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2019 Cruiser 79 Road Trip
  • Craig Tese Adventures

2019 Cruiser 79 Road Trip

July - August 2019 Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 4, 2019
    Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 1

    July 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    After a lot of preparation we are finally on our way, left home at 10:15 and made our way up the Great Alpine Road, first stop for a cuppa just south of Swifts Creek and then on to Omeo.
    We followed the Omeo Highway through the bends to the Blue Duck and then onto the Big River campsite for lunch, lots of water in all the rivers and a beautiful sunny day in the high country. Back on the road and we passed through Mitta Mitta a great little town on the river, after a couple of more hours on the road and we pulled up for the night at the Lake Hume Discovery Caravan park, pretty quiet considering school holidays and there is very little water in the lake, had a wander around it is a nice park that would be crazy in the summer.
    Inside tonight going to be cold overnight.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 2

    July 5, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Left lake Hume at 9 o’clock this morning and made our way on to the Hume highway, stayed on the concrete road to Holbrook and exited north, we took a not so busy road to Cookardinia and then onto Mangoplah where we stopped for morning tea on the side of the road not much here. Wagga Wagga was next we stayed on the truck route to the Olympic highway for a bit and then we peeled off to Temora for a lunch stop at Macca’s 🍟🍔, followed the B85 to Barmedman and West Wyalong, on to the Newel highway and passed through Forbes, Parkes and stopped at Peak Hill for the night at the double D Caravan park, nice and quiet well off the highway, good sites, weather has been great 20 today with a slight breeze.Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 3

    July 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Slept till 8 this morning so quiet in the van park, a big thanks to Deb and Kevin for the great hospitality and a big shout out to the windscreen fairy who cleans everybody’s windscreens in the early hours of the morning. Got away a bit after 9 and back on the Newel highway heading north, into Dubbo to fuel up and grab a couple of things from supercheap and back on the road we stopped just out of town for a cuppa at a rest stop. Another nice day a bit of a head wind making the 79 work but no probs pulling the van at 100k/hr, next stop was Gilgandra visitors centre and museum for a look, about 1/2 hour up the road is Tooraweenah we stopped there for lunch at the Warrumbungles viewing area.
    On the road again for an hour and we made into Coonabarabran our stop for the night at the John Oxley Caravan park, time to do some washing, took an afternoon walk into town about 500mts not much open on a Saturday avo.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 4

    July 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Got away at 9 this morning and headed into town to grab a few supplies from Woolworths still heading north, another great day in northern nsw. Back on the Newel highway not the best bitumen Road you will ever find, next stop was Narrabri for a cuppa at the info centre which had a good cotton display. On the road again and we made it to Moree which you have to divert off the highway to get to, had a quick look around town a big place similar to home we stopped down near the river for lunch, pretty busy place for a Sunday.
    After looking at the map we decide to keep on going to Goondiwindi and pulled into the freedom caravan park around 3 o’clock, nice park very dry due to the ongoing drought, had a chat with the bloke running the place only been here for a week trying to get some water on the place and get a little green. First drink for Craig this trip after finishing his antibiotics, tastes good 🥃👍 just chilling sitting outside enjoying 24 degrees.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 5

    July 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Woke up this morning to rain on the roof not a drought breaker for Goondiwindi a few millimetres, got a way at 9 this morning a short run up the Leichhardt hwy and then onto the Gore hwy heading for Toowoomba, stopped at Captains Mountain for a cuppa and got into the Toowoomba Motor Village at 12 our home for the next 2 days.
    Had lunch and then went to the tourist info centre for a look got directions to the picnic point lookout, we had been here a few years ago with Sam and Maureen but it was completely fogged in not this time we had great views to the east over the lockyer valley, had a good wander around some off the walking tracks. Off to coles to pick up a bit of rump steak for the stew tonight, just chilling in the van with a drink listing to triple M country on fm radio, not sure why they don't do it home must think they are more country than us up here 😬😬    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 6

    July 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Off this morning to Brisbane for Teresa’s appointment with her naturopath, a nice drive through the Lockyer valley with all the veggie growing and then let the gps do the job to get us right into the city. We had to go into china town to pick up some herbal goodies and that took us around the Brisbane river frontage for a look and then we navigated our way back to the freeway to get us back to Toowoomba.
    A fantastic day here about 24 degrees, still cool at night no good for sitting outside without a fire.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 7

    July 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Left this morning at 9 nice to be moving on had enough of the city, Toowoomba is very big pretty much a city of its own, we headed north on the New England Hwy and then turned left onto the B85 which took us across to Esk a small village type town, we stopped for a cuppa and a wander around lots of relics and antique type shops. We headed north out of Esk to the D’Aguiler highway and then a right turn to the east through Kilcoy and then a right turn at Woodford on to the mount Mee road to Dayboro. A quick run up the Mt Brisbane road and we arrived at Pete and Thip Brophy’s for the night, great to see them again we had a quick check of Teresa’s new saddle that Pete is going to make, mucked around in the saddle shop for a bit, then was time for drinks and some of Thip and Katai’s magic Thai cooking.
    A great night of eating and drinking with a lot of stories, thanks Pete, Thip and Katai.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 8

    July 11, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    What a great night we had last night at the Brophy’s, up early this morning and feeling pretty good after the drinking session last night, said our goodbyes and we headed back in to Dayboro and followed the road out to the Bruce highway north bound.
    First stop was at Gympie for a cuppa and then a fair bit of road works stop and starting not unusual on the Bruce highway, Torbanlea was our next stop for lunch at a truck stop, back on the road and we arrived at Bundaberg East tourist park around 2, nice park with concrete slabs and your en-suite bathroom.
    Time to do some washing in the avo and then we went to Sam and Maureen’s place in Innes park for a bbq tea and some drinks, was great to catch up again.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 9

    July 12, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Another magic day in Queensland, had breakfast and then Robbo picked up us in the mustang, we went into the town centre to have coffee. Time to give the mustang a run so we went out to Bagara beach for a walk on the sand and a bit of a Cook’s tour around. Time for lunch so back into bundy to the brew house for pizza, very nice. Chilled out in the avo before packing our bags and getting picked up by Robbo to camp the night at his apartment on Bagara Beach, then we are off to Steve and Kay’s for dinner and the opening of the 25 year old Bookers bourbon 🥃 , the cork was cactus so out with the tea strainer happy days it tasted even better than it should super smooth, has been a long coming to get us all together so thanks to all for a great night.Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 10

    July 13, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Woke up this morning not too bad after the bookers bourbon and Teresa and Robbo making their mahito’s, down to Rick’s cafe in Bagara for breakfast it was very nice overlooking the ocean, back to the van for bit then off to the Bundaberg brew house for a tour and tasting, very interesting and you get to take six stubbies of your selection at the end of the tour. Lunch was next at the Guzman Y Gomez Mexican restaurant, that was good but nothing like our OzMex at home, we then headed off to the distillery for a look at the new shop very impressive full of every bundy product you could imagine. We left Robbo Steve and Kay and went to the Rametta’s for the avo, had a cuppa and a stroll on the beach and lot of chatting, said our goodbyes and headed to the Thai restaurant at Bagara for dinner, said our goodbyes to Steve, Kay and Robbo as we are heading further north tomorrow, thanks to everyone for our time at Bundaberg it was busy and great 👍Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 11

    July 14, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Bye bye Bundaberg, we are off heading further north, on the road to Gin Gin on the Bruce Highway then a right turn north, we stopped at lowmead picnic area for a cuppa and then onto Miriam Vale to the dump point and a look around town. Back in the Ute to Calliope and we turned off on to the Dawson highway and stopped on the side of the road in a farm driveway at mount Alma for lunch, next stop was Biloela for a diesel top up. We then went direct north up the Burnett highway and passed through Dululu and then onto the Leichhardt Highway for a short run before a left turn onto the Capricorn hwy heading direct west, we made it into Duaringa at 3:30 and decided to stop the night at Mackenzie park the local rest are that has toilets, showers and a dump point, lots of vans here a little cool with a slight breeze, sitting in the van with a bevie, stew and mash spud for dinner 👍👍Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 12

    July 15, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Had a good nights sleep at the Duaringa free camp, up early this morning and on the road by 8, back on the Capricorn hwy heading east, passed through Dingo, Bluff, Blackwater, Comet which are all mining towns or rail towns, next stop was Emerald for some shopping and a cuppa with some Woolworths donuts, yum.
    Fuelled up and back on the road east and passed by the gem fields Sapphire and Rubyvale before stopping at Willows rest area for lunch, next we passed through Alpha, Jericho and arrived in Barcaldine at 3 our stop for the night at the tourist park, absolutely jam packed with grey nomads such a difference a month later makes as we stopped here last year in June which was not busy. We walked down the street for a look and to the tree of knowledge once again to see if we can get any smarter 😂😂 , mucked around with a few things on the ute and the van whilst having a drink outside, weather not bad southerly breeze is a bit fresh got too 22 probs can't complain.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 13

    July 16, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Up early this morning and off to the supermarket, butcher and bakery before we head out to the station, north up the road to Aramac on the bitumen road pretty good surface, then we took the Eastmere road to the lake which was bitumen and then we hit the dirt for 40kms and passed the Eastmere station house and then shortly after we turned right on to the Everton Road for 6 kms and arrived at Everton Station and shortly after Anne ( slipperys mum ) and her dad Bob’s station house. It was great to finally meet them after a year of phone conversations, what a great setting they just had 40mm of rain the week before and the place looked amazing.
    Lots of chatting and quick look around before drinks time and more chatting and Anne’s famous green curry chicken.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 14

    July 17, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    So so peaceful slept like a log, pretty cool morning clear skies with the sun out, had breakfast then we headed off for a station tour we went down the road to there other station Pembroke and found Bob on the grader clearing boundary fire breaks, Craig rode the ag bike back to the station house for Bob which is empty what a great spot and house shame to see it not lived in, Anne called the horses and they all came running from way out in the bush, a good mob of very quiet horses loving a rub and the attention.
    Made our way back to Everton for lunch and then a bit more of a look around and then am early extended happy hour, Teresa’s Pastito for dinner and lot more chatting another great night around the kitchen table.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 15

    July 18, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Other than a stinking crow making a racket on sun up not a noise overnight, loaded up the young ponies on the trusty Toyota stock truck and we then headed off to Pembroke to drop them off with the other horses and bring back 2 that Anne is bringing in to work for a camp draft at Windorah next month, dropped them in the yard at Everton and then had some lunch. We then went east through Everton to Phinigans a 10,000 hectare block to check the heifers, had a good drive around the water holes and made our way back another way through Everton, lots to look at and the cattle are in great condition a credit to Bob and Anne so is all the land they own very well presented with good fencing and yards.
    Back home by 3 to get the roast pork sorted that Teresa had to cook with perfect crackle for Anne, all good everything went well and we even had apple crumble for desert, a few drinks and a yarn, great times 👍    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 16

    July 19, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Time to move on, filled up the water tanks with fresh rain water and packed everything up, time to say our goodbyes to Anne and Bob can’t thank them enough for their hospitality and easy going nature. We headed back out the way we came and when we got back to the lake we went in for a look at lake Dunn, nice spot to camp on a big lake with all the ammenities and power there was lots of campers there, we then took the tourist route to Aramac passing by all the sculptures by a local artist dotted on the road side, there was lots.
    Got into Aramac for lunch and then went down the Ilfracombe which was mostly dirt and got in to town was going to fuel up and move further into the scrub but no fuel at Ilfracombe so a quick divert into longreach, decided to camp the night and do some shopping super busy here with lots of traffic coming back from the big red bash, great night a few drinks outside and then quiche for dinner to use up some eggs as we got a dozen of nana’s eggs before we left the station this morning.
    Another big shout out to Anne and Bob thanks for a great time 😊😊    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 17

    July 20, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    As per usual the Longreach tourist park was super busy and there was 3 bus loads of kids camping out on the grass but we still managed to get a good shower with no problems. Went to the bakery this morning to get fresh bread before hooking up and heading back 25kms to Ilfracombe and then turning off onto the Isisford road heading south, mainly single lane bitumen with a few passing spots. Got into Isisford at about 10:30 headed down to the river camp site, pretty busy but found a nice spot not too close to anyone, setup and then walked into town about 500mts checked out the museum and general store, just chilling this avo getting the fire pot ready, happy hour with a few drinks lamb chops on the open fire, great weather 25 today 👍Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 18

    July 21, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Sunday morning with Macca on the abc and the baby Q fired up cooking bacon and eggs, budgies and parrots 🦜 chirping away in the trees, it was a cool night down to about 10 but it doesn’t take long to heat up to our top of 25. Water is available near the toilets so we filled up the jerry cans and did a couple of loads of washing and topped up the van, hot dogs for lunch and then we walked around town and found another museum with lots of machinery and stuff, there is 2 pubs in town but only one of them operating and the other a private residence, fairly busy for a Sunday avo must be a cheap lunch, back at camp chilling out.
    Pizzas on the Weber for dinner got the fire pot going having a few bevies.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 19

    July 22, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Monday morning on the Barcoo, sun is shining didn’t get too cold overnight not a cloud in the sky heading for 26 today, into town to do some washing at the laundry but Monday must be wash day it was flat out so back to camp for a cuppa, wandered back up at lunch just had to wait for some ferals and we finally got the washing done.
    Absolutely magic day sitting back in the avo reading and surfing the net, walked to the pub for a drink and a chat to the publican Ken, and a bloke from Orbost who camps here for about 4 months, no one up here drinks iron jack so Ken gave Teresa the 3 stubbies he found in the back of the beer fridge to take home.
    Back at camp for extended happy hour, pork chop and sausages on the Weber for dinner around the fire pot 👍👍    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 20

    July 23, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Decided to stay another day, the weather is so good heading for a top of 27 and still down into the single figures overnight for sleeping, had breakfast then went out the Stonehenge road to find some firewood, the good old stihl battery saw did the job on the hard gidgie timber, cut up lengths to throw on the canopy roof which is aluminium checker plate great idea from the boys at Trig Point and full tie rails all round 👍
    Had to do the water run as well filled up the Jerry’s and pumped them in to the van with the 12volt bilge pump, too easy.
    Walked into town and did a few laps around some of the back streets, tidy little town very quiet not much activity.
    Had to make up something to clean the solar panel in the middle of the van so the broom and my sand flag poles did the job got another .5 of an amp 👍 Teresa had a slack day and watched the midday movie while a started packing a few things away, headed to the pub but it was packed due to a funeral in town so wandered back to the van for happy hour, got the fire pot cranked up and cooking jaffles tonight, a few more vans in camp but most have gone out the other side for the fishing comp this weekend.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 21

    July 24, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Up early this morning packed up by 7:30 and up to the top to fill up with water and empty the loo, round to the recycling bins and then we are off heading west to Blackall, good road pretty much dual width bitumen all the way with plenty of bumps. Stopped in Blackall to get bread and have a walk around, good shopping with all the things you would need, big free camp by the river super busy.
    Went out the road a bit and pulled up for morning tea, then kept on tracking to Tambo and then we stopped at a station entrance for lunch before pulling up for the day at Augathella around 1:30.
    Place is a lot tidier than a few years ago had a wander around good supermarket and butcher, big camp $5 donation no water in the river.
    Had the usual drink at the local watering hole, back at camp having a few more and listening to a some tunes, enjoying the warm weather while it lasts as we make our way south, chicken parmigiana for tea, lots in the camp now ⛺️    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 22

    July 25, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Up early this morning out of bed at 6, alarm went off but the camper trailer that pulled up beside last night had been banging around long before always astounds me when there is a heap of room they camp 5 meters from you go figure 😐 anyways on the road at 7 got a few miles to punch out today, nice camp spot last night but the toilets do badly need an upgrade we put our 5 bucks in the box for the camp fees which is going towards a new toilet block 👍
    Heading south today down the Mitchell highway first stop was Charleville for fuel and then onto Cunnamulla for a cuppa stop, the Qld / Nsw border was next on the list and then we stopped at Enngonia for lunch, back on the road and we arrived at the Kidman Camp caravan park in north Bourke our camp for the next two nights.
    Setup and went into Bourke to grab some grog, always an experience you can’t touch anything its all behind thick perspex and a little hole like the banks used to be to pass it out to you, but the bonus was they had bearded lady bourbon good old IGA.
    Back at camp and we took a walk down to the Darling River, very low and doesn’t look like it’s flowing, chasing the last bit of sun sitting outside having a drink or two, bbq on the baby Q for dinner going to be cold here tonight 🤓👍    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 23

    July 26, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Up this morning to our first cloudy ⛅️ day since we left home, pretty cool but still heading for 20 degrees, catch-up day today, washing to do so we have enough clothes for the run home and then into Bourke for a look at the old port and stationary engine, a walk around the street and the few shops that are in the Main Street, very interesting town most of the shops are big with multiple things like the electrical store with Jaycar electronics, all the appliances and stihl chainsaws, mowers etc and most places have roll down shutters or bars on the windows to keep the local country men out.
    Did some shopping at IGA the vegetables were super fresh and overall a good supply of everything, stopped in at the bakery and got some bread and pasties for lunch 👍 can’t say the same for the custard tart it was ordinary a few bites and it went south. Just chilling this avo doing a few little jobs on the van, happy hour at 4 tonight not as busy here about half the vans as yesterday, giving the Barcaldine butcher a go tonight with beef schnitzel.    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 24

    July 27, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    The Barcaldine butchers schnitzel we had last night was super tender and good, time to pack up and move on this morning, we had to go through Bourke and out on to the Kidman Way for a couple of kms and then a right turn on to the Louth Road following the Darling River along. Good bitumen for a while then gravel road on and off, we stopped around 10 for a cuppa on the side of the road before arriving in Louth around 11, small town with not much other than the pub, spotted some other caravaners and asked them where they are camped, on there advice we headed across the river and found the town common camp area not too bad right on the river but no ammenities at all, you can walk to the pub for toilets and shower if needed.
    Setup and had a walk around the town of Louth not much to see, got a an ice cream at the pub and went back to camp for the avo.
    Happy hour time so across the bridge to the pub for a can and then back to camp to light the fire pot and a few more drinks overlooking the Darling river, jaffles on the fire tonight yum 😋    Read more

  • Craig Tese Adventures2019 Cruiser 79 Road TripTraveler

    Day 25

    July 28, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Had a great night around the fire pot on the banks of the Darling river and the jaffles were fantastic, lots of barking dogs on the other side of the river last night but slept ok anyway, off this morning heading west following the Darling river stopped in at the Tilpa weir for a look and then into Tilpa township not much here just the pub but very nice would stop here next time rather than Louth, had a cuppa and then kept motoring and pulled up at the coach and horses camp ground right on a bend of the river, designated camp sites and a fee of $6 each per night (nsw parks 🤨) kept on punching away on the dirt to Wilcannia for a fuel top up, back on the Darling river run not bad road with lots of cattle grids, arrived at the Menindee lakes at about 4, very little water in some parts of the lake probs only about 1 % full very sad to see, last time here 2017 the lakes were full and you had a hard time finding a camp, we are the only ones in this spot where there would of been 20 or more last time. Happy hour time looking out over the dry lake bed, got the fire pot out going to cook chicken in the camp oven.Read more

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