Autumn Holidays Guide by Explore Australia

AUTUMN HOLIDAY S GU ID E

FREE CAMPSITES

BUSH TUKKA RECIPES

Your guide to hitting the road this AUTUMN

INDIAN OCEAN DRIVE

AND MORE

Are you HITTING THE ROAD this AUTUMN? Reasons to hit the road this autumn:

1 There are only a few short weeks left of camping season in the south of Australia so get in while you can! (And check out our list of free campsites around the country).

While camping season might be finishing, it’s the start of whale-watching season – swap your tent for some binoculars. (Take a look at our guide for travelling along the Indian Ocean Drive, where you’ll see whales, whale sharks, turtles and more.) 2

You can see the changing autumn colours in towns like Bright

When isn’t it a good time to hit the roads of Australia?

But if you can’t hit the road this autumn, we’ve still got you covered. Our author, Samantha Martin, has whipped up a delicious recipe for baked cheesecake that involves a special bush tukka ingredient – and we also have plenty of photos that you can look at and wish you were there. See you on the road! The Explore Australia team

Acknowledgements Editor Lauren Whybrow Designer Julie Thompson Photography credits Cover image: Japanese Garden in Cowra, Evolving Images, Destination NSW; Contents page image: Canberra Festival Balloon Spectacular, Visit Canberra; 25 Free Campsites image: Campfire, SATC/Adam Bruzzone; Camping along the Indian Ocean Drive: Both photos courtesy of Lyndon Sparrow; Classic 4WD treks image: Cape York Peninsula, Cape York, QLD, Tourism Australia/ Maxime Coquard; Happy travelling image: The sunshine balloon image is Hot Air Ballooning, Melbourne, VIC, Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia and the vines image is Hot air balloon Yarra Valley, Rob Blackburn.

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Explore Australia Publishing Pty Ltd is a division of Hardie Grant Publishing Pty Ltd All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owners and the above publisher of this guide. Publisher’s note: We love to hear from our readers. Email us here: info@exploreaustralia.net.au

CONTENTS 25 free campsites

camping along the indian ocean drive baked cheesecake with conkerberry and blueberry syrup SIX QUESTIONS WITH DOUG KING

6 8 9

BEST OF AUTUMN THROUGH IMAGES

TOP 5 CLASSIC 4WD TREKS

CAMPING CLOSE TO HOME AUTUMN BOOKSHOP

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

25 Free Campsites

Free yourself from budget worries by staying at these free campsites. And aside from being free, many of these campsites are also dog-friendly – talk about hitting the jackpot.

New South Wales Acacia Flat camping area (walk-in camping), Blue Mountains National Park Experience one of the best bush camping sites in New South Wales – for free. Hidden in the famous Grose Valley (it’s a steep walk down), you’ll sleep underneath the blue gums. There are toilets, and you can drink the creek water, after you’ve treated it.

Bendeela Recreation Area, Kangaroo Valley Bendeela Recreation Area is a large, grassy area surrounded by trees and next to Kangaroo River.

Ben Halls camping area, Weddin Mountains National Park As the main campground in the national park, you’ll find a good range of facilities here. Situated on the western side of the park next to the historic Seatons Farm, the sites are grassy and shaded.

Lobs Hole Ravine camping area (northern section), Kosciuszko National Park Ain’t no mountain high enough to keep you from getting to a campsite this good. This free campsite is only accessible for those in 4WDs, and you’ll need to be completely self-sufficient.

Victoria Snakes camping area, Upper Goulburn Historic Area The sites are spacious and spread out next to the river, and there are great walking tracks nearby. It’s also dog friendly.

Loch Valley (The Poplars) camping area, Noojee You’ll find Loch Valley (The Poplars) camping area approximately 7km from Noojee, a small town on the way to Baw Baw National Park. This campground is free 4

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

SAVE YOUR WALLET THIS AUTUMN

and dog friendly, and has toilets and picnic areas. Get in quick – Loch Valley closes down over winter.

Little River Junction camping area, Snowy River National Park The junction is between the Snowy and Little rivers, and the camping area is perfectly placed for some swimming or canoeing.

Meredith Park camping area, Colac This is a well-known free camping area on the northern shore of Lake Colac. The fishing here is great, and the area can become crowded with anglers.

Bear Gully camping area, Cape Liptrap Coastal Park Quieter than neighbouring Wilsons Promontory National Park, Cape Liptrap is on a charming section of the Gippsland coast. Bear Gully is the only camping area in the park.

Western Australia Marrinup camping area, Dwellingup There’s really only one word to describe Marrinup camping area – pleasant. It’s a pleasant camping area, with a pleasant location in the forest next to Marrinup Brook. It’s also pleasantly free and dog friendly.

Eagle Bluff camping area, Francois Peron National Park We’re as shocked as you – you can get free camping just a short swim away from the marine wonderland of Shark Bay Marine Park. The sites are spread out amongst the coastal vegetation on the foreshore.

House Beach camping area, Fitzgerald River National Park You need to have a 4WD and be completely selfsufficient to camp at House Beach. But other than those obstacles, this is a great beach campsite.

South Australia Artimore Ruins camping area Rattle down the Public Access Track in your 4WD until you come to Artimore Ruins. Nestled in a valley, this is a secluded and often quiet site with absolutely no facilities, so be prepared to rough it.

The Boulders camping area, Babinda You’ll find this camping area near one of the best swimming holes in Queensland. Sites are strictly limited – there are only five, with space for five people on each.

Broadwater Recreational Reserve camping area, Nanango

Northern Territory

Twitchers, take note! This camping area is known for being a good birdwatching site. To camp here, you need to be completely self-sufficient.

Alligator Billabong camping area (bush camping), Kakadu National Park

Tasmania

Camp for free in Australia’s biggest national park at Alligator Billabong camping area. This site is only accessible by a 4WD-only track, and has no facilities.

Birthday Waterhole camping area, West MacDonnell National Park Birthday Waterhole camping area is a free campsite on the Larapinta Trail. There are no facilities here, so you’ll have to be entirely self-sufficient.

Curtin Springs Roadhouse, Curtin Springs You can camp for free at this roadhouse, which is on a working cattle station. Also on the station? Mount Conner, a monolith that is often mistaken for Uluru.

Limmen Bight Fishing Camp, Limmen

Cockle Creek camping area, Recherche Bay Nature Recreation Area You’ll have to go deep into the south to find this campsite – as far south as you can go by car in Australia. These campsites range along the final kilometres of Tasmania’s southernmost road. The only things provided by the campground are toilets and the views.

Green Point camping area, Marrawah If you don’t feel like going south, how about taking on the Wild West? The facilities are good here, but this is a very exposed campsite, so bring shelter.

Hazards Beach camping area (walk-in camping), Freycinet National Park

Among certain circles, this is a famously good free campsite – so don’t tell anyone we let you in on the secret!

Freycinet National Park is on most people’s must-visit list for Tasmania. But what a lot of those people don’t realise is that you can camp for free inside the national park – you just have to be prepared to walk in.

Queensland

Paddys Island camping area, St Helens

Chinchilla Weir camping area, Chinchilla

Get million-dollar views at Paddys Island camping area – for free. The campsites are nestled in the shrub just behind white-sand beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. Catch your own dinner fresh from the ocean and cook it on the supplied fireplace.

On the banks of the Condamine River, this basic site has a maximum stay of two nights and is popular with water lovers.

Apsley Waterhole camping area, Douglas-Apsley National Park Sometimes you have to work a little harder for the free sites – but Apsley Waterhole camping area is worth it. The campground is a 10 minute walk from the parking area, but once you arrive at the campsite and see it (hopefully) bathed in dappled sunlight, you’ll agree that it was worth it. The sites are only a short walk from a great swimming hole.

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Camping along the Indian Ocean Drive

Do you want to watch the sun go down over the Indian Ocean every night? Get a campsite with a view without breaking the bank at these affordable caravan parks and campsites. We’ve followed the Indian Ocean Drive all the way up the coast from Perth to Exmouth, picking out our favourite places to stay along the way.

Cervantes

Kalbarri

Pinnacles Caravan Park

Murchison River Caravan Park

Pinnacles Caravan Park is your best option if you want to camp near the famous Pinnacles Desert. There’s no camping in Nambung National Park, and this caravan park has good facilities and easy access to the national park.

Located in the centre of town and just opposite the beach, Murchison River Caravan Park has the facilities you’d expect at a caravan park along this popular holiday route, such as toilets and showers (disabled access), laundry, dump point, camp kitchen, barbecues, pool and a playground.

Geraldton Sunset Holiday Beach Park In a quiet spot north of town, this popular caravan park has everything you need: good facilities, good access to the historic sites of Geraldton, and a tremendous position for watching the sun go down on the Indian Ocean.

Denham Denham Seaside Tourist Village With a position near the beach fit for a king, and the views to match, Denham Seaside Tourist Village is your best option in the area. It has good facilities and the fishing opportunities are famous.

Francois Peron National Park Francois Peron has a range of camping areas with good facilities and great views – but you do need a 4WD to access any of the campgrounds in this national park.

Carnarvon Quobba Station You’ll find Quobba Station north of Carnarvon. There are

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

two options for camping at Quobba Station – the campground next to the station or the far more isolated Red Bluff, which allegedly has the best sunsets this side of Australia.

Ningaloo Lighthouse Caravan Park

Coral Bay

Cape Range National Park

Peoples Park Caravan Resort

Unlike its southern neighbour, Francois Peron National Park, you don’t need a 4WD to access many of the campsites in Cape Range National Park. While the campsites facing the Indian Ocean are often windblown and exposed, the views are worth it. Sites book out at popular times of the year, so make sure to get in quick.

At $50 a night for an ocean-front basic site, Peoples Park Tourist Park is on the expensive side. But it offers a great position in the extremely popular Coral Bay, with good facilities – so you might think it’s worth a bit of extra cash.

Exmouth Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort If you’re all about the location, you can’t do much better than this centrally located caravan park, which has accommodation ranging from cabins to campsites.

This caravan park has ocean views, which is a top requirement when travelling along the Indian Ocean Drive.

Bush Bay camping area The trade-off for this campsite being free is that you have to be entirely self-sufficient – there are no facilities here. But there are fantastic views of the Indian Ocean, as this campsite faces Shark Bay Marine Park.

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

baked cheesecake

with conkerberry AND blueberry syrup

Ingredients Cheesecake

DELICIOUS!

• 275g Anzac biscuits • 70g butter, melted • 250g cream cheese • 150g sour cream • 75g caster sugar • 2 eggs • seeds from 1 vanilla bean, or 1½ teaspoons • vanilla essence

Add Anzac biscuits and melted butter to a food processor, and process until a smooth mixture forms. Spread the biscuit mixture evenly around the base of the cake tin, and press down on the mixture to ensure there are not gaps in the base. Cover the tin with cling wrap and place in the fridge.

In a mixing bowl, place the cream cheese, sour cream, caster sugar, eggs and vanilla essence and mix well, until all ingredients are combined – for the best results place the mixture into a food processor and process until it is smooth and creamy.

Pour the cheese mixture on top of the biscuit base and spread evenly. Place the cheesecake into the oven and bake for 1 hour. When cooked, turn the oven off but leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door slightly ajar until it cools down, this will help prevent it from cracking.

Once cooled, remove the cheesecake from the oven and place in the fridge for 4 hours, until chilled. Then remove the cheesecake from the cake tin and gently drizzle the berry syrup over the cheesecake.

Syrup

• 1 cup fresh conkerberries (for a sweet flavour, remove grape-size seeds from berries) • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries • ¾ cup caster sugar • ¼ cup water • pinch of cinnamon • ½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Put conkerberries, blueberries, caster sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring gently at all times. Once boiling slightly, reduce heat.

Add cinnamon and vanilla essence to the syrup and stir gently until the syrup thickens. If the sauce is too thick, add water to thin it to your liking.

Once it reaches a syrup-like consistency, remove from heat. Allow syrup to cool to room temperature. Drizzle over cheesecake when ready to serve.

Method Cheesecake 1

Preheat the oven to 190°C, and grease a 25cm springform cake tin well.

SERVES 6

Bush Tukka by Samantha Martin. 8

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Six questions author of with Doug King Boating Survival Guide 1

How did you get into boating?

As a boy, my family holidayed at the Gippsland Lakes. I learned sailing and motor-boating with family and friends. I enjoyed the freedom, the connection with nature and the ability to take control of what you were doing. I explored, learned and enjoyed myself in one of Australia’s most beautiful waterways. My love of boats and the water grew from there.

What are your favourite boating spots at this time of year? 2

people in mind, from the novice to the experienced boater. The book provides the knowledge to extend yourself with a good base of information. The tips, checklists and case studies allow experienced boaters to confirm their skills and the novice to develop them. I have deliberately written the book in such a way that it could be a mate talking to you about various topics. I’ve tried not to be too technical!

What items are always in your pack when you’re boating? 5

While it is a bit one-eyed, I love Victoria in April, particularly the Gippsland Lakes and Port Phillip. We have cool nights and warm sunny days coupled with long periods of settled weather. North of Brisbane is also great this time of the year. The cyclone season has gone and settled weather is approaching.

On day trips, apart from the mandatory safety equipment, a whistle, a good multi-tool, a jacket, a small waterproof torch, a waterproof mobile phone pouch, sunglasses (even in winter), a hand held marine radio, a cap and a bottle of water. For extended trips the list includes more items such as clothing and an EPIRB (Rescue Beacon).

What are your three top tips for novice boaters?

What places in Australia are on your must-travel list?

Commit to learning more about boating and your boat. Gaining a licence is the beginning. You can get much more from your boat by gaining experience and learning how to safely extend yourself.

Don’t rush. Take your time and reflect when things don’t go quite right. You can learn from small errors.

Gain practical experience gradually. Take small steps to challenge yourself and seek advice from experienced boaters or consult reliable texts.

What sort of information can people expect in your book?

From a boating point of view my must-visit travel are – the extended Whitsundays (Mackay to Bowen), Coffin Bay to Farm Beach in South Australia, Hobart to Southport along the D’Entrecasteaux Channel in Tasmania, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury System. I love the north-west coast of Western Australia, although it is a bit remote. As well as these places, I love any large inland river system – you can lose the stresses of a busy life easily.

I wrote the Boating Survival Guide with a wide range of

Start your boating adventures with the Boating Survival Guide. AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

BEST OF AUTUMN THROUGH IMAGES

Are you feeling the chill of autumn? These images, taken from our photography book The Best of Australia, should warm you up with their rich colours from the north of Australia.

Beehive formations in Purnululu National Park, Nick Rains

Indian Head in the Kimberley, Nick Rains

A boab tree in Windjana Gorge, Nick Rains

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Presenting stunning photography of our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic landscapes and unique wildlife, The Best of Australia is a large-format hardback book that will take your breath away.

SPECTACULAR!

A short-beaked echidna in Bladensburg National Park, Nick Rains

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Camping close to home: the best campsites near Melbourne

Feel like going camping, but don’t want to travel too far from Melbourne? We’ve found the best campsites within one or two hours from Melbourne.

Nioka Bush Camp, Plenty Gorge Park

Sorrento Foreshore camping area, Sorrento Foreshore Reserve

Close enough to Melbourne, yet far enough away that it still feels like a break, this campsite is in Plenty Gorge Park. The reserve is maintained by Parks Victoria, and has a good selection of facilities, including toilets, hot-water showers, drinking water and a camp kitchen (so you can try out some of our camping recipes!).

Hotels in Sorrento can cost more than you want to pay for a short weekend away. Luckily, there’s Sorrento Foreshore camping area, which has hundreds of sites. If you’re after a family-friendly site with proximity to many of the attractions of the Mornington Peninsula and great facilities, you can’t do better.

Kurth Kiln camping area, Kurth Kiln Regional Park

Fairhaven camping area, French Island National Park

Kurth Kiln camping area is a short distance east of Melbourne. The campsites are spacious and surrounded by bush. It’s one of the best camping spots close to Melbourne, and has opportunities for cycling, horseriding and bushwalking. Facilities are limited – you’ll basically only find fireplaces and toilets – but the trade-off is that you can bring your dog and the camping is free.

French Island isn’t as famous as neighbouring Phillip Island, but it is a beautiful natural spot where you can kick back for a few days. The only amenities at the campsites are a drop toilet and water that needs to be purified before you can drink it. After you’ve had enough of kicking back, take a walk around the island and keep an eye out for the native wildlife.

The Gums camping area, Kinglake National Park

Nash Creek camping area, Bunyip State Forest

Around 10km from Kinglake in the Great Dividing Range the 18 campsites are set amongst the natural bush setting next to a stream, and are great for families. This is a simple camping area with barbecues, toilets and caravan access. There’s a camping fee, and you have to book a site before you arrive.

Don’t worry. As far as we can tell, there aren’t actually bunyips roaming between the trees at Bunyip State Forest. Even if there were, we doubt it would be enough to turn people off camping at Nash Creek camping area, which has peaceful campsites spaced out in the bush. Bunyip State Forest was another section of the state severely affected by the bushfires in 2009 but, as with Kinglake, the forest has experienced a spectacular regeneration, and is a place where Melburnians can enjoy abundant nature and wildlife. Nash Creek camping area is in the heart of the forest, and has access to the forest’s great walking paths and mountain-biking trails.

Andersons Garden camping area, Mount Disappointment State Forest Don’t let the name fool you; Mount Disappointment State Forest is not disappointing. In fact, camping at Andersons Garden camping area is quite the opposite. Only around 9km from the Hume Highway, this easily accessible campground is in a charming spot under the mountain ashes. The facilities are limited, with toilets being the only real amenity provided. Yet you can bring your dog and camping is free.

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

Top 5 classic 4WD treks

There are some four-wheel-drive journeys that used to be spoken of in hushed tones around the campfire at night, legendary journeys carved out of the harsh Australian landscape by intrepid explorers. With the upgrades in fourwheel-drive technology, many of these routes are not the perilous journeys they used to be. But don’t underestimate them – these trips are still rough-as-guts, and are fantastic adventures for the modern-day explorer.

Anne Beadell Highway: Laverton, Western Australia

1 to Coober Pedy, South Australia – One of the

highways built by Len Beadell, this remote trip passes by atomic bomb test sites and salt lakes. Crossing the edge of the Nullarbor Plain, this is a journey through a part of Australia where you won’t find many other people. You need a travel permit for this trip.

Birdsville Track: Marree, South Australia to Birdsville,

2 Queensland – This track passes through the Sturt

Stony Desert and is justifiably famous for its difficult travelling conditions, although the track is now accessible to most well-prepared four-wheel-drives. Starting in South Australia and finishing in the famous outback town of Birdsville (be sure to stop by the iconic pub), you’ll need to be prepared for a journey without much phone reception or other amenities. This is a popular journey for four-wheel drivers in the cooler months of the year.

Canning Stock Route: Wiluna to Halls Creek, Western

3 Australia – The route has a deserved reputation

as one of the most difficult four-wheel-drive trips in Australia, with sand dunes, saltpans, rocky patches and more. The Canning Stock Route was originally surveyed as a overland cattle route and passes by Aboriginal rock art, old cattle wells and the Wolfe Creek meteorite

crater. Make sure to stop for the attractions when you do see them, because points of interest on the trek are few and far between.

Cape York Peninsula Development Road: Cairns to the

4 tip of Australia, Queensland – The development

road is only accessible in the dry season, and is one of the best-known four-wheel-drive tracks in Australia. You’ll meet plenty of other travellers on the road, all heading up to see the tip of Australia. The trip features difficult creek and river crossings, so be well prepared. Unlike many of the other famous treks, this trip doesn’t traverse sandy deserts, but is a drive through the lush rainforests of upper-north Queensland, one of the last wilderness areas in the country.

Gibb River Road: Derby to Kununurra,

5 Western Australia – Possibly the most spectacular

trip on this list, the Gibb River Road passes through the Kimberley along some extreme corrugated roads, although most well-prepared four-wheel-drive vehicles can undertake the trek. Passing by three different mountain ranges, you’ll be awed by the size and majesty of this region, including the impressive gorges and wide river crossings. You’ll also find some incredible camping spots along the route, such as the El Questro Station and Home Valley Station.

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

autumn bookshop Warm up by hitting the road this autumn.

Bush Tukka by Samantha Martin

Gourmet Touring around Australia

The Bush Tukka Woman shares her knowledge and love of bush tukka – along with some delicious recipes.

From cabernet to camembert, discover the very best gourmet stops along Australia’s touring routes.

Find out more

RRP: $19.95

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

TOUR VINE BY VINE

OUR CLASSIC BESTSELLER

RRP: $36.95

Camping around Australia

Explore Australia 2014 Explore Australia is an invaluable travel bible for anyone planning an extended holiday in Australia. Don’t hit the road without a copy.

The cooler months are prime time for camping up north. Plan which sunny campsites to visit with this comprehensive guide.

Find out more

RRP: $59.95

RRP: $44.95

Budget Rest Areas around Australia by Paul Smedley You can holiday in Australia without breaking the bank! Find out which rest areas you can stop at overnight.

Hungry Campers Cookbook by Katy Holder Hungry Campers Cookbook brings together the fun of family camping holidays with fresh, healthy, gourmet recipes.

Find out more

RRP: $39.95

RRP: $29.95

See also: the Camping around Australia app

BEST FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS 4WD Australia: 50 Short Getaways by Linda Lee Rathbun and Steven David Miller You don’t have to take a month off to go on a 4WD getaway. Here are some getaways close to major towns you can tackle in a long weekend.

1000 Great Places to Explore in Australia 1000 Great Places to Explore in Australia details the very best places that Australia has to offer, from its famous destinations to its best-kept secrets.

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RRP: $39.95

RRP: $34.95

Walks in Nature: Australia by Viola Design Walks in Nature: Australia covers 112 trails in and around the country’s major cities for those who want to explore the best of our country on foot.

Vantastic by Kate Ulman From caravan craft projects to tips on how to select the best caravan park, Kate Ulman takes a look at caravanning holidays in the modern world.

Find out more

RRP: $29.95

Boating Survival Guide by Doug King

BEST FOR URBAN EXPLORERS Melbourne Precincts

Start your boating adventures with this book, whether you’re just looking at buying your first boat or you’re an experienced boatie.

by Dale Campisi Dale Campisi’s book picks out the very best of Melbourne’s shopping, eating and drinking experiences for locals and tourists alike.

Find out more

RRP: $29.95

RRP: $34.95 AUTUMN HOLIDAYS GUIDE

HAPPY TRAVELLING