GUS CARAVANNING AGAIN

TRAVEL PHOTOS

Western Australia

Thursday 5^th April 2012

Left Narrogin this morning and headed down south.  We reached Borden early afternoon and camped in the towns travellers camping park (free of course).  Slept pretty well no trucks or trains but it was very cold during the night about 9 degrees.

Friday 6^th April 2012

Moved on to Munglinup today on the way to Esperance.

Saturday 7^th April 2012

Going to Esperance this morning it will probably be packed out but we will only be going to fuel up and head for the Nullarbor.  Arrived in Esperance (along with about 1 million others) in time for smoko and indulged in a Maca’s coffee.  We decided to move on and come back another day.  On the way to Norseman we came across Bromus Dam (an old dam in the bush) and decided to stay the night.

Sunday 8^th April 2012

Going to Norseman this morning to have my stitches out and to fuel up.  On the way east along the Eyre highway we saw a sign to Newman Rock so we drove in and discovered a large rocky outcrop with a hollow section forming a small pond.  Tess hated the March flies but we decided to stay for 2 days.

Monday 9^th April 2012

Still here.

Tuesday 10^th April 2012

Left Newman Rock this morning and headed East.  There is a good parking spot at Moodini Bluff 20K east of Madura so we set up camp there.  Nothing here just bush, no march flies.

South Australia

Wednesday 11^th April 2012

Not much happing today just site seeing in the Nullarbor National Marine Park SA.  We have been here before but we found some new tracks leading to the cliffs on the Bight. See photos.  Camped for the night 20K West of Nullarbor road house.

Thursday 12^th April 2012

Just travelled today and camped near Penong, not many flies.

Friday 13^th April 2012

Drove to Ceduna and went shopping.  Not much has changed here still a pretty clean town.  Minnipa has an Apex park for overnight camping so we headed there for the night.

Saturday 14^th April 2012

Headed out from Minnipa to from Tcharkuldu Rock about 3k from the camping ground.  A lot of history here, the rock is used as a catchment to gather water (as a runoff) that is guided into water ducts and ends up in a large concrete tank.  In the early days the water was part of the towns water supply.  The local Apex group maintain the camping grounds and ask for a gold coin donation.

Sunday 15^th April 2012

Still at Tcharkuldu Rock.

Monday 16^th April 2012

Today is a traveling day we are heading to Kimba to stay in the Lions Park in the town.  Kimba is noted for the large cocky outside the gem and souvenir shop.  The lions and lionesses have done an excellent job around the town.  The coffee at the takeaway is excellent.

Tuesday 17^th April 2012

This morning we had a look around Port Augusta and did a bit of shopping.  Maca’s for coffee.  The trip to Quinare where we planned to camp took us through Port Germein, then past Port Pirie to Crystal brook.

Wednesday 18^th April

Left Quinare this morning and drove down to Port Parham (on the coast) through Yacka, Clare, Aubury and Port Wakefield. Port Parham is on the coast and has 2 tides a day; the water goes out about a kilometre.  This afternoon some kids got caught on the beach in their car and the water rose up the doors.  I tried to pull it out but it was too stuck in the mud.

Thursday 19^th April 2012

Staying here another day. The father of the boy who bogged his car burnt out his clutch trying to pull the boys car out of the ocean.

Friday 20^th April 2012

Port Parham is a lot like Lancelin was in the old days.  Moved on today and headed down the coast of SA to the Frank Potts Reserve in Langhorne Creek.  The trip on some of Australia’s worst roads was through Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Glenelg, Mt Barker, and Strathalbyn.

Saturday 21^st April 2012

Stayed in Longhorn Creek today.

Sunday 22^nd April 2012

Went sightseeing today down to Cape Jervis, (cold and wet) which is about the lowest point of SA.  On leaving Longhorn Creek we headed for Strathalbyn and on to Victor Harbor.  Victor Harbor is an extraordinary place with fantastic views as can be seen in the photos.  The hills surrounding it are approx. 400metres above sea level and you have to descend a very steep hill to get down to the town.  Cape Jervis is also at the bottom of the high hill.  Kangaroo Island can be viewed from the top of the hill.  There is a ferry that goes across to the Island from Cape Jervis.  After lunch we drove to Norton Bay on to Rapid Bay over Mt Compass to Strathalbyn and back to Longhorn Creek to spend the night. (Great coffee in Longhorn).

 Victor Harbor

Victor Harbor

 Cape Jervis

 Cape Jervis

Cape Jervis

Monday 23^rd April 2012

This morning we drove to the Murray River and crossed over on the ferry at Wellington so that we could get to Lake Alexandrina.  Lake Alexandrina is at the mouth of the Murray River.  Once around the other side we had to catch another ferry to cross Lake Albert where the two lakes meet at Narrung.  There is a free campsite at Narrung alongside Lake Alexandrina where we will camp.

Murray River ferry at Wellington

Lake Albert lighthouse at Narrung SA the only land lighthouse in Australia

Tuesday 24^th April 2012

Still at Lake Alexandrina, very windy and raining a lot.

Lake Alexandra SA ferry crossing

Wednesday 25^th April 2012

Moved on this morning to go to Kingston SE (I think that the SE stands for south east) to get there we had to circumnavigate Lake Albert (not quite as big as Lake Alexandrina) to Menigne and through the Coorong National Park.  Kingston SE has a free park in the centre of town on the beach. The road is shocking but the locals say New South Wales roads are worse.

Kingston SE jetty SA

Kingston lobster SA

Thursday 26^th April 2012

Headed toward Mt Gambier along the coast of SA this morning.  On the way we called into the beachside resort of Robe.  The coastline of Robe is very rugged as can be seen in the photos.  There is not much sand here just a lot of rocks.  The new homes here are huge just like Geographe Bay in WA and the boats are the same, a rich man’s paradise.  The next town was Millicent.  We kept going and parked up in Tantanoola a small town just of the highway.

Robe SA - coast line

Robe SA - coast line 3

Tantanoola pub SA

Friday 27^th April 2012

Finally got to Mt Gambier this morning, did some washing and had a quick look around we will be back in a couple of days for a better look.  Mount Shank an old disused volcano has a camp spot at the base so we drove up there to spend the night.

Saturday 28^th April 2012

This morning I climbed to the top of the volcano to have a look.  Later we drove down to Port MacDonnell for a site see.  The port is a fishing and Crayfish village, very windy and the beach is covered with seaweed.  After looking around we drove to the Little Blue Lake, the Big Blue Lake is up the road in Mt Gambier.  In 1970 we took the kids to see the Big Blue Lake, they are old volcanos filled with water.

Mount Shank SA 

Mount Shank SA

Port MacDonnell SA

Port MacDonnell SA

Little Blue Lake SA

Sunday 29^th April 2012

Left Little Blue Lake and drove to Mt Gambier and did some shopping, had a Maca’s and headed up the road.  We passed through Penola and drove out to the Bool Lagoon game sanctuary (a world heritage bird sanctuary) and up to Naracoorte.  13K outside is a small lake, Cockatoo Lake where we stayed the night

Monday 30^th April 2012

Stayed at the lake today, I walked around the outside of it this morning.  The lake is about the same size as Lake Poorrarecup near Kendenup.

Cockatoo Lake SA

Cockatoo Lake SA

Tuesday 1^st May 2012

Let the lake today and headed for Murray Bridge.  We did not get to Murray Bridge today so we stopped in Coomandook along the store for the night.

Wednesday 2^nd May 2012

Made it to Murray Bridge this morning did some shopping and had a Maca’s.  This town is quite big and had  lack of free parking so we moved to Mannum and camped alongside the Murray river.

Thursday 3^rd May 2012

Went sight seeing around Mannum today moving to morrow

  Mannum on the Murray River SA

Mannum on the Murray River SA

Friday 4^th May 2012

Drove a few Klms this morning to Walker Flat a small town on the Murray River we plan to stay until Sunday.

Murray River Walker Flat SA

Murray River Walker Flat SA

Saturday 5^th May 2012

Stayed at Walker Flat today.

Sunday 6^th May 2012

Left Walker flat this morning and followed the Murray River through Nildottie, Swan Reach, Blanchetown, Morgan and Cadell to Waikerie where we parked in the bush alongside the river.

Monday 7^th May 2012

Went to Berri and the camps were blocked off by the floods so we drove to Renmark and parked at Murtho Forest Landing by the Murray river(just outside the town).

Tuesday 8^th May 2012

Stayed at Murtho Forest Landing for the day. 

Victoria 2012 

Wednesday 9^th May 2012

Drove to Mildura for a look and then on to the camp at Horseshoe Bend at Merbein Common. 

Thursday10th May 2012

This morning we went back into Mildura to pick up some fresh water and get a Maca’s.  There being no free camping in Mildura we went out to the Psyche Pump camping ground.  The Psyche Pump is an old disused pumping station that was built to supply water to the irrigators.

Friday 11^th May 2012

Stayed at the Psyche Pump camping ground today.

Murray River paddle house boat VIC

Saturday 12^th May 2012

Left the Psyche Pump camping ground and drove up to Nyan sports ground where we stayed last year.

Sunday 13^th May 2012

Stayed at the Nyan sports ground today.

Monday 14^th May 2012

Moved on from Nyan sports ground to Swan Hill, Kerang, Cohuna to Gunbower Creek near Koondrook that flows into the Murray VIC.  We plan to stay a few days.

Tuesday 15^th May 2012

Stayed at the Gunbower Creek campsite today.

Wednesday 16^th May 2012

Stayed at the Gunbower Creek campsite today.

Thursday 17^th May 2012

Went into Koondrook for a look this morning before travelling to Cohuna and on to Echuca.  Just outside Echuca is a camping spot, Christies Beach camp on the Murray River so we headed there.

Murrary River Christies Beach camp Echuca VIC

Friday 18^th May 5012

Stayed at the Christies Beach camp.  This morning we went into Echuca for a look around, it is quite a large town.  The Echuca port is like a small village with a couple of wineries, a blacksmiths, a small sawmill and various stalls.  The hire paddle steamers and charter house boats also leave from here.  Maca’s are here as well.

Murrary River Echuca Port VIC

Saturday 19^th May 2012

Left for Barmah Lakes this morning and passed through Nathala on the way.  The lake has a lot of ugly Murray River cod in it.

Sunday 20^th May 2012

Stayed at the Barmah Lakes today, nice weather.

Monday 21st May 2012

Bloody cold last night -1 degrees at 6am.  Travelled up to Strathmerton, Corowa and Yarrawonga today.  The big lake at Yarrawonga, lake Mulwale is about 2k across and is crossed on a bridge that opens so that boats can pass under it.  Some of the houses along the edge are monstrous.  After lunch we went to the Green Brook camp site alongside the Murray river.

Tuesday 22^nd May 2012

Stayed put today. 

NEW SOUTH WALES 

Wednesday 23^rd May 2012

Moved from Green Brook VIC this morning and crossed over Lake Mulwala into NSW.  We drove up through Corowa to Howlong and camped in the Lions Park alongside the Murray River.  The river at this point is much drained and looks disgraceful considering that a lot of rain has fallen up stream.

Thursday 24^th May 2012

Stayed here today.

Friday 25^th May 2012

Poured down rain last night and caused a bi of slush around the caravan so we moved on.  We left Howlong and headed for Albury (NSW), quite a large town it had a Kmart (say no more) we then drove to Wodonga VIC) and on to Tallangatta to camp at the Pigs Point Reserve.  Still raining. 

VICTORIA 2012 

Saturday 26^th May 2012

Took to the road again and drove through Kiewa, Dederang, Rose White, Oyens, Mt Buffalo national park we could not go to the top of the mountain because we had a dog. After Mt Buffalo we drove to Myrtleford, Everton to Oxley and parked in the roadside camp there.

Sunday 27^th May 2012

This morning we visited Glenrowan Ned Kelly country to have a sight see and bought Pam a drovers hat.  We then drove to Benalla and on to Lima and camped in the Strathbogie Ranges at a campsite known as Black Charlie Creek.  A beautiful spot but down to 0deg in the mornings till the sun comes out.

Monday 28^th May 2012

Stayed put today.

Tuesday 29^th May 2012

Had to get on the road again headed for Merton and to Alexandra campsite at the Brookes River Reserve.

Wednesday 30^th May 2012

Stayed put today.

Thursday 31^st May 2012

Travelled through Yea and had to stay in roadside rest stop just outside Seymour

Friday 1^st June 2012

Went through Heathcote, Mia Mia, Kyneton and Dayles Ford to Creswick and camped in the forest at Salty Creek.

Saturday 2^nd June 2012

Drove to Ballarat not a bad town quite large down to Beauford and on to Green Hill Lake near Ararat.

Sunday 3^rd June 2012

Still at Green Hill Lake near Ararat this morning, cold and wet.

Monday 4^th June 2012

Drove into Ararat for a look around and a Maca’s.  After Coffee we headed for Hamilton where we will be camping at the Wannon Falls.  The falls are very small.

Tuesday 5^th June 2012

On our way back to Hamilton to do some shopping we called into Hamilton Nigretta Falls for a look, a very clean picnic area provided by Parks Vic the water falls come out of the rocks.  After shopping and a Maca's we headed to Heywood and Portland to the Annya State Forest to camp for the night.

Wednesday 6^th June 2012

Stayed put today

Thursday 7^th June 5012

Went to Portland this morning, quite a big place with a large shipping port.  After coffee we drove to the Mt Clay camping ground in the state forest just outside Portland where we camped for the night.

Friday 8^th June 2012

Today we plan to visit Port Fairy and start driving up the Great Ocean Road to Warrnambool and Port Campbell.  The next stop will be Johanna Beach to camp in the Great Otway National Park.  Very windy and wet here but the dunes help protect us.  On the drive we stopped and photographed some of the very rugged coast line.  Much of the coast line here consist of sheer cliffs of eroded limestone, not very large beaches.  The London Bridge(not much left) was plane to see but the 11 Apostles (used to be 12) were hidden by the squally rain and not photographable.

Great Ocean Road London Bridge VIC 2012

Saturday 9^th June 2012

Still at Johanna Beach this morning after a windy night.  The swirling wind has attracter some kiters.

Sunday 10^th June 2012

Still at Johanna Beach.

Monday 11^th June 2012

Left Johanna Beach and headed for the Great Ocean Road again.  We travelled through, Lorne, Torquay, Geelong, Bacchus March, Gisborne to Toolervale where we spent the night parked at the tennis courts.  The Great Ocean Road is very a very hairy road closely the coast and cut into the hillsides making it pretty dangerous, but worth it.

Tuesday 12^th June 2012

Drove around the outside of Melbourne this morning up to Cranbourne, Koo Wee-Rup and on to Poowong.  At present we are camped at the Bass Valley camping ground.

Wednesday 13^th June 2012

Stayed another day.

Thursday 14^th June 2012

Moved on to Gormandale where we stay at the sports ground for the night.  On the way we drove through Korumburra, Leongatha, Morwell, and Traralgon and past the large Lay Yang power station in the Latrobe Valley.

Loy Yang power station Latrobe 3 VIC 2012

Friday 15^th June 2012

After backing tracking to Traralgon we headed for Sale to have a look around and do some shopping.  Just outside of Sale is Lake Wellington a very large lake that empties into Lakes Entrance on the coast of Victoria.  The lake is about 2 Kilometres wide and lord knows how long, at the moment it is over the normal levels because of the floods.  There is a yacht club on the lake at Marlay Point where we camped. 

Lake Wellington 3 VIC 2012

Saturday 16^th June 2012

Stayed at the lake today.

Sunday 17^th June 2012

Left the lake this morning and followed the coast and the rivers to Paynesville and on to Lakes Entrance. The weather was awful, very windy and wet.  We then started following the Princes Highway again toward Orbost.  The big storm that the coast had suffered knocked down hundreds of trees on to the road (all the way to Eden NSW) but the road workers had the clean-up under control.  Spent the night near Bellbird Creek.  Head for NS in the morning. 

NEXT BLOG NEW SOUTH WALES.