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Welcome to Free Range Camping e-news
By the time we publish this newsletter, there will be about 2 more weeks till Christmas, so unless you are fortunate enough to already be on the road, chances are you will be gearing up for the break and hopefully heading off camping somewhere.
As this will be our last newsletter for the year we have made it full of info for the upcoming break including;
- A Thank You to all our members and supporters
- A sneak peek at what’s to come in 2018
- Our Town in Focus – Bauple home of the Macadamia Nut
- Rest Areas vs Free Camps – Fact & Fiction
- Travellers Stories – Meet Trish & Dave Global Nomads
- IGA – Benefits for FRC Members
- Monthly Members Prize – A Carton of Tote Wines
- Recipes – Quick & Easy Creamy Mayonnaise for travellers
- New Products - Majestic TV, robust 12 volt TV/DVD solutions for your RV
- Plus - All the latest Campsites, Businesses, Classifieds and Events
As this is a fairly lengthy newsletter with tons of info, you can also view all the contents online using the link below:
VIEW NEWSLETTER ONLINE
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Thank You from all of us
We would like to start off with a huge THANK YOU to all our loyal members and followers. FRC would not be where we are today without all of you.
It has been a huge year for us, and not one that we had planned. It started with us getting airlifted out of major floods in March and leaving Honky, our home of 5 years stranded in rising flood waters. Fortunately he was salvaged but it meant staying put for 4 months whilst repairs were carried out. This was followed by a bout of illness for Michelle, which unfortunately meant we couldn’t venture out too far, restricting us to short intermittent trips. But this gave the kids the chance to experience real school life for the rest of the year as they transitioned from Homeschooling to a fantastic local school.
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Through it all, however, there were still many positives with the launch of the FRC Premium Member Club and we saw our Website transition to an APP.
The year has seen our numbers swell, now with over 60,000 free members using the site every day to access thousands of campsites, our online shop, classifieds and much more information. Our Facebook Page has grown to over 113,000 followers who apart from being subjected to Glen's unique sense of humour, are provided with daily snap shots of the latest Campsite Listings & RV Businesses that are offering our members great savings as they travel.
Our small team of three has now also grown with our team spread all around the country and helping us keep everything up to date. It is a massive task and we are very appreciative of all the work everyone does.
So to everyone who has followed our journey and supported us through 2017, we appreciate your support and wish you all a safe and very Happy Christmas and New Year, and look forward to bringing you more benefits next year.
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Journey Planner
We are often asked about a Journey Planner. And the good news is, we are currently in the throes of putting one together for next year. But, we don’t just want any old journey planner that will suggest a route for you. We want it to contain the things that you, our members want and need. Everyone expects different things from a Journey Planner. For some it is all about picking out the best routes and where to stay along those routes, others are more focused on vehicle performance and fuel consumption, others on budgets or keeping an accurate diary. So we would love your input.
If you have any ideas of what you would like to see included in our Journey Planner, how it should look or what features it must have, then please email us with your suggestions or ideas so that we can build the Best Journey Planner we possibly can. Once the planner is ready, it will be added to the list of benefits and made available to existing Premium Club Members at no cost.
Email your Journey Planner ideas to [email protected]
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Events Calendar
Another feature coming in 2018 will be a dedicated Events Calendar. With hundreds of camping related events around the country, ranging from festivals, Caravan & Camping shows to annual events, we need a place for members to access what’s on around the country and when. Whilst we currently include a short list of events in our newsletters and updates, we will soon have a dedicated page on the website that you can refer to on a regular basis, to help you better plan your travels to coincide with events that interest you.
If you know of any events we should include, please let us know at [email protected]
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150 More Sites
This week alone we have uploaded another 150 Sites to the directory. The sites are predominantly Free Camps around NSW & VIC, and we have many more to come. For all the latest sites, head on over to the directory and register to start searching.
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Kui Parks Survey
As you know, FRC are proud supporters of Kui Parks and offer a Free Kui Parks 6 Month Membership to check them out when you join us as a Premium Club Member. Now, in a bid to better understand what the traveller is looking for, Kui Parks are currently undertaking a survey to find out from you -
What is important to you as a traveller when it comes to selecting a Caravan Park?
This is your chance to have your say, and they are happy to reward you for doing so by offering over $500 worth of vouchers just to take part.
The survey closes on 15 December 2017 and all participants will go in the draw to win 1 of 15 Vouchers on offer. To take part follow the link below direct to the Survey.
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Bauple, QLD
Pronounced ‘boar-pull' by some, the locals assured me it is pronounced 'bop-all'. But the one thing we do know for sure about this charming little village is that it is the ancestral home of the Macadamia Nut, originally known as the Bauple Nut.
Located on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, at the foothills of Bauple Mountain lies the small village of Bauple, and although many may not have heard of it, it would be remiss of you not to stop in to experience all the village and surrounding localities have to offer. The local community is very welcoming and makes it easy for you to stay, by providing two free camps in close proximity to town.
For our full story on Bauple, Where to Stay and What to Do, click on the link below.
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Rest Areas -vs- Free Camps – Fact & Fiction
It has been a long ongoing argument! Can a Rest Area be used as a Camp Site or just for a quick rest? In putting together FRC we had to be sure, so after many hours of consultation with each of our state transport departments, and based on our own experiences, Keith Thompson, one of our FRC Ambassadors has written a three part series on his findings. Keith, is a full time traveller and knows firsthand how confusing it can be out there, so in this series of articles he attempts to clarify some of the ambiguity.
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"Trish & Dave - Global Nomads"
Every traveller has a story to tell about their lives on the road. This month Linda McCall catches up with Trish & Dave. Global Nomads originally from New Zealand, who spent 2 years travelling Europe and visiting over 20 countries in a motorhome before spending the last 5 years travelling around Australia in a Caravan. Find out how they do it and what advice they have for anyone thinking of doing the same.
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IGA – The benefits to our members.
With a host of new or recently renovated stores, fresh local produce specific to their region, price matching and member discounts, now is the time to check out IGA. With a handful of stores around QLD & NSW, we are currently adding more IGA Stores to the FRC Directory, with each one providing member benefits to our Premium Club Members. In this article we take a closer look at all the benefits you can expect from IGA as you travel the country.
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Quick & Easy Creamy Mayonnaise for travellers
This is one of our favourites. There is nothing worse than running out of mayo on the road, so we have learnt to make our own with a few staples that we always carry with us. Jade has become the ‘Mayonnaise Queen’ in our household, creating her own flavours with a creamy Garlic and Thyme mayonnaise. So easy, even a 10 year old can make it.
Jade has shared her recipe in this blog post along with a short 2 minute video showing you how she does it.
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Tote Wines – Made for Camping
Who doesn’t like a good whine by the campfire?…. My wife certainly does. Sorry, I meant wine.
Tote Wines have made it easier to enjoy your favourite drop while out camping. Now, instead of lugging around heavy glass bottles and taking the risk of broken glass, there is an alternative. Tote Wines have designed a handy 1.5 litre cask that is ideal for campers or carrying around in the Caravan. And the quality is outstanding, each cask is filled with premium quality Australian wine, straight from the Barossa Valley in SA.
This month, Tote Wines have offered one of our Premium Club Members the opportunity to win a carton of mixed wines to try. For the rest of our members, they are offering a generous 20% discount off any cask purchased.
To find out more on how to win, or to get your FRC discount, follow the link below.
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Majestic - TV for your RV
If you are looking for a new 12volt TV/DVD Combo for your Caravan or Motorhome you will want to make sure that it is not only energy efficient but also robust enough to handle the harsh treatment of being bounced up and down in the back of a caravan.
Majestic TV are a specially built 12 volt TV that are designed for the Marine and RV industries. We have had one in our motorhome since we built it 5 years ago and it has not missed a beat. So we are happy to have recently become distributors for Majestic. You can find out more about Majestic TV, including our special member prices, via the link below.
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Featured Campsite Listings
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List with Us
If you have a Caravan Park, Campground or Free Camp you wish to list with us, or wish to submit a House Sitting or Help Out Listing. Use the link below to find out how to Register and List in the FRC Directory.
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Featured FRC Business Partners
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List with Us
If you have an RV related Business you wish to list with us, use the link below to find out how to Register and List in the FRC Directory.
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Latest Classified Listings
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FRC Shop - Last Minute Christmas Gifts
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FRC Lifetime Membership
Become a LifeTime Premium Club Member with FRC. Until 31 December 2017 you can join us as a lifetime member by paying a once only fee, instead of our usual annual fee. Makes an ideal Christmas Gift for the avid Camper or Caravanner.
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Essential Shield Caravan Care Pack
Get rid of mould, mildew and bad smells in Caravans, Tents or Motorhomes and naturally repel insects. Premium Club Members save with 20% OFF
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BOGOUT
A unique harness system that turns your wheels into winches to pull you out of any bog situation. Current offer includes FREE rope and FREE postage, Save up to $179 Limited Stock
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Whats On Around The Place
Get ready for the end of year events around the country.
26 December 2017-1 January 2018 - Rolex Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, Hobart, TAS
27 December- 1 January - Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford QLD
28 December-1 January - Beyond the Valley, Lardner, VIC
27 December 2017-3 January 2018 - Taste Festival Hobart, Hobart, TAS
29-31 December Lost Paradise, Glenworth Valley, NSW
29 December-January 1 - Falls Music and Arts Festival, NSW, VIC, TAS and WA
If you have an event you would like to see mentioned in our newsletter please contact us and let us know about it. [email protected]
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