Meandering McArthurs

More Outback Adventures

2010-05-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

Day 70 Broken Hill to Mutawintji National Park

Before leaving Broken Hill today we visited the Royal Flying Doctors Service. It was fascinating to learn about the history of this service and the clever visionaries that developed it. We never fully comprehended the special role it plays until today.

We got to hear a re-enactment of a call from 'Maggie' about her injured husband...

...read all about the service, including some funny things...

...and see the planes (worth $8 million each)...

Unfortunately the visit wasn't a highlight for Mitch. For reasons we still don't know, while we were watching a film, he started to become delirious and looked like he was going to faint. We quickly took him outside where he vomited and was looking very pale. Ironically there were no doctors around to check him out, so he had a rest in the car while we all finished having a look around.

Following lunch, we headed on towards Mutawintji National Park. The road was mainly red dirt, leaving a nice coating on both the car and van...

For a dirt road it wasn't too bad but there were plenty of dips to keep an eye on.

We arrived at the national park quite late, but there was a terrific camp oven pit so we got the fire going to cook dinner. There were also some other kids staying at the park, much to our little people's delight...

It's a nice spot, the worst part being the really huge rock prickles that are everywhere. They are the size of a a 5 cent piece and don't tickle.

Day 71 Mutawintji National Park to White Cliffs

Today was Mother's Day so I woke up to some nice cuddles, kisses and a couple of lovely gifts (more cookbooks, chocolates and body cream). Once the annual recognition of my consistent selfless devotion to my family was complete, we headed off to explore Mutawintji a little closer.

The first part of the walk could be ridden on bikes, much to the kids delight...

We parked the bikes underneath a rock hanging that had some aboriginal art. There was the Clever Stick Man, a "Groonki Mark", and some hand stencils...

...tally marks...

...and there was also a mark from William Wright...

From here we walked along a dry creek bed with our walking sticks...

There were towering rock walls on either side, lots of fabulous native plants and plenty of 'roo' poo (although we only saw one today). The scenery was breathtaking...

There was a rock loop walk that we took...

...and we saw more aboriginal art. This time it was the Crack Men...

We climbed up over the rocks to give us a view of some rockholes and when we reached the top we had a spectacular view of the area and rock gorge...

Then of course there was the walk down, but we're professionals at this now...

Once we finished the walk it was back to the van for a quick lunch and pack up before heading off to White Cliffs. The road was all dirt this time and pretty hard going with the van. Lots more dust to add another layer of colour...

The kids met up with their friends from Mutawintji again when we arrived (which was late again) so ran themselves ragged.

Day 72

Off to explore White Cliffs this morning. It is an opal mining town where people primarily live underground because of the heat which can be extreme during summer months. It's a bizarre place as you could imagine and not terribly scenic.

First of all we checked out an underground house and mine called PJ's. There was the house, all pretty normal except for the white concrete walls...

...and shafts to the top for light...

...then the mine which is still being worked by the owner 'to keep fit'...

Here we are on 'top' of the house...

We then went for a drive around the mines. There are still plenty of them being worked either mechanically or by hand...

The miners leave mounds of white rocks and holes all over the place as they move from spot to spot on their lease. Makes for a very unique landscape and you need to be careful where you walk...

To relax in White Cliffs, it is possible to have a game of golf, although it does put a whole new spin on the word 'green'...

But they do provide your own piece of turf to use if required...

After exploring for the day, it was time for a spot of outback baseball...

...and trains...

Day 73 White Cliffs to Nyngan

It was time to bid farewell to the outback today and start our trek back East. We did get up in time to see a beautiful outback sunrise though...

By the time we were packed and ready to leave, the wind had really picked up in White Cliffs so we were glad to be on our way.

Once on the road we settled in for a day of driving hoping to get as close to Coonabarabran as possible. However, fate had other ideas and we got our first (and hopefully only) flat tyre for the trip...

It took about an hour to change, no mean feat with a caravan attached to the car and not a lot of room on the side of the road. This meant we had to stop in Wilcannia for not only fuel, but for a tyre repair too. Unfortunately the tyre was not repairable and we had to buy a new one. No doubt we paid above the regular price, but we were thankful the flat occurred where it did and not in some of the other places we had been in the last few days. That could have meant travelling without a spare and would have caused a little angst.

To make up time, lunch was in the car prepared on my lap - gourmet sandwiches all round! We made it to Nyngan right on dark and were pleasantly surprised at how nice the van park was. An unexpected little gem with animals for the kids to feed, a playground and cubby houses.

The Outback

2010-05-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

Day 66 Darlington Point to Mildura

After a quick look at the Murrumbidgee River near our camp this morning, it was time to push on again...

Our plan for today was to get to Mildura and the closer we got to it, the flatter and dustier it got, we could feel the outback bearing down on us...

We stopped along the way in a town called Balranald for lunch. As we parked we found we were in front of the RSL which happened to be serving a Chinese Smorgasboard for lunch. Perfect, and given the chef was actually Chinese, the food was very good.

We managed to make Mildura by late afternoon with lots of dust and cloud around. Hopefully it will rain and give the van a wash!

Day 67

Exploring Mungo National Park was our mission today. The drive to the park was 100km along red, dirt road but well worth the effort. This place is amazing. Basically 40,000 years ago it was a lake with lots of life in and around it, including Aboriginals.

Today it is a dry lake, but the weather patterns have over time created a 'lunette' (crescent shaped land formation that used to be the edge of the lake) that has been eroded to reveal fossils and evidence of the abundance of life that used to be in the area. Here we are sitting in front of it...

We took a walk onto the lunette and found some evidence of bones, among other things...

The kids explored the many craters and cracks that have formed...

We then drove across the park to several points to get a good view of the size of the area. This view back to the lunette gives an idea of the lake's size...

We all learned a lot about the Aboriginals and it is amazing to think that they were here 40,000 years ago and we've only been here a couple of hundred. Places like this provide an invaluable learning experience.

Day 68 Mildura to Broken Hill

Finally the day had arrived when we would reach Broken Hill. It was a pretty long day of driving and the landscape didn't vary much today, just more and more red soil as we got closer. You know you're in 'roo' country when you see a sign like this...

We knew Broken Hill was an outback mining town, but I didn't expect it to be quite as brown, dusty and (dare I say) ugly as it was. But although the town itself is not beautiful, we know there are plenty of good things to see and explore in the area.

Day 69

After a cooler than expected night, we woke to what we knew would be a hot day, ready to explore Broken Hill and beyond.

First of all we headed to Silverton (hello Mrs Pope) which has it's claim to fame these days for being a popular spot for shooting movies and advertisements. Some classics have been filmed here including A Town Like Alice and Mad Max II. The car from Mad Max II still sits out the front of the pub...

The reason Silverton is a perfect place for this endeavour is that it's weather is exactly the same 90% of the time - clear and fine - thus providing a perfect and predictable backdrop for 'Outback Australia'. Here's a few shots of the town...

We visited the old gaol that has now been turned into a museum to get a little of the local history. For Maggie there were some reminders of 'real' school including a uniform...

...and old school bell (we didn't win any friends once the kids discovered this - it didn't stop ringing, until they were kindly asked to refrain)...

There was also some old mining equipment...

...and old machinery to play with...

After a final drive through the town (you don't really need to drive 'around', it's easy to see the whole town from any vantage point), we drove to a nearby lookout where you could see Aussie outback as far as the eye could see...

It is also a popular place for artists...

On to Umberumberka Reservoir for a lunch stop. Not a lot to see here, just a muddy dam.

After lunch we visited Day Dream Mine, but not before we had to pass through several gates...

The mine was in operation from 1872-1973 and mined for galena - a mix of lead, silver and small amounts of gold. Kids were sent down into the mine as young as 8 and few survived beyond 35 years old. They died as a result of breathing in the mining and black powder dusts resulting in silicosis and emphysema. A lot has changed in the world of health and safety since then!

We actually went on a tour underground into the old mine, complete with helmets and headlights (which were the highlight for the kids - they thought they could keep them and now want some of their own)...

It was fascinating and gave a real sense of the conditions these poor guys had to endure. Definitely not for the faint hearted. Here we are heading down...

...and exploring (that's the tour guide on the side)...

After the mine, we decided to finish the day off with a visit to the 'Living Desert' and 'Sculpture Symposium'. Unfortunately it was too late to walk up to the sculptures, so we admired them from afar...

We settled with doing the Cultural Walk and Flora and Fauna Walk. It wasn't the right time of year to see a Sturts Desert Pea, but we were stopped in our tracks when we looked up and saw this big kangaroo in our path...

He scared the life out of us and we weren't sure if he was in a friendly or fighting mood, so we moved cautiously out of the way. After he give us a good close up inspection, he hopped on his way along the path, obviously happy we weren't any threat. We all let out a sigh of relief!

As the sun was setting, we headed back to the van after a big day.

Snowy Mountains

2010-05-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

Day 61 Bermagui to Cooma

Another travelling day scheduled today, but before we left Bermagui, we had a good look around. Firstly a view from the headland...

...the blue pools...

and beach. All spectacular. Our last stop was the fisherman's wharf and although we were hoping for prawns, we were totally in the wrong area. This was BIG fish territory and we were lucky to arrive when several boats had come in from their overnight fishing adventures. We got to see some yellow fin tuna being weighed before it was heading up north...

As we walked along the jetty, we also got to see fish being unloaded from one of the boats and as always, Maggie wanted to touch the fish...

The marlin and tuna were enormous. I think the kids (and us) could have stayed and watched all day. But it was time to start heading south to see some more of the coastline before heading inland.

We travelled through Tathra, Merimbula (lunch stop)...

...Pambula Beach and finally Eden which is officially the southern most point we will travel to this trip. All were a bit different and all very beautiful.

From Eden we headed into Bega to buy some groceries and a few extra warm clothes for the expected colder weather ahead. We also had a quick stop at the Bega cheese factory and picked up a few bargains...

Cooma was our final destination for the day and we arrived well after dark.

Day 62 Cooma to Jindabyne

After a cold and noisy night (the van park was right on the highway) we decided to push on to Jindabyne today.

It wasn't a long drive so we took our time picking a park and setting up. We picked a spot right on Lake Jindabyne so we can walk straight down the front to fish. With the afternoon in front of us, we decided to go in (very hopeful) search of snow and travelled up to Thredbo. We caught the chairlift up to the top of Mt Kosciuszko...

As we went up and up it of course got colder and colder. Unfortunately not everyone had selected the appropriate footwear, with one child opting for thongs (which I had to sit on during the chairlift ride), so his feet were freezing...

It was quite a long way up and once at the top, we felt every bit like Queenslanders...

Unfortunately there was no snow to be found at the top so we rode back down...

The scenery is quite different with lots of stark, grey trees just waiting for the snow fall...

We might not have seen snow, but we all got a real sense of 'snow country' and it was a great trip.

Day 63

We woke to a freezing cold morning and the kids in particular found it difficult to cope with until around mid morning when the day started to heat up. Until then they had socks on their hands and several layers of clothing on...

Stewie still hasn't quite got the footwear right, but it's an improvement...

There was also a wonderful mist over the lake that slowly lifted with the cold...

Today it was time to try our hand at freshwater fishing (again), so out came the rods and bait...

No luck, but we know we'll catch that elusive freshwater fish before leaving Jindabyne.

Day 64

It wasn't as cold this morning, but the kids did get to see some real frost on the grass. That was as good as snow for them.

After breakfast, we took our chairs and fishing gear to the lake for a morning of fishing. And guess what... WE CAUGHT A TROUT! Not one, but two - one for Steve...

and one for me...

Sure, they weren't big but that didn't matter to us, we'd finally caught a freshwater fish on this trip!

Later in the day, Maggie and Mitch went fishing again...

...and this time Mitch was rewarded with a nice little trout...

Unfortunately he was so excited and ran all the way up to the van with the fish dangling on the end of his line, so we don't think that one made it.

While they were busy fishing, Stewie got serious with his trains...

It was a milestone day for us.

Day 65 Jindabyne to Darlington Point

Time to leave Jindabyne today and give the fish a chance to grow up a bit for our next visit! Today marks the start of our trek to the outback. We travelled through more of the Snowy Mountains country for a while...

and then the landscape started to change. The roads also started to became flatter and straighter.

We had hoped to reach Darlington Point before dark but it didn't happen, the sunset was too quick for us...

So it was a quick, minimal setup as we'll be gone first thing tomorrow.

Moruya Heads

2010-05-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

Day 55

Steve got an early start to fishing this morning and was well rewarded with our first ever Australian Salmon...

He also caught a wobegong shark and after the kids had a good look at it, it was put back.

It was a pretty low key day finishing with a 'family fish' this afternoon - except Stewie who happily lounged around on the sand...

Not much joy this time except for a couple of small salmon and a crab for Maggie...

We stayed at the beach and watched the sun go down before heading back to the van. The beauty of this caravan park is it's proximity to the beach - just a stroll away. We cooked up the salmon for dinner and it was great, even though they're not renowned as a great table fish.

Day 56

Woke to an overcast morning but that didn't deter us from having another fish (even Stewie). None biting this morning.

After breakfast, Maggie and I went into the Moruya Markets for a look and change of scenery. We sampled a few local morsels and bought a few bits and pieces before heading back for lunch.

Since the weather wasn't great, we decided to go for a drive north with the final destination being Bendelong (Red Head) where Mum and Dad used to take us for holidays when we were kids. Along the way we stopped at Bateman's Bay for a look and saw a school of dolphins having a play at Surf Beach (hope you can see them)...

we also went to a lookout for a better vantage of the area...

We passed through lots of beautiful scenery and towns before arriving at Bendelong, a beautiful spot tucked away from the main road. I'm pretty sure it's not much bigger than when we used to visit except the tourist park is a little flasher these days. The beach is perfect for families and I know Dad used to enjoy fishing and catching lobsters here. It's beautiful (although a bit gloomy on this visit)...

On the way home we passed through Kioloa where there were kangaroos everywhere, including people's back yards...

It ended up being a longer drive than expected, but well worth it.

Day 57

Today was a special day in many ways. Not only was it Anzac Day, but Steve and I were expecting the arrival of some special friends from home. The kids had no idea this was happening and we acted like it was a normal day so they would get a real surprise.

In the morning there was a massive downpour of rain (right on parade time), but once it cleared we went to explore some other fishing options around the area. As it's covered in oyster leases we thought we'd try our luck off the banks around a few of those. The yabby pump also got its first work out for the trip...

No fish or yabbies, all we achieved was exceptionally muddy feet.

Another place we tried was Shelly Beach, a gorgeous little spot over the headland from our van park. The kids enjoyed a splash in the water while we kept the line wet. No fish were biting but it was nice to just sit and enjoy the outlook...

Finally it was time to head back and await our imminent arrival. The kids still had no idea of what was coming and once we got word (or rather text) that they had arrived, Steve and I managed to get them all outside just as the car drove up. The Thomas Family had arrived and there was much hugging, kissing and lots of happy little faces. Our kids have really missed all their friends and were so glad to see Hannah, Gemma and Charlie. For the rest of the day it was non-stop talk as we all caught up with each other.

Day 58

Today we took the Thomas family exploring with us. First of all we drove around the local headland where we were lucky to see some more dolphins. We also got a good view back along the beach where we have been fishing...

The kids were all happy to just be together and find their 'best friends' again. There was Hannah and Mitch...

Maggie and Gemma...

...and Stewie and Charlie.

Once we'd explored a few other local spots, we all headed towards Tuross Heads (hi Pete) for a look. Another gorgeous spot and we stopped for a group shot, right across the road from where my friend Pete grew up...

As it was a public holiday there was not a lot going on so we headed back to Moruya heads for some fishing, swimming...

spa bath...

...bush exploring...

and go karts...

Steve and Steve.T headed down for a fish at dusk and came back with a good haul - a big Australian Salmon for Steve.T and a small tailor for Steve. A great finish to the day.

Day 59

Everyone was up early this morning as we were off on a boating adventure for the day. We had organised a BBQ boat hire in Bateman's Bay - with 10 of us, a party size boat was required. It was very cold, but we managed to arrive on time. A pity the boat hire staff didn't! We were supposed to be on the boat at around 8 a.m. but didn't get underway until 9 o'clock. Oh well, it gave us a chance to thaw out a little!

Once on board, everyone had a turn driving the boat...

...and we headed out around the oyster leases...

It must have been too cold for the fish as well as the action was very poor. In fact non-existent. We persisted and the kids were enjoying themselves...

Some preferred to draw and play trains when the fish weren't biting...

At times we saw a lot of fish in the water, and some of quite a good size, but we just couldn't get their interest. Right towards the end of our time on the boat, the tide turned (literally) and we started to get some bites. Steve.T. pulled in a leather jacket, I got a flounder (which was trying to show off its skinny side for the photo)...

and Hannah got a little perch...

Better than nothing.

We had a seafood feast for dinner using the eating sized fish we caught yesterday and today. Wendy and I bought some local oysters to try as well. The surprise was the flounder - absolutely delicious.

Day 60 Moruya Heads to Bermagui

Time to say goodbye to our friends today as they were heading off to Sydney for a few extra days holiday, and we were venturing further south. It was great to see the Thomas's and get a little dose of home, thanks for visiting guys!

Once we left Moruya Heads we wound our way through Narooma, then headed to Tilba Tilba in search of cheese. There is a lot of dairy in this area and you can't go past a good cheese factory (well I can't anyway).

Tilba Tilba is a quaint little village with a main street full of old buildings that have been maintained and have great character. There are plenty of art and craft shops plus the cheese factory. Once we'd tasted all the cheeses and made our selection, it was time to move on.

Bermagui was our lunch stop and we enjoyed the best fish and chips we'd had in a long time. They even crumbed the fish for us! We decided to stay here for the night and pulled into the van park with a great view overlooking Horseshoe Bay..

Wee Jasper

2010-05-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

Day 52

Rest, relaxation and reading was on the agenda for Steve and I today - leaving the kids to fend for themselves!

Luckily, they had a wonderful creek and bush to explore and were more than happy, although I don't know how they could get in the cold water...

They also tried to catch some yabbies (no luck though)...

I even managed a little afternoon sleep until the sound of wind coming through the trees from the mountains woke me up. It was quite an eerie sound, like there was something bearing down on us.

We had a great spot to enjoy the day. The creek on one side...

...and the mountains behind us...

Day 53

We woke to a pretty cold morning so got the campfire going early today. Everyone huddled around and thawed out...

On the activity front, it was more of the same today. The kids have happily been entertaining themselves and found a new friend, Emily. In fact, Stewie liked Emily and her family so much he moved his chair over to their campsite...

He made it quite clear that Mum and Dad weren't welcome - quite the little socialite these days.

Steve decided to try a spot of fishing and pulled out the waders to survive the cold water. He did well, catching a tree (freshwater of course)...

It was Maggie's turn for injury today. She gashed her head on the swing, which caused quite a bit of drama...

Nothing a hot shower and a few cuddles can't fix for a tough little girl.

However, the biggest excitement of the day was the discovery of wombat holes. Until talking to some other people in the park, we didn't realise that we were parked right on top of a whole wombat community. Once we looked, it was amazing how many holes were around and how big they are...

So once it got dark, we ventured out to try and catch a glimpse of one. We actually got to see a few which was very exciting (they're not easy to photograph though)...

Day 54 Wee Jasper to Moruya Heads
A travelling day today as we head back to the coast, so lots of scenery to look at. Time for some beach and salt water fishing again.

Before leaving Wee Jasper we had a quick look at the shcool. It is typical of many of the small country schools we have seen in our travels. The kids always enjoy spotting the school as we drive through each town...

The scenery on our drive to Yass was quite beautiful, and typical of most of the countryside around Canberra...

We've also enjoyed seeing lots of autumn colours on the trees. It's not something we get to see much in Queensland...

The days travel ended at Moruya Heads, just south of Bateman's Bay. A lovely spot with no-one around. Our type of place.

Canberra

2010-05-11T03:57:00.000-07:00

Day 47

First order of business today was to move to another van park - somewhere a little more 'family friendly'. While packing up to leave, our stay in this park was capped off by an old guy who drove straight into our car's bullbar trying to 'get around'. No damage to us, but he had a busted headlight. Strange place.

Finding another park took a little time as it was school holidays and quite a few parks were full. We finally found a nice park in Queanbeyan. Once settled and lunch finished, it was time to see some of Canberra.

There is plenty to see and do here and we decided to head to Questacon first. This is a science centre designed primarily for kids - big and little. We spent the whole afternoon there. It was fantastic with so many things to touch, play and learn from. A highlight for Mitch was experiencing Free Fall. Here he is, suited up and ready to drop...

Day 48

The Australian War Memorial was our destination today, and what an incredible place. We wanted to get as much time here as possible, given the limitations of young children, so we broke the day into two parts.

First up we took a guided tour that gave us a great overview of some of the highlights in the memorial. Included in the tour was an insight into the Korean War where Stewie's new best friend (Uncle Stan) served.

The kids also learnt about Australia's most recent Victoria Cross recipient - Trooper Donaldson - and Mitch in particular was quite taken by his story of bravery.

There are several sound and vision displays throughout the memorial and we watched several. Most remarkable was a re-enactment of an aerial 'dog fight' which was quite graphic, particularly for the kids. However, it did give them (and us) a greater appreciation of what can really go on in a war. An example of this was when Maggie turned to me after the show and asked, with great concern, whether Mitch would have to go to war. Obviously the thought filled her with absolute dread.

We took a break after the shows and enjoyed lunch at the front of the memorial with this great view back to parliament house...

Back inside for round two and we visited kids 'Discovery Corner' where we got to sit inside a real submarine shell and try out the control panels...

and look in the periscope...

In the submarine, the highlight for the kids was a drawer you could pull out to get a whiff of what the sailors smelt like on board. Apparently they only got to shower once a week, except for the cook who had one every day for hygiene purposes. You can imagine what the smell was like!

After this we had a quick look at exhibits for World War 1 and 2...

Outside we visited the Wall of Honour...

You could easily spend a few days at this place to take it all in, but given our time and children constraints, we will have to come back another time. Mitch left with a better understanding of the proper place for guns and weapons - he says he still likes them, but they are not glorified objects in his mind any more. He knows they have a time and place and preferably aren't required. A bit like war itself.

Day 49

Another day exploring Canberra with the first stop being the Royal Australian Mint...

Although it wasn't operating when we visited, it was very interesting all the same and we got to press our own $1 coin...

We reversed our lunch spot today, eating in front of Parliament House (the new one) with a view back towards the Australian War Memorial. Here we are at the front...

After lunch we headed into parliament house for a look around. The grand hall wasn't being used today, but we got a good view of the beautiful tapestry in the hall...

We visited the upper and lower houses (no pollies in sight)...

and went right up the top onto the grass for a great view (the War Memorial is off in the distance)...

Maggie and Stewart sat down and had a little chat and rest...

After leaving parliament house, we felt compelled to go in search of K.Rudd, but alas he wasn't home and the gates were locked...

We could see The Captain Cook Memorial Fountain in Lake Burley Griffin blasting away as we drove away from The Lodge so went for a closer look before heading out of town in search of a winery. We decided to go straight to Brindabella Hills as it is highly recommended. We weren't disappointed and restocked (just a little). Before leaving, the winemaker talked to us about the grapes and some of the intricacies of wine making. We also got to taste some of the wine grapes - very different to table grapes. Many of the other places we have visited to date have already harvested their grapes, so this was a bonus and a great finish to the day.

Day 50

Today it was time to catch up with some more family. Dennis (Steve's cousin, son of Shirley and Stan) and Suzanne Hayes were our wonderful hosts for the day. Steve hadn't seen his relatives in quite a while and enjoyed catching up with them all...

I had only met most of them briefly before, so it was nice to spend some time getting to know everyone a bit better. Plus, the kids got to meet more of our extended family which they love doing. We ended up staying for dinner as well - thanks again Dennis and Sue.

Day 51 Canberra to Wee Jasper

Finally it was time to leave Canberra, but not before we had a turn on the paddle boats at Lake Burley Griffin. We hired them for half and hour (more than enough) and headed out on the lake. The girls beat the boys to the bridge and back, plus no-one fell in (bonus!). Here's the boys trying hard...

...and my beautiful side kick...

After the mornings 'paddle' we stocked up on supplies - which can be a nightmare with a caravan in tow as it is usually very difficult to find a park. This time was no different and we had to wheel a trolly about 1 km back to the van!

Time to farewell Canberra - it was a lot of fun and we didn't get to see and do everything we wanted to here, but time to move on.

We headed straight to Wee Jasper from Canberra for some bush scenery. Wee Jasper is a bush reserve and what a great camping spot. We drove into the reserve, picked a spot right next to the creek and got the campfire going before sunset. Heaven.

Southern Highlands

2010-04-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Day 43 Sydney to Moss Vale

After a lengthy packup, we had one last dip in the Narrabeen baths before turning the van south towards Moss Vale. We had to negotiate the van through Sydney traffic which was a bit hairy at times, but we managed to get through it unscathed.

Once in Moss Vale, our destination was Shirley and Stan's place (Steve's Aunt and Uncle). As soon as we got out of the car we noticed a definitely cooler temperature.

Shirley and Stan kindly offered for us to stay a couple of nights and the temptation of a 'normal' bed, shower and toilet was too great to resist. The kids were also happy to watch 'normal' television for a while too. Here are our lovely hosts at the front of their beautiful home, (which seemed like a palace after living in a caravan)...

Day 44

A day of exploring the Southern Highlands and beyond. We firstly headed out to Shellharbour via Robertson to look at the coastline. From here, we wound our way down along the coast looking at various beaches and headlands along the way. Here's a taste of what we saw: Shellharbour beach...

...and Minnamurra Headland...

Kiama was our lunch stop overlooking the 'blow hole'. Unfortunately there was no blowing going on today so we only got to see the hole...

From Kiama we headed back inland via Berry (a great shopping spot) through Kangaroo Valley. Sometimes you just never know what you're going to find in the country, but we certainly didn't expect a brown fridge bearing yummy treats in the middle of nowhere...

Of course, we had to buy something and as I only had a $20 note it ended up being quite a few treats.

Our final stop for the day was Fitzroy Falls...

While walking towards the falls we actually got to see a lyrebird (sorry, too slow with the camera).

From the falls it was back to Moss Vale for a roast dinner. Yum!

Day 45

After homework this morning, we headed into Bowral to visit the Bradman Museum. Steve has been particularly looking forward to this for a long time...

Although it was smaller than we expected (they are currently extending it), there was lots of great exhibits and information. A favourite was a replica dressing room, complete with cricketer...

...and the chance to dress up in all the cricketing gear (even if your shoes are on the wrong feet)...

Tonight we had dinner with my Aunty Irene (my Mum's sister) in Mittagong. It was great to see her and see her house for the first time. Lots of love Irene...

Day 46 Moss Vale to Canberra

This morning we had to bid farewell to Shirley and Stan, but not before we played a spot of piano...

...cuddled our new best friend...

...and got a group photo...

Time to travel to Canberra. A lot of the journey this time was along highway roads. As we got close to Canberra however, the winery signs started to appear and we made a quick stop at Lerida Estate on Lake George (which is actually a dry lake). Here we saw the biggest pumpkins and cucumbers ever...

...and some wind turbines off in the distance...

...plus stocked up more wine.

When we finally arrived in Canberra, lunch was way overdue. We thought that we'd just stop at the first shops we saw, but in Canberra, the shops seem to all be hidden away. They don't line the roads like they do in other capital cities we've visited and the few we saw, didn't have enough room to pull up with a caravan on the back.

After driving in circles, getting very frustrated and almost starving to death, we finally found a chicken shop - it was now around 3 pm!

Once fed, we found our caravan park (we had trouble finding one with a vacancy because of school holidays) which we didn't like from the minute we drove in. Something to do with the onsite tavern and steakhouse with lots of 'workers' out the front, plus a few 'odd' characters wandering around the park.

In all, it wasn't a great introduction to Canberra, but I'm sure it will get better from here.

More of Sydney

2010-04-28T02:04:00.000-07:00

Day 38

As can be expected, when you buy fish, you will catch one. And that's what happened this morning. Steve and Mitch went fishing early this morning and caught a nice flathead. After that effort, we went for a swim in the Narrabeen Baths. We love these saltwater pools that are all over Sydney, but I must say, it was quite fresh and took a little while to get used to.

For the first time we took our car for a drive today and ventured further north along the Northern Beaches. They are all beautiful and it is easy to see why people love Sydney.

At dusk we all went for a fish and it was my turn to get a piece of the action. I pulled in a nice whiting so we ended up with a complete meal for the day.

Day 39

This morning was wet and drizzly so we took the opportunity to check out a few shops and pick up a few things. By the afternoon it was fining up so the kids went for a play down by the lake. They were having a great time until Mitch climbed up the bank and sliced his foot open on a piece of timber...

The cut was deep enough to warrant a medical visit so Steve took him to the Mona Vale hospital which is right near the van park (the staff at the park first sent him to a medical centre that has been closed for a year!). Luckily, it didn't need stitches but being on his foot, it's an awkward place to keep clean and dry when you're at the beach.

Day 40

Originally when we planned the trip we were going to go to the Easter Show in Sydney. However, after looking closely at logistics (parking is non existent and it would have been 2 hours travel each way) and cost, we decided to have a family vote - Easter Show or Luna Park. The latter was chosen unanimously as we all felt it was something unique to Sydney that we couldn't do at home.

So off to Luna Park we went. Another round of bus, ferry and then ferry from Circular Quay to Milsons Point (home of Luna Park). Of course this meant we got to go under the bridge again, this time in the water, another bonus.

Right from the start Luna Park was a big hit. The beauty of it is you can go on the rides as many times as you like - it's unlimited. I decided to abstain for the day and do the photography etc, plus I no longer find the nausea and dizziness associated with the rides enjoyable. Must be an age thing. I was quite happy to take in the sights and watch everyone else have a great time. The attractions included the carousel...

ferris wheel - with a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge...

Skywheel...

...funny mirrors...

...Luna Bob and Luna Belle...

and fire engines...

It was a really fun day that we'll remember for a long time.

Day 41

There were more relatives to catch up with today. This time it was Steve's cousin Sandra and her husband Frank who we met at Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell for a picnic lunch. It was our first trek across Sydney's city - or rather under it via the tunnel - and the car satellite navigation system (Tom Tom) came into its own today guiding us safely to our 'destination'.

Our arrival was timely as we drove into the park at the same time as Sandra and Frank. After lunch and a catch up, we went for a walk around the visitors centre then the Captain Cook Monument. There were more history lessons for the kids as they learnt about Australia's settlement. Here we all are...

After saying goodbye to Sandra and Frank, we headed to Bondi Beach for a look, it was busy as always...

and then we drove around the eastern suburbs for a bit of a look at some of the little bays and gorgeous houses.

To finish the day off, we decided to actually drive over the Harbour Bridge. Given that is was peak hour on a Friday afternoon, we were soon wondering how wise that decision was. We were guided right through the middle of the city by Tom Tom and although it was mayhem, the kids had a ball looking up at all the tall buildings and seeing the heart of the city.

Once through the city, we were guided under the bridge, not over it, so had to make a few extra twists and turns to end up going in the right direction. Eventually we got onto the bridge and as it was right on dusk Luna Park was lit up for the night as were all the lights of the bridge and city. Magic.

Day 42

Today was our last full day in Sydney and we decided to have a closer look at Manly. We'd only been to the ferry terminal and wanted to see a bit more, including the beach.

We had a lovely swim on the main beach before getting some fish and chips for lunch (we miss our crumbed fish and chips - it's all batter here). It certainly is a lovely spot and extremely popular.

Late in the afternoon we headed down to Narrabeen beach for our last family fish. It was a very successful outing - 1 flathead (Steve) and 2 whiting (Mitch and I). Maggie had a bit of a fish before heading off to play with Stewie, who had been playing trains in the sand...

A note to everyone: The comments settings have been changed so everyone should have no trouble leaving a message (I know a few of you have tried unsuccessfully). Just make sure you click a profile - if you don't have a google account, I would suggest trying Anonymous. Love to all.

Easter in Sydney

2010-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Day 34 Good Friday

Today was family picnic day. For the first time, in a long time, my sister and I got to see our cousins and aunt Sue from my Dad's side of the family.

We had a great day and set up in front of the van park with our rugs and chairs to chat and catch up on 15-20 years of life. The kids did a spot of fishing, but Anna and Stewie had to work out this tangle first...

Stewie, Maggie and Darani did their best...

...but there were no fish caught. I think it had something to do with the fact that we ran out of bait and were using cheese (or more specifically camembert!).

Here's the family group shot...

It was a wonderful day and a big thankyou to Anna for organising it all. We've all agreed to make sure it's not so long before we see each other again. Love to you all.

Day 35

We actually set the alarm this morning, which was a rude shock when it went off. The reason being we wanted to get an early start on what we knew would be a big and exciting day. The best part was the kids had no idea of what was ahead of them.

The first leg of our journey was a bus trip from Narrabeen to Manly. At the bus stop...

This is in itself was exciting as it was the first time on a public bus for the kids (we normally travel by train at home)...

At Manly, we caught the ferry and headed towards Circular Quay. Our ferry looked like this one...

As we sat up the front, the kids were complaining of the cold but we convinced them it would be worth it if they stayed out front - we knew what was coming.

When the ferry turned the bend towards Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge came into view, their jaws hit the ground. They were so excited - it was a priceless moment. As we got closer and they got bigger and bigger it was even better. Here's what they saw...

Mitch got quite emotional stating "I've been waiting all my life for this day and it's finally here". He has wanted to see these two icons for a very long time. This is mainly due to the fact that our good friend Michael has written a book about them both and he kindly gave us copies. As a result, Mitch has always been interested and often would talk to Michael about them. It was only fitting that once we arrived at the Opera House, we gave Michael a call to let him know where we were...

Here we all are enjoying the view...

...and one for (my) Mum and Dad...

After arriving at Circular Quay we walked around to the opera house and explored it from all angles, marvelling at its beauty and size...

Then it was time for a little walking around the botanical gardens to Mrs Macquaries chair. Along the way we got to see Cranky the Crane in the naval docks...

All the time we kept looking at the bridge and opera house, it's hard to take your eyes off them...

Finally we arrived at Mrs Maquaries Chair...

Now it was time to head back the way we came and find somewhere for lunch. We decided to visit The Rocks and when we arrived the markets were in full swing. It was very busy, but we managed to find somewhere to sit and eat.

After lunch we walked down to the end of the rocks and under the bridge. It really gave us a true feeling of it's size and what a marvellous structure it is...

It was now time to turn towards home so we trekked back to Circular Quay, got on the ferry, boarded the bus then walked to the van park. What a big, exciting day.

Day 36 Easter Sunday

After such an exciting day yesterday, today was a little more subdued. However, the Easter bunny did come overnight which of course was met with great excitement. Chocolate was on the menu for the day...

We actually got to see some real live bunnies as there were quite a few jumping around the caravan park during our visit.

It was time to farewell Sissy today and after a lunch with Anna (cousin) and Sue (aunt), we kissed her goodbye.

Day 37 Easter Monday

Out and about again today starting with the bus and ferry again. However, when we arrived at Circular Quay this time, we boarded a double decker train to take us to Central Station. Here's the view inside...

...and outside...

From central station we caught the tram (or light rail) to Darling Harbour to check out the sights. The first stop here was the Australian National Maritime Museum...

This was another one of those places you could spend a lot of time, but with three young children, the stay needs to be limited. The displays and information in the museum were first class. While we were there, a special exhibition of Mythical Creatures was showing, including lots of mermaids, serpents and dragons...

Outside the museum there was an opportunity to see a submarine, naval ship and tall ship...

Once we'd finished at the museum we headed around to the main part of Darling Harbour where the "Hoopla" festival was in full swing. There were lots of acrobats and gymnasts strutting their stuff. We saw a show by Miss "Yvonne Cosmetics" which featured juggling and hula hoops, plus it was very funny...

Chinatown is right next to Darling Harbour and that was our lunch destination. We had a first class Yum Cha that would be the best we've eaten. Unlike Brisbane where the trolleys come around for selection, you select your dishes from a menu. Yum.

From Chinatown, we hopped back onto the tram...

and headed to the Sydney Fish Markets...

I only wish we had a place like this in Brisbane. Not only is there a fantastic range and variety of fresh seafood to choose from, the prices are cheap. It actually makes eating fish affordable. We bought ourselves some wonderful fresh oysters, prawns and rainbow trout before heading back to Narrabeen (via tram, train, ferry then bus) for a feast.

There's more of Sydney to come so stay posted. Love to all.

Foggy Blue Mountains

2010-04-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Day 31 - Katoomba

We woke this morning to a big fog - the type where you can't see more than a couple of metres in front of you. Here's the view from Echo Point, where normally you can see the Three Sisters and right across the mountains...

This of course meant trying to see any of the scenery at the Blue Mountains was not an option today. Luckily, we had another alternative up our sleeves...the Jenolan Caves. Doesn't matter what the fog is doing down there. We were looking forward to this adventure since we missed our previous attempt at seeing some caves...

There are several caves to explore at Jenolan and we decided to go with the most popular - Lucas Cave. It was truly spectacular, and very interesting. The caves are formed from limestone so we saw a lot of stalagtites (holding on 'tite' from the ceiling) and stalagmites (they 'mite' reach the top)...

There was also a broken column, where the 'mite' had reached the 'tite', but then a landslide caused the column to break...

Our tour guide was Scott who was very patient with the kids and some of their questions. Stewie had the question of the day, or rather, it was more of a statement than a question. When asked if they had anything they would like to ask, he piped up and said "I love my Mum and Dad". That's our boy!

One of the most exciting things we saw (according to the kids) was a wombat skeleton...

Over the years, many animals have found their way into the cave and then been unable to get out. As a result, there were lots of skeletons left. Unfortunately, most of them were taken before the caves were protected. This wombat skeleton was actually bought in to give an example of what happened.

When we emerged from the caves and headed back to Katoomba, there was still fog around and no sign of it lifting. So we just hung around the caravan together.

Day 32 Blue Mountains

Another day of fog confronted us and the temperature was a little cooler. I think I may have underpacked the warm clothes!

So with no views to see again, it was time to have a train ride on the Zig Zag Railway at nearby Lithgow. The railway was built in the 1860's and now is only in operation as a tourist attraction. Here's a little bit of information...(click on the photo for an enlargement)...

Everyone was very excited about this ride as we were riding in an original, old fashioned steam engine...

Here's the big black 'steamie'...

It was run on coal and we had to take on water halfway through the trip. There were over 200 people on the train, but only our kids got to have a ride up the front as well. They got to feel the heat of the steam fire, watch the coal being shoveled into the boiler and hear the noise of the engine (Maggie found it a little too noisy)...

The train wound its way down the mountain and we got to ride over some viaducts...

After the ride, we had a quick bite to eat in Lithgow and headed back to Katoomba. Finally the fog had lifted enough to see something, so we went to a lookout within walking distance from our van park. This gave a great view of Katoomba Falls. Maggie explored the top of the falls...

and we could finally see The Three Sisters...

Day 33 Katoomba to Sydney

Finally we woke to a clear and beautiful day in the Blue Mountains. This was our chance to visit the Scenic Railway and really take in the spectacular views of the area before heading to Sydney.

We visited Scenic World where you can do three different rides - Skyway (in the background of the picture above), Cableway and Railway. They all give a different perspective and view so we decided to all three.

The first was the Skyway which takes you across the gorge and gives a view of the Katoomba Falls not only through the windows, but also through a clear floor (a bit freaky for those who don't like heights). We gave the Skyway the thumbs up...

When we arrived on the other side of the gorge, there was a walk around the side of the mountains to Echo Point. This point provides the best and closest view of the Three Sisters (we discovered our camera was out of battery on the Skyway so we didn't get any close up photos).

Once we walked back around to Scenic World, it was time for the Railway (and we quickly got my mobile which has a back up camera). It's only a very short track and very steep...

and we had to sit in little cages and hold on tight...

From the railway there was a rainforest walk which weaved past the old Katoomba coal mine that used to operate in this area...

At the bottom of the walk we caught the cableway back to the top which gave another perspective of the mountains...

Now we'd finally seen the Blue Mountains in all its glory it was time to leave and head for Sydney. On the way we had a few detours to make, one was to visit the Lewers Bequest (yes, it involves relations) at Emu Plains...

Gerald and Margo Lewers (great uncle and aunt) were renowned Australian artists who used to live in this area and on their passing, their children donated the house and property to the Penrith City Council "to create a centre of excellence for the presentation and appreciation of art for the community". Gerald was a sculptor and one of my favourite pieces is his pelicans...

Next stop was Jayco to get a new bathroom hatch - the other went missing somewhere. Still not sure where?? From here, we headed to Narrabeen and our home for the next 10 days.

We arrived, set up, then quickly had a look at the beach and lake before it got to dark. We're very happy with the location and look forward to our time in Sydney.

The final excitement for the day was Sissy (my sister) arriving from Melbourne to spend some time with us over Easter. My cousin Anna (who I haven't seen for 15 plus years) met her at the airport and bought her to us. It was wonderful to see them both and catch up, but there will be more of that during our time in Sydney. More on that next time.

Mines and More Wines

2010-04-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Day 28 Dubbo to Mudgee

Today was set to be another travelling day, but we knew there would be some interesting stops along the way. The first place we stopped was Peak Hill (we actually hadn't planned this one), where there is an "Open Cut Mining Experience". As we can't resist an 'experience' of any kind on this trip, we had to stop.

The open cut mine stopped operating several years ago, however it has been preserved to allow people to 'experience' what an open cut mine looks like...

We trekked around the area and could view all the pits and the kids had a great time looking for gold while we walked around. They picked up lots of 'gold rocks' so they could do their own mining later on. Here's their stash...

From Peak Hill we headed towards Parkes and the infamous 'Dish'. The Dish was all that we'd hoped for - big, interesting and quite mesmerising.

It sits in the middle of a plain where there is little wind and interference for the radio waves. As a result, it dominates the landscape for many miles and no matter which direction you arrive or depart from, you can't miss The Dish.

After having lunch in The Dish carpark, we headed towards Wellington where there are some caves you can visit. At one stage we could hardly see the road for tumbleweeds. It was amazing how many there were...

Unfortunately, the cave tour was leaving too late for us, so we had a quick look around and learnt about Diprotodons - they're a bit like giant wombats...

Time to head towards Mudgee for the night and it was my first drive of the caravan. I got plenty of 'useful' instructions and haven't enjoyed so much attention in a long time - the kids had forgotten I know how to drive! We did manage to arrive in Mudgee safely with the caravan still attached, so I did OK. But I must say, I'm glad I don't have to do the driving all the time (and Wack/Steve is happy he doesn't have to feed and entertain children while travelling). It was a nice little role reversal for the afternoon.

Day 29 Mudgee to Dunns Swamp (Wollemi National Park)

As we are people who like our food and wine, we couldn't resist exploring some of Mudgee's offerings this morning. Mudgee Gourmet gave us a chance to taste most products the area produces and after the kids had tasted nearly everything in the shop (breaking all the health and safety regulations with their "double dipping") we purchased a good selection and headed to the wineries.

With only a limited time we only visited a couple. The Small Winemakers Centre was a great spot and we were greeted by the very hospitable Johnny Furlong. Here he is with the kids (and his wines are great)...

The kids were made to feel very welcome and enjoyed looking at a replica of Ned Kelly in the attached gallery, especially Mitch who has developed a fascination with Bush Rangers...

One other winery we had to try was Robert Oatley, which is the oldest in the district. We weren't disappointed and consequently left Mudgee with even more wine for the (caravan) cellar. I think we now have more wine than food!

Once the wineries were done, we swung back to the caravan park, picked up the van and started towards Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park. As we drove into Dunns Swamp, we knew it was going to be a beautiful spot and we weren't disappointed. Here's the scene down by the water...

We managed to find a spot for the van (it is quite popular) that would allow us to have a camp fire in the evening and after a quick setup we headed down for a swim in the lake. It was very cold, but refreshing.

After the swim, the kids and Steve headed back to set the bait trap for the night. In the process, Maggie managed to lose our last remaining fish net. She's now lost all three of our nets and thankfully she hasn't touched the bait trap or that would be gone too!

They also tried to catch some yabbies with fresh meat - no yabbies, but they did attract the attention of a couple of turtles.

Day 30 Dunns Swamp to Katoomba (Blue Mountains)

This morning we started with a 'weir walk' to explore Dunns Swamp further. Stewart dressed himself accordingly - pens in shirt and sandals with socks (Disclaimer: His parents had no part in this outfit)...

Part of the beauty of this area is the large rock formations called rock pagodas. We climbed into a few of these and there were lots of nooks and crannies for little people to get lost in...

Steve and I took turns to climb to the top of a lookout (a bit too treacherous for the kids) which gave fantastic view of the whole area...

When we finally got to the 'weir' that dams the water for local irrigation...

On the way back from our walk we stopped and checked the bait trap, and guess what...we'd actually managed to trap a few freshwater prawns. So, the boys decided to have a quick fish...

while Maggie braved the cold water and went for a swim...

and I got THE tangle of the trip to date...

Unfortunately there were no fish caught today, although Mitch did have a brown trout (?) that got away (he knows this from reading fishing books).

After a quick lunch and pack up, we turned the van out of Dunns Swamp and towards the Blue Mountains for the next leg of the trip.

Love to all until next time. Please say hello - click on 'Comments' below and leave a message. We love to hear from you.

Wine and Animals

2010-04-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Day 25

Today was a day for Mum and Dad - wine tasting in the Hunter Valley.

The kids were equipped with new activity books to keep them happy and off we all went. We decided to try a few new wineries we haven't visited before and found lots of good whites, but the reds were disappointing. Apparently they haven't been able to pick the red grapes in the Hunter for the last three seasons. As a result, they have had to use grapes from elsewhere and the wines are not up to their usual standard.

Not to worry, we still managed to restock a little and Steve and I had a nice relaxing day (probably more in my favour as I wasn't driving!). Although for others it was not so exciting...

Mitch did get to see the stage at Hope Estate where we saw Eric Clapton last year. He was very excited and we got a few odd looks when he ran off to stand at the front of an empty stage (like Father like Son!).

Day 26 Cessnock to Dubbo

A driving day today with not a lot to see on the way, just lots of beautiful Australian bush. Here's a typical view...

We did make a quick stop at Arrowfield Estate Wines on the way out of Singleton and managed to find some red wines that weren't overpriced and tasted OK. The wine cellar is now well and truly restocked!

The only other stop was for lunch and then straight to Dubbo. The van park at Dubbo is probably the nicest setup we've been in and with an ensuite (our own shower and toilet block next to the van), it was very civil. Steve and the kids enjoyed a quick swim plus some time on the 'jumping pillow' - a huge pillow that is set in the ground for hours of jumping fun. This helped to burn off the excess energy that had built up on the car ride.

Day 27

Our main reason for coming to Dubbo was of course to visit the zoo and today was the day.

The zoo is one where you can drive, ride or walk - whatever your preference. It's about 5km to trek around and see all the animals. We opted for bikes - the kids already had theirs and Steve and I hired a couple for the day. A chance to exercise a few more muscles that have been dormant for a while.

The zoo certainly didn't disappoint. The way it is set out the animals are basically in areas that mimic their natural habitat. Although they can't get out, the fences are minimal and there are other structures (moats etc) used to keep them contained. The animals all looked incredibly healthy and happy - unlike some zoos - and we had a ball. The ride did get a bit long for little legs as a lot of it was an upward slope, so a little help was needed...

There were lots of great animals but our favourites were the Simbiangs. These monkeys make incredibly loud noises, swing wildly on the ropes, play with each other and generally 'monkey around' and put on a fantastic display...

Other favourites were 'Marty' - the zebras...

the Galapagos Tortoises - these guys were HUGE...

...actually we liked all of them. Unbelievably, the kids still had energy when we got back to the park for a quick swim and jump. They then proceeded to catch grasshoppers, which seemed to be in plague proportions, with some neighbouring kids.

All the grasshoppers were contained in the bug catcher to use as bait in the near future. Let's hope they survive the journey!

Finally some fish!

2010-03-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

Day 21 Port Macquarie to Booti Booti National Park

We left Port Macquarie and headed south along the highway in the general direction of Tuncurry-Forster. Along the way we stopped at Crowdy Head, another gorgeous beach.

It sits opposite Harrington which is on the Manning River and was our lunch stop.

Driving through Tuncurry-Forster, the water looked beautiful, as good as we've seen. Crossing the main bridge between the two towns over Wallis Lake looked so sensational we knew we would have to spend some time there. But not this time, we headed further south to Booti Booti National Park.

After checking out a few options for the night we settled on the Ruins Camp, a bush camping site which is quite popular and sits right next to the beach. Once we were set up for the night, we headed to the beach for a swim. Unfortunately the beach was quite dangerous and unpatrolled so ankle deep was as far as we went.

It was time to try fishing again, the eternal optimists we are! So we headed off to nearby Wallis Lake (it's a huge lake). After trying a couple of spots, it seemed our luck was still out but the kids had fun throwing their lines in over the jetty edge. Mitch fed the toad fish around the jetty, Stewie just dropped his bait in and out of the water and Maggie has a float now and she's not allowed to reel in unless it goes under the water (otherwise she reels in constantly). Even though the fish weren't biting, there was at least mud to play in (that's Stewie having a great time).

Day 22 Booti Booti National Park to Halliday Point

Today we backtracked north again to find some good surf and hopefully some fish. The caravan park at Halliday Point looked good so we headed there. When we arrived, the inital site they gave us was a nightmare as it had a huge slope, so we reallocated ourselves and got setup. Then straight to the beach which was much better than yesterday and everyone had a great surf.

The beaches here are as I remember them as a kid (having spent the first 10 years of my life in NSW/ACT) - lots of rocks and consequently rock pools to explore. They are quite different to Queensland beaches, but still beautiful. I love rockpools and we've had a lot of fun discovering all sorts of creatures living in them. The day was finished with $10 pizza night at the local tavern - we've missed our pizzas!

Day 23

Steve and I declared today a rest day, so nothing too strenuous happened, apart from a quick shop and swim in the pool. Even the kids enjoyed having a chance to just slow down a bit and potter around and do their own thing. Here's a shot of the beach at Halliday Point:

Day 24 Halliday Point to Forster to Cessnock

Following a 'rest' day, today was always going to be a big one. After packing up, we headed straight to Forster where we'd hired a boat for half a day to try our fishing luck on Wallis Lake. Wallis Lake is filled with oyster leases...

and is truly spectacular water - clear, blue and full of sea life. And guess what - today the fish were biting! Happy days at last. Everyone got a piece of the action and caught a fish, some bigger than others. We initially used our new red fishing net to pull the fish into the boat, but it went the same way as our yabby net. Again, thanks to Maggie, it disappeared into the blue beyond. Here's the net on it's first and last outing...

Mitch caught the fish of the day, bagging a mighty flathead all by himself. It was fantastic to watch his face light up as he reeled it in. There is nothing like catching your first big fish and we have no doubt this catch sealed his 'fishing addiction' already inherited from both parents. Here's his catch...

Maggie also chimed helping her Dad catch a flathead (a keeper) and pulling this one in herself (a bit undersized)...

Stewie caught a little beauty too. We're not sure what it was but we sent it back to grow up a bit more...

We could have stayed out on the water all day - with such beautiful weather and fish biting it was pure heaven for all of us. However, we had to turn back eventually and driving the boat is serious business...

Once we'd cleaned our catch (total of 2 flathead), it was time to say goodbye to this part of NSW and head inland again. Plus, the wine cellar is running low. Hunter Valley here we come!

Please say hello. Click on 'Comments' below and you can add your own message. Love to all.

Back to the beach

2010-03-24T00:47:00.000-07:00

Day 17 - Sheba Dam to Nundle to Ellenborough Reserve

After a quick walk around Sheba Dam (there are two) and Steve quickly wetting a line (still no luck), we drove back down the hill to Nundle.

Here we visited the Nundle Woollen Mill - an old style wool mill that still operates today (although it wasn't running for our visit).

It was lovely to see all the old fashioned wools and the many articles that can be made from it. It's a rare thing these days, and after seeing the prices of garments in the shop, it is easy to see why 'real' wool is not so common these days. Those merinos produce expensive wool!

Also in Nundle was a Gold Mine Museum, part of which was actually an old mine. The area was established on gold mining in the mid 1800's and apparently when it was first discovered, lucky fossickers could find sizeable nuggest just sitting on top of the dirt. It's not so obvious today but fossicking is still a popular pastime in the area. We all enjoyed the museum which highlighted the equipment used by the miners to find gold. As always, Mitch was fascinated by the gold guard and his gun...

Maggie and Stewie followed the rail line...

From Nundle we started towards Port Macquarie, stopping along the way at Apsley Falls (more heights to make me fill giddy)...

and Tia Falls and Gorge...

By then, it was getting late and the drive was starting to get a little more difficult. It was a winding, steep, dark road through rainforest that was very slow going with the caravan. There were also lots of cautions "Falling Rocks", "Kangaroos", "Unfenced Road" and Roadworks but we pushed on to reach Ellenborough Reserve (after our GPS sent us down a dead end) in pitch black. After a record time set up, the kids were bundled into bed and we finally got to catch our breath.

Day 18 To Port Macquarie

On waking we discovered we were actually in a very picturesque spot beside the Hastings River and would like to have had time to explore it further, but not today. We set off early for Port Macquarie to enjoy some sunshine at the beach (after being washed out at Lennox Head) and recharge a little. The caravan park is right on the Town Beach and next to a skate park - perfect for little people...

...and not so little people!

Day 19

Another beautiful day at Port Macquarie. After homework etc we headed to the beach for a swim. The surf was perfect for the kids and they finally got to have a good surf on their boards.

After lunch we ventured south to have a look at all the beaches. The whole coastline was quite spectacular and we discovered some gorgeous spots that we'd happily come back to any day. Here's a couple...

One of our favourites was North Haven which straddles the surf and river and is a good fishing spot (for those that can catch fish!). This is a view from the river back to the mountains around the small township...

Day 20

For our last day in Port Macquarie, we headed in a different direction to see Ellenborough Falls. These are the second highest falls in the southern hemisphere (of course Queensland has the highest)...

We thought the trip to the falls would be a couple of hours round trip, but again didn't count on the winding, dirt road, up a mountain and full of potholes. We've decided to factor all trip time calculations by x1.5 to see if we can get our timing right. Everything seems to take a lot longer than we anticipate, which can have its issues when there are 3 little people who get hungry every 2 minutes.

Despite the time it took to get there, it was well worth it. The sheer power of the waterfall was breathtaking. Here's the view from the top...

...and a little further down (a bit of video going on here).

There was an option to walk to the bottom of the falls, the only catch being it is very steep and there are 641 steps. It was a unanimous decision to take the walk, we couldn't come this far and miss doing that. It meant all those leg muscles that have been getting a work out were called on again, each doing a silent groan. But we took it on and there were no complaints...

Once at the bottom you could appreciate the full force of the water. This is where the falls hit the bottom and there is a constant screen of water spray...

Everyone made it to the top again OK. Stewie used 'rocket' buttons on the Buzz Lightyear shirt he was wearing to power him to the top. He was amazing and I couldn't believe it when he ran the last little bit to meet his Dad (Mum was still straggling behind).

From Port Macquarie we are heading south. More on that next time. Please say hello in the comments section below, we love hearing from you all.

Sam

Where are the fish???

2010-03-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

Day 13 - Moree to Narrabri to Yarrie Lake

After another quick dip in the thermal pools we headed off from Moree via a quick stop at the 'Rocket Park'. Impossible not to stop at a park like this when you've got kids.

From Moree the destination was Narrabri and there was quite a change in the scenery. The land became much flatter and the road became long and straight. Narrabri was a little disappointing as we had hoped to visit The Australian Cotton Centre, but it closed down last September. Instead we stopped in a park by the river and had some lunch on fresh bread rolls.

We also stocked up on supplies, including a new pair of thongs for me. Stewie had stepped on the back of my favourite Rivers thongs this morning and they snapped. I just couldn't be without a pair of thongs (it seems there are prickles and mud outside the caravan wherever we go), so went in search of a new pair.

Unfortunately it seems Narrabri isn't big on thongs - none in any of the local supermarkets - so I had to got to a shoe shop that only stocked 'designer' thongs (a phenomenon I still don't quite understand) and coughed up $29.95 for a new pair. Here they are, resplendent with 'jewels' and 'gold plated' branding - I'm a cut above as I stroll around the campsite now!

After this important purchase, it was time to head out of Narrabri via The Australian Telescope. This series of telescopes is called the Compact Array and consists of 6 radio telescopes - 5 mobile and 1 fixed. They make our caravan look small.

Apart from the telescopes, there was lots of interesting information at the centre about the solar system and sun - plenty to keep our budding scientists interested.

Last stop for the day was Yarrie Lake, a 2km wide lake they think was formed by a meoterite (glad I wasn't around that night). It's particularly popular for water sports and had been dry for 4 years until Christmas last year.

It's a gorgeous spot and it was a chance to try our new yabby trap out...take a good look because it only lasted a day before it 'disappeared'.

Someone (Maggie) threw it out and when we went to find it, it was gone. Not sure if it was operator error or a really big yabbie that dragged it away. In the short time we had the trap, we didn't get any yabbies but managed to get quite a few small fish, that Maggie instantly tried to turn into 'pets'.

We liked it so much we decided to make Yarrie Lake our home for the next two nights. It was also a great spot for playing trains (of course)...

Day 14

Leaving the van at Yarrie Lake, we headed off for a day of exploring. First stop was Sawn Rocks, the best example of 'organ piping' rocks in Australia.

After the walk up Bald Rock, this was easy and we got to see some fossils, big tadpoles and lots of other interesting plants and bugs.

We then headed back into Narrabri to visit the Gaol Museum. This was used as a real gaol until 28 years ago. Although they've now filled a lot of it with historical pieces from the area, the original layout including steel bar doors, cells, exercise yards and kitchen are still in place.

All the old memorabilia was fascinating including an old poker machine...

old fire engine (Stewie's highlight)...

...old guns (Mitch's highlight)...

and old kitchen utensils, ingredients and machines (my highlight)...

After another big day, everyone was happy to relax around the campfire (Maggie was still looking for the yabbie trap)...

Day 15 - Yarrie Lake to Gunnedah to Lake Keepit

After setting out early from Yarrie Lake we headed to Gunnedah, a town that makes the claim of being Australia's Koala Capital. However on this particular Sunday, they were all sleeping in. We tried hard to spot them, but to no avail. We headed up to the local lookout for a last attempt before heading towards Tamworth.

On the way we made a detour to Lake Keepit and decided to stay the night as we'd been told there were fish there. It was hot, dry and there was no shade...

We tried our hardest despite the weed and saw plenty of fish activity in the water. They just didn't find their way onto the end of our rods. Here's the kids waiting to be attended on with their fishing rods etc...

...finally the rods arrived...

...and if there's no fish, there's always trains!

Day 16 - Lake Keepit to Tamworth to Sheba Dam (Hanging Rock)

Up and off again today into Tamworth. After stopping for a few supplies, including better fishing tackle (and hopefully tangle free) for children, we did a quick look around the town. Including a stop at the lookout...

...and a mandatory stop at the Golden Guitar...

To be honest, we couldn't get out of Tamworth quick enough. It was just another town which we felt was over commercialised around the whole country music attraction. Not a lot grabbed our interest so we headed slightly south, passing through a quaint old mining township called Nundle, towards Sheba Dam. The dam is near a place called Hanging Rock (not the same one as the movie) and we were told it had trout and other fish in it. Yeah right!

The dam was a lovely little spot and we had another night 'bush camping'.

The generator got it's first work out tonight as the battery had died - we'd been pressing (or rather not pressing) a few wrong buttons.

Jelly Legs

2010-03-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

Day 10 - Bald Rock National Park

This was a big, big day for little (and big) legs. After doing homework and toasting some hot cross buns in the fire, we headed off to walk up Bald Rock - about a 3km round trip.

The walk up was a a bit of a climb through lots of beautiful bush and past many different sizes of granite boulders. Here's a typical boulder formation we walked through:

Some people required a piggy back and it was a bit slow at times. However, it was worth it when we got to the top - it was just spectacular.

Bald Rock is an enormous granite rock that is relatively smooth and steep. Here's some information:

(Click on the photo and you'll get an enlarged view).

At the summit, we were greeted with a 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. Getting right to the summit (which not all of us did - it could have ended in disaster), was a little treacherous and not great for people who don't like heights (me), as there are a few steep drops either side to get there. This photo should give you an idea:

On the walk back we decided to take the 'steep' climb which was straight down the face of the rock. It was a bit wet and slippery so we had to take it slow. This was one of those walks that leaves your legs feeling like jelly at the end. When we reached the bottom our legs were all wobbly and hurting. Steve and I were extremely proud of the kids, they complained very little and really embraced the opportunity to see and do something quite unique. Here's a view looking back up the rock we climbed down:

After the walk, we just relaxed at camp for the rest of the afternoon. As always there was time for trains:

Maggie decorated the caravan:

And I got to cook in my camp oven for the first time (a sort of salmon pie that ended up a little over done but very tasty):

Day 11 - Bald Rock N.P. to Inverell

Back on the road today, first stop Boonoo Boonoo Falls (pronounced Bunna Bunoo). A lovely spot although the water in the swimming hole was murky from the recent rain, so we didn't take a dip. We did however spot a huge goanna who headed up a tree after checking us out.

The rest of the day was spent mainly in the car with a brief lunch stop in Glen Innes. Our overnight stop was a caravan park at Inverell where we opted for an ensuite site as we desperately needed showers after our bush exploring of the last few days.

Day 12 - Inverell to Moree

After a quick look at Lake Inverell, we headed straight out of town towards Moree. Cranky Rock Reserve was our only stop. It's called cranky because apparently a 'cranky' Chinaman jumped to his death off the high rocks. It's a small gorge with steep granite boulders overlooking a creek.

We got to walk over a suspension bridge - very exciting for Stewie as these are everywhere on Sodor Island (Thomas the Tank Engine's home) - to view the gorge from above.

We could also get to the creek below and have a look up. Here's the view:

Once in Moree we settled into the van park then headed straight to the thermal pools.

There were 5 pools in total - 4 heated (35, 36, 37 and 39 degrees) and a 'cooler' non-heated pool. The minerals in the water are meant to cure all sorts of ailments. I don't know how true this is, but it definitely didn't go astray on our still weary muscles from the Bald Rock walk. The water was also very refreshing, even though it was warm.

More to come in the next couple of days so say hello in the comments section below.

Trains & Leaches

2010-03-11T03:13:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, here's some highlights and information on the last part of our adventure.

Day 6

Steve headed down for a spot of fishing early in the morning and Mitch followed as soon as he woke up. It was worth the effort as they caught our first fish, a nice whiting that was lovely eating.

We tried to go swimming today, but there were way too many blue bottles so we gave it a miss. We did venture out for some more fishing late afternoon giving the Land Cruiser its first ride on the beach. This time it was Maggie who was rewarded with a strange puffer-type fish.

It wasn't a keeper and she was happy to throw it back. Besides, fish can't live in bug catchers.

By the end of Day 6, Stewart declared he was ready to go back to our 'normal' house now. Oh dear, a looong way to go yet Stewie!

Day 7

We woke this morning to find Maggie and Stewart's scooters had been stolen during the night - lots of tears, particularly as Maggie only wants a Barbie scooter and we couldn't guarantee we would be able to get another one. Quite common apparently on the weekends - young kids getting their kicks. So apart from needing to buy new scooters, we need to improve our security and buy a few chains to secure the bikes etc during the night. Far too trusting we are!

Before going shopping, we headed off for a day of exploring some areas south of Lennox Head we hadn't visited before. From South Ballina we caught the Burns Point vehicle ferry to South Ballina Beach - not much there except for beach (Duh!) and a couple of caravan parks. As it's right near the mouth of the Richmond River, the water was quite murky due to all the rain.

From there we drove towards Evans Head via Broadwater National Park. Now that was something else - a totally wild piece of the coast. The part we went to is only accessible at low tide, otherwise you have to slide down steep sand dunes - which we did anyway as evidenced by Maggie's dirty bottom (due to all the minerals in the sand)!

Evans Head was the next stop for lunch which was eaten in the car because of the constant drizzle. This is a great little fishing town with some lovely beaches and a river for fishing. Not as 'cosmopolitan' as Lennox Head, but still well worth a visit.

From here, back to Ballina to buy new scooters etc. But of course, once we arrived back at the van park (with new scooters) the old ones had been found. Apparently they were left somewhere near the park by the thieves and returned. So then we had to convince Stewart that he couldn't have the new one, which he had grown fond of very quickly. More tears.

The day finished for Steve and I with a fabulous feed of yabbies...have a look at these Wendy.

And that's only part of the catch. Unfortunately, we weren't the ones who caught them. Our neighbours in the park managed to catch a pile of them along with some bass fish. We were very jealous, but glad they shared them with us (we taught them how to cook them). Steve and I have now made it our mission to learn more about freshwater fishing. We're pretty good with the salt water variety, but not so much with freshwater and there are going to be loads of opportunities to practice during the trip.

Day 8 - Lennox Head to Tenterfield

Today it was finally time to leave Lennox Head and start travelling. The general route for the day was Lennox Head, Lismore, Casino then Tenterfield. Here's the map:

(Click on the map and it will enlarge to give you a better idea).

After driving straight through Lismore (Steve and I have both spent time there in the past), we headed for Casino to see the Mini Railway Museum - thought that might cure a homesick little boy. It was a heap of fun and we got to ride on two miniature 'steamies' through some wetlands, stopping at a small museum on the way. Here's train 1:

And number two...

It was heaven for Stewie and as soon as we arrived at Tenterfield, his trains came out for another play on a spare concrete slab. Barbie joined in the party too.

Day 9 - Tenterfield to Bald Rock National Park

We spent the morning exploring Tenterfield. Ironically another railway museum was right on the doorstop of the caravan park so that's where we started. It ended up taking us a few hours to cover this one as it is actually the old Tenterfield station, no longer in service, and has been maintained in all its former glory. There were lots of carriages we could climb in and out of, the old ticket office, tool sheds, machinery sheds, tracks we could actually walk on and the highlight - a real turntable. It was fantastic and the kids (despite the drizzle) wanted to explore every last inch of the place. Here's some shots...the breakdown crane...

...the turntable...

...making a phone call, with bug catcher (it went all over the station...just in case)...

...and lot's of machines for Stewart to dream about.

After a great start to the morning, we had a quick look around Tenterfield including the infamous Tenterfield Saddler (which was closed).

After lunch we headed towards Bald Rock National Park, just outside of the town, stopping on the way at Thunderbolt's Hideout. Thunderbolt was a bushranger in the 1850's who used to be active in the area during his heyday. This is granite rock country with some spectacular boulders, including his hideout, a couple of large boulders that provide a cave-like hiding spot:

Mitch was terrified Thunderbolt might make a reappearance, but we assured him otherwise. However, what did make an appearance soon after leaving the hideout and heading towards the nearby WWII tank traps, was leaches. They were thick and everyone, especially Steve and Mitch, got devoured. We decided to walk to the tank traps along an obviously not regularly used path (now we know why) and it took twice as long as necessary as we had to keep stopping and pulling off the leaches. Mitch complained the most, stopped the most and so got the most leaches. Here's what his feet looked like (this one's for you Hannah)...

At the end of the track we saw the tank traps - a couple of logs stuck in the ground - and realised if we'd driven an kilometre up the road we could have seen them without walking through the bush! Needless to say we were very happy about that, but at least we could walk back to the car without going back along the 'leach track'. Here's the tank traps in case you're interested...

Arriving at our camp site for the night at Bald Rock National Park made up for the leaches. There was only one other 'hoto motor' (that's Motorhome in Stewart speak) in the park so we basically had the place to ourselves. Our camp site was beautiful including our very own fire place, plenty of firewood and a 'thunderbox'. The kids got a lesson on building fires from Dad...

That's it for now - plenty more to come. Please say hello below in the comments area. Love to all.

Sam

We're off and running!

2010-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, here's a bit of news from the first few days of our adventure.

Day 1

D-Day (Departure Day) finally arrived last Sunday and we woke to a tsunami warning - not sure if it was a good or bad omen. Probably no omen at all and it certainly wasn't going to stop us! We set off (late) Sunday afternoon arriving at Lennox Head just in time to set up before dark. We were all very excited about our first night, particularly Mitch, Maggie and Stewart who got to sleep in (actually 'on') their sleeping bags for the first time.

Here's a map showing where we travelled on Day 1:

Day 2 & 3

It rained, and rained, and rained. But that has just meant we've had the opportunity to iron out a few more kinks in our caravanning techniques. A little bit of rain (more like bucket loads) doesn't phase us and there has been lots of activities to keep us all occupied. Most of these have been inside - drawing, homework, reading, playing games, watching movies and trains.

Doing Homework

Reading (in our sleeping bags)

Playing trains

However we also managed a couple of outdoor activities when there were breaks in the rain - riding scooters and bikes, a quick swim at the beach and of course, playing light sabers...

Maggie has had a great time catching frogs in her bug catcher - there are heaps of them all around the van park, particularly beside the lake. On Monday night there were about 12 frogs bedded down together and by the morning they were getting a bit on the nose, so she kindly released them.

Frogs, frogs and more frogs!

On Tuesday (the wettest day) we got a visit from my brother Robert, who's building a skate park at Brunswick Heads, and had been washed out the last few days. He was quickly grabbed by the kids to play a few board games. We all enjoyed seeing him.

While the rain was pouring down on Tuesday, Steve was busy trying to minimise water coming into the bed ends so put up a few extra tarps. There were also a few running repairs to be done, so he got absolutely soaked. We suspect this aspect of caravanning will be ongoing as new situations and weather conditions confront us. It certainly makes for an interesting adventure.

Day 4

Sunshine at last! It was great to be able to get everything dry and open up the van.

We got out and about to make the most of it. First stop for the day was Byron Bay Farmers Market for a few supplies, plus the kids enjoyed freshly crushed sugar cane juice. Yum!

The main part of Byron Bay hasn't changed since we were here 10 years ago except you have to pay for parking even to go to the beach now! It is still a busy tourist place and you can hear accents from every part of the world. Cool man!!!

From the markets, it was off to the Cape Byron Lighthouse. There were plenty of dolphins in the water and we walked right to the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland.

From Byron Bay we trekked back towards Ballina to visit the Thursday Plantation, a tea tree plantation where they grow and process tea tree oil. Of particular interest was the maze in the shape of the Southern Cross. Of course we all got lost here but it was a lot of fun trying to find each other and our way out.

In the Tea Tree Maze

There was also lots of interesting sculptures around the plantation including these ones of Muslim women coming out of the plantation...

...or was it actually Star Wars figures (Mitch thinks so)...

The final part of the plantation was a rainforest with lots of native plants and foods growing, not to mention the mosquitos! We were nearly eaten alive. They should have included a sample of their insect repellant at the start of the trail - it was very uncomfortable by the end.

The day finished with a swim in Lake Ainsworth (the beach was closed due to high winds and wild conditions).

That's it for now. Please say hello below in the comments area. Love to all.

Sam