1 - 3 June. Had a couple of nights in Mildura and a rest from driving. Then called into Renmark and had a look at Mark and Vanessa's house before staying at Waikerie for a couple of nights to catch up with Robert and Kathy.
30 - 31 May Rained most of the night at Cobar and most of the way to Broken Hill. Decided not to stay at Warrawong Caravan Park
Yesterday we drove to Mildura. Blue skies but cold. Only 12 degrees at times outside but still nice. Lots and lots of goats emus and a few kangaroos on the road.
Emmdale Roadhouse
Goats on side of road28 - 29 May Arrived at Bourke. Been here twice before and decided to check out the second caravan park. It was full but it looked very good. Headed out to the Kidman Camp caravan Park. This is definitely the best of the two. Booked into the Poetry on a plate, dinner and story telling around the camp fire. Very dry out here and the country is very flat. Dinner was at 6.30pm and there were about 80 people around the camp fire. Dinner was a slow cooked casserole and rice followed by a lemon curd tart. All over by 8.30pm but was very entertaining. It rained overnight and still raining this morning. Remember this area is in a catastrophic drought. Spoke to some fellow travellers and they recommended the caravan park at Wilcannia. I cringed but they said that there is a new park about 2 kilometres from Wilcannia and operated by the local station owner. Only small but grass sites and the owner really looks after you. Drove out of Bourke in the rain. There are plenty of goats and kangaroos on the road so taking it easy. Arrived at Cobar and walked down the street and played pokies again. Small win only this time. No jackpots.
Raining at Bourke
Lightning Ridge26 - 27 May. Yesterday we drove from St George to Lightning Ridge. Typical outback roads, bitumen but bumpy. Stopped at the Hebel Hotel and delivered some tourist brochures and had a look around. It is one of the oldest hotels in Queensland and boasts that the Kelly Gang drank in the front bar which is still the same. Very surprised with Lightning Ridge. It certainly is a gem of the outback. Larger than Coober Pedy and has plenty of trees and plenty of water from bores. Great Artesian Basin. The caravan Park we are in has 90 sites and is full. Gravel sites but very clean and tidy. Looked around the town. Today Wednesday we did a tour of the town and mining area. Went underground, down a spiral staircase 127 steps and about 80 feet down. Who would want to be an opal miner but from the stories you can see why it is addictive. This afternoon we drove around some of the tourist sites and went down another mine, where the owner has carved all figures into the mine wall. Second best attraction in NSW last year. Followed a couple of the coloured car door trails that take you past all the attractions out in the scrub. Plenty of hills of tailings where the miners have drilled and dug plenty of holes. They do not live underground here as it is too wet with the artesian basin so close to the surface. Very interesting spot and well worth a visit.
25 May. Yesterday we drove from Warwick to Goondiwindi. Beautiful day no wind sun shining and blue sky. The type of day in the outback which makes you feel alive. Walked around the shopping area not a lot open because of Sunday. Towns are very clean and have really nice wide streets. On our walk I could not keep Gloria out of the Hotel and the Pokies. It was a good move though because after about one hour, Gloria walked out winning $90.00. A good afternoons enjoyment. Drove to St George, good road but narrow and bumpy in parts. You have to see it to believe how flat the land is out here. When they have rain the main roads are blocked by the water. Near St George ran into the cotton growing area. Very large here and plenty of cotton on the side of the roads which has blown off trucks and some has grown. Some of the growth on the side of the road had cotton buds breaking open. Cubby Station is not far from St George. Went for a walk and called into the information centre. Speaking to the woman she asked whether we could drop some brochures off at Hebel which is on our way to Lightning Ridge which is tomorrows destination.
23 May. Started for home today. Intend to stay at Warwick tonight into Queensland. The GPS wanted to take us via Toowoomba but we wanted to go over land over the mountains from Hastings Point. This means we had to go to Murwillumbah and then to Kyogle and then to Warwick. Well we probably should have gone the GPS way. The scenery through the Mountains was unbelievable, however the roads were narrow, very hilly and rough. After Kyogle the road was even worst. Very steep and hilly with very tight U-turn corners and rough. At times the road was gravel. Most of the trip 30 klm/h was maximum speed. No overtaking opportunities and the caravan was just bumping up and down. At one stage whilst travelling alongside the Hardwood Forrest I could hear what appeared to be a dragging noise. I pulled over and listened and the noise was being made by birds in the forest and they were very loud. This continued for about ten kilometres and I was relieved it was not something wrong with the caravan. Stopped at Kyogle for lunch. Farmers market taking place. Plenty of Sugar Cane through this area and a couple of sugar refineries. Passed a tea plantation. I did not know that they grew tea in this area. Eventually arrived at Warwick. Went for a drive into town. Wide open streets typical of Queensland towns. It is a very large town/city. It was very windy last night but not bad today. It is now clear and the temp was early 20's today. Listening to the Crows v Sydney giants, pity the Crows are losing.
21 - 22 May. Today we left Byron Bay and headed to Hastings Point. We were advised that Hastings Point Caravan Park is very good and it is. Beautiful, clean and tidy big blocks and Foxtel as well. It was hot and humid during the day but in the afternoon the humidity was blown away. Rained all night but only lightly. Today it was a beautiful day. Clear skies and no humidity. At elevan am we drove to Kingscliff and met up with Ron and Pauline Hope. I trained with Ron for three years from 1966 at Fort Largs. I would recognise him anywhere only a lot older. Had lunch and walked around their retirement village which is very similar to Life Style Villages. Very green and sub tropical grounds with swimming pools and lawn bowling and other entertaining areas. Pauline made a nice lunch for us and we reminisced. It was good to catch up after about 14 years. Tomorrow we start heading home.
20 May. Finally I have got my shorts out to wear. We travelled from Coffs to Byron Bay today. Weather fine and up to about 27 degrees. On the way we stopped called into Yamba. This is sea side tourist and fishing destination. We had to go off the Pacific Highway about 15 kls but worth it. We had brunch at Mickey D's. Then we stopped at the Macadamia castle and purchased some macadamia products and had their famous macadamia pancakes, and they were very nice indeed. All around here there are huge Macadamia plantations. The pacific highway through here is being upgraded and the works are very large indeed and obviously very expensive. In about three years time the drive through here will be very good with a dual highway all the way from Sydney into Brisbane. Into Byron Bay and the caravan park by the beach. Very expensive, 57 dollars a night and the park is full. Went for a drive and walked down the street in Byron Bay. Very busy with backpackers, tourists and yuppies everywhere. It appears that everybody has to go to Byron bay, and I guess we are included in that. Watch the sunset over the sea and the mountains.
19 May. It rained overnight but dry this morning but overcast. About 23 degrees. Went to the shops and got some provisions and then weent to Dolphin Magic. Very good interactive display with dolphins and seals, also hand feeding of turtles and fish. Top place for everybody but kids especially. We both got kissed by a dolphin and seal. The afternoon was very nice and the weather is starting to warm up.
18 May Gloria's Birthday today. Slept in as it was raining most of the night. Then we went to the local surf club and had morning coffee. Had a look at the main shopping area and then had lunch at a hotel which was recommended. Wasn't too bad for a pub meal. Then drove out to the Clog Barn and had a look at their miniature display of a village in Holland. They have done an excellent job. Then back to the caravan park and walked down to the local bowls club. Gloria played the pokies for about 90 minutes and only lost $30 bucks, but she had some fun. Tomorrow we intend to go to the local Dolphin display.
17 May. Rained lightly overnight and we left Nambucca to travel to Coffs Harbour. Light rain all the way. Called into the Butterfly House just outside of Coffs. Then to the caravan park. At long last we have struck a five star caravan park. The park is in the centre of the town and about 100 metres from the beach. Still raining so we went for a drive. Found the Big Banana and had a look. All set up for kids and very well presented for tourists. Whilst there we had a chocolate coated banana. The banana is frozen coated with chocolate and coated in nuts. We also had a look at the large shopping centre just down the road from the caravan park. Hopefully it will be better weather tomorrow.
16 May It rained most of the night and it is overcast with showers this morning. It is not cold though. We have decided to travel up to Nambucca Heads today. Not happy with this caravan park. Went for a drive around Port Macquarie this morning and had a look around the coast and the lookouts. Walked through the central shopping area. Rained off and on through the morning. The Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Nambucca is being repaired. They are making it into a two lane highway. A lot of work and the speed limit is 80 through this area. Arrived at Nambucca and found the caravan park. All locations over here are very hilly and this area is the same. Caravan Park has free wifi and so listening to the crows, much to my disappointment they are winning. Went for a walk along the beautiful beach here. The park is right on the beach.
15 May Yesterday we travelled into Newcastle to have a look around. Newcastle is the largest provincial city outside of the capital cities. It is large, a lot of suburbs and houses. The city centre is small and old but they are renovating it. All the foreshore is being developed at the moment and the wharf area has been developed with a lot of shops and restaurants. We were going to go on a tour but a mix up at the Tourist centre put paid to that, so we walked. Checked out the Hunter Street Mall and Derby Street where the restaurants are situated. Had a good day and well worth the effort to have a look. On the way back to Cessnock we went into the Katara Wetfields shopping centre. New and just a bit smaller then Marion.
Today we travelled to Port Macquarie. I was talking to the person in the caravan site next to us and he suggested the edge water caravan park as it is near the shops etc. So here we are and it is OK but a bit dated. Pleasant drive along the Pacific Highway and we went into Taree for a look. All the towns along here are large and busy with plenty of traffic, not what I ad expected.
13 May. Visited the Hunter Valley Gardens. We have been meaning to visit these gardens since they were established about 20 years ago. The original owner and builer was a person by the name of Roche. He made his money from Nutrimetics and spent some of it here in the Hunter establishing the gardens as a legacy. here are 60 acres of gardens including 10 special theme areas. Over 6000 trees, 35,000 roses shrubs and ground covers. Although it is going into winter the gardens are still spectacular. We wandered around for about three hours. They are beautiful and clean and manicured. There are about 40 workers attending the garden. We were especially lucky as there were few people there. Had morning coffee overlooking the Chinese garden which was just picture perfect. Rang Rhon to wish her a happy birthday from here. It is a spot not to be missed in this life and we intend to return here in spring to get the full beauty of the gardens. We visited the olive and chocolate factory again as well as the Hunter Cookie shop. Purchased some more goodies. Went to Rochford wines for lunch. We had Thai which was very good but plenty of chilli.
12 May. Went on our winery tour today. Left the caravan park at 9.40am and by 10.20 am we were tasting. First we went to Sobel's winery where we tried 12 different wines and were shown how to properly taste. Very nice wines and then we went to Audrey Wilkinson's winery and tasted another 8 wines. Then to The Hunter Valley Olive premises. Olives and chutney and jams. Chilli chutney very hot. Then to the Pokolbin Village and had some lunch. After lunch to McGlisham's wines and more tasting. After that to the smelly cheese factory and the chocolate factory and tasted both. Visited the Hunter Distillery. There we tasted five shots of different flavoured Vodka. Just like lolly water very easy to drink, 40% alcohol. Then tasted six liqueurs, various flavours 20% alcohol. Bought some mango liquor should be nice over ice-cream. Then to the Hunter Micro brewery and had coffee before a trip home past the Cessnock Gaol. Tomorrow we are going back to the hunter Valley Gardens.
