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Blogs from Echuca, Victoria, Australia, Oceania
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March 11th 2013
When we left in November the plan was to explore Victoria. Well we've crossed the Murray River and have only just touched down to our destination. We travel at a relaxed pace and do as we please, Victoria will still be here when we explore the state more fully. Finding Betts Beach near Echuca to camp was simply delightful until we realised it was a long weekend in Victoria and in rolled the masses. Entertainment was on tap for us, people watching and chatting to locals but we are secretly pleased they've cleared out tonight and we can get back to our old fart lifestyle.... read more
January 11th 2013
The south east coast of NSW is really quite beautiful with stunning beaches and national parks everywhere. We have just been cruising on down, stopping at the small towns on the way, walking their boardwalks, strolling their white sandy beaches and viewing their turquoise coloured bays. Campsite tonight is high on a hill overlooking the twinkling lights of the next town that we will visit tomorrow which is called Bega, famous for its cheese so the cheese factory tour is most definitely on our tick list! One of my Christmas presents was an electric keyboard, something that I have been harping on about wanting to play for more years than I care to remember so if all goes to plan and I practice as I should I may be able to play something on it maybe ... read more
May 30th 2012
On top of the old slag heap above the town of Broken Hill is the Miners Memorial, a tribute to the more than 700 miners that have died since the zinc-lead-silver deposit was discovered in 1883. The Broken Hill itself has almost entirely disappeared and been replaced by a large slag heap. BHP Billiton started here, but worked out its claim by 1939. The ore body is approximately shaped like a large boomerang on edge and BHP had the middle on/near the surface. The two ends are still being mined, but the miners are now Chinese and Japanese firms, and the mining is underground. The town has lots of old buildings, but nothing as spectacular as Kalgoorlie. On the 26th we came south to Mildura on the Murray River, and into Victoria for the first time. ... read more
May 11th 2012
Hannah and I had now been living a few months back in Melbourne and were ready to get away for a weekend, especially after an emotional week with my Nana passing away. We were booked into a lovely but unusual themed hotel in the small country town of Echuca on the border of Victoria and New South Wales, right on the Murray River. After work on the Friday night I made my way to Hannah’s work and we drove straight to Echuca from there, the drive taking a little over 2 hours. We arrived around 8PM and were starving so we headed straight into town for some dinner before making our way to the hotel and checking into our unbelievable Egyptian themed room, complete with a massive spa bath. 12/05/2012 – The next morning ... read more
January 5th 2012
Happy New Year from Oz. Christmas in Melbourne was a quiet affair with a good lunch in the warm sunshine at the waterfront followed by a free bus-ride back to the campsite to watch an almighty thunderstorm with bullet like hailstones. The small shiny surfaced caravan pitched next to us was covered with dents, making it resemble beaten copper. The roof of our van is too high to get a decent look at so hopefully it’s made of stronger stuff or part of my excess has just disappeared. Boxing Day saw us at the cinema watching of all things Mission Impossible, partly as a result of the other shows all pre-booked and sold out. In the film the Americans in the form of Tom Cruise predictably saved the world (again) but it was entertaining stuff all ... read more
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March 18th 2011
The morning air is certainly fresh in this neck of the woods, so it was on with the jeans this morning. We took the computer to check emails at Maccas, because the reception for TV is non- existent and the computer is not much better. We visited the Holden Museum in town, this has certainly some wonderful vehicles and one of each shape/model produced in the 60 year history of the vehicle. The museum is definitely not up to the standard of the Ford Museum in the USA, but it certainly held some well restored Holden vehicles and engines. They also ran a 20 min film clip outlining some of the history. For any Holden lovers it is a must see museum. From here we wandered back in time to check out the Old Port Shopping ... read more
March 17th 2011
St Paddy’s Day and we hit the road with the aim to call at Lake Boga, a World War II Flying base repair depot. Just a short drive and we were outside the museum before it opened at 9:30am. We headed into the bunker when it opened, this originally was the radio room, the lesson learned by the bombing of Darwin, where communication was lost to bombing, it is important to keep the radio centre up and running. This houses a lot of memorabilia and photos of the base when it flourished from 1943 to 1948 when it closed. It was set up so far inland to prevent it being bombed by ships carrying aircraft. It was also on the secret list, for most of it’s life as the Catalina flying boats came in for repairs, ... read more
August 26th 2010
Hey all, Day 10 has us in Echuca. Today we drove from Broken Hill to Echuca. Lots of rain, big drive, nothing else more to say! Long drive! We have holed up in a hotel tonight, very nice one for our last night on the road. Tomorrow we fined out when we move into the new house. We also get to give Declan big cuddles!!!! Thanks for those of you who have enjoyed my rantings Cya... read more
March 26th 2010
For once, we had a lazy start to the day, relaxing by the river and putting the world to rights with our neighbours Gary and Kirsty. They’ve been travelling for ages, had reassuring words and sage advice about camping over Easter, and have persuaded us a visit to Canberra would be a good idea! Valerie’s been drooling over their van ever since; it had a proper bedroom, bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, HUGE fridge and freezer, 3 piece leather suite and remote control tv! ... and a trailer to carry their smaller car - ideal for getting the best spots on the sites, and leaving everything in situ before going off to sightsee for the day in the car. (and parking must be a doddle too!) Eventually, we got going and visited the nearby town of Echuca. ... read more
