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Oz Lappin’ in the Vanger
  • JTEA
  • JTEA

Oz Lappin’ in the Vanger

An open-ended adventure by JTEA. Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 29, 2024
  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
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    📍Chookhouse Farm Stay, Toowoomba QLD

    Aug 2–4, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 18 °C

    Headed to Toowoomba for an all clear professional weigh and a couple errands.
    Also ate some awesome pizza and met more animal friends at the Chookhouse Farm Stay! And even managed to squeeze in a trip to the Toowoomba Farmers Markets!Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    1

    📍Esk, QLD

    Aug 4–6, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 21 °C

    With the rig and van weights in checked, we made our way to Esk for an off-road towing course. Lots of tips and techniques learnt plus a bit of fun too.
    Decent pub dinner after an exhausting day.
    Ella and I were lucky to catch a close up glimpse of a Bettong near camp one night. She has been enthusiastically researching all about them as part of her ‘school’ work.    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    1111

    📍Jondaryan Woolshed, QLD

    August 6, 2024 in Australia ⛅ 20 °C

    We loved day 1 at the Woolshed so 2 nights turned into 4 nights. Just about had the unpowered section all to ourselves, creek, open space, great spot 👍🏽
    Plenty of walks up to the animal nursery to hang out with the orphaned lambs and greet the horses
    Interesting bit of history around the site, 130 years of wool production and originally kept woolshed/equipment and town buildings.    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
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    31111

    📍Roma, QLD

    August 11, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 23 °C

    After driving on some of Queensland’s finest (terrible) highways, we had a fun little stay and great catch up with my old work family on their property.
    Met an army of friendly dogs and a sheep that acts like one… Safe to say someone will be asking for a quad bike for their next birthday!Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Rainchecked a few years ago. Finally got here
    Rainchecked a few years ago. Finally got hereMore gravel pits than playgrounds along the highways. And more fun according to these two1A little cautious after a small snake was spotted nearby

    📍Sandstone Park, Carnarvon Gorge QLD

    Aug 15–18, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 23 °C

    Beautiful Carnarvon Gorge. Isolated canyon and rainforest in central Qld and home to ancient aboriginal sites and flora.
    Our first hike of the trip... and it was a big one (16km)! The numerous water crossings certainly added to the adventure. While we had every intention of hitting the Mickey’s Creek track the following day, our legs disagreed so we settled for a quick visit to The Rockpool instead.Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    11

    📍Virgin Rock Free Camp, Springsure QLD

    Aug 18–19, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 25 °C

    Our first public free camp stopover of the trip.
    School work for the kids and a view for the adults… local council even light up the mountains at night 👌🏽
    Hopefully more primo free camps ahead.

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Tree of Knowledge memorial after the original 200yo+ tree was poisoned. Historical political siteBeautiful Lara Station Wetlands. Oasis in the middle of QLD on a 15,000acre cattle stationNatural artesian bore. Thermal hot pools. Water is a warm 30degrees. Bit warm for adults though1Not a bad place for it!Can't beat country butchers!2Soft outback sand. Better than some beaches!Damper timeStarting to get used to outback sunsets

    📍Lara Station Wetlands, Barcaldine QLD

    Aug 20–24, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 31 °C

    We weren’t sure what to expect on our 1st station stay & proper bush campsite.
    In the end we were pleasantly surprised, and hooked!
    No designated camp sites, no power/water hook up, fires allowed (with the best fire/cheapest firewood!) and a lot of natural space. These have now become our prerequisites for picking a camp spot!
    We all made friends, which wasn’t hard to do here. Everyone seemed to be on the same relaxed and chilled level (Maybe that 15km dirt entry road is a natural barrier for certain types!)
    No wonder everyone extends their stay as soon as they arrive, us included.

    Hoping to find more of these gems

    15,000 acre cattle station, Natural artesian bore supplying quality drinking water, relaxing hot pools and a wetland oasis for a lot of birdlife.
    All Tucked away in the middle of QLD.    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Unexpected dirt road shakedown. Just a quick 200km as part of a shortcut
    Unexpected dirt road shakedown. Just a quick 200km as part of a shortcutLocal celebrity out hereHmmm. We almost went for a swim just earlier! Apparently it was a freshwater crocMade some friends. Same cars and plansOutback Sunrise

    📍Hughenden RV Camp, QLD

    Aug 25–26, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 33 °C

    We misread the map and missed the highway description, 200km of unsealed road. Explains the lack of other vehicles! (Not a bad thing)
    Mentally we weren’t prepared for the rocks and bull dust when we woke that morning!
    No big deal, thats what we prepared and bought the gear for.
    In the end it was an enjoyable day of driving. Bring on more dirt!
    Overnight camp at the Showgrounds,$10 for the family including water hook up.
    Kids played into the night with their new friends.    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Very refreshing spot for a swim and hang out
    Very refreshing spot for a swim and hang outPorcupine gorgeVery inviting descendKool katsThe pyramidDefinitely don't want to fall down thereBit of a tight one

    📍Porcupine Gorge National Park, QLD

    Aug 26–27, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 28 °C

    A less well known little national park with a beautiful gorge as its center piece.
    Sounded perfect to us so we tried and luckily scored a site for one night.
    Tight sites but we managed to squeeze in.
    Bumped into some friends we met from Lara station so we hung out and explored with them.
    The days were getting hotter so this gorge was the perfect spot to chill and swim at.
    Nice sand, cool fresh water, nice backdrop, Beats any swimming pool 👌🏽
    Walk back up wasn’t as fun though 🙃    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler

    📍Richmond RV Park, QLD

    Aug 27–28, 2024 in Australia 🌙 26 °C

    1 night stop over. Camp site was nothing flashy but still had a great visit.
    Richmond is know for the discovery of marine dinosaur fossils and the theme is carried around town which is interesting.
    Pulled up at the local parklands/lake which was pretty decent for a small town.
    Spent the afternoon here staying cool and chilling out on the nice grass which was luxurious after all the dirt. Bumped into some
    Friends from earlier on so before we knew it, we were setting up camp in the dark    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    11

    📍Julia Creek RV Rest Area, QLD

    Aug 28–29, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 34 °C

    Another small outback QLD town with a cheap camp by a nice creek.
    This region was known for a rodent plague in recent months with a few of them still hanging around at night. Most cars parked with bonnets up and other deterrents to discourage rodent damage to engine and wiring. No damage to ours luckily! In the morning we only saw a couple rats in the council installed traps 🙃
    The ducks were cool though!
    Obvious highlight here was the local swimming pool. Entry was so cheap that we felt guilty! Family entry was less than a child entry in the city. Perfect way to spend the afternoon and cool off    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Just down the road to Alice SpringsHot hot hot$2.80/lt and not the most expensive eitherFeeding orphaned calvesFinally a break from the hot sunSuccess without an oven1st time seeing these guys. They were everywherePlenty of these too. The heat brings all the bugs out1Dad was spoiltResident artist practicing1Giant termite nest

    📍Tobermorey Station, Plenty Highway NT

    August 31, 2024 in Australia ⛅ 31 °C

    Spent a couple of nights and hot days on the NT/QLD border.
    Decided to take a short cut to the red center along the Plenty Highway, part of ‘Australia’s Longest Shortcut’.
    Tobermorey Cattle Station, 1.8M Acre or 6475km2. Over 3x the size of Mauritius and 3.5x Fraser Island!
    Also one of the most remote tourist facilities in the Australian Central Desert.    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Red dirt and corrugations. More interesting than a busy bitumen highway!

    📍 Marshall Creek Camp, Plenty Highway NT

    September 2, 2024 in Australia 🌬 31 °C

    https://www.youtube.com/@jbilly2946

    Free remote camp along the Plenty.
    Helped some travellers (who arrived at dusk) to change their damaged tyre after their jack broke. Definitely not two things you want to happen out here! They were heading to where we had just came from.
    Had to also let them know that they had just driven the smoothest part of the plenty, the roughest part was next!
    Suggested they lower their tyre pressures from standard pressures and change some settings on the dash as they had the same 4x4 as us.
    Hopefully they made it!    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
    Very beginning of the canyon walk. Steep climb but worth itSomething interesting where you least expectRadios and helicopter landing zones. Safety 1stNighttime lanterns at the resortTyre pressures up and then down. Daily chore now2

    📍Discovery Parks Kings Canyon, NT

    September 10, 2024 in Australia 🌙 24 °C

    https://www.youtube.com/@jbilly2946

    One of the best walks so far.
    Lots of rock but always interesting formations and patterns around every bend. The kids really enjoyed this one too with all the rock to clamber over to see whats on the other side.
    Definitely worth the drive and stay to visit    Read more

  • JTEAOz Lappin’ in the VangerTraveler
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    📍Ayers Rock Campground, Yulara NT

    September 12, 2024 in Australia ☀️ 20 °C

    https://youtu.be/nhQAhhNC79s
    https://youtube.com/@jbilly2946

    We based ourselves at the only campground within 100km of Ayers Rock and as expected, expensive for just small patch of dirt (and with no hook ups)
    Everything was very touristy as expected so getting the chance to visit The Olgas practically alone was a treat.
    Ayers Rock was impressive, but The Olgas was more captivating in our opinion and 90% of visitors appeared to skip it 🤔
    The bike ride activity wasn’t cheap either but almost a must do here. It took us a bit over 3hours and at times we forgot we were still riding around a rock with the way that the track just kept going.
    Short but activity packed visit and happy to get away from the crowds    Read more