Since retiring I have started cooking in a camp oven. I don’t consider myself either a cook or a chef; just a foodie who likes to try out something new occasionally. I cook while camping and in the backyard mostly using heat beads and on a camp oven table or my Volcano. This recipe comes from a member of IDOS (International Dutch Oven Society) called Otis and was used as a dessert at a “Vermin Fest”. It will do 10 or more if you make the full quantity.

I have made this a few times and its always a winner.
I now vary it a little from the Youtube but its all optional.

This recipe is for a 12 inch camp oven but could be halved and done in a 10” camp oven.

Italian bread – One loaf cubed, one inch pieces (I use 8 slices thick fruit bread) Any bread would do just cut the bread into 1″ cubes till it fills the oven 3/4

Eggs - 2 1/2 cups beaten (this worked out at 12 600g for me)

Sugar – 1 cup

Vanilla extract – 1 Tbs

Coconut Rum – 1/2 cup (optional soak a cup of sultanas in Malibu for a few days before cooking)

Coconut – 1/2 cup shredded optional – (toast a couple of extra tablespoons for decoration)

Pineapple -1/2 cup diced (I now use 1 cup of chopped can pieces, it can be fresh or from a tin)

Milk – 5 cups

Heat 24 Beads

Optional line 12in camp oven with release foil or parchement paper for lifting out and cutting (you can put directly into a greased camp oven or into a foil high sided container)

Mix wet ingredients together along with coconut and pineapple, then pour over bread.

Press down until bread absorbs liquid.

Bake one hour 350-375. (I used 9 beads under and 15 beads on top)

When done sprinkle some toasted shredded coconut on top to make it look nice.

Let cool a bit then pull out of the camp oven and slice or you can spoon it out warm. Cut & serve. It is fine by itself or you could add cream and tropical fruit on the side. If you have any leftovers keep it refrigerated.

BLOG: http://carolynscocioz.blogspot.com/

YOUTUBE CHANNEL : http://www.youtube.com/user/CAROLYNSCOCIOZ

When traveling, the last thing you want to do is find out you can not afford the fees to take your luggage with you or take the risk of having your luggage lost. These are just two of the benefits of packing light. Choosing to bring only a carryon will save you money and make your trip more enjoyable, as you will not have the worry of lost luggage or trying to carry around a heavy suitcase. If you have a tendency to pack too much, use the following 5 practical tips for packing light:

1. The first thing you can do to lighten up your travel load is to choose the right suitcase. This, of course, does not mean choosing a larger bag to hold everything you want to bring with you. Choosing a small sized piece of luggage is the only way to guarantee that you will not bring too much with you. Think of how easy you can carry it and consider what the carryon limits are, as the only way to guarantee your luggage will not be lost is to keep your luggage with you.

2. Never pack ‘just in case’ clothes for your trip. The only clothes you need to pack for your trip are one shirt for every day you plan on being there, one pair of pants can last two days, one pair of underwear for every day, and a sweater or jacket. If you plan on being gone for more than a week, you still do not need to pack any more than seven shirts or four pair of pants, as you should plan on doing a load of laundry while you are there.

3. Do not take up valuable space in your luggage by packing items you may not need. By calling the hotel you are going to be staying at, you can verify that certain items may be available to you. Most hotels have irons, blow dryers, robes, and many other items you can use during your stay.

4. Instead of packing all of the toiletries you use every day, lighten them up by only choosing the necessities. Not only that, you can downsize your normal sizes to travel sizes. Most department stores carry travel size toiletries or you can buy the empty travel cases and fill them yourself.

5. Last, when you are actually packing your suitcase, do not take one item at a time and place it in the luggage. Laying everything you are taking with you on your bed before you put it in the suitcase will give you a clear idea of exactly how much you are taking with you. As you start to pack the items, ask yourself whether the item is needed. Many times you will find yourself deciding you can live without it.

This post was written by David from FrequentFlyerCreditCards.com.au where you can learn more about the leading airline loyalty programs Down Under.

We flew in from Melbourne airport. Driving to Sydney would have taken all day so we chose to fly, we were only  in the air for about 50 minutes, flying is a great time saver.

We stayed with a family that we met at Ayers Rock Resort 10 years ago, so it was  a 10 year anniversary of when we met. Every year since we met we have arranged to meet them and holiday somewhere in Australia. We have been to the Kimberley, Central Australia twice, Fraser Island twice, Noosa several times, Murray River houseboat cruise and more. All wonderful trips and adventures.

As they are Sydney locals we went on several tourist drives that certainly gave a new outlook on Sydney and gave us a better understanding of how massive Sydney is.  When you go to Sydney the  highlights are Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, it doesn’t matter how many times you see them they are always stunning and worth seeing.

There are many  Things to do in Sydney, everyone that visits should visit the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. There ia also plenty more to see and do like the Rocks, go on a harbour cruise, visit Taronga Zoo and Luna Park.

Sydney has some beautiful very popular beaches to visit like Bondi as it very close to the city we also visited Cronulla beach and several other beaches which had a few brave surfers catching the waves! It was way to cold for swimming!

If you are planning to visit  Sydney and looking for more adventure how about an amazing full throttle  jet boat ride in the harbour, see the unique harbour views while going flat out sliding and aplashing in all directions.

If you want the best view of Sydney try the Skywalk on top of Sydney Tower only 260 metres above ground level. Of course you will be wearing Skysuits and harnesses for your own safety.  What A View!!

Many cruises on the harbour can be enjoyed as well as sea plane flights, aerobatic flights, sky diving, rock climbing in the Blue Mountains, drive a racing car around Eastern Creek race track, Harley rides, hot air ballooning and so much more.

Fathers Day is not far away so start thinking about a present sooner rather than later. The above  activities would make excellent Fathers Day Gifts as well as the more sedate adventure activities suitable for all Dads.

So if you start with several layers in the morning, then peel off a layer or two for the afternoon, you will most likely be putting a layer back on for night time.

These clothing tips will give you a few ideas for different weather conditions.

• Hats are for warmth and sun protection, when its cold wear a woollen hat like a beanie. In the warmer weather wear a peaked cap or a wide brimmed hat to prevent sunburn.
• In extreme cold & snow conditions long thermal leggings & long sleeve tops, gloves & socks etc are excellent for keeping you warmer.
• Many types of warm clothing incorporate fleece to help trap your body’s warmth.
• Gloves can be useful to protect from the cold and frostbite, using a leather glove when tending to the campfire or removing the camp oven is very useful as it will stop the radiant heat burning your hand or arm.
• Wind and water resistant jackets and pants are available that are quite thin and comfortable to wear when doing activities and yet they are very warm.
• Always be prepared for rain even when its warm, showers of rain are possible.
• When hiking or going for a long walk wear two layers of socks, a thin polyester pair and then thick woollen socks. This will be more comfortable and help prevent blisters. Change your socks if they get wet as soon as possible.
• Your shoes need to be of good quality and comfortable and worn in, not new, to prevent blisters from occurring.
• Good quality sun glasses are necessary to protect your eyes from the sun’s glare especially good when driving.
• When at the beach or swimming pool there’s nothing better than the shorts, t-shirt, bathers, thongs and remember the sun hat, sun glasses and sunscreen.

When you are planning to travel and Holiday, your budget will often be what you think of first when deciding the destination and how long the holiday will be.

There is no reason why you can’t have a great holiday when working with a limited budget. You may wish to stay in a 5-star hotel but in reality you will probably be staying in a tent, cabin, motel, backpackers, homestead, which my family has done plenty of times and we had many wonderful holidays.

Plan your holiday within your budget so it can be relaxing and you are not stressing about what you are spending. You can still get out and see all the sights, enjoy being with family and friends and meet new people. There are many free activities that you can enjoy. Don’t forget to take plenty of photos or videos so you can create memories to look back on in the years ahead.

Depending on your budget, it may be possible to treat yourselves to something special that you have always wanted to do. This could be hot air ballooning, abseiling, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, playing golf, visiting gardens or art galleries, seeing the whales, going on a flight, seeing Uluru (Ayers Rock), or experiencing one of thousands of other things you can do.

Remember that the little extras can quickly add up. Consider taxi fares, restaurant meals, takeaway food, drinks, fuel for your vehicle or car rental, tips, entry prices for attractions, souvenirs and any medications you may need. Allow for all these things in your budget. Plan ahead, budget and you will have a great holiday.

If you are planning your holiday months or even a year ahead, be smart and start saving now. Put away as much as you can into a separate account or somewhere else so you won’t be tempted to spend it.

Even if you are on a budget you can have a great time and holiday, there are many activities you can do for free.

Look out for them, sometimes they can be the highlight of your holiday. Happy Travelling!

I have put together a list of links of school holiday programs across Australia that may help you keep you kids occupied for a few hours or days in the holidays.

School Holiday Activities in Perth WA

South Australia – Family School Holiday Activities

Sydney – Kids in the Park

Victoria –  School holiday Activities

Lap it up on Phillip Island Victoria -  Click on first link

Queensland - School Holiday Activities

YMCA School Holiday Programs 

Home Activities  Many activities to do at home

PHOTO – 1935 – Happy Campers near Charlottle Pass, Snowy Mountains NSW  – Click on photo to enlarge.  

Photo courtesy of National Library of Australia & www.abc.net.au

The Swag was first used in the 1800’s by swagmen who walked from farm to farm getting work, they carried their bedding and clothes in the swag and carried a billy and tuckerbag. Made very famous by Banjo Patersons song ‘Waltzing Matilda’, which was first sung at the North Gregory Hotel at Winton Outback Queensland.  Swags are still used by many campers today, obvisiously they have improved a bit in quality and styles.

Early in the 20th century camping became more of a family thing to do and enjoy. Back then they were allowed to camp on the beaches and had very basic camping equipment. Many summer holidays camping created wonderful memories whether it was at the beach or in the bush.

This link below shows our camping history in images

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/hindsight/galleries/2009/2476471/

Now days camping is still enjoyed by many people of all ages. The styles and places we can go camping is huge so all preferences are catered for whether it is going to the beach, bush, outback, national parks, rainforests and in towns & cities.

The options are amazing, we can camp an hour away from home for a weekend or go for the extreme trip and drive around Australia and absolutely anything in between.

Camping has become very commercial with many books & magazines being published, camping superstores, online camping websites, manufacturers tempting us with a great variety of camping equipment & vehicles, camping shows to tempt us again.

Happy Camping Everyone!!

This list of websites is a mixture of camping places in Queensland to help you find a camp ground, caravan or holiday park to suit you and your family.

Caravanning Queensland Click on section of map you are interested in

Queensland National Parks & Forests

4WD Camping  Destinations like Fraser Island

Queensland Government     Camping Infomation

Queensland Holidays   Huge list of Camping Parks

Oz Camps   Scroll down and select Queensland

Queensland has an abundance of camping destinations for all types of camping, whether you want to rough it and go bush camping, take your campervan or stay in a cabin etc with all the amenities.

•  When you have set up camp, say ‘hi’ to your camping neighbours. Most campers are interested in where you are going and where you have already travelled. Ask them the same questions.
• Most campsites have a rule that night times should be quiet, usually from about 10pm, so try to observe this rule.
• Keep your campsite reasonably neat and free of rubbish.
• Don’t build big campfires like a bonfire, as they can send sparks flying.
• Put out your campfire before going to bed.
• Keep your dog or any other pets caged or under your control.
• When you leave your campsite for an outing, pack all food and rubbish away so birds aren’t attracted and make a mess.
• Read the campsite or park rules and abide by them.
• Many long-term friends have been made in campsites and during travels

Travelling Around Australia Planning Tips

Extensive Camping Checklist for Travelling Australia

How Long Does it Take to Travel Around Australia

Camp Oven Cooking Favourite Recipes

Top 10 Holiday Destinations ideas and Suggestions

2010 Camping  Caravan 4WD Fishing Boating Shows

Parks Victoria Do Allow Dogs Camping in National Parks

Taking Your Kids out of School to go Camping and Travelling Australia

2011 School Holiday Term Dates Australia

Camping in Victoria Where to find Campsites for your next Holiday

You are welcome to make any suggestions for future articles about camping, travelling Australia.  I would love to hear of your travels and stories and make a section for your stories so everyone can enjoy them.