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Tasmania, Wild by Nature

Tasmania, Wild by Nature

Transfercar regularly has free campervan relocations from Sydney and Brisbane to Hobart in Tasmania, and this comes with free ferry and insurance… What are you waiting for?

Tasmania is a nature lover’s paradise. With some of the cleanest air in the world according to climate experts, it’s the perfect place to take a breather from our urban lives and get lost in raw beauty. Did you know that 45% of the island is protected by law as national and regional parks?

Tasmania is seemingly made for a driving holiday where you can visit multiple parks, stop at vineyards and farms and taste great local food. Being a compact island, it’s easy to access its many diverse environments – from alpine ranges and grasslands to beaches and rainforests. From short forest trails leading to waterfalls to multi-day walks with no one else in sight, the island also offers plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs. These are some of Tasmania’s must-dos:

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and one of the most beautiful and popular places in Tasmania. It is surrounded by serene glacial lakes, old-growth rainforest, and unusual alpine vegetation.

The National Park is home to many great walks, including Dove Lake and the Overland Track, a magnificent six-day walk through the heart of some of the world’s finest mountain terrain.

It’s easy hiking here, with a boardwalk for much of the route, but it’s still spectacular.

Freycinet National Park

Aim to spend at least two days here, exploring and hiking the area. Situated on Tasmania’s beautiful east coast, Freycinet National Park is a long strip of land that looks out to the Tasman Sea from the eastern side and back towards the Tasmanian coastline from the west.

The park is full of natural assets, including the granite peaks of the Hazards that dominate the Peninsula, abundant birdlife and the iconic and much-photographed Wineglass Bay.

The East Coast

A road trip along the East coast is definitely worth it. The East coast is home to a lot of ridiculously beautiful beaches, and you won’t find a single person on them. Plan to spend three times as much time driving as your GPS predicts, and stop off at all of the beaches, as each one offers something special.

St Helens/ Bay of Fires

The St Helens area has some incredible beaches. Binalong Bay is the star of the show here, but if you really want to be alone, drive a few minutes along the coast and you’ll be rewarded with some gorgeous beaches.

Convinced now? See you there!

Uluru, Northern Territory Australia

Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) is the world’s largest monolith or rock formation. Situated in Australia’s Northern Territory, and set amongst the awe inspiring Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, this enormous Sandstone wonder stands 348 metres tall and 9.4 km in circumference with two thirds existing below the ground.

The rock undergoes dramatic color changes with its normally terracotta hue gradually changing to blue or violet at sunset to flaming red in the mornings as the sunrises behind it.

This spectacular creation is an Australian icon and major tourist attraction, enticing thousands of travellers with its magical hues that change from fiery red to delicate mauve, blue, pink and brown, and when there’s rainfall the entire rock turns an amazing silver.

Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park which is listed as a World Heritage Site. The surrounding area is an ancient sacred place for the Anangu (local Aboriginal) people and is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings made over many thousands of years by the Anangu.

In 1985 the entire area was handed back to its indigenous owners and its sights reassumed their traditional names. The climb to the top is a treacherous 1.6 kilometre, 1 mile climb and climbers follow a track that is both ancient and sacred to the Anangu people. Visitors to the site are therefore asked to respect the area by preferably choosing the trails around and near Uluru and not by climbing it.

If you are planning a road trip in one of Transfercar’s free relocation vehicles and want to stop off at Uluru then you will be looking at relocating between Adelaide and Alice Springs or further. As relocation are more often picked up and dropped off in major towns these are the two most likely destinations for this venture.

Discover the magic of Western Australia

Western Australia (WA) is so huge and so lightly populated that most of it is just pure wilderness. It is Australia’s final frontier!

Perth is the country’s sunniest capital city, offering a vast array of amazing sunsets over the ocean. It blends urban cool with spectacular nature and provides a good start to your Western Australia adventure. There are plenty of bars and restaurants and a very decent choice of beautiful wineries nearby.

Follow the coast up North and discover some of the world’s most pristine beaches. The World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef on Earth and one of the few places in the world where you can swim with the whale shark. Go South and you will find Margaret River, a bustling market town famed for its wine, incredible surfing nearby, and mysterious karri (eucalyptus) forests.

ningaloo reef

Western Australia is a superb destination for nature lovers. Wildlife-watching opportunities are extraordinary, from interactions with dolphins at Monkey Mia to the spotting of migrating whale pods off the coast of Albany. There’s also stunning gorges and waterfalls at Karijini National Park.

Broome offers a fantastic natural phenomenon called the Staircase to the Moon. It is best seen from Roebuck Bay in Broome, when the full moon rises over the exposed mudflats at extremely low tide and creates a beautiful optical illusion of stairs reaching to the moon. The Staircase to the Moon happens 2 – 3 days a month between March and October.

Transfercar regularly offers free rental cars and campervans that need to be relocated from one of the major cities of the East Coast to Western Australia. Relocation deals with 12 to 15 free rental days are not uncommon, giving you enough time to explore en route and see vast expanses of the country. Start planning your escape now!

The world’s most luxurious supervans!

You don’t like being on the water, but you want to live that superyacht lifestyle? Get a luxurious supervan!

Our favourite supervan has to be the amazing eleMMent Palazzo mobile home. This visual feast of extravaganza and luxury is actually of German craftsmanship, so made to last! The Palazzo features two floors of entertainment with a giant master suite, multiple bars and a liftable “flybridge” lounge up top. You can even extend a slide-out, increasing interior space by 80% when not on the road. The new eleMMent series 2015 is coming out soon, and we wonder what improvements will be provided to what is already an amazing motorhome, by all accounts.

Another supervan that would be nice to try is the Futuria Sports and Spa Motorhome. Another German invention! This mansion on wheels contains everything for luxury travelling: bathroom, bedroom, roof terrace with Jacuzzi and even sports car garage (equipped with the custom Toronto garage doors).

Guess where the third best supervan comes from? Germany as well!!! The Volkner Mobil Performance Bus comes equipped with a large fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave, Bose-Dolby-home Entertainment Surround System and a widescreen TV which can be concealed in the cabinet when not in use. Pretty cool, uh?

Think this is out of reach for you? Maybe… but do you know that you can find some supervans on Transfercar? Especially in the USA where you can drive brand new RVs for next to nothing. .. Check it out.

Reference: Hunretsville NC Garage Doors.

How to explore Coastal Queensland in just a few days…

Coastal Queensland contains everything that attracts visitors to Australia: empty stunning beaches, archipelagos of islands and an abundance of national parks, some with fantastic walking trails. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, can be explored with day trips to its off-shore islands. Boat excursions enable visitors to go diving or to simply snorkel, as snorkelling is very easy there and offers plenty to be seen, including beautiful sea turtles.

You might wonder is this worth the trip if you only have a few days with a car or a campervan? Our answer is unequivocal: Absolutely!

Say you have 7 days of free rental car from Brisbane to Cairns. That would be between 2 to 3 hours of driving per day on average… Come on, ain’t that hard, is it? That leaves you with plenty of time to experience some of the beautiful beaches that are along the way.

Alternatively you can whizz through part of the way to leave more time to spend where you’d love to, and perhaps explore an island of the Great Barrier Reef. This is exactly what we would do if we were you:

Day 1 – Brisbane to Hervey Bay (4 hours drive)

Get up early, pick-up the car as soon as you can and leave Brisbane behind and drive to Hervey Bay to make the most of its 14 kilometers of golden beaches. Its waters are home to turtles and dugongs so you might get lucky. It’s also one the best places in the world for whale watching… You won’t regret spending the rest of the day there.

Day 2 – Hervey Bay to Rockhampton (8 hours)

Drive through the towns of Childers, Gin Gin, Miriam Vale and Calliope to Rockhampton, the heart of beef cattle country. Not mind-blowing but interesting so have lunch there. This is what you could view from your car. Then drive all the way to MacKay. Mackay is surrounded by miles of sugarcane fields, which give the city its title of Sugar Capital of Australia. Have a well-deserved rest there.

Day 3 – Mackay to Airlie Beach via Eungella National Park (1h30)

Eungella National Park is situated 84km west of Mackay and is one of Queensland’s most spectacular parks, with cloud shrouded peaks, deep gorges and lush rainforest. Spend a few hours there before continuing on to Airlie Beach. It’s a popular holiday resort, and gateway to the marvellous Whitsunday islands.

Day 4 and 5- One or two-day trip to the Whitsunday Islands (no driving)
This is when you leave the car behind and board a boat to visit one of the Whitsunday island. There are plenty of operators who enable you to see some of the best spots of the Whitsunday in just a day. Check out the selection of Whitsunday tours here. You also have time to spend a second day there if you wish. Once you’re back on land, spend another evening partying at Airlie Beach!

Day 5 or 6 – Airlie Beach to Townsville (3 hours)
That’s quite an easy and enjoyable drive to Townsville and you can be there before lunch. The other getaway to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville is in itself quite a nice city offering a more than decent beach. Castle Hill offers a panoramic view of Townsville. Magnetic Island is worth a detour if you can afford it. Reef HQ Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Townsville and is well worth a visit with its walk-through underwater tunnel, giving a great all-round view of the coral and the fish. This could be the view from your car.

Day 6 or 7 – Townsville and surroundings (no driving)
Yes that’s a second day without driving, or you could choose to spend two days there to explore the islands without having to drive. We told you this trip is worth it!! You could get to beautiful Magnetic Island or visit another island of the Great Barrier Reef.

This is Queensland! — Photo by @_markfitz #ThisisQueensland

Day 8 – Townsville to Cairns (4 hours)

So you need to drop-off the car this morning… just get up early and drive and you will be there in no time. Not to worry, once you have reached your destination there is no need for the fun to be over…. Cairns is a tropical paradise just begging to be explored with an infectious holiday vibe. There’s plenty of bars, nightclubs, eateries and cafes for all budgets.The lack of a city beach is compensated by the magnificent Esplanade Lagoon.

Featured image by @_markfitz #ThisisQueensland

Top 10 Most Terrifying Australian Animals

With its incredible landscapes and terrain that changes from stunning rainforests to rugged desert plains, the Land of Oz is incomparable if you’re looking for a life-changing adventure. It’s absolutely one of the best places to visit in 2015. There’s a hitch though, and it’s a biggie. Basically, most of Australia is heaving with dangerous animals who would love a piece of you. We’ve compiled our list of the ten scariest looking animals to keep an eye out for on your travels. You’ve been warned…

Fishzilla

fishzilla
Image credit treehugger.com

Why hello there handsome! Take a good look at this mug – it’s the face only a mother could love, maybe. This charming fellow goes by the name of Snakehead Fish – how delightful! The best part about this gross little rascal is that he can actually breathe air meaning he can travel on land and in water to hunt down prey -namely YOU!

Python

python
Image credit http://www.telegraph.co.uk

You know, if youdda asked me who would win in a kill-off between a snake and a croc I woudda said croc hands down. Not so much! This Aussie python took down a saltie in an epic 5 hour battle. Can you imagine how long it would’ve taken to digest a 3 metre croc? Someone get this python a laxative, stat.

Emu

emu
Image credit buzzfeed.com

Yet another beautiful Australian animal…um…NOT. So, Emus aren’t as scary as the other man-eating dudes we’ve looked at but man they aren’t always so easy to look at. While they’re generally shy, emus go craaaazy when they’re defending their young. So keep away from the babies, baby, and you’ll be just fine.

Super Buff “Roos”

super buff roos
Image credit sperlinet

Clearly this ‘Roo is packing ‘roids. Australia’s most iconic animal, the Kangaroo can be pretty bad ass. Buddy is packing some mean claws too, so if the ol’ suckerpunch is a miss, he may just claw your eyes out faster than a feral teenage girl on RTDs. Watchout!

Great White Shark

Great White Shark
Image credit geekologie.com

What list of the most dangerous animals would be complete without Jaws?! The Great White shark, also known as White Death, is known for its size: 6.4 m (21 ft.) in length. Of all shark species, the Great White shark is responsible for the largest number of recorded shark attacks on humans, with over 272 documented unprovoked attacks. Aussies punch sharks in the nose sending them running/swimming back to their shark mommas. #thuglife

Saltwater Crocodile

saltwater crodile
Image credit rotorama.com

Damn! This Saltwater Croc is smiling because he knows he’s eatin’ well tonight! Each year there are 1-2 known deaths from our toothy friends here. Known for their viciousness and aggression, the largest ever verified was 6.4m (21ft) and weighed more than 1000kg. If you come across this scaly sucker it’s bad news: due to their power, size and speed, surviving a direct attack is pretty much impossible. The good news? None.

Sydney Funnel Web Spider

funnel web spider
Image credit www.independent.co.uk

This spider’s bite is a doozey: just check out that grill! Initially very painful due to the size of his massive fangs (bigger than a Brown Snake’s!) penetrating your delicate skin, you’ll feel the early symptoms of envenomation like goose bumps, sweating, increased salivation, watery eyes, and elevated heart rate quite fast. As the venom works its way through your system, you’ll start to writhe with muscle spasms, be short of breath and vom a bit before reaching the final stages of unconsciousness and sweet, sweet death!

Coastal Taipan

coastal taipan
Image credit www.freerepublic.com

G’day Taipan! Found along the east coast from northern New South Wales to Brisbane and northern Western Australia, Coastal Taipans have a sweet tooth and can be spotted in the sugarcane fields. Packing the longest fangs of any Australian snake at a whopping 13mm, Coastal Taipans are the largest venomous snake with the third most toxic venom. If they freeze up, they’re about to strike, so don’t be fooled!

Mystery Snake Eating Spider

snake eating spider
Image credit pikdit.com

I want to tell you what spider this is but I can’t. I have no idea but hey! It’s eating a freakin’ snake! Lets move on..

Koalas

koala
Image credit worth1000.com

Not usually known for packing heat, Koalas are tree hugging vegetarians who don’t really want to eat you. However, their hands and feet are built to curl around your neck, (or tree branches) very tightly. Oh yeah, they’re pretty into mating, like you are no doubt, but they often have chlamydia, so don’t go there. Don’t. Go. There.

In Conclusion

And there you have it, a list of ten predators you want to make a point of not seeing while you’re exploring Australia. For more info on all kinds of other creatures that are out to get you in the Outback, download the Australian Museum’s ‘DangerOz’ app. Or to take a joy-ride and find some animals of your own, book a free one way rental car here.