shannrussell-blog1

[shannrussell-blog1]

What to Know about Japan’s Exotic Desert

The post What to Know about Japan’s Exotic Desert appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Experience the Magic of Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats

A Uyuni Salt Flats tour is essential, since you can’t explore this part of South America on your own. And I’m not being hyperbolic: There aren’t roads in the Salar de Uyuni, let alone rental .....

The post Experience the Magic of Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

How to Spend Your Time in Sydney

At first consideration, spending just 3 days in Sydney might seem rash. The largest and most iconic city of Australia, Sydney is a place you could spend three weeks (or months) exploring, and still not .....

The post How to Spend Your Time in Sydney appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Magic in Turkey’s Istanbul

Istanbul is not a city you can visit only once, whether you spend 3 days in Istanbul or take a much longer trip. It’s also not a city you can visit only twice, a fact .....

The post Magic in Turkey’s Istanbul appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Wherever you are and whatever you do, you’re going to need to eat to fuel your day. But when you are travelling, you don’t want to spend the day prepping in the kitchen as there are some amazing things to see and do out there, and every minute counts!

Travelling with kids adds a layer of complexity. You can’t just pop into the café every time you need something (as it quickly adds up!) and you have to have a bit of a plan as some children can be picky eaters.

Life is a whole lot more fun outside of the caravan or camp kitchen!

You also need to think ahead when going into remote areas. You might not see a well-stocked supermarket for up to 3 to 4 weeks at a time. We have three boys who have always been good eaters, but the constant activity and sightseeing have taken their appetites to a whole new level! They are growing fast and eating more and more all the time. Here’s how we handle food planning, packing and preparation on the road.

We like to plan and then load up before hitting the open road in our caravan.

So, how do we tackle food for a family of 5 with our caravan in tow?

1. Plan out your meals for each day

Hands down, our top tip is to plan the food you are going to need over a specified period. Write a list for every day you plan to be away. Include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. Remember tea and coffee, as well as the marshmallows for the campfire!

Don’t forget marshmallows for that perfect campfire treat!

It may take some time, but this planning stage will simplify your food shopping and preparation. Consider including meals that are simple to prepare and that your family loves. Think about where and when you might be eating, as well as what facilities might be available to you in your caravan, camp kitchen or even somewhere more remote.

Consider the facilities you have to cook on.

2. Choose a mix of fresh, frozen and pantry food

The length of time that you need to carry food for will dictate the types of food you can take with you. We like to eat healthy most of the time, and of course, love fresh food. But, if we are packing for a few weeks, that fresh stuff just won’t last the distance. We love to pack salads, avocado, and fresh fruit, but make sure we use it at the beginning of the trip.

Buying avocados at various stages of ripeness means they can last a couple of weeks. Same goes with tomatoes, apples and oranges. Root vegetables are another winner when it comes to longevity, particularly when stored in a cool, dark place.

Frozen berries can be stored for long periods, and are perfect for smoothies.

To supplement fresh, frozen veg and berries are a great alternative. They stack neatly into the smallest of freezers and are great to have on hand for a quick side dish. We have a second combi fridge/freezer in the car to provide extra storage. Kids love a fresh smoothie or even ice cream from blended frozen fruit! Great if you have a blender or even a Thermomix on board, as we do.

Probably the easiest mid to longer-term solution is loading up on pantry items. They don’t require refrigeration or freezing, and can literally be stored anywhere. You might not use them regularly at home, but on the road, they come into their own. Tinned or packet soups, stews, vegetables and fruit can be tasty and nutritious. They have the added bonus of being quick to prepare. Be aware though, they can be very heavy, so consider where you are going to store them safely when travelling.

Staples will help you with your go-to meals.

3. Make the most of food staples

Food staples, or in other words your ‘go-to’ meals play a huge part in travelling. When you are out exploring, you’re not going to have time to try a range of new and exciting gourmet recipes. The key is to stick to food that you are comfortable with and can prepare quickly with your eyes closed.

Staples like rice can be used in many different ways…so we always have a large bag in the bottom of the pantry. It can be great to eat as a side dish, to cook in coconut milk for something a little different, made into fried rice, or even rice pudding. It’s also gluten-free, so it suits most dietary requirements.

We find porridge does a great job on both filling the boys up and saving on space in the pantry.

Breakfast cereal is a great option in the morning, but it can take up a lot of space. We also find that most boxed cereals only last one or two sittings with our boys! Instead, we stick to weet-bix and porridge which fills up hungry tummies and give them enough energy to get through to the next meal.

Flour is so versatile, you can use it to make pizza, bread rolls and damper.

4. Flour goes a long way, as bread isn’t always available remotely

Whilst we don’t have time to be baking up a feast on the road, we do find that flour is a great addition when the basics like bread might not be available in remote areas. Baker’s flour can be easily whipped up into scrolls, pizza dough or fresh bread rolls. Self-raising flour is great for making damper or a quick batch of pancakes. All of the family love getting in on some baking action too!

We love making fresh damper in the morning. Warm damper + jam + coffee = yum!

5. Keep it simple – choose healthy, easy to prepare snacks with a long shelf life

Kids can eat a lot of food! Or not much, depending on the child. Either way, there are extra considerations when it comes to food needs for families. Travelling in a caravan brings lots of new experiences, so it’s best not to add an extra element of new food to the equation for children.

You know your children best, and the food that they like to eat. Some children prefer vegetables to be presented on a platter, perhaps raw, rather than mixed in a stir-fry or gourmet meal.

Choose snacks that can easily be packed for sightseeing or picnics. 

Our boys love carrot, capsicum and tomato fresh, but don’t like to eat it cooked. They will devour a bowl of frozen peas for a snack or grab a can of tuna or baked beans. Rice cakes topped with their favourite spreads are another go-to meal or snack that are easy to store and have a long shelf life.

These are all healthy choices with the bonus that the kids are able to prepare them themselves. They can also be packed for a day out and eaten as a picnic without too much prior preparation. We find if the kids are involved in meal planning, shopping and preparation, everyone is happy.

Sushi is a go-to snack for our family, the boys love making it up themselves with their favourite fillings.

6. Online food shopping – a great way to avoid going over-budget

Finally, after preparing your meal plan and considering the types of food that you have space to store, it is time to shop! Set aside a few hours and take a buddy to push a second trolley! Alternatively, we love to order our groceries online and pick up our completed order.

It’s a huge time saver and helps to avoid impulsive grabs! If you are between destinations and can take your caravan or trailer to the store with you, you have the added bonus of being able to stack your purchases straight in, cutting out a whole step in the process.

We had a second trolley behind this one! We usually roll them right up to the caravan in the carpark.

Don’t be afraid to get everyone involved in your planning and shopping preparation…this can help avoid complaints later on! Remember to keep it simple and let food complement your travels, not take over.

  What’s the best tip you have for planning meals when travelling on the road?

The post Caravanning Food Tips For Feeding a Family-of-5 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[shannrussell-blog1]

We couldn’t stop smiling. I watched him, my boyfriend, as we made our way through Boston on the way to the fast ferry. Getting to Provincetown wasn’t difficult, but it also wasn’t easy. There were .....

The post Provincetown, Perfect for a Summer Getaway appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

What would you do with 3 days in Melbourne? Don’t worry—it’s a trick question. If you knew, you’d never have navigated here. Low blow, I know. Indeed, what I’m about to lay out over the .....

The post Your Guide to Melbourne Australia appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

We are excited to team up with Zen 2.0 as a media partner this year. Based in Kamakura Japan, Zen 2.0 is an international conference on Zen and mindfulness that integrates modern wisdom and diversity .....

The post Zen 2.0 at 760 Year Old Temple in Japan’s Kamakura appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

4WDs are extremely popular for towing with throughout Australia, and for good reason. Whether you are towing a caravan or camper trailer around this great country or just moving some horses down the road in a horse float, using a 4WD is a good start. 4WDs are heavier, have better-towing capacities and will handle towing a trailer much easier than your average 2WD vehicle.

However, there’s a lot to know about towing safely and correctly and sadly many people are not aware of this at all. Every week there are nasty accidents with 4WDs towing trailers, and there are a lot of things that contribute to it all going wrong. In this post, we are going to look at everything you need to know to safely tow with a 4WD.

Towing our camper trailer off-road.

Know your weights

The first and most overlooked part of towing with your 4WD is to know your weight limits. This is a huge topic in itself and requires a lot of explanation, but I’ll keep it brief for now. You are required by law to stay within the manufacturer’s engineering limitations for both your 4WD and trailer and then in combination.

Whilst this probably won’t apply if you are towing a box trailer to the tip, however, if you’re towing anything more than 750kg you’ll want to do some more research. The best thing to do is to take your vehicle and trailer in its loaded state down to a weighbridge (find your nearest one here) and get some figures.

From there, read through your owner’s manual and make sure you comply with the weight requirements for your 4WD, trailer and total weight.

Exploring the southwest with trailers and boats in tow.

You need to be under the following weights:

GVM: The maximum weight your 4WD can weigh when loaded up. This includes your tow ball weight imposed by the trailer, along with all the accessories you fit, extra fuel, passengers and gear inside the vehicle. It is extremely easy to go over your GVM. You can get the weight of your vehicle by driving onto the weighbridge with the trailer attached, but leave the trailer off the weighbridge.

GCM: The maximum weight your 4WD and trailer in combination can weigh, while travelling down the road. Literally, just drive onto the weighbridge with your trailer on and take the total weight down.

Travelling around Australia, towing a caravan.

Axle weights: Beyond the GVM, your vehicle needs to be loaded evenly. You can’t put all of the load at the back of your 4WD or you risk damaging the rear axle and chassis. Your owner’s manual should tell you the maximum axle weights, or you can ring the manufacturer and get it from them. You can weigh axles individually by just having the axle you want to weigh on the weighbridge.

Trailer ATM: Your trailer has an aggregate tare mass. This is the maximum weight it can be. You’ll find the ATM on a nameplate at the front of your drawbar. Many trailers do not have the ability to carry much weight (especially caravans) and by the time you add water into the tanks, fill the LPG bottles and throw your gear in its overweight. Simply drive the trailer onto the weighbridge and unhook to get the trailer’s weight.

It is always best to avoid towing a trailer that weighs more than your 4WD.

Is your vehicle suitable for the trailer?

Tow ball weight

Every 4WD comes with a maximum tow ball weight. This is either limited by the manufacturer (in your owner’s manual) or by the towbar itself. This will range from 100 – 400kg depending on the 4WD. You can get the tow ball weight on a weighbridge fairly easily by doing some maths.

Towing capacity

Like your tow ball weight, every vehicle comes with towing capacity. For most new 4WDs it’s 3500kg, but there are a lot of 4WDs which have lower capacities. Make sure your trailer doesn’t weigh more than this or you will have a problem.

Broken trailer at Kakadu.

How’s the trailer balanced?

Lastly, the trailer you are towing needs to be balanced properly, with the majority of the weight close to the axles and as low as possible. Trailers that have sway issues are usually off-balance – this can result in major accidents. Aim to have 6 – 12% of the weight of the trailer on the tow ball, and for your weights to be close to the centre. Big toolboxes on the back of a caravan, or lots of weight right at the back is terrible for sway.

Have a hitch and unhitch process

You wouldn’t believe the number of people who drive off with their jockey wheels down, or hand brake engaged. When you hook and unhook, have a process that you follow each time, checking off everything as you go. Is the awning in? Are the doors shut? Are the safety chains on? Is the hitch secured and breakaway cable connected? Do the lights work? Is the jockey wheel up and secure? Is the hand brake in the correct location?

Taking 5 minutes to walk around properly before you depart or unhitch will save you a fortune in money and frustration when things go wrong.

Are you hitched up properly?

Is your vehicle set up correctly?

You can’t take a brand new dual cab ute to the caravan dealership, hook up your brand new giant caravan and drive away. There are requirements on your vehicle to tow trailers:

Suitable towbar, wiring and tow hitch

A lot of 4WDs don’t come from the factory with tow bars, or the right hitch, or even the wiring in place to make your trailer lights operate. Before you tow a trailer, make sure your vehicle has the right hitch, wiring in place and a suitable tow bar for the weights towed.

A Redarc electric brake controller.

Brake controller

Any trailer weighing over 750kg must have brakes. Some use a mechanical system where the hitch moves in and out and applies the brakes, but a large number of trailers today use electronic brakes, which must be activated by the vehicle towing the trailer. This is done using an electric brake controller fitted to your vehicle. Redarc makes a fantastic compact unit that tells the trailer brakes to come on when your 4WD also slows.

Make sure you understand how to adjust the brake controller settings to provide the right amount of braking before any trip.  And, in an emergency, make sure you know how to activate it without touching the vehicle’s brakes.

Extension mirrors are a legal requirement for towing wide trailers.

Extension mirrors

Ever wondered why some 4WDs have giant mirrors on them? It’s not because they look great – it’s for towing wide trailers! By law, you must be able to see down the back of your trailer, and for wide trailers (like a lot of caravans) you must fit extension mirrors. If you measure from the outside of one mirror to the other, it must be wider than the width of your trailer. No exceptions. If it isn’t, you need extendable mirrors or

Towing on the beach requires some skill.

Towing off-road

In my opinion, the best of Australia is well off the beaten track. There’s a lot of trailers that spend many thousands of kilometres off-road, with their owners exploring this magical country. Whether it’s at the beach, down a gravel road or climbing through the hills in the high country, there are some skills needed for towing off-road. Before you tackle an off-road track though, make sure your vehicle and trailer are designed for it as many are not!

You need to deflate your tyres appropriately, lower your speed and drive to the conditions. Don’t try and beat physics –  towing a heavy trailer down a soft beach is never going to end well. Get familiar with your vehicle’s ability and performance, as well as the dimensions of your setup. You wouldn’t be the first person to tow a big caravan down a tight track and end up stuck!

An ultra gauge for monitoring our 4WDs motor condition.

Have some mechanical sympathy

Towing a trailer makes your 4WD work harder. It’s basic physics. The cooling system will work harder, as will your transmission. Don’t flog your 4WD – understand its limitations and have some mechanical sympathy. Monitor the temperatures carefully, and if you are towing something heavy with an automatic transmission, consider the fitment of a transmission cooler. Avoid towing heavy loads without the transmission locked up (or in overdrive gears on a manual vehicle).

Respect each other

There are a lot of vehicles on the roads in Australia. Whether it’s a 4WD towing a caravan, a giant road train truck or a small 2WD, you need to work together and be respectful. Sit at a safe speed, leave a gap for people to overtake, fit a UHF radio and use it to communicate with others and in general. Simply stated, treat people in the way you’d like to be treated.

Share the roads and show respect for each other.

Do a towing course

This post is just a general guide and is no substitute for a formal towing course. If you are new to the game and want some more confidence, contact your local towing instruction company and do a course. Even learning to back a trailer can take a fair bit of practice, but with the right guidance to start with, you’ll walk away feeling much more comfortable towing with your 4WD.

There’s nothing better than arriving at camp with your home on wheels right behind you – thousands of people do this every day. If you take the time to do it properly, towing with a 4WD is a breeze and a pleasure.

See you out there!

  Do you tow anything on your travels or do you keep your set up simple?

The post Towing with a 4WD – What You Need to Know appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Imagine a late-nineteenth century style Parisian brasserie in the heart of Marin in northern California? Enter Left Bank Brasserie, a trendy and chic French restaurant in Larkspur. It’s not the only one however – be .....

The post Left Bank Brasserie for a Touch of France in Marin appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Truth be told, I’ve known about Petaluma-based IONs (Institute for Noetic Sciences) for awhile now, and have attended some of their smaller workshops and events over the years. That said, we weren’t aware of their .....

The post Our First Experience at IONs (Institute for Noetic Sciences) appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

A 3 Day Itinerary for Indonesia’s Yogyakarta

  Some places you travel just feel good immediately—for me, Yogyakarta, Indonesia was one of them. Known locally as Jogjakarta (or, more often, simply “Jog-ja”), Yogyakarta is one of Indonesia’s most-visited cities  in spite of .....

The post A 3 Day Itinerary for Indonesia’s Yogyakarta appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

European City Pick: Zurich

  My best friend is Swiss, so I’ve traveled to Switzerland nearly a dozen times over the past decade. During this time, I’ve visited Zurich on probably 10 separate occasions (Bianca lives in the canton .....

The post European City Pick: Zurich appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

A Northern Thailand Excursion

I’ve spent a lot of time in northern Thailand, so I wasn’t paying much attention to it as my plane descended toward Chiang Rai last Thursday. As the earth began coming into focus through the .....

The post A Northern Thailand Excursion appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Tel Aviv is one of only a few cities in the world (the others being Bangkok and Rome, off the top of my head) I’ve spent about 3 days in Tel Aviv during every phase .....

The post Cultural Tel Aviv and Beyond appeared first on We Blog The World.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Warrumbungle National Park is located in New South Wales and is approximately two hours north of Dubbo. From Brisbane, it is approximately an 8.5-hour drive or if you’re coming from Sydney, it will take you around 6.5 hours.

Whilst it is a bit of a drive to get there, it is well worth the visit! It’s classed as a heritage-listed national park and is considered to be one of the best places for stargazing as it’s the only Dark Sky Park in Australia.

Though it is a bit of a drive, your trip to Warrumbungle NP will be worth it.

It is also home to one of Australia’s best optical and infrared astronomical observatories called Siding Springs Observatory, which is located on the edge of the national park. Apart from the great star gazing, Warrumbungle National Park is fantastic for camping and hiking.

Warrumbungle NP is known for its stargazing and Siding Springs Observatory.

What are the main camping areas?

In terms of where you can stay during your visit, the three main camping sites are Camp Wambelong, Camp Blackman, and Camp Pincham.

Camp Blackman

Our favourite camping spot at the Warrumbungles is Camp Blackman. This campsite is next to a track which links to the Wambelong Nature Track (1.1km circuit). On this track, as well as at Camp Blackman, you will see an abundance of kangaroos and native birds. Not only is Camp Blackman a peaceful place to stay, but it also offers hot showers and has powered sites available.

If you are part of a larger group of people, the Warrumbungle Environment Education Centre or Camp Walaay (which are both close to Camp Blackman) is the best place to stay in the park.

You might see local wildlife if you stay at Camp Blackman.

Camp Wambelong

Another camping area is Camp Wambelong. This camping area has views of Belougery and Split Rock. It is a great camping spot as it is located close to the trailheads of many hiking tracks.

There are three main hiking tracks near Camp Wambelong: Burbie Canyon Walking Track, Belougery Split Walking Track, and Mount Exmouth Walking Track.

Burbie Canyon & Belougery Split Walking Tracks

Both Burbie Canyon Walking Track (2km return) and Belougery Split Rock Walking Track (4.6km loop) are both short hikes and offer some great views. It is possible to see a range of wildlife on these tracks including koalas, turquoise parrots, peregrine falcons, wedge-tailed eagles, and red-necked wallabies.

To take a virtual tour of the Burbie Canyon Walking Track click here and for a virtual tour of Belougery Split Walking head here.

The views looking west over the park. 

Mount Exmouth Walking Track

For the more adventurous hikers, I’d recommend the Mount Exmouth Walking Track (17km return). Whilst it is a longer hike, this track offers 360-degree views when you reach the summit. Mount Exmouth is also the highest peak in the Warrumbungles at 1206m. As this track is fairly long, there is a camping spot, Camp Burbie, located approximately half-way to the summit.

Burbie Camp offers toilet facilities and a tap with spring water (though it’s recommended to boil the water before drinking it). Keep in mind that bookings are required in advance for this site.

Considered one of the best hikes in NSW, the Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk is not to be missed.

Camp Pincham – Fans Horizon walking track, Goulds Circuit & Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk

Camp Pincham is another popular camping ground at the Warrumbungles and offers access to a variety of other hiking tracks. The most popular tracks near Camp Pincham are: Fans Horizon walking track (3.6km return), Goulds Circuit (6.3km circuit), and Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk (return via West Spirey Creek) (14.5km loop).

As an addition to the Breadknife hike, many people walk the extra 2.5km (return) to Bluff Mountain. It is common to see wild goats on the tracks.

You can see the famous Breadknife in the distance on your hike.

The main camping area on the Breadknife and Grand High Tops Circuit is Balor Hut. Balor Hut is the only hut on the Grand High Tops and offers four double bunk beds, a tap you can use (though it’s recommended to boil the water), and toilets. You can take a virtual tour of Balor Hut campground here.

Bookings are essential as the hut is locked when it is not booked, so you’ll have to collect the key from the visitor centre. Other walk-in camping areas in this area include Hurley’s Campsite, Dows Camp and Ogma Gap.

From the Bluff Mountain walking track, you’ll be able to see Belougery Spire.

Tara Cave

Tara Cave (3.4km) is another great place to hike. This track is mostly sealed and has a slight incline, suitable for the everyday walker. Tara Cave was a place previously used by Indigenous people up until the 1950s. The cave itself is located up on a hill and has some great views of the surrounding area. At the start of the track, there is also a picnic area (Old Woolshed Picnic Area) which is a great place to have a break and a bite to eat.

Another great Picnic Area at the Warrumbungles is Canyon Picnic area which offers barbecue facilities. The Canyon Picnic area is also located next to Wambelong Creek. Both the Old Woolshed Picnic Area and the Canyon Picnic Area offer toilet facilities.

If you want to explore further, there are other parks in the area. 

Where else can you explore around the Warrumbungles?

Want to explore more around the Warrumbungles? Pilliga National Park is located just one hour drive north of Warrumbungle National Park.

A popular hike that you can do there is the Sandstone Caves walking track which is a 1.7km circuit and leads to some Aboriginal rock art which is worth checking out as the next stop after your trip.

  What’s your favourite place to stargaze in Australia?

The post Camping & Hiking in Warrumbungle National Park, NSW appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[shannrussell-blog1]

To this day, I rave passionately about my South of France experience, in particular Nice, Monaco and the rest of the French Riviera. As much as I genuinely enjoyed myself, however, I was troubled by .....

The post Southern France’s Monaco, Nice & French Riviera appeared first on We Blog The World.