Hot Springs – Outback in NSW:

We are off on our adventure into Outback NSW, and the weather if freezing (for a Qld’er) compared to the coast. But teaching the Grandson to light a camp fire was a lot of fun… and he has proven proficient at toasting marshmallow’s which is always a plus as we head into camp at the Pilliga Hot Bore. 

Back on the Track – Enjoying Outback NSW

It’s been something of an hiatus for me as family envelopes time. Travel however is still very much part of our world and revisiting those places we love, very much part of out time. But it is time to hit the tar… a very much anticipated event.

Given time and inclination I plan… and the planning for this trip has taken time-upon-time. Taking friends and family along with us is something I love to do, such as including the Grandies while we tour, or even bringing them to us on those much enjoyed occasions. It all makes for those special memories. This time we have my Sis’ in tow… and I’m looking forward to the fun and games we can get up to as we drive ‘The Man’ to distraction.

Australia’s Longest Shortcut – The Red Centre

From Docker River to Boulia, the scene is that of an ancient landscape, weathered down over eons of time from an epoch in Earths history that saw the very earth rusting. Born of this time are the burnt ombre’s, reds and sun bleached sands left by time. Travelling on what is the end tail of the Outback Hwy you will encounter both dirt track and welcome tar. The most spectacular highlights are the ancient rocks of the Red Centre, the magnificent gorges of the MacDonnell Ranges… or the Caterpillar Ranges, to use an Aboriginal description that has been a reference for thousands of years.

The Longest Shortcut in Australia – The Goldfields of WA

We’re on an adventure at the moment, crossing the continent on Australia’s longest shortcut travelling some 4,600klm. Strictly speaking this is a outback route, largely a dirt road, one that stretches from Perth on the sunset side, through the centre of Aus’ and onto Cairns, this on sunrise side or vs vs. This route across Aus’ is also known to take in the remote stretch of track known as the Outback Way, which is nearly 2800klm travelling from Laverton WA to Winton Qld, and is presently from Laverton to Kata Tjuta (The Olga’s) a notorious 1000klm strip of dirt track that is subject to some extreme weather conditions and which is currently still rough and ready. Though they are threatening to tar this route over the next decade or so, at the moment it is very much an adventurous run.

The Murrumbidgee – Carolling with the Cockatoo’s

We have settled back into the big island of Aus’… attended to all those pesky needs that consume you when you hit home ground… and then we’ve taken off again. We  are currently on our western run across the continent to Perth where we plan to spend most of this year exploring the western coast.

Tasmania and Travellers Rest Area’s

Having just returned from our adventures in Tasmania we are growing once more accustomed to the life of the traveller as we move up through the eastern seaboard. We are at the present preparing to cross the Oondiri Plain once more and spend the winter months in WA but more about that later.

Up There, Our Heads in the Clouds – Ben Lomond, Tas

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One of the things that we didn’t expect to find in our travels around Tas’ was the beauty of Ben Lomond and its tabletop plateau, which is Tasmania’s primary Ski Resort and a spectacular alpine region of the Apple Isle. We never actually gave it a thought… we knew about Cradle Mountain and its glorious landscape, often shrouded in clouds.

The Great Nature Trail – NW Tasmania

We’re currently on the Great Nature Trail NW Tas’ having taken the Spirit of Tasmania across the Bass Strait. Our first camp was a few days at Forth, in a delightful freecamp 20ks west of Devonport. It is a spacious cricket reserve beside the Forth River with a lovely outlook and a local pub just along the walk that will take you across the river. After the most recent rains here, our world is green and lush, although there is some flooding debris to be still found around the banks. The locals will tell you that the river is still higher than it has been for some time, testament to the awesome force of water that swept down the local rivers in the most recent floods. The camp was one that came recommended as a place to wait-up for the trans-strait ferry. It was one we choose to camp up at, having got off the boat at 6:30pm and I too would highly recommend it. There are of course other spots, some closer, though this one is convenient and spacious and the village of Forth is just a country delight.

Parks Victoria – Touring East Gippsland

Freecamping is one of the greatest pleasures there is in being a traveller. Not  because it is free, as inexperienced travellers imagine, but because of the freedom. It isn’t about camping in rest area’s and skipping those Caravan Parks but more about the involvement you have with the Aussie bush, the forestry area’s, the National Parks and those precious Reserves that dot the country.

National Parks NSW – Brou Lake

Our favourite places to set up camp are often to be found in National Parks, Forestry and Reserves. Each State approaches the provision of these camps in different ways. Some like Victoria see these places as belonging to the public, and therefore generally encourage their free use, while others have usually quite reasonable maintenance and camping charges applied. But in general they are great places to camp. The campsites are usually comfortably generous with a minimum of facilities… ie drop dunnys and you are required to have a measure of self-sufficiency.