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

It’s going to be a JUCY kind of journey.  All set with a JUCY Campa, JUCY Tee shirts, a sense of adventure and a load of fun stuff to do we are embarking on a very JUCY Roadtrip  from Brisbane to Cairns.  And we are going to take you along for the ride.  Stay tuned for daily updates, photos and fun as we make the journey up the coast.  

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Day 1 - Jucy Lucy Hits Australia Zoo and KB’s

Once upon a day in December our JUCY adventure began up the beautiful East Coast of Queensland. 

The JUCY Grande paraded through the streets of Brisbane before cruising its way to Australia Zoo; the quintessential Australian wildlife experience!  After a day of cuddly koalas, enormous elephants, slithering snakes and curious crocs we headed to Noosa Nomads: home to the world famous KB’s Bar.

KB’s came to life when the sun went down and a JUCY time was had by all, with $3 feeds, free giveaways and an endless flow of $15 Camel Fighter Jugs; a delicious concoction of lychee, blackcurrent, vodka and energy drink.

A moonlight swim in the resort pool was tempting, but a comfortable bed won out and rested a weary traveler for further JUCY adventures ahead.

Until Tomorrow.

Love
Lucy xx

There’s nothing like a visit to the pub to quench your thirst. That’s what being an Aussie is all about, mate!

And when you’re backpacking down under, you’d be crazy to miss out on a few beers, laughs and good company with the Aussie larrikins. So if you’re on a JUCY Adventure around Australia make sure to stop by these 10 backpacker bars.

1.  World Bar (Sydney)
Best known for its teapot cocktails, World Bar is a four-storey Victorian terrace, smack bang in the middle of Bayswater Road, Kings Cross. While you can grab a quiet beer in the afternoon, the real fun starts later at night! If you stick around long enough you’ll find yourself cavorting with a mix of backpackers and Sydneysiders in the pulsing night club. Worldy.

2.  Side Bar (Sydney)
Right underneath a backpacker hostel and a minute’s walk from Sydney’s Central Station is the infamously cool – Side Bar. Known as the hub for Sydney’s backpacker nightlife, Side Bar is the place for chill-outs, slamming sessions, beer and laughs any day of the week. You know you wanna slide to Side Bar.

3.  Empire Hotel (Sydney)
For a night out on the town, including a selection of social misfits and change from a fiver for a glass of beer or wine, step inside the Empire Hotel. Also located in Kings Cross, with three levels to choose from – Ground Bar, Middle Bar and Plantation, you will be guaranteed a night of quenching beers and pumping DJ’s, your choice!

 4.  Woolshed (Cairns)
Cairns’ ultimate backpacker bar, the Woolshed sports cheap food and drinks and drinks all throughout the night. Clear the tables and set the stage for a dance floor, Coyote Ugly style, for a night of backpacker fun until the early hours. Whoot!

 5.  Three Wise Monkeys (Sydney)
Triple up on three floors with live bands, cold beer and head-nodding chill-out sessions with your mates. For a unique atmosphere and a choice of three different bars and levels, you’ll be sure to make a monkey of yourself at a night out here. Cheeky!

 6.  Isobar (Hobart)
Isobar is a hot spot for all you night owls looking for a place to kick up your heels and party, backpacker style. Eat and drink up with the hip and cool of Hobart, or climb the stairs to the club above for a groove to all you favourite dance hits. It’s also known for its flirty locals – so if you’re on your own you’re sure to find a friend at Isobar.

7.  The Joint Bar (Melbourne)
Open from 11am ‘till 5am every day, Joint Bar is the ideal place for trivia nights, killer pool sessions, blaring karaoke moments and happy hours. Your ultimate Melbourne backpacker experience is booked, at the Joint Bar!8.

8.  Little Creatures (Perth)
For a night of casual dining and cold beer that has won numerous international awards, Little Creatures is a must see for anyone and everyone who manages to make it to the west coast! Situated on the water front, relax on the outdoor decking with a home-brewed Pilsner and soak up the sunshine.

 9.  Tin Billy’s Bar (Brisbane)
For a great night in the heart of Brisbane head to Tin Billys. With live bands, disc mixing DJs, music videos on the big screen and sports events every night, you cannot leave Brissie without a local Tin-feeling experience.

10.  The Gaff (Sydney)
A backpacker’s dream bar hot spot, situated on Sydney’s very own Oxford Street is The Gaff. With scrumptious eats, a concaved dance floor for the party devils and the famous Power Hours (where backpackers can drink for free!), it’s a real winner.

So what are you fun-loving backpackers waiting for!? Make the most of your next journey by booking your JUCY rental (or JUCY Ride as we like to call it) and start mapping out your bar itinerary! But remember, drinking and driving isn’t cool, so if you’re planning a big night out – make sure you park your JUCY ride in a safe spot.

Love
Lucy xx

If you’re touring around Australia you’d be crazy not to give surfing a go. Whether you’re an amateur or an expert there are hundreds of gorgeous beaches around the country to perfect your skills. Here are my picks for the top 10 surf spots across Australia…

1. Surfers Paradise – Gold Coast, QLD
It’s all in the name! Surfers Paradise is the ultimate surfing destination for any beach bum. Whether you’re ready to tackle the big waves or more attracted to the glamorous fashion boutiques and exciting nighlife, Surfers Paradise is the PERFECT place to park your JUCY Campa for a day of sun and night of fun!

2. Bondi Beach – Sydney, NSW
The most famous beach down under, Bondi boasts a beautiful beach with amazing waves, tourists galore and a string of cool boutiques, cafes and bars. A regular for stars from all over the world (including Paris Hilton) – you never know who you might run into! And who knows – you and your JUCY Campa might just appear in an episode of Bondi Rescue!

3. Bells Beach – VIC
Bells beach is one of Australia’s most famous surfing beaches and plays host every Easter to the Rip Curl Pro, one of the 13 World Championship Surfing Tours. Located near Torquay on the southern coast of Victoria, Bells Beach is ideal for more experienced surfer’s but it’s also a must for all tourists because of its beautiful cliff views – especially if you’ve just picked up your JUCY Campa from St Kilda.

4. Tamarama – Sydney, NSW
Tamarama beach is famous for two things: the amazing surf and the amazing view (and by view I mean the banging bodies on the beach – although the scenery is quite nice too). Tamarama is known for the abundance of models that choose to relax on its strip of sand.

5. Byron Bay – NSW
If you’re a beginner surfer, Byron is the perfect place to park your JUCY Campa and pick up some skills from the locals. If you’re a pro on the long board, Wategos beach is the place to be. Your JUCY Campa is sure to stand out amongst the million dollar properties!

6. Seven Mile Beach – Gerroa, NSW
Seven Mile Beach is the best place to learn to surf in NSW and a great place to park your JUCY Campa for a day in the sun. Even if you’re not in the mood for surfing, you can always kick back on your beach towel and be entertained by the learners from the local surf school.

7. Coolangatta – Gold Coast, QLD
Coolangatta is the Aboriginal term for ‘beautiful place’ so it’s a must see in your JUCY Campa. This sunny spot, just a half hour drive from Surfers Paradise, catches around 300 days of sunshine every year so you’re guaranteed to drive away with an amazing tan and loads of sunny memories!

8. Noosa – QLD
Noosa boasts beaches much like its rivals along the Gold Coast, except they are not hidden by high-rise hotels along the foreshore! So if you’re looking for a quieter surf spot park your JUCY Campa near the beach without worrying about your view being disrupted.

9. Margaret River – WA
Don’t be confused by the name, Margaret River is well known for its spectacular surfing beaches, but also its great food and wine! Surfers are spoiled for choice with surf breaks spread over 130km of coastline. So if you’re on a whirlwind tour of OZ in your JUCY Campa why not visit them all?

10. Manly – NSW
Just north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge you can park your JUCY Campa at Manly Beach and relax after a day in the surf on the Spit Walk. Take in the harbourside views and be swept away by luxurious homes. Manly is a great place in Sydney for exciting outdoor activities like parasailing and scuba diving. It’s also home to Oceanworld Aquarium where you can try your luck on a shark dive!

So what are you waiting for!?  Book your rental (or JUCY Ride as we like to call it) and start planning your surfin’ adventure around Australia!

Love
Lucy xx

Christchurch.  The international gateway to the South Island of New Zealand and for many the starting point for a trip of a lifetime. 

On arrival at Christchurch airport don’t forget to pick up your Christchurch car hire!  Our amazing team will collect you in our JUCY Shuttle (is big, green and purple – you wont miss it) and get you on your way in your JUCY Ride of choice to explore Christchurch and the rest of country!

Before you get too excited about the rest of your trip, don’t forget to spend some quality time in Christchurch as well.  Known as the garden city of New Zealand, Christchurch boasts vibrant nightlife, award-winning restaurants and fun activities for the whole family.  The Christchurch & Canterbury website is a great place to go to get ideas when planning your time in Christchurch.

Once your time in Christchurch is done and you are filled to the brim with all good things it has to offer prepare to embark on a trip of a lifetime.  From Christchurch the opportunities are endless so prepare to experience culture, discover your inner need for adrenaline, gasp over glaciers, marvel as the scenery changes from flat plains to snow-capped mountains, enjoy the food & wine – not to mention a cold beverage at one of the local pubs at the end of the day! 

Most of all enjoy every minute – both Christchurch as a city and the adventure that awaits you beyond the garden city.  The South Island is amazing – so embrace it, try new things & have a JUCY Roadtrip you will never forget!

Love
Lucy xx

P.S  Don’t forget your camera – click, click, click!

On the 3rd of October the first of the newest addition to the Jucy Family, the Jucy Condo, was collected from our Auckland City branch and hit the road on a 49 day roadtrip! Mr and Mrs Rohrschneider from Germany were very excited to be the first people to collect the new campa and and were even more happy that it was Green!

The Jucy Condo is one of our brand new 2010 campers featuring everything from a 15″ flat screen TV, DVD Player, cooker, fridge and kitchen sink. All that and it sleeps 4 people!  Check it out, its pretty cool!

Love
Lucy xx

Just because you are travelling in a campervan, backpacking around and on a budget doesn’t mean that you can enjoy good food that is healthy (well most of it) and easy to make!

We know that it is sometimes hard of things to cook even when you are at home, let alone about to set off in a campervan so we asked our Jucy Rentals fan’s and travellers to share with us meals which they love and found easy to make on the road.   So here are their suggestions.  Some yummy sounding meals that are quick & easy for you to make in a campa.   (Between you and me some of these are so great I think I will start to make them at home as well!)

• Noodles, fresh veg & sweet chilli sauce.. mmmmm
• Take a wok & do lots of stir fries…eggs too, in the wok with soy sauce
• In the heat you soon find fresh doesn’t last long so boil some pasta, drain & then add sauce from a jar or tomatoes and chopped up hotdog sausages, all in one pan easy peasy!
• 2 minute noodles all the way! If you stop off in Taupo you can go to the prawn farm and go fishing & add them into the noodles!! Chili con carne
• Gnocchi which cooks in 3 mins, add a tin of mexican beans, tin of tuna and some sweet chilli sauce! Amazing food, and takes about 5 mins to cook!
• Fresh veggies sauteed (use celery instead of onion for less smell and easy dicing!), tin of flavoured diced tomatoes, and white beans. Eat with fresh bread rather than pasta and you have a one pot meal that is great!
• Last time we had a Jucy we made full on Mini Thai Chicken Burgers! recipe here : http://bit.ly/dwWjeI
• Macaroni Cheese! Cheap, Cheesy and nice!
• Sausage sizzle! Sausages fried on white bread with tomato sauce, YUMMY!
• Spagetti Bolognaise
• Pesto Pasta Salad. Get some pene pasta, add in some diced tomatos, diced salami and stir round some pesto. Perfect meal for those warm nights & you can eat hot or cold.
• Couscous with chorizo, spinach, feta and spring onions and corriander. only takes 2 minutes and tastes lovel
•  Burritos! Cook chicken or mince in a pan and once done put into a flour tortilla and add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and any other of your favorite vegies!
• I went too Bathurst last October and on the way up and back we had a portable oven. It uses cigarette lighter & man it made the trip easier. Just put food in portable oven and when your food is done just simply pull over too eat its small but works well & fits 2 Aussie pies comfortably

By now I bet your mouth is watering and hopefully you are writting these ideas down so that you can re-make these meals and enjoy them each night with a different backdrop of scenery as you travel around!

Love
Lucy xx