Make sure both your car and caravan have been serviced, including wheel bearings on the van. Use reputable companies and tell them your plans so they can check that you are thoroughly prepared and appropriately set-up for the trip. This includes tyres and thinking about where the weight should be. If you don’ t know about proper weight distribution, speak to someone who understands and will help you pack if necessary. One common idea is to place 60 per cent of the load forward of the axle, with 40 per cent rear of the axle. Remember, the better you are prepared, the more peace of mind you will have.

Some people like to have a day-by-day itinerary before they start, while others want to meander and see where the road takes them. Each of these personalities is fine, although they would think the other way is crazy! However, whichever way you do it, you need to be aware at least roughly where you are going. The road conditions, the weather, the season( as in school holidays, Easter break) will impact on where you stay and how you will get there. If you are going in school holidays, for example, you will probably need to book. If you are planning to bush camp all the way, do some research on

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If you ' re travelling with kids, schedule regular stops to let them run off some energy.