G'day from the land down under (Australia)

[Numpty]

Hi everyone,
I'm a 49 year old guy from Sydney, with lots of bush experience camping, hunting, fishing, traveling
and in the process of gutting out and fitting out a 2008 Ford falcon station wagon.

It doesn't sound like a lot of space for fulltime vandwelling but plenty of people have made do with less.
I already do frequent trips along the East coast of Australia in it for 4 or 5 nights at a time.
I always stick to the coastline and beaches where people are used to seeing recreational fishermen coming and going at all times of the day and night, plus I really enjoy fishing.

If a park Ranger asks if I am staying overnight I just say I'm fishing all night, I work shift work and tonight is actually my 'Day Off'. Never had a problem so far. (Only ever been asked once)

In Australia the laws are - Because you have paid your vehicle registration, it enjoys the right to use and park on all public roads unless otherwise sign posted as restricted parking, and once you get out of the city there's very little restricted parking.
If I'm in an unfamiliar coastal town I always visit the local fishing tackle shop and start up a conversation with the staff,
they know all the nice secluded fishing spots and places to camp (park).

There is so much information on this forum, must stop writing and keep reading.

 

[SternWake]

Welcome Numpty!

In '99 I bought a 72 Holden Kingswood in Perth, and 13 months later sold it in Sydney for the same price I bought it. The only thing I did to it was new tires and a speedo cable .
Superb Vehicle and I was told so wherever I went, and owning it opened doors for me that I think would be unnoticed, had I not had such a respected vehicle. I still dream I own it.

I loved travelling your country. I don't know how much things have changed since, But I would be in absolute heaven if I could snap my fingers and have my current vehicle in your country and live my lifestyle there.

Hit me up on any 12vDC information you desire. I'll go out of my way to be helpful, as your countrymen were to me when I was there.

Cheers.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard Numpty !
You sound like a great addition to the forums........

Hope you learn some new things here and also hope you can share some tips of your own from the land down under.

 

[akrvbob]

Welcome, we are glad you are here!

Australians practically invented off-road driving so hopefully you'll share some of your experience and knowledge as the topic comes up.
Bib

 

[VanDwellerMod]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, Numpty! To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[eDJ_]

Welcome Numpty, 

As  I read your post it reminded me so much of my own Father as both of your methods are so similar.

And as a kid Dad had a Falcon Station Wagon.  It looked like this and had the Station Wagon emblem
on the back door.

It always had people asking him how it could be a Station Wagon when it was a Van. 

In those times Ford also made the Falcon Station Wagon in this form as well

Dad had great fun with it at toll booths when they wanted Truck toll fees and he would send them to the
back door to prove it was a "car".   Similarly at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when licensing it as a "car" instead of a Truck/Commercial Vehicle. 

It was a real conversation starter for him everywhere he went. Some of the fuel stations gave Trucks a discount when the driver pumped his own fuel.   So of course in those instances he acted as if it was a Truck.  LOL

I don't know what your vehicle looks like,  but I hope you can have as much fun with your Falcon as he did his.

 

[Numpty]

That van is a classic, reminds me of the old Mazda Bongo van from the same era.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Bongo

This is the Aussie made Ford Falcon, it has the venerable 4 litre straight six engine.
Mine is an ex - taxi and runs only on LPG (liquid petroleum gas) which is half the price of other fuels.
It has the fuel economy or running costs of a very small 4 cylinder car.
When I told my father I'd bought a Ford station wagon he said "I can tell you one thing, they go forever"
"Old Fords never die, they just smell that way".

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