Our Lap of Oz - Part 3

We have left Tasmania and now head west to South Australia and West Australia. Read more

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Day 54
Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Australia Peninsula Hill Tank -33.23313, 134.672833°13’59” S 134°40’22” E
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Venus Bay
January 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
We limped in to Venus Bay Caravan Park to assess the damage a bit more. At least it didn't look any worse than what we saw yesterday. The van park was pretty basic but at least offered power and water. Well, water flow was so slow we had to fill our tanks and then use the pump. Oh, and the power went off for our second day so we were back on gas and battery. 🤷‍♂️
Found a lovely headland walk though around South Head that passed a couple of hours.
Next day we headed off to explore the Talia Caves that were a few kms south. The Woolshed Cave was spectacular but the path in was too sloping for our liking so no photo looking out from inside. A little further along the coast was some extraordinary rock pools.Read more
Traveler South Head walk
1/31/22Reply
Traveler A beautiful touching memorial to two young men who lost their lives in this bay
1/31/22Reply
Traveler Woolshed Cave
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Day 56
Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 4:59 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Australia Apex -32.799142, 134.20043532°47’57” S 134°12’2” E
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Streaky Bay
January 29, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Further north along the stunning Eyre Peninsular west coast. On the way we passed Murphy's Haystacks which are basically some rocks in a paddock 🤷‍♂️. And they wanted $2 to walk through a gate to see them. A photo from the road sufficed. A bit further north we stopped at Streaky Bay RV Park. Another basic facilities park that is run by the local community. As a coincidenvce we watched an episode of Back Roads that visited Streaky Bay and heard about the very active community that runs the hotel and the local GP surgery. When the tuna fishing boats dissapeared the town was almost destroyed but have reinvented themselves as a holiday destination. We explored the area by walking along the foreshore and through the town in spite of the ever present wind.Read more
Traveler They must pump serious amounts of water into this.
2/2/22Reply
Traveler 😕
2/2/22Reply
Traveler It was fun watching Faye inching over for this photo
2/2/22Reply
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Day 58
Monday, January 31, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Australia Camon Well -32.66105, 134.294832°39’40” S 134°17’41” E
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Perlubie Beach
January 31, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Only a little further north to Perlubie Beach. Having seen this spot on many You Tube videos we were really looking forward to camping on the beach again. The drive on to the beach was very firm and the sand itself not soft but rather gritty. We didn't even bother to drop the tyre pressure at all. Still school holidays here and the beach was busy but certainly not chockers. Possibly 50 or so camps along but it is a very long beach. We found a nice spot and setup to watch the tide roll in. Except it didn't. Apparently because of how the moon phase was the daytime tide was only really small while the night high tide was large. Went for a walk out into the sparkling clear water and then a hike up the beach. It's a beautiful spot. Typical of these beaches though, when the tide goes out, it goes way out. A long walk out for a swim.
Unhitched the car from the van and moved it back after advice from others that it may be a close thing for the night tide. Glad we did. A spectaculr sunset finished off a great day at this magical spot.Read more
Traveler Overnight high tide mark
2/2/22Reply
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Day 59
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 105 m
Australia Wudinna -32.983318, 135.32306432°58’60” S 135°19’23” E
Wudinna
February 1, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
So after 176 days since we left Brisbane we have decided to turn around and head back to Qld. The situation with the West Australia border and the conditions being imposed on travellers has just left us bewildered and disappointed. Combined with the damage we sustained in the hail storm and concerns we have over the construction of our new home it just felt right to start heading back.
We hope to catch up with Amanda & Leon on the road somewhere before returning.
First stop was Wudinna, a small country town along the Eyre Highway back towards Adelaide, the opposite direction to how we had hoped to be travelling. The Wudinna Showgrounds offered power and water hookup for $15 for the night so caught up with all our washing and filled the tanks and battery.
I have had the Beatles song "Two Of Us" in my head all day. To mangle the lyrics a little;

You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

We're on our way home
We're on our way home
We're going homeRead more
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Day 60
Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Australia Lea Memorial Oval -32.512453, 137.78544532°30’45” S 137°47’8” E
Port Augusta
February 2, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Back to Port Augusta for another night at the Sports Club Motorhome Park. We were a little worried about being able to get through with reports of the highway being cut by water but we had no trouble. There was a lot of water lying around the sides of the road and some roadworks going on to repair sections but nothing serious.Read more
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Day 61
Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Australia Mid Murray -34.06537, 139.8538434°3’55” S 139°51’14” E
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Hogwash Bend
February 3, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Heading east we stopped at a Murray River camp at Hogwash Bend, We crossed the river at Morgan on the free ferry. So many camps along the Murray all just as nice as the others. A relaxing afternoon fishing (no luck) and reading as we had no internet and very scratchy phone reception. The river is very high and flowing after all the rain.Read more
Traveler Beautiful spot to camp. 😍
2/5/22Reply
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Day 62
Friday, February 4, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 41 m
Australia Monak -34.304587, 142.30092634°18’17” S 142°18’3” E
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Bottle Bend, New South Wales
February 4, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
So after spending 61 days in South Australia it's time to leave. Still heading east we pass through Victoria (spent a total of 2 hours there 😷) and into NSW at Mildura. The countryside is very productive around here as we passed through the Riverland and Sunraysia districts.
Another Murray River camp this time near Monak. Big days for us when we travel around 300km. It does get tiring.Read more
Traveler Silo art in Renmark
2/5/22Reply
Traveler Silo art in Renmark
2/5/22Reply
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Day 63
Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 12:06 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 91 m
Australia Murumbidgee River -34.514683, 144.83558634°30’53” S 144°50’8” E
Sandy Point, Hay
February 5, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
This time camped up on the Murrumbidgee River at Hay. This is a large free camp area run by the Council. We weren't sure if it would be open because we had seen reports that it was flooded but when we arrived it was fine. The river is still high but has receded quite a lot. We can see where it rose to. Will probably stop for a couple of nights here to rest up a little.Read more
TravelerI realised I hadn’t looked at your Penguin site for a while. Wow 😮. You’ve travelled a long way. I guess it’s bitter sweet heading home. ☹️. WA won’t go away and you’ve got a lot to look forward to heading home. 🏡. Rest up and have a relaxing couple of days. 🥰
2/5/22Reply
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Day 64
Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 91 m
Australia Murumbidgee River -34.514683, 144.83558634°30’53” S 144°50’8” E
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Sandy Point, Hay
February 6, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The Murrumbidgee foreshore in Hay has had a lot of restoration work done and there is now a lovely walking trail all the way along the river bank and back into town. We put our walking shoes on and headed off. The recent flooding was evident but no damage seems to have been done. Once out of the bush we wandered through the town but being a Sunday morning nearly everything was closed. A highlight is the silo art just on the outskirts of the town where several of the locals are depicted. All the pictures are of servicemen and women who came from Hay. There was extensive information boards on each of them telling their stories of service, capture, POW imprisonment and eventual return to Hay. Beautifully done. In the afternoon we visited the Hay Internment Camp Museum located at the restored railway station. Hay is where the original internees from the HMT Dunera (sent from Britain and dramatised in the movie "The Dunera Boys") were sent. Very interesting.Read more
Traveler Hay streetscape
2/8/22Reply
Traveler Old railway station
2/8/22Reply
Traveler Basic accomoation for the internees
2/8/22Reply
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Day 65
Monday, February 7, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 342 m
Australia Junee -34.871213, 147.59798134°52’16” S 147°35’53” E
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Junee Golf Club
February 7, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
From Hay we continued east along the Murrumbidgee towards Junee. Despite my hesitation we had targeted a free camp at Laurie Daley Oval in Junee. It sounded great with grassy sites, toilets and dump point, just the trick. When we arrived we found it deserted with aggressive locals directing us the the "Caravan Park" next door. I could make a comment about NSW origin players here but will restrain myself. We ended up at he Golf Club in a really nice quiet spot (apart from the Corellas at dusk). Before leaving Junee the next morning we visited the impressive Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory now operating out of an old flour mill. No guided tours because of Covid of course but a really interesting place. Also a chance to stock up ón licorice and chocolate 😃Read more
Traveler An old bowling green makes a nice campsite
2/8/22Reply
Traveler Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory
2/8/22Reply
Traveler The outdoor area had a real Tuscan feel
2/8/22Reply
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Day 66
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 332 m
Australia Cootamundra Caravan Park -34.639451, 148.02572334°38’22” S 148°1’33” E
Cootamundra
February 8, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After visiting the Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory we continued on and stopped at Cootamundra for morning tea. We strolled through a lovely park and enjoyed the Captain's Walk where bronze busts of every Australian cricket captain are displayed. I learnt that Don Bradman had been born in Cootamundra and not Bowral as I always believed.Read more
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Day 66
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 445 m
Australia Young -34.310351, 148.2971834°18’37” S 148°17’50” E
Young
February 8, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Family research showed Faye's Great Grandfther lived for many years in Young on the goldfields. At the time the locality was called Lambing Flat and was the site of the goldfield riots against the Chinese miners in 1860/61. It was a shame much of the historic research sites were closed, we did visit the Chinese Memorial Garden which is now at the site of the dams that provided water for the diggings. Faye's ancestor Martin Hoffman, an immigrant from Germany in 1860, operated a puddling machine for gold extraction at the height of the gold rush. The gardens were lovely.Read more
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Day 66
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 288 m
Australia Cowra -33.831172, 148.67844933°49’52” S 148°40’42” E
Cowra Showgrounds
February 8, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Camped at the Showgrounds on a nice grassy site for a couple of nights.
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Day 67
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 312 m
Australia Cowra -33.83494, 148.6925233°50’6” S 148°41’33” E
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Cowra
February 9, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Cowra is such a fascinating place. We visited the site of the Cowra POW Camp where the famous Cowra breakout occurred in 1944. Most of the site where 4 Australian soldiers and 231 Japanese soldiers were killed is now vacant but it is still a moving experience to wander around and read the stories.
We drove the short distance from the POW site to the Japanese Memorial Garden. In 1971 The Japanese government agreed to support the development of the garden as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead. There was also funding from the Australian government and private entities. The Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre was designed by Ken Nakajima (1914–2000), a world-renowned designer of Japanese gardens at the time. The first stage was opened in 1979, with a second stage opened in 1986 and are the largest Japanese style gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. We spent a couple of hours strolling through these absolutely beautiful gardens.Read more
Traveler Beautiful!
2/18/22Reply
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Day 68
Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 478 m
Australia Yass -34.83628, 148.9156634°50’11” S 148°54’56” E
Yass
February 10, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
A stopover in the pretty country town of Yass on the banks of the Yass River. A short stroll over the low-level bridge at the spillway took us into the heart of the town. We didn't have much time here to enjoy the area.Read more
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Day 69
Friday, February 11, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 77 m
Australia Barangary Creek -34.73516, 150.5325434°44’7” S 150°31’57” E
Kangaroo Valley
February 11, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
A wonderful chance to meet up with Amanda, Leon, Flynn and Sophie while we are all travelling. Kangaroo Valley is sucha beautiful place with spacious campsites, a lovely river for kayaking, wombats and kangaroos aplenty and lots of sights to see in the area. The drive in was a bit hairy coming down the range from Bowral and we really had to crawl down and look after the brakes. I wasn't looking forward to the trip back up. We spent a fantastic few days with the kids exploring, kayaking, wombating and cooking. Lucky to have the opportunity to meet as they head south and we head north. It was hard to say goodbye.Read more
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Day 70
Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 77 m
Australia Barangary Creek -34.735157, 150.53254334°44’7” S 150°31’57” E
Kangaroo Valley
February 12, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Special treats today 🍭
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Day 75
Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Australia Taree -31.90111, 152.4631°54’4” S 152°27’36” E
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Taree Showgrounds
February 17, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Heading north we stopped at Taree Showgrounds for a couple of nights. It's quite a big town that we have never visited before and according to the Visitor Information Centre staff there is basically nothing to see here 😂. We were advised to go and visit nearby Wingham if we wanted to see anything interesting. Showgrounds were lovely and grassy.Read more
Traveler The old timber fascia was used when the Show Society built a new pavillion.
3/9/22Reply
Traveler This nature walk was a must visit for us. Faye in particular just loves these little creatures 🦇🦇🦇🦇🤣
3/9/22Reply
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Day 77
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Australia Korogoro Creek -31.05454, 153.0516331°3’16” S 153°3’6” E
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Hat Head
February 19, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Finally back to the east coast and the Pacific Ocean. A couple of days at Hat Head that was initially very busy on the weekend but got really quite from the Monday on. We spent the days exploring the beach and the hike around Hat Head itself. A lovely spot on the beach.Read more
Traveler The Headland walk started off with a sealed track but fast degenerated into a Grade 4 hike, Hadn't had a decent trek for some time so it was good to walk the kinks out.
3/9/22Reply
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Day 79
Monday, February 21, 2022 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Australia Woody Head -29.366413, 153.37244429°21’59” S 153°22’21” E
Woody Head
February 21, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Back to one of our favourite spots before heading back to Brisbane. Woody Heads is such a beautiful camp but unfortunately was spoilt this time by some rather nasty weather. We managed to strike one nice day where we could go for a snorkel. The water was a little murky from the rain but still wonderful to be able to swim in the sea after all this time.Read more
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Day 83
Friday, February 25, 2022 at 12:00 PM
🌧 24 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Australia Prospect Street -28.860027, 153.57847828°51’36” S 153°34’43” E
Ballina
February 25, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
A quick stop on the way home to use some of our Discovery Parks credit from our cancelled Kununnurra booking.
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Day 85
Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 7:47 AM
🌧 22 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Australia Buccan -27.750811, 153.13374127°45’3” S 153°8’1” E
Michelle & Nick's Place
February 27, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
So 203 days and 21,614kms later we arrive back at Michelle and Nick's to basically finish our circuit. We didn't make it to West Australia but we are sure we will get there eventually.
All in all it has been a fantastic experience and now we move on to the next stage of our lives based in Burnett Heads. Thanks to anyone who has followed along and endured my long winded notes.
Safe travels everyone.Read more
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Trip end
February 26, 2022