The New Age Caravans convoy sees us in Canberra for Anzac Day and Macca, Angie and Adele & Wayne from Caravanning with Kids attended the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial. When the What’s Up! Downunder  team learnt that they would be there; they all knew this would be a highlight of this adventure. Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service. The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.

From 4.30am excerpts from the letters and diaries of Australians who experienced war firsthand were read out and this was a highly emotional part of the service for everyone. The heavens opened and it was cold, but this did not stop over 34,000 people come out in full force to REMEMBER.  You can see the Dawn Service program here. The Last Post was delivered with perfection and there were a few silent tears shed during the following minute’s silence.  What a service!

Time for a quick breaky (we had been there since 3am) and then it was off to see the National Ceremony veterans’ march. The ceremony incorporates the Anzac Day veterans’ march coordinated by the ACT branch of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL). Macca and Angie chatted with some interesting characters on the promenade, while Wayne, Adele and their girls looked at all the flags and uniforms of all those marching in the pouring rain. No one really seemed to mind the rain as the march began.  It was a proud moment for all watching the crowds clap and cheer all those involved.

An early start and an emotion charged day saw everyone crash in the late arvo form some well earned R & R.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele  check out the Australian War Memorial and have some science FUN…

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

If you have not visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, please add it to your must see list now! Macca, Angie and Adele from Caravanning with Kids spent a very emotional and moving day wondering around the impressive displays in and around the Australian War Memorial. Following Anzac Day the team found themselves transported back to the events of past wars through the incredible exhibitions. We entered the Commemorative Courtyard first and there was silence as we all took our time to ‘remember’, to say thanks and to reflect.  We were drawn to the Pool of reflection and the eternal flame and the remarkable view of the Roll of Honour. We strolled again in silence and looked upon the names of virtually every Australian who has died in war since 1885 – more than 102,000 people, their names all in bronze. The walls were filled with poppy’s that loved ones and strangers had placed next to names of family, friends and soldiers all taken too soon. Walking through the Roll of honour was difficult. Seeing the thousands of names was overwhelming, so much loss. Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country safe.

Inside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier we were in awe of the beauty of this room, it was stunning. Mosaic walls, stain glassed windows, the gold dome…and the tomb.  We all paid our respects and Adele & Angie found it difficult to keep their emotions in check.

Inside the Australian War Memorial is so impressive. We explored all the halls and exhibitions and learnt so much about the different wars and enjoyed viewing some amazing artifacts. The stories, the history, the sorrow, the pain, the heartache and the JOY. The stories of survival, mateship, courage and loss were astounding and the artwork breathtaking.

This is not a visit that you can rush. Take your time, read, learn, take the organised tours, roam the gardens, enjoy the sculptures, reflect and remember. It will be a highlight of your visit to Canberra.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele  check out Questacon and finish off this fabulous New Age Caravans Snowy River tour with some wizzy Segway fun.

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

Macca, Angie and Adele  from Caravanning with Kids had the BEST day in Canberra for the final day of the New Age Caravans Snowy River tour.  The sun was shining and they were all excited to visit Questacon.  Adele had heard many wonderful things about the National Science & Technology centre and all the men on the crew suddenly turned into giggling school kids at the thought of ‘playing’ with science!   Questacon was opened in 1988 and hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy what they have on offer.  They strive to promote a greater understanding and awareness of science and technology and do this by creating experiences that are fun, interactive, and relevant.  As soon as we walked through the doors our hands and minds were engaged and there were lots of WOW’s as we explored science from a new angle.

The building has multiple levels of hands on exhibits and interactions that ensure people of ALL ages will learn and have fun at the same time.  Macca, Angie and Adele couldn’t get enough of all the places and things to explore and enjoy.  There were loads of laughs, especially when Angie had her hands set on fire by the Scientists in the Q Lab.  The highlight of our visit was [email protected],  Macca got to  free fall down a six metre slide, battle a robot in a game of air hockey and we all enjoyed all the hands on coolness.  So much to see and do – definitely add this one to your must see list too.

We ended our tour with another super fun activity.  Who needs a double decker bus to see the sights of a city when you can Segway your way around!? Di & Zane from Seg, Glide, Ride took us on a fabulous ride around Lake Burley Griffin and we took in the local surrounding attractions too. Very affordable and a very unique way to sight see.  You will be surprised at how easy it is to do once you get a little lesson and some practice.  Within 5 minutes we were all wizzing around like Segway pros.

THANK YOU New Age Caravans! Macca, Angie and Adele  had an incredible time in the Gecko, the Oz Classic and the Big Red. Impressive caravans that we LOVED.  We hope you all enjoy the episodes when they hit Channel 10 soon….

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

A day of reflection at the Jindabyne Holiday Park, before we head off to Canberra, after one of the most incredible and amazing experiences of our lives. Macca, Angie and Adele  will never forget the day they climbed to the very top of Mount Kosciuszko, neither will all the crew who also hiked up the mountain with film gear in hand, all made possible by New Age Caravans. 

Hats off to our wonderful sound tech Chris who carried about 25kgs of equipment the whole way. We were guided by Ranger Gillian, and despite the weather turning, we were determined to make it to the top for sunset and we all had our fingers crossed that the clouds would lift.

The hike is spectacular with breathtaking views of the Snowy Mountains from every angle. The higher we got, the thinner the air became and we could all feel it in our chests. Only slightly, but oddly, it made us feel ALIVE! The temperature was dropping fast and we were all very thankful that we had on gloves, beanies and cold wet weather gear.

Adele from Caravanning with Kids went live on Facebook for a brief minute when she had service and posted this little clip of the team, nearly at the top: https://youtu.be/hc3ASs7s7FM

Getting to the summit was exhilarating. What a view! We had the mountain to ourselves and soaked up the fresh, cold air and spectacular views. The cloud lifted briefly so we could see the amazing changing colours and the sun dipping in and out.  Then the clouds and wintery weather started to close in. It was incredible to watch, it happened very quickly and soon,  we were swimming in clouds and the temperature had dropped to just above zero!

Hi Ho…Hi Ho…it’s down the mountain we go! What an experience, one that we will NEVER forget and we all gave our bucket lists a massive TICK!

We arrived in Canberra at the Capital Country Holiday Park and the Caravanning with Kids team hit the jumping pillow and mini golf for some well earned FUN after the drive.  A spacious holiday park with some very special guests. Kangaroos! We spotted over 12 as we walked around the park which has fantastic facilities for everyone, including catering for big school groups.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele enjoy more adventures in their New Age Caravans, this time in Canberra…a highlight is sure to be the Dawn Service on Anzac Day at the War Memorial.

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

It was an early start for everyone as the crew, Macca, Angie and Adele from Caravanning with Kids met at Whats Up! Downunder headquarters to head off on the New Age Caravans Snowy River tour. Macca was introduced to his Gecko, Angie to her Oz Classic and Adele was already in love with her Big Red after taking it for a road test up to Deniliquin over Easter. We were all set and ready to go!

We left Melbourne and headed out on the first leg of our journey. East Gippsland is a gorgeous part of Victoria and the drive through Traralgon towards  Sale was cruisy and easy going. The New Age Caravans were all towing like dreams and we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Bairnsdale.

Driving into Buchan was a real experience, especially for the girls. Both are confident towers, although going around the bends was something new. Angie and Adele both commented on how the Oz Classic and the Big Red were very smooth. They are both over 22ft in length, however felt very light behind their cars. Phew! These vans were their homes for the next 9 days so they were very happy indeed.

We arrived at Buchan, which is an area renowned for its caves, limestone cliffs and the Snowy River. Buchan has a rich history and we all took great delight in diving into finding out what this little gem has to offer. Angie spoke to the owners at the Buchan General Store and Macca popped over to the Roadhouse before we all kicked back for a well earned drink at the famous Buchan Caves Hotel. Buchan is absolutely beautiful, the giant trees and leaves falling made for the perfect start to our New Age Caravans Adventure.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele go deep into the Buchan Caves, play some golf and enjoy what Buchan has to offer…after Buchan, they will head to Jindabyne…

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

Buchan surprised us with a thick layer of fog as we awoke on day 2 of our New Age Caravans Snowy River tour. It was a glorious site to behold and Macca, Angie and Adele from Caravanning with Kids rugged up as there was no way to tell if it would lift. The Whats Up! Downunder  crew headed into Buchan to explore the Buchan Caves. A cave system that none of the crew had been to before, so there were lots of excited grown ups on the way. Autumn is truly a spectacular time of the year around the Snowy Mountains, crisp mornings followed by sunshine. We were met by Parks Victoria and the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board  who gave us a unique insight into the land and the cave system.  We turned into a big bunch of kids as we headed down into the Royal Cave.

The caves are a major tourist attraction for Buchan and for East Gippsland. Daily tours are conducted in Royal Cave and Fairy Cave. Royal Cave features calcite-rimmed pools and in Fairy Cave features elaborate stalactites and stalagmites. Both caves are lit, have walkways and have a constant temperature of 17 °C making it a comfortable temperature all year round. There is access to short and long walks in the surrounding bushland and the nearby Snowy River National Park. Amenities include campsites and cabins, picnic ground, playground and an information centre.  Our tour blew our socks off! We all felt like we had been transported into a magical fantasy world. Fabulous for the kids and the big kids too.

With the sun shining bright we headed off to the Buchan Valley Golf Club where Macca and Adele had a side splitting round of golf. Both are novices (or not very good!) and they all belly laughed their way around the course. Dennis was there to help out and told them all about hole 14 with a grand prize of $1000 for a hole in one. The challenge was set and Macca, Adele and all the crew had a crack. No luck for any of them today, however, if Rusty had of been aiming in the right direction we think he might have come close.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele head from Buchan to Jindabyne…on a road that proved to have it’s highs and lows.

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

Macca, Angie and Adele from Caravanning with Kids  were bummed to be leaving Buchan, it was a spectacular back drop for the New Age Caravans Snowy River tour and a little town that we all agreed to come back to one day soon. All good things must come to an end, and we all hitched up our New Age Caravans and embarked on our journey to Jindabyne. Now, there is one road from Buchan to Jindabyne that is NOT recommended for caravans or trailers, so we steered clear of this one and headed towards Cann River and up through to Bombala for lunch.

The road from Bombala to Jindabyne was one of the BEST the convoy had seen! The drive winded through the Boco Rock Wind Farm. WOW, who doesn’t love the look of wind farms? This one has wind 67 turbines generate up to 113MW of renewable energy and you get so close you feel like you could touch them. A remarkable landscape that is well worth the trip. The roads are well maintained and the New Age Caravans Gecko, Oz Classic and Big Red all breezed along without a care in the world.

The What’s Up Downunder New Age Caravans convoy got into Jindabyne by late afternoon and we set up at the Jindabyne Holiday Park on the banks of Lake Jindabyne. We all knew we were in for a treat with another sensational backdrop. Nestled at the base of the Snowy Mountains, it was very clear that a few memorable days were on their way.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele head to Thredbo for some fun on the mountain and they each tick off a bucket list item…

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids

The New Age Caravans Snowy River adventure continued today with a massive day on the mountain. Which mountain? Macca, Angie and Adele from Caravanning with Kids  headed off to Thredbo Alpine Village to enjoy some of the off snow season fun.  Despite getting a layer of snow a few weeks prior, the village was chilly and rugged and the perfect haven for mountain bike enthusiastic from all over the world. Scotty was our guide for the day and he was quick to set us all up for our Mountain Biking experience. The rain was on it’s way so we all sped off. Macca in a helmet is always a funny sight and the girls were quick to start the helmet jokes before Macca took off and left them in his wake. Over the years, Thredbo has become a very popular mountain bike riding destination and we came across lots of avid riders who take this sport very seriously, along with many families who were enjoying time together in the fresh air. It was a pearler of a morning and the guys enjoyed every second. All agreed that there was a lot more to mountain biking then they anticipated and Angie and Adele discussed bringing their children here in the summer to give it a go.

A trip to Thredbo would not be complete without a ride on the Bobsled. This track was a huge 700m luge style track, the bobsled twists and turns its way down the mountain whilst you control the speed with a brake on your cart. We all got to have a go and giggled and screamed like school kids wizzing down and holding on for dear life. It’s great fun for all the family. To ride the bobsled on your own you must be 9 years of age or older and over 130cm’s tall. For the kids under 9 you double up with a responsible adult which is just as much fun.

Back to the Jindabyne Holiday Park for a little rest in the comfort of our New Age Caravans.

Stay tuned as Macca, Angie and Adele head back to Thredbo and hit the highest spot in Australia.

If you would like more information about the impressive New Age Caravans range, please head over to their website here – www.newagecaravans.com.au

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Written by
Adele Dyson from Caravanning with Kids