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McDermotts Travel Oz
McDermotts Travel Oz

McDermotts Travel Oz

We haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on our list. Read more🇦🇺Sydney
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  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    One Mile Beach NSW

    April 25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Anzac Day xx

    Sadly a wet morning kept us indoors. But our veterans were front of mind as always on this special day.

    As the morning matured into a sunny day we headed for One Mile Beach, with a short detour up Gan Gan Lookout.

    The beach was fabulous with consistent waves providing just the right amount of excitement without any current. We spent a good few hours enjoying the last of summer.

    Returning to the vans our happy hour rolled into dinner, followed by some star gazing as the lights went out.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    Fingal Bay NSW

    April 24 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Loving the last days of ‘summer’ 🤩

    After a cooked breakfast, the skies cleared and we headed to Fingal Bay one of our favourite beaches. After an energetic swim, Dan, Helen, Anthony and I walked the length of the beach out the the spit and back before heading back to the van for a late lunch and quiet afternoon.

    Later in the evening us adults walked down to Zenith in Shoal Bay for a fire a cooked seafood platter, whilst the kids got takeaway pizza and ate in the park opposite. Nice that were can trust them to look after themselves now.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler
    2

    Shoal Bay NSW

    April 23 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    A quick, albeit wet, trip down the highway from Valla Beach back to Shoal Bay for the next few nights, stopping for lunch at the Artisan Farmer just south of Nabiac. Highly recommend the Waygu steak sandwich 😋Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    Coffs Harbour NSW

    April 22 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Having anticipated rain we headed to Coffs Harbour for the day expecting to find indoor activities, but happily it turned out BOM was wrong so we pivoted to check out the good old Big Banana (again).

    After finally reaching the front of the queue, then waiting some more for a red bellied black to snake to be cleared from the track, we rode the short and somewhat slow toboggan down the hill. Definitely no comparison to the thrilling Thredbo slide!

    An iconic frozen choc coated banana later and we were off to explore the marina jetty and Fisherman’s Co-op for lunch, before the boys hit their way through 150 golf balls at the local driving range.

    To finish our stay in the Nambucca Valley we took advantage of schnitzel night at the Nambucca RSL Club.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    Urunga, Bellingen & Dorrigo NSW

    April 20 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Happy Easter 🐣

    After a cooked breakfast and an obligatory Easter egg hunt (never too old) we headed for brunch at the Old Butter Factory in Bellingen. I highly recommend the scones, but no so much the watermelon juice.

    After a quick sqiz through town, we headed on up the road, the bit the hadn’t washed down the hill, to Dorrigo where we explored the Rainforest Centre and iconic skywalk. Unlike our 2018 attempt, this time the skies were clear and we could see out over the canopy. Actually somewhat underwhelming.

    Next up we quickly checked out Dangar Falls before heading back down the mountain to Urunga where we stopped for a refreshing swim at the new Lido - it would have been good at a higher tide. Nevertheless the boys had fun and we wandered out the 800m boardwalk past the breakwall, through the mangroves and out to the ‘elephant graveyard’, a washed up collection of driftwood on the beach front.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    Valla Beach NSW

    April 18 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Nostalgia much!

    It’s been 30+ years since I’ve been here, and apart from some new subdivisions heading in and more permanent park residents, Valla Beach Resort is still very much as I remember from a kid.

    After a quick set up we headed over the ‘new’ footbridge to the beach - only to discover enormous 4+ metre waves barrelling into shore. The constant RFS aerial patrol confirmed swimming was not an option.

    A leisurely stroll along the beach to the lagoon entrance, where we enjoyed a swim and explored the rocky outcrop at Valla Beach.

    We ended a genuinely Good Friday with fish and chips at Nambucca Heads.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzEaster - Anzac 2025Traveler

    Buladelah NSW

    April 17 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Escaping Sydney before the masses tomorrow!

    After a bit of traffic congestion to get out of Sydney, we found our way to free camping (well, cheap camping) at Buladelah Showgrounds, with dinner at the Bowling Club next door. A great little overnight stop.Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Home Sweet Home

    January 18 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Where the Blue Gums are growing and the Murrumbidgee’s flowing beneath the sunny sky…

    Before hitting the road for our final leg to home we enjoyed a slow cooked breakfast from the original Niagara Cafe in the main street of Gundagai. First established in 1902, it has a fascinating history, including once hosting wartime Prime Minister John Curtin and his War Cabinet for a hearty midnight meal of steak and eggs in 1942. And yes, we can confirm it still offers old fashioned service!

    Gundagai really is more than just a dog on a tucker box. Who knew?

    As we neared Sydney we found the rain and cold that we had otherwise avoided for our entire trip. We feel very blessed for the amazing weather we’ve had until now when it really doesn’t matter. We’re just grateful to be home safely having enjoyed a wonderful time away 🥰

    P.S. We definitely haven’t missed the Sydney traffic or impatient city drivers. Give me the country any day!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Gundagai NSW

    January 17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    On the road to Gundagai… we stopped at the quaint little heritage town of Rutherglen to round out our tour of east coast wine regions. This trip, we’ve now covered the Riverina, Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and Rutherglen Regions. Mmm😋🍷

    Just a quick stop this time at two of the most identifiable wineries - DeBortoli Estate and Campbells Wines, the latter being a trip down memory lane for Dan and Helen who celebrated Claire’s arrival with a bottle of their ‘Liquid Gold’ over 16 years ago xx

    For lunch we checked out Parker Pies in the main street of Rutherglen. Although not cheap, we all agreed they were possibly the best pies we’ve had anywhere in the country, or at least on par with Mt Barker Bakery in WA. So good, we definitely recommend if passing through 😋

    Tonight we’re at Gundagai Tourist Park in an undercover drive-through ensuite site. It’s a bit of a novelty, kind of like camping in a carport, though I have to admit not very outdoorsy. In our defense we booked it when they were predicting the supercell that smashed the east coast two nights ago. It would have been perfect in a storm, but happily our run of ideal summer weather continues. “Positive vibes” to the end.

    We ended the night with Dan’s Amazing Road Trip ‘Have You Been Paying Attention’ quiz where we all recounted our favourite experiences.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Thong Tree VIC

    January 16 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    We’ve previously painted a rock on the Port Macquarie breakwall, now under the cover of darkness we’ve added to the Thong Tree on the Echuca River Walk.

    Thanks to Josh for donating his old blowouts. It doesn’t get more Aussie than that! #mcdermottstraveloz #leavingourmarkRead more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Moama NSW

    January 16 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    After a much needed sleep in, we slowly found our way to the iconic Aussie Beer Shed & Heritage Farm Museum on the outskirts of Echuca, showcasing an eclectic collection of memorabilia from beer cans and all things beer, to old Aussie household items, old petrol bowsers, a Coca Cola collection, old farm machinery, a car shed and even a partially restored WW1 canon.

    The introductory tour by owner and self professed lunatic Neil Thomas was entertaining with quirky stories and audience participation. The kids learnt the truth about pokie machines experiencing first hand the unlikely chances of winning - except for Josh who somehow defied the odds 🤦🏽‍♀️ Apparently the one old demonstration machine, despite daily activity, hasn’t paid out a jackpot in the past 20 years!

    Among the 20,000 odd beer cans from Australia and around the world, we did giggle at the Tennent’s Lager Lovelies range from the 1960s and 1970s. The evocative cans remain one of the most popular promotional campaigns of all time, combining sex appeal with beer in a way that has never been matched - and hopefully never will! I did have to wonder if it was just a coincidence that my name appeared twice 🫢😉

    It was a truly unique tourist attraction rated No. 1 on TripAdvisor 🤨 Plus did I mention I found both how to manage men and the key to happiness 😁 #wheninechuca

    We spent the afternoon at Moama Beach, a lovely recreation reserve on the NSW side of the Murray River, before celebrating our last night in the twin border towns at the American Hotel where ironically we had one of the best Aussie beef steaks of the trip!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Murray River NSW

    January 15 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Today was a real mixed bag of experiences. This morning we explored the Port of Echuca, a living monument to the 1870s when it was the third largest port in Australia, outside Sydney and Melbourne. We even took an authentic paddlesteamer cruise down the river aboard the Pevensy with its original steam engine just as it would have been in ye olden days.

    The historic wharf itself is impressive, towering approximately 10m above the waterline with multiple deck options to accommodate the changing river levels. It originally extended 332m in length in the 1880s but was reconstructed in later years following realignment of the river.

    On returning to the vans we were confronted by an unknown stank, until we discovered the caravan park was conducting free camel rides right next to our campsites. What else were we to do but join the fun - just “don’t bring me down Bruce” 😆🐫

    This afternoon Anthony and the boys hired e-bikes and headed out to the confluence of the Campaspe and Murray Rivers before crossing back over the bridge into NSW to check out Moama Beach. Interestingly, we learnt that following Federation the State border was set at the high water mark on the Victorian side, hence the river itself is technically wholly within NSW.

    We ended the day with dinner at the Shamrock Hotel ☘️ It’s the home of 101 Parmas including the ‘Parmageddon’, a monster 5-stack parma of Biblical proportions where you can win an “I survived Parmageddon” t-shirt if you finish the entire offering. Sensibly we didn’t try, though there’s a possibility one of us may have survived 😝 @Josh    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler
    Mt Sturgeon11

    Echuca VIC

    January 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We couldn’t leave Mt Gambier without trying ScRoll Queen - apparently it’s a Victorian/South Australian thing. A warm savoury scroll served as breakfast while the sweet ones were saved for lunch. I sense a business opportunity in NSW - Yum!

    After crowd sourcing some route info and confirming the recent bushfires were under control, we took the scenic route to the south of the Grampians, a striking mountain range rising out of the middle of sheep and cow paddocks. They definitely made for an impressive backdrop to our travels.

    The route had us zig zagging our way across country Victoria connecting the dots between small towns. In contrast to South Australia most of the dots actually warrant their place on the map with pretty leafy main streets and stately heritage buildings. We stopped for lunch at Ararat under a shady tree with a friendly free range chicken - right outside the hospital for the criminally insane. A perfect photo opportunity, even if J Ward was closed for intakes 🤪

    Somewhere after Ararat our GPS had a conniption sending us on a series of sub-optimal backroads through parts of Victoria we never knew we needed to see!

    At the mercy of the navigator, we eventually rolled into Echuca around 4:30 pm where the awesome NRMA Echuca Holiday Park will be our home for the next three nights. I’m getting Mildura vibes - it’s still 30 degrees at 10:00 pm!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler
    Favourite Son... 🤔😊

    Coonawarra SA

    January 13 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    They say a good day starts with good coffee and ends with good wine… Today was a good day 😊

    After a (not) quick coffee stop at the Metro Bakery in Mt Gambier (credit though to their sourdough loaf) we headed north towards the wine growing region of Coonawarra, famed for its age-worthy reds and strip of terra rossa ('red soil') – one of the most valuable patches of earth in Australian wine🍷

    Our first stop was at Parker Estate, a relative newcomer to the region but a strong contender nonetheless. The kids entertained themselves playing poker on the lawn out front, much to the amusement of staff 😆

    Next up we tasted the offerings at Hollick Estate, a boutique winery renowned for its high-quality wines from both Coonawarra and nearby Wrattonbully. This was a definite winner and our favourite of the day, so much so that we’re now a ‘Friend of Hollick’ and a case of their finest heavier after signing up for their member's deal!

    For lunch we chanced Brand’s Laira cellar door. It had been recommended for their lunch platters, which were good, but after two cracking starts we were uninspired by their wines.

    We promptly moved on to Majella Wines, another excellent recommendation from Dan’s sommelier friend. The friendly and informative service adding to the experience.

    Back at the van the boys enjoyed a good old fashioned water fight before heading to dinner at Mac’s Hotel, where I enjoyed a Majella rosé while Anthony and Dan tried a dessert beer 🤪🍻    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler
    Umpherston Sinkhole, Mt Gambier
    Cave GardenFound the PenguinsBrowne BayLittle Blue Lake

    Mt Gambier SA

    January 12 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Today we explored the geological wonders of Mount Gambier, including the underground garden of Eden at Umpherston Sinkhole, Cave Garden, and dazzling sapphire waters of the famed Blue Lake. Apparently, it only turns blue in November each year and by summer’s end returns to an uninspiring grey colour. We feel fortunate to have seen it at its best!

    It's quite bizarre how the town has evolved around the various sinkholes, lakes and caves, which are quite literally in the middle of the main street.

    As the day warmed up we headed south to Port McDonnell to explore the highlights of this part of the Limestone Coast. We started at Cape Northumberland, the southernmost point of South Australia, before heading east to find the locally recommended swimming spot at Browne Bay. It was a lovely unspoilt beach with beautiful clear turquoise water. To the boys’ delight we joined the parade of 4WDs on the beach. Whilst still not my comfort zone, I have to admit it did save us carrying a lot of gear and made a good wind break for when we returned from the surf 😁

    On the way back to Mt Gambier we detoured via Ewens Ponds, a series of three water-filled limestone sinkholes. From the viewing platform they were a bit underwhelming. Turns out you need a permit to swim/dive the reed-lined ponds.

    Finally we made it to the highlight of the day - Little Blue Lake, a fabulously unique experience, jumping off the 4m high cliff surrounds into the ‘bottomless’ crystal clear fresh water of the sinkhole. The signs said the water was a constant 12 degrees so we were prepared for chill-shock, but happily it was much warmer and we enjoyed a good hour or so in the refreshing water.

    As we sit out at the vans tonight wrapped in our blankets and beanies, red wine in hand, we’re graced with the sweet sounds of Mt Gambier from the paddock next door - “Moo” 🐮😁    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler
    Valley Lake, Mount GambierBlue Lake, Mt Gambier

    Limestone Coast SA

    January 11 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    On the move again today exploring along the Limestone Coast towards Mt Gambier. A pretty drive with Lake Alexandrina on one side, where the mighty Murray River filters out to sea, and pink salt lakes on the other.

    We stopped for lunch in Kingston SE, home of Larry the giant lobster 🦞 At over 17m tall, 15m long and 13m wide, it did make an impressive entry statement. Of course, we posed for a 'shellfie' with the crust-see attraction before moving on. #dadjoke 🤦🏽‍♀️

    At the seafood co-op in town the real deal did look impressive, but at $185 each we settled for the local fish and chips instead. Afterwards we walked along the jetty for as far as our senses could bare before retreating to the relative fresh air of the car, which says a lot after 16 days of travel with three teenage boys 🥴

    By mid afternoon we rolled into Mt Gambier, which we learnt is South Australia’s second largest city. Who would have guessed? Happily, we’re 6,000 years too late for the last volcanic eruption - although it’s not really that long ago in the scheme of things and they tell us it is only dormant 😳

    After settling in at Pine Country Tourist Park, we headed into town for some essential supplies. The town is beautiful boasting many elegant historic homes and buildings. Disappointingly we discovered you can’t actually swim in either of the lakes in town. Although very picturesque and clearly enjoyed by boaters, the signage advised that swimming was not recommended. We therefore spent the afternoon exploring around the recreation precinct before returning for dinner at the vans.

    Did I mention it’s cold tonight 🥶    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    McLaren Vale SA

    January 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    This afternoon Dan, Helen, Anthony and I ventured into the beautiful McLaren Vale Region, while the kids stayed back and enjoyed the pool, putt-putt and other on-site activities at the caravan park.

    After finding our way to the highly recommended Samuel’s Gorge Winery we settled in around an old wine barrel under the shade of a big outdoor umbrella to enjoy the tastings. The Piñata chilled white was a good way to start but the heroes were of course the reds and we came away again with a standout Grenache and Shiraz. We love discovering little known gems.

    Next door we also checked out Chapel Hill Wines. It was fancy but felt more commercial and didn’t appeal to us as much.

    Back at the vans we enjoyed a lazy dinner of cheese, crackers, kranskies and an amazing cherry pie (thanks Helen) followed by a ridiculous game of ‘Dumb Questions’ where we all learnt way too much about each other 😆    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzPort Lincoln SA 2025Traveler

    Hahndorf SA

    January 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today we relived a fond memory from our 2017 road trip, indulging in not one but two German platters at the Hahndorf Inn. The huge pork knuckles, schnitzels, kranskies, ribs, meatballs, sauerkraut, potato salad, pretzels, mash and pickles were no match for hungry McDermotts! We conquered effortlessly 😋

    We also perused the main street with its eclectic offerings of German fare. It was as pretty as we remembered with its beautiful established trees and historic buildings.

    Fun Fact: As Australia's oldest German town, Hahndorf experienced intense anti-German feelings during World War I and the name was changed to Ambleside by a 1917 Act of Parliament. It wasn’t until the 1935 Nomenclature Act that the town was allowed to return to Hahndorf.    Read more

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