as an RV Friendly Town withCMCA.

Since Council’s decision at its meeting on 23 May 2013 to not allow free camping at our showground for self-contained motor homes, campervans and caravans for up to 96 hours (four days and nights) a lot of emails, letters and adverse comments have come our way.

We would like to take the opportunity to respond to all who have made submissions to us:

1. Nothing has changed. Our attitude to any travellers passing through Nyngan remains that they are welcome to stop, stay and shop in our friendly town. No “gates” have been put up at the entrances to our town to divert anybody.

2. There are a number of areas in Nyngan, some along the highway and main street where self-contained motor homes, campervans, caravans and other travelling vehicles can pull up and stop overnight. Some of these, including the Teamster’s Rest and Flood Memorial Park, have adjacent clean toilets. More information about overnight stopping areas is available from the Nyngan Visitor’s Information Centre based at the Nyngan Museum, telephone 6832 1052 or Council offices on 6835 9000.

3. One of our parking areas, the Teamster’s Rest in our main street has a Waste Dump Point (since 2009) freely available to all self-contained recreational vehicles.

4. Nyngan is a safe town with no law and order problems. We are a 24/7 alcohol free zone – preventing consumption of alcohol along our streets and public car parks, thus making our town much safer for those who choose to stop overnight.

5. We have a “dog off-leash area” between the river and the levee bank near our Engineering depot. Dogs are not allowed at the showground.

6. We have never had the blue RV Friendly Town signs erected on the approaches to Nyngan. There are signs directing caravans to parking areas in the main street on the approaches to town. We have erected a “no unauthorised camping” sign at our showground. Authorised camping arrangements for events and for people travelling with horses can, however, be made by contacting Council on 6835 9000.

7. Not all towns in NSW, or Australia, have the RV Friendly Town signs or agreement / status. Therefore, in all fairness, shouldn’t all those who have contacted and criticised us, direct similar messages to all these towns?

8. Unfortunately, at the showground camping area some campers and travellers were taking advantage of the power and other amenities despite signs advising them of the need to be self-contained.

9. We understand that not all campers and travellers need to, or wish to stay at Caravan Parks. However, Council was not prepared to allow free camping for up to 96 hours at our showground. Some travellers who took advantage of this may have otherwise spent some time at our Caravan Parks.

10. Our Council, town, businesses and people continue to extend a friendly, safe welcome to all travellers passing through Nyngan and hope they will stop, stay and shop.

Ray Donald Derek Francis
Mayor General Manager

2 July 2013

Note news updating the deveopments at Nyngan

See previous story Nyngan has recently qualified as a CMCA RVFT

Good news for campers and visitors to Western Australia with the release of the State Budget

Over the next four years $34.4 million in Royalties for Regions funding will go to the Caravan and Camping Action Plan ($14.7 million of which is specifically earmarked for initiatives to improve camping facilities in national parks – with an additional $6.3 million allocated to the “Parks for People” initiative).

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said this would provide more high-quality, low-cost campsites in national parks throughout the South West and Mid West over the next four years.