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Aus Half Lap 2024

July 2024 – January 2025
  • Debra Pritchard
The tales of Ben, Deb, Eva and Millie as they travel around SA, NT and WA in a caravan 😊 Read more
  • Debra Pritchard

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  • Australia Australia
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Camper, Camping, Family, Hiking, Wilderness
  • 20.2kkilometers traveled
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  • Caravan19.5kkilometers
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  • 181days
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  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024

    Temora

    Jul 16–20, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    And we're off! In true Deb and Ben style, we left Canberra in a frenzy, pulling out of the driveway at 3.02pm literally as the first Airbnb guests were due to arrive. Having completed 976 of the tasks on the to-do list, there were still some things left undone- but the time had come to go and they would have to wait for now.

    First stop Temora, to see Deb's folks.
    We arrived in the early evening in the dark and the rain, perfect conditions for our first real setup. Lucky we had some helpful and friendly hosts with a level backyard to help us out.
    This was our first night of everyone sleeping in the van, and the kids were excited to be in their bunks beds.

    We stayed here a few days to gather ourselves, get some help installing the diesel heater and becoming more acquainted with our set up while still having access to creature comforts. Deb also had her first days of working on the road, fortunately making use of a home office setup in Mardie and Pa's house.

    Had a chance to see the new house mum and dad are building, nice to see progress happening.

    We left Saturday lunch-ish, with a few false starts. We also had a tunnel boot door fly off on the highway due to some dodgy hinges breaking, only becoming aware when a ute pulled alongside us to let us know. Lucky they told us, and lucky no one was invited and nothing was damaged!

    After a drive of a few hours, we arrived at our freecamp for the night.    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024

    Mamanga/Yanga campground

    Jul 21–22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    A secluded tranquil campsite surrounded by eucalyptus, directly alongside the Murray river. The kids were excited for the Roo Roos grazing around us. 'Will they be here for breakfast?' they wondered. Aside from the kangaroos, not another soul to be seen here.Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024

    Mildura

    Jul 22–27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    On arrival a lovely outdoor cafe lunch by the river and playground frivolities.

    Stayed 5 nights in Mildura NRMA Riverside caravan park. Last major stop to get some (expensive!) modifications and minor repairs to the van, and make last big purchases like our new Ziggy bbq.

    Deb worked Wed and Thurs. Bit of a task to try and get the Starlink up and running - too many disconnections as our van site had us parked under trees, and the wind and rain weren't especially helpful. Ended up just relying on phone internet, will have to try the Starlink again at our next stop as we won't be able to rely on phone the more remote we get.

    Multiple trips to Bunnings, supermarkets, Kmart, camping stores and I think we're set! Well, we've decided no more purchases aside from food, fuel and accommodation. unless absolutely essential for the time being.

    Friday, our last full day in Mildura, we all went out to Benetook farm, a local farm and produce store/cafe who support the local community and employ adults with disabilities to help around the farm. We had lovely weather and a lovely few hours there. We had fun meeting the guinea pigs and feeding the chickens (although Millie was by her own admission 'very scared' when we first entered the chicken yard and were swamped by hundreds of eager hens), playing on the playground, riding the bikes, go carts and novelty 4 wheeler family bikes, playing mini golf, and exploring the hedge maze.

    Finally pulled out of town around 11.30am and by 12.30 had made 3 toilet stops - the effects of eating our entire supply of fresh fruit and vegetables this morning before we enter the SA quarantine zone.    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024

    Hogwash Bend Conservation Park

    Jul 28–30, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    A constant supply of snacks, the secret of all travelling parents of happy kids everywhere. Finally crossed the border into SA!

    Restocked our fruit and veg supply in Renmark, the kids had a turn on the indoor playground - a pirate ship! and then to our resting place for tonight.

    Beautiful freecamp right on the sandy banks of the Murray for the night, just beyond Waikerie. Kids loving digging in the sand and the prospect of a campfire tonight.

    Decided to stay a 2nd night here as we're right in the river, and to give the kids a down day with no car travel. Also great opportunity to test out the new BBQ- it's a winner!

    We took a leisurely walk along the river until we reached the private property of the nearby winery estate - a shame no direct access to a cellar door from here 😊 Stunning cliff faces lining the Murray on the other side of the river, a few lucky homeowners situated right atop overlooking the river and beyond.    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024
    21

    Stony Creek Bush Camp

    Jul 29–Aug 2, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Scenic trip through the range to arrive at Stony Creek Bush Camp for 4 nights, just outside the historic town of Wilmington. Lovely little spot with a playground and camp kitchen with indoor games for the kids, and very friendly hosts and neighbours who are keen for a chat.

    Work for Deb Tuesday while the kids and Ben explored the campground, before Deb and the kids went in search of fairies in the rocky creek bed surrounded by mossy forest.

    Met a lovely older couple from Victor Harbour who are doing 10 days away running in their new New Age Manta Ray doing a loop out to nearby Quorn. Aside from these guys we've virtually had the place to ourselves for our stay, with only a couple of other vans in for an overnight stop, and a few staying in the makeshift shopping container cabins.

    Wednesday a picnic lunch followed by a walk out Mount Remarkable National Park. We opted to walk the Alligator Gorge trail, a 2hr return trip through The Narrows, the gorge created by spectacular red cliffs on either side with a narrow rocky track down the middle. The kids did excellently, and both made us proud climbing the steep final stairway out of the gorge on their own steam. We passed another family of five, with a 2 year old daughter Millie (Amelia), with the same pink school backpack (and fiercely independent insistence on walking) as our Millie 😊 A wonderful day topped off with icecreams on the way home.

    Here another day tomorrow while I work, then off Friday morning headed north west toward Coober Pedy. I've been pleasantly surprised that once figured out the Starlink internet setup has been a solid performer for all-day video calls. Phew!

    We've enjoyed our quiet time here, and definitely took advantage of the onsite pizzas made by Karen the owner while here, delicious!    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024

    Port Augusta

    August 2, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Stopped in Port Augusta for lunch, a play and groceries. Perhaps our biggest grocery bill of all time today?! But we are laden with food that should last us for a while🤞 (Although the snack supply does dwindle very quickly!)

    Picked up some extra blankets for kids' bunks in the slim hope they might stay in them all night - 4 people in a queen bed has not been conducive to great sleep 🙈    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024
    11

    Lake Hart

    Aug 2–3, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Overnight stop in a rest area looking over Lake Hart with stunning sunset views heading toward Coober Pedy. Nearby to Woomera, known for military testing - some ominous signs warning us to stay out of protected zones close down to the lake's edge.

    The kids loved building a little house and complex complete with flag out of sticks and sand atop the lookout as we watched the sun go down.

    A hilarious development in Millie's toilet training is that she is now very insistent on 'privacy please' - a shame it doesn't go both ways 😂 And also difficult to offer her privacy as we can't trust her not to flush to toilet over and over and run the risk of overflow - learned that the hard way 🤦‍♀️

    Met some friendly folk heading back home to Adelaide after an 8 week trip up to Darwin, lots of helpful advice and tips around places to go and things to see and do.    Read more

  • Debra PritchardTravelerAus Half Lap 2024
    1111

    Coober Pedy

    Aug 3–6, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Arrived into Coober Pedy in the early afternoon of Saturday, and checked into our caravan park. First stop the playground after getting set up. We met a family of 2 adults and a 9yr old son from Melbourne 1 week into their 6 month half lap, with a similar itinerary to us. They're only here tonight then heading to stay in underground accommodation the next night. Maybe we'll bump into them again somewhere along the way.

    Sunday morning we woke to the pitter patter of steady rain. We were booked for Tom's Working Mine Tour in the morning so headed out into the rain and mud for the short drive to the mine. Current owner Tony (who bought it from Tom 4 years ago) walked us through the various tunnels and dug out rooms of the mine for several hours, regaling us with (questionably culturally insensitive) stories of opal mining, hitting the big time then losing it all, price haggling and the local town over the years. We all got to wear hardhats, with small hats for the kids - even dogs were catered for with tiny little helmets provided for any furry friends joining the tour. The kids got to use their black-light torches to search for glowing opal in nooks and crevices, and collect it all up to be 'sold' back later to Tony for gold coins, chocolates and lollipops. This was the highlight for Eva and Millie, followed closely by the strawberry milk and scones provided at the end of the tour.

    We spent a slow afternoon back at the van site, with some muddy puddle exploration and wet playground action. Homemade pizzas for dinner were a hit, and we continued our tradition of checking in with the Olympics action for the day on the TV, which the kids have been enjoying.

    A work day for Deb, with the lunch break spent practicing tennis with the kids. Not heading to the Olympics any time soon - certainly not with a racket at least.

    A mid afternoon finish for Deb meant we had time to visit Josephine's gallery and kangaroo sanctuary, where we got to feed some rescue roos and a little tiny 6month old joey called Chloe who had just been brought in this week. We all got the offer of cuddles but the girls were a bit shy, so Deb took the chance to smuggle with Chloe ❤️

    Off to the famous Big Winch pub/restaurant for dinner to watch the sun set over Coober Pedy for our last night and not didn't disappoint. On our way home we detoured via 2 underground churches, the Serbian the more impressive and grand of them.    Read more

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