australianidyll

19th September 2012 We left our Coffin Bay campsite just before 9am and headed north. The countryside was green and gold and rolling hills initially, very scenic. We had morning tea at Elliston, a pretty coastal spot. We stopped at Murphy's Haystacks, some unusual looking rock formations in a field, for lunch. Alex was bitten on the head by a bee while looking at a beehive. After lunch we noticed the country looked drier as we continued north. There were bobtail lizards all over the roads, we were constantly driving around them. Perhaps because it was quite a warm and sunny day, the warmest we've had in ages. We arrived in Ceduna at around 3:30pm and we are staying in the Big 4 caravan park. Mike tried squid fishing from the jetty after dinner but had ... read more

7th September 2012 We left camp at around 8:30am and headed towards Adelaide, past green crops, golden canola fields, cute historic farmhouses, sheep and ocean glimpses. It was cool with some wind and rain. We got to our Adelaide Shores caravan park just after noon and set up camp. It looks very nice here, very clean amenities, playground and a big jumping pillow thing for the kids. I've been to Adelaide airport a few times and once had an overnight stay for a work meeting but have not so far spent much time looking around Adelaide, so we plan to have a few days here. This afternoon we went to the nearby Harbour Town shopping centre for some groceries and other shopping. Uncle Kevan and Aunty Jillian are staying here too. 8th September 2012 All of ... read more

Kings Canyon and Uluru 29th August 2012 (Mike’s birthday) We left camp just before 8am. We called into Alice Springs for fuel, and had morning tea at the Finke River. This is the world’s oldest river, 350 million years old. We saw several wedge tailed eagles as we continued. We had lunch at Mt Ebenezer Roadhouse, which now offers no services at all, then continued to Kings Canyon Resort where we are staying. It was a warm day. After setting up camp we watched the sunset on the ranges from a lookout at the resort. It’s a comfortable place to stay, with grass, all the usual camping facilities, rooms, safari tents and a bar venue. We had birthday cake for dessert. Dingoes howled close to camp after dark. 30th August 2012 The day started cool and ... read more

18th August 2012 We left our interesting BP campsite at about 7:45am and headed inland along the Overlander's Way (the way between Townsville and Tennant Creek). The landscape changed as we drove, becoming less tropical and more temperate woodland. We saw a bustard and an emu, and drove through sections of golden wattle and fern leafed grevillea. We had morning tea at a rest point on the outskirts of Charters Towers, and lunch at White Mountain lookout. We stopped at Hughenden to see the Flinders Discovery Centre, which has a very good replica of a Muttaburrasaurus skeleton. The Muttaburrasaurus is a herbivore that got up to 10m long, and was found near Hughenden, at Muttaburra. Around Hughenden the scenery was open grassland with few trees and the occasional cattle or sheep. We camped at the Lakeview ... read more

11th August 2012 We went into Cairns and walked along the coastal boardwalks. There are free exercise stations along the boardwalk, and they even run free fitness classes there too! What a great idea. (None running at the time though). We went to the markets, then I went to organise a haircut while Mike supervised Alex and Kyle at a playground. After lunch I had my trim, and we did a bit of shopping. Very impressed with the city area, which is picturesque and bustling. Back at the caravan park in the afternoon, Alex and Kyle fed turtles and fish at the caravan park creek, and rode their bikes. 12th August 2012 We went on a trip to Green Island today (without Nanna & Pop this time). We left from the caravan park at 7:30am, then ... read more