Hi one and all. Yes, I was back o' Bourke Marj, and out of range.
We've travelled a long way, again because we couldn't find a camp we were happy with. None of us like to camp at rest stops right beside the highway, and we didn't want to pay for a CP, so we just had breaks and kept on going.
When we left 4 Mile Reserve, it was 9am and 36 degrees! Holy dooly! I haven't been in those temps since I lived in NT. It was also very windy. We had a quick look at Bourke and headed south through Cobar.
It was still very hot and very windy, making it difficult to stay on the road. We finally got to Gulgunnia CAW6 1087, just as the dust started. It wasn't a pleasant spot either but it was getting too late in the day to go any further. What happened next I'll call a dry storm. The dust was whipping around so badly, we had it in our hair, eyes and caravans as we tried to settle ourselves. Lucky it was flat ground so we didn't need to do much levelling etc. We just got inside as quickly as we could. I had to keep my roof down as I thought it was going to tear off! When the wind finally settled it got very cold. So this morning we were rummaging around for warmer clothes. 15 degrees! After 37 the day before. Struth!
Mount Hope CAW6 #1088 didn't look very inviting, nor #1089 on the Lachlan River. Actually this one could have been okay, but the only spot close to the river had a big tree with lots of drop bears overhanging. After much discussion we decided on here, even though we had to detour east for 56kms. L&D had been here before so knew it was nice. It looks a bit like the photo's I've seen of Greens Lake.
There's still a cool breeze blowing, but preferable to the heat of yesterday. We plan to stay here til Wednesday. This is #1093, Frogs Hollow. Love the name. Great spot right on the lake. Lee can pump water, so we can wash and shower easily. Hoping to meet Rip & Rosie in Deniliquin later in the week.
Great to see you back on here Beth. They call those dust storms. I was caught in one at Goondi about 3 years ago and had to stay an extra night in the CP there, was so scary. That one lasted all day and night though. Have just checked the map and see where you are going. Way out Back!! Its good to get out there and see so much. After reading your accounts I think I will turn off at Moree and do the short bit, Walgett, Coonamble and back to Gilgandra, just to divert from the Newell a bit. Enjoy the rest where you are now, take more photos. I checked the ones out on facebook. Great photos.
It wasn't really a dust storm, because it didn't bring the dust with it, it just whipped up the dust from the rest area. But there was a lot of dirt there to whip up.
I'm glad I went that far, just to see what it's like, but I have no inclination to go again. I've seen the enough of outback over the years, although.... next year I want to go out to St George, Charleville etc.
It was the heat that really bothered me. And it's only October!
I have a tendency to heatstroke, if I'm not careful.
I would have been happy to go down the Newell, but L&D had a massive prang along there and are rather reluctant to go that way again. Doesn't matter, it was a good experience anyway.
I'm getting itchy feet reading all your reports. Trying to work out now how I can get away a bit earlier. Hoping I might be able to get away by 24th of this month.
Forgot to mention also Pam lives in Deni. I think Rip and Rosie are meeting her up there so you should be able to meet up with her too. Pam and I have met a few time for coffee in Echuca. Also Dawa is housesitting in Deni, I think.
Easy way HW, & virtually clear of major highways all the way through NSW. Get to Texas, either via Inglewood (my preference) or Stanthorpe, then to Yetman (good camp here), then Warialda, down to Tamworth (great camps through this section - Bingara, Barraba, Manila) then Currabubula. Turn off just before Werris Creek, go across to Premer (another good camp) via Caroona, then south through Coolah, Ulan to Gulgong. Could camp in our back yard here if desired. Good roads all the way with generally light traffic. If you're interested in this route & let me know your final destination, I can then tell you pretty easy runs further south.
Darrell & Sandra
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Love the bush & our native environment. Conservationist, not a bloody Greenie.
Only problem with February would hopefully be the camp at our place. Provided our van turns up when promised we would hope to be in Perth for the birth of another grandchild by then.
Darrell & Sandra
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Love the bush & our native environment. Conservationist, not a bloody Greenie.
Wow Beth. Glad you were actually stopped before you got caught in your own mini dust-storm! And as you say, its only October and already its hot and the dust is being whipped up. Looks like a dry hot summer. Take care.
Theres always another time Darrell. I never know from one day till the next when I will go or which way. That does sound like a good trip to take into consideration.
Beth, as you come back from Echuca way, a good run is Deniliquin, then to Jerilderie via Conargo, then a very short run on the Newell to the Griffith / Darlington Point turn off, then Darlington Point (supposed to be a good camp here), Griffith, Rankin Springs, then Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin (Gum Bend Lake campsite is one of the best you'll ever see). After Condo, head to Wellington via Parkes, then Gulgong. After that it's the previous one in reverse. Again, all good roads.
Darrell & Sandra
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Love the bush & our native environment. Conservationist, not a bloody Greenie.
Darrell, Beth and family are heading south after Echuca. Going down The Great Ocean Road, over a fair amount of Vic and not sure but might be coming back up via the coast.
You've got it right Marj. This trip is mostly about Victoria. I'll do more of NSW another time.
Darrell, my brother-in-law(I'm travelling with him and my sister) was interested in your guideance and I've written it down. As Marj said, we will return to Qld via the eastern coast of Victoria, and south coast of NSW. Then we plan to turn inland around Woolongong, as we don't want to use the Pacific Highway. I've also done the New England many times, so slightly west of the range would be ideal. Then come back to the New England to go to Guyra, where we want to chase up some family history.
Our basic plan for Victoria is Echuca, Greens Lake, Bendigo, Ballarrat, Daylesford, Brisbane National Park, Queenscliff, along the Great Ocean Road to Portland or maybe on to Robe, then back through Hamilton to Berwick in Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Phillip Island, Mornington, Wilsons Prom, West & East Gippsland and on to the east coast. We don't intend going to the high country, though we will go to the Dandenong Ranges.
That's a rough plan, we may meander here and there...we have plenty of time.
Beth, just reading your plans for after the Great Ocean Road. Beachport in SA is a lovely place to stay. Robe has much in the way of historic buildings and the like, but Beachport has superb views over a wonderful bay, some interesting coastal scenery too. On our last trip that way, we did a day trip from there to Robe.
I live at the start of the Yarra Valley/Dandenong Ranges area, so maybe - when you get to these parts - we can catch up for a coffee or a meal?
We hit the road tomorrow- heading west from Newcastle through Singleton to Dubbo, south down the Newell to Finley then turn west to Deniliquin. Want to be there by Thursday evening ready for the Genealogy Muster on Friday/Saturday.
Meeting Pam, Beth and family, and Barina, can't wait.
Beth, just reading your plans for after the Great Ocean Road. Beachport in SA is a lovely place to stay. Robe has much in the way of historic buildings and the like, but Beachport has superb views over a wonderful bay, some interesting coastal scenery too. On our last trip that way, we did a day trip from there to Robe.
I live at the start of the Yarra Valley/Dandenong Ranges area, so maybe - when you get to these parts - we can catch up for a coffee or a meal?
That would be great Wendy. I'm looking forward to meeting many GN's. Sis particularly wanted to go to Robe, I think she'd seen a TV program on it.
This has been great, getting so much onfo from the forum. I've been able to pass on so much to to D&L.
We've been to 'town' today, just up the road really. Nice friendly folk in the Friendly supermarket, PO and Info Centre. There's a photo taken 2 years ago with no water in the lake. Amazing! It's not a small lake by any means. It's fed by the Lachlan River, as well as two other lakes nearby.
It's an RV friendly town, with a few different camps around.
Rosy, we're finding lots of quaranteed areas, so only buying a bit at a time. Looking forward to see that coastline.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Monday 8th of October 2012 06:44:58 PM
On our way west along the GOR we stayed at a little place called Nelson near the SA border. Good fishing by the look of all the boats around. Had a really interesting river cruise. If you are into caves theres a cave there with camping (dont think it free though) also another cave and campground at Narracorte in SA. We went to Mt Gambier also to Port Mcdonnell as day trips from there, but didnt go to Robe on that trip. When you go into SA you have to go through the quarantine check-point and they dont allow most fruit/vegies.
The coastal scenery is beautiful all the way from Cape Otway. Enjoy!
Beth, just reading your plans for after the Great Ocean Road. Beachport in SA is a lovely place to stay. Robe has much in the way of historic buildings and the like, but Beachport has superb views over a wonderful bay, some interesting coastal scenery too. On our last trip that way, we did a day trip from there to Robe.
I live at the start of the Yarra Valley/Dandenong Ranges area, so maybe - when you get to these parts - we can catch up for a coffee or a meal?
That would be great Wendy. I'm looking forward to meeting many GN's. Sis particularly wanted to go to Robe, I think she'd seen a TV program on it.
This has been great, getting so much onfo from the forum. I've been able to pass on so much to to D&L.
Robe is a beautiful seaside village, well worth the look. We went through there last weekend, and enjoyed their little market day as well. Good camp about 24k north of Robe 9 Wrights Bay bush Camping CAW6 No 27. $3.00 per person per day. Right on the ocean. Clean grassy campsites with plenty of wind breaks to shelter from the wind if needed.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Robe is a beautiful seaside village, well worth the look. We went through there last weekend, and enjoyed their little market day as well. Good camp about 24k north of Robe 9 Wrights Bay bush Camping CAW6 No 27. $3.00 per person per day. Right on the ocean. Clean grassy campsites with plenty of wind breaks to shelter from the wind if needed.
That sounds great Dunmowin. I'll mark that one in the book. Gotta love afree or cheap camps!
Ken, I knew there was someone else who lived in Echuca. Hard to remember who lives where. Great idea!
Can you recommend a free/cheap camp around Echuca?
Nice little town, isn't it Beth. Gum Bend lake at Condobolin is a great freebie as well. Been thinking about your ideas on the return journey & only see two sensible options if you wish to avoid the New England or Pacific highways. The first is head to Braidwood from Bateman's Bay then to Goulburn then Oberon, Bathurst, Sofala, Ilford, Mudgee, Gulgong, etc. Very pretty drive from Goulburn to Oberon but very frustrating the last time I took it (many years ago). Extremely winding, gravel road, hence slow but definitely a beautiful part of the country. The other is up Mt Ousley from Wollongong to Wilton, thence Narellan, Bringelly to the F4 at Penrith, thence to Lithgow, Mudgee, etc. One extremely beautiful additional option exists through Kangaroo Valley to Moss Vale from Nowra but the climb out of Kangaroo Valley is definitely the most caravan unfriendly road I've ever run across. A detour into Kangaroo Valley then back to Nowra is definitely worthwhile though.
Darrell
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Love the bush & our native environment. Conservationist, not a bloody Greenie.
I forgot to mention I'm not keen on steep climbs. I don't want to strain poor Lucy. (car)
And I actually prefer secondary roads, because there's not so much heavy traffic.
Some of those names have been mentioned to me before, but I'll have another look when we get closer. Several weeks to go before we have to start heading north again.
next year I want to go out to St George, Charleville etc.
