Current

‘Pre retirement’ trial

We are taking 6 months leave from work to see more of this beautiful country we call home.
Will we return…….. Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

Last seen in
🇦🇺 Wattle Range Council, Australia
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 15 (74)
Jan 9–10 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
312 Km Coonawarra to Narrung SA
Overcast and mild start to the day ☁️ with a top of 28
Wind increasing where we are camped with gusts of up to 53 km/hr 💨

Home for night
Narrung Jetty Reserve ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Free camp
Toilets
Relatively flat grass sites, limited shade, tall reeds form a wind break
24/7 ferry crossing
Unreliable Optus service

Our road trip along Australia’s greatest waterway, the Murray River begins 😊

Today’s drive took us along the coast and The Coorong National Park, passed Lake Albert to Lake Alexandrina, a large freshwater lake at the mouth of the Murray River before it reaches the southern ocean

Point Malcolm lighthouse on the lake is the only freshwater inland lighthouse in the Southern Hemisphere

👍🏻 Early start with an appointment at the hospital for a review after last nights emergency visit - all appears to be healing well 🤞🏻
👍🏻 Grateful to nurses Pricilla and Kelly and Dr Chris at the Penola War Memorial Hospital for their care and attention 🙏🏻
👍🏻 Big thanks to the unknown person who found our lost AirPod and handed it into the tourist information, fate reunited us today 😊

👎🏻 $10 for a load at the laundry in Penola 🧺
👎🏻 Strong winds at camp, but the tall reeds provided a little shelter 💨Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 13 (72)
January 7 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 42 °C
81 Km Tantanoola to Coonawarra SA

The SA expected extreme heat wave has hit 🥵
Woke to 26 degrees and rising fast 🔥 with a high of 43 and wind gusts of 62km/hr ☀️💨☀️💨

Preparing for the heat wave we choose today’s destination in an attempt to avoid the highest temps, and have access to shade and power (for air con). And being within a wine region was an added bonus 🍷🍾🥂

And our current home/base is just perfect for us being located within the Hundred of Comaum vineyard, with views of the vines and the original winery building housing the camp kitchen and amenities.

Home during the heatwave
Coonawarra Bush Holiday Park ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
$40 pn power and water (bore/rainwater)
Showers and toilets, well stocked camp kitchen and dam to swim in
Activities available on site $
Wine available to purchase
Optus reception

Too hot to do much of anything 🥵

👍🏻 Today’s drive took us through some beautiful countryside, passed vineyards and through the lovely town of Penola
👍🏻 Our campsite is in a beautiful location set amongst bush and vineyards 🌳🍇
👍🏻 Frozen icy poles perfect on a 43 degree day 👌 (freezer now working- thank you thetford 🙏🏻)
👍🏻 Darts and wine - great way to while away the hours on a hot afternoon 🎯🍾

👎🏻 Another false start- dead battery needing a jump start 🪫 all car data lost again 📉😬
👎🏻 Lost an air pod, bugger 😢Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 8 (67)
Jan 2–3 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
276 Km Euston NSW to Dimboola Vic
32 degrees and sunny☀️

Refuel of MancHester ready to get back on the road - diesel, water, drinks, groceries……
Euston Servo is the go 🥇- old fashioned service with a friendly attendant filling the tank ⛽️

Home for night
Dimboola RV camp ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Free camp
No facilities, shade available
Dump point, water tap and public toilets available close by
Town (shops/pub) in walking distance distance
Optus reception

Explored Dimboola and what an awesome town it is, with a great pub 🥰

👍🏻 Enjoyed our tine relaxing by the river but excited to be back on the road and see where we land next
👍🏻 3rd time lucky, Sharp’s Bakery was open as we drove through Birchip and we scored ourselves a vanilla slice 😋
👍🏻 Victoria Hotel, Dimboola is a great pub and definitely worth a visit 🍺🥂
👍🏻 Good chat with Glen the canvas and fishing man 🎣
👍🏻 Pink Lake, Dimboola is actually pink 💗
👍🏻 Great chat with a bestie, a high school friend in UK 📞

👎🏻 Sad goodbye to our friends, won’t see them now for a few months as we travel 😢
👎🏻 Back on Vic’s Rollercoaster roads (Birchip-Sea Lake Rd, Warracknabeal- Birchip Rd, Borung Hwy…..) 🎢Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 7 (66)
January 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
New Years Day
Cool stat to the day at 12 degrees, increasing to a pleasant 30, blue skies and sunny ☀️

First run of 2026
🏃🏼 10km trail run around Punt Bend, Harradine Reserve, Robinvale

👍🏻 Relaxing day by the river doing very little at all 😜Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 6(65)
December 31, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
New Years Eve
Cool 29 degrees, sunny with a light breeze ☀️ 🌬️ ( but not as bad a yesterday 🙏🏻)

🎉🥳🍾 Celebrated the end of 2025 and the start of a New Year together and with friends 🍾🥳🎉

Last ride of 2025
🚴🏻‍♀️🚴‍♂️ 15.5km trail ride through Harradine Reserve at Punt Bend, Robinvale

🚶🏼🚶🏼‍♀️5km walk to Euston

👍🏻 Much more pleasant temperatures today ☀️
👍🏻 Awesome Vietnamese lunch of Bahn Mi and iced coffee in Robinvale🧋🥖
👍🏻 Afternoon NYE Cocktails - margaritas and the SOTR version of a Hugo Spritz 🍹🍸
👍🏻 Dinner at Euston Royal Hotel and drinks at Station 46 Bar 🥂🍾🍻
👍🏻 The wonderful driver of the courtesy bus saved us a 5k walk home in the dark 🔦 👣 🚌
👍🏻 Fabulous way to end the year 🗓️

👎🏻 Feeling a little sad we won’t see our family until well into 2026
👎🏻 Station 46 caramel slice, 1 star for trying and being the only desert available on NYE ⭐️Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 5 (64)
December 30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 39 °C
Hot start with another 39 degree day 🥵
Fluffy white clouds to break up the blue sky ☀️⛅️ and windy afternoon, with gusts of 60 km/hr

🏃🏼 8km trail run around Harradine Reserve, Robinvale
🏊 Swim across the river to Bumbang Island

👍🏻 Lunch overlooking the water at Station 46, Euston 🍴
👍🏻 Foot pampering at the local salon, Robinvale 🦶💅
👍🏻 ‘Competitive’ game of boules 🏅
👍🏻 Regular afternoon visit from our friendly kookaburra

👎🏻 Those pesky bugs 🦟
👎🏻 Strong wind gusts blowing dust everywhere, including in the van 💨Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 4 (63)
December 29, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
39 degrees, clear blue skies, sunny with a light breeze ☀️🌬️, low of 21 overnight (6am 30/12) 🥵

🏃🏼 16km trail run to Euston Weir

👍🏻 Beautiful sunrise 🌅
👍🏻 Used the portable water bladder for the first time to top up our friends van and it all worked well💧
👍🏻 Awesome ice coffee from Little Vietnamese (Robinvale), will need to return for a Banh Mi 😋
👍🏻 Visit to Robinvale Organic wines and came away with a Kerner & Sparkling Shiraz Merlot 🥂🍷
👍🏻 The chilled Kerner was perfect with a cheese platter for dinner 🧀
👍🏻 Beautiful evening and night sky

👎🏻 Being dinner for the mossies and midges 🦟Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 3 (62)
December 28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
High of 35 degrees at 6pm, clear blue skies, hot and sunny ☀️

🚴🏻‍♀️ 17km cycle along river to Euston Weir

👍🏻 Lazy start to the morning with coffee in bed
👍🏻 Woke to a wonderful view of the river, so peaceful with no boats/jetskis on the water 😜
👍🏻 River to cool off, with a wave pool created by the passing boats 🌊
👍🏻 Afternoon drinks with friends🍹
👍🏻 Beautiful sunset on the river

👎🏻 Being bitten by bugs in the evening 🦟Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 2 (61)
Dec 27–Jan 2, 2026 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
268 Km Glenalbyn Vic to Euston NSW
31 degrees, clear skies and sunny ☀️

Home for the next few nights
Phil's Bend camp ground - site 1 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Private bush camp on the Murray River
$20pn (2ppl), book and pay direct with hosts
Fire pit, benches, flat site, shade
Camp spots are secluded from each other
Wood and water available for purchase via hosts
Optus reception

👍🏻 Caught up with friends to camp together by the river for a few days
👍🏻 Beautiful location and view 🏞️

👎🏻 Detoured through Birchip for a vanilla slice- no luck as bakery was closed (2nd time we have visited for a slice and failed 😞)
👎🏻 Vic”s roller coaster roads 🎢Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 1 (60)
Dec 26–27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
It’s so good to be back on the road with Manchester 🥰
Part 2 of our pre retirement trial and the where to next trip …..

26/12/25-Boxing Day 🎁
278 Km Home to Glenalbyn Vic
22 degrees and sunny ☀️
Chilly overnight with a low of 9

Home for the night ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mt Korong Scenic Reserve
Free bush camp
Picnic bench, fire pit, flat site
Optus reception

Activity
2.6km hike (was that all 😳) up to Mt Korong Summit and back

👍🏻
Camp site so quiet and peaceful, with only us here
First camp fire of the trip 🔥
Clear starry sky 🌌
Chatted to parents in UK
Seagull 💙 crocs (he said he would NEVER wear them)

👎🏻
Limited fire wood available at the camp site - we were lucky 🪵Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Part 2
December 26, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Enjoying our first night back with MancHester 🥰

The last few weeks at home have been great but manically busy 😳

3 weeks of work 💻
Work Christmas Party 🎉
Catch up with a high school friend visiting Melbourne 👯
Trail running in PTR’s back garden 🏃🏼
Dinner catch ups with friends 🍽️
Catch up with family and pets 🐈‍⬛
Avatar in gold class with family 🎬
Back to the gym and Christmas powerzone 💪🏻
Work on car and van 🛠️
Preparing for Christmas 🎄
Preparing for part 2 of our trip 📦
Celebrating Christmas with family and friends 🎁🎄🎁

Excited to be back on the road and looking forward to adventuring on part 2 of our trip 😍Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
💙 2nd month wrap up 💙
December 10, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
💙 2nd month wrap up 💙
NT - SA - VIC - NSW - VIC

Can’t believe we have completed Part 1 of our trip already 😳

We have 💙loved💙 our time adventuring with MancHester
Our set up works really well for us, however for long term travel there are a couple of small changes we are planning to make.

We have had a few ‘oops’ moments but nothing too drastic 🙏🏻 and our bush fixes have worked well (includes snapped and lost antenna, cracked inner wing wheel arch, lost bolt in bash plate, charger 1 for Bluetti giving up (again😡), stolen water bottle….)

👍🏻 Highlights - too numerous to list them all (includes the places we have run, the people we have met, EVERYTHING about Coober Pedy, fossicing and finding opal, fabulous sunsets🌅, clear starry skies🌌, seeing Aurora Australis, learning about John Horrocks, cycling the Riesling Trail 🚴🏻, camping along the Murray and catching up with friends at the Wang RegFest…..)

👎🏻 Lowlights - wind 💨, bugs preventing evenings outside 🐜 🪰, fuel economy at times💰

😥 Challenges - being unable to charge the bluetti as we travel (until we get & install the warranty replacement charger 1)

🍻Pubs visited - not as many as we expected 😜 (Mulga bar at Kulgara Roadhouse, (underground) Desert Cave Hotel, the Big Winch, The Bond Store, Moonta Hotel, The Rising Sun, Magpie Stump Hotel, Mates Royal Hotel, Milawa Hotel)

💙 Hester - inverter, coffee machine, Weber, Christmas lights

💙 Manc- ease to prep lunch as we travel, inverter, induction cook top, air fryer

Next- heading home for a couple of weeks work 😢 catch up with family and friends for Christmas 🎄 and prep the car and van for part 2 of our adventure 🥰

Stats for trip:
#️⃣ 8833 km covered (6940 kms towing)
#️⃣ 648km of dirt road (582km towing)

#️⃣ 16.09l/100km average fuel economy (from FuelMap Australia)
💰 $3161.86 for 1413.5l diesel
💰 Highest fuel 2.99l (William Creek & Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta SA) $298l (Kings Creek Station NT) $2.90l (Maree SA)
💰 Lowest Fuel $173.9l (Wunghnu VIC)

🏃🏼238.6km run (including Heysen trail, Mawson trail , Larapinta trail, Oodnadatta Track, Riesling trail and 5 parkrun)
🏃🏻‍♀️62.5km hiked (including St Mary’s Peak - Flinders, Uluru, Kata Tjuṯa, Kings Canyon Rim, Kings Creek, Kathleen Springs, Telegraph Station)
🚴🏻 172km cycled

💰$70.80 highest camping costs - Kings Canyon Resort (with discount 😳)
💰$0 lowest camping costs
🏠 Accomodation 37 caravan park, 15 free camp, 1 pub camp, 4 donation camp, 3 paid showground/RV park

💵 $2397 spent in tourist activities (incl $1540 for flight)

💰$26 spent on laundryRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 59
Dec 7–9, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 59
101 km Wangaratta to Numurkah Vic

The aim today was to be ready to recommence work Monday morning😳 Job done ✔️

We said goodbye to our friends at Wangaratta as we headed off in a different direction 😢 but we will get a chance to catch up with them again later this month during our short return home 😊.

Johnny is back at work tomorrow and as his first job is in Kyabram it seemed silly to travel home and then for him to travel back out, so we decided to stop somewhere nearby that we hadn’t been before for him to use as his work base

Our journey took us via the art silo at Tungamah on our way to Numurkah, which is a beautiful little town with lovely park lands, wetlands, lake and a creek running through it. There are indoor and outdoor pools and sports facilities and the shopping strip has everything you might need including grocery shops, cafe, pubs …….
There is even a self contained free RV camp spot by the creek- we will keep that in mind if we are in the area again.

Once set up with got on our bikes to explore the area and rode around the wetlands and along the creek 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️, which Johnny later decided to run 🏃🏼

Then it was time to prepare everything for his first job in the morning 💻📝.
It feels weird getting ready for work and knowing we will be back at home in 2 days 🏡
But it’s only until Christmas and then we will be setting off on the second part of our trip 🥰

Our home for the night is Numurkah Caravan Park
$44 pm power and water, full amenities, dump point.
Our site banks on the creek and walking distance to the townRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 58
December 6, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 58

The aim today was to get out of bed in time for Park Run 🏃🏼 Job done ✔️

We did extremely well to get to Park Run given it was the ‘first night’ together with friends and the huge risk of being ‘Jacksoned’. But not only did we get up, we also walked the 2km from our camp along the river to the event 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 AND the Seagull came in first, but unfortunately didn’t get the sub 20 he was hoping for 🏃🏼

The rest of the day was spent listening to some great Australian country music artists and dancing the night away 🎶🎤🎸🕺🏼

A great way to end a fantastic weekend with friendsRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 57
Dec 5–6, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 36 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 57
18 km Milawa to Wangaratta Vic

The aim today was to set ourselves up in Wangaratta for a music festival. Job done ✔️

After waking to a beautiful sunrise in the King Valley🌅, not intentionally but curtesy of the hot air balloon setting of in the field next to us 😳, we headed for ‘Wang’

The Wangaratta Regfest, a 2 day Australia Country Music Festival, is the reason we returned to Victoria and didn’t continue our travels interstate.
We have pre booked tickets for the weekend and are going with friends 🥰

What a weird weather day today has been ☀️💨☁️⛅️, overcast but muggy with a high of 38.7, low of 27.9 at midnight, and wind gusts of 113km/hr with a spectacular sunset 🌅

We are camped up next to the Ovens River, perfect for a cooling dip.
And we can he the music playing from our site.

It’s going to be a great weekend of music and catching up with friends

Our home for the night is the Wangaratta Showgrounds
Pre booked camping tickets cost $155, our most expensive accommodation on the trip 😳Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 56
Dec 4–5, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 56
33 km Edi to Mlilawa Vic - our shortest journey on this trip

The aim today was to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at a winery with friends. Job done ✔️

We are extremely fortunate to have a great group of close friends who have maintained regular contact with us whilst we have been traveling and for that we are extremely grateful.

And today we met up with two of them.

Not having far to travel we had a lazy start to the day.
On leaving Edi we stopped at the Lions Park in Moyhu for the dump point and to fill up with water.
Whilst there we met Max, a local farmer who had lived in the area all his life and shared with us some of his history and that of the town.

We set up camp for the night at the RV park in Milawa, then wandered across the road to Brown Brothers Winery to enjoy a lovely relaxing afternoon with our friends 🍷🍾🍹
Great food & wine and the company of good friends- a perfect day 🥰

Our home for the night is the RV park in Milawa
Free camp, no facilitiesRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 55
Dec 3–4, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 55
103 km Lake Mulwala NSW to Edi Vic

The aim today was cross back into VIC. Job done ✔️

Woke to a beautiful sunrise and clear blue skies 🥰

We would have liked to have stayed longer at our camp on Lake Mulwala, it was a lovely spot and we will definitely return for a longer stay, but we need to move on as it’s getting closer to our catch up with friends for the weekend 💗

So we crossed the VERY narrow bridge into VIC at Yarrawonga. And had a VERY close encounter with a large yank tank 😜
His commentary on the CB had us as a ‘wide load’, if he thought that you would have thought he would have waited for us to pass as we were already 3/4 across instead of squeezing through 😳

Our journey took us through Wangaratta, WOW we have not been used to large towns for some time and the traffic was a bit of a shock. And we need to head back there Friday 😳
God help us (Johnny) as we travel through Melbourne CBD next week 🤣

And then into the King Valley wine country to Edi to return to a previous bush camp by the King River. It’s been a while since we have been here, in fact we were in the cub camper on our last visit, but it is still as beautiful as we remember. The river is clear and flowing and it will be lovely to hear as it lulls us to sleep tonight 😴

We have secured a great spot in a corner, with river access and a fire pit, and have wood cut and ready for a small fire 🪵, our first of this trip

The seagull enjoyed his first elevated trail run in a while, he’s missed the hills

Our home for the night is Edi Cutting Camping Ground
Free camp with drop toiletRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 54
Dec 2–3, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 54
220 km Koondrook VIC to Lake Mulwala NSW

The aim today was to drive into another state. Job done ✔️

Can we say we have done another state on this trip if we have only stayed for one night?

Our journey today took us across the border from VIC into NSW.

We crossed the Murray at Barham , stopping to see the water tower art before continuing on through Deniliquin with a lunch stop at Finley.

We stayed north of the Murray in NSW traveling through the Riverina region to Lake Mulwala, a man made reservoir created in 1939 when the Murray was dammed as part of the Murray-Darling Irrigation Scheme.
The lake is spotted with ghostly dead trees and stumps, a reminder of the forest that was lost when the lake was created.

We found an awesome camp on the edge of the lake, and as a bonus it’s warm and sunny☀️
Great place for an afternoon run 🏃🏼
And beautiful sunset 🌅

Our home for the night is Kyffins Reserve on the edge of Lake Mulwala.
Free camp with no facilitiesRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 53
December 1, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 53

The aim today was to cycle into another state. Job done ✔️

The seagull hit the trails this morning for a 14km trail run 🏃🏼

We then got on our bikes to ride the trails together 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻, covering 16km.

And that’s when Justine had a close encounter of the slithery kind 🐍
Her second this trip 😳
She noticed the meter long snake just as it traversed the track in front of her and had to make a snap decision to either try to safely stop or ride over it and hope it didn’t bite.
She went for it.
It didn’t get her but she’s still recovering from the shock 🤣

Our ride took us to Gumbower Island, surrounded by the Murray River and Gumbower Creek it is the largest permanent inland island in the southern hemisphere and within it the Gumbower State Forest is full of trails and camping opportunities.
We initially went in search of new campsites but criss crossed the many tracks until the terrifying snake incident 🐍 sent us back into civilisation.
From there we headed across the Murray into NSW on the Barham - Koondrook Bridge, built in 1904. Unfortunately there were no paddle steamers 🛳️ on the river so we didn’t get to see it lift.

We tried our hand at fishing again 🎣, but no luck.

We had more success making our cosy home feel a little Christmassy 🎄Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 52
Nov 30–Dec 2, 2025 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 52
122 km Charlton to Koondrook Vic

The aim today was to settle ourselves back on the mighty Murray for a few days. Job done ✔️

As we were leaving our camp at Charlton we had an unexpected visit from the Overland train, we didn’t realise the track next to the site was active but now we know it is 🚂

With the weather over the next couple of days looking the same across the state (18-20 and overcast/windy) ☁️💨☁️ we decided to head somewhere we could run 🏃🏼 cycle 🚴🏻 and fish 🎣 (or at least try to 😜)

So we headed NE to the border with NSW and settled ourselves on the banks of the Murray River in Koondrook.

Once we had set up camp we jumped on our bikes 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️ and headed onto the trails of the Gumbower Forest. We found the start of the Koondrook Red Gum Forest Walks so set off to complete the eagle loop- was not expecting the trail to be flooded and having to cycle through the water whilst trying to find and keep to the path 😳

After the ride we popped into the Mates Royal Hotel for a quick drink and what a lovely place it is with its vine covered outdoor area.Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 51
Nov 29–30, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 51
212km Walpeup to Charlton Vic

The aim today was to experience a night at the Rex. Job done ✔️

Thankfully we survived the overnight rain without floating away or getting bogged 🌧️🌧️🌧️

Now planning our few days in VIC before we meet up with friends next week.

We have frequently driven through Charlton and would have loved to visit the old cinema 🎥. Well now we can, there is a movie showing today and we have nowhere else to be.

And we were very excited that our journey to Charlton would take us through Birchip, so we could treat ourselves to their awesome vanilla slice. What we didn’t factor in was the Saturday early closing hours so no treat for us 🙄 and no fresh muffins for dinner either 🤷🏼‍♀️
We did get to see the big mallee bull though 🐂

There was nothing much happening in Charlton on a Saturday arvo so we enjoyed an afternoon running 🏃🏼, reading 📖 and generally chilling until our evening movie at the Rex Theatre.
The Rex has been community owned since 2007 and is run wholly by volunteers and is an amazing place to watch a movie 🎞️🍿🍦🥤

We have missed going to the pictures and have lots of movies we want to catch up on

What we have NOT missed is the weather or the roads in VIC, both are rubbish and the worse we have experienced during our trip so far🥺

Our home for the night is the Travellers Rest Caravan Park- the RV (self contained) section
$10pn
No facilities (public toilets nearby)Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 50
Nov 28–29, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 50
281 km Holder Bend SA to Walpeup VIC

We had a number of aims today
1. Visit the Loxton Historical Village. Job done ✔️
2. Cross back into VIC. Job done ✔️
3. Set up for the night before the rain arrives (expecting over 20mm). Job done ✔️

It was sad to leave the tranquility of the river, but with a heavy rain band coming through it was good timing to be moving on

Our first stop was Loxton.
We have passed through the town previously but only stopped for fuel and groceries- we had no idea what the town had to offer, and it’s a lot!
Our visit to The Loxton Historical Village took much longer than we expected, the displays have either been relocated or built to replicate the original constructions and tell stories of the region's early settlers. It was extremely informative and well worth the $15 entry fee.
We drive down to the river to see the BIG pelican and the Tree of Knowledge that records the flood levels of previous years
We had an awesome lunch with a great view at the cafe (The Fruit Packer’s Daughters) onboard the Murray River Queen. Built in 1974, it’s been lovingly restored and is now permanently moored and one of the largest Paddle Boats on the Murray River.

We then began retracing our original journey from Loxton back across the border into VIC, time traveling forward, and trying to out drive the heavy rains that were traveling slowly across the state.

Our aim was to travel as far as we could, but also set up for the night before the rains hit, and find somewhere that hopefully would not turn into a mud bath with the rain.

An hour before the rains were due we pulled into Walpeup, in the Mallee region of north west Victoria. 'Walpeup' is derived from an Indigenous word meaning 'big smoke', which is a little ironic given the town is so small you could miss it if not for the silo art in the highway 😜
The RV park has a shower/toilet, power and water available, and requests just a $10 donation, and we were more than happy to stop, stay and pay.

All set up and ready for the predicted 24mm rain over the next 9 hours 🌧️ lets hope we don’t float away 🚣Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 49
November 27, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 49

The aim today was to go nowhere at all. Job done ✔️

We couldn’t resist, we woke to a beautiful still morning and decided to stay.

We had no plans, nothing to do but to relax and enjoy a day by the river

We read 📖, painted🎨, played games 🃏, fished 🎣(yes both of us 😳)
We got the Webber out and had roast pumpkin, sw poato and steak for dinner
We enjoyed a glass of Mount Horrocks wine
We watched the world float by, well a few pelicans, fishermen and a houseboat

A perfect nothing day 🥰Read more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 48
Nov 26–28, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 48
147 km Auburn to Holder Bend Reserve (nr Waikerie) SA

The aim today was to cross the Murray River on a ferry. Job done ✔️

We started our journey today by turning off the Horrocks Hwy and passing through the town of Saddleworth.

Our first stop was to see the silo at Eudunda.
From there we had such a strong tailwind 💨 that we were being pushed along the Thiele Hwy toward the riverside town of Morgan on the Murray River (great wind assisted fuel economy of 13.8l/100km)
Here we crossed the river using the public ferry ⛴️ (operates 24/7 as an extension of the road).

Quick lunch stop at Cadell, then onto Waikerie to check out their silo, this town is DEFINITELY feeling the Christmas spirit 🎄
Here we did the cliff top walk, and as we did a venomous Eastern Brown Snake 🐍 slithered across the path directly in front of us 😳

Our final stop for the day was Holder Bend Reserve on the Murray River.
A great spot by the water, perfect to get the rod out and try a little fishing 🎣 but unfortunately when we arrived it was blowing a gale. We might need to stay an extra night just to give it a go 😜
Rewarded with a beautiful sunset 🌅

Our home for the night (or 2) is the Holder Bend Camping Reserve
Bush camping with no facilities.
Boat ramp accessRead more
0 likes
‘Pre retirement’ trial Traveler
Day 47
November 25, 2025 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
Our pre retirement trial trip- day 47

The aim today was to cycle the Resiling Trail. Job done ✔️

After a relaxing start to the morning we got on our bikes for a ‘grains and grape’ Riesling Trail tour, and covered a total of 23 km 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️

We started up hill, with a horrendous head wind, to O’Leary Walker Wines. Arriving to find amazing 360 views of the surrounding rolling hills and great wines which we had with an awesome pate.

We retuned along the trail to Auburn, this time down hill with a tail wind which meant that we hit 30km/hr without even peddling 😜

Next stop was the Rising Sun Hotel where we shared a great French dip baguette for lunch

Back on the bikes we headed to Taylors wines for the final stop on our tour.

What a fabulous way to end our time in the Clare Valley 🍷🥂🍻Read more
0 likes