Merv Chats: Holidays

"I like a nice solid bed, so I don't really like sleeping on the ground. I'm an old wuss."

What's your favourite holiday destination?

It's gotta be river or coastal, to coin a phrase, Surfers Paradise until we had the kids and then we found out the surf was too rough for them, so we started going up to Noosa and down to Apollo Bay. As a four, five-year-old, I lived down at Apollo Bay for a couple of years, so to get back there and reunite with Apollo Bay. Greatest bakery in the world down there. Have a scallop pie from the Apollo Bay Bakery. Lovely, you can't beat it.

Favorite time to get away?

My favourite time to get away is in the middle of winter, just get out of Melbourne because obviously the weather's no good and head north, whether we go up to the Sunshine Coast, get up to Darwin, or even just get up to the Murray River, on the New South Wales/Victorian border. Yeah, get outta Melbourne.

Where's your next trip?

Haven't really thought about it. So I've just got back from the ashes, following the Australian team over in England. So Manchester, London, Birmingham, all over the place. Had a couple of weeks in Italy, which was fantastic in Amalfi coast.

The next trip in the Rexton?

I'm tipping it's gonna be up to the Murray. So towing the boat, just coming outta winter. Get up to Mulwala/Yarrawonga area and have a fish up there. So yeah, jump into Rexton and tow the boat up there.

What's on your touring bucket list?

I'm tipping, I've gotta say, a drive around Australia in the Rexton, to go up to Darwin. I think, catch up with Greg Island, get on sea change, and whether we go a round of the Moyle, round of the Goomadeer to jump on that boat and get away is ideal.

Favourite thing to cook on the fire?

My favourite thing to cook on the fire is fish, ‘cause that means you've caught one, which is a bonus for us. But to have a barbecue or an open fire and just have grilled fish. Love the grilled fish.

What have you forgotten to bring on a trip?

One thing on a trip we forgot to bring, or I forgot to bring? Probably just recently we went on a heli fish, outta Katherine. When you go on a heli fish, it would indicate that you're fishing and when when you're fishing, it's probably a good thing to take your fishing rods with you. So I left the fishing rods behind, which was a bit of a tragedy. But we made do, we got by.

Furthest I've driven for a holiday?

So I'm a bit lazy to be honest. I tend to jump on. So if I go up the Gold Coast, you jump on a flight. But probably now driving the Rexton, I could almost jump in a car and just drive up there because it's so sweet to drive.

Which do you prefer: Tent or caravan

I would say caravan. More comfort. I like a nice solid bed. So don't really like sleeping on the ground. I'm an old wuss, so caravan.

Which do you prefer: Camping or glamping

Camping years ago but as I get older and basically when you have kids too, glamping is so much easier. I'll just get a cabin nowadays. Yeah, I've got too old to worry about tents and stuff, but yeah. Caravan or bungalow, that's me.

Which do you prefer: Inland or coastal

For me, inland if there's a river, but coastal, I think to get down to the beach, go down to Apollo Bay. Really enjoy it there. You got Surfers Paradise, Sunshine Coast, anywhere you go it's gotta have water. Further north, probably the better 'cause the water temperature is just a little bit more easy on the body. If I'm going inland, it's to a river and normally fishing. So if there's no water, no Merv.

One thing you can't leave at home?

Well, I've gotta say my wife. 'cause if she's watching and I don't say that I'm gonna get belted.

What's one thing you have to take on every trip?

That's a good question. I haven't really thought about that. Probably deodorant and toothpaste.

Well, let's face it, everyone loves a good holiday. We've been talking holiday. Hope you've enjoyed it. And when you next go on a holiday, jump into a Rexton. Drive long knackers.

Thanks for the chat Merv!