• 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 Les mer
  • The Esplanade Hotel Port Hedland

    6. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

    A large U shaped building - quite magnificent. Has been well restored very tastefully to make it a beaut spot to stop for us to have a drink. Roger has a Guinness and I have a Gingerbeer.

  • Port Hedland Walk

    6. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    Have some fun walking about Port Hedland, following along from the brochure that we were given (along with lots of other info) today at the Visitor Centre. Good thing to do.

  • Guided Reef Walk with Doris

    7. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We drive to Cemetery Beach (less than 10 minutes from our caravan park) and meet up with Doris and another 5 people joining the walk as well.
    We spent a lovely 2 hours wandering about the beach and reef in low tide - with Doris and a young fella who goes along with her, explaining about some of the things we're seeing. Turtle tracks in the sand, sea sponges, sea grass, seaweeds, sea cucumbers, crabs, sea slugs, anemones, octopuses, nobbies (starfish), small fish - amazing the variety of marine life.Les mer

  • Redbank Bridge NW Coastal Hwy

    7. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Park and walk up onto the bridge to a viewing platform. Get to see the trains that go to and from Port Hedland wharf. We get to see one leaving - incredibly long - can be up to 3km in length!

  • Mission to Seafarers Harbour Tour

    8. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C

    With caravan with us, we find a spot to park in front of The Seafarers Centre and go in to assemble with our group ready for this tour.
    We are given a very good presentation by the manager of Port Hedlands Seafarers Mission, explaining their role and the set up of the harbour, and the scale of operations within this area. We are taking HUGE amounts of machinery, ships, loads, costs and profits. Then a short bus trip to the harbour to board a boat and be taken around the harbour - seeing the ships and tug boats close up and in action. Return by bus to the centre again to have a cuppa and morning tea provided. Very good tour.
    After finishing this tour we drive to Woolworths to do some grocery shopping. Roger buys some garlic and cheese scrolls for our lunch.
    We eat these and an apple each later, once we're well underway and while we're travelling.
    Les mer

  • Pretty Pool Port Hedland

    8. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    Before leaving Port Hedland, we came for the drive here to check this spot out as it is the only recommended coastal spot to swim in this town - must wear reef shoes or equivalent in case you stand on a stone fish! Lovely scenic area, but I'm still not convinced I'd swim here.Les mer

  • The Cove Holiday Village Point Samson

    8.–10. okt. 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Arrive and book in to find $52 per night powered. We just book for 1 night to start, we'll see what we think once we're settled as to whether we stay longer. The caravan park is offering a deal of stay 3 nights and get the 4th free - but we're pretty sure we'll be wanting to be further along our track than to commit to that. We go to our allotted site No. 60, Roger backs the van into position and unhitches the ute. We then do our set up - with awning out before getting into our bathers to have a swim in the pool. Relax about our campsite, Roger having 2 swims, me just catching up on my messages. Jordan Plunkett has made contact to let us know that he and Dani are expecting a baby boy due the end of December. Lovely news. Roger and I agree we'd best go for our walk (thinking Oceans to Outback) before tea. We go for a good walk about Point Samson - staying near and walking on the beaches. Back for tea, Roger uses the airfryer to reheat the takeaway food we got last night - pull apart meat and chips - worked well. We follow this with fresh fruit salad and yoghurt. Then cuppas with a piece of apple slice each. We go have showers, basic tidy up - think the dishes can wait for the morning (not many). Relaxing before bed.
    Roger has us up and about nice and early this Wednesday morning. He's keen to go driving about this area checking out the small towns around here. So after our cooked breakfast (bacon, eggs etc on toast) and quick tidy up, we organise ourselves to be prepared to be out most of the day (bathers and snacks packed). We call in at the park's office and book in for another night, before driving out before 8am.
    Well we're back at our campsite around 10.30am - things didn't quite work out the way we thought.....did get to drive about, but Cossack, one of the places we thought we could spend some time at, was inaccessible. Road closed - find out later it will be like this due to road works until 18th this month. It's a hot day so we'll just hang about happily in the caravan park. Lunch is our usual, sandwiches and toasties. In between relaxing with a book I make a batch of Anzac biscuits - camp kitchen here has a fantastic oven. Roger keeps cool in and out of the pool. I join in at the pool later in the day, then Roger and I go for a short 2km walk - check out the nearby wharf. Then back for tea, Roger cooks up chicken snitzels and chops up some salad. We follow this with my apple slice for dessert. Showers time, reading and bed.
    Up at 6am, breakfast porridge and toast (Roger). Roger gets our caravan ready to move out - then patiently waits while I spend time on our laptop, dealing with getting my Canada trip for next year sorted - I'm organising an Early Arrival - so I can spend time with my family 💕 We leave just after 8am.
    Les mer

  • Roebourne

    9. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We go check out the old prison buildings. Unfortunately not able to do a tour as such, as it's all barricaded up. Very impressive old buildings, and quite extensive in size. Then we stop and have morning tea at the local Cafe- entirely owned and run by local indigenous first nation peoples. Enjoyed our drinks, cappuccino for Roger, and pineapple juice for me, then shared a spinach and ricotta sausage roll - very nice Cafe. Back driving around - we check out the towns lookout. I'm finding that most lookouts we're seeing today have tanks on the hill too.Les mer

  • Karratha

    10. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 32 °C

    1st thing we do is go and fuel up - Coles Express for a discount. Nice to have diesel prices below $2 a litre that's for sure. Then go to the Visitor Centre but we're too early for its 10am open - so we decide to go find a caravan park to fill in the time.
    Later, once we have been to the Visitor Centre, we drive about the points of interest. Beach lookouts mainly.
    On our way back from Burrup and Dampier, we call into Karratha's Red Earth Arts Precinct. Very modern buildings for theatre, library, conferences and displaying art work.
    Les mer

  • Dicovery Parks Karratha

    10.–11. okt. 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 33 °C

    Go to reception - lovely lass Jade books us in for 1 night $55 powered and allocates us site 118. We go and settle caravan on it's site, unhitch the ute. Now we head off back to Karratha's Visitor Centre and for an explore.
    Get back to our camp after 3pm - we've been to the supermarket for supplies, have had a nice drive about today.
    Now relaxing - Roger off to the pool, taking his book as well. I'm staying in with the air-conditioner in the van - checking emails and finalising my Early Arrival payment to confirm that I'll be leaving for Canada the 8th July 2025.
    Tea tonight - a cooked chook and bagged salad mix. Followed by strawberries with yoghurt. Roger goes and showers, I tidy up. Relax before bed.
    Wake up early enough to go for a shuffle, so get ready and head off at 6.30am - very happy that the caravan park is beside open land that people obviously drive about (4wd) - like being in another world. Meet a few joggers and walkers using the same area. I get back, Roger has already had his breakfast, so I have my porridge and then change to go for a swim (now 8am when the pool opens). Next I go have a shower - use the 'new' amenities block - very nice. By now Roger has us ready to go, so I do the last tidy up stuff inside the van and we head off after 9am.
    Les mer

  • Karratha Visitor Centre

    10. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 33 °C

    Get back here after parking our van in the caravan park. We load up with brochures and the lovely lady who looked after us has given us a good run through, and drawn points of interest on a map, as to what we can check out.
    We start with the lookout (with a water tank!) that's beside the centre.
    Les mer

  • North West Brewing Co. Karratha

    10. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 34 °C

    Enjoyed a tasting paddle of 6 brews for $25.30. Only thing I felt I wanted to get as a takeaway was a 4pk cans of their Prankster Gingerbeer - oh dear not available just at the moment. Roger's pick was the West Coast 4.2% beer. Roger felt no need for takeaways! So unusual that we leave 'empty handed' lol.Les mer

  • Dampier

    10. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 33 °C

    Driving about enjoying the Esplanade drive along the coast. Hungry and need a toilet stop so find Dampier's shopping centre - end up at Hullabaloo Cafe. Roger orders a Salmon bagal, I'm having a spinach, tomato and feta slice. Both having cold drinks - fruit juice for me, milkshake for Rog.
    Now continue our drive looking around. Beautiful looking at the coast line. The rest is very 'industrial' around here.
    Les mer

  • Discovery Parks Onslow

    11.–13. okt. 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Straight through drive from Karratha to this park. Book in just for 1 night initially - have been allocated site No 4 so we go settle in. Roger quick to get out our awning for shade as it's not as windy as previous 2 nights ( when he packed it away, then next stay didn't put it up at all). Time for lunch - yes sandwiches for Rog, open toasties for me. Roger sneaks in a quick dip in the pool here before we head off for a drive to check around Onslow.
    We get back at 3.45pm - now just relax, reading and chatting. The park has a bar and restaurant that caters for the miners that stay here - so happy hour starts at 5.30pm so we go have a drink, can of GN beer for Rog and can of CC for me $20 - we're not sure of happy hour prices! On chatting with staff, most drinks have $3 off from usual charge! We go check out the restaurant/cafeteria - lovely array of food, smorgasbord style, hot, cold, main, desserts, fresh fruit.....very tempting. Miners no charge (part of their work contract) for us it would be $55 a head. We already have tea planned so don't feel the need. Now go back to our van and decide to do an evening walk (Oceans to Outback challenge) before tea. Get back Roger goes has a shower, I'm writing this while Roger now cooking our tea. Which is savoury mince he's serving on cooked potatoes, grated cheese with the leftover salad from last night - very yummy. We follow this with some apple slice for dessert. I wash the dishes, tidy up. Think I'll get ready for bed and see if I can find something to watch on Prime or Paramount + before bedtime.
    Saturday has us getting up around 6.30am - though I go back to bed and read until 7am. We have our breakfasts - Weetbix and toast for Rog, porridge for me. We've decided to stay another night here (quite comfy) and we'll go for a drive early before it gets too hot and check out the Old Oslow town area. We get organised and head off before 8am. We haven't gone too far down the road, when Rog pulls over and checks under the ute bonnet. He had realised the air-conditioner didn't seem to be working - and he's found that the air-conditioner belt has come off. Back we go to our caravan, Roger has packed a spare belt so he's going to have a go at changing it. Turns out the old one is worn and stretched, and thanks to a Google video Roger has no trouble in changing to a new belt. All sorted, off we go again, probably within 30 minutes.
    We get back from our drive about around 2.30pm. We have a light lunch, as we've booked to have our tea here at the caravan park in the Miner's Restaurant. $35 a head, all you can eat smorgasbord style - and you can also order steak, chicken or fish to be cooked to your liking. It's warm again, so we're happy relaxing for the afternoon - reading, and Roger cools off in the pool a couple of times. We head over for our tea just before 6pm. Magnificent feed - easily eat too much as their is so much good food on offer! After this, we're only too keen to go for a beach walk - beautiful evening for it. We get back and have a cuppa - Roger goes for his shower. Now we're relaxing again before bedtime.
    Wake up to another lovely day, sunshine and warm. Roger quick to have his breakfast muesli, I lie in bed and read for abit before getting up and having muesli and banana as well. I decide to go for a swim in the pool before/on my way to have a shower. Once back from my shower I slather in sunscreen (usual ritual) before we leave. Roger has us ready to go - he's been reading his book, while waiting for me. We're underway by 9.30am.
    Les mer

  • Drive about Onslow

    11. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Go for a drive about Onslow - start off at the wharf where we get to see a Singapore supply ship leaving. Then head into the main town area, checking out what shops and facilities there is. The Tourist Centre is closed (season finished I think?) so we don't stop here. There's a supermarket combined general store. A couple of fuel depots - so we stop and fuel up. A good aquatic centre, gym and sporting precinct. Can sense the 'mining' dollars here. The town also has alot of major 'works' going on - buildings happening, roads working on, and foreshore renovations. Feel this place could be quite spruced up in the near future. All in all, a nice small town - relying on mining to prosper.
    I've added some photos from our evening walk in this as well.
    Les mer

  • Old Onslow

    12. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Wow - when we get here, you wonder why this spot would have been selected for a township in the first place. Remote and desolate......came to convenience back at the time of settlement - but things changed over time......Les mer

  • Sunset Beach Onslow

    12. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Have arrived back in Onslow and stop and look at this beach area. Lovely - with really good walkway to go along on. But boy, were the little flys too friendly - yuk! 1st time I've wished I hadn't left my flynet in the caravan!Les mer

  • Oslow Visitor Centre Museum

    12. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Arh...the Tourist Information place is open today and we've come along at the opening times. So in we go. Nice selection of gifts and souvenirs - which I resist. We do pay $3 each to look in their Museum - great fun with plenty to look at and think about!Les mer

  • Bullara Station

    13. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 32 °C

    We call in here to check out if we might stay a night.....it's a terrific set up they've got here, credit to the owners the work that has gone on to make this such a nice spot. We've just missed the Cafe (shuts at 1.30pm) - though they (staff) kindly offer that we can have pies etc if we'd like. We do, so Roger has a pie and I have a sausage roll - they give us another pie (freebie - as a leftover from today). These are lovely fresh baked - yum.
    We decide we'll keep going to Exmouth, keen for a pool and to see what's on offer there.
    Les mer

  • RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park

    13.–19. okt. 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Great 1st impression as we pull up to book in. Nice modern looking park, with a great vibe. We book in for 2 nights initially and go and settle on our allocated site of 254. Good size site and we're happily near the pool and other amenities. The amenities are impressive - probably the best we've come across so far in a caravan park. Once we're set up we go for a drive to find the Tourist Information...oh what a laugh, we could have easily walked, their Visitor Centre is beside our caravan park. Anyway after visiting the centre we go for a quick tour of Exmouth's shopping area, before heading back to our camp. Relax time now, we've got plenty of brochures to look at. Roger goes for a quick dunk in the pool. I stay at our van, happy sorting stuff and relaxing. Before our tea we go for a short wander about this park - it's a beauty.
    Tea tonight is leftover savoury mince reheated and put on a cooked spud served with salad and grated cheese. Finish off my apple slice for dessert. Roger goes for his shower, I'm just catching up my budgeting books and writing this up. Then it'll be dishes and tidy up, before cuppa then bed.
    Monday morning we get up and have our breakfast - each to their own 👌 Weetbix Roger, porridge (in Thermie today) for me. We're going to go driving today to explore the North West Cape - going to the point and down the west side. I have a job to do on the laptop - pay the Subaru Ute's club permit VicRoads rego - then Rog and I head off. Roger has used his time to pack our lunch - nice meat and salad sandwiches, along with a Anzac biscuit each.
    Get back from our drive around 5pm - has been a great time out and about! Now shower time for me, Rog relaxes at campsite having a drink. Next we prepare tea - I crumb Ronnie's Barramundi and Roger organises the vegetables. Our tea is 1/2 a reheated pie each, with panfried barra and boiled veggies with airfryer potato chips. Roger goes and has his shower, I start my update on this. Next will be tidy up before bed. I'm looking forward to reading more of my book Never by Ken Follett.
    Get up early 6am as we're going to drive to Thomas Carter Lookout to walk the Badjirrajirra Trail. So breakfast - both of us have muesli and fresh pear and get organised and off we go.
    Get back from our morning's expedition around midday. I get straight into washing mode (stripped and remade our bed this morning before going out) so 2 loads of washing at $5 a load in the parks closest laundry. Wait to get these hung out on the clotheslines before we drive down the street to do some grocery shopping. We look around the shops 1st before deciding to have our lunch at the Bakery. Very nice, Chilli beef pie and blueberry turnover for Roger, Vegetable foccicia followed by cinnamon scroll for me, Do our grocery shop and head back to the caravan. Now enjoy a relaxing afternoon at this park - it's amenities are great. I end up having a swim and shower before our tea. Roger cooks up his sausage surprise casserole (sausages and lots of vegetables with a pkt of Mingle seasoning) - delicious. Roger has his shower, I do the dishes and tidy up. Now relaxing before bed - quite excited for our early start for our whale shark tour tomorrow.
    Roger has the alarm set for 6am - we get up and have muesli and fruit for breakfast, tidy up and get ready for our tour - pick up is at 6.45am at the entrance of this caravan park. Excited (and nervous as I'm not a strong swimmer and beginner level snorkler!) we are collected by mini bus - with Daisy and Holly (driving bus) as our tour guides. We are heading to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp.
    After a very successful Whale Shark tour, we are returned around 2pm. I'm recovering from seasickness - so all I want to do is lie down and rest...which I do, pretty much until I go have a shower before tea. Roger relaxes about camp, reads his book, then gets tea ready. Nice and easy - we're reheating the leftover sausage surprise. Roger's shower time, then tidy up. We're tuckered out tonight, bed and lights out by 8.30pm!
    Today, Thursday 17th October, we decide is a rest and recovery day. We book to stay another 2 nights here - hoping to get the chance to see Exmouth's staircase to the moon tomorrow evening. We're up around 7.30am. Roger makes us porridge for breakfast (using Thermomix). After breakie I ring Stacy for a chat - wanting to check that her family OK after Casterton had a severe hail storm yesterday (Jen and Michael messaged me so I knew about this). Yes all OK, but have suffered some property damage and everyone has a tidy up in front of them. The storm certainly caused flooding and mess with hail stone damage wide spread. While I'm chatting and then tidying in the caravan, Roger is doing some maintenance jobs with the ute and outside of caravan - this includes a walk over to the nearby Mitre 10 store for some supplies. When he gets back we decide to walk down the street to do a small grocery shop and look about on the way. When we get back it's time for lunch - packet soup and bread, does the trick. Now for a relaxing afternoon. I get busy reading my book that I'm keen to finish, Roger uses the Thermomix to make up a packet mix cake that he adds his preserved apple to. Bakes a nice apple cake, using one of the camp kitchen ovens (it has 4). Later in the day I make a batch of yoyo biscuits, then it's time for me to cook the "Marry Me Chicken Pasta" - not bad. We finally have the block of Cadbury chocolate Fruit & Nut - that I purchased quite a while ago. Impressed myself that it lasted so long! Usual routine - Roger goes and has his shower, I tidy up a bit. We're reading before bed and I'm writing this up beforehand. Goodnight.
    Friday morning we're up around 7am. We have our breakfast and tidy up. I've got dressed straight into my bathers as we're going to go snorkling sometime today. Roger makes up sandwiches for a packed lunch to take with us, so once we're organised off we go.
    We get back from our outing around 2.30pm. Both stay in our bathers so we can have a swim in the pool here. Reading, swimming and having our showers gets rid of the afternoon. We plan to have a BBQ tea at the Town Beach to be in position to see Exmouth's staircase to the moon. We head down there quite early 5.30pm.
    Get back here around 8.30pm - Roger cooks up the steaks and we have them with the salad Roger prepared as takeaway for tonight. We finish off Roger's apple cake for dessert. Tidy up, Roger reading, I'm doing this, next will be dishes and to bed.
    Well, get up this Saturday morning before 7am - knowing that we'll be on the move today. Focus on that, so get dressed, have breakfast, tidy up. Roger gets the caravan ready to go, I do my bit inside the van. We're off at 8.15am. Goodbye for now Exmouth, we've enjoyed our time here.
    Les mer

  • Nigaloo Visitor Centre

    13. oktober 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Lots of brochures on things to do around here! Lovely ladies help direct us to what tours are available (as main season wound up so some operators have packed up for a while). I'm very excited - we're booked to do a whale shark tour on Wednesday (earliest we could get for the 2 of us). Fingers crossed we get the chance to swim with some 🤞
    We leave this centre loaded up with pamphlets and maps - and plenty of suggestions from staff as to things we can do.
    I think I'm going to love it around here.....
    Les mer