Campers begin 2019 at Ellenborough Reserve

The Petrovic family travelled from the Queensland town of Gatton to the riverside reserve to camp for just under a week over the summer holidays.

The free nature of the reserve and the ability to camp for up to 14 days sealed the deal.

Nicole Petrovic said they had a large family and camping at a paid site would cost $600-plus.

Ellenborough Reserve was the right location.

“They kids love it,” Mrs Petrovic said.

“It’s a good place – I used to camp here as a child over Christmas until I was about 12.”

The family set up a camper trailer with an annex and gazebo and spent time fishing and swimming as their camping group numbers swelled to 12 as more people joined the group.

Ellenborough Reserve is a popular camping spot for holidaymakers and those who have embraced a more flexible travelling lifestyle.

One couple, who did not want to be named, left Port Macquarie for life on the road in their motorhome six years ago and they haven’t looked back.

They stopped at Ellenborough Reserve while returning to the Hastings to be with family at Christmas.

Their set-up includes a motorhome complete with shower and toilet, while a purpose-built trailer carries their car, generator and kayak.

The pair make the most of free camping and showground sites, and inject money into communities along the way through purchases of food and fuel.

“For us personally, we were involved in business and bringing up the kids and this is the first time we are really free to do what we want,” the man said.

The duo has travelled about 170,000 kilometres to as far north as Port Douglas in Far North Queensland and south to Mount Gambier as well as many places in between.

They have been through a mouse plague and fires but say all their other experiences have been good ones.

Meeting people on their travels, and reuniting with them at future stops, is part of the appeal.

“You meet people again and again,” the woman said.

“You just meet and talk to other people about their travels and what they have seen – it is just lovely.”

They have no plans to stop their travelling lifestyle any time soon.

“The only thing that will stop us is bad health or when we get tired of it,” the man said.

Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory remain on their bucket list.

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