Accommodation, Food and Fuel- for most travellers these 3 expenses form the largest part of the budget. I know it is for us personally. Like most travellers we travel to a budget and every cent counts so we like to look at ways to reduce our expenses. Because we cover many km’s each month we try hard to minimise our fuel expenses by following these handy tips. Because “every dollar saved is another dollar travelled”.

1. Limit the load you carry. Cull unnecessary items as much as possible and try to get by without ALL the luxury items. For every item that can be left behind it is another few kilos that your vehicle doesn’t need to pull.
2. Whilst talking about loads, ensure your vehicle, caravan, camper etc. are loaded safely and the weight is distributed evenly. Try to place heavier items over your axles and make sure you are within your legal limits of your vehicles tow rating. This is for safety as well, not just economy.
3. Make certain that your vehicle is well maintained and serviced properly. Clean fuel and air filters help your engine run cleaner making it more economical. Regular oil and oil filter changes keep your engine running smooth.
4. Tyre pressures- this is a biggy. Under or over inflated tyres can cause “drag” on your vehicles driveline. Check with your vehicles manual or tyre expert regarding what pressure to run in your tyres. Keep an accurate tyre gauge in your vehicle and invest in a small 12v compressor. Keep an eye on your tyres regularly, especially if you are towing. You will be amazed at how much difference it makes. Plus it’s safer and you will get a better life out of your tyres.
5. Avoid stacking bulky items in roof-racks. The better your vehicles wind-resistance is the better your economy. Any “drag” causes your engine to work harder thus burn more fuel.
6. Try using injector cleaner or diesel power additives. I say “try” because we have experienced mixed results using these. Give them a go in your vehicle to see how they go. If they make a difference perhaps start using them. You just need to work out if the money you save on fuel is out weighing the cost of the additive.
7. Every vehicle has a “sweet spot” on its rev-range. Some vehicles are happiest when they are sitting on 90kmh just coasting. Whilst if they were pushed to 100kmh they may be revving hard. Get a feel for your vehicle and see what works for you. Just remember to be courteous to others who are following you. The last thing you want is to hold up traffic. If your vehicle has an on-board trip computer, use that to help determine its economy and to figure out what driving habits give the best results.
8. This is a controversial one- I personally like to follow a larger vehicle such as a truck or bus (not too close and within the legal limits). When I say this to people, some give me a funny look. I don’t mean tail-gate them or be inconsiderate. I simply like to slip into their air stream. The larger vehicle in front breaks the wind and takes a lot of the aerodynamic pressure off my vehicle. With the less drag on my vehicle it can push through easier using less fuel. Just remember… not too close.
9. If you aren’t in a hurry, limit travelling on days where there is strong wind (unless they are tailwinds). When driving into headwinds- your fuel economy can increase by up to 50%. Something that’s not always in your controls but if you can, take into consideration the impact wind plays on your vehicles performance.
10. Choose a vehicle that has a good reputation as a touring vehicle. One with a reputation for fuel economy. Most modern 4×4’s are particularly fuel efficient and offer great torque for towing. LPG and Petrol vehicles often use more fuel and can make extended travel quite expensive, especially if you have a heavy load such  as a van or camper in tow. Do your research and speak with other travellers.

This is not an exclusive list by any means. But it’s a start and we hope that some of the tips may help keep a few more dollars in your pocket to spend on the finer things. Like a nice wine or some hard-earned fish and chips!

Happy and safe travelling!

Have you ever heard the term “geocaching” before? Many people have but are unsure what it means exactly.

To try and make it simple, geocaching could be considered a game or activity where individuals or groups seek to find hidden treasures (the geocache) by means of using a GPS device following a set of co-ordinates.

The idea is to find the hidden geocache, record a log that you have found it (by photo or by signing a log of “finders” that may accompany the geocache and on the geocache website). You may be wondering “what’s the point”. Well the geocache craze has taken off here “downunder” in a big way. People enjoy the thrill of seeking out a hidden item that could be located in the most remote or obscene places that you could think of or they could also be hidden in very obvious location literally ANYWHERE in the country. The Geocache website has a comprehensive list of hidden geocaches. This craze is based around “hide & seek” mentality because it’s human nature to be excited by the thrill of a challenge. Using a GPS with one’s navigational skills along with the adrenalin of hunting down an elusive treasure- I’ve been told it can be quite addictive. Now, when I say “treasure” it probably isn’t a valuable piece of jewellery, money or a gold watch. But it could be anything. Depending on the individual geocache, once you find it, you may be required to take the item and replace it with something else or leave it and sign a log-sheet of geocacher’s who have also found it. Examples of what you may find in a geocache maybe a pen, a token, a sign, ornament- usually quirky in some sense.

For many it’s a fun activity for families to all get involved with, teaching the kids about GPS navigation, co-ordinates and orienteering. Also, travellers enjoy the game of geocaching because it can keep them active and can provide a reason to visit locations that may not have been originally part of their travel plans. Other parties who also enjoy a good geocache hunt are bushwalkers and scouting groups.

Geocaching is kind of like a secret club but anyone is able to join- and it’s FREE. There are many geocaching websites that members can join and is the only real way of getting involved. Once you have joined as a member, you can use the website to gather the co-ordinates of hidden geocaches near you or in places you intend on visiting- all listed with a difficulty rating to suit your preference such as accessibility etc. All you need is a GPS unit (with co-ordinate function) and the set of co-ordinates found on the website for the geocache you wish to seek out.

The only rules are that you replace the geocache in the same spot you found it and replace the item taken with something of equal value. You then are usually required to log your find on the website and add any photos as proof. There are no winners or losers with this game- just a bunch of people having fun in the great outdoors! It’s also a fun idea to leave a comment online or in the forums about your find.

Members are invited to also add their own geocache for people to find. People usually choose to hide them in places of significance or places that are special to them. You record the co-ordinates and submit it to the central website so others can start looking. You can keep an eye on who’s found it and read comments people have left for you.

It’s an activity that I would recommend anyone trying. Give it a go and see if you enjoy the adrenalin or thrill of seeking out something that only exclusive members know exists. This a great idea if you are travelling- you will be amazed at where geocaching can take you and the quirky things you may find hidden in each geocache along the way!

Have fun and happy hunting.

To find out more Google “geocaching” but I recommend taking a look at www.geocaching.com.au for more info. There is a list of FAQ’s and some great info on getting started. You never know, a geocache could be right under your nose and you didn’t even realise! You could also try using the Geocaching App that’s available for smartphones!

We always look out for ways to cut costs or to save some money on our travels, the more money we can cut from those “grunge” costs (the ones that are necessary but seem like a waste of money). Grunge costs are things like fuel, accommodation, repairs etc. It leaves more money for the wineries, attractions, tours and leisure.

As long term travellers we do a pretty varied mix of budget camping and caravan parks. Both options offer a valuable place to stay providing we do our research first and choose our stays wisely and within our budget. I’m not going to get into the debate about free/budget camping versus caravan parks and their profiteering (not here anyway).

When we first set off in 2010 we decided to purchase 2 caravan park memberships and see how they went and to see if they offered us value for money. We chose the Family Parks and the Top Tourist park memberships. To be honest, they paid for themselves within the first 8 weeks. Plus we kept saving throughout our entire membership till it expired.

Let me give you a run down on what the popular options are:

The caravan parks themselves are individually owned and operated but affiliate with the program to take advantage of the extra advertising, the backing of a brand and to grab a somewhat “directed- market” of members who seek out the association banners either by research or by looking in the little booklets that accompany their membership cards that list the parks by state/town. Usually a glove box sized booklet that travellers keep handy. (That’s the whole idea and why the associations seem to work well for the holiday parks). Each park usually has to meet a certain “standard” to qualify for an affiliation. Things such as kid’s playgrounds, minimum star rating, number of sites etc. But to be honest we haven’t seen any real pattern of quality that suggests the associations are that strict.

If a person becomes a member of a park association, they will usually choose the park with that association in the town they are visiting. It takes the guesswork out of looking for a suitable park because the member already knows they will be receiving a discount. But our advice is still to compare, you may find a cheaper park in town even after a discount offered by the chain.

BIG4 Holiday Parks

www.big4.com.au

Membership Fee: $50 to join ($40 to renew)

Duration of membership: 2 Years

Discount: Save 10% off your stay to a maximum of $40 per stay. Additional savings at local attractions.

No. of participating parks: Over 180 Australia wide

Additional web info www.big4.com.au/member-benefits.aspx

Top Tourist Parks

www.toptouristparks.com.au

Membership Fee: $30 ($70 platinum membership)

Duration of membership: 2 Years

Discount: Save 10% off your stay to a maximum of $30 per stay ($70 for platinum)

Platinum membership also gives you various discounts at selected shops, tours, services and attractions.

No. of participating parks: Over 200 parks Australia Wide

Family Parks

www.familyparks.com.au

Membership Fee: $40

Duration of membership: 2 Years

Discount: 10% off your stay to a maximum of $20 for sites and $40 for cabins. Additional savings at local attractions.

No. of participating parks: Over 170 parks Australia Wide

These are just the big 3 associations but there are more popping up every year. As you can see there is not a great deal of difference in what they cost/or offer. Some people find they have better experiences in certain chains (associations). But it also comes down to price, quality, pet friendly, reputation etc. It’s always nice to save a buck but you need to be comfortable too.

If you plan on using caravan parks during your travels then I would recommend looking into joining at least one association, but check online first at where the parks are located and make sure there are parks in the areas you are going to visit!

3 weeks total stay in caravan parks should see you get you money back from the membership! Can’t argue with that. Then you can continue to save…….. weight it up, but we are currently members of BIG4 and Top Tourist parks- they seem to have a good mix of parks, offer good value and we have enjoyed our stay at most of them.

If you do end up joining an association, make sure you check out the booklet for any coupons or discounts that may be applicable for tours, restaurants etc. – never turn down an opportunity to save some more money!

Don’t forget to check out motoring memberships such as NRMA, RACV etc. as well. Often you may get a discount by flashing your card at participating outlets. I know we always buy our items for our car services (oil, filters etc.) at REPCO because we get 10% discount with our NRMA card.

Always ASK at the reception when booking in if they have any deals such as stay 4, pay 3 or stay a week and get a day for free etc. Don’t indicate how long you wish to stay, just see what they are willing to offer. We always do and are surprised at what kind of deals we get.

There is one other card I’d suggest to ANYONE, but particularly travellers

The Whats Up Downunder Travel Saver Card

The benefit of this membership  is that it offers discounts that sit “outside the box” of what the caravan park associations normally offer with a much larger variety of discounts to suit everyone.  If you are on the road as a traveller or you are just taking your family on a holiday- this card will help save a few $$$ at local attractions, restaurants, car hire, tours, purchases at selected stores and even travel insurance.

For a modest $50 you get a personalised card for you to use for a full 12 months. Take the family to the zoo, a theme park and perhaps take a fishing charter and you would already have got your money back!

During the 12 months you also get a quarterly issue of the popular Whats Up Downunder magazine, complete with DVD (4 issues all up)- thats nearly $50 right there.

Good friends of ours, Whats Up Downunder know caravanning holidays- its what they do. They created this savings card with travellers in mind. Check out the website to see what the card offers and grab one before you hit the road.