Hi Jason. I’m not one to do comments but felt compelled watching your videos. My husband moved me from California to Australia nearly 5 years ago and I’ve really enjoyed your videos as it gives me ideas where to go and what to see in Australia. You do a great job, please keep going and thank you!
I grew up in Nelson Bay, and for Uni & any major shopping, had to go to Newcastle. And I just realised that I've never once been inside Fort Scratchley. I've been to all the POI near it, but never inside it. While you're in Nelson Bay apart from the walk to Fingal Island via the spit you mentioned, I recommend you also do the Tomaree Head Summit Walk for a 360 degree view of the area. Plus also the walks around Fingal Head, Boat Harbour and Anna Bay. There is also great views to be had from the Inner Light (aka Coastal Patrol) at Little Beach.
Since my video uploads are about a week after me being somewhere, I've already left Nelson Bay, but fortunately I think I've ticked all your suggestions 😁 The hard part is cramming it all into 2 videos and keeping them under 30 min 😂 Really nice up there!
Toilet Dump points. Try a urine separating toilet, but the type with a bag in the solids container. LIFE CHANGING 🤣 So so easy and never need to search for sewage dump points. My solids lasts for a good 2 weeks and you then only need any garbage bin to empty. Just tie off the bag, lift out, and find a bin. Urine container lasts 3-4 days and their easy to empty. I use a Trelino Evo ordered from Germany, expensive but worth every cent. In AU locally have a look at the new toilet from Jacoolta the "GottaGo" it can be used as either chemical or urine separating with a bag liner. The price is ground breaking for a good urine separating toilet ! $314
I'm definitely interested in the Jacoola toilet, only problem is the side opening valve that might not work with where my toilet sits. Need to do some more investigation....if you can swap the valve from left to right, it might be doable.
I believe you will find dumping no 2 s in a bag in a bin would be ground on by councils and the hygiene codes, it is sometimes hard to find dump points but the vans is why they exist, wee should not just be emptied on the ground either I wonder why you don't know rules for human waste.
@@elsiecater156 Not entirely correct. Sewage dump points are there because traditional "chemical" toilets MIX solids and urine and then you have created black SEWAGE. Yes you must then find a dump point. Urine separating toilets do not create sewage. In everyday bins people dump a host "sanitary" and other items. Nappies, Dog and Cat Poo, sanitary and other household medical waste. When you have the solids container in a urine separating toilet and you mix each use with a handful of compost material to aerate it. The solids does not smell at all. Unless a local council prohibits cat and dog poo, nappies, and other sanitary waste, which they do not. Then a responsibly double bagged compostable bag with solids and compost material is fine. As for urine Yes you should dispose of responsibly in any toilet etc. However if your out bush then simply slightly dilute your urine container and it's good for trees, here is an ABC article on Urine as fertiliser for trees. www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/why-weeing-on-your-plants-is-good-fertiliser/100848746
Great video Jason. Your videos are always entertaining and as always give a "Real Deal" view of van life. That entire Port Stephens area is really interesting. You'll get some great footage at Mount Tomaree. Cheers, Sean
Another great video! Great footage of the dolphins too. I tried to capture them on my phone but it wasn’t very good lol. Wish they would put a dump point somewhere in Newcastle, it would be so handy! It’s great how Newcastle is so chill about campers in vans. I’m enjoying it while it lasts, it never used to be this good until recently. We call Horseshoe car park the van park. It’s always chockers with vans lol. Hope you managed to get somewhere warm for a while.
Thanks Sally. I wish I had the camera with me when the dolphins were surfing. That was awesome 😁 It is nice that they don't try to run us all out if town in Newcastle. Hopefully that philosophy will catch in in more places around the country.
Great video again Jason. Do you have Wikicamps, that should say where (if any) dump points around. I really like Newcastle, only spent a small amount time there but nice town, lots to see. Shame about the weather, hopefully has cleared up for you by now. I also like the fact you move on if weather inclement, with the notion of going back in a few days...we don't always have to keep heading in the one direction, which is an easy mindset to fall into... flexability 👍 Looking forward to next video.
Thanks Pauline. I have Campermate rather than Wikicamps, but have found it not to be as helpful lately. Does show dump points though...none in Newcastle 🙄 Fortunately the weather cleared up after those few days and it's been great during the day. More rain coming though 🙄
There's been quite a few sightings 😂 Even had a few people come and say hello. Feel free to drop over if you see me again....as long as the blinds are open....please don't wake me up in the middle of the night 😁
It's certainly a beautiful place and I love Anna Bay. The rocks around the shore are pretty special! The spit isn't going above water at all now unfortunately....spoiler for the next video 😂
I remember these times from 30 years ago, brings back the constant need to find somewhere to park and never knowing how long you can stay. If I was to do it again I would find off beaten places the van could get to and stay a fortnight each time. In a tank of diesel is the same energy as my electrical energy for 3 months in summer with the air con going 24-7 in a property, the energy used just to go somewhere far away without it being a way of life can be exhausting, people travel too far and the wrong places apparently looking at those full car parks, find somewhere you can fish and use it wisely.
I guess it all depends what you want or need to do. There's actually quite a few people living on the road that are still working, being totally remote isn't an option. Personally, I would get bored staying in one place for an extended period. Already done that for the first 50 years of my life 😉 You're right though, the worst part is finding good sleeping spots.
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces Also ideology versus goals, to some people staying in a place a week or so isn't really a long time and could be called slow travelling, some people have diesel to burn travelling each day and "the next place" becomes their goal. Finding spots and flat ones where you want to be, that isn't near people and drunks, almost impossible but great when they do come up.
Hi Jason. Watching from Mildura. I was a bit disappointed that we didnt see any footage of the inside of the lighthouse but Im happy your off to Nelson Bay which is where my aunt lives & also my mother lived i. Port Stephens for many years. There are lot of beautiful beaches and walks to do. 😁 there's great views from the mountain down past Sholle bay, ( wrong spelling ) & some military history on the other side of the mountain. Also The sand dunes are worth a trip out to. :) have fun. 😁
Hi Carol. The lighthouse wasn't open at the time, so couldn't get inside unfortunately. Watch out for the next videos on Nelson Bay... beautiful and relaxing place! 😊
There is a colony of flying foxes which are next to the Crosby Creek boardwalk - you should have looked up, there are lots of them! Also many different wildlife species, but you need to look for them. Thanks for your videos, very enjoyable.
Thanks Melinda. All I could see while I was there was hundreds of Ibis in the middle of the mangroves. They were making so much noise that I couldn't tell if anything else was there. 😂
I'd be changing that hot water system. Canberra is a really good place to hang out and ride your push bike you can have a shower at the pool at Dickson up the road from the lake in Canberra $3
Welcome to Newy! Lots of good places to stay out by Lake Macquarie (quieter too!) You are also not supposed to empty cassettes into public toilets, the caravan park at Stockton may have been able to help you out.
Thanks. Most caravan parks that I've tried in the past won't let you on site just to empty your toilet, even if you offer to pay. The topic of emptying into toilets is quite contentious. Other than the risk of a blockage, no one has offered a genuine reason why it can't be done. I deliberately bag my paper to avoid blockage issues.
😂 yeah, I love living in the van! Not always easy, but we'll worth it. I want to get up to Qld soon, but lots of "stuff" that I keep needing to attend to... we'll see 😁
as a 3 citizen holding 35yr old i became a Novacastrian over a decade ago and love it - i also love the idea of vanlife/i rent a small room as it is and dont need much space etc - im also looking at cheap land and the '3d printed' granny flats/homes that take like 3 days but use concrete and obv more than just a printer but i want to stop paying rent lol any advice? (i have a permanent job in newcastle but i love it, im a rapper who gets to record for the label and teach NDIS clients who want to learn on the other side of the company....its a dream job....id only leave Newcastle for a job testing roller coaster or medicinal cannabis strains and reviewing them, ideally both at the same time.
Sounds like you'd fit in to vanlife. 😊 It's not always easy though, getting water, finding quiet places to sleep, etc. one thing for sure though, you save a lot of money!
I frequently drive through the Morisset industrial area (right off the freeway) and have often thought that it would be good for stealth overnight camping... Many businesses where a van parked outside overnight would not attract any attention.
Nothing attracts attention in industrial areas! I stop in them regularly, but it's never a good night's sleep. Always something going on and a guaranteed 5am wake up. 😂
I think big ships like that get a local pilot who knows the area to guide the boat in and out of the port so they may have lifted the local guy off the boat ?
I think the 'No Camping', is for pitching tents and damaging the grassed areas? Parking a Van might not be a problem if the sign is a general sign off the road.
Yes, you're right. The no camping signs are quite often in the parks and not at the entries to the carparks. In most cases you just need to obey parking rules and be fully within your vehicle and it's all good. Some councils are funny, but Newcastle is fine.
I think I know the place near the water tanks! Spent 2 weeks there last year with an air b n b looking over the water. So many whales! We're thinking of moving somewhere up there it's a great area.
Do you find it hard to find in your van to find somewhere where there’s no other campers. I’m tossing up between a van or 4x4, when I’m travelling I don’t want to be parked right next to other campers. I like peace and quiet😊
Finding a peaceful place is probably the hardest part of vanlife. There's just so many people in Australia now that everywhere you go, there are other people. But they're not always noisy. Having a 4wd helps but then you tend to get all the 4wdrivers and they are very loud and quite often disrespectful to other people. I don't know how many of my videos you've seen, but if you watch a lot, you'll get a good feel for your question.
Been here 10yrs as a Kiwi/UK/Mostly US but not patriotic at all lol 35yr old in Newy and other than cost of living prices which everyone is getting its a great place to live, 5th biggest city but still has a very suburban feel (ive been to tokyo/london/nyc plenty and syd obv but Newy feels small enough if u stay in the CBD area and not the sprawling suburbs it has everything, uni's, jobs, amazing free library's and museums and parks etc - plus amazing beaches left and right - ive moved a few times but never more than 5miles from newy beach so tighes hill now and i can walk to work, the shops in under 10mins and theres a bus stop OUTSIDE my place that goes on every major route (or i can walk 20mins to Hamilton and take a train straight to Sydney and many other places..... I personally live just mins away from city-like amenaties like hunter mall (outdoor) or the big shopping/ent centers plus its an easy commute to Sydney and a ton of new infrascructure in the ten yrs ive been here, if they put in the high speed rail to sydney itll change everything
Thanks for the offer. Best keep them to yourself. There's definitely some I won't share too 😊 Not a big issue for me at the moment as I don't need to stay anywhere long term. Just keep roaming around 😁
Tell me why the rangers are not fining you guys for staying boat ramp ???? , If turned up in my caravan I would most certainly be fined , or on the highway !.
Basically we are legally parked, fully contained within our registered vehicles and within the parking bays. Unless there's a specific council bylaw saying no sleeping in vehicles, it's all good. With a caravan, you should be fine as long as you follow the same philosophy, but finding a big enough parking space will be harder. You might just have to drive a bit further to find somewhere. And don't go putting out awnings and and deck chairs. Even a step would be pushing it in my mind.
Curious as to why you think it's not acceptable to empty it into a toilet? And while there is a lot of info in where dump points are, there simply aren't any outside of caravan parks in most larger cities. I have asked in the past to use their dump points but most won't let you, even for a few.
@MakingStuffGoingPlaces I can add to the question. Toilets are not set up for the quantity of effluent at one time . Leading to blockages . That may not be apparent to most . Huge cost to councils calling out crews on weekends etc. Does that give an insight?👍🇭🇲🦘
My question was more of a challenge to the original poster to explain why they seem to have such strong beliefs on the topic. Good to see you have a genuine reason for this and you're right, there are people out there that don't think but also, unfortunately those that don't care. One thing I really don't like is people (not you😊) aggressively pushing their beliefs with no factual explanation as to why they believe they should be forcing their opinions on to other people. For this particular topic, there is no reason why a sensible person can't empty a cassette into a toilet. Contents are heavily diluted in the flush water and breakdown to a slurry pretty quickly when in a moving vehicle. The outlet of a cassette is smaller than a toilet S bend, so if anything is going to cause a blockage, it will block the cassette first. As you correctly added, each person has a different constitution, and this is my experience from using these toilets for 5 years with no issues with blockages. The other reason to NOT dump in a toilet is if it is on a septic tank or a pit toilet. In those cases, you just need to make sure you're using chemicals that are suitable for septic systems. However, the excess water added during flushing to cassette toilets, means the contents really shouldn't be put into a composting type pit toilet.
@MakingStuffGoingPlaces sounds like 1st response was angry . So .... I chipped in . I was reg.Nurse , father plumber. I've been on road approx 11yrs , so I saw a bit and either know some or read between lines /research.
uk/nz/us (dont blame me for that one lol fk trump) citizen applying for aus here - been living and working in newcastle for a decade and i absolutely plan on staying the rest of my life Again ive lived in many countries (though i love NZ equally i just chose AUS cuz my ex was going to Uni there and i was done with Uni and only had an Aunt in NZ then)
Mate, ive really been enjoying your channel, but I was wondering, do you realize that after almost every sentence... you laugh? Its usually a sign of insecurity, but maybe not in your case. It just gets a tiny bit annoying after a while, just sayin.
Your comments were taken as constructive criticism, no offence whatsoever. I've also had comments from people, not just on RUclips, saying they love the way I laugh when I talk (yes, they were women). Ironically, those that spend a lot of time around me would say I'm a very negative person and I find holding the camera in front of me and laughing things off a good way to turn around any negativity that I'm feeling at the time. There you go...too much sharing!
I moved to Newy from the US (NJ/Philly) to AUS on an NZ passport just over a decade ago, couldnt pay me to go back to post-Trump guns-everywhere america (i lived there 20yrs, its really that bad, avg gun deaths, not injuries just deaths PER DAY is well over 100 and there ARE MORE GUNS THAN PEOPLE - they say they need them to stop the gov but when AUS took the guns after the mass shooting i didnt see it become a dictatorship, maybe i was out sick that week?
Dogs park should of been poo free it is usually the MALES that don't pick up dog poo which is a shame as dog parks always have bags there...just LAZY MEN... Did U have fish and chip at Honeysuckle Bay suppose to be fantastic there...😂😂😂😂if U come back check that out for us...
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/w7Wf0h1Q8a4/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Jason. I’m not one to do comments but felt compelled watching your videos. My husband moved me from California to Australia nearly 5 years ago and I’ve really enjoyed your videos as it gives me ideas where to go and what to see in Australia. You do a great job, please keep going and thank you!
Thank you very much for the encouragement! Really means a lot and very happy you enjoy watching 😊
Nice to see something different I'm sure, but we only have places, not things. Zero culture development, only what used to be. Sadly.
For sure the best place to do fulltime vanlife is here (anywhere) in Australia. - Very natural and relaxed videos. And fantastic van.
Thank you!
Yeah, I think it's pretty good in Australia for this sort of lifestyle.
Lovely beach views and dolphins , thank you for the views , even in the rain they where stunning , another great video
Yeah, still a great view! 😊 Thanks
I grew up in Nelson Bay, and for Uni & any major shopping, had to go to Newcastle. And I just realised that I've never once been inside Fort Scratchley. I've been to all the POI near it, but never inside it. While you're in Nelson Bay apart from the walk to Fingal Island via the spit you mentioned, I recommend you also do the Tomaree Head Summit Walk for a 360 degree view of the area. Plus also the walks around Fingal Head, Boat Harbour and Anna Bay. There is also great views to be had from the Inner Light (aka Coastal Patrol) at Little Beach.
Also Gan Gan Lookout. The road up there is a little steep but paved. I'm sure your van will make it up there.
Since my video uploads are about a week after me being somewhere, I've already left Nelson Bay, but fortunately I think I've ticked all your suggestions 😁
The hard part is cramming it all into 2 videos and keeping them under 30 min 😂
Really nice up there!
Lovely video that I just stumbled down a rabbit hole and found 😊 must check out the others now!
Thanks for watching, Lynn. Got heaps more to come, so make sure you subscribe 😊
Hi Jason 👋
Thoroughly enjoying your videos, thankyou! Seeing a bit of life through your eyes is very interesting 👌
Best wishes ☺
Thank you very much, Jennifer. Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Toilet Dump points. Try a urine separating toilet, but the type with a bag in the solids container. LIFE CHANGING 🤣 So so easy and never need to search for sewage dump points.
My solids lasts for a good 2 weeks and you then only need any garbage bin to empty. Just tie off the bag, lift out, and find a bin.
Urine container lasts 3-4 days and their easy to empty.
I use a Trelino Evo ordered from Germany, expensive but worth every cent. In AU locally have a look at the new toilet from Jacoolta the "GottaGo" it can be used as either chemical or urine separating with a bag liner. The price is ground breaking for a good urine separating toilet ! $314
I'm definitely interested in the Jacoola toilet, only problem is the side opening valve that might not work with where my toilet sits. Need to do some more investigation....if you can swap the valve from left to right, it might be doable.
I believe you will find dumping no 2 s in a bag in a bin would be ground on by councils and the hygiene codes, it is sometimes hard to find dump points but the vans is why they exist, wee should not just be emptied on the ground either I wonder why you don't know rules for human waste.
Emptying urine on the ground is something I would never do. Personally, I am even against peeing on trees......
@@elsiecater156 Not entirely correct. Sewage dump points are there because traditional "chemical" toilets MIX solids and urine and then you have created black SEWAGE. Yes you must then find a dump point.
Urine separating toilets do not create sewage.
In everyday bins people dump a host "sanitary" and other items. Nappies, Dog and Cat Poo, sanitary and other household medical waste.
When you have the solids container in a urine separating toilet and you mix each use with a handful of compost material to aerate it.
The solids does not smell at all.
Unless a local council prohibits cat and dog poo, nappies, and other sanitary waste, which they do not. Then a responsibly double bagged compostable bag with solids and compost material is fine.
As for urine Yes you should dispose of responsibly in any toilet etc. However if your out bush then simply slightly dilute your urine container and it's good for trees, here is an ABC article on Urine as fertiliser for trees.
www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/why-weeing-on-your-plants-is-good-fertiliser/100848746
Great video Jason. Your videos are always entertaining and as always give a "Real Deal" view of van life. That entire Port Stephens area is really interesting. You'll get some great footage at Mount Tomaree. Cheers, Sean
Thanks Sean. I'm working through my footage now and there's just so much! Really hard to cut it down to less than 30 min 😂
Thanks for showing us around Newcastle I need to get up there
Worth the trip. But better on a sunny day 😁
Another great video! Great footage of the dolphins too. I tried to capture them on my phone but it wasn’t very good lol. Wish they would put a dump point somewhere in Newcastle, it would be so handy! It’s great how Newcastle is so chill about campers in vans. I’m enjoying it while it lasts, it never used to be this good until recently. We call Horseshoe car park the van park. It’s always chockers with vans lol. Hope you managed to get somewhere warm for a while.
Thanks Sally. I wish I had the camera with me when the dolphins were surfing. That was awesome 😁
It is nice that they don't try to run us all out if town in Newcastle. Hopefully that philosophy will catch in in more places around the country.
Hi. Good to see the site from my old van life times. I know most of the spots , never ended up doing the fort scratchly tour . That was interesting 😊
Nice, glad you enjoyed it. The fort was an interesting visit for a rainy day.
Gloucester is a great small country town north of Newcastle as you go up the mountain range the look out at the top is amazing
As the weather warms up I will be heading to some of those more inland places. I think there's some nice waterfalls near Gloucester as well 😁
Interesting watching this as a local- fabulous place to live🎉
It's great there. I was planning to move there at one point too.
Great video again Jason. Do you have Wikicamps, that should say where (if any) dump points around. I really like Newcastle, only spent a small amount time there but nice town, lots to see. Shame about the weather, hopefully has cleared up for you by now. I also like the fact you move on if weather inclement, with the notion of going back in a few days...we don't always have to keep heading in the one direction, which is an easy mindset to fall into... flexability 👍 Looking forward to next video.
Thanks Pauline. I have Campermate rather than Wikicamps, but have found it not to be as helpful lately. Does show dump points though...none in Newcastle 🙄
Fortunately the weather cleared up after those few days and it's been great during the day. More rain coming though 🙄
I think i saw you and your van on the central coast the other week! Small world 🙏
There's been quite a few sightings 😂
Even had a few people come and say hello. Feel free to drop over if you see me again....as long as the blinds are open....please don't wake me up in the middle of the night 😁
You’ll love it up here I live in Anna Bay be careful on the spit many people have been caught when tide comes in
It's certainly a beautiful place and I love Anna Bay. The rocks around the shore are pretty special!
The spit isn't going above water at all now unfortunately....spoiler for the next video 😂
Awesome video. Looks cold!
Not as cold as Victoria! 😂
The spot you stayed at the start was definitely Wickham near 711
😁 maybe....maybe not 😜
Though I might have a look there too...
you should head up to tea gardens and hawks nest and make a video of the area
I want to go further north at the end of July, so will probably go that way. Haven't spent much time there in the past.
I remember these times from 30 years ago, brings back the constant need to find somewhere to park and never knowing how long you can stay. If I was to do it again I would find off beaten places the van could get to and stay a fortnight each time. In a tank of diesel is the same energy as my electrical energy for 3 months in summer with the air con going 24-7 in a property, the energy used just to go somewhere far away without it being a way of life can be exhausting, people travel too far and the wrong places apparently looking at those full car parks, find somewhere you can fish and use it wisely.
I guess it all depends what you want or need to do. There's actually quite a few people living on the road that are still working, being totally remote isn't an option. Personally, I would get bored staying in one place for an extended period. Already done that for the first 50 years of my life 😉
You're right though, the worst part is finding good sleeping spots.
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces Also ideology versus goals, to some people staying in a place a week or so isn't really a long time and could be called slow travelling, some people have diesel to burn travelling each day and "the next place" becomes their goal. Finding spots and flat ones where you want to be, that isn't near people and drunks, almost impossible but great when they do come up.
Totally agree with that. Every part of this planet is getting so crowded now... getting away is becoming very difficult!
Back in the early 2000’s unused to sleep in my station wagon after band gigs in Newcastle. Strazlecki lookout was my favourite spot to sleep
Nice! I did consider staying there. Beautiful view, but with so many walkers in the morning, I figured maybe not. 😁
Hi Jason. Watching from Mildura. I was a bit disappointed that we didnt see any footage of the inside of the lighthouse but Im happy your off to Nelson Bay which is where my aunt lives & also my mother lived i. Port Stephens for many years. There are lot of beautiful beaches and walks to do. 😁 there's great views from the mountain down past Sholle bay, ( wrong spelling ) & some military history on the other side of the mountain. Also The sand dunes are worth a trip out to. :) have fun. 😁
Hi Carol. The lighthouse wasn't open at the time, so couldn't get inside unfortunately.
Watch out for the next videos on Nelson Bay... beautiful and relaxing place! 😊
There is a colony of flying foxes which are next to the Crosby Creek boardwalk - you should have looked up, there are lots of them! Also many different wildlife species, but you need to look for them. Thanks for your videos, very enjoyable.
Thanks Melinda. All I could see while I was there was hundreds of Ibis in the middle of the mangroves. They were making so much noise that I couldn't tell if anything else was there. 😂
I'd be changing that hot water system.
Canberra is a really good place to hang out and ride your push bike you can have a shower at the pool at Dickson up the road from the lake in Canberra $3
Been to Canberra a lot in the past but just not in winter! 😁
Lot of mountain bike parks around there.
Welcome to Newy! Lots of good places to stay out by Lake Macquarie (quieter too!) You are also not supposed to empty cassettes into public toilets, the caravan park at Stockton may have been able to help you out.
Thanks. Most caravan parks that I've tried in the past won't let you on site just to empty your toilet, even if you offer to pay.
The topic of emptying into toilets is quite contentious. Other than the risk of a blockage, no one has offered a genuine reason why it can't be done. I deliberately bag my paper to avoid blockage issues.
15:10 high vis jacket and hat ull pass the scratch and sniff test of most people
😂....and carry a clipboard too.
That's it, im getting a van, nice set up you got there , plenty room, how far north are you planning to go?
😂 yeah, I love living in the van! Not always easy, but we'll worth it.
I want to get up to Qld soon, but lots of "stuff" that I keep needing to attend to... we'll see 😁
as a 3 citizen holding 35yr old i became a Novacastrian over a decade ago and love it - i also love the idea of vanlife/i rent a small room as it is and dont need much space etc - im also looking at cheap land and the '3d printed' granny flats/homes that take like 3 days but use concrete and obv more than just a printer but i want to stop paying rent lol any advice? (i have a permanent job in newcastle but i love it, im a rapper who gets to record for the label and teach NDIS clients who want to learn on the other side of the company....its a dream job....id only leave Newcastle for a job testing roller coaster or medicinal cannabis strains and reviewing them, ideally both at the same time.
Sounds like you'd fit in to vanlife. 😊
It's not always easy though, getting water, finding quiet places to sleep, etc. one thing for sure though, you save a lot of money!
I frequently drive through the Morisset industrial area (right off the freeway) and have often thought that it would be good for stealth overnight camping... Many businesses where a van parked outside overnight would not attract any attention.
Nothing attracts attention in industrial areas! I stop in them regularly, but it's never a good night's sleep. Always something going on and a guaranteed 5am wake up. 😂
Bro you need to talk to locals make sure you visit the hunter Valley wine country
A few people have suggested that.... problem is I don't drink alcohol 😂
I'm sure the scenery is nice though.
I think big ships like that get a local pilot who knows the area to guide the boat in and out of the port so they may have lifted the local guy off the boat ?
I would say so. I can't imagine it being anything else. Would have been an interesting flight!
I free camped all around Newcastle.blacksmiths beach area and that side of Newcastle is pretty cruzy i never got hassled once..
Good to know! Yeah, seems pretty ok up there. Thanks for sharing ☺️
I think the 'No Camping', is for pitching tents and damaging the grassed areas?
Parking a Van might not be a problem if the sign is a general sign off the road.
Yes, you're right. The no camping signs are quite often in the parks and not at the entries to the carparks. In most cases you just need to obey parking rules and be fully within your vehicle and it's all good. Some councils are funny, but Newcastle is fine.
It's a great laundrette , Im amazed I didn't run into in Newcastle.
I couldn't believe how many vans were in Newcastle, but it is a really nice place 😁
Love watching your videos and recognising places in my local surrounds. It really is quite beautiful.
Your rig looks very comfortable. Very nice.
You're lucky to live in such a beautiful area 😊
I'm very happy with my van. It works really well for my needs 😁
I think I know the place near the water tanks! Spent 2 weeks there last year with an air b n b looking over the water. So many whales! We're thinking of moving somewhere up there it's a great area.
Yeah, I was planning on moving up there too when I was working. It is a beautiful area.
Do you find it hard to find in your van to find somewhere where there’s no other campers. I’m tossing up between a van or 4x4, when I’m travelling I don’t want to be parked right next to other campers. I like peace and quiet😊
Finding a peaceful place is probably the hardest part of vanlife. There's just so many people in Australia now that everywhere you go, there are other people. But they're not always noisy.
Having a 4wd helps but then you tend to get all the 4wdrivers and they are very loud and quite often disrespectful to other people.
I don't know how many of my videos you've seen, but if you watch a lot, you'll get a good feel for your question.
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces I just found you recently so I’ll have a look through. Thankyou for the reply!
I know your secret spot mate, across from my place, saw the van 😂👍🏻
😂 yeah, pretty obvious if you see someone parked there!
I reckon you might have had a view of Mater hospital from your tank stay
No, couldn't see any hospitals. 😊
It's a secret 😂
My favourite place to camp out in my car is Stockton near the sailing club
Good to know, thanks!
Newcastle our town
Great place to live!
MATE you should be at Mackay. Weatherzone it.
Tell me about it! 😂
I so want to be further north but a few things holding me back at the moment....
Been here 10yrs as a Kiwi/UK/Mostly US but not patriotic at all lol 35yr old in Newy and other than cost of living prices which everyone is getting its a great place to live, 5th biggest city but still has a very suburban feel (ive been to tokyo/london/nyc plenty and syd obv but Newy feels small enough if u stay in the CBD area and not the sprawling suburbs it has everything, uni's, jobs, amazing free library's and museums and parks etc - plus amazing beaches left and right - ive moved a few times but never more than 5miles from newy beach so tighes hill now and i can walk to work, the shops in under 10mins and theres a bus stop OUTSIDE my place that goes on every major route (or i can walk 20mins to Hamilton and take a train straight to Sydney and many other places.....
I personally live just mins away from city-like amenaties like hunter mall (outdoor) or the big shopping/ent centers plus its an easy commute to Sydney and a ton of new infrascructure in the ten yrs ive been here, if they put in the high speed rail to sydney itll change everything
I really like it there too. I've mentioned to some other people, I almost moved there while I was still working. Got a lot to offer!
Hmm, I'm sure King Edward Park states its closed overnight😮
Yes, it does and they lock the exit gate too. I got caught by that once when I lost track of time. Pretty much right on 9pm they lock the gates.
they jump off the drop at the top of the anzac bridge for hang gliders
Cool! That would probably be pretty good along there.
Im from mount Gambier very cold down here
Yeah, I've lived in Geelong for the last 25 years too.....very happy to be further north 😁
I thought you were travelling with someone when you started your vanlife journey?
Not anymore. Just me now 😊
It’s Funny , council would love to move these Vans , but it comes under the jurisdiction of port Authority
Oh really. I wondered why they were still there. Councils are usually pretty strict in waterfront spots.
Did you pop over to Stockton ?
No, I didn't. Just looked at it from the other side 😁
If U want a quiet spots let me know I can DM you some. Just don't want to spread the word too much as the council getting a bit picky lately.
Thanks for the offer. Best keep them to yourself. There's definitely some I won't share too 😊
Not a big issue for me at the moment as I don't need to stay anywhere long term. Just keep roaming around 😁
Tell me why the rangers are not fining you guys for staying boat ramp ???? , If turned up in my caravan I would most certainly be fined , or on the highway !.
Basically we are legally parked, fully contained within our registered vehicles and within the parking bays. Unless there's a specific council bylaw saying no sleeping in vehicles, it's all good. With a caravan, you should be fine as long as you follow the same philosophy, but finding a big enough parking space will be harder.
You might just have to drive a bit further to find somewhere.
And don't go putting out awnings and and deck chairs. Even a step would be pushing it in my mind.
Glenrock lol
😂
Mate go north get out of the rat race , just do it
Soon! Got to go help out my mum in Sydney for a week then want to go way north in July!😁
Thanks for the recommendation. I've added them to my list.
Never empty your toilet cassette down a toilet. There's enough information about dump points locations. No excuse!
Curious as to why you think it's not acceptable to empty it into a toilet?
And while there is a lot of info in where dump points are, there simply aren't any outside of caravan parks in most larger cities. I have asked in the past to use their dump points but most won't let you, even for a few.
@MakingStuffGoingPlaces I can add to the question. Toilets are not set up for the quantity of effluent at one time . Leading to blockages . That may not be apparent to most . Huge cost to councils calling out crews on weekends etc. Does that give an insight?👍🇭🇲🦘
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces I forgot , not everyone travelling have healthy ablutions.
My question was more of a challenge to the original poster to explain why they seem to have such strong beliefs on the topic.
Good to see you have a genuine reason for this and you're right, there are people out there that don't think but also, unfortunately those that don't care.
One thing I really don't like is people (not you😊) aggressively pushing their beliefs with no factual explanation as to why they believe they should be forcing their opinions on to other people.
For this particular topic, there is no reason why a sensible person can't empty a cassette into a toilet. Contents are heavily diluted in the flush water and breakdown to a slurry pretty quickly when in a moving vehicle. The outlet of a cassette is smaller than a toilet S bend, so if anything is going to cause a blockage, it will block the cassette first. As you correctly added, each person has a different constitution, and this is my experience from using these toilets for 5 years with no issues with blockages.
The other reason to NOT dump in a toilet is if it is on a septic tank or a pit toilet. In those cases, you just need to make sure you're using chemicals that are suitable for septic systems. However, the excess water added during flushing to cassette toilets, means the contents really shouldn't be put into a composting type pit toilet.
@MakingStuffGoingPlaces sounds like 1st response was angry . So .... I chipped in . I was reg.Nurse , father plumber. I've been on road approx 11yrs , so I saw a bit and either know some or read between lines /research.
Omg its freezing in that area right now
It's freezing everywhere right now! 😂 Seems abnormally cold this week.
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces its certainly colder this year, but no snow on the mountain yet, to wet.
@nickislade5533 I hope there's no snow!😂 I need to go further north...
uk/nz/us (dont blame me for that one lol fk trump) citizen applying for aus here - been living and working in newcastle for a decade and i absolutely plan on staying the rest of my life
Again ive lived in many countries (though i love NZ equally i just chose AUS cuz my ex was going to Uni there and i was done with Uni and only had an Aunt in NZ then)
👍
Mate, ive really been enjoying your channel, but I was wondering, do you realize that after almost every sentence... you laugh?
Its usually a sign of insecurity, but maybe not in your case. It just gets a tiny bit annoying after a while, just sayin.
Thanks Jim, yes, fully aware I do that. That's just my personality....somewhat annoying 😜
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces didnt mean to be agressive at all. It just simply gets annoying. thanks for the vids.
Your comments were taken as constructive criticism, no offence whatsoever. I've also had comments from people, not just on RUclips, saying they love the way I laugh when I talk (yes, they were women).
Ironically, those that spend a lot of time around me would say I'm a very negative person and I find holding the camera in front of me and laughing things off a good way to turn around any negativity that I'm feeling at the time. There you go...too much sharing!
@@MakingStuffGoingPlaces yep I hear where you are coming from. I just wish I had women telling me things like that hahaha
I moved to Newy from the US (NJ/Philly) to AUS on an NZ passport just over a decade ago, couldnt pay me to go back to post-Trump guns-everywhere america (i lived there 20yrs, its really that bad, avg gun deaths, not injuries just deaths PER DAY is well over 100 and there ARE MORE GUNS THAN PEOPLE - they say they need them to stop the gov but when AUS took the guns after the mass shooting i didnt see it become a dictatorship, maybe i was out sick that week?
Yeah, it's an interesting contrast between the countries.
Dogs park should of been poo free it is usually the MALES that don't pick up dog poo which is a shame as dog parks always have bags there...just LAZY MEN...
Did U have fish and chip at Honeysuckle Bay suppose to be fantastic there...😂😂😂😂if U come back check that out for us...
Can't find a Honeysuckle Bay. Do you know the name of the shop?
Horse shoe beach pisses me off full of hobos every nite can’t even fish there
Yeah, I was wondering where the 2 old guys had gone from around at the main picnic area....found them.
Never ever sit ya kids on the torpedo at fort scratchly thay get the shits i think thay want to use the torpedo again in the future
I'd be a little concerned if they had a live torpedo sitting there! 😁