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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Year off around Australia Traveler
Ceduna Foreshore Hotel
February 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
Our chosen lunch spot today - to escape the heat and enjoy water views. Knowsley is a very good barman here, friendly and happy to chat without being intrusive.
Roger has grilled flake, chips and salad and I have a stir-fry pork and noodles. Both happy with our meals, which we've eaten out in the sports bar - as it's cooler and offers a beaut view.
Turns out that Knowsley is an Accountant who has semi -retired, he enjoys some shifts at this place. He had his accountancy business in Ceduna for over 20 years - still has a 'hand' in his business at Port Douglas. He spends 6 months here and 6 months Port Douglas - has homes in both places. Seems a content man!Read more
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Perlubie Beach
February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Call in here for a look, as it's very popular with campers. We have been here before - a few years back, when we did our Googs Track family and friends trip - we stopped here thinking we might camp the night, but didn't as it was late in the day (tired, not wanting major camp set up with dark fast approaching) and the beach was covered in seaweed (not appealing to set up on).
Well, today we got a view of why this place is on the 'should do' list - barely any seaweed in sight, nice firm sandy beach to drive on, and lovely sea coastal views. I used the toilet facility here - nice and clean flushing toilets, with loo paper and liquid hand soap! Rubbish bins for campers use too.Read more
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Streaky Bay
February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
We head to the Visitor Centre 1st. Stock up on brochures and get some ideas for today. I also purchase a hatpin $4. Then we drive down to the main street and park. So we can walk about, we get some groceries from the supermarket, I get a bottle of bubbles from a nearby liquor store. Next we get some meat from a butcher, then get our shopping safely stored in the ute, before going and having some morning smoko from the Bakery Cafe. After this we resume our driving - we've decided to check out the West All Loop (Tourist route).Read more
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Cape Bauer
February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
One of our stops along the Tourist drive. Fabulous coastline to check out - but not getting too close to any edges - especially with the gusty winds we've got going on today! We're getting 'sandblasted' with the loose sand and dirt being blown around.Read more
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Whistling Rocks and Blowholes
February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 23 °C
Another stop on the Tourist drive we've taken. This is a 'wild' spot today with the wind that's blowing. Very worthwhile to have a look - stunning.
Once we've finished looking here, we follow the drive loop which takes us back into Streaky Bay. We find a nice ocean view to park with, and have our lunch that Rog has supplied - stay in the ute because of the strong winds. Cheese and vegemite sandwiches (my favourite) followed by apples, and Anzac biscuits for Roger.
Now get driving again, returning towards Ceduna.Read more
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Smoky Bay
February 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Call in here on our way back from Streaky Bay. This is where we camped, in the lovely caravan park here, when we were on our Googs Track trip and we decided not to stay at Perlubie Beach - we came here instead. Good decision back then with our roof top tents!
This place is looking really great - nice and tidy, and its main beach is stunning. Would happily stay here again. Great spot to get Oysters.
Have a walk out on the Jetty, before driving back to Ceduna.Read more
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Morning walk Ceduna Coastal Trail
February 5 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
I leave our camp 10am to walk into Ceduna town centre to do the 'Encounter Coastal Trail'. It's a nice easy walk along the foreshore leading to Pinkys Point. The day is great for this - not too hot and the wind not to gusty (yet).
By the time I walk back to our camp - Roger did wait about in the town to see me to check (he didn't ask) that I was happy to keep walking - good old Strava reckons I've walked about 13km. Nice way to fill in my morning.Read more
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Ceduna Airport
February 6 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Roger drives me here - I'm sooooo excited to be putting in my 'check in' baggage - under 10kg, must be a record for me lol - to be ready for my 9am flight to Adelaide.
Sharon has messaged (around 7am) that she's on her way to Mt Gambier to catch her Adelaide flight too 🎉
All going to Rex's flight plans - I'll arrive in Adelaide an hour earlier than Sharon at 10.25 am (Sharon due in at 11.25am) - so it won't be any hardship to wait at the airport for my beautiful buddy! To say that I'm excited is really an understatement - 'girl time' with a bestie, woo hoo bring it on ❤️🥰Read more
TravelerEnjoy every minute of your time say hi to Sharon for me stay safe love to you both 💋💗
2/5/25Reply
Traveler💕
2/5/25Reply
TravelerThank you Barb - we had a great time 💕
2/9/25Reply
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Adelaide Airport
February 6 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Landed safely, now to get on the Rex bus and be delivered to their terminal to collect my checked bag. Done, now go and put my stuff in a locker $16 so I'm ready to go shopping! Check out where Stop 10 is, so I know where to catch the buses about. Now back to the Rex terminal waiting for Sharon to arrive from her Mt Gambier flight. All going to schedule, Sharon arrives and I meet her at the Rex bus drop. After very happy reunion with hugs, kisses and laughter, we go and collect Sharon's suitcase. I explain my plans to go shopping for my Brooke runners at Harbour Town shopping centre. Sharon's happy to go along with my plans, so we put her stuff in a locker as well and go catch a bus to Harbour Town.Read more
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Oaks Embassy Motel Adelaide
Feb 6–9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
Sharon and I arrive here after getting the bus in from the airport, where we returned from Harbour Town shopping and lunch stop to collect our luggage from storage lockers.Once off the bus - only a short walk from Currie St to here.
We're on level 15 room 1513 so got a good city view - and happy that we have a balcony area we can sit out on.
We settle in, and have a lovely relax chatting and hydrating - yes water! Much needed on this warm day. We're having such a nice time catching up - we get a shock that the day is getting away on us - time to get moving for our booked visit to the Botantic Gardens to see an exhibition that opens for its evening session at 6.45pm.
We return around 11.30pm - after calling in for a drink (nice Watermelon Cooler cocktail each) at the Stamford on our way back.
Now we relax, I have a cup of tea, we sit out on our balcony until we realise it's close to 1am - time for bed.
7/02/25 Friday. I've set my alarm for 6am intending to go for a swim in the pool here. I get up and get into my bathers and head off, only to return as the pool and gym area doesn't open until 6.30am. By this time I've woken Sharon and she decides to come for a swim too. So we have a lovely time in the pool - just us two - until 7.15am when we decide we'd better head back to our room so I can get ready to head off to my appt I've made, I want to leave our motel around 8.30am. We go back and I have a showers and get organised to have breakfast at The Coffee Club (in the ground level of the Oaks Embassy). This is a very nice place - enjoy my corn and zucchini fritters served with avocado, poached egg and relish with a pot of chai tea. Sharon has smashed avocado on sourdough - very yummy too. I leave from here to go catch a bus to my appointment out at Blair Athol. Sharon is happy to spend the morning back in our motel room - catching up on her journal, washing our new clothing purchases (from Harbour Town - Peter Alexander PJ's and white jacket of Sharon's) and having her shower etc.
I get back from getting my eye-liner tattooing, earlier than expected - at 12 noon - so we relax for a while (Sharon finishes getting ready to go out) before going for a walk to Adelaide Market to have lunch and stock up on supplies to enjoy at our accommodation.
We come back here around 4.30pm. Now relax until we head out for tonight's 'main event' Bryan Adams. We enjoy a bottle of Sparkling Shiraz with Cheeses, biscuits, fruit and a dip - all from the markets. We leave at 6.45pm to catch a bus to the Entertainment Centre.
After the show, we walk 3.5km back from the Entertainment Centre (too big of a queue for buses!) to get 'home' after 12pm. Quick cuppa for me, then bedtime with happy chatting.
8/02/25 Saturday. Yay free day ahead - only commitment (looking forward to) is be at Festival Theatre tonight at 7.30pm. So we have a leisurely 'lay about' in our motel room, we woke around 8am, and have our breakfast in our PJ's (new ones that Sharon got washed yesterday) before getting ready to head out to walk about Rundle Mall.
We return after our lunch and shopping expedition around 3pm. Now settle to watch a movie on motel Netflix - Burlesque, with Cher - while enjoying some more of our Cheeses etc, along with a bottle of Sparkling Pinot Noir. After this movie, we start to watch Spirit - Stallion of the Cimarron, so Sharon can hear the songs in it by Bryan Adams. We don't finish this before having to leave for our Festival Theatre show - we get ready and head out before 7pm.
Get back from this show around 10.30pm - figure we have time to watch the rest of the Spirit movie - very enjoyable. Cuppa and bed with more chatting.
9/02/25 Sunday. Sleep in until around 8am. Sharon has organised a late checkout of 11am for us, so we have a leisurely breakfast - in our PJs on the balcony. Finishing off the Granola pot and fresh fruit with a cup of tea. We then take turns at having a shower and packing. Packing is a challenge with having to fit in our shopping! We get it done though. Relax, I have another cuppa before we go down to reception and check out.
Now walk the short distance to the bus stop to catch one to the airport.Read more
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Chihuly Nights Adelaide
February 6 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Sharon has very kindly organised and paid for us to come to this exhibition being held at Adelaide Botanic Gardens. I'm not allowed to reimburse her on this one, as Sharon tells me it's my birthday gift from her - how spoilt! So glad Sharon got us here - fabulous evening, weather perfect for it, with incredible glass sculptures beautifully displayed throughout the Gardens. Enjoy a lovely dinner (burgers) and drinks (gin cocktails) here as well - all great. Easy to stay here until shutting time of 10pm.Read more
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Elena Permanent Beauty Adelaide
February 7 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
I've arrived with plenty of time - my appointment is 10am.
Wondering why I'm putting myself through this - vanity and long term convenience I guess.
So I'm here for top and bottom eye-liner tattooing - my 2nd go (1st was in Darwin). Very naive with this beauty stuff. Apparently should have a 'top up' after initial tattooing within 6 weeks to set and correct. I wasn't able to do that - so here I go again! See what Samira, my beauty technician today, can do with my 'lashless look'. 🤞🤞
Went well - happy with the result, and finished earlier than expected - bonus! Now to catch a bus back to the city.Read more
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Adelaide Central Market
February 7 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Walk here - just love this place, the array of fresh food and produce is fantastic. Will always try to get here on any visits to Adelaide, that's for sure!
We have a good look about - before deciding on chicken and chorizo paella for our lunch - we may have snuck in some steamed dim sims beforehand (we did). I have a fresh squeezed fruit juice as well, followed by a slice of lemon cheesecake (Sharon has water and none). Needless to say I'm not requiring too much for tea tonight - so happily set about purchasing some nice Cheeses (a blue, a soft, a hard) along with some wafer biscuits and fruit - pear, cherries and grapes. We also get a couple of bottles of bubbles - a red and a white. Naturally, we also get a packet each of the large crumpets we have discovered from a previous trip here. Then can't resist some Granola, fruit and yoghurt pots to have for our breakfast - we also add a tub of fresh fruit salad for this too.
Decide this will do for today - now walk back to our motel.Read more
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Bryan Adams So Happy it Hurts Tour
February 7 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Get here by public transport - bus, in good time to get into the event, get ourselves a drink - wine for Sharon, CC for me- and get to our seats. Very happy with our position - good view of the stage.
Have a wonderful time - terrific show, with good support act James Arthur to warm us up. Break to recharge our drinks, then......
Bryan Adams does not disappoint- great singing with plenty of songs! He has us all singing and dancing too.
Leave, after the finish, feeling great.Read more
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Adelaide Rundle Mall
February 8 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Sharon and I have fun - looking about here. We find a food court in an arcade, to have our lunch. I have Chicken Pad Thai with a fruit juice - Sharon has some yummy Asian food (forgot the name of!).
We go looking for odds and sods we think of - DVDs for Sharon, cards and gift my shopping, along with travel spray bottles. Main search for a brooch type glasses holder - similar to what Sharon gifted to me a while ago - but no luck.
I get a Whatsapp call from Tegan, with all my family on the chat - enjoy a quick chat, before resuming our outing.
When we've had enough we head back to our motel.Read more
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Festival Theatre Billy Joel Tribute
February 8 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Walk here, and have plenty of time to get some drinks - bubbles - before finding our seats.
Another fabulous evening of great music. The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and 4 singers performing Billy Joel classics.
Happy we didn't miss this - well done to Sharon.
Interval sees us have a Gordon's Pink Gin and Soda each, then enjoying the rest of the evening's performance. More singing and dancing.
Once finished, we walk back to our motel - after trying to have a drink at a place near the river, not to be, venue we were looking at was closed for a private function.Read more
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Adelaide Airport
February 9 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Back here we come - Sharon and my trip has gone by way too quickly! We've got here with no rush and no fuss, and plenty of time up our sleeves before our return flights. Mine to Ceduna leaves an hour earlier than Sharon's to Mt Gambier. We can't check in our luggage until an hour before our flights (2.10pm for mine, 3.10pm for Sharon's) so we decide to find a spot to have some lunch and drinks while waiting. This we do at Atura - the ground floor bar and restaurant. Sharon has a Mushroom Burger and I have a Beef Thai salad which we enjoy with a couple of Gin and sodas. I can now check in my bag, so l do before returning to finish off my drink with Sharon. Once it's time for me to go and head through security, Sharon and I say our 'goodbyes' and Sharon heads off to see if she can now check in her suitcase. I get through the security check and go to my departure gate 10. While sitting here waiting to board and writing a thank you text to Sharon - Sharon appears! She has made it through check in and security in speedy time. We laugh as Sharon telling me how her suitcase was overweight - and she had to redistribute some stuff to her carry on - no way was she giving up on her crumpets!! Time for me to board - one last cuddle with Sharon and away I go. Do get to wave to Sharon up in the departure lounge as I get on the plane.Read more
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Ceduna Foreshore Hotel
February 9 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
Martin Hayman has driven us here tonight - as we've invited him out for dinner before we head off from Ceduna tomorrow.
It's a lovely pub inside - recently renovated Martin tells us - and certainly has the views of Ceduna's foreshore and Jetty.
The menu has a great selection to choose from - it takes me a while to make my choice. Roger has immediately settled on the roast special -sweet potato soup, beef and lamb with roast and hot vegetables - serve yourself from bain marie.
Martin goes for a pasta dish; Prawn and Chorizo Penne, and I settle on Salt and Pepper Squid with salad and chips.
I put in the order - and get garlic and cheese bread and a half dozen oysters natural for a shared entree.
The meals are very good and we've quickly finished them - I'm now so full that after my lovely weekend away, I just feel the need for an early night to settle back to my travel routine. Martin is great and accepts this, and Roger more than happy to agree (he likes his early nights!).
At Martin's request, Roger drives us back - with a scenic route to check out the places/houses that Martin has lived in while being in Ceduna.
Once we get back to the caravan park, we bid Martin our farewells and thanks for the catch ups. Can only wish the best for this lovely young man.Read more
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Murphys Haystacks
February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
3rd stop today from Ceduna. 1st stop was in Smoky Bay to purchase some fresh 2nd stop was in a parking bay for morning smoko break.
We enjoy a walk around these rocks - just so incredible how they appear in this type of countryside. Here, it can also be used as a camping ground for a small fee - there is a toilet and some under cover picnic tables provided.
In the entrance shelter, there is an honesty box for people to pay their $4 entry fee and a sturdy enclosed box full of jars and containers of local honey that people can purchase as well. I purchased a jar of honey $14 - would have been better value to buy the larger container for $20, just thinking of cupboard space in the van!Read more
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Venus Bay Caravan Park
Feb 10–12 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
As we drive into Venus Bay, this is our 1st priority, to get ourselves a camp spot. We book in at the shop/office - everything friends have mentioned, lovely views of Bay, clean and tidy, terrific takeaway menu incorporating fresh seafood.
We are offered a choice out of 4 camping sites - we select site 33, as it's close to the camp kitchen and amenities block. Roger has us settled on our site - with mat and awning out.
Neighbours are quick to call by and introduce themselves - the ladies with fisherman husband's. Maureen (& Tom), Fay (& Colin). Victorians too - they've been coming here annually for 14 years. Tom and Colin are out in Tom's tinny fishing.
Roger and I keen to have lunch, so we make up sandwiches - I toast mine.
After this we go for a walk to check out Venus Bay's 2 shops and go out along the Jetty.
We spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at camp - and for afternoon nibbles, have 'fun' eating our fresh oysters along with a bottle of bubbles. After this we have a clean up, before relaxing some more. Tea tonight we're going to try out the recommended takeaway burgers from the Caravan Park shop. Both of us having Chicken burgers with the lot for $12.50 each.
We sit up at the shop - on their back veranda with table and chairs - overlooking the park to the bay, very nice views. These burgers are fantastic - best burgers we've had in a long time. YUM Now we're happy to go for an evening walk.
Return, and Roger has his shower, we relax before bedtime.
11/02/25 Tuesday. We get up before 7.30am. I decide to go for a run. Rog does his thing at camp - prepares for a cooked breakfast.
When I get back, I shower and then we have breakfast together. It's going to be a warm one today so we've decided to go for a drive (airconditioning) and check out nearby Talia Cave Drive. We leave around 9.30am.
We get back around 1pm - it's hot so we just relax inside our caravan for most of the afternoon. Listening to a podcast called 'Bronwyn' - cold case, then reading and napping. Roger goes for a swim at the Jetty, I stay in the caravan reading my book. I organise some cheese and biscuits for late afternoon drinks, then we order some more burgers for our tea - they are that good! I decided to try a hamburger with the lot this time - Roger happily staying with the chicken Burger. Turns out we both have chicken burgers again - as they've run out of hamburgers. We head over to the shop to have our tea, in our bathers as we plan to go for a swim afterwards - we do.
Return back to camp for showers. Roger stays at the caravan, doing dishes, I go for another walk around the South Head Trail. I call Jen while doing this walk - for an overdue catch up. Get back and help with tidy up. Now writing this up before going to bed. Roger already asleep.
12/02/25 Wednesday. We're up around 7.30am. I feel like a shower to help me wake up - it didn't cool down much throughout the night. Come back from my shower and have my porridge for breakfast and then start helping to get ready to move out of this caravan park. We're underway about 9am.Read more
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Venus Bay and Jetty
February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Walk about Venus Bay after our lunch today.
Great spot.
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Oyster shucking to eat fresh
February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Well a 1st for Roger and I, shucking our own fresh oysters. These oysters we purchased 'factory direct' this morning in Smoky Bay on our way here. $10 for a bakers dozen (13) straight off the conveyor belt as sorting the mornings haul. Have to confess no shucking by me this time - too timid. Roger was getting the method happening, after a couple with shell grit involved.
Couldn't get over how big these Smoky Bay oysters are. I totally enjoyed my half dozen - Roger not convinced that the effort and mess worth it.....but it wasn't so messy as the method improved.
Beaut entree before we go and order some burgers for our tea tonight.Read more
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Venus Bay CP Take A Way
February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Great that all we need here is just a short walk from our campsite.
Enjoy our chicken burgers - they are good. The lot - has lettuce, tomato, red onion, beetroot, fried crumbed chicken, bacon, fried egg, cheese and pineapple with mayonnaise in a fresh lightly toasted bun.Read more
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Venus Bay Lookout
February 10 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
So ready for a evening walk after our burgers for tea. We start off going to this lookout, then follow the coast to do the trail here. It is spectacular, and we get the bonus of seeing dolphins swimming nearby.Read more
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South Head Walking Trail
February 11 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
My chosen route for my shuffle (run) this morning. Roger and I walked it last night and I loved it so much I'm keen to go again. Will be a challenging run with it's very uneven surfaces and some very sandy patches. I go the opposite way to last night, so when I get to the lookout I keep going along the coast for a while longer to get my 6km.
When I get back to camp, I have a shower, then Roger cooks up our bacon and egg breakfast. We do this over in the camp kitchen. I enjoy my 'cook up' on top of one of the Adelaide Market large crumpets.Read more
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