Liquid Life and Leisure - March

Page 1

MARCH | liquidlifeandleisure.com.au STATION HOPPERS | PAGE 74

JB CARAVANS Page 2

CARAVAN AND CAMPING HIRE | Page 30

TAILFIN Page 38


UNSURPASSED QUALITY If there is one thing that JB Caravan owners agree on it’s the quality of the caravan. Whether it’s a family van, on-road, semi off-road or full off-road van you are looking for, the quality and attention to detail in a JB Caravan is second to none. JB Caravans are made from Australian materials, in an Australian factory, and made to handle Australian conditions, whether its harshness of the desert, the sun and surf of the Australian coast, or a rural adventure, the JB Caravan can meet the challenge. It can do all this and provide you with the comfort and luxury you expect in a home away from home.

WE USE ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY CONSTRUCTION


You don’t have to rough it to experience everything Australia has to offer. You can be driving down the red dirt roads, or the Great Ocean Road and still be confident that your caravan will be up for the job. Then when you pull up at the end of the day you can relax and just do what you are meant to be doing‌ experiencing and living your travelling life. If you are thinking about joining the JB Caravan family, take a virtual 3D tour on the website. From here you can inspect all the features of each of our vans and see for yourself the quality and luxury you can expect to see first hand when you walk into our factory, or one of our dealers showrooms. Taking a virtual 3D tour is the best way to take the first step.

What are you waiting for, we are right here at

www.jbcaravans.com.au ready to show you around.

1800 991 169 | 2040 - 2060 Sydney Rd Campbellfield VIC 3061


$25,000 IN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS! There’s a long, hot summer of prizes ahead for Club Marine members. We’re giving away 25 prizes of $1,000 to spend at any of our Member Rewards partners.

$1,000 25 prizes of

All you have to do is hold a current Club Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance policy and Club Marine Magazine subscription at the time of each prize draw to be automatically entered. We will draw 5 lucky winners per month between 1 November 2018 and 31 March 2019!

to be won!

BUY, RENEW OR SUBSCRIBE NOW P

1300 00 C LU B (2582)

C LU B M A R I N E.C O M.AU

Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL No. 234708 of 2 Market Street, Sydney. Club Marine Limited (Club Marine) ABN 12 007 588 347 AFSL No. 236916 is a related body corporate and issues boat insurance as agent of Allianz. Before making a decision, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or Policy Wording. Full terms and conditions available at clubmarine.com.au. Authorised under NSW Permit No.: LTPS/18/28567 , ACT Permit No.: TP18/0191, SA Permit No.: T18/1749.

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24/10/2018 3:45:45 PM


$25,000 IN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS! There’s a long, hot summer of prizes ahead for Club Marine members. We’re giving away 25 prizes of $1,000 to spend at any of our Member Rewards partners.

$1,000 25 prizes of

All you have to do is hold a current Club Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance policy and Club Marine Magazine subscription at the time of each prize draw to be automatically entered. We will draw 5 lucky winners per month between 1 November 2018 and 31 March 2019!

to be won!

BUY, RENEW OR SUBSCRIBE NOW P

1300 00 C LU B (2582)

C LU B M A R I N E.C O M.AU

Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL No. 234708 of 2 Market Street, Sydney. Club Marine Limited (Club Marine) ABN 12 007 588 347 AFSL No. 236916 is a related body corporate and issues boat insurance as agent of Allianz. Before making a decision, please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or Policy Wording. Full terms and conditions available at clubmarine.com.au. Authorised under NSW Permit No.: LTPS/18/28567 , ACT Permit No.: TP18/0191, SA Permit No.: T18/1749.

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MARCH 2019

Contents... ON THE COVER

JB Caravans 2 Exploring the quality range

Caravan and Camping hire 30 The heart of Australia

Tailfin Water Rail 38

What’s on in March 1st – 18th March Sculptures by the Sea Cottesloe https://www.westernaustra-

lia.com/en/Event/Sculpture_by_the_-

Sea_-_Cottesloe_2019/56b268972cbcb

Introducing the Tailfin hydrofoil

e7073ae255e#/

The home of Australian station travel

14th – 17th March

Station Hoppers 74

BUSINESS PROFILES Gourmet Meals 22

Great food ideas

Oz Satellite Rentals 42

The Great Outdoor and 4x4 expo Mornington http://www.greatoutdoorex-

Staying in touch to getting away, Oz satellite have you covered.

pos.com.au/mornington.php

Swing Case 47

14th – 17th March

Storage for your ute USUAL SUSPECTS Fitness on the road 8

Keep fit while you trave Galways Go Round 12

Lifestyle travel must havesl Australian Marine Wholesale 32

Number one in boating technology Midea 70

The best portable dishwasher

CMC Rocks QLD

https://www.cmcrocks.com/

20th – 24th March Perth caravan and camping show https://caravanandcampingshow.com.au/

SPECIAL FEATURES Food Junkie 24

Let’s get spicy

Coolum Surf Club 44

Check out the Entertainment and sports bar Burley Buckets 58

Introducing the Burley Buckets

29th – 31st March Albury Wodonga Caravan, Camping, 4x4 and Boat Show

https://www.ruralscene.com.au/albury


from the editor...... Hello LLL Legends,

Can you believe we are in March, the month of St Patricks Day and the start of Autumn. Liquid Life & Leisure Team

At least we have a long weekend to make sure we get the most out of the last ofEditor the warm Hayley Taylor weather.

In this month’s issue there are Director plenty of ideas to Charity help you decide how to spendBen those precious moments with our family and friends. National Sales Manager start ofDan theCharity season for

This time of year is the Station stays and we’ve got a fantastic article where the guys from Station Hoppers Design give us the hot tips on how to chooseFlourish from the thousands Design Studio of station experiences around the country.

Liquid Life & Leisure Headquarters

Thinking about a trip to Uluru? Caravan and Camping Hire have got you covered Phonefor your family trip to the Red Centre(07) from wherever you 5580 4988 are across Australia. Address

Of course The Davos have another epic tale, this PO BOX 1076, Sanctuary Cove Q 4212 time from their trip to Litchfield National Park, and Hope Island, Gold Coast we’ve also got some awesome stories from some of our regulars like Bush in it on a Budget, the Websites Galways and some fantastic food and recipe www.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au ideas. Email to the We also welcome the Burley Buckets content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au family! Make sure you read their article and get to know them. Advertising content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au some amazing camping hacks

And as always, and tips to make your life even easier.

Deadline for Content: 15th of every month

So, yep its that time to find a quiet corner somewhere, grab a drink andContributors have a read, and don’t forget to give us some love those Yasmin & Leigh on - Family Gap Year socials. Dan & Fee - Ozzy Wide Ozzy Pride

Kel x Kelly Gudgeon - Destination and Travel

Liquid Life & Leisure Team Editor Hayley Taylor Director Ben Charity

National Sales Manager Dan Charity Marketing Manager Madi Taylor

Strategic Partnership Manager Kelly Gudgeon Design GraffitzDesign Design Studio Co Flourish

Liquid Life & Leisure Headquarters Phone (07) 5580 4988 Address PO BOX 1076, Sanctuary Cove Q 4212 Hope Island, Gold Coast Websites www.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Email content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Advertising content@liquidlifeandleisure.com.au Deadline for Content: 15th of every month Contributors Rebecca Clark - The Food Junkie Dan & Fee - -Ozzy Wide Ozzy Kelly Gudgeon Destination andPride Travel Adam & Sharon Galway - Galways Go Round

LIQUID LIFE & LEISURE

LIQUID LIFE & LE


g n i t a E y h t l a e H r o f s p 5 Ti s d i K h t i w g n i l l e v a r T n Whe

www.facebook.com/abigpeacheyadventure https://abigpeacheyadventure.com.au/category/keeping-fit-while-travelling/


Kids can be fussy. Sometimes it can be a battle to keep them eating healthy food... let alone when you’re doing road trips. The good news is you don’t need to be a dietitian to keep your kids on the right path with healthy eating. You already know the difference between what’s healthy and “sometimes” food. That doesn’t mean we should be forcing kale or quinoa onto them.

We’re all about letting our kids be kids. But, there’s a few things that we’ve found that work for us. It helps make sure our kids are eating well most of the time: Identify the healthy (or healthier) snacks that your kids like Sometimes we forget that tasty doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Our kids love berries, and see them as a treat. They enjoy eating carrot sticks.

Cucumber prices are going to send us bankrupt. I mean sure, if we had these in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other, we know what they’d choose. But, if we have some of these ‘healthier treats’ for them as the only option, they’re very happy. Include snack preparation in your pre-travel checklist When we take a few minutes to prepare a lunchbox, it makes our travel days go way more smoothly.


When the kids start to get a little antsy, we pass them a few ‘treats’. A bit of fruit. Some seaweed crackers a bit later. They’re happy. It keeps them occupied. It sure beats stopping to buy chips. For lots of reasons. But... Aim to to eat well, most of the time It can be tough to keep a “perfect diet”. This is the truth whether you’re travelling or not. That’s why diets don’t work. What does work is eating well most of the time, and developing a

healthy relationship with food. If you’re aiming for perfection, you’re setting yourself (and your kids) up for failure. If you’re crossing the Savannah Way, don’t be scared to buy frozen vegetables. They may not be straight from the farmer’s market, but it’s better than needing to go to the bakery to buy pies. If we keep a packet of Zooper Doopers in the fridge, the treat value is huge... and they’re really not that bad when you consider...


Give the “healthy” foods less than you think We’ve all done it. Given our kids apple juice because we thought it was good for them. That low fat yoghurt must be good, because it’s low fat. Right? A pile of dried fruit must be good because it’s... fruit? There’s absolutetly nothing wrong with giving our kids these things IF we treat them for what they really are.

Don’t forget to let kids be kids The reality is the energy needs of kids are very different than ours. They’re growing, and on the move. Constantly. It may be that they need higher energy foods (at times). Easter is definitely one of those times. So is an ice-cream on a hot day.

Keeping kids eating a healthy balanced diet doesn’t need to be tough. Let’s not have that fight over finishing the broccoli. There’s no need. It can come down to finding the healthier things they do like, and planning around those things What are the things that you’ve found help your kids to eat well most of the time?

written by Michael Peachey .

To read more travel articles check out https://liquidlifeandleisure.com.au/blog/


24HRS COLD, 12HRS H WITH OUR MARINE GRA STAINLESS STEEL DRIN BOTTLE. One of the reasons we decided to align ourselves with Red is their high standard of innovation and quality. They leave no stone unturned in creating solutions for those who want to get out and enjoy some serious SUP time! Over the past 10 years Red Paddle Co has grown in to a world-leading paddleboard brand, built on the ethos of designing quality, with no compromise products.

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Beyond the boards however, they were frustrated that well thought out products designed for our sport and 3 lifestyle were still missing.

Whenever they wanted to go on an epic paddling adventure, compete in an endurance race, or even spend a relaxed day at the beach with friends and family, they were having to compromise with accessories and gear that didn’t do what they really wanted it to because they were designed with other things in mind - and often poorly made. Who hasn’t felt like that before?!

Plastic pollution in our seas is an ever incr

Thankfully they decided to design their own premium range of things paddlers really needed – definitive versions of the kit you actually need, featuring all the elements you would ever want and using quality materials that look awesome too!

With a large 750ml capacity you can take

problem, yet we know how important it is t

hydrated both on and off the water which to developing this awesome bottle. Using

quality marine grade stainless steel mean

will not corrode like other metal drinks bot extending the life of your bottle.

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of your favourite hot drink with you or enjo

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pockets of our deck bag or you can attach board using a carabiner.


As you would expect from Red, performance, style and user-centric design is at the forefront of the range. You’ll find innovative new approaches to age old problems (‘What do I do with my valuables when I go paddling?’); and re-imagined must-haves (‘Why do change robes have to be cheap and nasty?’). We have been using the Red Original range this summer and couldn’t be happier! Whether it be for a morning SUP, travel adventures, work outs or afternoon surfs with the kids; we love all of it whether it is the hardworking and hardwearing coolbags, amazingly insulating hot/cold drinks bottle, or the board lock that keeps our gear secure when we’re not paddling.

4 5 All the range is designed to enable the ultimate experience, whatever your style of paddling, and they’ve made sure they have a multitude of uses beyond just 3 watersports - helping you get out there and EXPLORE YOUR WORLD. Check out our favourites or order yours today:

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https://www.galwaysgoround.com.au/store/c4/red-original

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SUPer Insulated Double walled construction The double wall construction creates a vacuum between keep cold drinks cold for 24hrs and hot drinks hot for 12hrs with no external condensation

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Comfortable Rubberised mouth piece (Sports Cap) Easy to use and prevents any leakage

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Large 750ml/25oz Capacity Big enough to carry 3 cups of coffee or a whole bottle of wine!


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Armour Tech Tough but tactile premium high density waterproof TPU fabric provides optimum in SUPer Insulated Double walled the construction The durability. double wall construction creates a vacuum between Luggage Tensioning System With rotary spring hooks the outside environment and inside liquid helping to and 4mm para cord for added strength and security keep cold drinks coldzip forThe 24hrs and hot drinks hot for YKK aquaseal 5mm best totally waterproof

zip youwith canno get, our premium YKK AquaSeal zip won’t 12hrs external condensation corrode or fail. Tested to 0.3 millibar 2. Keep warm with hot drinks on the goand Theguaranteed canteen cap to 0.05 millibar. Complete with ergonomic ring pull. 7 enables you to take your favourite hot drink or soup on 4. Welded Seams Prevent water from entering the deck 2 every adventure bag keeping the contents safe. 1. Armour Tech Tough but tactile premium high density 8 waterproof TPU fabric provides the optimum3. in 5. Internal removable skeleton Creates streamline form Single handed drinking Sports cap attachment durability. and provides towhilst the bag enables easy shape drinking on the go 2. Luggage Tensioning System With rotary spring hooks and 4mm para cord for added strength and 6. securityDrinks bottle holders On the outside of the bag 4. Easily Attachable (Sports Cap) Attach your bottle to 3. YKK aquaseal 5mm zip The best totally waterproof for easy access and compatible with Red Original zip you can get, our premium YKK AquaSeal zip won’t board, deckbottles bag or with cool drawstring bag with a carabiner corrode or fail. Tested to 0.3 millibar and guaranteedyour Insulated Drinks closure to so it to 0.05 millibar. Complete with ergonomic ring pull. wont get lost when on the water. keep secure 4. Welded Seams Prevent water from entering the deck bag Tough keeping the contents safe. high density 7. Ergonomic top access Provides access to Cap) the Armour Tech but tactile premium 5. Comfortable Rubberised moutheasy piece (Sports 5. Internal removable skeleton Createsinstreamline form waterproof TPU fabric provides the optimum contents whilst on the water. and provides shape to the bag durability. BUY NOW Easy to use and prevents any leakage 6. Drinks bottle holders On rotary the outside the bag 8. Reinforced neoprene handle Carry heavy loads in Luggage Tensioning System With springofhooks for easy access and compatible with Red Original Large 750ml/25oz Capacity Big enough to carry 3 and 4mm para cord for added strength and security 6. comfort.

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Insulated bottles with drawstring closure to YKK aquaseal 5mmDrinks zip The best totally waterproof keep zip you can get,secure our premium YKK AquaSeal zip won’t 9. 7. or Ergonomic Provides easy access to the corrode fail. Testedtop to access 0.3 millibar and guaranteed contents whilst onwith the ergonomic water. to 0.05 millibar. Complete ring pull. 8. Reinforced neoprene handle Carry heavy loads 10.in Welded Seams Prevent water from entering the deck comfort. bag keeping the contents safe. 9. removable Wave webbing Allows multiple attachments Internal skeleton Creates streamline form to the bag shape to the bag and provides 10.bottle External bungee store additional Drinks holders On the outside of the items bag under the bungeeand or attach the Red Dry Pouch. for easy access compatible withOriginal Red Original

cups coffee orAllows a whole bottleattachments of wine! Waveofwebbing multiple to the bag External bungee store additional items under the bungee or attach the Red Original Dry Pouch.

www.galwaysgoround.com.au Insulated Drinks bottles with drawstring closure to keep secure Ergonomic top access Provides easy access to the contents whilst on the water. 8. Reinforced neoprene handle Carry heavy loads in comfort. 9. Wave webbing Allows multiple attachments to the bag 10. External bungee store additional items under the 7.


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a s o No Courtesy of Paul Smith Images | visitnoosa.com.au Noosa is one of the most famous jewels in the Sunshine Coast crown. From exquisite beaches, incredible bushland and a shopping and dining experience that rivals the big cities, Noosa really does have it all. Situated 120km north of Brisbane, Noosa is just as easy as a weekend retreat, or a holiday destination. Noosa incorporates the areas of Noosa Heads, Noosa Junction and Noosaville. Noosa Heads is the resort area and includes the famous shopping strip on Hastings Street. The main beach is also in this area, and at the end of Hastings Street is Noosa Woods and

Noosa Spit. At the other end of Hastings Street is the Noosa National Park. Noosa Junction is around the river and has evolved from being the quiet business end of town to becoming a favourite haunt of the locals who frequent the restaurants, bars, designer stores and boutiques that are now dotted around the area. Noosa residents say it is like a country town on the beach, they say it’s a town that is focused on health and fitness and uses its natural wonders to its advantage. The name Noosa came from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘shade’ or

‘shadow’ and is probably a reference to the tall forests in the area. The Kabi tribe are the traditional owners of the area, and European settlers began to use the area to set up a timber industry and sheep grazing land, before tourism became the primary industry for the area. Noosa is near the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. You can base yourself at Noosa and still easily access many other locations on the Sunshine Coast and into the Hinterland. Or you can easily just stay and confidently know that you will never be at a loss of things to do.


a s o o N in y ta s to e r Whe There are plenty of accommodation options in Noosa and its surrounds. CARAVAN PARKS There are three caravan parks to choose from which offer van sites and cabin style accommodation. BUDGET There are a number of Youth Hostel /Backpacker style accommodation units to choose from. These offer dorm accommodation, or twin or double rooms.

There are also budget units which are a great option for a bit more privacy at a lower price. MID-RANGE The Wolngarin Holiday Resort offers small apartments, or villas, which are a great family option. RESORT This is where Noosa really shines. It is famous for its resort style accommodation and luxury hotels and there are plenty to choose from including:

Courtesy of Paul Smith Images | visitnoosa.com.au

Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas RACV Noosa Resort – this one being particularly family friendly Softel Noosa Noosa Riviera Lookout Noosa The Sebel Resort Noosa Quay West Resort and Spa Noosa Picture Point Terraces Even if you can’t afford to stay in one of the upmarket resorts, book in for a treatment in one of the day spas for a day of pampering and be part of the Noosa vibe.


What to do in Noosa

Courtesy of Paul Smith Images | visitnoosa.com.au GO TO THE BEACH Obviously heading to the beach would have to be the number one activity. The biggest decision you will have to make is which beach to go to. Do you feel like swimming with the crowds or are you wanting a private relax. There are more than a dozen beaches, secluded bays and hideaway coves, so there are plenty of options to suit whatever beach mood you are in. Noosa’s Main Beach is front and centre but it’s a calm, protected and patrolled beach right off Hastings Street. While at the beach do you prefer to sit and watch the world go by, or you can learn to surf. Just down the road a few minutes is where you will find the open beach breaks that offer more for the experienced surfer. From here as well you can hop on a car ferry across to Noosa North Shore. Here is 40km of white sands,

incredible coastline and ancient dunes. Or you can access the World Heritage listed Fraser Island and Great Sandy National Park. NOOSA NATIONAL PARK There are many trails and walks through the Noosa National Park. The Coastal track is spectacular with many vantage points that overlook Laguna Bay, Noosa North Shore and the Cooloola Sandpatch. There are also many side tracks to explore which will take you to secluded bays including Tea Tree and Granite. From here you can watch the surfers, spot endless marine animals including turtles, dolphins and from July to October humpack whales. The tracks are not difficult and traverse through rainforest and open woodlands giving you an incredible experience and the opportunity to spot some beautiful birds and other wildlife, including koalas.

SHOP ON HASTINGS STREET
 Hastings Street is a shopping mecca. It has an incredible selection of bars, restaurants and cafes on one side of the road, and on the other you can shop till you drop from the many fashion, jewellery, surf, homewares, art shops with a wide selection of locally made products, high end fashion and souvenirs. If Hastings Street isn’t enough shopping there are also other options in Noosa Junction and Noosaville. TAKE A DRIVE IN THE COUNTRY The Noosa hinterland is only a 30 minute drive from the beach and with a variety of trails and lookouts there is so much to explore. Take your bike, walk or you can organise to ride a horse. There are also many cafes, galleries and farm gates to try local produce and directly support local growers


NOOSA EVERGLADES The Noosa Everglades is one of only two everglades systems in the world. It is an ancient system of waterways with clear lakes and dark tannin waters that give an amazing mirrored reflection. One of the best ways to explore this is on a cruise or by canoe. FOOD AND WINE Noosa is a foodie heaven. There is a lot of fresh and local produce and many award winning restaurants to choose from. You can experience everything from fish and chips to the best in fine dining.

And don’t forget the annual Noosa Food and Wine Festival which takes place is May each year. This year’s dates are from 16-20 May 2019 and now is the best time to make sure you are booked in to enjoy the many delights! NOOSA RIVER The Noosa River winds its way from the Great Sandy National Park through all the villages and lakes of the area. There is a huge array of bird and marine life. The Noosa Ferry has seven stops between Noosa Marina and Hastings Street and is a great way to relax and see the sights.

For more great locations visit www.liquidlifeandleisure.com.au www.facebook.com/liquidlifeandleisure www.instagram.com/liquidlifeandleisure//

NOOSA FROM THE SKY One of the best ways to take in an area is from the sky. There are scenic flights available that will take in the incredible views over Noosa, Fraser Island, the Everglades and over the hinterlands and national parks. GET PAMPERED IN A DAY SPA You don’t need to be staying in a resort to take advantage of the extras. Book in for a Day Spa session and have a massage, a facial, do a flotation, relax in the Roman style baths or take in some of the many other body therapies available. .

Courtesy of Paul Smith Images visitnoosa.com.au


maree Around 500km north of Adelaide sits a tiny little town that you could easily blink and completely miss. Parachilna was once a railway stop on the line from Adelaide to Marree ,and connected to the Old Ghan line through Oodnadatta and to Alice Springs. Now Parachilna is an essential stop through the South Australian Flinders Ranges. A perfect base to explore some of the more remote locations, or a stopover while heading north to Alice or south to Adelaide. There are still some old buildings in the town but the biggest

drawcard is the Prairie Hotel, famous for its ‘Roadkill’ menu, being a film set for films like Rabbit Proof Fence, and a wide variety of tipples to tickle your fancy and wet your whistle after many kilometres on the road. The Prairie Hotel is iconic through South Australia, with many a traveller making life long friends around the fire outside (and maybe even the odd kindles of romance under the outback stars). There is some accommodation at the hotel, but there is plenty of room for camping at one of Australia’s classic 500 million star locations.

Nilpena Heritage Site is about 40km from Parachilna and is a working archaeological site. Over June and July palaeontologists work at the site where they are uncovering Ediacara fossil imprints in the rocks. The Ediacara period predates the dinosaurs by a few million years when the South Australian desert was a shallow inland sea. The fossils are of a soft bodied sea creature, something like a jellyfish. Jane and Ross at the Prarie Hotel can help you arrange a visit to the site. After exploring Parachilna head to the slightly bigger town of


Marree is the junction of the Oodnadatta Track and the Birdsville Track, and like Parachilna has all the artefacts of a once bustling railway line.

There is actually a lot to do around Marree. Make sure you take in the Mutonia Sculpture Park, the local museum and the Lake Eyre Yacht Club. I highly recommend taking a flight over Lake Eyre, the Painted Desert and the Marree Man as well.

Marree was home to Australia’s first mosque, which was constructed with mud and brick by the Afghan cameleers who played a big part in the history and development of many Outback Australian towns.

There has always been a lot of mystery around the Marree Man, which spans 4.2km, and from the air depicts an indigenous Australian man hunting with a stick or boomerang.

Marree is now home to around 150 people.

It’s thought that an Alice Springs artist was behind it, but 20 years

Marree, which is around 200kms up the road.

Ph: 07 5498 3888

since it first appeared, there are still questions about its origin. Another must do event in Marree takes place over the June long weekend. The annual Camel Cup attracts visitors from all corners and is a great Australian outback event. Accommodation in these parts is either at the pub, or caravan parks, with plenty of camping options available. Start planning your adventure and get amongst it.

www.austrackcampers.com.au


AN INSTANT SUCCESS

As much as we’d like to prepare chef-standard meals every night, it can be hard to find the time, energy and funds to make this happen. Instant fixes, however, tend to be unhealthy, tasteless or quite oftenunappetizing.

Gourmet Meals has provided a fuss-free option that’s much healthier than your local takeaway and only takes minutes to prepare. Gourmet Meals is an Australian-owned and family-operated company based on the Gold Coast. The company, which first

opened its doors in 1993, manufactures and delivers quality, great-tasting, ready-made frozen meals. The delivery service stretches from the Northern Rivers to the Gold Coast, Brisbane and outer suburbs, Caboolture and Ipswich. Every suburb is serviced once a week.


There are no contracts, orders can be made on a casual basis, and all that is required is a minimum order of $49 and a delivery fee of $7. Gourmet Meals offers a wide range of delicious and nutritionally balanced meals in lunch and dinner sizes, including mains, soups and desserts. The “gourmet meals� are prepared by professional chefs, using the finest and

freshest ingredients. Gourmet Meals taste like real home-style cooking and are simple to prepare. The meals are ovenproof and microwave safe, easy to open and, because the trays are made of cardboard, the packaging can be mostly recycled. Gourmet Meals has a range of fat reduced, salt reduced, high protein, dairy-free meals and all meals are gluten free.

The meals are also available from selected independent stores such as IGA, Foodworks and other specialty stores. For more information regarding the delivery of meals, ordering procedures and store locations, visit our website on www.gourmetmeals.com.au or call 1300 112 112.

46/215 Brisbane Road, Labrador, Qld 4215 | Postal: PO Box 12, Arundel, Qld 4214 Phone: 1300 112 112 / 07 5529 3000 | Fax: 07 5529 0649 | Email: sales@gourmetmeals.com.au www.gourmetmeals.com.au


LET'S GET SPICY

I have always had a love, passion and admiration for the spice world, but to hold a spice masterclass was to say the least overwhelming. What an amazing world, from the colours, aromas and headiness of these beautiful ingredients and there is still so much to learn, create and share. I was blown away, inspired. So what do spices mean to me? A huge slice of history, a statement of culinary creation, a blend of the exotic. The difference between a plain dish and something extraordinary. So let’s get spicy!

The unknown language and misinterpretation of this spice joy made me realise I had to present with knowledge, passion and culinary flair. The studying, the blending, the taste testing of notes and ideas was all coming together. As I unpacked the spices for my masterclass I realised, YES I am a food junkie. Bags and bags of these amazing powders, berries, stems and barks. I looked down on the array before me, around the world in 5 mins, fast track the 80 days. Oh what a joy it was. The vibrancy of colours really do rock my world.


Grinding, roasting, blending and creating these intoxicating spices to someone like me is porn. Pure pleasure porn. As you place a spoon of this and that, it laces the bowl with colours, smells and textures. Then as one stirs these together, knowing the outcome is going to be mind-blowing.Taking the blends, coating produce in this powered potion you have created, again orgasmic. From the Deep South, southern fried chicken to the headiness of the streets of India, yes this list could go on and on…. spices will intoxicate you into a world of culinary exploration In class I had the pleasure of showcasing my Dukkah, Ras el hanout and curry blend to name a few. These were all served in different ways from dips,

chicken winglets and spiced peanuts. Once you learn how to blend spices the options are endless. From the BBQ, to tagines and curries. One delightful and excellent added bonus which came from the spice class was the personal given permission (not that I really ever need an excuse) to expand my personal spice collection. Just brilliant!! So get spicy and don’t stop! One amazing spice mix tasted was my Persian blend. This was coated over chicken wings and roasted till tender, succulent and juicy. Just divine. If like me you just can’t get enough. This whole spice blending whilst traveling on the road is the perfect answer to turn a plain BBQ into a culinary sensation.


PERSIAN SPICE BLEND 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground white pepper 2 teaspoon turmeric 2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 ½ teaspoon amchur powder (ground mango powder) 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon sea salt

METHOD Blend all spices together. Excellent for a base in soups and casseroles. Add to onions when frying. I love it on chicken and seafood. Cayenne pepper can be added for those who love a touch of heat. Also mix with whole egg mayonnaise for delish crab dip. Use as dry rub or blend with oil for wet.


Any questions about your spice blend, contact me on Facebook The Food Junkie

Treat yourself to a taste of Persi

Instagram @ the_food_junkie Website and blog www.thefoodjunkie.com.au Facebook - The Food Junkie @ thefoodjunkiechef


Older caravans will still need to get

Why choose a Trail-A-Mate

the brackets welded on. The people at Trail-A-Mate tell us

Here at LLL headquarters we see

that because there are now so many

thousands of products that claim to

Aussies who have seen the virtues

make caravanning easier and safer.

of caravanning, from grey nomads,

Trail-A-Mate is one such product that really does live up to the hype. Trail-A-Mate is a Hydraulic jockey wheel that converts to a jack and it really is as easy as swapping the wheel for a solid base plate. The jack gives you the ability to jack up a caravan with an aggregated mass (ATM) of up to 2,900kg. For caravans weighing over this there is a Trail-A-Mate Mark II that will meet your needs.

Trail-A-Mate is fully compliant with the Australian mandatory safety standards and with more than 160

to travelling families and everyone in between, it was important to have a product that anyone can use.

accidents in Australia each year from They say that it’s so easy to use incorrect usage of jacks, this is really because it’s hydraulic, so anyone important.

It’s not worth the risk of using a jack incorrectly when it can mean death or injuries that result in amputation or fractures from being crushed under the weight of a vehicle that has fallen off a jack.

can operate it with minimum effort and from a standing position, which will definitely save your back! Also important is having the jockey wheel and jack as one piece of equipment, which minimises what you need to pack. That means more space for that extra fishing rod.

It’s not just caravans that the Trail-A-Mate can be used for though. It can be used on any trailer, horse float, motor home or food van and over the last few years caravan manufacturers have begun to fit the Trail-A-Mate engagement fittings to the chassis, making it even easier to use. 233 Shepherds Hill Road Eden Hills SA 5050 Phone: (08) 8278 5107 | Email: info@trail-a-mate.com.au


PHONE: 0418 905 421 SEND MAIL AT :trent.gotchacovered@hotmail.com MEETS US AT :TRENT WALTON FOLLOW US RESELLER IN NARRABRI, NEW SOUTH WALES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRANSPORTABLE SHEDS HOW ARE THEY ANCHORED TO THE GROUND? HOLD DOWN OPTIONS - SHADE SHEDS AND CANVACON SHEDS

1. Saddle Plates - Saddle plates are dyna bolted to a concrete slab. Used for more permanent structures. Four saddle plates are used for 6m x 6m shade shed or canvacon shed. 2. Hold Down Pegs These ground anchors are great for semi-permanent installation in good cohesive soil. Used for shade sheds and canvacon products and can maintain wind ratings below. Temporary W41/N3 - 6 hold down pegs (Standard wind rating for most areas around Australia) Permanent W41/N3 – 8 hold down pegs (Standard wind rating for most areas around Australia) Temporary W50/C2 – 8 hold down pegs (Cyclonic wind rating for sheds predominately along coastline from Rockhampton to Cairns) Permanent W50/C2 – 12 hold down pegs (Cyclonic wind rating for sheds predominately along coastline from Rockhampton to Cairns) 3. Concrete Pier Kit - for a more permanent installation. Footings are concreted into the 450mm round and 600mm deep hole. For details on installation see our installation guide

Can I Attach Guttering? Every Shade Shed is designed with a 75mm overhanging roof, so it’s simple and straight forward to attach a guttering kit. The ridges on the roof run from front to back, so the rain will run either off the front or the back of the Shed (depending on construction method). Can I Enclose it? Shade Sheds are engineered to only have 2 sides enclosed to maintain the appropriate wind or cyclone rating. If you require the sides of the shade shed to be enclosed inform your sales representative and you can be quoted for additional wall sheeting. Do I Need Council Approval? All Transportable Shade Shed products come complete with an engineered set of plans which can be used for council approval. Our products are designed with the features to allow the sheds to be a transportable unit, however it is the customer’s responsibility to apply for council approval. Do we deliver Australia Wide? Transportable Shade Sheds have stock depots throughout Australia. We transport our sheds to most areas ensuring our product arrives to the customer in the same condition as leaving the depot. We also provide very competitive freight cost along our delivery route. Call 1300 667 433 to discuss freight timeframes and cost. Does it Come with a Warranty? Transportable Shade Sheds is a registered Queensland Building Services Authority (BSA) member. Every product manufactured by Transportable Shade Sheds comes with a 10 year structural warranty and a 10 year warranty on the Colorbond Steel.


The best way to see the heart of Australia

Uluru is the physical and spiritual heart of Australia. It’s possibly the best-known natural landmark in Australia, sitting nicely at the top of the ‘must visit’ locations around the country, and despite its remote location, it’s a fantastic family holiday. One of the best ways to get to explore Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is in a caravan or RV. And one of the best ways to do this, if you don’t already have one, is to hire one from Caravan and Camping Hire Australia.

We already have more than ten families who this year are planning their Uluru adventure in a caravan they are hiring through Caravan and Camping Australia.

Australians. It is over 600 million years old and has been a sacred site for the local Anagu people since they have been in the area for the last 10,000 years.

You could join them, from anywhere in Australia. Caravan and Camping Hire Australia are the biggest and most experienced peer to peer RV hire company. We have caravans and RV’s based in every corner of the country ready for you to hook up and experience what will be a life long memory for your whole family.

The rock, a massive sandstone monolith, has an incredible history. It originally sat at the bottom of an inland sea, but now is 348 metres above the ground, and 2.5 kilometres underground. It is 3.6 kilometres long and 1.9 kilometres wide with a 9.4 kilometre circumference.

Uluru has a special significance to


do as much or as little as they can manage, alternatively take a helicopter flight and take it in from the air.

There is so much more to Uluru than it just being a rock, it seems to have many faces, and many moods, depending on the time of the day and exactly where you are looking. There are so many valleys and caves and different surfaces that have changed with millions of years of erosion. It is located over 450 kilometres from Alice Springs and the ideal Uluru experience has you visiting here and experiencing the art and culture of the local Indigenous community, either before or following your visit to the rock.

For families, including young children, there is so much to keep you busy while exploring Uluru Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. At Uluru you must see a sunrise and a sunset. Visit the cultural centre and learn about the Anagu people and their connection to the rock.

There are camp grounds and resort caravan parks at both locations so you will have everything you need from the comfort of your caravan or RV. ground and about 22 kilometres around the circumference. There are lots of walks that can be done around here, including through the Valley of the Winds.

Exploring the red centre from the comfort of a caravan or RV is the best family holiday around.

The Olgas are known as Kata Tjuta to the local Aboriginal people, which means many heads. The third must see on a trip to Uluru is Kings Canon, which is located in the Watarrka National Park and is only around four hours drive from Alice Springs. Kings Canyon is an incredible towering canyon where you can walk along the base or along the Rim of the canyon.

You and your kids will be talking about it for many years to come.

Kids will love exploring and you can

There is a 10km track around the base of the rock and you can hire a bike or walk around it and take in every surface while reading about different cultural practices. Also located within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are The Olgas, 36 red-rock domes located about 35 kilometres from Uluru but equally as impressive. The highest point is Mount Olga which is 546m above

If you want to join the families already planning this trip this year then give us a call or visit the website to find out how. www.cnchire.com.au


Lumitec enters the LED navigation & lightbar market. For several years Lumitec has been at the forefront in LED technology with industry leading products like underwater lighting, flood / spot, interior and utility lights. The latest innovative LED lights from Lumitec is the Contour range of navigation lights. Designed to allow for fast, easy integration into T tops, arches and pilot houses for an immaculate, seamless look. The new LED navigation lights are US Coast Guard approved for vessels up to 50m Navigation lights are also available with a powerful 1000 Lumens docking side light built into the nav light. There is also a fold flat anchor light to complete the navigation set. The new Lumitec Razor lightbar offers a staggering 10,000 Lumens to light up the darkest of nights. Designed to be flush mounted on the front, sides or back of a hardtop, the Razor is ideal for any situation.


A million different uses. Well almost. We believe that everything you take camping should serve more than just one purpose, especially if it's as unwieldly as recovery tracks. They often get left at home because they take up too much space and because we won't be needing them on this trip anyway. Your better half will of course make you eat your words the moment you get bogged down. Muputrax are your multi-purpose recovery solution, rendering redundant a whole array of camping and 4x4 gear.

& MUCH MORE

www.muputrax.com.au


Everything Boating, Caravanning, Camping, Travel and Outdoors… in one App!

App Latest products and news in Caravans, Camping, Stand-Up Paddle boarding (SUP), Kayak, Boating, Boarding, Dining, Health and Wellness, Must See and Do around Australia plus more!

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European caravans are becoming quite common in Australia, as are a particular style of tiny caravans called teardrops based on a 1930’s design. They complement the tiny house movement with smaller footprint and cost but equal comfort and clever design. The advantage of smaller caravans is that they are fuel efficient, easier to tow and store, and can be towed by very small cars. Caretta Australia was founded in 2016 and is based in the Perth suburb of Malaga. The strong demand locally and

from the Eastern States has prompted expansion and Caretta teardrops are now distributed Australia wide with dealers in Victoria and NSW. The compact, fibreglass-bodied models are built by a 40-year-old Turkish caravan manufacturer with development and adjustment to meet all Australian regulations. Caretta mini caravans are also customised for Australian camping and driving conditions and are half the price of most traditional caravans. Two versions of the teardrop camper are available - onroad and offroad, all


built to the highest specifications using FRP fiberglass panels and a steel chassis with ALKO axles, suspensions and hitches. They have a spacious interior which features a queen size bed, a perfect luxury space. The tailgate lifts to reveal the beautifully proportioned kitchen, complete with sink, fridge, water supply and a quality worktop with cupboards above. To complete the overall versatility of the pop out, an integrated front locker box gives easy access to battery and electrics, and plenty of additional storage space. The caretta offroad teardrop caravan - is the best

fully offroad teardrop in Australia and is suited to the offroader who likes extra comfortable accommodation. It can handle all terrains and has been tested extensively in Australian conditions. Free camping options are available along with the ability to customise to your preference. The offroad Caretta’s ergonomic teardrop design gives excellent towing performance and handling. There’s also commercial enclosed trailers and a ‘Pop Up Shop’ model with raised canopy roof aimed at those with mobile small businesses like coffee or ice-cream sellers.

http://www.caretta-australia.com 1300 66 92 44


Introducing The Tailfin Water Rail Peter De Jong is the inventor of the Tailfin Hydrofoil.

ARTHUR WALTON ROUGH WATER TAILFIN SEA TRIALS

Peter took his inspiration from Nature. He noticed that the centre Vee of a vessel happened to be the same shape as the bottom of a fish. Realising this he started to study fish and water flow transparency. He noted that the fish tailfin allows them to be self- levelling, they don’t waste energy to keep swimming. When they rest their tailfin keeps them level automatically. Using this observation he started to apply it to the idea of self-levelling boats. Peter connected that outboard steering on a boat turned the opposite way to the way the boat is turning. This meant that the prop thrust directional steering has an adverse effect, increasing the hulls leaning. Peter could see right away that a device containing a vertical up or down would reverse the leaning. In secret he began testing. First he developed an 8 meter hull he named the “Meboat”. This boat is a

3D water displacement and planning hull all in one. Peter looks at the ocean from a 3D point of view. Stating: “ If you look at the ocean water surface when calm and flat as a 1 Dimensional surface. When the winds and currents pick up the ocean surface becomes a 3 Dimensional surface with waves coming from all directions.” This led to the engineering of the Tailfin Hydrofoil. Designed to enhance 2D vee hull performance in

all sea directions. The Tailfin creates Three times the steering performance. Enables you to enjoy your rough water boating conditions as it instantly removes the nasty pounding so you only get the odd wave but not every wave. The Tailfin is revolutionary, HI Performance. Your Boat will handle like a new vessel. With the stern traction it allows you to dominate steering in all sea conditions. The Tailfin also frees your prop from levelling duties and allows for added power.


Tailfin Water Rail – A Great Aussie Invention


Pricing QLD Dealers: For fitting information in QLD Contact Peter de Jong tailfinsales@outlook.com 0450 018 840

6-24HP FROM $224 25-50HP FROM $234 60-150HP FROM $244 150-250HP FROM $254 250-350HP FROM $266

WA Dealers: BRONCO MARINE https://www.broncomarine.com/tailfin 0406 105 913 6-25HP FROM $224 FITTED $314 25-50HP FROM $234 FITTED $324 60-150HP FROM $244 FITTED $379 150-250HP FROM $254 FITTED $389

NSW Dealers: H2O Marine Canberra http://www.h20marine.com.au h2omarinecanberra@gmail.com 02) 6280 0555 Australia Shipping Only 250-300HP FROM $266 FITTED $401


What customers are saying

Fitted the tailfin this morning to my Ocean Craft 4.3 I found the installation to be a piece of cake. Tested it in the logan river and immediately noticed how effortlessly it got on the plane and how slow the boat will go without falling off plane. I can also trim all the way out now without cavitation, I can accelerate through turns without blowing the prop out and top speed has increased from 26 to 29 knots. I'm looking forward to testing in some rough moreton bay water tomorrow.

Peter Morris Went to the market for a coffee. Came back with a tail fin that’s changed my boating. Thanks Pete for your professional service and install. My 5.7 Quintrex planed straight away, and turns quickly like a boss with a light grip instead of having to ride a big arc and hang on. Completely rides the chop so much better than before! The wife didn’t need to ask how it went, the smile said it all.

Daniel Pudney

So just fitted the Tailfin Hydrofoil to my 16R Haines hunter 4.9mter. With a 135hp on the rear. Testing will take place once the weather passes here on the Gold Coast over the weekend. So it didn’t take us long at all to fit it up and Peter De Jong was on hand with one phone call to clear up one question I had for him, so can not complain about the support from peter in the lead up to getting it and than fitting it out.

Scott Hornby G'day Pete I've had this longboat for 8yrs I fitted the tail fin in half hour. To say I'm impressed is an understatement! My hull used to slide in smooth water doing an arching turn I can full lock at 20kts & it turns on a dime! Planes quicker rides better in a following sea & in the chop as well. I recommend your product to anyone who wants to enhance their boat! I will post a video after the weekend thanks again mate it's like steering a new boat!! Awesome product!!!.

Guys the approximate fuel saving was worked out by using my usual GPS spots and the amount of top up fuel, both motors run fairly even and were within 6 ltrs of each other. I would of been ecstatic if the saving was half, but hey try it on your boat and let us know. And NO I am not related to Peter, I’ve never meet the man..

Doug Bigrig

Hi dan. I have a 21 foot swiftcraft boat with a bravo 3 leg and it has made a HUGE difference. My boat was a dog in the open sea, but now it is a pleasure to drive. Change the stability, easy to get on the plane and better fuel economy . I am sure it will make a difference to yr boat. made a world of difference to my boat. Steering, stability on cross currents, handles the swell a lot better. Cheers Rob

Norm English

Rob Turner


Contact Us

Address: 1203 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East 3145 Phone: (03) 8554 4397 | Mobile: 0419 215 443 Email: rentals@ozsatelliterentals.com

Spot Satellite Messenger Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help - SPOT gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. And since it utilizes 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world - even where cell phones don't. Size: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5" (approx. 111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm) Approximate Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams

SafeLink SOLO The SafeLink SOLO PLB with GPS is particularly useful for sailing and water sports enthusiasts, as it is waterproof to 10 metres and buoyant when used in its floatation pouch. The SafeLink SOLO is tough, durable, lightweight and compact, and designed to be carried with you at all times.

Satellite Phone’ Only Iridium's global service allows field personnel to send and receive voice, messaging and data regardless of location. Individual-to-office, office-to-individual, individual-to-individual. Compact, rugged, and flexible, Iridium equipment is easy to carry, easy to use, and yet affordable.

Rental Rates 2 Days $60.00 1 Week $99.00 2 Weeks $185.00 3 Weeks $270.00 4 Weeks $350.00 Rates for other rental periods available on application. This item is available for hire Australia Wide. Freight charges apply.

The Ultimate camper has everything that you need to go adventuring in comfort, reliability and style.

Ultimate Off-Road Camper Trailer This ideal go anywhere camper has just the right amount of luxury options to make remote camping an absolute joy, this camper will appeal to customers that want the best that off road camping has to offer.

• Fridge/Freezer • Handy multi draw storage system built into the modern galley • Internal galley cook top • Weber-Q BBQ for cooking outdoor • 110 litre food grade polyethylene water tank • Pressure water system • King size bed • 12 volt outlets • 2 x LED lights • 7 pin trailer connector plug • 4 keyed alike external storage lockers • lounge • 12v battery

• 1340 Litre Storage • Indoor table • Fire extinguisher • Bedside storage pockets • Mini awning • Double jerry can holder • Draw bar level gauge • Removable jockey wheel electronic pulse brakes • 4.5kg gas bottle • Under lounge stowage cells • Spare wheel • Onboard multi staged charging system • Flood Light • Water Tank Gauge • Medium size ring burner • NO COOKING INSIDE outside only

Tvan Camper Trailer Since its launch in 2000, the Tvan Camper Trailer quickly became well known for its distinct design and industry leading off-road capabilities. Throughout the years the Tvan has been widely acclaimed by journalists, owners and explorers. Faster access for side of the road stops Family friendly tent extension and loads of room for everyone's gear Mc2 suspension - Go anywhere without limits Super fast access to kitchen and fridges Revolutionary tent with quick & easy magnetic catches Protected from insects and the elements by strong walls that provide great insulation from noise, hot sun, cold nights and wind. When the tent is deployed (doubling your living space) it's attached to a fold out hard floor, so you'll be up off the ground, dry and secure. Most importantly, when it's time to move on, your bed will remain made up and dry, even after a wet pack-up.

Features: Genuine queen size mattress Fabric lined roof for insulation and comfort Large storage area in the cabin and under the bed Large tinted windows with sliding glass Easy to use magnetised tent fixings for a quicker and easier set up and pack up Magnetised window curtains Double glazed roof hatches with screens and blinds 4.8 metres of usable cabin and tent living area & much more

Visit: www.ozsatelliterentals.com.au to find out more information


Contact Us

Address: 1203 Dandenong Rd, Malvern East 3145 Phone: (03) 8554 4397 | Mobile: 0419 215 443 Email: rentals@ozsatelliterentals.com

Spot Satellite Messenger Whether you're just checking in, allowing others to track your progress, or calling for help - SPOT gives you a vital line of communication with friends and family when you want it, and emergency assistance when and where you need it. And since it utilizes 100% satellite technology, SPOT works around the world - even where cell phones don't. Size: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5" (approx. 111 mm x 69 mm x 44 mm) Approximate Weight: 7.37 ounces (209 grams

SafeLink SOLO The SafeLink SOLO PLB with GPS is particularly useful for sailing and water sports enthusiasts, as it is waterproof to 10 metres and buoyant when used in its floatation pouch. The SafeLink SOLO is tough, durable, lightweight and compact, and designed to be carried with you at all times.

Satellite Phone’ Only Iridium's global service allows field personnel to send and receive voice, messaging and data regardless of location. Individual-to-office, office-to-individual, individual-to-individual. Compact, rugged, and flexible, Iridium equipment is easy to carry, easy to use, and yet affordable.

Rental Rates 2 Days $60.00 1 Week $99.00 2 Weeks $185.00 3 Weeks $270.00 4 Weeks $350.00 Rates for other rental periods available on application. This item is available for hire Australia Wide. Freight charges apply.

The Ultimate camper has everything that you need to go adventuring in comfort, reliability and style.

Ultimate Off-Road Camper Trailer This ideal go anywhere camper has just the right amount of luxury options to make remote camping an absolute joy, this camper will appeal to customers that want the best that off road camping has to offer.

• Fridge/Freezer • Handy multi draw storage system built into the modern galley • Internal galley cook top • Weber-Q BBQ for cooking outdoor • 110 litre food grade polyethylene water tank • Pressure water system • King size bed • 12 volt outlets • 2 x LED lights • 7 pin trailer connector plug • 4 keyed alike external storage lockers • lounge • 12v battery

• 1340 Litre Storage • Indoor table • Fire extinguisher • Bedside storage pockets • Mini awning • Double jerry can holder • Draw bar level gauge • Removable jockey wheel electronic pulse brakes • 4.5kg gas bottle • Under lounge stowage cells • Spare wheel • Onboard multi staged charging system • Flood Light • Water Tank Gauge • Medium size ring burner • NO COOKING INSIDE outside only

Tvan Camper Trailer Since its launch in 2000, the Tvan Camper Trailer quickly became well known for its distinct design and industry leading off-road capabilities. Throughout the years the Tvan has been widely acclaimed by journalists, owners and explorers. Faster access for side of the road stops Family friendly tent extension and loads of room for everyone's gear Mc2 suspension - Go anywhere without limits Super fast access to kitchen and fridges Revolutionary tent with quick & easy magnetic catches Protected from insects and the elements by strong walls that provide great insulation from noise, hot sun, cold nights and wind. When the tent is deployed (doubling your living space) it's attached to a fold out hard floor, so you'll be up off the ground, dry and secure. Most importantly, when it's time to move on, your bed will remain made up and dry, even after a wet pack-up.

Features: Genuine queen size mattress Fabric lined roof for insulation and comfort Large storage area in the cabin and under the bed Large tinted windows with sliding glass Easy to use magnetised tent fixings for a quicker and easier set up and pack up Magnetised window curtains Double glazed roof hatches with screens and blinds 4.8 metres of usable cabin and tent living area & much more

Visit: www.ozsatelliterentals.com.au to find out more information


ME O C E B BER M E AM Y TODA

Coolum Surf Club is so much more than a surf club, it’s a community hub, it’s an award winning restaurant and it’s a live music venue. The traditional role of a surf club in a small coastal community has always been as a central hub for the town and for the beach. At Coolum Beach Surf Club we maintain that traditional focus and continue to see ourselves as the central point of connection for our community, for our lifeguards and our guests. However, we are more than that. Coolum Beach Surf Club has built itself into a destination. Our award winning restaurant is perfect for beachfront dining which is more than your classic surf club menu. Our chefs can offer a variety of menu options, and we are the only surf club in Australia to have a

genuine wood-fire char-grill. We are the perfect location for any type of dining experience you desire. Coolum Beach Surf Club is also a live music venue. Music, and in particular live music, is a powerful way to connect people. An opportunity for people to connect with an artist or a band, is one of the best ways to rebuild community relationships which are so often broken down in an age of digital disconnection. Too often venues are taking out live music and missing out of the benefits of seeing a community come together.

Live crosses boundaries, it brings people together regardless of age, gender, or culture. Coolum Beach Surf Club sees itself as an integral point for the Coolum Beach community. We want to be here for families, for young people, for older people and everyone in between, and that includes helping to foster new and established talent. Giving local musicians, and visiting musicians a space and a forum for their craft is a great way for us to make sure we are central to our communities lives. Make sure you check out our live music calendar if you are in town or even passing through.


LIVE MUSIC @ COOLUM SURF CLUB THIS MARCH

PHONE: 07 5446 1148 | EMAIL: supporters@coolumsurfclub.com.au 1775-1779 David Low Way, Coolum Beach QLD 4573, Australia

https://www.coolumsurfclub.com | Free Courtesy Bus 7 days 0404 029 474


If you’re looking for a new caravan, now’s the time: show season is here! 2019 is now well underway and with the summer holiday season done and dusted, many of us are starting to plan our caravan and camping trips for the year. If you are new to camping holidays, visiting some different places this year, or just looking to upgrade your current setup, chances are you might be in the market for some new and improved camping gear. Depending on how many people you are travelling with, which activities you plan on undertaking, or which places you are going, the type of gear and equipment you need will vary, and the vast array of options can be overwhelming to us all at times. If you want to see items in person before purchasing online, take a look at what’s available or simply see a lot of products all in the one place, caravan and camping shows are the best way to get a look and feel for what’s available and what you might need. The 2019 show season has now officially kicked off, with events taking place in each state showcasing what’s available in the current market. You can explore your options, touch and feel items that you might be interested in, and talk to industry experts who can help you figure out the right option for your needs. Major shows also feature hundreds of stalls, demonstrations, fantastic food options and first-class entertainment- it’s not just an opportunity to shop, but a great day out for the whole family! With the Adelaide and Melbourne shows already behind us, there is still plenty to look forward to! Here are some of the shows coming up in 2019: Perth Caravan & Camping Show: March 20-24, Claremont Showground Rosehill Supershow 2019: April 30-May 5, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse Queensland Caravan Camping & Touring Supershow: June 5-10, Brisbane Showgrounds 2019 Border Caravan & Camping Expo: August 23-25, Wodonga Racecourse 2019 Melbourne Leisurefest: October 3-6, Sandown Racecourse Pre-Christmas Caravan and Camping Sale: October 31-November 3, Brisbane Showgrounds 2019 Bendigo Caravan and Camping Leisurefest: November 22-24, Bendigo Racecourse For more information including details of each show, visit www.facebook.com/pg/LetsGoCaravanCamping/events

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18-Feb-19 3:13:42 PM


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Bush’n it on a budget

MAKING IT WORK

STORAGE

Something we get asked all the time is how do you

Our main storage is under the island bed in the

all live in such a small space? Our van is just 15ft, has no ensuite or bunks BUT we all live in there

COMFORTABLY. The main thing that makes it so

easy for us is that we spend most of our time outside the van, which was the whole reason of doing this trip anyway, so the van is literally somewhere to sleep and our little haven when we need it.

Here’s how we make it work for us and some tips and tricks for those with a smaller van –

van, this space contains so much of the stuff we need. Under the bed is sectioned into different

compartments, one for toys, one for shoes, one for jumpers and coats and a main section that has four small storage boxes for the kid’s clothes,

some larger items we have and even a toddler bike!

As well as the under bed our other main storage

points that we couldn’t be without are a mounted


toolbox on the front of the van, roof racks and

sliding drawers in the back of the ute. Remember less is more and seriously, you can live without a lot of the things you think you need.

KIDS BEDS When we got the van without bunks, we were just

sure we were going to build some. After a while of

going through options we decided the bunks would completely take up the small amount of living

space we had. Our kids were just 8 months and 2 when we left and were both sleeping on cot sized

mattresses at home. The room on each side of the island bed was nearly the perfect size for a cot

mattress, so we went with it! We cut thick foam

Clark rubber single mattresses to size and there we have it - perfect little cosy beds for our little ones without losing our ‘dining area’.

HOME MADE ENSUITE Just because we don’t have an ensuite in

the van it doesn’t mean we don’t have one at all! In over a year of living in the van

there hasn’t been ONE night where we

haven’t had some sort of shower. We have a gas hot water shower that we set up in

our shower tent if we are somewhere that has no amenities but surplus water. If

we’re free camping or bush camping, we have our favourite buy for under $10…

A garden pressure spray kit! Theses things are great, our family of four can have a

decent wash before bed using around 5 litres of water. They're also great for

washing sand/dirt of feet before going into the van and entertaining the kids and cooling them down on a hot day.


WASHING MACHINE

Again, with having a small van, a washing machine was another thing that wasn’t

included, and we were fine with that, until

we spent $62 in the first month on laundry! We decided straight away to purchase a small portable washing from Aldi for just $100 and as well as saving us money it

saved this mum of two toddlers sanity with

the amount of clothes we go through! The machine is light and stays outside when were parked up, when were travelling its easily moved inside for the drive!

COOKING We eat the same as we did at home, but

we don’t have an oven. Our van has a grill and four gas hobs which makes its very

easy to make great meals but when we do need an oven our BBQ is the answer!

Using the BBQ as an oven also gives us

the option to do the cooking outside which means more space.


A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA SPACE We do have one luxury that has worked

well for us and that’s our rooftop tent. We originally bought it for the option of going off road without the van which is great.

Now the tent also comes in handy if one of us needs a bit of extra space for a good night’s sleep.

What works for some wont work for others

but it is amazing what you can get used to. If you’re enjoying yourselves that’s all that matters, and you will make it work.

Safe travels, Bush’n it on a budget.

Head over to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bushnitonabudget/ to keep up to date with what we’re up to and catch some information on some awesome places to visit!


Davos Do Australia LICHFIELD NATIONAL PARK

Florence Falls After setting the alarm for too early am and smashing 3 red bulls (sugar free because I’m all about clean eating, zen, healthy, new body who dis) we met our car rally crew at the servo for a debrief and made a beeline out of Darwin, hung a right onto Batchelor Road and straight to our first stop on Le Tour, coffee!!! After adding 14 sugars to get some

flavour into the brew, we found the info bay, hatched a plan and headed off to start our day trip of the Litchfield National Park...

You can also measure up against 2 of the larger mounds in the carpark and see how big these bad boys can be, I swear it looked bigger in pictures......

First stop was the Magnetic Termite mounds that can be over 2 metres high and face a certain direction to ensure maximum heat from the sun, as well as seeing the two different types of mounds that can be found.

After the girls got over there excitement of the termite mounds........it was time to find some water as the day was heating up and it was barely 9am.


Florence Falls, Litchfield Park was the first cab off the rank and after walking along the elevated walkway and snapping pics at the lookouts, we stumbled down the 6000 stairs (there’s only 135) and come upon a beautiful set of falls that we shared with 400 of our closest friends, it was pretty busy but with falls to jump off, crystal clear water and even a lizard sharing the water with, it was a pretty

good start to the day! Walking back up the stairs took a little gloss off the experience Buley Rockhole Litchfield National Park was the next place to get moist and this place was also very cool, it is a number of rock pools connected by water falls and cascading down into a creek that actually ends up at Florence Falls, just think of your nans dodgy water features in the back yard and you’ll get the picture but on a whole better level.

Try and get up top for maximum experiences and make your way down. The only downside was I’m sure all our friends from Florence Falls followed us to here! After listening to all the kids laugh, blush and get all embarrassed at the older gent getting nude at the top of the falls and seemingly taking 3 hours

Florence Falls

Florence Falls Creek

The pool at Florence Falls


to get changed, we proceeded to stuff our faces with lunch at the supplied tables and benches and hit the road.

Take the noodles (not the 2 minute kind) as this pool is perfect for just relaxing and floating around.

Wangi Falls was the last destination for the day and this place is huge, massive parking, cafe, decent size grassed areas for relaxing or wondering what exactly the tourists are wearing and two sweet water falls.

There’s also a walk that takes you around the falls that can be awesome for spotting bats if that’s your thing!

You can swim over to the falls if you are feeling fit and climb into rock pools along side the falls.

Buley Rock Pools

We only visited 4 places in the whole park but this was enough to easily fill in the day and ensured it was late afternoon when we left!

We proceeded to continue the loop and headed back towards Darwin and made sure we had a cool beverage or two at the Noonamah tavern until it was time for the entertainment and that was our cue to leave (I would have stayed for educational purposes)

Safe travels travels and say g’day to the tourists for me.

Buley Rock Pools


Wangi Falls

These are everywhere!


CARAVANLPG & CAMPING & SAFETY INSURANCE

When you buy a car, a house, a boat or any other type of major investment you immediately make sure your asset has insurance. But what about your caravan or RV? It’s not actually a legal requirement to have insurance for your caravan and for the most part your car’s Third Party insurance should cover incidents that occur on the road, however that is only while its attached to your car. If you look at your policy, you will

probably find that if your caravan or trailer comes loose and hits another car it won’t be covered. So what sort of insurance do you need for a caravan. Well I guess that’s like any other type of insurance it depends on your use of it and how much you want to pay. Caravan insurance can be a minefield and with more and more people living in their caravans as a primary residence the insurance industry is struggling to keep up with the changes.

Nicola Kearns and her partner are travelling Australia in a Campervan and said when they started to research insurance it was incredibly confusing. She said……… The Finder.com 2019 Australian Caravan Insurance Guide as some helpful tips in deciding what sort of caravan insurance will suit your needs, however make sure you do your own research to ensure you are fully covered


Why do you need Caravan insurance? • If your caravan smashes into someone’s car: this should be covered by your comprehensive car insurance. • If your caravan is stolen: caravan insurance will cover you to its full value. • If your caravan is damaged by someone or vandalised: Insurance will cover the damage.

What to be aware of • If you haven’t secured your caravan well enough its likely your insurer will refuse your claim, just like in a house or car you need to take every effort to secure. • Insurers can also deny a claim if its thought damage has occurred because the assessor believes it was from poor upkeep, this can even

• If you caravan is destroyed by fire, flood, hail, explosion, lightning, impact, high wind or other natural events. • If someone steals items from your caravan or trailer: most policies will offer some contents insurance for things inside your van, however you need to ensure this amount is enough and if not speak to your insurer about increasing the contents cover.

• Have your van towed, plus accommodation if needed while repairs or replacements are sought. For electrical appliances which are part of the van, ie airconditioning, fridges. • If you have extras like annexes speak to your insurer about whether they are included in your policy or if you need to add these in separately.

include mould damage. Wear and tear is generally not considered a reasonable claim. It will need to be because of a legitimate event.

insurance, as with all insurance is to shop around. Speak to a few insurers and see what they offer and how it meets your individual needs.

• If you are in areas with extreme weather, check your policy, insurers may not pay out on a claim caused by extreme weather.

• You really don’t need to be caught in a cyclone before you realise you aren’t covered for cyclone damage.

• The best advice when considering caravan

More information available at at More information available www.everythingcaravanandcamping.com www.everythingcaravanandcamping.com


Introducing Burley Buckets

We are Burley Buckets. We are an adventurous family of five who jumped off the proverbial hamster wheel and into a caravan to travel around Australia. We have three little buckets, our five-year-old Paddy (Patrick), three-year-old Winnie (Winter), and two-year-old AJ (Airlie Jane). Alicia and I have spent the last five years

working hard and trying to make use of every minute we have together as a family, both on the weekend or in snatched holidays. It means our Instagram feed used to look like we are always on an adventure, but in reality, they were short moments we stole from our modern chaos. We were basically attempting to create balance in a world where we were detrmined to ‘have it all’. We did, but it

stretched us so thin that we were in a state of constant exhaustion. In her own words, the below was a description of a typical day for Alicia (aka Mrs Bucket) in her role as a senior executive before being made redundant. Oh, I didn’t mention that? Yes, we were probably pushed off the hamster wheel rather than jumping off on our own free will. Anyway. Back to the day…


Wake up – it’s still dark. Have a shower. Get dressed – quietly… do NOT wake any children! Put on makeup. Blow-dry hair. Prepare dinner. Make kids lunches. Put on a load of washing. Fold previous day’s dry washing. Soak dirty childcare clothes – spray stains, separate colours, warm water, separate tubs. Empty dishwasher. MAKE COFFEE!!! – use takeaway cup, who ARE these people that have time to sit down and drink coffee? Drive to work. Arrive at

work. SMILE!! Phone calls. Meetings. Conference calls. Reporting. Managing – did I forget to eat lunch again!? More meetings. More phone calls. How is it already 4 o’clock?! Call Mr Bucket. Could he pick up the kids (again)? I’m running late. How am I always running late? Drive home. It’s dark again. Feed family. Bath kids. Read stories. Hang washing from morning. Do dishes. Catch up on work. Go to sleep. Make bottle for screaming child at 2am. Back to

sleep. Can’t sleep. Maybe if I write list of tomorrow’s jobs? Write list. Back to sleep. Wake up. Repeat. WHERE IS MY GOD DAMN COFFEE???!!!! With this being the reality, the universe provided the perfect opportunity to think about what we valued as a family and it certainly wasn’t running on the wheel. So… who’s up for an adventure?


With a great big country to explore, we could think of no better way to provide a unique experience for our children than from the mobile comfort of a caravan. Now, as complete newbies to the world of caravanning, there was a lot of time spent researching and preparing for our trip but once we were off it did not take long to get our towing, campground setup and living routines sorted. Everywhere we went was a new experience, as neither Alicia or I had been through the Northern Territory or Western Australia previously. We were able to enjoy all that we saw with an open mind and a deep appreciation for the unique landscapes Australia provides. Some days we would walk rocky, red dirt gorges and others would be on pristine, white sand beaches.


Looking back over our photos, and reflecting on the past few months, we have fallen in love with this incredible country. Places like Uluru, Kings Canyon, Litchfield National Park, Kakadu, Lake Argyle, Cable Beach, Ningaloo

Reef, we love you Exmouth, Kalbarri, Esperance and more. We realise how fortunate we are to be able to share such experiences with our family and they would never have happened had we not had the

courage to buck the trend and step out of the rat race. So the next time an opportunity for an adventure comes along, the Burley Buckets won’t need to be pushed, we are ready to jump.

FOLLOW US HERE: https://www.facebook.com/theburleybuckets/ | https://www.instagram.com/theburleybuckets/ CHECK US OUT HERE: https://theburleybuckets.com/


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l is e g E n y h w w ’s e ’s r e e r H He : e if r l o f g e id g r id f r a f a Theunique uniqueSawafuji SawafujiSwing SwingMotor Motor with with •• The onlyone onemoving movingpart. part. only Solidsteel steelconstruction constructionmakes makes Engel Engel •• Solid strong,tough toughand andbuilt builtto tolast. last. strong, Engelhas hasthe thelowest lowestmaximum maximum power power •• Engel drawof ofany anyfridge fridgeon onthe themarket. market. draw Easypower poweroptions options––240volt, 240volt,12 12 •• Easy voltand and24volt. 24volt. volt Efficientdesign designwith withtough toughfixtures fixtures •• Efficient andhinges. hinges. and Engelfridges fridgesare aredesigned designedto towork work •• Engel inthe theharshest harshestconditions conditionsof ofthe the in Australian outback. Australian outback.

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Engelhave haveaahuge hugerange rangeof of •• Engel accessoriesfor foryour yourfridge. fridge. accessories Engelhave havean anAustralia Australiawide widerepair repair •• Engel servicein incase casesomething somethingdoes doesgo go service wrong. wrong. Formore more information information or or your your nearest nearest stockist, stockist, visit visit For www.engelaustralia.com.au or email info@engelaustralia.com.au www.engelaustralia.com.au or email info@engelaustralia.com.au

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UPRIGHT FRIDGES Engel Engel SB30G SB30G (30 (30 litre) litre) »» 30 30Litre LitreCapacity Capacity(35 (35xx375ml 375mlCans) Cans) »» Auto AutoSwitching Switching12 12––24 24Volt VoltDC DC »» New NewCompact CompactSawafuji SawafujiSwing SwingMotor Motor »» Power Powerconsumption consumption2.7 2.7Amps Amps »» Steel (12 SteelCabinet Cabinet (12Volt) Volt) »» Solid »» 1.5 SolidConstruction Construction 1.5Amps Amps(24 (24Volt) Volt) »» Compressor »» Stainless StainlessSteel SteelRunners Runners Compressorunit unitcan canbe be »» Internal remotely remotelylocated locatedup upto to1.5 1.5 InternalLED LEDlight light metres »» Built metresaway away Builtin inVentilation Ventilationwith withdual dualfans fans DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS Overall Overall(including (includingdoor doorand andcompressor): compressor):L716 L716W440 W440H250mm H250mm Cabinet Cabinetonly: only:L525 L525W440 W440H250mm H250mm(compressor (compressormounted mountedremote) remote)

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Discipline on the road

No matter how many times I try and reinvent myself as a calm, softly spoken, earth mother, it all flies out the window as soon as my angels wake up. I really, really want to be the mum whose cherubs have perfect manners, never fight with each other and know when they are tired and take themselves to sleep at night, but after six and four years of parenting, I’m start to think this transformation is never going to happen.

Instead, I have two very loud, very opinionated, very strong-willed girls who love nothing more than a good play in the mud and can sometimes be found wrestling over a barbie doll. On the flip side, I also have two very loving, sensitive and adventurous souls who while they would prefer not to have to walk down the dirt track to the waterfall, soak in the beauty of it all once we are there.

Living a nomadic life is the best thing we have done as a family, but it doesn’t come without its pressures. There are now thousands of families, who are giving the grey nomads a run for their money, they’ve ditched the traditional Aussie dream of a house in the suburbs with their 2.4 kids to a house on wheels, exploring everything from the bush to the ocean and in between with their kids in tow.


But for me one of the hardest things to figure out has been discipline while living in very confined spaces, like caravan parks. The types of issues are no different to any other family or

child, it’s the getting them to bed on time, keeping them in some sort of routine, making sure they are kind to each other and other people, not fighting, and how to limit screen and Ipad time outside of school times.

The added complexity to this is managing to do this without everyone in the whole camp site or caravan park being aware that the kids bedtime has come and Mum and Dad have just given them their sixth glass of water and a last piece of


bread, listened to the meaning of life and tucked in all the teddies, dolls and various zoo of stuffed toys once again, just to have a child imitate a jack-in-the-box and is back out of bed needing a banana because she refused to eat dinner when it was in front of her earlier. For the most part other

campers are a pretty accepting lot and many times they will offer to help if you look like you need it, but you do get the odd Judgey McJudgson who will have every suggestion in the book on how you are failing in your parenting.

Yes, spending every day with your partner and children is living the dream, but sometimes we just need a few minutes to escape into our own thoughts so we can regroup and re-energise ready to face the onslaught again.

The other factor in managing this beautiful chaos is how to schedule in some time out from it all.

There are a myriad of ways to do this. Read a book; go for a run or walk; meditate or do


some yoga, or however it is that you unwind. By the way, I have no answers to any of this. Three years on the road and I’m still fumbling my way through it all. As for discipline, you just have to do as you would at home I think. Try and stick to the

ground rules you would set in a house and while there will be some flexibility, you just need to keep as close to some sort of routine as possible. And while it will be hard at times, this is really the best life you can live.


WHEN TO USE A MUK MAT

Travel Accessory

After a surf to change out of your wetsuit and avoid tramping it into the dirt, sand or bitumen. After the beach to clean sand off feet. After a run/ride to clean shoes. After kids sport to clean shoes and even get out of muddy/dirty clothes.

WHAT ON EARTH IS A MUK MAT ?

Camping – to clean feet before getting into the

Spent the morning surfing but don’t want sandy feet in the car?

Keep the mat flat in the back of your car to put

Well you need a muk mat. Kids been outside playing sport but you don’t want grass all over the lounge room carpet?

tent/caravan. After golf to clean the grass off. wet clothes, shoes to keep the car clean Basically – whenever you need clean feet.

Better use a muk mat. Love camping but hate dirt in your sleeping bag? That calls for a muk mat. So what on earth is a muk mat? muk mat is a portable synthetic grass mat designed to get the muk off your feet and shoes. Locally handcrafted, with a sleek binding to suit your style, it looks cool, feels lush and travels easily, but most importantly, it WORKS. You will wonder how you ever lived without a muk mat.

www.mukmat.com


WHEN TO USE A MUK MAT

Travel Accessory

After a surf to change out of your wetsuit and avoid tramping it into the dirt, sand or bitumen. After the beach to clean sand off feet. After a run/ride to clean shoes. After kids sport to clean shoes and even get out of muddy/dirty clothes.

WHAT ON EARTH IS A MUK MAT ?

Camping – to clean feet before getting into the

Spent the morning surfing but don’t want sandy feet in the car?

Keep the mat flat in the back of your car to put

Well you need a muk mat. Kids been outside playing sport but you don’t want grass all over the lounge room carpet?

tent/caravan. After golf to clean the grass off. wet clothes, shoes to keep the car clean Basically – whenever you need clean feet.

Better use a muk mat. Love camping but hate dirt in your sleeping bag? That calls for a muk mat. So what on earth is a muk mat? muk mat is a portable synthetic grass mat designed to get the muk off your feet and shoes. Locally handcrafted, with a sleek binding to suit your style, it looks cool, feels lush and travels easily, but most importantly, it WORKS. You will wonder how you ever lived without a muk mat.

www.mukmat.com




Camp Spots

www.camp-spots.com

www.facebook.com/campspots

G'day, it's David from camp-spots.com and who dosent love bacon! This month the camp-spots.com team brings you an amazing and easy camp cooking favourite. Make sure you visit us a camp-spots.com, we have amazing things coming. It’s time to let my secret out, one of my all time favorite camping meals? What are they? They’re called Bacon Wrapped BBQ Meatball Onion Bombs and they will fill you up, keep you full and may and I mean may keep the kids quiet for a little while! Yes they are that good. I make these in advance and keep them in a Esky until it is time to devour them. You can cook these in aluminium foil straight on the fire. This is great because you don’t have to lug around heavy skillets. I promise that once you try these you will want to make these every time you go camping. Amazing!


Recipe Idea, But Modify To Taste Top and tail the onion, peel off the outer skin and then gently slice through the first layer of onion. Carefully peel it off, keep it in one piece so it doesn’t lose its shape. Dice remaining onion to add to the beef filling.

Mix together the following: • 500g Ground Minced Beef • Diced Onion • Spice Mix • 2 Teaspoon of Worcester Sauce • 1 handful of Chopped Parsley

Using your hands, pack the meat into the onion skin until it is full and solid. Pat down the top and bottom to ensure a smooth round shape. Now it’s time for the bacon. Firstly, wrap a rasher fully around the onion. Repeat this from top to bottom so the bacon covers the meat. Continue doing this with 3-4 rashers until the whole onion is covered. Repeat on the other onion and if required secure everything in place with a couple of cocktail sticks. These are great for using to pick up the bombs later on the plate. For the first stage, we’re going to smoke these for an hour at 230F/110c. For this video we used some birch wood chunks. With the bacon nice and crispy, and internal temps of the bombs at approximately 160F/70C, take them off the heat and glaze. Brush on your favorite sugar based sauce to ensure a beautiful caramelisation. We used a classic BBQ sauce.

Now, finish off in the 330F/165 C heat for 10-15 minutes. You can brush again if you prefer. There are plenty of options from satellite phones to UHF so choose carefully and do as much research as you can.


STATION HOPPERS It’s that time of year again when many Stations across the country open for travellers. It’s been a tough few years for many Station owners but Brett Heinrich from Station Hoppers says diversifying into tourism has given many station owners the income they’ve needed to stay on their land. “Agriculture is a really tough industry and Agritourism has allowed station owners to diversify into generating income outside of the day to

dayrunning of the farm. Staying on these stations and understanding life on the land, is one of the greatest things you can do to support our Agriculture station owners”. Choosing a station experience however can be pretty confusing. Each station is different and can offer some very unique experiences. Brett says, “Some stations offer anything from poetry reading, cooking classes, station tours, mustering experiences and so much more.


My advice would be to jump on the Station Hoppers website and see what experiences they offer and pick one that really appeals to your taste”. Station Hoppers is the home of station travel in Australia and Brett says he set it up because he saw a need for information about which stations welcome travellers, where they are located and what they can offer. He says he is passionate about station travel from his own personal experience.

“About 15 years ago I travelled the country with a ute and a swag. Being a young bloke and not doing the research I should have, I’ve now seen so many places off the beaten track that I wish I had gone to, especially stations!” “I created a Facebook group called Station Hoppers Australia that is about creating a community of like-minded travellers and 4X4 lovers and sharing those amazing places so when you go on your next adventure, you don’t make the same mistakes I did and


miss the amazing experiences that station stays can offer!” “And there are a lot of people who agree with me, the group has grown to over 42,000 members inside the first 12 months and I’ve now launched a website to compile all the information in one place for the traveller”. Station stays are a completely different type of camping to general camp grounds, national parks, free camps or caravan parks. You are camping in someone’s home, and experiencing a life that is so far removed from a city based lifestyle.

Brett says, “It’s all about the experiences that they offer. Playgrounds and caravan parks are fantastic but the experiences that families and in particular kids can have on a station create lifetime memories and a real understanding of life in the outback and authentic Australia.” With stations all over the country, all with very different landscape and locations, Brett says he finds it pretty hard to have a favourite but it is hard to go past the WA coast.


“There really are different experiences around different parts of Australia from the ocean views of the Western Australian coast to the ranges in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. One of my favourite places is the Western Australian coast. There are a lot of stations along the coast with the wonder of the Ningaloo Reef just meters off of the shoreline. Being able to camp right on the beach front with amazing fishing and remote wilderness is something really spectacular and should be experienced by all people who love the outback!�

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT STATION HOPPERS IG @stationhoppers Call us: 0427414129 Email us: info@stationhoppers.com.au www.stationhoppers.com.au/ www.facebook.com/stationhoppers/


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