Home again, home again, jidgiddy jig

We spend a night in Hamilton and really enjoyed the scenery of this part of Aust.  They produce a lot of Aust wool clip from the region and the rolling hills and creeks with sheep was beautiful.

We had planned on visiting Ballarat but Jodie was able to secure a job interview back in Sydney for a job close to home and working school hours.  So we drove to Ballarat and then she caught a bus to Melbourne and flew home for a couple of days.  The boys and I visited Sovereign Hill.  We went underground in a gold mine, panned fro gold and saw lots of "old stuff". The boys enjoyed the day and we got back tot he park just before the weather turned a bit on us, it was very cold :-(

Next morning we had to pack up, get to Melb airport and pickup Jodie for a 9am arrival.  We made it but it was an early start.  I'm not sure how many other people drive through the arrivals of Melb airport towing a caravan!  They don't have a lot of caravan parking !!

We headed over to the coast near Lakes Entrance to a little place Lake Tyler.  Off the highway it would be the ideal summer holiday location.  Again the van park was empty so the we had free run of the place and the owners helped us cut firewood, as we bunkered down for another cold and windy night.  Im not sure what we did to the weather gods, but it was soo cold and windy.  We couldn't really enjoy the beach or the lake or even the pool!

The next day we visited Eden and saw the killer whale museum.  It told an amazing story of "Old Tom".  A killer whale who learnt to work with the whale hunters and assisted them.  Even down to helping to pull the rope of the harpoon to slow down the doomed Balleen whale.  In return the whalers would leave the carcass for the whales to eat the lips and tongue (up to 4ton of tongue!) before they beached the whale and cut if up for whale blubber.  We learnt that the space shuttle still uses a oil made from whale, the only whale product that hasn't been able to be made by other means or synthetically. We camped this night just outside of Eden in the state forest.  The road signs are starting to mention Sydney now...we can sense home is near!

We explored a number of the south coast towns and they are all beautiful.  This part of NSW is very clean, very not commercial and incredibly beautiful.  We finally stopped at Tuross Heads for the night.  We tried to fish again in several places but continued my failures when it comes to fishing.  Poor Finlay the mad keen fisherman hasn't landed anything the whole trip, I feel very guilty.

Our last night was spent in Nowra, where we stopped at a riverside retreat place.  It was well off the highway and the further we drove to more dubious we became.  It suddenly dawned on us that this place might be a "clothing optional" park!!  We arrived and the place was empty, so we setup camp right by the banks of the Shoalhaven River.  Callum is scared of the prospect of sharks, so was very brave to "cannon ball" off the wharf into the water.  When he touched something slimy on the bottom though he nearly walked on water to get out!

We visited my grandad in Wollongong the next day before finally arriving home in the afternoon.

We had driven 14,400 km in 60 days, crossed NSW,QLD, NT, SA and Vic.

A once in a lifetime trip, but one that has opened up a number of new places we cant wait to go back and spend more time at, although we might fly and hire a car!!

Damn it's cold down south!

We were lucky in Alice Springs and Uluru and got very mild weather only reaching mid twenties in the day. But as we headed south it never got any warmer! There isn't much from Alice Springs south down into SA. First lesson learnt was if you think that the Alice and the Rock are anywhere near each other they aren't ! It is a bit like staying in Newcastle to go and visit the War memorial in canberra! U drive 200km south then turn west for another 200km. At the end of the stay at Yulara you turn back and drive the same 200 km back to the highway!

Finlay takes after Jodie when we go for walks to lookouts, if it's cool and not too many flies everything is fine. But if it's hot, steep and lots of flies watch out on the tantrums from both of them.....  The Boys and I rode our bikes around the base of "The Rock" and we learnt about aboriginal western desert hunting.

We drove hard and made about 600 km each day past the border and down through SA to Port Augusta. From here we offloaded the red dust from everything and had our first shower with soft water in a long time and also drank cold cold water not luke warm!

Next stop was Port Lincoln where we had heard good things about fishing and feeding tuna. The fishing charters were all not happening on the days we needed and so my crap fishing continued, much to my disappointment and frustration.

While we now had a spare day we drove to Coffin Bay. I have never seen water so blue. The National Park there was spectacular, and the place reminded us of Nelson Bay BEFORE the boom. So pretty. It's on the list of places to revisit.

Coffin Bay NP

Tuna feeding

 The tuna trip was also postponed by a day but turned out to be awesome.We met the boat and drove 15 mins out to the tuna pen which is basically a 45 m diameter net floating in the bay and holds hundreds of tuna while they fatten them up for the Japanese to buy. We got to dress in wet suits and all have a swim in with the tuna. Good idea but 16 degrees water temp made Fin decide he wasn't going to get too wet. The water was cold and each time you put your face in it took your breath away but so too did the massive tuna. Average fish was 40kg and they would swim past and grab the bait right from your hand!! Very impressive stuff. We left after a sausage sizzle and got a tour of the waterfront and it's history. A great trip. We camped roadside that night and made our way to Adelaide. We only did a drive through Adelaide saw some lovely houses and had lunch at Glenelg before heading out of town.

I've heard of the Adelaide Hills and may possibly have heard of fires in the "Hills" but we didn't quite know how they were going to affects us. We drove up the hills at 60 with everyone including B-double trucks passing us. We watched on as the fuel gauge plummeted. We were trying to make it all the way to the Coorong,  but it was getting late and the boys wanted to get out of the car, so we stopped for the night at a 2 star caravan park, wow. It was a eye opener. I think we had it better at some of our roadside stops.

Having heard about the Coorong region we wanted to see it first hand, it was full of wildlife and large sand dunes and lots of water. This night we stayed in the national park, again it said 2wd access but they could've smoothed the road a little. Mark went beach fishing and hooked a sting ray but didn't land it.

Crossed the Border into Victoria today, passing through the most stunning country side. The Casterton and Hamilton area are really very pretty but the temperature can rise anytime now. I think we're losing our tans from the north with all this long sleeve and long pants business. Since we'll be getting home early we're going to spend a week in Hawks Nest to relax.....

A Town Called Alice

We spent a week in Darwin which included Mark going on a fishing charter, boys and I going to the movies, all of us going to the Darwin Aviation Museum which holds only 1 of 2 B52 bombers outside of America, very impressive. On the Monday, we put the car into get fixed and had to spend the day in the city. Which wasn't a hard thing to do as we filled our time by feeding fish and going to the wavepool, and to all the mum's the life guards are very outstanding. The boys loved the pool and all of them tried to ride the boogie boards out to Mark who would help them catch some waves in.

Tuesday came and we took our hire boat for 1 & 1/2 hour drive to Corroborree Billabong, had trouble launching the boat and we had to ask the man in the next boat to help, we set out and had breakky on the water and Mark tried to fish for Barramundi but was unsuccessful with 3 boys trying to help. After breakky we headed up stream and saw at least 8 crocodiles in the water and the bird life and the flora was just amazing.

Corroborree Billabong

Wednesday we left Darwin and headed south for Litchfield National Park, we had a swim and lunch at Wangi Falls rock pool, no crocs in this one. It was beautiful and we even got game enough to jump from the rocks into the water right next to the falls. And back to Katherine for the night. It was 37 degrees at 6pm.

We have decided to travel back to Sydney via the centre as we would've run out of time, so we drove and stopped to have lunch near Newcastle Waters and the temperature dropped to a balmy 19.5 degrees so we didn't hang around long there and drove again until we got near Tennant Creek and stayed at a place called The Pebbles. It was very pretty and secluded, until some other people showed up right on dusk. The stars in the sky were nothing like I'd ever seen before. I saw 2 shooting stars and if I knew about astronomy I'd be wetting my pants.

Drove and drove again the next day, but we did stop a few times to see some things like the Devil's Marbles, and the UFO centre at Wycliffe Wells (strange place). We arrived in Alice Springs to find out the Masters Games we being held here and as we asked at the information centre if we'd have any problem finding accommodation she said no, and this time she was right. But there are lots of old fit people around here.

The view.......

My dad gave us a tip, to visit the Alice Springs Desert Park, the boys loved it and we saw an awesome birds of prey display. Mark's mum gave us a tip, to visit the School of the Air. Not such a hit with the boys as they thought they were going to be taught some school work while we were there! Mark and I found it very interesting and Byron's comment tonight was I hope they haven't put a school fence up around them. It only has 131 students and it's the world's largest classroom with 1900klms between 2 students in the same "class". We all climbed the hill behind the caravan park this afternoon, the view was just breathtaking. The boys climbed all the way without complaining!!!! If anyone has been to Alice it's the mountain range where the Gap is and the highway goes through it to head south.

Heading on south to Uluru and Kata Tjuta National Park, we'll stay a couple of nights there and explore the area a bit. We have purchased a couple of things while we've been travelling, which include 2 pieces of artwork, 1 which is rolled up in a tube that is about 1.8 mtrs long and we had to get very creative with it's travelling spot. The other is still on the frame which we bought it and its about 1200 x 600...mmmm where to put that one??? It lays on the top bunk while we drive and until the boys go to bed. The boys have been warned about touching or moving it, let's see if they listen to that one.

The final thing we have bought is a beautiful little puppy dog, her name is Jesse and she's a Lab x Kelpie. Mark doesn't have to drive to Melbourne this time to get her, BUT he now has to drive to Caloundra another 1600 klms round trip when we get back. Kids and I'll stay home for that drive.

Kakadu and Darwin

One thing we have learnt on the trip is to ask a few places the same questions and join the answers to get a better one! Tourist info centers are all run by lovely friendly ladies who tell you various stories and give advice which sometimes works and not others times!! On the down side we have been sent to a swimming hole that was full of blue green algae even the kids wouldn't get it. We were sent to a dam that had us driving through a bushfire and then in Kakadu we were sent to Gunlom falls.

The Boys at the biggest termite mound we found

This is about 40 km off the main highway and as it turned out is recommended for 4wd only. The road has the worst corrogations I've ever seen. We rattled and shook our way along and the poor van bottomed out on creek crossings and shook to death! We made it and the ranger looked with amazement as he commented "well u got it in here so u should be able to get it back out!"

The top of Gunlom Falls in the Dry

The falls were very pretty and although they say there are crocs possible they also tell you how to dive and not to bang your head while you are swimming. Also the lady at the info centre said it would be ok.........

We spent the night there and then drove onto Jabiru. The cultural centers in Kakadu are very good and facilities are all well done. We climbed a lookout in the heat of the day with the boys... That was a challenge for all as it was over 37 degrees and a bit more humid!

We are now in Darwin and staying here for a week. The car is still causing problems so we hope to sort them out. We visited the Mindle Markets on Thursday evening. I think every person in Darwin was there!! They had a huge variety of hot food on offer and with the sun set and beach setting it was a good way to grab some food and check out all the stalls.

We have booked a boat to hire on Tuesday so hope to see a croc on Corroboree billabong and maybe catch an elusive barra!!

We are into the Never Never....

Our last night in Mt Isa, Finlay fell backwards from his chair and came together with his bike.  Instant blood sprayed down his neck and after some cleanup we had a 8mm gash cleaned up and the bleeding sorted!

We hit the road and headed off from Mt Isa and headed towards the border. It was hard driving as we were driving into a very strong head wind and it was at least 40 degrees, the car didn't like this.  The air conditioner cuts out when it starts to warm up and then even with the A/C off, it continued to over heat.  We had tried to get this fixed in Mt Isa, but something was very not right.

Crossed the border and stayed in a rest area for the night. Not very interesting but the storm during the night had us up at 2.30 trying to batten down the hatches.

Fin and Cal at a road side "free camp"

Next day was a big drive of about 550 kms boys did well, watched a couple of dvd's and played ipods most of the way as there was absolutely nothing to see. When we did stop for the night, the township of Elliott was not quite as we imagined.  Without knowing the locals and not knowing what is "normal", we got spooked and when the van park looked closed or maybe badly run down, we decided to push on.  We drove another 150kms to Daly Waters.  A very strange pub in the middle of no where, with the most eccentric things on the walls of this very "rustic" pub.  The atmosphere was great though, very friendly, lots of people there and with the AFL grand final in the last qtr as we arrived a great fun atmosphere.  And the Swannies won!

The next morning we awoke at 3am to the sound of mozzies.  In a moment of stupidity we didnt check the van before bed and we all got smashed by a total of 15 mozzies, who bit us all over.  It is stupidly hot so sleeping uncovered left us at their mercy, and how do I know it was 15....I lined them up as we killed em!  Some mortein and quick hands sorted the mozzies and the Calamine lotion came to our rescue again.

We found ourselves in Mataranka by mid morning.  We had heard this is where the NT really starts to get interesting.  We had been told to try to get to the thermal pool at the homestead.  On arrival, there were bus loads of tourists and mostly back packers.  We all trudged down a board walk through a fruit bat colony.  The smell was ordinary and when we get to the pool, it was full of people and besides the variety of bodies on show, the bats made us decide there must be a nicer place!!

We drove a short distance and found "4mile", a spot further down the river.  It was beautiful.

4 Mile - Mataranka Pools

We made our way then onto Katherine and the Shady Lane park, just out of town.  We had heard it has the best toilets in Australia!  They are right!  We have spent two nights here and this morning discovered Katherine Gorge.  Again, you drive for hours without seeing anyone, you stay in a 80% empty van park then turn up at a tourist attraction and there are a million people there!!  We went on a 2 hour boat trip of the 2 gorges and it was a very impressive sight.

We purchased our tickets for Kakadu park today and hope to head there tomorrow.

It is looking more and more likely that we will not try to drive through WA but rather come south through Alice Springs into SA.  The opportunities for things for the boys to do and see are not what we thought and WA is a long way without much for them to do.  By come south through Alice Springs we effectively get some time back which takes the pressure off the time we can spend at places.

Aboriginals

In various towns but especially in the NT, we have seen lots of aboriginals.  In some places they are a minority and are not obvious.  In other towns they are dominate and appear to be everywhere.  We have needed to explain to the kids that they have very dark skin but apart from that are just like us.  They have asked some questions about why they are there but in the large have just accepted it as normal.
So why am i writing this........

It intrigues me how the society of the aboriginals works in these townships.  We all hear about the NT intervention some years ago, we know the stereo type of drinking and violence (including sexual violence) towards men, women and children.  But how does this play out, where and what does it all mean...

When we drive into a town, we see aboriginal men, women and kids all over the place.  They are sitting in small groups under any piece of shade, where ever this might be.  In some cases they are sitting besides the toilet waste dump point, other times in the garden bed in front of the shops on the main street, other times at the local parks.  Generally they are not doing anything, just sitting quietly and watching the world go around.

We have seen pubs surrounded by men, all hanging around outside.  To be honest these places look pretty scary....but should they.  No one is really doing anything but hanging around.

You get some horror stories of violence that people have witnessed against women and men.  You hear some shouting at night, or a hooning car last night.  But that's not all that unusual for a Sat night anywhere.

The local McDonalds has lots of low paid jobs and skilled workers but has vacancies and not one aboriginal worker.......why?  The boat trip on the Katherine gorge is driven and commentated by an Aboriginal man, who was excellent, witty, funny and very professional.  We went to look at art work today and the average price was over $1000 and one piece was being sold for $16K.

So what is this all about.  I don't understand aboriginal society.  How do they have time to be sitting around? Where and when do they work?  Where and how do they afford to live/stay?  What are the issues of alcoholism and violence today compared to before?  Do the alcohol and pornography bans help?  What can or should we be doing?  How do we find out more?   Is there really any issue?............................................. Mark

byron fun so far

So far i have had more fun than a kid playing footy.We are now in Katherine shady lane caravan park.Cool pool really shady so i guess that's why they call it shady lane.We have gone to waterhole awesome.

Caravan parks and squid those are the best things so far.PS. I liked the mine tour!!!!!Airle beach was the best.It had two waterslides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In my opinion if you are travelling around QLD with kids go to the big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort.











So do that.Byron is going to be back but for now i'm out.

Callum's experience of the trip so far

Around Australia around Australia wahoo. We've traveled and traveled to Queensland outback.The sunset is sensational on the river.The flies are unbelievable.Fire everywhere rings of fire on hills.My mum wanted us too have a swim too many bees and weed so no swimming. We ate a massive finger bun. Byron and I went in a mine with a tour guide he gave us one hundred$worth of copper:)Oh so sad Finlay didn't get one hundred$worth of copper Na just kidding he didn't get too go down to the mine,ha!!got you didn't I:):):):)

Head West Young Man....

Headed off over the Atherton Tablelands (Great Dividing Range), was hard going on the car as some of the hills were quite steep. When we got to the top there were a few waterfalls, first one we stopped at was a 2.6 klm walk.....not. We drove on to another one, got the boys out of the car with reluctance and whinging and it was a disappointing as far as waterfalls go. The we finally got a really decent one, and some decent photos.

Boys at bottom of Ellinjaa Waterfall

Byron performing on the out door stage at Undara Tubes

 Later in the afternoon, and a huge change in landscape, from lush tropical rain forest to scrub savannah. The road was now flat and the air was hot. We had planned on visiting the Undara Lava Tubes, but by the time we got there all we had was 3 hot and bothered boys and none of them looked excited about going on a 2 hour tour! We opted for the much shorter self drive and walk around an extinct volcano. The walk up the side was hot and hard work but once up on the rim there was a beautiful breeze and beautiful views.

We stayed in Mt Surprise that night and headed out early the next morning, we got to Croydon at lunch time.

Boys cooling off.

We visited Lake Belmore just north of Croydon and had a cooling dip in the water, none of us swam outside the netting as there was a sign for fresh water crocodiles!!! Traveled  up to Normanton for the night and we picked the only van park with a pool so the boys could go swimming but they got asked to get out early as the pool needed maintenance. 

We got to Karumba early the next morning and it is a cute little fishing town, the lady told me that some people come and stay there for the dry season (March till September) just to fish. We witnessed our first sunset over the water and it was very special. So special we decided to do it again the next night.

Mark went on a fishing charter to try and catch some Barramundi but came back early very disappointed. Not even a bite.

Sunset Day 1

The best viewing place for the sunsets was the pub. Lucky for us....

Sunset Day 2

 We traveled along towards Cloncurry but stopped at a rest stop for the night. The flies were so bad even though it was 40 degrees in the shade, we all put long pants and long sleeve shirts on so they would leave us alone. We made a fire and cooked some fish that someone from Karumba had given us. It was beautiful.





We drove the next day into Cloncurry, then onto Mount Isa. We had heard reports of the highway being closed due to smoke. We got through okay but the mountains on both sides we burning, a little bit away from the road.It was impressive.

Smoke seen on the way into Mt Isa

After arriving in town we set up the van, Mark, Byron and Callum went on a tour of the underground mine. The boys tell me it was very noisy and a bit scary, they had lots of machines to show and a demonstration of a mine explosion. After the tour we planned a trip to the local lake for a refreshing dip was in order, along the way there were fires on this road as well, but much closer that we expected. When we got to the lake it was a bit yucky for swimming and we didn't end up going in 

Today we are getting the car serviced and have to hang around for the day, hopefully tomorrow we'll be back on the road heading for Tennant Creek. That's if the flies don't carry us away......

North Queensland Coast

Well, we found a few interesting things to do this week. After our night by the railway tracks we woke and got on the road early. Wasn't hard to get the kids going as there was nothing to distract them from the packing!!!! We only drove a relatively short way, and found a Crocodile Sanctuary and saw heaps of crocs, the boys fed the kangaroos and whistling ducks. They had a talk on Cassowaries and then Mark and the other people got to feed them through the fence. We got up close and personal with a wombat.

Byron held the Lorikeet

Pushing on to Townsville, and got to the aquarium called Reef HQ. We saw the sick turtles in the turtle hospital and then looked around the aquarium and the boys had a great time. After the aquarium we went to the foreshore area which had a water play area that we closed for the day, so we missed out on that one.

Finlay at ReefHQ

We started back on the road and found another free camp and the boys found a new friend, it's the first family we've come across. Boys very upset by having a second night in a free camp as it means we don't have electricity and can't charge the i-pods!!! Therefore the world will end, mum.

Bush walking, watching out for cassowaries and feeding fish are all part of the adventure in a walk in a north Queensland rain forest. Oh and don't forget the humidity!!

Mark and I at National Park, Mission Beach

Kurrimine is where we are currently staying, nice little van park and after 2 nights free camping we can charge i-pods, i-pads, i-phones and laptops. Not to mention catching up on the laundry, showers and shopping. We went to Pantonella Park a tourist attraction near Innisfail, the park was created by a guy in the 1930's very different, it reminded me of a Vietnamese temple. The park was lovely and the pub lunch after it was so nice.

Kuari Tree Avenue

We are off to the Undara Lava Tubes tomorrow, and start heading west. Just heard the weather report for Normanton, 37 degrees!!!!!!

Week 2

So at the end of another week, the boys have had a great time, while Mum and Dad flew off to Fiji!

We made it to Airlie Beach after a night at Australia's largest privately owned caves, known imaginatively as "The Capricornica Caves".  These caves include an under ground chapel where you can come and get married amoungst the caves, bats and bat poo - guano!

The Boys at The Caves

The boys Nana and Grandpa flew in to Airlie Beach and we checked into the Big 4, Airlie Beach.  The boys describe it as having "a giant chess set, two water slides (Grandpa thinks they went on these over 200 times:-)), a massive jumping pillow, miniature golf, a big pool, spa, play ground, volley ball, ping pong, movie theatre and basket ball quarter court!

The boys made it on a cruise of the barrier reef islands and visited, Daydream Island, White Haven beach, which as the whitest and smoothest sand in the world! and Hamilton Island.  They swam at the beach and patted sting rays and manta rays!  They saw a "massive shark" .

Fiji - South Sea Island...

Meanwhile Jodie and I lazed around Fiji!  We found it was very commercial and while if you want to sit at a beautiful resort and do nothing, it was perfect.  We spent a day on a cruise of the islands and snorkelled on the reef.  I went on a fishing trip on the next day and despite being on one of the best fishing places in the Pacific, we successfully caught nothing....looks like I know the places to go to not catch fish all over the Pacific!  We met lots of interesting people from UXC and it all worked out very well.

Glad to be back home we flew into Proserpine this morning and met Nana and Grandpa.  We had only 10 minutes to hand over before they had to rush off to the airport to fly back home.  After a big pack up we hit the road again and drove to Rose Bay Beach at Bowen.  Wow a beautiful beach, and no one around us, it was great.  We had lunch and then went for a fish on the rocks.  We ended up landing 3 squid from the rocks.  Having never caught squid before this was very exciting for me, after fishing for the past 2 weeks and landing nothing!!   The squid made every attempt to escape and concluded with squirting Callum across the eyes with a blast of black ink!!  It was an amazing shot, right across both eyes with thick, goey, black ink!

Rose Bay Beach Bowen...looks like Fiji!

We have stopped tonight at a road side stop between a row of shows and a railway line at Home Hill, just out of Ayr.  We hope to get to Innisfail and then across to Normanton during this next week.

Time to go to bed.

M,J,B,C,F

And we are on the road.....

After lots of planning and dreaming we are finally on the road.  Its the end of the first week and we need to put up a post to update our adventures.

We have had to move quickly to get to Airlie Beach, as I was fortunate to win a free trip to Fiji, which had to be taken on 12th September.  So in the days leading up to our leaving date we needed to arrange how or what to do with 3 small boys, while Jodie and I flew to Fiji for 4 days! A good problem to have but still a logistical challenge.  We have asked my mum and dad to fly up to Airlie Beach and found a great park up there for them to stay.  Fingers crossed its as good as the website shows it!

This has meant our first week and half needs to be moving fairly quickly and at the same time learning what the hell we are doing!  We have made it to 1770, a beautiful town just south of Gladstone.  So far we have only stopped overnight in each place and have done lots of driving.  We are now settled here in 1770 for a couple of nights.

So far we have stayed at a family farm, the front lawn of Pop Bobs, the side of the road at a state forest, the newest van park in Aust, a dam and some less than new van parks!

While at the farm the boys had a ball, riding a quad bike, help move and tag cattle. Then watch as the truck came and took them to market. Callum got to steer the quad bike with Glen's help and Finlay got on after a bit of reluctance and when they drove past he yelled out to us "So long suckers!!"

The boys got to see Australia Zoo.  It is an amazing place, very easy to get around and interesting.  Steve Irwin has done an amazing job.  It was interesting that despite my dislike of his over enthusiasm, I was touched with emotion reading about his achievements for the environment and seeing his legacy carry on.  How long till Bindie has a internet video like Paris, i wonder ;-)

As we have moved north it has thankfully gotten warmer and its now swimming weather and sunscreen.  The fishing has been a challenge and so far the count stands at 3 attempts, no fish bothered.:-(

We have seen a range of different landscapes, from huge flat paddocks out near Moree, that you can't see the other side of, through to rough mountain roads covered in leaves and sticks.  The boys played mini putt putt today at the Lake Monduran Dam and have been excellent with the long driving days.  Most days we have driven for 4 to 6 hours, although today was a short hop of only 2 hours.  They are busy watching DVDs, playing Ipods and arguing.  We can tell when it gets to about 2 hours, as the "quiet" in the back is broken by bickering.

The next few days should get us to Airlie Beach, where the boys will spend 5 nights, exploring the Great Barrier reef and neighboring islands.

Mark, Jodie, Byron, Callum and Fin

The Snow

In what we plan to be our last "practice" trip, we drove to Jindabyne and Perisher for the weekend.
Leaving Friday and making our way to Jindabyne we were surprised by how warm it was...until the sunset!  Then the temperature plummitted and we were thankful for the heater we took with us.

We had tested the vans air conditioner and it failed before we left home, so we took an oil filled electric heater with us.  We needed to find all the airleaks (like the vent in the door) and blocked these off to stop the cold air getting in.  It was cosy and warm.

During the first night it dropped to minus 7 and so the morning brought a white lanscape of frost, like the boys had never seen before.  They ran onto the tennis court and found that the puddle of water from the day before was now a slippery ice patch, they all fell over!

We drove up to Perisher and being the middle of the school holidays, we weren't the only people with this great idea!  The car park extended back to Smiggin Holes...glad we got there early.

The boys rode toboggans down the slope, slipping and sliding their walk back to the top, but the weather was perfect, infact they all got too hot and striped off layers.  After lunch we found a slope over behind the resort which was untouched power snow and playyed their rolling down the slope and generally being idiots!!

Packing up early morning was interesting with the water hose firmly frozen to the van and then completly full of ice and the awnings both rock hard with ice on both underside and top!

We made our way to a Trout farm on the road back to Cooma and fished in the "sure catch" pond.  Idea is that 500 trout in a small pond must be easy to catch....yeah right.  After nearly 2 hours and on the last cast we finally landed a rainbow trout.  Finlay was beside himself, he is our mad fisherman.

Back to Canberra and then home on the Monday.

Easter weekend

So with a plan to explore the state central west over the Aust long weekend washed out, we headed south to Yass on Friday with the van packed and the boys very excited.  Hitting traffic at Narellan only 35 mins from home the first call of "are we there yet" hit home!

We lunched in Yass and found a great little park next to the Visitor centre.  The contrast of Sydney crappy traffic and country roads was awe inspiring.

We drove onto Boorowa, stopping along the way to visit a tiny road side cemetery and read some very old head stones and stretch our legs.  The van park in Boorowa was a help yourself to a spot park, with pet friendly and while it was clean and tidy there was nothing really for the kids and so we pushed onto Young.

The welcome at the Young van park was friendly and country, the suggestion that "kids couldnt stay there and would have to wait in the cage" was met with great laughter...just!  Again within minutes the boys had met the local kids and were off playing with the walkie talkies.  We bought these cheap at Dick Smith and planned to use them to help get the van into the right parking spots and our narrow driveway at home.
While Jodie and I relaxed with too many drinks on Friday night the kids ran amok and had a great time.

The next day we headed off to the Young Chinese gardens and had lunch there before driving to Cowra in the afternoon.  The boys were fascinated with the huge bronze lions in the dragon and the ducks were a hit also.

Young Chinese Gardens

We found that finding all the van parks in a town is not as easy as you would think.  We pulled into a full looking van park in the center of town on the river.  The guy who directed us to our spot was the most un friendly, non customer focused person we had met.  Clearly not from the friendly country folk school of thought, he barked orders and took over to guide us back into the tiny spot.  The park was well setup, but the night time noises of drunks going home over the bridge and the steel plate on the bridge wore thin by 2am.  We had decided to go to Jenolan caves the next day and left very early.

By 11am we were at Oberon and called friends of our who were staying on a farm nearby.  We met then drove to the most beautiful and inspiring farm on the banks of the dam.  The landscape looks amazing with all the recent rain and we left the van to drive the narrow road into Jenolan caves, with our friends.  Apparently we weren't the only people thinking Jenolan was a good place to visit as we joined hundreds of other visitors.  we were parked a long way from Caves house and bused down the hill.  The ticket queue for a cave tour was daunting, so we ate some food and walked through the archway and back up to the cars.

Back at the farm we went fishing and then I got the royal tour of the property, all 1800 acres, it was impressive!  The boys had a chance to fish in the lake, drive motor bikes and after Byron got brave, so did I and for the first time in my life drove a motorbike up and down the driveway!  Great people, thank you for the opportunity to see your farm.

We finished dinner and took the kids down to the waters edge and had a bon fire and set off fireworks, before siting back and freezing to death, it was a cold night, but a great day.

Heading off early to get back over the mountains we were home by lunchtime.

barlings beach day 2 day 3

So we didn't  catch any fish so what we still had fun catching seaweed because Quinn  thought he had a fish but
he had seaweed. Then we went back and callum,ben,peter,mark and riley went for a bushdrive and had to push a big rock off the road and it hit a stump then it

Isabella and Finlay