Free Activities for Caravanners

Holidaying can be an expensive exercise, even for those travelling Australia in a caravan, motorhome or tent. Here are 10 free activities you can do:

1. Watch the sunrise/sunset from a scenic spot Australia has some of the best places to watch a sunrise or sunset including: Cable Beach in Broome, Mindil Beach in Darwin, North Head in Sydney, and of course, Uluru! But a great sunrise or sunset can be seen from many places... so get inventive and head to a beach, lookout, hill, lighthouse, point, pier or any scenic spot and enjoy a sunrise or sunset.

2. Farmer's Markets Farmer's Markets offer a variety of products, can be found all over Australia, and are a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of the area you are staying and get to know some locals. If you happen to make any purchases, markets ensure your money stays with locals rather than going to the big corporations.

3. Stargazing Once you move away from big cities and light pollution, why not take in the awe and wonder of the night sky. You don't need a telescope or any sophisticated equipment but if you'd like to begin to identify what you are looking at, there are apps like Sky Map and SkyView to assist. Take the time to look for satellites or meteors.

4. Outdoor Concerts, Festivals, Events Many destinations have free outdoor concerts, festivals and events often put on by community groups or as part of grant programs. Check what's on with the local tourist information office or, if you are staying in a caravan park, they may have posters up.

5. Art Gallery Many art galleries are free to visit and a great activity to do if the weather is too hot, too cold, too windy, or raining. They often include local artist displays.

6. Bike Ride If you have your own bikes on board, this can be a frequent activity. If you don't many places hire bikes, check with the closest tourist information office. They will also be able to provide information on suitable trails to ride.

7. Picnic Pack some morning/afternoon tea or lunch and pick a place to relax and picnic.

8. Historical Sites Most areas will have their share of historical sites, you can usually find out all about them from the tourist information office. Immerse yourself in the history of the area you are staying.

9. Bird and/or wildlife watching Take a chair, pick a place, and sit quietly for 30 minutes (no talking or moving). You will be amazed at the variety of local birds and wildlife that you see.

10. Sketch Even if you have never done it before, take pencils and paper to a nearby spot and try to sketch it. Immerse yourself in the detail of the local landscape.

If you have kids on board, here are 10 free activities for children in addition to the above:

1. Fly a kite Whether its a DIY kite or one you already have, pick a day with suitable wind conditions, find an open area and fly away!

2. Game afternoon/night Great for rainy days, pick a game suitable for the youngest child and play away. If you have some cards there are numerous card games you can Google to play with young children. Sometimes caravan parks will have a selection of games you can borrow. Why not invite the neighbours and get to know them?

3. Scenic Walk Select a scenic walk that everyone in the family can manage. Maybe enlist the help of the local tourist information office or use the AllTrails app. Don't forget to slip, slop, slap and take water with you.

4. Local parks Many caravan parks and showgrounds will already have these facilities, otherwise your local tourist information office can help you find your nearest park or botanical garden. Vary it up between playground equipment, ponds, gardens, and sculptures.

5. Build a blanket fort Also a great activity for rainy days, get out all the sheets and blankets and build a fort. Torches are almost compulsory, but make sure you have plenty of batteries.

6. DIY crafts There are lots of DIY crafts on Google that don't require many ingredients. Think playdough, stick craft etc.

7. Water play Great for hot days, give your kids a waterproof tub, a small bucket and let them use rocks, sticks or other things they find in nature to build and flood.

8. Nature hunt Take your kids on a nature hunt. - If at the beach, you might be looking for shells or pippies - If in a park, you could look for insects and butterflies Target the nature hunt for the area where you are and make sure your kids know you are looking and identifying only, not touching or taking items from nature.

9. Make an Obstacle Course Use the items you have on hand to make a small obstacle course for your kids to traverse. Suggested items include pool noodles, sticks, balls, paper arrows, chalk, buckets, rope, plastic cups or bowls, etc. If you want, you can draw the obstacle course on a large sheet of paper to show what they have to do and which way to go. Include things like balancing, star jumps, hops etc, appropriate for the age of your children.

10. Scavenger hunt Pick a large area that is safe for your kids and hide things. Types of scavenger hunts include - Treasure hunt: Make a map of clues and directions to follow, or write a series of numbered notes that lead to the next clue. Each note must be put back for the next person once found. Make sure there is a good treasure at the end! - List of hidden items: hide a number of items (maybe with a theme) and give your kids a list of all the items they need to find. This is best done in a group without a winner. - List of items found in their environment: pick items you know can be found in your environment and give your kids a list of all the items they need to find. Its up to you whether you provide some incentive for the first one to find all the item. For example, items that may be found in nature include: a twig, a leaf etc - make sure your kids do not pick anything they can't put back at the end. For older children, you could have them take photos (with their phone) of all the items on your list. Remember if you kids are young, they may need either a small safe area or adult chaperones. You can put as much or as little energy as possible into this activity. To really ramp it up create cool themes and great rewards.