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Lap of AUS.
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Lap of AUS.

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    🇦🇺 The District Council of Lower Eyre Pe…
    Lap of AUS.

    This is living! Farm Beach.

    August 29 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After five nights in Port Lincoln, which was exactly the break we needed, we’ve moved on again. Not far this time — just far enough to find this little beauty: Farm Beach Campground.
    And sometimes the simple camps are the best.
    It’s a small campground, tucked right beside another gorgeous Eyre Peninsula beach. Cheap camping, plenty of sunshine and — rather unexpectedly — flushing toilets! Go figure.
    We’ve also finally had some good news. The Silverado’s long-range fuel tank is confirmed for fitting this Wednesday, so suddenly we have a few days with absolutely nowhere we need to be.
    Perfect.
    So the plan is… there really isn’t much of a plan.
    Kim is inside baking cookies, the sun is shining, the pelicans are cruising around out front, and I’m sitting here contemplating tomorrow’s expedition.
    Because apparently you can drive along this beach.
    Which means tomorrow the Silverado gets its first proper beach run in 4WD. What could possibly go wrong? 🤞🤞😂
    For now though, we’re doing absolutely nothing.
    Free camping. Sunshine. Cookies baking. A beautiful beach out the front.
    Yep.
    This is living. 😎☀️🏖️    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Walking where early explorers did

    August 27 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Port Lincoln is really winning us over. The bays and beaches around this part of the Eyre Peninsula are simply outstanding, and today the weather turned it on.
    So, with blue skies overhead, we decided to become explorers ourselves and tackle the Surfleet Cove and Stamford Hill walks in Lincoln National Park — about 7.5 kilometres all up.
    And this is where the walk became much more than just a walk.
    In 1802, Matthew Flinders and the crew of the Investigator explored these very waters, searching desperately for fresh water. Flinders climbed Stamford Hill to survey the surrounding country, and eventually his party found the precious fresh water they needed.
    But their exploration of this coastline also came at a terrible cost. Several members of Flinders’ crew were lost when a cutter capsized in rough seas nearby. Flinders later named a number of features around the area in memory of the men who died.
    Standing here today, looking across that incredibly calm, blue water, it’s difficult to imagine just how dangerous this coastline could be for those early explorers in small wooden boats.
    We climbed up to the monument on Stamford Hill, stopped to take in the magnificent views across Boston Bay and then made our way back down through the bush.
    About 7.5 kilometres later, we’ve made it safely back to the Chev.
    No crew lost.
    No desperate search for fresh water.
    Just two slightly weary Not So Grey Wanderers sitting in the car park wondering why our legs suddenly feel about 20 years older.
    A really good day of exploring — and another little piece of Australian history discovered along the way.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Exploring Eyre Peninsula.

    August 22 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Seals, Old Towns & Giant Rocks
    We’ve been a bit slack with the travel diary for the last couple of days, so time for a catch-up!
    Yesterday was one of those days where we didn’t have to tow the van anywhere — always a nice change. We left it happily parked at Streaky Bay and headed off exploring.
    First stop was Sceale Bay. A pretty little coastal settlement, although if we’re being fair, it probably wasn’t the highlight of the day. From there we continued around the coast to Cape Labatt, and this one certainly was.
    The viewing platform sits high above the ocean with fantastic views down onto the rocks and beach below, where we could see a colony of Australian sea lions lounging around at the water’s edge. A spectacular coastline and definitely worth the drive.
    Then it was through Baird Bay and on to Calca, an old settlement where there’s not a great deal left these days. The old buildings and church give you just enough to imagine what life must have been like out here when it was a little farming community.
    And then came one of the day’s real curiosities — Murphy’s Haystacks.
    Despite the name, they’re obviously not haystacks at all, but huge weathered granite formations sitting rather unexpectedly in the middle of farmland. Some of the shapes are bizarre, and naturally we wandered around deciding what each one looked like.
    By then sightseeing had worked up an appetite, so it was back to Streaky Bay for a rather late lunch and a quiet afternoon at the caravan park.

    Today we’re moving again. The van is hooked up and we’re making our way south towards Port Lincoln, where we’ll spend the next few nights.
    First stop for the day: Venus Bay. Another little Eyre Peninsula coastal town, another jetty, and another excuse to stop, stretch the legs and have a look around. And it’s really nice.
    We’re in no great hurry. And that, we’re discovering, is one of the best things about travelling this way.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.
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    Fowlers Bay to Streaky Bay.

    August 20 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Windmills, Quarantine & a New Home for a Few Days
    Another very enjoyable travelling day today, and we’ve now made it to Streaky Bay.
    We started the morning with one last wander around Fowlers Bay, including a walk up the huge sand dunes overlooking the town and that very long jetty. What a beautiful little spot — definitely glad we stopped there.
    Then it was on to Penong, where you really can’t drive through without visiting the windmills! There are dozens of them, from little backyard jobs to the enormous “Big Bruce”, claimed to be Australia’s biggest windmill. It’s one of those wonderfully quirky roadside stops that makes travelling slowly worthwhile.
    Next stop was Ceduna, and first order of business was the quarantine checkpoint. We knew it was coming, but still had to surrender some of our vegetables. Oh well… straight into town to buy replacements!
    With the quarantine formalities done, we fuelled up, restocked, grabbed some lunch and had a quick wander around Ceduna and the foreshore before pointing the rig south towards Streaky Bay.
    The traffic was light, the roads were good and the scenery made for a really pleasant drive.
    And now we’re here — Streaky Bay, where we’re staying put for a few nights. The van is parked, there’s no big drive tomorrow, and we’ve got a whole new part of the Eyre Peninsula to explore.
    After crossing the Nullarbor, it feels rather nice to stop for a while!
    Tonight: Streaky Bay. Tomorrow: exploring rather than driving!    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Across the border and into the past.

    August 18 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Cocklebiddy to Koonalda Homestead
    Last night was Cocklebiddy, and after arriving mid-afternoon we took advantage of having some civilisation around us to catch up on a bit of admin, check emails and generally reconnect with the outside world.
    Then came the important stuff.
    A beer and a chicken parmi.
    During the night, though, the weather decided to make things interesting. A storm blew through with some seriously strong winds giving the caravan a good shake. Thankfully everything was still where we’d left it when morning arrived!
    We were on the road by about 8:30 — WA adjusted time, which over here means somebody has decided to sneak the clocks forward by 45 minutes. Just to keep travellers confused. 😂
    First stop was Mundrabilla, and for once the wind was our friend.
    With a beautiful tailwind pushing us east, the Silverado was showing around 19 litres per 100km while towing.
    NINETEEN!
    I nearly took a photo of the dashboard as proof.
    Then came Eucla, and this was one of those stops that reminded us why we’re trying not to simply race across the Nullarbor.
    We walked through the sand dunes to the ruins of the old Telegraph Station, slowly being reclaimed by the landscape, and then continued down to the remains of the old jetty.
    Standing there looking at what’s left, surrounded by sand, scrub and the Southern Ocean, you can’t help wondering what life must have been like out here all those years ago.
    It must have been tough.
    After a bite of lunch, it was time for another little milestone.
    Goodbye Western Australia. Hello South Australia!
    Naturally, the obligatory border photo was required before we continued east, with another stop along the coast to take in our first proper views across the Great Australian Bight.
    And tonight we’ve taken another little detour off the highway.
    We’re camped at Koonalda Homestead, surrounded by the remnants of another chapter of Nullarbor history.
    The old buildings are still here, the stories are everywhere, and tomorrow morning we’ll have a proper wander around and see what we can discover.
    Days like today are exactly why we didn’t make much of an itinerary.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Koonalda to Fowlers Bay.

    August 18 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Whales, Wrecks & a Lot of History
    What a great day on the Nullarbor!
    Last night we had plenty of time to wander around Koonalda Homestead, exploring the old buildings and trying to imagine what life must have been like out here when this was a working station and an important stop for travellers crossing the Nullarbor.
    This morning, before leaving, we went for another wander — this time through the famous Koonalda car graveyard. Rows of old Holdens, Fords and other long-forgotten vehicles are slowly rusting back into the landscape. You can’t help wondering about the story behind each one. How did it end up here? Who was driving it? And at what point did they decide, “Yep… she’s not going any further!”
    We also checked out the Koonalda blowhole, (hard to find) another reminder that underneath this seemingly endless flat country is an enormous limestone landscape full of caves and underground passages.
    Our drive east started in misty, almost eerie conditions, but gradually the sky cleared and we made our way to one of the places we’d really been looking forward to — Head of the Bight.
    And the whales didn’t disappoint!
    We stood high above that incredible blue water watching southern right whales cruising below the cliffs. Seeing them in the wild, against the backdrop of the Great Australian Bight, was pretty special and definitely one of those moments we’ll remember from this trip. ( check out the video when the notsogreywanderers episode happens).
    From there we continued east and this afternoon we’ve arrived at Fowlers Bay.
    Another terrific day’s travelling — old homesteads, rusty cars, underground caves, whales and some spectacular Nullarbor scenery.
    Not bad for a day’s wandering!
    Tonight: Fowlers Bay. Tomorrow… we keep heading east.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Let the wandering continue

    August 16 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Day 4 – South of Coolgardie to Newman Rocks
    Yesterday began at exactly the sort of pace we’re hoping to get used to.
    Slowly.
    After another very pleasant night in the bush, there was certainly no rush to leave, and it was after 9:30 before we finally had the vans hitched and were back on the road.
    First stop was Norseman, where the Village Grocer provided a few essentials. More importantly, we picked up the tokens for the RV water point.
    Water tanks filled. ✔️
    Toilet cassette emptied. ✔️
    Groceries topped up. ✔️
    Ahhh… the glamorous life of travelling Australia.
    With all the important housekeeping taken care of, we finally turned onto the Eyre Highway and started heading east again.
    We stopped for lunch at Buldania Rocks (Puljanya), a sacred place for the Ngadju people. The granite rockholes here were important sources of water and the area was traditionally used for hunting, gathering food and ceremony.
    It’s one of those places that would be very easy to drive straight past — but that’s exactly what we’re trying not to do on this trip.
    Then it was back onto the highway and on to Newman Rocks, where we found ourselves another beautiful bush camp for the night.
    The chairs came out, the fire was lit and once again we settled in under a huge Western Australian sky.
    Kim produced another terrific dinner — she’s setting a dangerously high standard this early in the trip — and the evening disappeared around the campfire.
    We’re only a few days into this adventure, but something is already changing.
    We’re starting to slow down.
    We’re starting to stop simply because somewhere looks interesting.
    And we’re starting to realise that not having much of a plan might actually be the best part of the plan.
    Tomorrow, further east.
    The Nullarbor is calling.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.
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    The Great Trek East Continues

    August 15 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Day 3 – Merredin to somewhere south of Coolgardie
    Another day, another step east.
    We left Merredin at a respectable hour, but there was one important piece of unfinished business before we could possibly continue…
    The bakery.
    After yesterday’s re-discovery of what I declared to be the best vanilla slice I’ve ever had, it seemed only sensible to go back and make absolutely sure.
    Research complete, we pointed the rigs east along the Great Eastern Highway. It was a pretty relaxed drive, apart from what seemed like an endless succession of roadworks along the way.
    Eventually we rolled into Coolgardie, where we caught up over coffee with Colin and Ann, friends of Phil and Deb. A nice little break before the next important travelling ritual — finding fuel.
    The only service station open was operating, but unfortunately its supply of 91 wasn’t. They’d run out.
    Perhaps that silly 91-litre tank in the Silverado is going to provide more entertainment on this trip than I’d anticipated. 😂
    From Coolgardie we turned south towards Norseman and, about 30 kilometres down the road, found ourselves a terrific little roadside bush camp.
    And this is exactly what we’d imagined this trip might be like.
    Four chairs around a campfire, a beautiful sunset through the gums, an incredible night sky overhead and absolutely nowhere we needed to be.
    Kim cooked us a lovely chicken casserole, the fire crackled away and the temperature dropped as we settled in for the evening.
    No bookings. No itinerary. No powered site.
    Just good friends, good food, a campfire and the Australian bush.
    This wandering business is starting to feel pretty good.
    Tomorrow… we keep heading south towards Norseman, and then the Nullarbor starts getting very close indeed.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.

    Eastward Bound… with a Vanilla Slice

    August 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Day 2 – Gnaarla Mia to Merredin
    Yesterday was one of those nice, easy travelling days.
    We packed up at Gnaarla Mia and continued east, gradually settling into this new life on the road.
    First priority was fuel at Corrigin. The Silverado may be a big American truck, but for some inexplicable reason Chevrolet decided a 91-litre fuel tank was plenty.
    It isn’t.
    At least not when you’re towing a big caravan across Australia and the fuel gauge seems to move considerably faster than the scenery.
    Fuel anxiety temporarily dealt with, we continued on to Merredin, where another very important stop was required — the bakery.
    And there I re-discovered what I am prepared to call the best vanilla slice I’ve ever had.
    Big statement. I stand by it.
    Our home for the night was the 24-hour rest stop at the old dam in Merredin. Nothing fancy, but a pleasant spot to pull up and call home for the evening.
    By mid-afternoon our travelling buddies Phil and Deb rolled in and joined us, and the four of us settled in for a very pleasant evening together.
    Not every day of this trip is going to be about spectacular scenery or bucket-list destinations.
    Sometimes it’s simply a good drive, good company and an outstanding vanilla slice.
    And that’s perfectly okay with us.
    Today, we keep pointing the bonnet east.    Read more

  • Lap of AUS.
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    Our first day.

    August 13 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    And… we’re off!
    13 August 2026 — Day 1 of our Lap of Australia
    After two fairly frantic days of packing, cleaning, sorting, checking, rearranging… and then checking everything again, today was surprisingly simple.
    We hooked up the new Vecto, climbed into the new Silverado and drove away.
    And just like that, something that has been sitting on the bucket list for years became real.
    The strange thing is — we don’t really know where we’re going.
    Well, we know we’re heading east. And we know we have to be in Melbourne by early December. But between here and there?
    That’s about it.
    Every other time we’ve hooked up a caravan or camper trailer, we’ve had a destination, an itinerary and a pretty good idea of what was coming next.
    Not this time.
    There’s something slightly daunting about leaving home knowing you won’t be back for a very long time, with no real plan beyond a direction on the compass.
    But it’s also incredibly exciting.
    Our first day wasn’t about covering huge kilometres or finding somewhere spectacular. It was simply about getting underway, settling into the rhythm of towing again and realising…
    We’re actually doing it.
    Tonight we’re tucked away amongst the trees, the van is set up, the rush of the last few days is behind us, and the adventure is finally underway.
    We’re still pinching ourselves.
    Australia is a very big place.
    Let’s see where wandering takes us.
    The Not So Grey Wanderers are officially on the road.    Read more

    Trip start
    August 13, 2026