Many businesses close over the Christmas period giving many people the opportunity to get away from the mayhem within the city. Of course, when you mention vacation you also mentioned budget. So here is a list of Getaway ideas that can fit any budget.
The "Short Drive to your Vacation Spot" Idea
For the
tight budget holiday seekers, you can opt for a weekend camping trip. From experience, many motorhomes are booked well in advance; however, you can find some caravan parks that may have a spot where you can pitch a tent. Of course it is best to contact them before you arrive, because there is nothing worse than finding that they are not able to accommodate you.
An adventure awaits around the corner! (Yanchep Lagoon)
From experience, some caravan parks, like Leeman Caravan Park, align themselves with the local sports grounds. If you find they are filled, ask the park if they will be using the sports grounds and if there will be any space on that. Sports grounds have all the necessary toilet facilities, but do not have a kitchen or laundry. So it is good to take a plastic container for dishes.
Camping on the outskirts of the Leeman Oval!
For those on a
medium to high budget, you could contact a few hotels in the area you want to drive to. Accommodation over Christmas can be a challenge. However, you may be lucky to find a few locations on the outskirts of Perth that can offer you accommodation while giving you the feeling that you can recharge those batteries.
The Vines Resort offering you a great break, wildlife and a world class golf course.
Some Hotels such as the Vines Resort have had some vacancies over the Christmas period. While the Vines Resort is on the outskirts of Perth, it still gives you that feeling of being away from home.
The "Long Drive to your Vacation Spot" Idea
The length of a drive is really dependant on the people driving. However, in my books, a long drive would constitute for anything from 6 hours and longer. If your vacation area is about a 6 hour drive, then you may be driving to areas such as Geraldton or Margaret's River.
You never know what wildlife you will see along the way!
Most of the time the more popular accommodate areas are booked out, however you probably could contact a number of surrounding areas that offer accommodation. You could even contact some home owners that rent their homes out over this period. A great website to find out more about what is available is
Stayz
Visit the Dingos of Dongara for a great Australia experience
.
Both Geraldton and Margaret Rivers are fairly central places to visit. Surrounding both towns are a range of activities that you can do from seeing Dingos of Dongara to visiting Caves just north of Augusta. In fact, you may find a number of amazing caves and national parks along the whole coast line near Margaret's River.
The "Driving Vacation" Idea
My best adventures have been a result of driving to a range of places. For this type of vacation, you can either be well prepared or go with the flow. Of course, if you choose the latter you must be prepared to sleep in a car in the event that all "Inns" are booked out. And that would definitely be a Christmas to remember!
An Australia Outback awaits with only a turn of a key!
If you choose this vacation idea you must make sure your car has been serviced, that you have road side assistance, and that you fill up your car with petrol along the way. Also make sure you take a lot of water with you, that you have food that can be made quickly (and over the barbecue), and that you also have a spare container of petrol and oil. And while you are at it, don't forget to check that spare. Another aspect people forget is cellular reception. Not all mobile phones work outside of Perth, so it is a good idea to find out which carrier offers reception.
Many Adventures awaits along this road!
There are a number of routes you can take which lead you north, south and inland. If you take the northern route, you can make a number of stops along the way at places like Dongara, Geraldton, Sharks Bay, Carnavon, etc. The further from Perth you go, the fewer towns there are. So, it does pay to do a little homework.
The
Northern trip will offer you the opportunity to experience Australia's Coral Coast. Along the way you can experience dolphins at Monkey Mia, the mile long Jetty at Carnavon, or swim with whale sharks at Ningaloo.
Swim with a Whale Shark at Ningaloo (photo courtesy of Australia Coral Coast Tourism)
I would say the camera is a must, so don't forget that together with extra batteries and memory cards.
The
Southern trip will offer you a more cultivate experience where you can visit wineries, caves, and national parks. Of course, there are some great mountain bike trails or places to swim.
One of the many wineries you will find around Margaret's River
Augusta offers the culture of experience of seeing the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and the famous Water Wheel. Margaret River has a number of amazing wineries surrounding it. And Busselton is known for its longest timber piled jetty in the southern hemisphere.
The longest wood pile jetty in the world found in Busselton.
The
Inland trip will offer you an experience of the rugged and wild Western Australian Country side known as Australia's Golden Outback. This is mostly because you will find the greatest amount of wheat being grown in this area.
One of the Sculptures by Antony Gormley (photo courtesy of Kalgoorlie Tourism)
Of course it will be a lot hotter than its coastal counterparts; however you will experience a rare cultural experience, and see some amazing towns. Experience Eyre highway that covers 1,675 kilometres to Inside Australia (the largest outdoor art gallery by Antony Gormley) on the backdrops of Lake Ballard. Along the way, you will come across many little towns that have not made the map, but will offer you a culturally enriched experience.
A little town on the edge of Perth but on route to the Wheat belt region.
Remember to carry cash for purchases, because there may not always be eftpos terminals available, and keep the car will stocked with petrol, water, and refreshments for you.
I hope you have a pleasant holiday experience. And remember to drive with care, especially during night time when a number of wild life will be on the road.
