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Heading north and outback
  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across Oz

Heading north and outback

No idea where we will end up, still unsure about heading to the coast or staying inland. That’s the beauty of not having to be anywhere at a specific time - we can chop and change our minds as we go. Looking forward to seeing more Aussie outback! Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 20, 2018
    Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Not long to go!

    August 8, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Less than two weeks now til we hit the road for an extended period of time once more. Last time was March 2016 when we zoomed West for six months, crossing the amazing Nullarbor across to Perth, all around the south west and up north to Broome and back. We’ve done some smaller trips away since then but this time we will be on the road around four months.

    Just for fun, here are three things I know will be difficult in the lead up to leaving:

    1. Working out what to pack and what to leave behind

    2. Sorting out all our medical ‘stuff’

    3. Leaving family and saying goodbye especially to our kids    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    It's G Day - as in time to go!

    August 20, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today’s the day, and in true Zohar style the Zo-Mobil didn’t hit the road until 3pm, which is stupid on so many levels - especially with the number of schools we have in our immediate vicinity.

    We got to spend last night with my family and today we said goodby to our kids (who probably breathed a sigh of relief that we were finally gone!).

    Last minute packing today and we hit the road - the two of us and our beautiful spoodle, Cadbury. In typical Melbourne fashion, the skies opened up just as we waved goodbye and the rain did not stop until we’d left the city behind.

    Given how late it was we decided to just drive the two hours to Seymour. The drive was uneventful and we spilled out of the car to explore our lovely campsite, complete with an old relic of a bridge, on the banks of the Goulburn River.

    Inside the caravan we are toasty warm with our new diesel heating, as we watch the last weak rays of the sun disappear.

    A piping hot dinner of lamb shanks and vegetables magically appeared - thanks to a little bit of prep this morning at home, and our trusty thermal pot. Always a godsend on day one of any journey.

    Time to chill this evening, watch a bit of ABC - it is Monday night after all! I’m not sure I can stay awake for long as I’ve felt tired all afternoon (lucky Gadi was driving!),

    Lessons learnt on day 1

    1. Whatever time the Zohars’ think they will leave for a road trip, add on another two hours for good measure

    2. I already know I took too many clothes

    3. Very thankful we had diesel heating installed this year!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Goodbye green Victoria - hello brown NSW

    August 21, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I was so tired last night that I was asleep around 9pm, but as usual I woke up a number of times throughout the night. We are still getting used to the diesel heating and even on low we both eventually got too hot.

    It was lovely to open the door in the morning and enjoy the view of the flowing Goulburn river, rich bird life and golden leaves of the many surrounding trees.

    We left around 10 and headed past the diverse fruit growing district of greater Shepparton and stopped at The Big Strawberry in Koonoomoo to taste some strawberry wine and other strawberry delights. A quick sandwich and coffee in the warmth of the caravan and we finally crossed the Murray river at Tocumwal and soon noticed, as we passed through Finley, Jerilderie, Coleambally and Darlington Point how brown and dry the landscape had become. The overhanging grey cloud puffs made for a dramatic, if not foreboding backdrop.

    Still, we enjoyed the drive, grateful that we’d finally joined the 21st century and created a family Spotify account so we had plenty of music to keep us occupied. Of course, we don’t really appreciate each other’s taste in music, so perhaps head phones may come in handy in future!

    We pulled up in the large town of Griffith before 5pm and headed for the free camp in the centre of town, along the main canal. We were treated to the most spectacular deep pink sunset before retiring inside for the night in the warmth of our little home on wheels.

    Before we head inside for a simple pasta and some hot chocolate and a slice of yummy cake here are some fun and weird facts about strawberries for today!

    1. Did you know that strawberries are the only fruit that wear their seeds on the outside?

    2. Strawberries are also technically not a berry - again because their seeds are on the outside.

    3. Finally, strawberries are part of the rose family...which is kind of weird!

    Night night xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    A lake...and some sunshine!

    August 22, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We left our campsite in Griffith around 10 this morning, stopping at Aldi because...well because it’s Aldi and we know we won’t see one for quite a while. We stocked up on some of our favourite Aldi produce and then continued our journey north.

    The arid landscape of yesterday afternoon gave way to green pastures and tree-covered escarpments. The sun peeped through the puffy clouds as we happily watched the car temperature display climb up to 16.

    We made a snap decision to stop at Lake Cargellico instead of pushing on to Cobar because the thought of relaxing by the pretty man-made lake in the afternoon sunshine was too tempting.

    We spent a couple of hours chatting to our neighbours, sharing some homemade vodka-infused berry coconut slushie. Suddenly Gadi realized that the packets of frozen chicken for the dog that were defrosting on the outside table and the pizza dough that was rising in the sunshine had been devoured by a local egret or crow. Not happy Jan!

    Cooked dinner on the Weber as we witnessed another glorious sunset. With nightfall fast approaching, the warmth of the sun evaporated and we were very grateful to head inside our snug, diesel heated little home on wheels.

    Today’s lessons:

    1. It’s good to be flexible - and always follow the sun

    2. Leaving any food outside - frozen or raw - is not smart

    3. Vodka is always a good thing!

    Sweet dreams xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    A day of rest in the sunshine

    August 23, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    No driving today - we spent the whole day chilling and enjoying the lovely 21 degree sunshine. We started the morning with a visit from local farmer, Steve with two of his Australian Drought and Clydesdale horses that he still uses to work his farm. We promised to visit his farm tomorrow to watch a demonstration of his horses in action.

    I made pancakes with fresh fruit for brunch, which we ate outside, savouring the view and the warmth of the sun. We sat outside for a while and I fell asleep laying back in my chair, lulled by the sun on my face and listening to the happy galahs chirping in the trees.

    Gadi took his kayak out on the lake, the first time using it since before winter. When he returned he took Cadbury out for a short ride.

    We ended the afternoon with happy hour with our neighbours again, chatting away before we spent about an hour searching for Gadi’s keys (this happens quite frequently) as the sun faded away and eventually we cooked dinner on the Weber and moved inside for the night.

    We are going to stay here another night tomorrow, which will give us time to see the horses in action and relax again in the afternoon by the lake. We are in no rush and are happy to keep our plans flexible and make it up as we go.

    3 musings for today:

    1. Eating is definitely more pleasurable when you are sitting outside with a stunning view in the warm sunshine

    2. Napping in the sun is the best

    3. I need help to find a system for Gadi’s keys (and his glasses and wallet) so we don’t regularly go through a panic to find them!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Horses for courses

    August 24, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We waved goodbye to our camp neighbours from Melbourne and made our way to the 55ha Larne Horse Stud on the other side of town to watch farmer Steve put his big Clydesdale horses through their paces. Steve and his wife Jan breed the gentle giants as well as use them for all their farm work. They currently have 15 horses that they work in teams.

    These days they also attend festivals and show tour groups farm skills from yesteryear. We watched as one of the horses operated a machine to cut wheat, oats and barley into fine grain. We also watched how they use the horses to do the heavy lifting of the grain bags to toss them onto the wagons.

    We spent over three hours wandering around the farm, with Cadbury on a lead alongside us. The farm is situated right on the edge of Lake Cargellico, with their cute double story, half brick half wood, house taking advantage of the lakeside location. Together with the rest of the tour group we enjoyed morning tea and exploring old sheds filled with historical equipment including a number of wagons and sulkies.

    Back to our little campsite around the other side of the lake and we spent the afternoon relaxing, doing a bit of shopping and I made homemade pizzas for dinner on the Weber, enjoying making the dough as I sat outside in the dappled sunlight enjoying the wind still water view.

    Another quiet night in our little home on wheels. I could get used to this!

    3 fun facts from today:

    1. Clydesdales are just one breed of Draught horse originating in Scotland and became known as the breed that built Australia

    2. My pizza dough is made from 2 ingredients only - Greek yoghurt and self raising flour

    3. Pizza + Weber = YUM!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    When it rains during drought

    August 25, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    A few nights ago Cadbury decided at around 6am that he wanted to sleep on the bed...under the doona as he does at home. I didn’t mind, he’s nice and warm to cuddle up to. Then the other night it was 3am. I grumbled a bit but helped him up. Last night it was 12.30am! I wasn’t going to let him and got up to put his blankie over him, when he took a little run up and jumped up himself, looking at me through lowered eyes and fluttering eyelids so that I couldn’t resist. We cuddled up for the rest of the night.

    In the morning I opened my eyes expecting some cloud cover as BOM was suggesting storms and rainfall today. However, the sky was the same unwavering blue with the lake reflecting the sky like a mirror in the morning stillness - same as yesterday.

    Today we left our lovely lakeside paradise to inch our way north. In any case, we had run out of water and our toilet needed emptying (aah the realities of life on the road!)

    I prepped a chicken soup in the thermal cooker (so it could continue cooking all day) and by the time we’d chatted to our new camping neighbours (a young couple and their dog from Geelong in a van) and completed the morning’s chores it was late morning before we headed north out of town.

    The first half of the trip was uneventful, except for the darkening sky. We stopped for lunch and a break in a rest stop and then continued our journey, listening to Aussie rock classic tunes as the Zo-Mobil whizzed up the Kidman Highway. Neither of us had ever seen so many hundreds of dead kangaroos on the road. Not on any other trip. Suddenly the storm hit with big fat raindrops smacking the front windscreen. I got nervous driving as the sky darkened and we started seeing mobs of wild goats and kangaroos hanging around the road’s edge. I drove slower and we both kept our eyes peeled out for the Roos, which are known to stand stock still and then jump right in front of your car.

    Finally we made it to Cobar at around 4pm and decided to stay at the free camp by the RSL in town as the gravel car park was a better option than a muddy rain-soaked paddock a few kilometers away.

    We pulled in and parked in a row with the other caravans. We enjoyed delicious chicken soup (who was smart enough to get this happening this morning?) and some pasta before settling in with the radio and some reading for the evening.

    Best thing about today: having dinner hot and ready when we arrived

    Worst thing about today: driving in the rain as it got darker and watching out for kangaroos

    Things that are a work in progress: getting Cadbury to stay in his own bed for most of the night...however to be fair, he does sleep with us at home!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Cobar to Bourke

    August 26, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After last night’s rain, this morning dawned wind still with a baby blue sky above. The Zo-Mobil couldn’t go anywhere this morning until after the Insiders program on ABC had finished. And yes, most of the other caravans in our town-based car park were long gone!

    Mid morning we set off, stopping to check out the new Cobar mine (now filled with water) across the road, the beautifully crafted miner’s monument in the town gardens opposite the visitor Centre and finally, we climbed Fort Bourke Lookout at the Cobar Open Cut Gold Mine to get an incredible view of the goldmine and surrounding district spread out below the mine crater.

    We drove back through the streets of Cobar, passing the Grand Hotel with its enormous can of Toohey’s New Draught Beer perched on top of the building.

    We drove straight through to Bourke, once again conscious of the many dead kangaroos we saw along the way and wary of the way the live kangaroos suddenly jump in front of your car.

    In Bourke we went to the visitor’s Centre for a quick visit to collect some brochures and then drove to our chosen riverside camp spot on the Darling River.

    The road in to the campsite was quite soft due to last night’s rain and within five minutes we were bogged in the soft sandy soil. While Gadi went to get out our shovel to try to dig us out, a local farmer came by on his tractor and pulled us out by our back end. After this excitement we set up on a high piece of land by the river, close to a shelter and picnic tables.

    The afternoon was spent relaxing along the river bank with a lovely cold cider and some yummy cheese, dried fruit and crackers.

    I then prepped a homemade lasagne by cooking a meat sauce on the caravan stove, which I later transferred to my favourite Weber frypan, which doubles as a casserole dish as well. I cooked the prepared lasagne in our baby Weber as I sat outside under an inky black sky disturbed only by the enormous low-lying yellow moon shining her light over the silver flash of river before me.

    Things I learnt today:

    1. A lot of miners have died in many Australian towns over many years despite the attention to safety

    2. Don’t be too proud to accept help when you are bogged - oh and next time don’t forget to take photos to remind your husband of what he did!

    3. Afternoons spent drinking one’s favourite tipple snd enjoying delicious cheese, nuts and dried fruit is an afternoon well spent!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Galleries, engines and coffee in Bourke

    August 27, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    This morning we packed up our riverside camp after making pan-toasted sandwiches for breakfast. We stopped at the Back O Bourke Gallery where artist Jenny displays her stunning pastel paintings of locally inspired scenery. We then went to the wharf district to enjoy a coffee in the pretty garden cafe and see the big, old restored oil fired twin cylinder Crossley engine in operation.

    After this Gadi tried to get our inverter working, with no luck (we need it to charge his shaver and to operate our washing machine and smoothie maker). He found a Betta Living Store in town but they didn’t have any inverters and neither did any other shops in town.

    Eventually we left and drove just under 100km east to Brewarrina along the Kamilaroi Highway. We stopped to eat lunch next to the Barwon River where the ancient fish traps are. History tells us that these could well be the oldest man made structure in the world (approx 40,000 years old).

    After lunch we headed to the Indigenous museum to try to tee up a guided history tour, which we will come back for tomorrow morning. In order to stay close to town we picked out a nearby camp spot along a low-lying creek complete with picnic table and shelter. We enjoyed another afternoon in the warm sun with nibbles washed down by whiskey and soda - very mellow! Gadi tried to get the TV working but there is limited Telstra phone reception and zero TV reception.

    Dinner of leftovers (chicken soup and pasta) and we were all (Cadbury too) struggling to stay awake.

    Favourite part of the day: a good day all round today, but I would have to say chilling with a glass of something and eating nibblies never becomes mundane - especially when it’s in ever changing natural surroundings!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Guided Indigenous walk and artesian pool

    August 28, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    This morning we headed back to Brewarrina where we were stopped by an elderly man who pointed out that our water hose was dragging along behind the caravan. Would have been good to take a photo but I didn’t think of it in time. We went to the aboriginal museum to do the guided walk along the river to learn about the different groups of aboriginal people who lived here and who together created the amazing fish traps in the river that are, according to archeologists likely to be the oldest living man made structure in the world - around 40,000 years old!

    Our guide Bradley, imparted a lot of knowledge to us and patiently explained how the incredible fish traps were constructed by eight different Indigenous groups, to be a place of meeting and mutual gathering of food. The traps, built from local stone, included storage areas in the river to keep the fish as well as allow some of the fish to pass through so they could spawn further up the river. In this way they never depleted the native fish.

    We also learnt about the impact on the fish traps of the construction of the dam in the 1960s (used to irrigate local water-hungry cotton crops) and we spent time learning about the tools and hunting weapons made by local people in the old days.

    The tour gave us an amazing insight into the incredible knowledge and skills that aboriginal people possessed may thousands of years ago, and how in tune they were with their surroundings.

    We left with Bradley’s powerful words that they are not the owners of the fish traps, nor do they own the river or the surrounding land. They belong to the fish traps, to the river and to the land. He believes this special place is meant to be a meeting place and coming together for all people - whether different aboriginal groups or black and white.

    After our culture-filled morning we made our way to our next destination, the town of Walgett, about two hours east, where we enjoyed a dip in the beautifully warm artesian pool in the middle of town. What a lovely way to relieve those aches and pains! After our warm dip and a refreshing (freezing cold) shower to rinse off the minerals, we made our way to the town free camp where we joined many other vanners relaxing in the late afternoon sunshine and making plans for where to head next.

    Seeing a pic our daughter sent of the curry she had cooked made me want to cook curry, so fish and veggie curry it was for dinner tonight - with enough for leftovers another night.

    Things I learnt today:

    1. Might be time for Gadi to have a list for when we pack up, much as I know he hates lists...it may just save him forgetting the stuff he is responsible for!

    2. There is so much diverse Indigenous history to learn about and it’s definitely a great way to learn about it with local guides passing on their knowledge

    3. There’s nothing that a long soak in hot artesian water can’t fix!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    The freedom rides & more artesian baths

    August 29, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Woke up in the free camp in Walgett this morning and Gadi read the information boards on his morning walk all about the freedom rides in 1965, where aboriginal activist (Charles Perkins) then a uni student lead a group of University of Sydney students on a bus campaign through several outback NSW towns to protest indigenous inequality.

    Based on the freedom riders in the United States in the early 60s, we learnt that in Walgett the bus stopped and Charles made an impassioned speech at the RSL, which at that time refused entry to indigenous people, not even allowing entry to returned soldiers. Endemic racism in Walgett was beamed into the homes of thousands watching the news, when the president of the RSL was caught on camera saying he would never let an aboriginal person into the club.

    The publicity gained raised consciousness of racial discrimination across NSW at the time.

    We left the camp ground late morning and headed east to our next stop, the outback railway town of Burren Junction. Population around 160, this tiny town no longer even has a shop, but it does boast a pub! And, more importantly, the town maintains a wonderfully warm artesian pool and camp ground, well utilized by passing travelers (mainly nomads).

    Arriving around lunchtime, we found a prime site along a dam irrigating the nearby fields (and giving us a lovely water view). Later in the afternoon (after lunch and a snooze) we changed into our bathers and breathed a sigh of relief as we eased ourselves into the hot, deep waters. We spent a lovely couple of hours soaking, floating and talking to other nomads. We learnt that a couple opposite us have a rainbow lorikeet they rescued as a baby that fell out of its nest and broke its wing, so we chatted all things ‘bird’ related.

    We stayed in the pool until the sun set low on the horizon creating a thin orange and flame red line along the horizon. As I made my way back to the caravan in near darkness, I took in the beautiful reds, oranges and yellows of the setting sun along the dam. Just as I reached the van I heard a ‘thump thump’ sound and was privileged to witness a dozen kangaroos silent (other than the sounds of their hooves thudding) as they hopped along the ridge above the dam, one after the other.

    Dinner of leftover lasagne tonight and it was time to turn in for the night.

    Today I am thankful for so much - finding a relaxing place to stay awhile, beautiful hot water to float in, great weather and lovely neighbours all around. To see the kangaroos hop by against the last bit of sunset was just the icing on the cake!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    A day of soaking and relaxing

    August 30, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We decided to stay out here in Burren Junction for a few days as we are really enjoying the artesian water and the camp site itself, with our water front site and the mostly friendly people surrounding us.

    What a lovely day it’s been. I went for a mid morning soak while Gadi spent time on some maintenance and talking to some of the other blokes about things like cars, solar, inverters and other boy toy paraphernalia!

    I came back to the caravan to chill out, eat lunch and even baked a chocolate cake in the Weber. Late afternoon we both headed back to the pool for another ‘swim’ and chat to our fellow campers.

    Eventually I dragged myself out of what felt like an oversized warm bath tub so that I could come back to the caravan to watch another magical sunset beyond the canal.

    I prepped dinner on the Weber and chatted with our neighbours while warming myself close by their splendid ‘Oz pig’ fire.

    Finally Gadi made his way back from the pool and we headed inside for dinner. Today went by in a flash and yet we didn’t do very much st all. Crazy really...

    My take home from today:

    May there be more busy days like today doing not very much at all but feeling so content being in the moment.    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Buffeting winds & card games

    August 31, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We both woke before 6am today to hear and feel howling winds all around and I quickly headed outside to make sure my bathers hadn’t blown away.

    Later in the morning we played a few rounds of rummy tiles with our neighbours and then they taught us how to play Bush rummy with cards. We enjoyed a pleasant few hours playing games and chatting over a cup of tea and slices of my chocolate chia and hemp cake.

    Around lunchtime rain pelted against the sides of the caravan, with an ominous grey sky visible through the skylight. The winds moved the rain on and, as quickly as it began, the rain was gone and the sky turned blue once more.

    Late afternoon Gadi went to the hot pool and Cadbury and I took a chance on the lessening winds to go for a brisk walk around the dam behind the caravan, phone in hand to capture photos of the setting sun behind the fields of wheat.

    Finally went indoors as the last weak rays of sun tried vainly to paint a golden hue on the dam water. Time to prepare (luckily we have leftover fish curry) dinner - for Cadbury and for us.

    What I learnt about men today - you need to communicate exactly what you mean. For example, if you ask one to heat a container of leftovers (could be anything, but let’s use the example of fish curry) on the stove, how do you think they would go about it? I discovered they take you literally. What I found was a plastic takeaway box filled with curry simmering in boiling water when what I had meant was to empty the curry into the pot and stir it every now and then.

    Another thing I learnt today is - maybe, just maybe, their method has merit. After all, this method got the job done eventually and it meant less messy clean up!

    Good night, sleep tight xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler
    1

    More of the same - how marvellous!

    September 1, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Another day here in Burren Junction, not going anywhere, but enjoying the peace and quiet of this lovely outback location.

    Pancakes for brekkie today! You know it’s going to be a good day when you start out with pancakes with fresh fruit salad and maple syrup or lemon and sugar.

    A fresh breeze kept the morning just below 20 degrees. We lazily pottered around our campsite and eventually I made the effort to change into bathers, put on sunscreen, sunglasses and big floppy hat, and made my way to the artesian pool for a long, hot soak - and a bit of exercise swimming round and round.

    Time seems to run away in that pool, but eventually I dragged myself out, long after my fingers had turned all wrinkley, feeling hungry and ready for lunch.

    I made some muffins in the Weber and we spent a couple of hours sitting outside chatting and playing Bush rummy with our neighbours, Barb and Earl. We enjoyed some pink bubbly and banana coconut muffins for afternoon tea.

    Steak and veggies on the Weber for dinner, cooked just as the last smear of deep red sky sank below the horizon beyond the nearby dam.

    Another day well spent!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Last day in Burren

    September 2, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Another lazy day today spent in our lovely artesian spa campsite at Burren Junction. I took Cadbury for a walk past the dam and out into the fields giving Gadi time to watch Insiders. Then I very nicely made him a father’s day breakfast of yoghurt, muesli and mixed berries and he spoke to both our kids on the phone before we had (what would be our last) swim in Burren Junction.

    We had a lovely soak and float in the hot mineral-rich water before heading back home, hungry for lunch so I whipped up salmon patties and a salad. Afterwards, relaxed from the warm water and sated after lunch, I ended up having a lengthy nanna nap (thanks to new neighbours with very loud voices waking me at 6.30am).

    We spent the rest of the afternoon playing Bush rummy with Barb and Earl and really enjoyed chatting with them snd sharing a lovely bottle of Shiraz.

    We watched our final glorious sunset over the dam and prepared a simple pasta with pesto for dinner.

    Time to unwind inside.

    Night night!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Moving on to the Ridge

    September 3, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Packed up this morning and spent a while saying goodbye to our camp buddies Barb and Earl and their rainbow lorikeet, Elton.

    Left Burren Junction around midday and headed back through Walgett and on to Lightning Ridge, where we needed to refuel, swap both our gas bottles and do a major supermarket shop.

    We finally arrived at our new accommodation at Carinya Station, about 15km our of town. The station is owned by a young couple and their three small children. They allow people to camp on their 6,000 acre station in return for giving them a helping hand with whatever jobs need to be done. There is a daily board where you can select a suitable job (such as collecting eggs, walking the dogs and pups, feeding farm animals, planting trees and any projects on the go) and a communal fire each evening.

    We picked a camp spot (searching for enough sun for the solar panels and the right angle to try out our satellite dish (as there is no reception out here). Then we headed to the fire to mingle a bit before heading back to cook a pizza in the Weber and have an early night.

    Good night x    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Washing, work and exploring the Ridge

    September 4, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Finally got a huge load of washing done this morning - since our inverter broke a while back I haven’t done any for at least 10 days.

    Meanwhile Gadi helped out on the station planting trees and moving sand. We ate lunch and then made our way into town where we had a look at the John Murray art gallery and did a couple of the ‘car door’ tours - basically a self drive tour of interesting sights around and beyond town.

    On one we got to explore the vast opal fields where miners still live in shanty like humpies and old caravans, searching for the elusive gold of the area (known as black opal), found only in Lightning Ridge.

    We also got to see some of the Ridge’s quirky sights such as the bottle house (made almost entirely of glass bottles), the beer can house and the half built castle.

    Late afternoon we made our way back to our new home and Gadi tried, with limited success, to get his satellite dish working, and I prepped our dinner - eye fillet with baked potato and pumpkin and some garlic bread - to be cooked in the Weber of course.

    Another day done and dusted for us. We are now cosied uo in our little home on wheels and ready to unwind from what ended up quite a busy day.

    Night night x    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Farm work, car door tour & hot pool

    September 5, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We were a little slow getting moving this morning (we had to search for ‘lost’ items of Gadi’s...as usual)!

    We took all our linen and towels to wash in the woolshed washing machine and then Gadi went off to help some blokes build a huge bonfire and I helped sort out bottles and cans for recycling. I couldn’t believe the huge loads we sorted were just from people staying in the last two weeks!

    I hung up our washing and made a frittata in the Weber for lunch. After Gadi finally sorted out the satellite dish we headed off towards town to do another of the car door tours - this time the blue tour past the walk in mine to the cactus nursery.

    Then we made our way to the hot springs where we had to take it in turns to go in as they don’t allow dogs there. The water was scorching hot - 41 degrees! I lasted less than 10 minutes at that temperature but it was lovely to have a soak followed by a shower.

    Back at camp I took my chair and cider in hand and went to join in the communal fire. I chatted, ate nibblies, got to cuddle Pippa, the 9 week old baby belonging to the station owner and I enjoyed the warmth of the well stoked fire.

    Gadi and Cadbury joined me eventually, before we made our way in the dark back to our little home on wheels, parked somewhere in the woods, to eat leftover delicious chicken soup - an easy and light dinner.

    Time now to relax and chill indoors.

    Night night xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Last day in Lightning Ridge

    September 6, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Today is our last day here. This is a town like no other and really needs to be experienced in person. It feels like you are in the Wild West, with mines in the Centre of town and all around, mounds of earth everywhere, rusted old Volkswagens and utes, old mining machinery and real outback characters.

    Ten years ago there were approx. 2,000 miners and today there are only 60 left. As everywhere, this is a town filled with politics and a pecking order and everyone you speak to gives you a different opinion about the issues that continue to plague this outback town. We hear that a new airport will be built that will see tourism increase making Lightning Ridge more accessible to more Aussie and overseas tourists.

    We spent most of today exploring more of Lightning Ridge including the last of the car door tours. We made our way through the opal fields and staked out mines and got out to see the historic open cut mine at Lunatic Hill Open Cut.

    Then we went to see the inside of Amigo’s Castle, as it was closing the other day when we drove by. We learnt all about the history of the castle from Anita, who is partner in the mine with the owner. She told us it was built by Italian man Vittorio Stefanato (nickname Amigo) who had a mine plot but who never got any opal in all his years of digging. Eventually in the 1980s he got bored of opal mining and decided to use the ironstone (found below the mine surface) first from his own mine and then from around town to build a castle. He constructed the castle painstakingly by hand, basing it on images of castles from his home town in Italy, standing on homemade scaffolding as he built the second storey of his never finished dream. The castle was never completed as he was taken to court by the Greenies who claimed he was using stones from the town illegally. The town folk supported him in his legal fight to eventually heritage list that castle to ensure it can never be destroyed.

    We had a quick bite to eat in town and went for a dip at the artesian pool before heading back to Carinya Station fo our last night to join our fellow campers around the fire. A sudden downpour meant we all brought our chairs to the woolshed and we enjoyed an hour of chatting - and I got to cuddle baby Pippa again.

    Time to get back to our little home to make our dinner of barbecued chicken fillets and roast sliced potatoes in the Weber (with a simple side salad) and settle down for the night.

    Hard to believe we’ve been on the road 2.5 weeks already. We are settling into the pace of the nomadic life and starting to lose track of the days now, as time is losing the meaning it has when you are home in your usual home/work routine.

    Here time revolves more around how many days you can get out of your water tanks and your toilet tank before they need refilling/emptying. Oh, and how long until you need bread and milk...and other important supplies (which today included a quick stop to the local bottle shop for some bubbly).

    Things we are definitely not missing back home:

    1. Melbourne peak hour traffic

    2. Routine of life

    3. Stress of every day life

    Good night, time to chill with a bit of TV...now that the satellite dish is working!    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Painted silos, thunder & lightning

    September 7, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Time to pack up this morning and clean the ever present red dust out of our caravan (at least for now) before stopping to say goodbye and thank you to owner Jacinda. We bought some of her lovely fresh farm eggs before leaving Lightning Ridge and heading north out of town.

    We crossed the border into Queensland at Hebel, which consisted of an old character-filled wooden pub with a 24 hour truck fuel pump out the front and a cafe across the road. After stopping to refuel we continued on to Dirranbandi where we stopped on a river bank to make a quick lunch of chicken and salad wraps and stretch our legs. We then made a pit stop at the bakery, butcher and the visitor Centre...yep, more maps!

    Finally, mid afternoon we arrived at our chosen destination for the night at the recreation reserve (with toilets and hot showers kindly provided by the town) in Thallon, directly opposite the stunning painted silos.

    We chilled out this afternoon, pottering around the caravan, Gadi was happy he managed to work out the satellite dish without too much fuss. We made burgers for dinner from the butcher i stopped at earlier (actually they weren’t the greatest...a bit too fatty) and then watched some TV before a huge thunder and lightning storm hit. With our windows wide open to catch any passing breeze, we got to see the electric light show and hear the rumble of the thunder not too far away.

    Another great day on the road today. Each day seems to meld into the one before as we are now in the rhythm of the nomadic life.

    From our little home on wheels somewhere in outback Queensland, we wish you good night xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    The famous Nindigully Pub

    September 8, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Well, today may very well be a record for the shortest number of kilometres driven to our next overnight stop - a total of 34km down the road from Thallon to the nearby Nindigully Pub.

    We’d heard you could camp at the old pub situated on the banks of the Moonie River and we were keen to find a spot along the river bank and go to the pub for happy hour, some live music in the beer garden and a feed at this iconic pub.

    While we didn’t eat the famous 5.5kg road train burger (said to feed at least six people) we did get through large serves of a parma and a chicken carbonara.

    The Gully as it’s commonly called among locals, has the honour of being Queensland’s oldest continuously licensed pub since 1864. Prior to that the building was the original shearer’s quarters for Nindigully Station.

    We found a perfect spot along the river, away from the big red dusty car park next to the hotel and spent the afternoon enjoying the sunshine and the tranquility of the river and chatting to some of our fellow camping neighbours.

    I was in the mood to bake so after putting a pizza into the Weber I baked some choc chip chocolate muffins and a honey cake. Tomorrow is Jewish New Year and although we are far from home we feel that eating some honey cake tomorrow evening and some apple slices dipped in honey well help to symbolize the beginning of what will hopefully be a sweet new year - for us and for all people across the world.

    Around 5ish we headed up to the beer garden at the pub with some of our neighbours and enjoyed some delicious white wine as we ate and listened to local artist Scott Troutman sing soulfully and play guitar as the afternoon sun faded away and was replaced by twinkly fairy lights around the garden.

    And to cap off another lovely day on the road, as we were leaving the pub to walk back to our caravan down on the river, we looked up into the inky black sky and marveled at the millions of stars that were visible up above. Even the Milky Way could be seen clearly against the charcoal backdrop.

    G’night xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Just another day at the Gully

    September 9, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    We’ve decided to stay put for a few days as we are loving being right on the bank of the Moonie River with the iconic Nindigully Pub just a stone’s throw away with important facilities like wine and food, as well as clean toilets and free hot showers provided for campers (gold coin donation requested for the RFDS).

    Today we lazed around, starting with scrambled eggs and toast made in the Weber, which we ate by the river’s edge in the lovely dappled sunlight.

    Gadi went for a kayak and I worked out details on the phone with my mum and our son for their impending visit to Cairns in October where we will have a mini holiday with them for nine days.

    We spent some time in the afternoon sitting in the beer garden with our neighbours listening to singer Loren Ryan (who appeared on The Voice last year and sang a duet “Bootilicious” with Kelly Rowland) belt out tunes accompanied by her partner (and last night’s singer) Scott Troutman.

    Tonight, in our little home on wheels, Gadi and I celebrated Jewish New Year, with a sticky sweet homemade honey cake (yes, baked in the Weber) and some apple slices dipped in honey to symbolize the start of what will hopefully be a sweet start to the Jewish New Year.

    Missing our family particularly tonight (as we usually celebrate with our kids, my mum, sister and family), we made phone calls home to Melbourne and to our family in Israel. It helped to bridge the gap and make us feel a little closer to our loved ones, here and abroad.

    At least we will see our boy and my mum in just a month’s time.

    Night night xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    More chilling at the Gully

    September 10, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today dawned bright and sunny with a perfect forecast of 27 degrees, with a lovely light breeze. We are very happy to be staying here for another day, especially as we are waiting for a parcel we have had sent to the Roma Post Office and it hasn’t arrived yet, so we’d rather hang around here than hang around closer to Roma in a spot nowhere near as pleasant as this one.

    We said goodbye to our neighbours we have been chatting to the last couple of days, and settled down to relax outdoors. I baked a loaf of bread in the Weber (kneading it by hand by the riverbank) as we’ve now run out of bread and wraps.

    Gadi went for a long kayak down the river and Cadbury and I walked along the river bank enjoying the serenity and bird life.

    Tonight we are relaxing in our little home on wheels; we’ve packed up the outside awning and put away the extra table and chairs in readiness for moving on tomorrow. We are heading to Roma and after that, Carnarvon Gorge.

    Night night from the Nindigully Pub xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    Moving On & Battery Testing

    September 11, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today we finally moved from our lovely riverside pub stay at Nindigully Pub. We made our way to St George where we filled up water at the visitor Centre (causing a scuffle of grey nomads who thought we’d pushed in front of them - actually we’d been waiting before them but not on a good angle for swinging in to the tap so we drove out and in again, much to the disgust of the anxious nomads waiting).

    After filling we walked along the river front and then visited a indigenous art gallery and got a personal guided tour of the paintings by the artist as well as an introduction and explanation of the didgeridoo. He played several words in his local tongue using the didgeridoo and then played us a story of a kangaroo hopping along, stopping on alert but eventually being overcome by a wild dog. It was very special to have this one on one tour.

    Next, we crossed the Main Street and visited the Unique Egg, a museum (almost shrine) to the carving of emu eggs by one man, Stavros, who migrated to Australia from Greece many years ago snd settled in St George. He is the only person in the world who makes these carvings, after many years ago picking up an emu egg and discovering the many layers to the shell, which he began gently carving with home made whittling tools. Carving the eggs has become a labor of love and a legacy, as he doesn’t sell them, but is happy for people to view them in his museum. Each egg has a different image carved into it, many celebrating big world events such as Olympic Games, centenaries, presidencies and marriages. He has given gifts of an egg carved specially to Barack Obama (and received an official letter of thanks), among others.

    After a quick stop at a bakery for lunch we filled fuel and discovered there was an auto electrician in town where we spent the next couple of hours having the car and caravan batteries tested (we’ve been having trouble keeping them charged) and an Anderson cable drilled in readiness for our new inverter we are still waiting to arrive at the post office in Roma.

    Cadbury and I went to sit in the shade across the road and waited...and waited...

    Eventually after 5pm (and an invoice for waaay too much money, but we won’t talk about that!) we were finally on our way, albeit very late to be driving on country highways as sunset was almost upon us - and this is the time kangaroos like to stay close to the road as it retains the heat from the day.

    We drove very carefully to the next small town of Surat and made it to the free camp just on dark, both weary from being on kangaroo alert. We drove in, set up the satellite dish (some people are addicted to Survivor!) and heated up leftover chicken curry for a quick dinner.

    That’s all for today. Good night from Surat, Queensland xx    Read more

  • Zo-Mobil Zooms Across OzHeading north and outbackTraveler

    To Roma and Beyond!

    September 12, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We left our campsite in Surat this morning and made our way first to the Shire Hall offices where they have free (and clean) hot showers. Feeling fresh we took it in turns to visit the Cobb and Co Museum (one of us had to stay with Cadbury outside) where we learnt about the history of the surrounding area when the Cobb and Co horse and carts were the life blood of rural outback towns such as Surat. They brought mail and goods, and transported travelers throughout the outback towns, stopping every 25km at various ‘change stations’. These change stations were usually an outback station where the driver could exchange his horses for fresh ones, and travelers could partake of a home made meal made by the lady of the house.

    Next we headed to the large town of Roma. First stop, yes you guessed it - the visitor centre! Behind the centre is the Big Rig (a display including a giant mine shaft headframe explaining the exploration of oil and gas in the region) and nearby is a fully preserved historic hand built miner’s cottage that housed a family of 11.

    We ate salad sandwiches, honey cake and chocolate muffins sitting in parkland along a creek with ducks napping in the sun close by.

    We also visited Roma’s largest bottle tree before it was time for me to do some serious shopping at Woollies. Gadi took Cadbury for a walk and ended up finding a hairdresser to tame his wild hair.

    Putting the shopping away in an already half full fridge was no easy feat! We put it away as quickly as possible, anxious to get on the road again before it got too dark.

    We made it to our next stop at the small town of Injune, just 2 hours away from Carnarvon Gorge. We pulled up to our chosen free campsite at the Injune Rodeo Grounds at around 5.15pm. Enough time to set up, prepare dinner and enjoy a pretty sunset.

    It was still hot when we got here, and for the first time on this trip mosquitoes came out in force. It’s now cooled down nicely and we should have a comfortable night’s sleep.

    From Injune in Queensland, g’night xx    Read more

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