A fabulous family trip around NSW in our campervan

A taste of van life in country NSW

We’ve just spent a month touring NSW in our Apollo Campervan, getting a taste of vanlife as we moved our whole life around the state with us. There’s such a feeling of comfort and security with traveling in a campervan, knowing you have everything you need with you, being able to stop and rest whenever you like, and having the freedom to explore every day with all the home comforts – from kettle to microwave and bathroom – inside the van.

My 10 year old daughter Emmie and I started our adventure on the NSW south coast and, after she broke her arm at the Culburra skate park, headed west over the stunning Cambewarra Mountains  - stopping at the lookout for beautiful views over farmland to the coast – into Kangaroo Valley, Moss Vale and onto the central west. This was a change from our usual ocean holidays as we explored a land of Indigenous history, colonial settlers, bushrangers, beautiful country and some of the best sunsets we’ve ever seen.

While we’d intended on hiring a smaller van, we ended up traveling in an Apollo Euro Tourer, and we loved it. We loved the space, the toilet and bathroom, the comfy bed and the air conditioner that kept us warm on cold winter nights in the country. We stayed at caravan parks and so the bathroom wasn’t absolutely necessary, but it certainly was convenient (and believe me, the toilet cannister is so easy to empty, don’t let that put you off at all).

Together Emmie and I explored towns, farms, rivers and mountains, ate roast dinners in country pubs, I tasted delicious cool climate Orange wines and made friends at caravan parks throughout the state.

Not only was the Euro Tourer fun to travel in, it was easy to drive and very economical as it uses diesel fuel. It made our trip affordable, and meant I didn’t have to worry about spending too much money on the road.

We loved every stop on our adventure as we traversed the coast to the country.

Here are some of our favourite moments.

Spotting stingrays in Bendalong Bay

Bendalong is a beautiful little village about a four hour drive from Sydney. We booked a powered site under the trees at the Holiday Haven Caravan Park and spent our days spotting the giant stingrays, swimming and SUPing in the bay. It’s a beautiful place to stop and take and break or plan a family holiday. It’s perfect for kids, quiet and coastal and is lovely in summer and winter.

Image Credit: @mumpacktravel

Finding wombats in Kangaroo Valley

These huge wombats emerge from their burrows late in the afternoon to forage and wander and are just delightful to spot. The place to find them is the Bendeela camping and picnic area (you can free-camp here too), just outside of the Kangaroo Valley Township. If you’re lucky you’ll see mobs of kangaroos hopping around, and cockatoos and kookaburras in the trees. We had the best afternoon here and were thrilled to find these wonderful wombats in NSW.

Learn bushranger history in Canowindra

A four hour drive north west will set you right into bushranger country, and the home of the ancient Canowindra fish fossil. Canowindra’s crooked main street (it follows the old bullock track) has been used in films, photoshoots and advertisements and the Royal Hotel at the end of the street does a fabulous roast. You can learn all about its bushranger history and visit the amazing Age of Fishes Museum. The caravan park here is lovely, and is run by Ian the local taxi driver who you’ll see around town.

Visit historic Carcoar

Only 30 minutes down the highway is the town that time forgot, beautiful historic Carcoar. Every home here is original and it really is like stepping back in time. Walk up to the old railway station and tunnel, peruse the beautiful shops and eat in the pub or the highly regarded Antica restaurant. You could spend hours here wandering around, and I wish we’d had more time. You can free-camp just down the road at the Carcoar dam.

We really had the best time traveling in our Apollo campervan. It’s so much fun for both adults and kids and the perfect way for a family to explore without having to be stuck inside hotel or motel rooms. As soon as we arrived at caravan parks we were both out and about – having the freedom of the outdoors just a footstep outside the van makes such a difference when traveling with kids.

Emmie loved it so much she wrote all about her highlights and tips for kids traveling with their parents in a campervan. It’s essential reading for kids – to get the tips – and adults so they can keep a close eye on what they may get up to after reading!

Read more about Evie and Emmie’s adventures at www.mumpacktravel.com or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

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