The long awaited day arrived for us all to start our much planned trip all around Australia, but we could not leave until we had taken part in the Million Paws Walk, an RSPCA appeal very close to our hearts. Our first stop was GinGin where we parked beside a lovely park with birds of every breed making sure we did not sleep in. At a petrol stop in Geraldton we managed to damage our awning on a bowser which protruded out high up. A few choice swear words and a bit of duct tape and we managed to put it [View Full Entry]

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Still at Port Lincoln in the break between Christmas and New Year and we get the good news that Jeremy, Michelle and Lucy will be coming direct to our campsite for 24 hours on their way to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, so we were able to see the New Year in with part of our family, also Michelle's mum and dad Bill and Rita and Michelle's Grandma Zidra. We sat in our chairs under the stars looking over the Southern Ocean watching the few fireworks that were set off, a real no - no as there was a total fire [View Full Entry]

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Moving on from GolGol (Mildura) we had a long days drive. We stopped in Berri and bought fruit juice at the famous factory, had lunch in Waikery watching the ferry crossing the Murray River taking cars and trucks across. Trevor joked that he would tie Bazil up and leave him there but he got a bit of his own medicine. We were heading for the outskirts of Adelaide but did not think it necessary to book ahead as at this time of the year the campsites are not busy. By the time we did ring we found that the only park [View Full Entry]

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As we are both avid Country and Western music fans we found Tamworth fascinating. We visited the BIG GOLDEN GUITAR museum and they had the record/CD shop to die for if you are a C & W fan, just about every artiste you could mention both Australian, English and in my opinion the best - American. The wax works was fun and I suppose it is the only time we will ever get near the singers. Trevor is proudly sporting his "Tamworth - home of Country Music" shirt as he strums on his guitar in the van. On leaving Tamworth we [View Full Entry]

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Our next stop was Ballina where we stayed on a caravan park which can only be reached by ferry, all very quaint but in exiting the ramp we managed to shere off the little caps which cover the stabilizing legs of the caravan. Oh well, back to square one where we used wooden blocks to do the same function. From this area we ventured out to visit Byron Bay (on a cold misty day) Lennox Head, Mullumbimby, Lismore and Nimbin. All these places were well worth a mention but Nimbin will always stay in our minds. Some of you may have [View Full Entry]

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Well, now we are the east coast and heading down there is so much to see and do I don't really know where to start. From Rockhampton we went to Lake Monduran and Trevor enjoyed a day fishing on the huge lake with a fellow camper we met, he was fishing for Barramundi but sadly it was sausages for tea that night, again !!! Next we made our base at Hervey Bay and travelled out from there. We had an interesting visit to the Bundaberg Rum Factory with a tipple at the end of the tour, only a small one mind [View Full Entry]

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Our next stop was Yandina, which is very near Maroochydore and Maloolabar, both very pretty places with pristine beaches. Trevor has relations living in Nambour and we spent a very enjoyable day catching up with Joyce, Nev, Ivy and Colin. Trevor has always spun a tale about being related to royalty, being from the wrong side of the blanket. Imagine - those claims to fame appear to be true. Other long lost relations from Devon, in the UK, have been researching the family tree and have gone back to the infamous Lawrence Palk, Duke of Devonshire who took advantage of Trevor's [View Full Entry]

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Rockhampton - Mt. Morgan - Yeppoon We decided to stay in Gracemere, just outside Rockhampton, for 10 days as our travelling companion, John, has three children living in the area so it was the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with them. Rockhampton is an attractive City, sitting on the wide, tidal Fitzroy River. It has some facinating old buildings very well restored. Rockhampton is the Cattle City of Australia, the Brahmen cattle being their pride and joy. There is a statue of the bull at the entrance to the city with bulls appearing throughout the city both as monuments [View Full Entry]

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Blackall to Rockhampton via Longreach. We left Blackall with regret as it was a lovely country town and we were going to miss those leisurely afternoon swims, however this is a trip and would not be if we stayed in one place for 3 months then went home !!!!! Heading for Longreach we passed through Isisford as we had been told it was well worth visiting - do not agree unless they had hidden the nice bits when we were in town. Never mind, on to Ilfracombe and for those Poms among us it is a far cry from the Ilfracombe [View Full Entry]

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Last night was a real dream compared to the night before. We stopped at a little place called Cunnamulla about 200 km over the border into Queensland. Very clean, grass even !!! Can't remember when we last saw grass. All our washing and ironing up to date and we even found time to wander around town. For those country music fans there is a statue of the Cunnamulla Fella, imortalised in a song by Slim Dusty and written by Stan Coster. It depicts the young stockmen of the 50's and 60's who worked from sun-up until sun-down and relaxed around the [View Full Entry]

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