• Andrea McClure
  • Andrea McClure

Year off around Australia

Roger and I setting off in the Dmax Ute with our Goldstream caravan in tow to explore our country Weiterlesen
  • Regatta Point in Canberra ACT

    25. April in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Drive here to find caravan parking while we stop and check out Canberra and Region Visitor Centre. On our drive through Canberra suburbs to reach here, I'm enjoying my glimpses of this city. This spot here is beside water Lake Burley Griffin - looking across at Parliament House. We go stock up on Tourist brochures for ideas of what we'll try for while we're here in Canberra. I also purchase my souvenir hatpin and some Junee licorice. We're now ready to have some lunch - we decide to go and 'make camp' at where we'll be staying. Exhibition Park campground here we come!Weiterlesen

  • Exhibition Park Campground Canberra ACT

    25. Apr.–3. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Follow instructions to get here (off Flemington Rd, enter Gate 2 to find Camping Office) which we do. Lovely lady in the office, books us in and gives us our campsite number and explains how we get there etc. We drive around in the Park until we get to our site No.86. Wow - plenty of room on this site! Happily get ourselves set up, awning and mat in use. Then we have lunch - sandwich for Roger, yoghurt and banana for me. Relax about camp for the afternoon. Roger calls Robert - to say G'day and check on our mail. I make up some cheese and nibbles to have with our afternoon drink (ginger beer). In the meantime Rog has come across on a local marketplace (on his mobile) a couple of fold up bikes he'd like us to go check out. After arranging a time to meet (5.30pm) - off we go for a drive. Turns out - we don't get these bikes - decide to save up for electric ones! Nice drive about, and Roger has topped up his cash (found an ATM). We return to camp and Roger cooks up tea - chicken snitzels with boiled vegetables. Dessert not required. I ate the licorice (let Rog have a couple of pieces) earlier today. Roger has his shower (in van) and I do the dishes. Now time to relax (write this up) before bed.
    26/04/25 Saturday. Roger and I get up around 7.30am. There is a market happening at this Park this morning so I hold off on breakfast, and go and have a shower at the amenities block. When I return I get organised to go to the market, Roger happy to come too. We get back to camp after an hour or so. Now get ready to go driving - we plan to check out a nearby lookout and then go visit the War Memorial. Roger packs our lunch - cheese and vegemite sandwiches and fruit. We head off on our day trip around 9.30am. We return after a beaut day out at 5.30pm. I'm happy to get straight to making pumpkin soup for our tea - using the nice fresh produce we got from the market this morning. Soup is tasty and goes well with the sour dough bread Rog purchased at the market too. Roger goes and has his shower (to amenities block tonight) while I get caught up in reading (starting) 'Judy A Dog in A Million' that I purchased today at the War Memorial gift shop. Roger returns and reads for a while, before going to bed. Not enough dishes for me to worry about washing them tonight, so I read for a while longer before getting to write this up. Bedtime next.
    27/04/25 Sunday. I get up first, but return to bed to read until 8am, Roger gets up at our 'normal' 7.30am. We decide we'll do some washing when we get back from our day's outing - so I strip and change our bedding before I have a leisurely breakfast. Once we're tidied up and organised- we leave here around 9.45am.
    We return at 4pm - in time for Roger to go and put 2 loads of washing on. I'm hiding in our caravan happily, as I've changed into my PJs so my outfit I was wearing could be washed too. It's getting cold outside so I'm content to be indoors - updating my budget books and continuing to read the book I got yesterday. Roger is making up pizzas for tea - he's panfrying some chicken to use as the meat in the toppings. The pizzas are good. We don't worry about dessert - Roger's not hungry now and I've had a couple of hotcross buns (my 1st for this year) earlier, when we 1st got back. Roger goes and has his shower, I continue reading my book. Then I wash the dishes, now writing this up before bed.
    28/04/25 Monday. Roger up and about 7.30am, I read in bed until 8am. We have our breakfasts and tidy up to be ready to go out day tripping. We leave around 9am.
    We get back at 4pm and I head straight over to get our dry washing off the clothesline. Roger does some maintenance on the ute's back window protection. I get back and sort and put away the washing, before getting the silverside started in the Thermomix for tea tonight. Now decide I feel like a couple of hot cross buns to have with my gin and soda Rog has organised - he's trying vodka with dry ginger. Tea works out nicely - silverside and steamed vegetables with mustard sauce. Afterwards I wash the dishes, Roger drys and helps put away. Roger goes and has his shower, I work on catching up with this. Bedtime.
    29/04/25 Tuesday. Roger up before 7.30am, I'm happy to stay in bed reading until 8am. Roger is preparing a cooked breakfast, so I get up to help with toast and putting on the cold stuff before we load up with the bacon, egg and mushrooms - yummo! Tidy up and get ready for another day trip - Roger packs leftover pizza etc for our lunch. We head off just after 9am.
    We return around 3.30pm. Toast up the last couple of hotcross buns for us to have with a cuppa. It's raining so we're content to relax in the caravan, Rog getting landlord insurance quotes and I'm updating the budget books. Tea tonight is reheated silverside and mustard sauce with fresh batch of boiled vegetables. No need for dessert - we nibbled on some beef jerky as entree before tea. Roger has his shower, I'm writing this up before doing the dishes and getting to bed.
    30/04/25 Wednesday Roger and I get up at 7am. I feel overdue for a run so I get in my running gear and head off and do 6 laps around the nearby trotting track. A couple of 1st's this morning, group of tradies (4 or 5 electricians?) working beside the track - give me a lovely friendly round of applause as I keep running around the track while they're ducking for cover out of the rain lol. 2nd, when the rain eased, a few swallows (birds) followed me around the track for a while, flying around my feet, catching the bugs that I'm disturbing out of the grass! I get back to our caravan - get out of my wet clothes into my warm dressing gown and have my breakfast. Then go have a lovely warm shower, to return and get tidied up and ready to go on today's outing. Roger has packed our lunch. We leave just before 10am.
    We get back at 3.30pm. Now enjoy a relax, staying warm in our van, reading and catching up on travel spend app etc. I make us up a plate of cheese and biscuits to have with cuppa. Tea tonight - we reheat the last of the siverside and mustard sauce and have with freshly boiled vegetables. Roger has yoghurt and fruit for dessert. I wash the dishes, Roger goes and has his shower. I get a call from Sharon (we teed this up earlier today - via texting) - so lovely to have a catch up. Now time for bed.
    1/05/25 Thursday Roger gets up a 7am, I stay in bed reading a book until 7.30am. Get up, get dressed and have my breakfast - all at a leisurely pace. We head off about 9am - going to the Museum this morning.
    Return from our day out just before 5pm. It's now cooling off becoming cold - unfortunately we haven't been able to get enough charge happening with the batteries so we're unable to use our diesel heater? Just as well we're on power so we can use our reverse cycle air conditioner! I get to and make up some pumpkin soup in the Thermomix. Roger puts together his sausage surprise stove top casserole. After these 2 courses we have yoghurt with fresh raspberries. Roger goes and has a shower and I get the dishes done. Now relaxing until bedtime. Roger in bed reading, I'm updating budget books and spending app, then write this up.
    2/5/25 Friday Up and about 7.30am. Have our breakfasts, then I go and have my shower. Get back and tidy up, then get organised for a day out without going in the ute. Roger's decided as it's 'Free Friday' on the public transport - we'll give the Light Rail ago today. It's only a short walk from our camp to catch. We head off before 9am.
    Return around 3.30pm - I enjoy a phone chat with Jenny, then relax at camp, sitting outside for a while. We have cheese and biccies with a cuppa, then our afternoon drinks - gingerbeer and red wine. Evenings are chilly, so back in the caravan for warmth. Tea tonight is reheated pumpkin soup followed by reheated sausage surprise. I ring Leigh to find out how he's got on with Shane re Woodbank and water - no news as Leigh hasn't rang him yet. We enjoy a chat, then I finish off with saying I'll ring again next week to find out how he gets on! Next, I get a callback from Robert (I rang him earlier) - nice to catch up on his news, and I try to make sure he'll 'bill us' for something for his birthday (don't think my new runners idea is going anywhere!). After we finish this call, Roger and I go for a drive to checkout Canberra's night lights. When we return I call Raelene back (I missed her call while I was chatting with Jen) while Roger goes for his shower. All under control with Raels and Co. Next, time to do the dishes and write this up before bed.
    3/05/25 Saturday. Market day here. Roger up around 7am, I stay in bed reading until 7.30am. Then up to get dressed and organised to leave here (pack up caravan) - I head over to the market to get my breakfast - select a fancy crepe - roasted pumpkin, orange, duhka, Maple and pomegranate- yum but small serving. Roger comes over to the market to stock up on vegetables and bread (sourdough). Finish up packing up to leave - head off around 9am.
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  • Saturday Market Exhibition Park

    26. April in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Walk a very short distance from our camp to enjoy this market. A fresh produce one, with lots of vegetables, fresh fish and meat on hand, as well as food stalls, plants etc. I have a wonderful time trying to work out what I'll have for my breakfast - so many choices! I settle on something different for me - an Indian style breakfast. Not sure what to call it - I had to point at its description to order! Very delicious savoury pancake combination - with a small dab of Chilli paste to spice it up! Followed this with a donut (apple danish) from another stall holder. Roger has also had a donut (from same stall - an expresso one) and has done some grocery shopping (bread for lunch and vegetables for tea).
    As we walk back to our caravan, we 'bump into' the lovely couple who were our camp neighbours at Batlow. Nice to see them again, have a quick chat, comparing notes on what we've all been doing.
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  • Mount Anslie Lookout Canberra

    26. April in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Wow - amazing the number of cyclists 'training' up this lookout hill, makes for cautious driving as you negotiate past them! This is a terrific spot to view and checkout some of Canberra's layout. Also has some good walking tracks on offer - but I don't have the time today, with what we've got planned.
    After our look about - back in the ute, heading for the War Memorial.
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  • Australian War Memorial Canberra

    26. April in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Spent the rest of our day out here. So much to see and take in here. It is extending even more in the future - so there will be more to look at.
    I hope every Australian gets the opportunity to come here - very grounding to learn the sacrifices people have made for us to live in our country with the freedom we have now. Certainly 'ordinary people doing extraordinary things' - good and bad.
    I certainly got emotional with some of the images and content I came across.
    Roger and I separate on our look about - and meet up for lunch. We have this at outside tables from the cafe that's here - we do buy some drinks, beer for Roger and OJ for me. We return to looking at the exhibits - again going our own way/own pace, agreeing to meet in the courtyard at 4.30pm where the day's 'Last Post' ceremony is held. This is a very moving experience. Lest We Forget.
    Now time for the Memorial centre to close for the day, so time for us to drive back to camp. I've made a few purchases today here - 2 books and some small mementos - hatpins, poppy seeds.
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  • Royal Australian Mint

    27. April in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Our first destination for today. Enjoy our time here - very interesting - and happily tagged along on a tour which was terrific for more 'inside' information. Only shame being the weekend - we don't get to see the Mint in action. I do 'mint' my own current $1 for the cost of $3! Fun to get the latest coin with King Charles on it - a 1st for me.
    After we finish here - now drive to check out the nearby Arboretum.
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  • National Arboretum Canberra

    27. April in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This is a lovely spot to have our lunch - we purchase from the cafe here. A chicken burger with sweet potato chips for Roger and a Reuben toasted sandwich for me. Get a table inside, closest to the windows to get the magnificent views towards Canberra city centre and surrounds.
    After our lovely lunch we go and checkout the Bonsai display before going on one of the walks. Again great views - very enjoyable.
    Also check out the art display happening here just for this weekend - thankfully, nothing I had to buy (lovely but nothing I fell in love with).
    Now ready to go to our next point of interest - drive back to Regatta Point.
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  • National Capital Exhibition

    27. April in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Back to the Visitor Centre where this exhibition is showcased. We have the time to enjoy looking about this afternoon. Again another interesting exhibit that explains how Canberra as our Capital city has come about. There's no doubt it is a beautiful place.
    Once we finish here - we're happy to go back to our camp, we go to a nearby Woolworths to top up on some groceries to help with tea tonight, on our way 'home'.
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  • Parliament House Canberra

    28. April in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Drive here and find a park (all day $17) between the old and new Parliament Houses. We decide to check out Parliament House first, enjoying the walk and views on the way. Our timing works - as we arrive and go to the reception desk we're told there is a tour about to start - we quickly pay and go and join the other tour participants. Bruce is our tour guide - he does a wonderful job - very glad we took the tour. We are free to wander around after our tour finishes, so we have a great time exploring and checking out the different areas. We have a terrific morning tea of scones, jam and cream from the Queen Gallery Cafe with a cappuccino and a chai latte. Sat in the outdoor Queen Gallery to enjoy this with the view towards the Old Parliament House and the War Memorial. Happy to say I found Shaun the Prawn, quite easily on my wander about - it's the fossilised prawn in the marble floor in the foyer. At lunch time we decide to go back to our ute to have the packed lunch Rog has organised. Chicken and salad sandwiches, Anzac biscuits (for Rog) and apples.
    Next, we're walking to Old Parliament House.
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  • Old Parliament House Canberra

    28. April in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    As there is a Federal Election about to take place May 3, there is a early voting polling booth set up in Old Parliament House, so we have plenty of people to pass on our way in. We don't worry about taking a guided tour here (though I'm sure you can) - we're just happy to wander about and check out the rooms, displays and exhibits that we as the public are welcome to do. Again, very interesting and worthwhile - leave here feeling very proud to be Australian as we have a sound governing body with our democracy at work.
    After our look around - we're ready to go back to our camp to make sure we get our washing and tea sorted.
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  • National Library of Australia

    29. April in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Drive here and find a parking spot. Walk about the building to get to the entry. On entering it has a lovely feel - with high ceilings, columns and lead light windows. Roger and I go our separate pace at checking out the exhibitions here - they are fantastic. At 11am I go and join the free tour - Margaret is the volunteer guide, lovely older lady, very enthusiastic about the library and sharing her knowledge of it - we certainly go way over the 30 minute tour (as stated). I certainly recommend 'jumping on board' these free tours - you've got nothing to lose - and lots to gain like today's, so fun getting shown around where public don't really get to see. The archiving is mind boggling! After the tour, meet up with Roger - he's ready to move on - he's got some printing done that he was after. It's now around lunchtime so we walk back to our ute and grab our lunch - leftover pizza, and yoyo biscuits for Rog. Now walk to Questacon.Weiterlesen

  • Questacon Canberra

    29. April in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Walk here (not far) from our parked ute, to this National Science and Technology Centre. I'm feeling quite lethargic as we arrive here - not sure if I'm going to get into this 'sciency' stuff this arvo. Well I needn't have worried - this place has something for all ages and knowledge levels! It certainly just encourages you to 'have a go' and explore. Certainly if I lived nearby I'd get an annual pass and just keep calling in regularly - especially ideal for children (and big kids at heart like Rog and I).
    We spend a good couple of hours checking out this place. Entry fee for adults $23 each.
    Just as well we're not too far from our vehicle when we leave - it's raining quite steadily and we're not prepared for it.
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  • High Court of Australia Canberra

    30. April in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Takes us a while to find a park this morning - we we're trying to find some at the Art Gallery carpark but that didn't work (couldn't use the underground parking as the ute too high with rooftop tent on) - eventually park close to where we did yesterday. As we walk towards the Art Gallery, we come to the waters edge where there is 'The Jetty' cafe, so Roger gets a coffee and I have a loo break. We discover the High Court is on our way to the NGA so we come here first. Security checked on entering, we have to have our metal water bottles and my bag (carrying my water and rain coat - too large) put into storage lockers (no charge) before we can proceed. Once that taken care of, we are taken on an informal tour by Denish, then free to wander about ourselves. Good to be reminded how important our Australian Constitution is for the governing of our country.
    We leave here - now going for the Gallery.
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  • National Gallery of Australia

    30. April in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Arrive here, and again it's recommended that we put our waterbottles and my bag in a storage locker. We find the lockers (free to use) and do this. Now enjoy the next hour or so - wandering through the gallery. Large spaces - easy to miss sections if you're not careful. Lots of interesting art works, great to see (or be confronted by). Beauty definitely in the eye of the beholder (though I'm sure alot isn't for beauty - it's for expression) - as there's nothing I would have in my home (no room!).
    We're getting hungry by the time we finish, so we collect our gear from the lockers and walk back to the ute to have our lunch. Cheese and vegemite sandwiches and apples (Anzac biscuits for Roger). We'll go look at the Portrait Gallery next.
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  • National Portrait Gallery Canberra

    30. April in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Walk here in time for the 2pm guided tour. This tour takes 20 minutes and just gives us an insight into a selection (say 4) of the portraits. This gallery is a fair bit smaller, though there are a couple of sections closed off - being reorganised, so once we're on our own to look about - it doesn't take us long to be finished. We may have had enough of looking at artwork today.Weiterlesen

  • National Museum Australia

    1. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Drive here and park. Nice to get here before it gets busy. We decide to check out the Pompeii Exhibition which has a charge - adults $25 each. Glad we did have a look. Terrible to think what happened almost 2000 years ago to this city - but incredible how it's been preserved for us to look at today. We enjoy looking through the National Museum as well - but left 'underwhelmed' with it - probably as we've seen quite a few Museums on our trip. Now starting to think of lunch - which we're going to buy today. Figure we'll wait until we get to the Botanical Gardens. Off we go driving....Weiterlesen

  • Black Mountain Telstra Tower

    1. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    On our drive to the Botanical Gardens, we realise we may as well look at this on the way. We drive to the top of the mountain and park. Get out to have a look - but not really going to get uninterrupted views - trees are too tall and thick, and no dedicated lookout Point to view from. If you could go up into the Telstra Tower (which you can't) you'd get magnificent views. Drive back down the mountain - as passenger I can enjoy glimpses of Canberra and countryside - on the way. Now to the gardens.Weiterlesen

  • Australian National Botanic Gardens

    1. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Once we've found our parking spot, we walk into the Visitor area and follow the signs to Pollen Cafe - lunchtime. Roger has a Breakfast Burger and I have a Benny Croissant with our chosen cuppas, tea for Rog, Chai Latte for me - nice, but seems overpriced for the sizing of our meals.
    After this we wander back to the Visitor Centre - get a Gardens map and look about the lovely gift shop. We learn there is a free guided tour at 2pm, so we have a short stroll around the 'rainforest' section to fill in our time until we take this tour.
    Before 2pm we're at the meeting place for the tour - and wait to find we're the only 2 taking the tour. Sue, our guide is a friendly, very chatty older lady. Very knowledgeable on the gardens and gives us a beaut hour long tour, then leaves us 'to it' to appreciate the gardens by taking our time to look about ourselves. There are over 7000 Australian native species here - and growing! Very lovely - there are major projects being worked on at present, so there will be more to see in the future.
    Once we've had enough, we decide to go find a Bunnings - as I'm after an extending pole I can use as a temporary hanging rail in the caravan shower (when we're not using it). Find a Bunnings - but no luck we the pole. We'll have to try a camping shop one day. Next go to a nearby Fresh Food Market in Belconnen to get some fruit and vegetables. Drive back to our campground.
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  • Canberra Museum and Gallery

    2. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Arrive here well before the opening time of 10am - lucky we can come into the foyer of the building and comfortably just wait (seats and Tourist brochures to check out). I have enough time to work out that the next thing Roger had planned for us to do (Walk in Bird Aviary) is further out than what we realised. We work out we'll do that activity tomorrow as we're leaving. I also receive a text from Gariwerd Motel in Halls Gap that our room is ready!! A few texts - back and forth to sort that one out, when we're not there attending this year's Grampians Grape Escape! They had already charged us for the stay - so that had to be refunded. Back on track - and Kelly (from Gariwerd Motel) has said she'll book us for next year 🤞
    By now, the Museum and Gallery areas are open. Have a nice time looking at the exhibitions and artwork. Doesn't take us long to be finished, so we go for a stroll in the CBD area - where lo and behold, we come across a Blood Bank mobile bus. Yes, pokey pup Rog decides to check it out, and on chatting with the staff, finds he is fine to donate blood today (from the time of his last donation). When the (lovely, of course) staff ask if I'd like to donate blood today - why not, seems like I may as well when Rog is. Turns out, last time I donated was back in 2013, mmmmm I'll try not to leave it so long next time.
    Next, we find a bus stop, and find the bus we need to take us to the Glassworks.
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  • Canberra Glassworks

    2. Mai in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We are delivered here by bus (public transport). Enjoy being able to look in on the work areas where the glass work happens - our timing is off (lunch time?) as not much is getting done while we're here. Looking at the beautiful finished products - the ones for sale- I quickly realise most things here are out of my price range!
    We weren't in here for too long - by now we were ready for lunch - and the Burger place that is attached to this building has been recommended by our blood donor staff. They didn't let us down - the food we got from Bronburgers was delicious. Roger had the Bron Burger with tasty cheese, and I had the Capital Burger with blue cheese - glad we didn't order chips, we certainly didn't need them.
    Now decide to walk our way back to the CBD.
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