Moving Interstate?
In December 2024 Amber, her husband, 4 children and their dog drove from the Gold Coast to Perth! Here is a handy guide if you are considering doing the same! There is also some great information if you are flying!
Flying?
Virgin Airlines - Be sure to sign up for your Velocity rewards program. Earn points towards future flight discounts.
When traveling with a pet, consider booking through Aeropets. They provide a suitable crate based on your pet's weight and size, and can arrange for your pet to travel in the cargo hold on the same flight as you.
Need a container?
Boxmate is an incredible solution for your next move! They deliver durable self-pack containers in a range of sizes right to your door. Once you've packed everything up, they'll collect the container and transport it to your new home. We found this to be the easiest way to move - you can pack strategically with essentials up front and less urgent items towards the back. And for added security, we used a coded padlock so our friends in Perth could unpack the container for us. It only took a week for the container to arrive in Perth after the driver collected it. Boxmate covers all of Australia and their team is truly awesome. Highly recommend checking them out for a stress-free moving experience!
P&S Logistics offers great prices and hassle-free transport for your interstate moves. Their door-to-door vehicle collection and delivery services ensure your car arrives safely at your new home.
Need Vehicle transport?
The Gold Coast to Perth
Amber's Journey
Embark on the scenic adventure of a lifetime, whether you are driving from Cairns to Perth, Brisbane to Sydney, Hervey Bay to Melbourne or a whole different route.
I hope my reflections, recommendations, and helpful hints prove useful for your amazing adventure!
BIG4 Black Head NSW
Wow, what an incredible first stop! This place was simply perfect - super quiet, with a huge beach, a supermarket, pharmacy, and charity shop. It was exactly what we needed after spending 4 intense days packing up our entire house and loading the container. We were craving a breather, and this was it. The best part? We had the massive indoor and outdoor pools all to ourselves! Plus, there was a play park, bouncy pillow, indoor play area, free BBQs, and a card operated laundromat ($6). It is dog friendly, even our pup made a friend! It is budget friendly so it is in no way A* holidaying but the ideal way to kick off our adventure.
Lakeside Inn NSW
The apartment we chose was in a fantastic location - it was a pet-friendly, 3-bedroom unit that was gorgeous, modern, and spacious. Just a 5-minute drive away was a shopping center where we stocked up on snacks and groceries. Another 10 minutes and we were at the most breathtaking beach, with the lake on one side and the ocean on the other. It was a truly stunning spot to unwind by the water. The kids and our dog had a blast swimming in the crystal-clear, calm waters. We made the most of our time at the beach before heading inland for the next leg of our trip!
BIG4 Wagga Wagga NSW
Embarking on our outback adventure, we knew exactly where we were headed. As we drove over a towering mountain, the landscape unfolded - tiny villages dotted the horizon, each sporting a solitary shop, fuel station, and post office. Expansive hay fields stretched out before us, with tractors and combine harvesters hard at work. Coming from a quaint country town back home, the familiar sights felt almost comforting, even triggering my hay fever. Arriving in Wagga Wagga, we were delighted to find the holiday park situated right next to a supermarket and fuel station, with an enticing selection of pies on offer. This journey was shaping up to be a true Aussie experience.
Air BnB Mildura VIC
We stopped for a quick overnight stay, knowing from our research that the small town wouldn't offer much. But it had the essentials we needed to recharge before continuing our journey - a chance to rest our legs and eyes off the road, and get a good night's sleep. We booked a cozy house through the Airbnb app, and felt like we'd stepped into the Australian outback, between the towns of Wagga Wagga and Mildura. While there wasn't a ton to see, the highlights were stunning - hand-painted silos, Aboriginal art around every corner, and breathtaking landscapes.
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BIG4 Port Hughes S.A
This was a blissful 2-night getaway that we all desperately needed - my husband and I, the kids, and even the dog. As we approached the coastal town of Port Hughes, we were immediately captivated by the striking resemblance to our beloved Cornwall back home in the UK. A welcoming "Little Cornwall" sign at the entrance set the tone, evoking a warm, nostalgic feeling within me.
Our cabin was situated across from a long, wooden walkway that led us straight to what felt like a private beach - soft, fluffy sand and calm, mesmerizing waves. The sunset was nothing short of breathtaking. We had the entire stretch of shoreline to ourselves, free to soak up the Aussie version of our Cornish holidays.
To top it off, we stumbled upon an authentic Cornish pasty shop, satisfying our cravings for a taste of home. This short but sweet retreat exceeded our wildest expectations, providing the rejuvenating break we didn't know we needed.
Air BnB Smoky Bay S.A
What a delightful 2-night stay we had! After a long 7-hour drive, we didn't want to spend the next day behind the wheel. Instead, we found ourselves in the charming town of Smoky Bay - population 300, max.
The beach there was a vision, with sand so blindingly white it was almost surreal. And the town's lone shop was a true one-stop wonder - part bottle shop, part hot food joint (burgers, pies, bacon sandwiches, hot chips), part grocery (albeit a small selection), and even a post office. The friendly shopkeepers there welcomed us with open arms, even gifting us a free bottle of wine. How could we say no?
Our time in Smoky Bay was absolute bliss - just us, the kids, and the dog, with no distractions from work or the outside world. It was the perfect chance to truly appreciate our little family. What a wonderfully relaxing, rejuvenating couple of days.
Border Village Roadhouse
Crikey, what an adventure we had in the heart of the Aussie outback! We rocked up to this remote spot, the Border Village Roadhouse, ready for a bit of a rest and refuel. The joint had everything a weary traveller could need - grub, grog, a place to crash, and even a sparkling pool to cool off in. But let me tell ya, the real excitement started when we spotted a wild dingo right outside, bold as brass, munching on some tucker he'd found. I nearly jumped out of my skin! You know how they say everything in Oz is out to get ya? Well, those stories were swirling around my head faster than a cyclone. But I put on my bravest face for the ankle biters, not wanting to spook 'em. It was a proper outback experience, complete with all the thrills and chills you'd expect in this rugged, untamed land. Definitely a tale for the grandkids someday
'used some Aussie slang in that write up, I felt the need to'
Air BnB Castletown W.A
Ahhh, there's nothing quite like the adventure of a long family road trip, even if it does leave you utterly exhausted by the end! After an epic 10-hour trek across the vast, empty expanse of the Nullarbor Plain, our crew were more than ready to take a breather at the next rest stop. Rolling in around 4pm, we hastily threw together a quick pasta dinner before collapsing into our beds for the earliest bedtime I've had since my preschool days! The original plan was to chill here for a couple nights, but the kiddos were bursting with excitement to reach the new house and get their bedrooms all set up. So after a whopping 54 hours of driving, with just 7 more to go, we'll be back on the road first thing tomorrow to complete the final leg of our epic cross-country move. I gotta give major props to the kids and pup - they've been total troopers handling such an insanely long drive. But those pristine beaches around Esperance were calling our names, so we definitely plan to return without the pup sometime soon for a few days of snorkeling in that clear turquoise water. Sadly, no doggos allowed on most of the beaches, but it'll be a blast to come back and explore 'em all!
A few Hints & Tips
We recommend setting up two GPS'. I would always drive the first half and my husband drove the other half. I would set my GPS up to the half way stop, husband set his up to the end location. You will not have any internet signal for hours! So it is tricky to try and get connected back up to the GPS.
We also recommend downloading a playlist to listen to. Again with 0 internet connection you do not want to be left going insane and singing without the backing music, myself and my husband could not hit the right notes even if we tried!
Take lots of snacks for the kids. The nights before we would make a big box of sandwiches, fruit and snacks. Lolly-pops for competitions of who's could last the longest! Just note to self- ditch all fruit before you cross borders., Look out for the quarantine signs for the fruit bins. Do not get caught like us- 'fruit smugglers.' I missed the signs because I was trying to overtake a truck for almost an hour. But the roads project mirages and it is so hard to see if anything is approaching from the other way! I was absolutely mortified at the border crossing when I had to admit to having 6 apples and 6 bananas on my possession. And they say fruit is good for you- not when you are slapped with a hefty fine for having them they aren't!
DOGS
Dog lead and an extendable lead- even the best behaved dogs should be kept on leads as you cross the country. An extendable lead is handy if your dog wants to swim in the see. We tracked down alot of enclosed dog parks so our boy could have a good run off the lead. Our favourite one was in Hay. It was epic! Always check your dogs paws for baites- especially on the Nullarbor. They can get stuck to their paws, they eat them and then they will die. Dramatic but true!
THINGS TO PACK
Dollars for washing machines- some accept card but some charge $6 in $1 coins
Laundry Tablets/Laundry Bag
Scissors and tin opener
Bush mans- mosquito Spray
Sun cream/Medical kit
Sunglasses/Prescription Glasses
Power banks and wires
Clothes/Swimmers/Floaties
Seat belt pillow cushions
Blankets for sleeping in the car
Baby wipes/A loo roll
Tooth brushes and tooth paste
Wash bag (every where we stopped had shampoo, soap, conditioner)
Reading books- some places you stay will not have internet connection
Ipads/Kindle/Tablet, with downloads from Netflix for when there is no internet
Inflatable pool for the bottom of showers, if your children won’t tolerate a shower