Cricket World Cup - Follow Australia

The beauty of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is its location in Australia and New Zealand (Check out our Christchurch and Queenstown campervan hire packages). Never have two countries been so suited for campervan hire and travelling the open road. Australia has six group fixtures before the knockout stages, in which they should also be competing, with this itinerary focusing on their first two games of the tournament. Starting in Melbourne, you can drive north for the second fixture in Brisbane seven days later. On the way, experience the very best Australia has to offer, from city life to some of the best beaches in the world, a variety of wildlife and the unique laid-back atmosphere Down Under. Let Motorhome Republic take you on the Cricket World Cup campervan road trip of a lifetime. 

Matches:
Feb 14, Australia v England, MCG, Melbourne
Feb 21, Australia v Bangladesh, Gabba, Brisbane

A fixture for the ages – Game One, Australia v England

Not only are Australia playing England in a Cricket World Cup, this match is also on the opening day of the tournament, making it an extra special occasion. One of the oldest rivalries in sport, there’s nothing quite like an Aussie v Poms showdown. England will be desperate for a good start to the tournament and try to catch the hosts cold. A sure-fire sell-out, Melbourne will be buzzing and is undoubtedly the place to be on Saturday February 14. Forget Valentine’s Day, it’s time to begin a love affair with cricket. And a campervan rental can get you there in comfort and style.   

An RV rental in Melbourne

After what will be an undoubtedly memorable cricketing extravaganza, it’s time to get set for a week-long roadie from stately, cultured Melbourne to fun and sunny Brisbane. This itinerary includes both inland scenery and plenty of coastal driving so you can experience both sides of the fabulous continent. Campervan rental in Australia is a fantastic way to see the sights. Whether it’s a simple 2-berth camper or a mammoth 6-berth RV, a bed on wheels will give you the freedom and flexibility to truly explore the land Down Under.

Day 1: Melbourne Madness

Don’t rush to get on the highway after you pick-up your motorhome rental. Stick around and see what this worldly southern city has to offer. Melbourne is a sophisticated place where many cultures mix seamlessly and the atmosphere tends towards the European – even more so when the England cricket team is in town. The many distinct neighbourhoods offer plenty for any traveller to see and do. Stroll the riverfront and enjoy the cafe culture in the CBD, be entertained at Southbank, visit the beach and Luna Park in St Kilda or soak in a little history in the old ports of Melbourne.

Beaches call to any Melbourne summer visitor. St Kilda and Brighton bustle with people, Mordi in the south-east is a favourite for families, and the romantically-named Sorrento is a little removed from the city and the perfect place to catch a quiet sunset over Bass Strait.

There is no shortage of holiday parks in Melbourne. Big4 is a trusted name amongst nomadic motorhome travellers - there is one Big4 Park ten minutes from the CBD in Coburg, and a Big4 Holiday Village called Ashley Gardens even closer, which is a little more at the luxury end of the scale. For a basic campground, you’ll have to head out of the city to one of the surrounding national and state parks.

Day 2 Melbourne to Albury

Head out of the city bright and early on the second day of your Australia campervan hire trip to head north across the small state of Victoria. The M31 will take you through a string of rural towns - Seymour is the first major one and is a lovely spot to stop for a coffee on the Goulburn River. 

Next along the way is Euroa, a picturesque and historic gold rush town. A stop there for lunch comes highly recommended, as the town has great local food and wine! Fowles Wine is a favourite Victoria winery and lies on the main road between Seymour and Euroa.

Continue through more charming Victoria towns and get a breath of fresh air at Benalla, where the lake in the town centre is surrounded by pretty parkland and walking tracks. The end of your journey for today is Wodonga and Albury, which are twin cities straddling the state border. 

Albury and Wodonga operate as a single community, although separated by state lines and the Murray River. They are home to an award-winning Botanic Gardens, the interesting Albury Library Museum and a fantastic Farmers’ Market.

The surrounding wine regions mean you can always get a glass of something good with dinner. There are several supermarkets where you can stock up and cook a meal in your motorhome or holiday park kitchen. Alternatively, splurge on a meal at one of the many restaurants which use fresh local ingredients from the fields of fertile Victoria. The Border Wine Room is a great one, focusing on Australian cuisine.

Park your RV and lay your head for the night at one of the holiday parks in the area. The Wodonga Caravan and Cabin Park and Albury Citygate Holiday Park are the closest to the action. Those who don’t mind roughing it a little could try one of the free camping spots called Bush Camping Reserves. These can be subject to change so do some research before travelling, or ask at a visitor centre.

Day 3: Albury to Canberra via Cooma

Today’s drive is a long one at six hours, but offers up plenty of scenery to keep you entertained on the road. Leave Albury and Wodonga on the Murray Valley Highway which skirts Lake Hume, before heading into a mountainous area and past several state parks.  

The alpine landscapes begin when you enter Kosciuszko National Park. This vast area hosts snow-sports in the winter and a full range of outdoor recreation in the summer. Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain on mainland Australia, so make sure you get a glimpse of its snowy peak.

Drive slowly through the park as the roads are windy and can be difficult to navigate. The visitor centre in Khancoban can give you information on conditions and available activities.

After the national park comes Jindabyne on the shores of Lake Jindabyne, a pretty waterway popular for trout fishing. The original town was relocated in the 1960s when the snowy river was dammed to create the lake, and the remains of original Jindabyne are now submerged but can occasionally be seen when water levels are low.

Cooma, known as the capital of the Snowy Mountains region, is a town with a lot going on. Here you can take a ride on a historic railway, hear about Australia’s prisoner-heavy history at the NSW Corrective Services Museum and learn about the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre.

From Cooma it is a short drive beside the Murrumbidgee River to Canberra, Australia’s capital city. This carefully laid-out and entirely man-made city is all about the history of the nation. Visit the Australian War Memorial, the Canberra Museum and Gallery, the Capital Exhibition and the National Museum of Australia.

You can find any kind of cuisine in Canberra, with eateries ranging from casual takeaways to fine dining. There are also several options for campervan accommodation. Alivio Tourist Park is a good option, close to the city centre but surrounded by the Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve. The Australian Capital Territory which surrounds Canberra is more than half covered with nature reserves and parks where there are plenty of opportunities for camping and free camping a little closer to nature.

Day 4: Canberra to Sydney

Today’s motorhome journey consists of only three hours of driving, so you have time for a leisurely breakfast in Canberra before heading to Sydney. Try one of the many brunch spots dotted around the city suburbs.

Take the M23/Federal Highway out of Canberra and past mysterious Lake George. This big body of water empties and fills seemingly of its own volition, so you never know whether it will be a dry lake bed or a shining sheet of water. Goulburn is the next point of interest after a drive through some beautiful New South Wales farmland. This was Australia’s first inland city and is now an agricultural hub. The compact town centre is easily walkable, so have a look around. As you pull into town on Hume Road, you will see the Big Merino, a giant sheep housing a gift shop and info displays.

Continue on the Hume Highway towards Sydney and you will soon enter the outskirts of the city. With only one night there, you’ll want to be as close to the action as possible - so here are a few options:

• The Sheralee Tourist Caravan Park is close to the CBD and airport with all the necessary facilities, a dump point and public transport nearby.

• There is a Big4 Holiday Park in the northern suburbs, near some fabulous beaches and next to the Narrabeen Lakes.

• Sydney Tourist Park in Miranda is 20km from the CBD, a quiet spot near some great natural features of south Sydney.

• For a pretty garden setting close to the city, try the Sydney Hills Holiday Park in the north which has a direct bus into Sydney.

 

Sydney has a lot going for it. Big, busy and diverse, it is also aesthetically pleasing with its harbourside setting. With limited time, you’ll want to stick around the city centre, nightlife and restaurants of Darling Harbour. Don’t miss the chance to see the famous Opera House at night – maybe even climb the bridge, with experienced guides of course!

Day 5: Sydney to Newcastle

This short trip allows for extra time spent in Sydney, or at the other end in Newcastle which many consider the laid-back younger sibling of its southerly counterpart. With the coastal detour, total driving time is less than three hours.

The Pacific Motorway will get you out of Sydney in your camper and heading north towards the area known as the Central Coast. After Broken Bay, turn off towards Gosford to get on the Central Coast Highway, which will take you along the coast and the many beach communities.

Gosford is great for families. The Australian Reptile Park is there, as well as the Australian Rainforest Sanctuary. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the Ettalong Markets which are open every weekend.

The rest of the highway passes through the coastal towns and neighbourhoods sandwiched between the Tasman Sea and Central Coast lakes system. There are plenty of beaches and sheltered coves where you can take a dip, and no end of spots to stop for lunch or a coffee break. Highlights include the pretty town interestingly named The Entrance, the Norah Head Lighthouse and geographically diverse Munmorah State Conservation Area.

Newcastle is a fun place with a relaxed atmosphere, beautiful heritage architecture and some fabulous ocean baths. Grab some fish and chips to eat on the beach for a quick and easy dinner (Scottie’s on Scott Street is a local gem) before relaxing with an ocean view - the Queens Wharf Brewery on the foreshore is a popular spot for a drink.

Stockton Beach Holiday Park is just across the river mouth from downtown Newcastle and a fantastic place to stay, right next to 32km of white sand stretching north into the distance. Another great option just outside of Newcastle is the Big4 Valley Vineyard Tourist Park, located in the Hunter Valley which is a beautiful wine region.

Day 6: Newcastle to Coffs Harbour

Hit the road for this five-hour drive to Coffs Harbour. The Pacific Highway (A1) will take you up the northern New South Wales coast which is a string of beautiful and uncrowded beaches. Any Australian campervan hire road trip should take in this lovely stretch of road!

There are also endless national parks, state forests and nature reserves in this part of NSW. The Myall Lakes National Park makes a great stop where you can stretch your legs and even get out on the calm waters. Further up the coast is Crowdy Bay National Park which protects a stunning sweep of coastline.

Port Macquarie is at the halfway point, a large town on the coast with an interesting history. It was the first English convict settlement outside of Sydney and has historical sites and museums.

Coffs Harbour was once a logging town and is now a beach city with plenty of places to eat and be entertained. Its coastline has not been given over to development but is backed by nature, so there are some scenic beaches right near the city centre. Try a restaurant in the vibrant Marina area for a great evening out. The Park Beach Holiday Park is very central and a great choice for road-trippers. Prefer a free night? Find a campground at one of the nearby state forests as these are all free and some provide toilet facilities and water.

Day 7: Coffs Harbour to Brisbane

Leave bright and early in the morning so you can spend a few hours on the Gold Coast before continuing on to Brisbane. If you have a day or two to spare, this would be a great place to spend it - especially if you like rollercoasters!

After leaving Coffs Harbour, the Pacific Highway will take you away from the coast for a stretch and through Grafton before returning to the beaches at Ballina and funky, artistic Byron Bay. From there it is not far to the state border and beginning of the Gold Coast with its high rises, waterways, lifeguard-patrolled beaches and theme parks.

From Southport in the north through famous Surfer’s Paradise down to Coolangatta, the beaches are packed with people having fun in the sun. Behind the sand is a wonderland of urban entertainment - shopping, dining, drinking and shows. The places to go are endless, but if you have to pick one, try the outrageous Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant.

Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild are all located in the suburbs behind the Gold Coast. Pick your favourite and spend a few hours there for some adrenaline-pumping fun.

Brisbane is less than an hour from the Gold Coast, so head there to park up for the night. This vibrant, creative city has a youthful atmosphere and is known for its great lifestyle and warm climate. From the inner city man-made beach to the edgy and multicultural eateries of Southbank, the bohemian delights of the West End, the alternative shopping at Fortitude Valley and the bushland surrounding iconic Mount Coot-tha, you will find something for all tastes. Moreton Island is just offshore and an excellent day trip.

You can stay very close to the city at Brisbane Holiday Village, one of Queensland’s favourite parks with quality and clean facilities. If you would rather be near the beach, try one of the coastal campgrounds such as Brighton Bayside Caravan Park in the northern suburbs.

Game two – Australia v Bangladesh

Then it’s game time, as the Aussies go in against Bangladesh as the warmest of favourites. Depending on the result against England, Michael Clarke’s team may be very relaxed and already thinking about the semifinals. However, back in 2005 Bangladesh sprung a huge shock and beat the Aussies in an ODI international. No matter what happens, the Bangladesh support will be vociferous and the atmosphere amazing.