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Year off around Australia
  • 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 Read more
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  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Gateway Caravan Park Norseman

    Jan 23–24 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 38 °C

    Travel straight to here from Esperance. Arrive and get booked in - we're on Site 37, a drive through site which suits us perfectly as we're only staying 1 night - so Roger doesn't have to unhitch the ute. We get a shock at how warm it is here as compared to being on the coast earlier today. Definitely fire up our air-conditioning straight away! Roger comes up with the good idea of doing a load of washing this evening (it'll dry in no time) - so we do, $4 a load. By the time Roger and I have had showers (washing's already on the line) and got sorted from our day of touring - the washing (most of it) is ready for us to fold and put away. Tea tonight is easy - we just reheat the leftover chicken casserole from last night. Dishes are going to wait for the morning. Roger's already in bed sleeping. I'm just relaxing doing this before I head to bed too.
    24/01/25 Friday. Have a sleep in for us - we get up around 7am. I go out for a run/walk - a good chance for me to have a look at Norseman before we leave later this morning. I get back after 8am, Roger has my porridge already cooked. So I have my breakfast before I head off and have a shower. When I get back to the caravan I help Roger tidy and pack so we're ready to go. No rush this morning, so we leave just before 10am. Go and fuel up before heading for Kalgoorlie.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Kambalda

    January 24 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 38 °C

    Call in here on our way to Kalgoorlie, for Roger to make a phone call, and thought we might stop for a cuppa. Didn't work out as Roger's phonecall he just left a message, and we missed the cafe we tried to find. On our way again.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Boulder

    January 24 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 42 °C

    Arrive into Boulder first, before Kalgoorlie. We go and check out where Damian Hudson and his partner Tina are living. On their industrial work block. Appears no - one there at present as they'll be at work. As it's so hot, we decide to go find a cool place to have our lunch. Roger messages Andrew to let him know we've arrived. Andrew responds, giving us the phone number of Ben, Tina's teenage son, explaining that Ben is at 'home' and he will be able to help us settle in their yard. We are now at a lovely Cafe, having found a street parking spot for the ute and caravan.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Cafe Dharma Boulder

    January 24 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 42 °C

    Our lunch spot - wonderful refuge from the hot day. Roger enjoys a goat curry and I have a chicken and mushroom filo with salad. We follow this with scones, jam and cream.
    After finishing here, we go for a drive to the Visitor Centre in Kalgoorlie- but find it too difficult to find a parking space with the caravan. This makes Roger decide to go back to Hudson's place to settle the caravan so we don't have to look about with it. We go back there and call Ben, he explains he can't help with getting our caravan in position as Damian has the keys to the telehandler that needs to be shifted to fit our caravan in the yard. Roger unhitches our van out the front of the yard - we'll sort it out later when Damian's home. We drive back into Kalgoorlie.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Kalgoorlie

    January 24 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 43 °C

    We come back to the Visitor Centre. We get our map and brochures with a good run down from helpful staff. We now go for the drive to checkout the mine Superpit from its lookout.

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Hudson's Place Kalgoorlie Boulder

    Jan 24–27 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 43 °C

    After our swim we drive back here - surprised to see our caravan is not where we left it. Damian has already moved it onto his block, so it's in their enclosed yard. We are warmly welcomed by Damian, Tina, Ben and their dog Charlie (she). After our greetings, we are shown about the block so we know our way around - told to make ourselves at home. Our caravan is parked beside their laundry, which also has a shower and toilet - that we can use. We all have a drink together in the office area, which has a kitchenette and dining table and chairs. We'll be very comfy, staying here as their air-conditioning works a treat. We decide to organise our own teas, then eat together in the office. We go off and organise for this, and I have a shower. Roger and I have airfryer chicken tenders with salad. Followed by super dooper iceypoles supplied by Damian and Tina. Damian and Tina very kindly take us on an evening drive about tour of Kalgoorlie. We enjoy wonderful lookouts, as well as checking out some of the hotels - we have a drink at the Exchange Hotel with its Skimpies bar which has a good live band playing, Some more driving around before getting back here at around 11pm. Very enjoyable outing. We're all happy to call it a night, Roger goes and has a shower and I relax in our caravan doing this. Time for bed.
    25/01/25 Saturday. Roger and I have a sleep in today - we get up around 7.30am. Roger has his muesli for breakfast, then toast, then heads into Hudson office to have a coffee. I stay in our van and use my Thermomix to make my porridge - and get a call from Tegan, very happy - her and Lev have got the Canada camping booked for family get away. Roger comes back to the van to let me know he hopes I'll be ready before 9am - so I leave him chatting with Tegan so I can get organised. We head off to explore just before 9.
    We return here around 3.45pm. Now relaxing in Hudson's office - chatting with Tina and Ben. Damian comes and joins us from his workshop. We enjoy some drinks and nibbles, and I check if they would be happy if I made tea for us all tonight - Salami and tomato pasta dish (Thermomix). This was approved of - so that's what we had. Tidied up, then continued relaxing and chatting together in the office area - until Rog and I call it a night around 10pm. We go to our van, Roger goes and has his shower, I relax writing this, then bedtime.
    26/01/25 Happy Australia Day. Sunday. We get up around 6am so I can strip and change our bed - to get a load of washing happening 1st thing. This achieved so we have a 'light' breakfast of muesli and banana. Then I go and have my shower. Once I'm back and getting organised - remaking our bed, Roger hangs our washing out to dry. Now we're right to head off to Kalgoorlie's Australia Day breakfast and awards. We leave around 8am.
    Arrive back, after going to Coolgardie and getting fuel and some groceries in Kalgoorlie before returning around 2.30pm. I get the washing in, folded and put away. Roger and I snack on leftovers in our fridge - salad for me, pasta for Roger. Now relaxing in our caravan, Rog resting and I'm updating our budget books and writing this. Will have a read for awhile next. At around 5.15pm we get organised to go out for the evening - celebrating Australia Day in Kalgoorlie. We leave just before 6pm with Damian, Tina and Ben.
    We get back, after a beaut time, at around 9.30pm. We're all happy to call it a night, so Roger and I settle and unpack from the evening at our caravan. Roger has his shower, I get ready for bed. Roger then to bed, and I just write this up before going to bed as well.
    27/01/25 Monday Australia Day Public Holiday. Roger's up at 6.15am, I follow around 6.30am. This morning we're leaving Kalgoorlie - has gone very quick our time here, thanks in large part to welcoming and easy going hospitality of Damian and Tina. They have ensured we've been very comfortable and have shown us and given good tips on things to do while here. After I have my breakfast I go have a shower, then help Roger to have us ready to leave. Say our goodbyes with sincere thanks (and token tin of chocolates) to Damian, and ask him to pass on the same to Tina and her son Ben, as they haven't surfaced yet. We are underway around 8.15am.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    WAM Museum of the Goldfields

    January 25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 39 °C

    A wonderful free Museum here in Kalgoorlie - perfect place for Roger and I to enjoy on such a hot day. We also paid $15 each to watch a 3D film on The Kimberleys - very worthwhile.
    After this film we went out and had our lunch at a nearby hotel before returning to the Museum to resume our exploring. We were quite surprised when it was announced that the Museum was about to close for the day - its usual 3pm close - we were so engrossed with the displays we'd lost track of the time.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    The Federal Hotel Kalgoorlie Boulder

    January 25 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 41 °C

    Nicknamed 'The Feddy'. Our lunch spot for today. Chosen purely because it's conveniently beside the Museum that we intend to return to after our lunch. Pricey but very good. Duck Salad for Roger $32 and a Duck Pasta for me $35. Drinks beer and gingerbeer.
    After finishing our lunch we do return to the Museum. We stay until it closes at 3pm. Then we go and do a grocery shop at Woolworths before happily returning to Damian and Tina's. We are looking forward to relaxing in their office - good company and beaut air-conditioning.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Australia Day Centennenial Park Kalgoorl

    January 26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Lovely park area with stage area for Australia Day presentations. We go and get the BBQ breakfast on offer - sausage, bacon, egg, onion served with fresh bread and choice of sauces. We eat this standing beside a barrel that we can use as a table top. We are in time to watch Damien's friend (worker...?) receive his Australian Citizenship- Roger does a friendly loud shout out to Chad as he accepts his certificate. After Chad and the group of other new Australian citizens return to their friends - we go over to Chad and congratulate him and introduce ourselves, explaining the connection. Lovely fellow - and he did hear Rog and wonder who he was lol. Now we go and find a spot in the shade - near the front towards the stage, and put out our compact camp chairs to be seated and take in the rest of the Australia Day morning awards. This is lovely to watch, and enjoy the finishing song "We are Australian" - well sung by local woman. Before we leave, we catch up with Damian and Tina - who arrived later. We're now going to go for a drive to Coolgardie (approx 30kms away) as suggested worth a look by Damian and Tina. It is agreed we'll all come back here for the evening Australia Day festivities - picnic style listening to live bands. We head off it's now close to 9.30am.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Coolgardie

    January 26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Come into the town now - after checking out the pit and lookout. Park and go into the Museum.
    Then after finishing in the Museum, have a stroll about the main street area. Also check out the Old Gaol building - which is used for an Art Gallery and Op Shop and 1st Nations Community Hub.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Pitman and Walsh Memorial

    January 26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    On our return drive from Coolgardie, we stop at this place which is between Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. It becomes our lunch spot for today - after we have checked out the Memorial area with its information boards. So glad the culprits of this crime were caught. The offenders went from gold thieves to murderers. Very sad for the police involved and their families.
    Roger has our packed lunch of cheese and vegemite sandwiches and apples - and MaltO biscuits, for Rog.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Centennial Park Kalgoorlie

    January 26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Travel here together for Australia Day live music in Damian's ute - 5 of us, Damian, Tina, Ben, Roger and I. We can see as we arrive and park, that there is already a good turn up of people and the park is well set up - looking wonderful. We go in to the performance area and happily get a great spot in the shade near the front of the stage. We're also near the big video screen - so have the best of both views - close to the stage and the screen. Our timing is good too, as we settle in our chosen seating area with our picnic rug and 3 camp chairs (Rog and mine our low compact ones) the support act 'Marcus' starts - he's very good and easy listening - just him with his guitar. Tina has brought along a lovely nibbles selection - Cheeses, cabana, gherkins, olives, chorizo and dips - one of these the Mexican layered one yum! We just supplied some dry biscuits and BYO our own drinks. The evening's weather is ideal warm and mild, slight breeze every now and again. 1st main act was a Bowie performer - not bad at all, enjoyed but didn't feel the need to dance. 2nd main act was Queen performer - enjoyed and got dancing. Was great to have Tina dancing too. The show finished right on the dot of 9pm as it has to - had a great time. Pack ourselves up and leave our space clean and tidy - and head back for 'home' with Damian and Co.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Norseman 2nd visit

    January 27 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Drive into the town (as opposed to turning off on its outskirts - and starting Nullabor) so Roger can have a bit of a look around (as I did last stay here when I went for my morning exercise). We have a toilet stop, and Roger goes to the IGA to purchase a couple of bottles of soda water. Then we get going and get fuel from the BP here before we leave.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Fraser Range Station

    Jan 27–28 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Our first stay along the Nullarbor. This place had been shut for a while (5 years), but is now 'revamped' and ready for visitors again. Initial impression - well looked after property.
    We stop at the office as signs instruct, and wait for a lady to come over and book us in. We pay $40 for a powered site ($25 unpowered) and we're given a park map to use to choose our own site. We are the 1st campers to arrive today. Roger selects Site 1, I'm happy with that. We settle in - air-conditioning going and awning out. Then we make toasted sandwiches for lunch - ham, relish, avocado, tomato and cheese. We go for a wander around the park area and check the facilities - all good. I'm happy there is a gas oven in the camp kitchen. I come back to camp and use the Thermomix to prepare a batch of Anzac biscuits - which I use the oven to cook. We relax for the rest of the afternoon, reading and catching up on 'housekeeping'. Roger washes the caravan floor, and I catch up on the budgeting books and spending app. Around 6pm we wander over to the camp dining area where there is a bar that's open at this time of the evening. Buy ourselves a drink and sit and chat with other campers. These other campers are here to have the dinner on offer ($35 Fish and salad with a caper sauce) - so once their meals arrive, we leave them to it and go back to our van to organise our tea. Roger cooks up steak on the BBQ and serves with boiled vegetables. We have yoghurt and banana for dessert. Tidy up, Roger goes has his shower, now relax until bedtime. The wind has sprung up this evening - glad Roger put the awning away earlier when we no longer required its shade.
    28/01/25 Tuesday. We're up early and go for a walk together ❤️. We get back (at different times) and have breakfast together. Then I go have a shower while Roger gets us packed up ready to go. We leave around 9.45am.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Fraser Range Station walk

    January 28 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Roger and I get up at 5.45am to get ready to go for a morning walk here on this property. There are 4 walking trails to choose from - Rog let's me pick, so I decide on 'The Summit' which will take us to the top of Mt Pleasant and give us some views. Thankfully Roger works out which way to go to start and find the trail - once we get on the trail it has numbered markers to follow so you know you're on track. We were requested by hosts to take a property walkie talkie with us (we got this from them yesterday) in case we needed any assistance. The Summit walk is challenging (but not hard) with its prickly weeds and loose rocky terrain - I was certainly wishing I had some of Stacy's 'gators' on to save my socks and prickles around my ankles! Of course, happy once we get to the top - the 360° views make it all worthwhile. There's an old microwave being used as a cupboard, nestled in amongst a stack of rocks, with a visitor book in it to sign now that we're at 'the summit'. I was saying to Roger as we came up here that I couldn't believe cattle could manage on this type of land (which they do!) - and with the prickles there's no way you'd put sheep here. I reckon it's really only good for goats I say, and that's exactly what we find as we crest the top of this hill! A big mob of goats - unfortunately I was too slow to get a photo of them before they disappeared over the other side. They had the biggest horns I've seen on goats - so I'm not sure what breed they are, and they all had dark hides, large as well. This trail takes us about an hour, and as we return I branch off to do another trail - a loop walk - while Roger heads back to our camp. This loop takes me just over an hour - it's a flatter walk that takes me through some different landscapes - from plains to scrub - but there's still prickles! Still glad to do it though. Only 'down side' was when I get back to Roger, I find he's been locked out of our caravan as he didn't have his keys on him....oh well, he's a good sport and kept himself amused with 'outside' stuff until I'm back. Time for our breakfasts now.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Caiguna Blowhole

    January 28 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We stop at this roadside rest place to have our lunch. We find that the blowhole is quite close to the highway - so don't have to drive anywhere to see it - just walk from where I parked.
    Lunch is open toasties, bread, relish, ham, tomato and cheese. Followed by an apple each and Anzac biscuit for Rog.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Caiguna East Bush Camp

    Jan 28–29 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    This is a free camping spot just off the Eyre Highway between Caiguna (about 6km from its Roadhouse) and Cocklebiddy. We drive in and find a spot to set up our camp. Roger puts out our awning so we can sit out in the shade. We relax and read most of the afternoon. We have snack of cheese and biscuits with our drinks. I catch up on our maps etc. Also have some fun looking at some housesitting in SA - there's 3 on offer in a time frame we could do - can only do 1 - will see what we choose/come up with!
    Tea tonight. Roger cooks up steak, onion and mushrooms on our BBQ and serves with boiled vegetables. We follow with banana and yoghurt. Roger has a quick shower, I'm writing this up before doing the dishes. Then relax and bed.
    29/01/25 Wednesday. Roger gets out of bed just after 6am, I read for 15minutes before following him. We have breakfast, tidy up and get packed away ready to continue our drive along the Nullabor. Underway before 7.30am.    Read more

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