Tropical Cyclone Yasi North Queensland – Update for JUCY customers
Wednesday 2 February 08:00am AEST

JUCY wishes to advise that due to the threat posed by Tropical Cyclone Yasi the Cairns branch will be operating limited hours on Wednesday 2 February and Friday 4 February and will be closed on Thursday 3 February.

Tropical Cyclone Yasi is expected to reach Cairns late on Wednesday 2 February.

Customers collecting and returning vehicles
JUCY has made contact with most customers due to collect or return vehicles at the Cairns branch on 2, 3 and 4 February. Jucy is working with customers to make alternative arrangements. If you are a customer yet to be contacted please call Jucy as early as possible on 1800 150 850.

Customers with affected travel plans
Customers in, or intending on travelling to, North Queensland may be required to amend travel plans. Customers affected should contact JUCY as early as possible on 1800 150 850 to make alternative arrangements. JUCY will do all that is possible to accommodate customers booked to collect in or return to Cairns and now wishing to make alternative arrangements.

Recommended travel plans
Australia is a large continent and all other JUCY locations are experiencing great weather conditions. JUCY recommends travel from the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne branches.

Updates
JUCY will provide daily updates. Customers and agents with enquiries are kindly asked to call 1800 150 850 (free from Australia) or +64 9 374 4360 (all other countries).

Cheers
Lucy xx

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

G’day mate! If you’re heading down under you may be a bit confused by the local slang. So if you want to really understand what the locals are on about, make sure you read this blog post.

We’ve put together a list of terms that you might come across.  And despite what everyone thinks all Aussie’s don’t “toss a shrimp on a barbie” – because they actually call them prawns!

Firstly, here are some things you might notice about the ways Aussies talk:

Everything is abbreviated with by adding “ie” or “o” to the end of the word (even names). For example…

• Barbeque = barbie
• Swimming costume = cozzie
• Mosquito = mozzie
• Devastated = devo
• John = Jono

Aussies say “heaps”, heaps – basically what they mean is “a lot of” something or it can also mean “very”. For example…

• “I had heaps of fun last night”
• “It was heaps expensive”

Aussies put “hey?” at the end of every sentence

• She’s pretty hot, hey?
• Great surf today, hey?

 

Aside from these phrases here are some other words or sayings you might come across when you’re travelling down under:

Phrase	Translation
Ace!	Awesome, excellent
Arvo	Afternoon
Bev / Bevvie	Beverage / drink
Bloody oath!	Yes, so true
Bottlo	The bottle shop / liquor store
Budgie smuggler	Speedo
Chook	Chicken
Drongo	A stupid person
Fair dinkum	True, real, genuine e.g. “She was fair dinkum when she was telling us that story”
Footy	Rugby league or Australian Rules NOT soccer
Grog	Alcohol
Goon	Casket wine (A “goon bag” is the foil bag inside a box of wine, which can be taken out of the box)
Hard yacka	Hard work
Kark it	To die
Mate’s rates	When you have a friend that can get you something cheaper or at a discount
Middy	A mid-sized beer
Sambo	Sandwich
Schooner	A large sized glass of beer
Shithouse	Crap, bad e.g. “That band was shithouse”
Spew	Vomit
Tucker	Food

 

All these phrases aside – don’t forget that Aussies want to shorten every word they’re saying, so if you’re confused just ask them again, hey?

Love
Lucy xx

Introducing our new look JUCY Deals with every JUCY Rental.  We’re spreading our JUCY love and saving you thousands!

We have teamed up with some of our mates in the industry to bring you super sweet discounts so that you can get the most out of your hard earned cash – giving you the opportunity to do more when you are here.

All our JUCY Deals are listed on our website and everyone who hires a JUCY Ride in NZ or OZ is entitled to them, you just need to show your key tag!  Easy ay!?

These deals include 2-FOR-1 offers, buy one get one half price and 20% discounts all on major tourism attractions and activities throughout New Zealand and Australia.  When you collect your JUCY Ride you will get a super funky JUCY Deals pack showing all the deals you can get.  (It’s kind of like your bible to saving money & having a ball doing it!)

So check out our JUCY Deals on offer at  www.jucydeals.com (you would be silly not to) and start getting excited about planning all the JUCY activities you are going to enjoy, the thousands of dollars you will save, how much fun you will have & the memories you will take away for life!

Love
Lucy xx

P.S  We can’t leave without saying a massive JUCY thanks to all our mates who have come on board with our JUCY Deals concept – they look forward to seeing all you JUCY Lovers at their place! 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