When you’re working nine to five living for the weekend becomes the ultimate goal (unless you love your job like us JUCY peeps!).

Australia has some gorgeous weekend hot spots – from tranquil reefs and sparkling harbours, to leafy forests – yes, Australia’s just about got them all!  Hop in your Jucy Campa this weekend and check out some of Aussie’s finest places to chill.  Go on, you know you want to.
Byron Bay, NSW
Byron is the ultimate beach-side town for those looking for a little sun and sand. With scuba diving, whale watching and blue crushing beaches at your doorstep, you won’t want to leave once your weekend is over!

Great Barrier Reef, QLD
If you happen to be in Queensland take a drive north for an ultimate weekend getaway in the sun. For a lovely weekend away make sure you visit the gloriously warm city of Cairns and spend some time exploring the world’s largest reef system – the Great Barrier Reef! Home to colourful coral and gorgeous sea animals, the Great Barrier Reef is the place to scuba dive, snorkel and plunge in crystal clear waters with dolphins and turtles. It’s the weekend trip away every under-water world enthusiast dreams of.

Hunter Valley, NSW
If you’re a bit of a wino, Hunter Valley is the perfect weekend getaway. Tipped as Australia’s most glorious wine-producing region, Hunter Valley is the place to enjoy picturesque scenery with a fabulous glass of wine – and the best part is that it’s only a two hour drive from Sydney. Why not take a stroll amongst nature’s finest gardens or take a cellar tour for a day of wine tasting. Bliss!

Great Ocean Road, Victoria
For a scenic weekend getaway take a drive along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. See the amazing Twelve Apostles rock formation with your own eyes as you cruise along the long stretch of ocean. If you’re lucky you might also spot some native wildlife. And if you’re with that someone special you might also want to pack a picnic, park your campa by the side of the road and have a romantic twilight meal in one of the most picturesque spots in Australia.

Blue Mountains, NSW
For a weekend of breathtaking natural beauty and incredible landscapes, head to the Blue Mountains. Take a walk on the Three Sisters formation, hop on the famous railway rides for the ultimate scenic view or enjoy gushing local rains at Wentworth Falls. And don’t forget to take your camera!

Packed yet?  Your weekend just got a little more exciting!

Love
Lucy xx

Day 13 – JUCY Lucy Snorkels the Great Barrier Reef

The final activity on our JUCY East Coast adventure made an appearance on day 13, and the great news was that we had saved the best ‘til last!

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world and is quintessential to the completion of any holiday down under.  In fact I can’t think of a better way to finish our trip.

Looking at the reef from the top simply doesn’t do it justice!  Dive just below the surface and you will uncover a whole new and exciting world; a place where every living creature interacts and a rainbow of colours stretches as far as the eye can see.  The reef boasts a world of beauty that words simply cannot describe.  Spectacular, magnificent, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, stunning…nope, that doesn’t quite do it!

A day out here will let you get up close to the world’s largest reef system, where friendly locals like Wally the giant parrot fish and Nemo will pose just long enough to take a photo.  There really is no experience quite like it!

Sad to see it end, we cruised back to the shores of Cairns where we picked up our camper for the very last time and returned it to the friendly staff at the JUCY Cairns Depot.

It had been an adventure…one filled with amazing sights, great people, fantastic activities and memorable moments.  The freedom our JUCY Camper had given us really made it as unforgettable as it was and has me looking forward to future JUCY adventures in this Great Southern Land.

Hope you have enjoyed following our adventure & until my next roadtrip take care.  

Merry Christmas!

Love
Lucy xx

Day 12 – JUCY Lucy explores the Atherton Tablelands

A day of sightseeing lay ahead on Day 12 of our JUCY East Coast adventure, and instead of following the coast we decided to detour inland in order to reach our final destination of Cairns.

Stopping for a famous home-made pie in Cardwell was a must before taking the turn-off to Queensland’s number one attraction, Paronella Park.  Admission is hefty, so if you’re a JUCY traveler on a tight budget, just sneak a peak from the outside.

The scenic inland route took us through the glorious Atherton Tablelands where we uncovered a land of waterfalls, delicious homemade chocolates and cheeses, and potent liqueurs and wines.  There are so many great places to stop along the way and your JUCY Camper will give you the freedom to do so…unlike an organised tour bus.

After sampling delicious marshmallow and mulberry liqueurs at a distillery just outside Mareeba, we headed towards Kuranda.  Watch out for police on the bends of these roads.  We saw 3 picking drivers up for speeding!

After a rainforest hike to the spectacular Barron Falls, we reached the city of Cairns, which was by now a fairyland of colourful lights, glistening over the harbour’s surface. After checking in at the Cairns Holiday Park we headed straight to the Esplanade where we found crazy bargains at the famous night markets and a trendy array of restaurants, cafes and bars.

A moonlight walk along the lagoon’s edge was the perfect way to end the day before spending our last (hot) night in the JUCY Grande.

The Great Barrier Reef is calling my name tomorrow, so until then.

Love
Lucy xx

JUCY Lucy Cruises the Whitsundays

Day 1

74 Islands, 25 people, 3 days and 1 boat = the Whitsunday adventure of a lifetime!   

On day 9 of our JUCY East Coast adventure we said goodbye to our campa and boarded the Pride of Airlie, ready to embark on a Whitsundays Koala’s Reef Trip.  Airlie and the Whitsundays are notoriously known for their parties and wild nightlight, making this the ultimate social destination for JUCY travelers.

The first day of cruising exposed us to the vastness of these islands, with spectacular turquoise waters and incredibly jagged rocks creating a postcard-perfect scene.  We soon arrived at South Molle Island (also known as Koala Adventures Island) where we found a tropical resort with a huge pool, fabulous spa and incredible ocean and island views. A hike up to Spinion Kop rewarded us with unsurpassed views of the surrounding islands and an epic sunset.

After a scrumptious dinner, a few drinking games made their way onto the menu. Sculling jugs of beer broke the ice and 2-for-1 drinks between 8:30 and 9pm kept a Jucy night rolling!

Day 2

The sun rising over turquoise waters was magical to wake up to for day 2 on the Whitsundays, and the smell of bacon and eggs perked us up even more before heading out on the water again

First stop was Border Island, where we donned stinger suits and prepared to be dazzled by the reef.  While I’ve been snorkeling before, nothing can compare to this…so far anyway.  Coral of every colour, size and shape lay before my eyes, with fascinating green and purple clam tempting me to dive down for a closer look.  Tropical fish surrounded us, glimmering in the sun and shying away at the first sight of human contact.  I didn’t want it to end, but we soon hauled ourselves up into the boat where we enjoyed a tasty summer lunch.

The famous Whitehaven Beach was beckoning us next and here we saw our first turtles, cheekily popping their heads up out of the water to check out the action. The hike up to the lookout was a hot one, but once we reached the top all thoughts of the temperature diminished and were replaced with awe and wonder at the beauty and spectacle of Whitsunday Island.  The scene was everything everyone imagined it would be…just like the postcards.  It was even more amazing to swim in, with the waters crystal clear and the sand the purest white. Reef sharks were lurking in the shallows, but this didn’t seem to deter anyone from enjoying these pristine waters.

Exhausted and sun-drenched it was time to return to the luxuries of the island, where a relaxing dip in the spa was the perfect way to celebrate the sun going down.

A delicious dinner awaited followed by more free jugs of beer and a $1 pool comp. “Happy half-hour” saw everyone stocking up on drinks, making getting out on the dance floor an easy task.  Skinny dipping in the pool was off-limits so jumping in clothes and all it was!   There really is no better way to cool off!

Day 3

A yummy breakfast greeted us again on Day 3 of our Whitsunday adventure.  Our destination today was Hayman Island; a top-rated snorkeling destination.  Just like the previous day, the reef here was incredible with schools of colourful fish inquisitively exploring the castles of coral that once again took our breath away.  The coral practically glowed and the visibility was the clearest I’ve seen.  Dragging ourselves up the ladder we were once again greeted with another fresh and delicious lunch. With satisfied appetites it was time to return to reality, AKA, the mainland!

After saying goodbye to new-found friends, the Koala crew and without a doubt the world’s most pristine set of islands, it was time to once again get acquainted with our JUCY campervan rental.  After spending a few minutes trying to spot ours in another sea of green and purple campers, we cranked up the AC and left the gorgeous Airlie Beach; destination, Townsville.

A stop at the “Big Mango” in Bowen was a must…as was picking up some of the delicious home-made mango sorbet.

The 100 kilometres between Bowen and Ayr was a lot like the Marlborough stretch; barren, bare and practically uninhabited.  Be sure to stop in at one of the free Driver Reviver’s for a wake-up coffee and charge up those i-pods.

We reached Townsville just as the sun was coming down, with Castle Hill offering a beautiful silhouette view.  We headed straight to Adventurer’s Resort where we paid just $5 to camp our JUCY camper for the night…a real bargain for budget travelers!  While in town be sure to check out the Seaview Tavern; home to the best steaks in North Queensland and an ideal place to “eat, drink and groove”!

Next stop…Cairns!

Love
Lucy xx

Day 8 – JUCY Lucy Lucy Explores Airlie Beach

The allures of the beautiful Airlie Beach dragged me out of bed as the sun rose on Day 8 of our JUCY East Coast adventure.

A drive down to Shute Harbour rewarded us with spectacular views of the turquoise waters and magnificent mountainous islands.  JUCY Campervans were dominating the roads and a sea of green and purple flooded the marina car park.

We squeezed in a bit of retail therapy at some of the local shopping centres before heading towards Curtis Falls.  There’s about 2km of dirt road leading to these falls, so determined, I parked the JUCY Grande, hiked the track and found a stunning oasis of green pools and thundering falls.  The swimming was amazing, with the cool waters a welcome relief from the Queensland heat.

Airlie Beach is full of fantastic places to explore that a tour bus would never take you to.  Perhaps this is why so many tourists had chosen to explore it the JUCY way?

Above:  Kath and Kim from Denmark who thought our JUCY Ride was pretty cool & a photo of Airlie Beach

After meandering our way in our JUCY Campa down to Conway Beach we picked up some of the freshest lychees you could taste.  For $5 a kilo, we scored a bargain.

We returned to Airlie just in time to catch the sun’s reflection over the gorgeous waters, and wandered along the shorelines, being extra careful not to encounter any box jellyfish.

A relaxing dip in the Lagoon provided enough pick-me-up for another night on the town, while also working up an epic appetite.

KC’s puts on a mean steak for $10.50, while Oska’s has a great 2-for-1 deal on Tuesday nights.  Boasting live music until 3am, KC’s entertained us with the live vocals of an amazing 16-year old local talent who captured the audience and kept them hanging around til late.

3 days of Whitsunday cruising lay ahead, so a good night sleep in the JUCY Grande was in need.

So until my next update……

Love
Lucy xx

Day 7 – JUCY Lucy Parties it up in Airlie Beach

An awesome view greeted us from the windows of the JUCY Grande on day 7 of our JUCY East Coast adventure.  Coconut palms enclosed the glorious Emu Park beach, with the Keppel Islands not too far off on the horizon.

We soon discovered we weren’t the only JUCY travelers to take advantage of this top spot.  A group of 4 young European backpackers (all male, much to my delight) had squished themselves into a JUCY Choppa right next to us.  Describing the sleeping arrangements as “cuddly” they were having a fantastic time taking advantage of freedom camping in Australia.

Leaving Emu Park via Yepoon, we soon hit the Marlborough stretch; notorious for being Queensland’s most boring stretch of road. It lived up to its name, with no towns, shops or petrol stations seen for miles.  Make sure your travel buddy stays awake on this stretch; fatigue is common.  Charging up your i-pod is also a good idea, as very little radio reception can be found here.

We hit Airlie Beach just as the soon as the sun was going down and discovered that while the sun may go to sleep, this town never does.  After settling in at the new and JUCYlicious Nomads Airlie Beach, it was time to check out the famous Airlie nightlife.  For a Monday night, this place goes off! $3 basic spirits and limbo at Beaches and live entertainment and $7 beer jugs at Paddy’s Shenanigans kept backpackers on a high until the early hours of the morning, with Nomads just a short walk from the action making crawling into bed an easy task.

Nomads Airlie Beach is situated right in the centre of all the action, Nomads Airlie Beach is without a doubt the place to stay while in this party town.  Positioned just between Beaches, Paddy’s Shenanigans and the newly opened Down Under Bar, Nomads offers hostel accommodation and a huge grassy area to park your JUCY Campervan.

Clean bathroom facilities make getting ready to party a breeze, with a camp kitchen, laundry and pool and spa adding that little extra bit of luxury to your camping adventure. Wi-Fi hotspots can be found all throughout the grounds, while a breezy chillout area with couches and swing chairs also offering a heap of computers, ideal for catching up with loved ones.

Just a 5 minute walk to the beautiful new Lagoon, and close to all the shops and pubs, Nomads Airlie Beach is the place to be!

Until tomorrow,

Love
Lucy xx

Day 6 – Lucy Learns to Surf then hits Emu Park

The unpredictable Queensland weather had been on its best behavior until the early hours of today, when the rain began to fall.

Never one to let it rain on my parade, I set out to conquer the waves of Agnes Water, heading out for a surfing lesson.   After a run through on the sand we were ready to brave the waves. Everyone picked it up really quickly, and soon enough I was standing up…well once anyway. A great activity for travelers looking for a day of fun in the sun.

Worn out from using muscles I never knew I had, the road towards Emu Park lay ahead.  Flooded roads forced us to retrace our tire tracks from the previous day, adding 2 extra hours to the drive.  This is something you really need to take into account when driving in Australia as the weather here is incredibly unpredictable.

The road between Gin Gin and Rockhampton is no fun stretch to tackle.  There is basically nothing by the side of the road, including petrol stations, so make sure you fuel up in Gin Gin.  Several parts along the way are signed as driver fatigue areas so if you’re keen for some fun there are some trivia questions on the road signs to keep those eyes from closing.  If those don’t work, the endless potholes are sure to jolt you back into the land of the living.  Careful to avoid these though, because they will jolt your JUCY Camper around like there’s no tomorrow!

A free “Driver Reviver” in Calliope was a welcome sight and perfect for a free wake-up coffee and biccie.

Our JUCY adventure continued into the night, and when we arrived in the coastal town of Emu Park it was almost entirely asleep. We set up camp right on the beachfront and looked forward to the morning sunrise over the beach.

Until tomorrow,

Love
Lucy xx

Day 5 – JUCY Lucy travels back in time to 1770

Another free breakfast at Colonial YHA in Hervey Bay provided a great start to day 5 of our JUCY adventure, with juice and a wide selection of cereals on the menu.  Food tastes 10 times better when it’s free!

With our hunger satisfied, we started out on the road towards 1770, opting to bypass Maryborough and take the scenic route through Torbanlea.  On this road you’ll be lucky to pass 3 cars, but don’t let the open roads fool you…there are several dangerous bends, so make sure you’ve had your coffee fix and are alert.

We stopped in the friendly town of Childers to sample the gourmet Mammino Ice-cream; a must for travellers with a sweet tooth.  From here, the views from the windows of the JUCY Grande were dominated by endless fields of sugar cane, and the allures of Bundaberg Rum were far too tempting to pass up.  Tourists are able to take a free tour of the Bundaberg Rum and Brewed Drinks factories, so we were happy to take advantage of the free samples on offer.  Don’t enjoy too many though; drinking and driving is not cool!

The open roads continued all the way to the sleepy town of 1770; a place where everything revolves around the beach.  We took a dip in the crashing waves of Agnes Water Beach before checking in at Southern Cross Backpackers; a fantastic hostel with great campervan sites, located just outside of Agnes Water.  A great bar and resort pool kept most of the backpackers hanging around, but we decided to venture out to the Agnes Tavern, where we enjoyed a buffet dinner, live music, a few games of pool and a great atmosphere. Meals were a little pricey, so only visit this one if you’re looking to splurge for a night!

Tomorrow a surfing lesson awaits, so for now I shall retire to my JUCY Rentals Penthouse and call it a night!

Love
Lucy xx

Pictured Above:  Me infront of the Bundaberg Rum Barrel, Beach at 1770, Agnes Water Beach – swim between the flags, some other JUCY Lovers we met who were also enjoying their JUCY Rides – Freddy & Mandy from Germany and Sigrun, Luise and Helene from Norway.

Day 3 & 4 – JUCY Lucy’s Fraser Island Safari

Ask any Australian (or tourist for that matter) and they will tell you that no trip to Australia is complete without visiting the world-heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Travelling on a budget can make this difficult but by taking a Unique Fraser Safari, you will be able to experience it first hand. Discover Fraser on a tag-along tour and you will be able to drive yourself (only travelers above 21) but still see all the amazing sights the largest sand island on the world has to offer.

Our Jucy adventure to Fraser exposed us to the windswept beaches of the west coast, where beach 4wding was taken to a whole new level.  Here, the beaches have road signs, the tar is replaced with sand and overtaking in the waves is a must. Amazing destinations like Eli Creek, the Maheno Shipwreck, The Pinnacles and Indian’s Head took everyone’s breath away, before a refreshing dip in the Champagne Pools….disappointingly not filled with champagne!

No trip to Fraser would be complete without an Aussie BBQ and a campfire under the stars. After a couple (or a few dozen) drinks, we began to discover that you can tell foreign backpackers practically anything about Australian animals and they will believe you. Tales of killer snakes, spiders and dingoes probably weren’t such a good idea before the moonlight trek to the beach, but everyone braved it and the stars put on a brilliant show to return the favour.

A night in a tent really made us appreciate the comfort the JUCY Grande campervan provides, but a combination of sun and alcohol made passing out on the hard ground a breeze, with the smell of bacon, eggs and pancakes dragging us out of bed in the early morning.

Day 2 continued to take our breath away with the tea tree infused waters of Lake Wabby and the white-sanded shores of Lake McKenzie. The waters of Lake McKenzie were unlike any I have ever seen, progressing from the clearest of clear aqua and turquoise to a deep sea blue that felt just as amazing on my sunburnt skin as it looked.

However, as the old saying goes ‘all good things must come to an end”, and after a bumpy 4WD ride back towards the east coast of the island, we were once again faced with he reality of civilization and made our way back to the mainland.

A night of $10 beer jugs and great pepperoni pizza back at the YHA bar was once again filled with great company and was the perfect ending to the island experience of a lifetime.

I will leave you with my Top 7 Tips for a Unique Fraser Experience:

1.       No matter how tempting or how drunk you are, DO NOT swim in the oceans. If sharks, manta-rays, blue bottles and deadly rips aren’t enough to deter you, well you’re just plain nuts.

2.       If you aren’t used to roughing it, bring a pillow. A piece of foam and rolled-up towel aren’t going to cut it if you aren’t a regular camper.

3.       BYO alcohol. Everyone on these trips drinks…everyone!

4.       On this note, restrict how much you bring and how much you drink. Dangerous things always seem so much more appealing with alcohol in your system.

5.       Bring plenty of sunscreen! Fraser gets incredibly hot and the sun is extremely harsh over here. Remember, it’s not cool to come back as a tomato!

6.       Bring your camera! The scenery here is unlike anywhere else in the word.

7.       DON’T SWIM IN THE OCEAN! Yes, this one has been mentioned but it’s the most important one, so pay attention.

Until tomorrow,

Love
Lucy xx

Day 2 – Jucy Lucy Hits Hervey Bay

A big night out at KB’s Noosa Nomads took its toll on day 2, but was nothing a good strong cup of coffee couldn’t fix.

A hike along the coastal track of Noosa National Park was great for dolphin spotting and also wore off the remaining traces of alcohol, before getting behind the wheel of the JUCY Grande to head towards Hervey Bay. This road exposes you to some great countryside but is dotted with sneaky cops, hiding on obscure bends of the road with those pesky speed cameras. Take note of the 90KM/hour speed limit on the road towards Gympie, as speeding fines don’t work into any traveller’s budget.

The JUCY Grande reached the glorious turquoise waters of Hervey Bay in the late hours of the afternoon, where we headed to Colonial Village YHA to find a great set-up ideal for backpackers, campers and campervan travellers. After relaxing by the resort pool and spa, a night of Wii Bowling tournaments began (a daily occurrence) in the well-stocked bar area that also featured a pool table and comfy lounges that were perfect for chillaxing and meeting like-minded travellers.

A Fraser Island Safari scheduled for the following day forced an early night and the JUCY Penthouse provided the perfect solution for a comfortable and cozy night sleep.

Until my tales of more adventures tomorrow.

Love
Lucy xx