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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

    The Stables Auburn

    March 23 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Walk here to see our final Adelaide Fringe show for 2025. The Queen Tribute Show by The Incredibles Band. Meant to start at 2pm - but starts closer to 2.30pm. The venue is packed (too small really) and there are people having to 'overflow' outdoors. We get cheeky and plonk plastic chairs inside where we make a space - good position under air conditioning! Roger enjoys a few Guinness and I have a couple of James Squire Gingerbeers. This show goes for 3 hours - including a 20 minute interval. They're a great band - and lead singer does a fantastic job of being 'Freddie'. Would have loved to have the room to dance properly! This is their 2nd time (1st last year) performing here - and judging by the band comments and audience reaction- they'll be back next year. I'd certainly go again if I was nearby!
    After the show finishes, we walk back to our camp.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Eudunda SA

    March 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Arrive at this lovely looking town and decide to park and have a walk around. Glad we did - lovely public garden park - volunteers here today doing a tidy up, they meet once a month - morning tidying then finish with cuppa/smoko/brunch. Main street full of heritage buildings, I make a purchase at the chemist (Natio moisturiser and biodegradable cotton buds) then we go and have our morning smoko at the Bakery. Roger has a mug of cappuccino and a Kitchener bun, I have OJ and a Jalapeno and cheese sausage roll - all great! Next Roger goes and fuels up while I go to the loo. Then we drive to park and check out the Silo art before heading off.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Morgan SA

    March 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Just driving through but stop before catching the ferry to cross the Murray River. Lovely down beside the river.
    After our ferry crossing - we drive on towards Cadwell looking for the campground for our overnight stay.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Graeme Claxton Reserve Cadwell SA

    Mar 24–25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Roger brings us to this lovely camping spot just near Morgan - after we crossed the river on a ferry. Camping by permit - permits can be purchased on site. $10 per vehicle for 24 hours - either pay by gold coin or card at a vending machine beside the toilet block. We are the 2nd campers so far - 1st camper (in a caravan too) has prime spot naturally! We can't really get waterfront views as Roger is after full sun for our solar - our location is away from the water but it is still in sight, and we have a lovely bush outlook. Roger, as normal, is quick to get us settled and set up - mat and awning out. He has his lunch - meat and salad sandwich. I'm going for yoghurt and peaches for my lunch today. While our lunch happening, Roger has the standup paddle board out and getting inflated - so straight after his lunch - he's away, down on the river paddling. I relax, doing this write up and catching up our caravan map. Go for a walk to post a card. When I get back - time for Cheeses and biscuits with a drink. Then I feel like it's a nice time of the day to go for a stand up paddle board. I enjoy this - the water is calm and the evening is just perfect. On my travels on the river I come across a man swimming with his dog - get chatting about the dog (a black kelpie) - and end up giving the pair a try on the paddle board. Could see the dog was happy going out on the water with his human! After they've finished on the board, I get paddling back to where I started and return to camp. Roger has tacos happening for tea. Then we finish off the gifted chocolates. I tidy up and do the dishes. We relax on the bed (still quite warm) and listen to a short true crime podcast. I'm now writing this up before I go to bed to read until I'm ready to sleep. Roger already asleep.
    25/03/25 Tuesday No rush morning. Roger gets up and has his breakfast, I lie in bed reading until 8am. Get up, have a shower while my porridge is cooking (burnt it so won't do that again - still edible). Have my breakfast, then catch up on the budget books and spending app. Roger has us packed ready to go, so once I'm organised we leave around 10am.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Walk to Cadwell General Store

    March 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Roger's enjoying a relax in his camp chair in the shade of a tree near the river - reading a book. I decide I'd like to post a card (it will be late) for Michael Denny's birthday so I'll go for a walk to nearby Cadwell. Turns out it is only a 4km return trip from here to Cadwell General Store. It has a post box out front. Enjoy the walk past fruit trees and grape vines. Get back to camp just after 4pm.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Renmark SA

    March 25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Arrive here and park near BCF as Roger is looking to get a gas bottle refilled. No luck at this BCF so we wander around and try a couple more places - no go. Get back to our ute and van and go for a drive to Mitre 10 - able to do a gas bottle swap here. While parked we go and have some lunch, before driving off to continue a search for a water pipe fixture Rog is after for our caravan. We'll try in Berri next at Reece's.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Berri SA

    March 25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Come here and try Bunnings 1st for the water pipe fixture - no go so now to find Reeces Plumbing - we do and yay $60 later we are in luck. Now got the part Roger is after.
    Time to go and look for a camping spot. I google and find a well rated Martins Bend Reserve for self contained campers. We'll go have a look.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Martins Bend Reserve Berri SA

    Mar 25–26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Campground here for $5 per night - has a toilet block (no showers) and BBQ area. Lovely spot near the Murray River.
    We choose our own camp spot and set up with awning and mat out. Roger is quick to get into his bathers and go float in the river with his pool noodle. I relax at camp, Roger back and forth going for swims to keep cool in between working on the caravan to put the new water fixture in place. All fixed. I realise I'm out of bubbles to drink - so get organised to walk into town to get some. Return in time to make up cheese and biscuits (with other nibbles) for evening drinks. Tea tonight is leftover taco mince - which we reheat and have tacos again - yum. Roger has his shower, then does the dishes while I'm sorting out with Roger's niece Becky Dodd that unfortunately Rog and I can't accept her wedding invite (last minute chance) and lovely housesitting offer. This is all happening when we're at MFSR Bush Festival. Now relaxing before bed.
    26/03/25 Wednesday. Michael Denny's 65th birthday today. I get up before Roger to go for a jog - I'm getting the chance to do the Lions Club Trail again into Berri - to get some bacon for Roger to do our breakfast cook up. I leave for my run 7.15am and return within an hour, Roger all prepared for breakfast cook - yum, our usual bacon and eggs with the trimmings we enjoy on toast. By the time we tidy up and I get organised, we leave around 10am.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Berri Lions Club Walking Trail

    March 25 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    I head off for a walk into Berri with my back pack on - ready to carry back some bottles of bubbles. My cupboard and fridge are bare of these, and I plan to rectify!
    This is a lovely walking trail directly beside where we are camping, so it is very convenient to use to get me to the shops in Berri.
    When I get there, I have fun looking in the Tourist Information Centre as well - make some nice purchases, a hat pin, local dried figs and dried apricots dipped in chocolate and pistachios. Then I go make my wine purchase at BWS before returning to camp. Hope I get the chance to do this walk again in the morning before we go 🤞    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Mildura VIC

    March 26 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Arrive and go grocery shopping at Aldi before driving to the Visitor Informaton Centre. On chatting with a lovely staff member - we book to go on a paddlesteamer cruise this evening, I also purchase a hatpin for my collection. As we've got to unhitch from the caravan today (to do our tour) - Roger decides he'd be happier to leave the caravan in a caravan park. We make a few phone calls - Roger finds a G'day Park that is a reasonable price - so off we go to find it.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Mildura Buronga Riverside Park NSW

    Mar 26–27 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Come to this Discovery Parks caravan park - crossing the river from Victoria to NSW. Easy book in process when you're not in a hurry - which we haven't been on this whole trip! Nice young woman (reception staff) tells us for our 1 night stay she'll put us in her favourite spot of this park (haha how to make us feel good) on Site 99. We go and find our site - and agree it's in a lovely spot. Settle ourselves, awning and air-conditioner happening, don't need our mat - there is a cement pad. Roger gets into his bathers and tries out the closest pool (there's 2 in this park) - very happy. I'm relaxing outside in the shade, enjoying the breeze and the view. A little later I go and have a dunk in the pool too - delightful! Get chatting with a couple (only others at the pool) and discover just as we're heading back to our own camps - that they know Roger (back at the caravan) as Ray is a retired Portland police officer. Their names Ray and Nolene Hastings - turns out their son went to Monivae in the same year's as Tegan. On my return to our camp I head off and have a shower to be organised to go out later. Roger cooks up some pork steaks on the park BBQ to have with a supermarket salad - we eat this early so we have eaten before we go. We drive out at 6pm to go on our tour, return around 9pm. Now time for Roger to go for his shower, then we have a cuppa, now relaxing before bedtime.
    27/03/25 Thursday. Roger and I sleep in until almost 8am. Get up and have a leisurely breakfast before packing and sorting to leave. We get underway around 9.30am. I'm keen to get to Mildura Kmart before we leave town to get the card game Five Crowns $19. Done.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler
    1

    Paddlesteamer Melbourne Mildura

    March 26 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Drive to the Mildura Wharf and park. We've come here to do a 90 minute sunset cruise on the Paddlesteamer Melbourne. Departs at 6.30pm and returns at 8pm.
    We've got the perfect evening for this - it is calm and balmy - totally comfortable in our shorts and short sleeve shirts. What a pleasure to cruise the Murray River to the quiet chug chug of the steam engine and listening and able to watch the paddle wheels go around. We get prime position (with this weather) sitting out the front top deck - watching the approaching views. This cruise isn't licenced for alcohol drinks, so we're more than happy with the complimentary tea and coffee. Can purchase snacks (ie cheese and biscuits packs, chips, muffins and softdrink in cans). I purchase a cheese and biscuits pack (Mainland Lunch on the Go - Chilli Jam) for $5 and Roger gets a can of Coke $4. Enough in the pack to make up 2 biscuits each - more than fine when we've already had our tea before boarding. We were told that we'd be welcome to bring aboard our own packed food (picnic style) - and others certainly did. I did bring along a box of BBQ Shapes - we happily munched on them on the return trip.
    Very enjoyable cruise - so lovely to be welcome to wander about the boat, so interesting to check out the engine and paddle wheels - not going to see the likes of them anymore! Melbourne (this paddle steamer) was built in 1912.
    Return on time, and Roger and I go for a short drive along the waterfront before going back to our camp.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Boundary Bend VIC

    March 27 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Stop here for a toilet break, there's a cute coffee van here as well- so it turns into a smoko stop too. Lovely tidy spot - looks great with the river bend. Cappuccino for Roger, Chai Latte and sausage roll for me.
    Roger decides to go back to the General Store for fuel - dearer of course - but support our places..... this one not quite our best 'fuel up'as young fella in the store - unfriendly to my dear Rog! Whoops 😔    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Tooleybuc NSW

    March 27 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Our lunch stop today. Roger makes up a meat and salad sandwich, apple, grapes, yoyo biscuit and I'm happy with yoghurt and grapes. We eat these at a picnic table near where we've pulled up with our caravan. Lovely looking town beside the Murray River. We are sitting beside a cottage that is being utilised as an Op Shop - so I have fun looking at what they have on offer (heaps!), thankfully nothing I need today. A couple of carloads of older ladies arrive to check out the Op Shop - they make me smile - some sort of group they're in, having fun - they're dressed in purple (their own choice of outfits) and wearing red hats (all different). They see me smiling at them - and tell me they're a group of friends on a day trip outing - having lunch today at the Tooleybuc Hotel. Good on them!
    After our lunch we head off - Roger's planning an overnight stay at Moulamein.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Moulamein Bowling Club NSW

    Mar 27–28 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Get to Moulamein and head straight to here. Pull up out front of the Bowling Club Rooms and go inside- where there is a lovely restaurant, bar and lounge areas. Staff member explains we are welcome to choose our own camp spot either near the Club Rooms and recreational ground or across the road to be beside the Edward River. We walk around and decide to stay near the Bowling Club, beside the tennis courts. Roger chooses a nice flat spot in the shade (with full sun nearby for his portable solar blanket). Get set up, put out our mat as we are on dirt, but don't worry about awning as we already have shade. Sitting out in our camp chairs, relaxing and enjoying a nice breeze. For our afternoon drinks we enjoy with some Cheeses and biccies. We sit back and watch as people arriving for footy and netball training tonight. Roger has a cold shower (deliberate) before getting ready to head over to the Bowling Club to have tea. I get changed and ready as well - we head over around 6pm. Have a drink each before ordering our meals - both Parmas - The Outback for Rog (egg and bacon) and The Goodfellas for me (salami, onion and olives). I also ordered Brushetta for entree (which was lovely - but didn't need) - the meals fresh and filling! Come back to our caravan feeling over full - now just going to relax until bedtime.
    28/03/25 Friday I get up first to go for a run around the nearby oval, Roger is up before I leave and decides to go for a walk into Moulamein to look about. Roger gets back before I finish my jogging- so he has his breakfast. I get back and have a shower while my porridge cooking. After I have my breakfast, we tidy up and get packed and organised to leave. Gone from here just before 10am.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Moulamein Heritage Village

    March 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Before leaving Moulamein, we stop and have a look around this display. Our timing is great - as a small tour bus of folk has arrived here with a tour guide, and the buildings get opened up for us all to have a look through. It is great - and obviously a project that has more to come.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Moulamein Water Tower

    March 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    As we're leaving Moulamein, we come across its water tower and it's in the process of getting painted with murals. We stop so I can take some photos - the beforehand shots! On chatting with the artist's assistant, they hope to have it done within 2 weeks. I hope I get the chance to see the results sometime.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Deniliquin NSW

    March 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Arrive and head for the Visitor Centre. I have a nice buy up on local produce (food dressings, licorice and a hat pin). Told by staff if we only have time for 1 place to visit in Deni, we should check out The Depot. After we leave the centre we go for a walk about the nearby streets for a look about - before driving to the recommended place.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    The Depot Deniliquin

    March 28 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We park and go to the Diner here for our lunch, Burger for Roger and Eggs Benedict for me, along with a cappuccino and fruit juice.
    This is a cute 'themed' Cafe and the food is good. I'm thinking Barb and Adrian have come here....I'm sure Barb talked of an eatery like this!? Next we go to the Museum part - oh it is amazing! All the beautiful cars and all sorts of collectibles. Easily spend time here.
    When we're ready to go - we head off to get some fuel before leaving town - aiming for Finley.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Finley Showground NSW

    Mar 28–29 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Get to Finley and head straight here to get ourselves settled for the rest of the day. This spot offers powered sites (some with water too) for $20 per night or $10 without power. We select a powered option - lovely to find some green grass to park on. Once we're set up, we wander over to the toilet and shower block - can use the loos, but feel we'll be happier using our own shower in our van. I try to pay our $20 online - but wouldn't work for me, so we put cash in an envelope and leave it in the 'honesty box'. Go back to our caravan, sit outside relaxing. Tea tonight - Roger cooks up sausages with onions and serves with boiled vegetables. There is some rain for a short spell. I do the dishes while Roger showers. Now to relax until bedtime.
    28/3/25 Saturday Wake to settled in rain - nice to look out our windows and see puddles lying about! No rush this morning, so I lie in bed reading until 8am while Roger has his breakfast. I get up and have my breakfast, then have a shower while Rog does our dishes. I've stripped and changed our sheets - ready to wash when we can. Looking forward to heading to Roger's niece's place today. Clare has been messaging Roger - letting him know their plans - we are obviously going to be well looked after on our visit. Roger is just finishing off our 'house keeping' with our caravan, and we'll be ready to get on the move.    Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Finley NSW

    March 29 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Before leaving Finley we stop in the main street area to do some shopping. Roger goes to IGA to top up our grocery supplies. I go to the Bakery to get fresh bread rolls to take to Clare and Ben's for the Brisket rolls that they're planning for our tea tonight. We are so lucky with this generous family. I join Roger at IGA just as he's coming through checkout. Good timing to help take our purchases to pack away in our caravan. Off we go.Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Oaklands NSW

    March 29 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Stop here for a toilet break. This one, I have to laugh at Rog and I. While I'm taking some photos Roger goes into the public toilets first - I follow, just going to the other end. I walk in to discover a urinal! Whoops, a gender swap! I return to the ladies end - where Roger has got away with using. No one except us the wiser 😉🤣Read more

  • Andrea McClureYear off around AustraliaTraveler

    Ben & Clare' s Strathallan

    March 29 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    So happy to be able to come here for a visit. When we come up their driveway, Clare has seen us arriving so is waiting in their Polaris farm vehicle to immediately escort us to where they intend us to stay. Past their house to the fully self contained farm stay cottage they've called Hallam's Hut. Oh my, the work that has gone into creating this lovely get away spot - and how spoilt are we to be welcomed to use this retreat.Read more

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