The Hollis' Big Lap

April 2023 - June 2024

An open-ended adventure by Nicole Read more

Currently traveling

154footprints
1countries
438days
2.6kphotos
92videos
45.8kkilometers
37.3kkilometers
480kilometers
38kilometers
0kilometers

Follow Calendar Share Bucket list

Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 2, 2023, 10:54 AM
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 26 m
- Australia New South Wales Fair Winds Cumbalum Dip -28.825849, 153.51304128°49’33” S 153°30’47” E
Day 1
First leg
April 2, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Stayed with mum and dad before we headed off on the Big Lap
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 8, 2023, 11:00 AM
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 673 m
- Australia New South Wales Inverell Gum Flat -29.786662, 150.95805129°47’12” S 150°57’29” E
Day 7
Inverell - Des and Pats
April 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Catching up with Uncle Des and Aunty Pat

We had an awesome times catching up with them, we hadn't seen them since Lila's first Xmas in 2013 so almost 10 years. It was just so great to see what they have done to the place and see all the animals old and new.

We enjoyed exploring the farm in the old landcruiser. Des took us on a great tour and almost got us bogged at one point 🤣

We headed out to Copeton Dam, we hadn't been before and it was so big. The girls really enjoyed exploring in the car. The lunch wasn't too bad either.Read more
1 like
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 11, 2023, 10:02 AM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 132 m
- Australia New South Wales Walgett Lightning Ridge -29.425437, 147.99499129°25’32” S 147°59’42” E
Day 10
Lightning Ridge with The Moss'
April 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Stayed at Big 4 Lighnting Ridge with Dan, Suzi, Ayla and Mia

We have a fantastic time at the Ridge with our cousins and saw so many amazing things over the last three days. We did a lot of exploring but there was still so much to see. Some highlights included

The Grawin - The Club in the Scrub
The World Famous Glengarry Hilton
Sheep Yard Inn
Chambers of the Black Hand
John Murry Art Gallery
Amigo's Castle
Beer Can and Bottle House
Stanley the Emu

The girls even found some colour 😁

You may see us again Lightning Ridge!!Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 15, 2023, 2:21 PM
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 274 m
- Australia New South Wales Dubbo -32.246593, 148.60137232°14’48” S 148°36’5” E
Day 14
Dubbo - Day 1 - Dubbo Zoo
April 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
On our first day we ventured to the Dubbo Zoo, it was wonderful so many animals we hadn't seen before. My favourite was the cheetahs we were so close to them, just amazing
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 16, 2023, 9:30 AM
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 302 m
- Australia New South Wales Wellington Apsley -32.62083, 148.93810832°37’15” S 148°56’17” E
Day 15
Day 2 Wellington Caves & Goal
April 16, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today we explored the Wellington Caves - Cathedral Caves it was so beautiful, we learnt about the mega animals bones that were found there and that the whole area was practically all Caves.

We stopped off at Burrendong Dam for a quick sausage sizzle with a breathtaking view.

Lastly, Lila, Kensie and I headed to the Old Dubbo Goal. It was really interesting and the stories that we were told were incredible. Such a different life back then, the hardship was unimaginable.

We finished our day with a lovely dinner with the Mel and Coop at The Garden Hotel.Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 17, 2023, 4:03 PM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 109 m
- Australia New South Wales Bourke Darling River -30.091443, 145.9429930°5’29” S 145°56’35” E
Day 16
Bourke catching up with Mel
April 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Stayed at the Kidman's Camp RV Park. Very expensive but we had a lovely time catching up with Mel, Matt and Coop. We visited the Back O' Bourke Tourist Information centre for Brekky it was lovely. We saw a Cotton Farm on the way out of town and almost ran over some goats (not really but we did have to slow down while they crossed the road).Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 18, 2023, 2:12 PM
- 🌩️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 246 m
- Australia New South Wales Cobar -31.498327, 145.83444431°29’54” S 145°50’4” E
Day 17
Bourke to Emmdale
April 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌩️ 24 °C
We travelled from Bourke to Emmdale today. We were going to stay in Cobar with Paul Lawson's Aunty and Uncle (they were real country folk and we enjoyed having a cuppa and a chat with them, they were lovely people and Im so glad we stop in to say hi) we decided to travel to a tiny little town called Emmdale. There wasn't much to see at Emmdale, it was pretty much just a roadhouse and some very nasty prickles so we didn't venture out.Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 19, 2023, 8:34 AM
- 🌩️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 74 m
- Australia New South Wales Central Darling Emmdale -31.651257, 144.2683431°39’5” S 144°16’6” E
Day 18
Emmdale to Cockburn
April 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌩️ 15 °C
We got moving early from Emmdale and made our way through Wilcannia and onto Little Topar for Breakfast, we saw a beautiful brown Tibetan Mastiff, I wish i took a pic with the girls. We had a quick pitstop to see Matty Taylor's mates at a pub at Broken Hill. We also bought some stamps for our postcards geez $1.20 for a stamp now....crazy town!! We ended up stopping for the night at Cockburn which is a lovely but extremely small town on the NSW and SA border. The chap running the pub/caravan park was also travelling but decided to be at caretaker at the pub for a few months to try and get it up and running. No much to see but we did meet Stuart who had decided to do a big lap on his push bike!! What an adventure but not for me but maybe Micky would do it... He was 3 weeks into his journey and came from Sydney, so not a bad run. Hats off to you Stuart.Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 20, 2023, 2:47 PM
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- Australia South Australia Port Augusta Port Augusta West Disraeli Square -32.490876, 137.76398832°29’27” S 137°45’50” E
Day 19
Port Augusta
April 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Well what a fantastic little port town. We enjoy exploring this little place, it wasn't very big but the things they had were amazing.

The girls and I enjoyed the view from the Water Tower, well actually Lila not so much...she is terribly afraid of heights...anywho the view was amazing and the 3 flights of stairs were my workout for the week.

We also ventured out to the Tunnel of Time at the Wadlata Outback Centre, I wasn't confident that it would be any good but I must say we were pleasantly surprised. The walk started at the beginning of time when the large animals ruled the lands to the dreamtime and how the aboriginals lived and survived. We learnt about all of the explorers that paved the way for civilisation, which included a great rail exhibit.

The old way we communicated, switchboards, Morse code, pedal cart were pretty cool. The girls played with them for ages.

There was so much to see and learn it was a great day for all.

On our last day we decided to head to the Australian Arid Botancial Gardens. There weren't many flowers but we still had a great time learning about the different plants. The Sturt's Desert Peas were so beautiful, I didn't realise they were so small but they were just spectacular. If I could bottle them up and bring them home I would...though I'd probably just kill them 😫Read more
2 likes
Traveler The Hollis' Big Lap
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Apr 23, 2023, 4:11 PM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia South Australia Streaky Bay Smoke House Bay -32.779652, 134.20453232°46’47” S 134°12’16” E
Day 22
Streaky Bay
April 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Well Streaky Bay was well worth the stop. We had a top notch site and as soon as we got there the girls grab the boogie boards and togs and headed straight for the Bay. It was a bit chilly from all accounts but the girls had a great time.

We headed to the wharf for a fish. Not much around but Greg and Kensie caught a couple of little whackers...lucky buggers!

We finished the day off with pizza and chips...delicious!Read more
2 likes