10 tips for summer camping

Jucy Rentals' top 10 tips for summer camping

Whether you're a seasoned outdoor adventurer or novice camper, a campervan holiday is one of the most affordable, fun and easy ways to explore the diverse beauty and landscapes of Australia and New Zealand. In the first three months of 2009, Australian tourists spent $284.8 million on caravan park accommodation reflecting the high demand for this cheaper form of travel and accommodation. To assist avid campers across the summer season, the team at Jucy Rentals is sharing their top camping tips.

"The best thing about camping in a campervan is that you don't have to worry about pitching a tent. All you do is drive to your favourite destination - you can stay as long or as little as you like and you have the freedom to explore," says Tim Alpe, co-founder of Jucy Rentals.

The Top 10 Jucy-est Summer Camping Tips

1. Freedom camping VS caravan parks. "If you're a bit on the spontaneous side, you have the option of freedom camping, meaning you can park almost anywhere," says Tim. "However, if you opt for a caravan park you can expect daily fees from around $15 per person per day and I'd recommend booking in advance during summer. A good supply of baby wipes, hand sanitizer and dry shampoo will also come in handy and to stay clean use the heated showers at camping grounds. However there are also public showers at beaches and public pools for freedom campers (just make sure no-one's watching!)

2. Mosquito season - The warmer weather often brings with it a variety of creepy crawlies that will feast on summer campers if they aren't prepared. The Jucy team strongly recommends bringing insect repellant and a few citronella candles for long nights by the campfire.

3. Navigation - "A good old fashioned road map is a great way to mark out your journey. However if you'd rather not get into an argument over directions, you may want to spend a little extra and hire a GPS navigator instead," says Tim. Jucy rents out GPS navigators to their customers for an average of $8 per day.

4. Bush tucker - Jucy campervans come equipped with all the kitchen essentials so that campers can whip up some culinary delights. "If you're travelling across Australia you may also want to try some of the local cuisine - Kangaroo, Crocodile or Emu can be tasty!" says Tim.

5. Survival tips - "Use your commonsense. Lock your campervan, store valuables in your Jucy safe. There's nothing worse than being stranded without your mobile phone or wallet", says Tim. In the unexpected event of a breakdown, Jucy will send out a mobile mechanic to fix and/or replace your vehicle.

6. Think green - "Respect the environment and leave only your footprints," says Tim. Jucy customers also have the option of hiring a 'dirty car' - a car that has not been washed on the outside, but still clean on the inside, at the same time saving campers up to $10 off the overall amount of their Jucy hire.

7. Bargain hunting - Jucy occasionally holds $1 relocation specials - if Jucy has too many vehicles in one drop off they sometimes need drivers to get them back to other depots. For information visit "steal a deal" on the Jucy website.

8. Entertain yourselves - "When travelling in a campervan there can be some long drives so some fun ways to keep you entertained include keeping count of the number of Jucy vans on the road and having a drink for each of them when you arrive at your destination!" says Tim. "You could also try looking for the towns with the longest or most unusual names. If you plan to drive to South Australia you can visit Mamungkukumpurangkuntjunya Hill - the town with the longest name in Australia, or in New Zealand Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu," says Tim.

9. Don't forget your toothbrush - bring the essentials. Pack plenty of underwear, swimwear, toiletries, food, dishwashing liquid and a guidebook also comes in handy. "When it comes to looking chic on the road, ladies can plug their hair straighteners and dryers into most of the Jucy campers, but I would suggest leaving your creature comforts at home, it's camping after all," says Tim.

10. Best drives and destinations - Australia
Great Ocean Road - Drive along the scenic Victorian road for spectacular views including the iconic Twelve Apostles.
Byron Bay - About 12 hours north of Sydney, Byron Bay is the perfect destination for surfing, whale-watching and relaxing by the beach.
Brisbane to Cairns - Drive north up the Sunshine State and visit small towns and the beach-side paradises along the way including Mackay, Rockhampton, the Whitsundays and Townsville.

Best drives and destinations - New Zealand
Northland - At the top of the North Island, Northland is a perfect destination for summer camping with activities such as fishing, surfing the sand dunes and amazing forest walks - and with the broad range of holiday parks throughout Northland it's a fantastic spot for campers.
The National Parks of the South Island - The South Island of New Zealand is home to eight national parks including the Kahurangi and Mt Aspiring National Parks. Each park offers a unique variety of spectacular views, natural wonders and campsites.
Queenstown - On the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown is surrounded by magnificent mountains and is right on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. Over summer Queenstown is also home to the Summerdaze festival (Dec 31 - Feb 1) which includes a range of recreational, sporting, arts and cultural events.

For more information or to book your next camping holiday visit www.jucy.com.au or www.jucy.co.nz.