• Craig Tese Adventures
mai – jul. 2018

2018 Road Trip

May 2018 - June 2019 Les mer
  • Reisens start
    28. mai 2018

    Day 1

    28. mai 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    The start of our trip this year had U turn in it yesterday as we headed off at about 11 and Craig had been crook with a bad headache for a few days and made it 50k's down the road and had to come back home to sort him out, an avo on the lounge and few panedine fortes and craig woke up good this morning. Left home at 8:30 said our goodbyes to Nan again 😂 and we are off, all good stopped at 10 just out of Cann River for a cuppa then up the Cann valley hwy to Bombala for a lunch stop then onto Cooma for a fuel top up, Canberra was the next on the list, we managed to get around the city bypass and on to the Barton Hwy with out to much trouble, onto the Hume Hwy for a short run west and then north to Boorowa for our first nights stop, just kicking back having a bevie 👍Les mer

  • Day 2

    29. mai 2018, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Left Boorowa this morning at 8:30 after a cold night but a good sleep, heading north stopped at Cudal for a cuppa and then onto Dubbo for fuel, lunch and shopping. The weather is fantastic, great for driving no wind, we kept on motoring north for another hour and a half and pulled up at Coonamble riverside caravan park for the night, nice park with new ammenities on the highway so we will see how the trucks are in the morning, just having happy hour with ourselves about 24 degrees very nice sitting outside 👍Les mer

  • Day 3

    30. mai 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Up this morning around 7:30, had 1.5 mm of rain overnight no drought breaker but it is about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday, still motoring north no dirt yet all black top. Stopped at 10:30 for a cuppa on the side of the road just before the lightning ridge turnoff, then onto Dirranbandi for lunch and a fuel stop at St George, pulled into the Fishermans camp on the Balone river in the late arvo. Stopped at this free camp last year and as per usual there is well over 30 vans camped here, we walked over the river and into town for a look around, checked out the Cobb and Co museum which was very interesting, picked up a couple of souvenirs. Weather is cooling down with the sun setting had a drink outside and then into the van with the diesel heater on for a few more drinks and dinner 🥃Les mer

  • Day 4

    31. mai 2018, Australia

    Into bed early last night, had a great night sleep not many trucks till early hours of the morning, on the road at 7am today we are on a mission to punch out some big kms, passed through Roma and stopped at a truck stop just north for breakfast, very fresh southerly breeze blowing only about 7 degrees. Kept on motoring and pulled up for a cuppa north of Injune and then lunch at Springsure, got into Emerald at 1:30 and stocked up on supplies and fuel and kept on trucking north. Capella, Clermont and Belyando Crossing next on the list, after about 780kms we decide to pull in to a stop on the side of the road with one other caravan for the night and you wouldn't believe it we have full strength phone service after none for the last hour.
    Teresa is cooking up a tuna veggie bake, got triple m streaming on the iPad and having a bevie 👍
    Les mer

  • Day 5

    1. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Another early start on the road at 6:30 this morning, still on good Roads as we head into Charters Towers for fuel and breakfast, about 2 hours up the road we got to Greenvale as we headed out of town the road was closed due to a road train back trailer breaking in half carrying a load of rock, held us up for about 30 minutes, chatted to some other caravaners while we waited. Some small sections of one lane bitumen but overall pretty good to the oasis roadhouse, pulled up for lunch on the side of the road and then after a little run north we turned on to the Savannah way and arrived at the bedrock village caravan park in Mount Surprise and we sure did surprise the Newton's as we pulled in next door to there site 😊 Just having a cuppa and catching up on everything, happy hour shortly 👍
    Had a great night around the fire listening to the bush poet, very funny well worth it.
    Les mer

  • Day 6

    2. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Had a sleep in this morning, caught up on the washing, coffee at the van park cafe with the Newton's and then we walked in to town and by chance the Saturday market was on, Maz and Teresa picked up some home made preserves. Lots of people wandering around from buses and caravaners, not much has changed since we were here last, pub is still no good shuts at 5pm, a couple of cafe/fuel stops, 3 caravan parks in town but Joe and Jo's Bedrock Village that we are at is still the best. Drinks and dinner at the van tonight, very relaxing about 25 degrees at late afternoon 😎Les mer

  • Day 7

    3. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Started the day off to a bacon and egg breakfast and then we all wandered down via a rocky track to Elizabeth Creek for a look, a very sandy creek with a good flow of water and some rocky rapid sections, another great day in the Savannah gulf country. Everyone was keen for a round of mini golf which is free at the van park, we played 9 holes and did not keep track of the score but Dennis took the win with the only hole in one. Spent the avo just chillin out catching up on the blog and doing the maintenance checks on the car and van before we head off tomorrow. Booked in for wood fired pizza for tea tonight, should be good with a few quite drinks👍Les mer

  • Day 8

    4. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Had a great night at the camp kitchen with the home cooked style wood fired pizzas last night, time to move on today heading further north dropped in at Innott Springs for a quick look, hot water flowing in to the river nice and hot but not the best spot to camp so we decided to keep going to Ravenshoe and pulled into the railway caravan park which is on the old railway grounds surrounded by the old buildings and train carriages. Setup and walked down the street for a look and lunch, most facilities here for shopping, back in the car for a drive to Millstream falls which is the widest waterfall in Queensland, well worth a look. Back into town then out to Tully gorge lookout, very impressive but no water flowing at the moment, off to the top pub for dinner and drinks tonight.Les mer

  • Day 9

    5. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Stayed in this morning very cold got down to 0 overnight, did a little food and beer shopping, Teresa booked in to the local Bowan therapy lady for a headache repair job, lunch at the van today and then off for a drive around the water fall circuit. Took the scenic route to Milla Milla and stopped at the local cafe for avo tea, then off to Milla Milla falls, Zilllie falls, Ellinjaa falls all about 10 minutes from each other, well worth the drive fantastic natural wonders of far North Queensland, going to be another cold night, a few drinks outside with the Newton's and then into the vans for dinner and television.Les mer

  • Day 10

    6. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Up early this morning nearly another frost here at Ravenshoe, time to move on from this cool place another long day 😂 about 80kms to our next destination the Tinaroo Dam holiday park. Along the way we stopped at the Mount Hypipamee crater for a look and the Dinner falls as well which was about a 2 km round trip walk, very interesting. Arrived at Tinaroo Dam about 11 stopped for some lunch and then went on a another tour around, first stop was the Gallo dairy, chocolate and cheese factory, had a look at the dairy and poddies have not really missed the smell of the dairy. Next on our avo tour was Malanda Falls, had a great swimming spot but a little cool today, into the township of Malanda and the girls did a spot of shopping at the local clothes shop, they picked up some goodies and then we had coffee and cake at the local bakery which was very good. The Curtain Fig Tree was next and an amazing natural wonder, north to Yungaburra to pick up some supplies for dinner and back to the van park for drinks around the Oz pig tonight 🥃👍Les mer

  • Day 11

    7. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Another nice day in the Atherton table lands, a bit more site seeing today out to lake Eachem, which is an old volcanic crater full of very clear water with plenty of fish and turtles nice spot for a swim in the warmer weather, dropped in at the caravan park for a look more of a backpacker style place.
    We went back to Yungaburra for a wander around and got some more meat from the butcher, he has very good meat tender and full of flavour, Atherton was our lunch stop and took a wander up and down the street lots of shops. Then 15 minutes north up to Walkamin to see Colleen and Arthur for afternoon tea, was great to see them has been 3 years and they looked great, had lots to catch up on. Steak on the pig for dinner and a few drinks with the Newton's finished the day out great.
    Les mer

  • Day 12

    8. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Left Tinarroo Dam this morning in light rain, stopped at Atherton for food supplies as we are heading out to the west drove in light rain for about an hour till we got away from the coast. Stopped at Innott hot spring for a cuppa and then right turn onto the Savannah Way, Mount Surprise for lunch and then onto Georgetown, left turn down to Forsayth and then onto the dirt for about 50kms to get to Cobbold Gorge. An oasis in the outback, sunken swimming pool, bar and restaurant and super quite 👍Les mer

  • Day13

    9. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After a 27 degree day it cooled down nice to a comfy sleeping level, decided to do a walk this morning to Russells lookout, which is mostly flat and then you got to the hill you had to climb wasn't that hard a little steep and some loose rocks placed but it was pretty hot and made it feel like hard work, we came back via the loop track which was about 10 kms, Teresa was fairly moaning by the time we got back. Change of clothes and straight into the pool very refreshing, we had lunch at the bar which was fantastic and then we headed off for a 1/2 hour chopper ride around the whole station and over the gorge. Couple of drinks at the bar and pork chops on the barbie back at the van 👍Les mer

  • Day 14

    10. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Sunday morning in the Savannah country another magic day, bacon egg breakfast to start the day then off on the Cobbold Gorge tour, you start the tour by bus as you cross the Robinson River which is dry and then a small walk down some elevated walk ways to the gorge entrance. You travel down and back the gorge in an electric flat bottom boat, amazing views and rock formations, when the boat trip was done you take a walk to the top of the gorge to a lookout with views over the Gorge, a great piece of natural Australia. A lazy afternoon just chilling out, had an ice cream at the shop and Teresa took a paddle in a kayak on the lagoon, dinner on the deck overlooking the lagoon and pool was very nice.Les mer

  • Day 15

    11. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Start of another week and it is time to move again, had a great time in Cobbald Gorge, back onto the dirt for a while to Forsayth township for a quick look and then north back up to Georgetown. Heading west today for Croydon along the way we stopped at the Cumberland chimney which has a good free camp on the lagoon with lots of birds and the odd feral pig, a bit further along and you get to the Gilbert River which is a huge river with some water but mostly a dry sandy river bed with lots of free camping along it. Staying at the council park in Croydon which has improved a lot since here 3 years ago and the town has got a fully stocked small supermarket, down to the pub for a drink late avo and corn beef dinner out of the shuttlechef thermos cooker 👍 the weather is warming up 32 here today.Les mer

  • Day 16

    12. juni 2018, Australia

    Another fantastic day in the savannah country 20 degrees overnight had the aircon in the van most of the night, took a walk around the town perimeter this morning Croydon was a big place in its gold mining era more than 6000 people here now there is only 130 people living in Croydon, stopped in at the railway station which is now a steel building which replaced the old timber station due to a white ant infestation. Jumped in the car and went out to lake Belmore which is the towns water supply, reasonably full and a great place to have a picnic lunch but no camping is allowed here, on the way back we stopped at the Chinese temple ruins and the lookout over the town. 32 degrees here today so we jumped in the pool late avo for a dip and a chat with some fellow travellers, happy hour back at the van watching the sunset, doesn’t get much better than this 👍👍Les mer

  • Day 17

    13. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Left Croydon at 8:30 heading west to Normanton to stock up on supplies and fuel, went to the bakery for morning tea, coffee and custard tart which was very good so we got a couple of pasties to go for lunch. Out of Normanton and west towards Burketown wasn't long before the black top ran out and we are on the dirt, about 120kms of dust and pretty good Road with lots of dips crossed over the little Banone, the Banone and the Flinders Rivers before we got to the Leichhardt River and falls, decided to stop here for the night as it is such a great spot to camp along the river. We went down the track to the falls and found a camp spot over looking the river and the falls absolutely magic, WikiCamps said it was extreme 4wd down the falls track but we pulled the van in easy, very interesting place with some weird rock formations from water flow. Spotted a fresh water crocodile basking in the sun on a rock in the river, a few other caravans here but vey peaceful, happy hour overlooking the river just another piece of an amazing Australian natural wonder well worth the time to get here 🥃😊👍Les mer

  • Day 18

    14. juni 2018, Australia

    Up early this morning and caught the sun coming up and lots of wallabies feeding near the river, back onto the bitumen for a run into Burketown, a well presented place with all the conveniences you need topped up the fuel and went to the butcher to get a couple of steaks, made all of the phone calls as we are going in to the no reception area for a while, time to pull out the satellite phone. Back on the Savannah way heading west we passed the Tirranna roadhouse not much there, we then crossed over the Gregory river which had a small amount of water to drive through, The Big and Little Oaky river and the Gunnalunga River just south of the Doomadgee community which were all dry crossings. Some sealed and unsealed sections of Road as we made our way to the Hells Gate roadhouse which is our camp for the night, great little spot with pub, power, and nice green grassy surrounds very well maintained place in the middle of nowhere 👍Les mer

  • Day 19

    15. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Had a great night at Hells Gate Roadhouse, chatted with some fellow caravaners over a few drinks and then we met Tim the fire twirler from Sydney who is working the season on the cattle station, he offered to do a little show and he was very good did not burn that beard he has been growing for 4 years, great place to stop the night. Straight onto the dirt this morning about 317 kms all dirt, lots of corrugations, dips, bull dust holes and river crossings, but overall it was a good run with some very scenic river crossings and lots of cattle along the way. Got into Borroloola at 1:30 and had a look around the town very tidy place but not that appealing unless you are a fisherman, fuelled up, checked the phone, downloaded emails and aired up the tyres back to road pressures. Off to heartbreak hotel at Cape Crawford for a couple of nights, happy birthday Craig 🎂🎂🎉🎉Les mer

  • Day 20

    16. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Nearly at the half way point of our 6 week trip, just taking a day out relaxing at cape Crawford, bacon and egg breakfast and then off on a 20 minute chopper ride over the lost city rock formations in a trusty robbo R44 with a young pilot from Traralgon who is up here for the season. You take off just beside the road after checking for traffic and then run down the Carpentaria Hwy for a bit gathering speed as you lift off over the Macarthur River and then over the amazing rock formations of the lost City, the only way to see the place is by chopper absolutely well worth it. Just chilling out for the avo, happy hour and dinner at the Heartbreak hotel tonight 👍Les mer

  • Day 21

    17. juni 2018, Australia

    On the road again down the Tablelands Highway, this would have to be one of the worst bitumen roads around single lane with wheel ruts and lumps and bumps that in some places gets you down to 60kph, and there is 370 kms of it till you get to the Barkley homestead. Took us about 6 hours including a lunch stop we also had a very strong head wind all day which did not help, the roadhouse is jam packed not a powered site left would be 60 caravans here most of them heading to Darwin, happy hour at 4 o’clock and dinner at the restaurant tonight.Les mer

  • Day22

    18. juni 2018, Australia

    What a mad place, the park at the back of the roadhouse was full last night and this morning by 9:30 there was only us and 2 motor homes left, had a walk around the place and just caught up on a few things for the day, yep by 5 o’clock the place was full again, happy hour at 4 again today with some live entertainment from a singer guitarist from cairns. Shared a table with a couple from Canberra very interesting to chat too, we had a great night and stayed until close, the meals were excellent and the drink prices good.Les mer

  • Day23

    19. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Left this morning around 8 Northern Territory time heading back into Queensland, best road we have been on for a while just a short run of about 260kms today to get to Camooweal which is just over the border. Nice little town we are camped in the van park behind the pub which is very clean and well managed as well as the pub, good little shop in town to grab a few supplies. We decide to take a walk to the drovers camp museum which is about 1.5kms east of town after lunch, well worth the look we had a guided tour of all the exhibits as well a lot of info on the local area and history of the old times. A beautiful day here today 24 degrees and full sun, drinks and dinner at the van.Les mer

  • Day 24

    20. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Had a quiet night at Camooweal, heading off this morning east a good run into Mount ISA, we stopped and fuelled up with the rest of the grey nomads as they make there way north to Darwin, Teresa had a conversation in the morning with a lady who informed us of a nice camp spot about 50kms before Cloncurry. We pulled into the Clem Walton Park which is on the Corella Dam great spot to stay on the water if there wasn't another 100 grey nomads taking over the place, we looked at both camps one which was 4 wheel drive only still no spots there unless you wanted to have generators humming each side of you, we stopped for the night in a nice grassy spot no where near the water but it was nice and secluded away from all the noise, took a walk around and chatted to some other campers lots of them stay here for months. Spaghetti bol in the shuttle chef tonight, Teresa cooked it up at lunch time and we sat outside for drinks till it got too cold, moved inside with the diesel heater on, dinner already done happy days 👍Les mer

  • Day 25

    21. juni 2018, Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    What a great place even though we weren’t on the water, but we hadn’t done any washing for a week and decide we needed to move on so it was only 60kms into Cloncurry, got into the caravan park early and sorted out the washing job. Caravan park is busy usual nice spot but you are pretty jammed in, lunch at the bakery and a little food shopping, we then took a drive out to Chinamans creek dam it was a very nice spot but no camping is allowed. We wandered over to the info centre in the avo for a look and Teresa picked up a nice cow necklace souvenir, happy hour at the van and lamb chops on the baby Q.Les mer