TOUR SCHEDULE
2009 Tours
A group travel proposal for May 2009 - Brenda & Lloyd Junor
THIS TOUR IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES (partners/carers welcome)
Background:
We have operated caravanning and Outback tours for 22 years. On these tours we have had many people with different disabilities, some minor, some severe. We have always managed to accommodate their needs. Almost everyone who has joined a tour has later become a repeat customer. Ages have ranged from babe in arms to middle-80s, couples and singles. There is a chapter in our book The Australian RV and Caravanner's Guide that looks at travel opportunities for people who have disabilities. It also mentions some references and resources on the topic. Particular enthusiasm forthis kind of recreational travel has come from Harry and Karen Kerr (Accessible RvVans) and from Anthony Wake (Accessavan) who are 'wheelies' travelling in their caravans.
The idea of a trip for people with a disability started at the Central Victorian Stroke Support Group which meets in Bendigo. Several members, who have caravans or other travel vehicles, expressed interest in going a little further than regular bitumen highways.
As Brenda is a stroke survivor and has travelled quite widely caravanning, she has been able to explain that this style of travel is very manageable provided one does a little planning and thinking about it beforehand. We felt that we would open our little trip up to others who may care to come along.
To keep the level of contact as personal as possible, there will be a limit of 10 rigs in this trip.
Hopefully some benefactors in the RV and Caravan Industry or an associated organisation will assist with some kind of support for future trips.
Caravans Designed for People in Wheelchairs by People in Wheelchairs.
There’s no charge for this tour. You pay your way. We are giving disabled people a chance to travel to places they might not go without some sort of experienced companionaship. We are providing this assistance as a donation to the community.
Because this is not a commercial trip, there is no Liability Insurance, we are merely a group of friends on the road. (But you are allowed to ply LJ with cups of tea, Anzac biscuits etc and Brenda likes licorice allsorts.)
Proposal:
The idea is for a small group of people to go on a self-drive tour to places they might not usually expect to visit. Travellers may need to take walking frames, wheelie-walkers, scooters or other devices to assist their mobility.
People will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. Lloyd will book it if you advise your needs. We will overnight in places where accommodation is available as cabins, shearers’ quarters, motel units or similar.
Travellers are welcome to use a caravan, motor home, tent or other mobile accommodation. Because some dirt road travel is involved, low-slung vehicles are not appropriate. It is strongly recommended that each vehicle has a UHF CB radio so that during travel communication can be maintained with all group members. (Beg, borrow, rent, or otherwise obtain one.) Call Lloyd for advice if needed.
Trip outline:
Day |
Start – Finish |
Activities |
Sat May 9 |
Bendigo - Waranga |
Highlights: art gallery, gold rush town, ghost town, bush pub. Depart Bendigo, travel via Axedale, Toolleen, Rushworth. Take time looking around Rushworth and nearby. Overnight at Waranga CP, or motel/hotel in Rushworth |
Sun May 10 |
Waranga - Moama |
Highlights: Country Farmers’ Market, Australia’s ‘Upside Down Dunny’. Travel through Tongala, Echuca, to Moama. Overnight at Moama CP. There will be time to look around Echuca, check out some of Moama’s historical spots. Suggest evening meal at Moama Club. |
Mon May 11 |
Moama – Balranald |
Highlights: iconic Conargo Pub, Wanganella - birthplace of Australian merino industry. A long day of driving today through plains country. Call in to the Conargo Pub, go across country to Wanganella, then through the Moulamein district to camp on banks of Edwards River at Balranald CP overnight. |
Tues May 12 |
Balranald – Mungo NP |
North from Balranald, past Bidura Station into the Willandra Lakes World Heritage precinct surrounding Mungo National Park. Travel to see the ‘Walls of China’ wind sculpted sand. Likely overnight stay will be: for caravans at camping ground and Shearers’ Quarters for non-vanners. |
Wed May 13 |
Mungo - Menindee |
Highlights: Darling River, Homebush Race Track. This is a fairly full day of travel. Pooncarie, now a hamlet, was a river port when paddle steamers plied the Darling. Almost entirely earth roads. Travel through Pooncarie village and then follow the Darling River north as far as Menindee. Overnight at Menindee. Motels and cabins available. |
May 14,15,16 (Th, Fri, Sat) |
Menindee – Broken Hill |
Highlights: Kinchega Woolshed, Menindee Lakes. Visit Kinchega Nat Park. After lunch head for Broken Hill – about 100km of bitumen. Settle into caravan park. Then lots of free time. 28 art galleries! including Pro Hart, Jack Absalom, Roxanne Minchin. Trips arranged to Silverton ghost town and Umberumberka Reservoir, evening meal at Social Democrats Club, visit Royal Flying Doctor Base, School of the Air, go down a mine, see the Afghan mosque, ‘Living Desert’ sculptures. |
Sun May 17 |
Broken Hill |
Optional day trip to Wilcannia – 2.5 hours each way, bitumen. |
Mon May 18 |
Broken Hill - Mildura |
Leave Broken Hill mid-morning. Around 300km of almost straight road with a road house near the midpoint. Book into caravan park near Mildura. |
Tuesday May 19 |
Mildura - Bendigo |
Call in to see Big Lizzie at Red Cliffs, have a vanilla slice at Ouyen, see that there’s no sea at Sea Lake, call in to see if Col and Bev are missed at Wycheproof. Go home to recover…. |
Note: Accommodation booking is tight in sparsely populated areas, so reservations need to be made well ahead. Persons who wish to join this outing should advise Brenda or Lloyd (email: admin@aussieoutback.com.au Ph: 03 5449 3300:) ASAP in order to arrange cabin or similar accommodation if that’s what is needed. Send expressions of interest to admin@aussieoutback.com.au as soon as you are able to.
Costs, other issues:
Fuel costs will be more in remote places than at home. Cabins should be budgeted for at around $100 per night average. Meals are another cost. For some cabins you would need to have your own bedding in addition to food. Admissions to attractions should be figured into the budget.
Mobile phones are purely ornamental in outlying districts. Take clothes for warm weather, as well as windy cold weather, ballroom dancing, mayoral receptions, under-car maintenance and rabbiting.
If you go strange about dust, stay home. If you’re afraid of vast horizons, stay home. If you are up to a challenge and you are just a little crazy, come along – you will have the company of similar people!
20 Feb 2009
© Goodwun Pty Ltd
ABN 311 882 77801
28 Cootamundra Place, Junortoun, 3551, Australia
tel: (+61 3) 5449 3300 fax: (+61 3) 5449 3665