DRIVING AN EXPLORE BY GEMLIFE MOTORHOME ON HOLIDAYS IS SURE TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT IN A CROWD, ACCORDING TO GEMLIFE GOLD COAST CONTRACT HOLDERS IAN AND GAYE LEVINGE.
The avid travellers said the colourful motorhome, which they hired for the first time, was distinctive and easy to find amongst a sea of more than 60 RVs and campers they came across at the popular Nindigully Pub, which featured in the Hugh Jackman movie Paperback Hero.
It was just one of many outback towns visited by the couple who hit the road accompanied by friends in a caravan, to show them some of the beautiful towns and districts around the Roma area.
“We only had nine days but fitted quite a bit into our trip,” said Ian, who had travelled Australia extensively in his previous role as Manager of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC) office in Roma.
“We spent the first night in Chinchilla before driving through to Roma the next day and camping at a farm stay just outside of town.
While there, we did a day trip around Roma and another to the Mitchell Great Artesian Spa, the minerals from which gave us a lasting and fabulous feeling,” said Gaye.
They also called into the Muckadilla Pub, 40km west of Roma, for morning tea and a chance to take photos of Gaye sitting on the `Seat of Knowledge’ and their friend on the `Seat of Bullshit’, which heralded much laughter. Next stop was to see the painted silos at Thallon.
Ian said that no matter where they went, they stood out in the motorhome and said at one time they had to pull over for two big trucks to go past.
“Instead, the truckies stopped to tell us how much they loved our RV, and we told them all about the motorhome and how they are exclusive to GemLife residents. They were so impressed.”
Gaye and Ian are already planning their next trip and are looking to go further west out past Cunnamulla as well as to the Burke and Wills Dig Tree on the border of South Australia.
“I used to travel out that way when working with ATSIC and just love returning as often as we can,” said Ian, who admits the couple enjoy being out and about, seeing new places, meeting people and learning about other cultures and lifestyles.
The couple, who have been aboard the Ghan and Indian Pacific trains, and travel overseas as often as possible, say the security and ability to lock up and head off on their travels without worry was a big drawcard to buying a home at GemLife Gold Coast.
Married 55 years, Gaye and Ian have six grandchildren whom they plan to take to Disneyland in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, they are looking forward to moving into their brand-new home in Stage Two at GemLife Gold Coast when complete.