Hobart

Seems I have struck unusually damp weather here. Fortunately a friend looked after me while getting the ute clutch done. I managed to do a 100 page photobook ( the first 18 months of my travels) and send it off for printing while it was too miserable to go sightseeing.

 Camped in the bush way up on a hill towards Kingston at The Lea Scout bush camp for a couple of days while I had a new radio installed. It does NOT pay to put in the wrong security code too often or you get locked out of the radio and a major job to get sorted. I really do need an instruction book for the ute! Good thing I needed a new radio anyway and ended up getting new speakers as well. The young blokes probably dont get too many people who want just basic speakers, and just a basic radio, but I do now have a USB hub, a CD player that doesnt 'jump' and hopefully much better reception for 'outback' radio!

Drove up to Mt Wellington. A very long narrow steep winding road to get there and so many nervous drivers who didnt leave much room. To say nothing of meeting a bus! Spectacular views but very cold and a strong wind.

 Hobart is a pretty town with lovely old buildings. Very hilly and narrow streets but some good main roads. Great fish meals along the wharf. Lovely old wooden boats.

Did try the award winning Lark Whiskey but at $160 a bottle I resisted the temptation to buy it. Then paid half that for a liqueur  in a bottle half the size! They probably do very well from all the people who come off the cruise ships and wander around the port for the day. Saw a different ship nearly every day for a week.

Stopped at  Snug CP a night then down to the camp at Gordon. Found a spot right beside the beach. What a great camp. New toilets, but no water. So many here going to the Hobart Wooden Boat Festival. Lots of boats going up the channel. Drove back up to Kettering then across to Cygnet through apple orchards absolutely laden with fruit.
Cygnet is a lovely old town. Got a few groceries, drove around the bay a bit then back to Gordon. Was given a fresh flathead to cook for lunch. Yum.
Next stop was Shipwrights Point near Geeveston. srove from there down to Southport, and Ida but decided I didnt feel like sitting for 2 hours on a little open train so back to the Tahune Airwalk. Once again not feeling like doing the tourist thing after what felt like a very long drive with some nasty potholes. Did a trip up to Kingston and Huonville as well. Beautiful bays everywhere and some wonderful old boats. Just not many places to get of the roads for photos!
Back at Hobart for a night then off towards Port Arthur.

Zeehan, Strahan, Queenstown, New Norfolk

So pleased I decided to go to the Museum at Zeehan. I don't usually bother but this had a great display of rocks, crystals, mining info etc. Makes you realise just how amazing Mother Nature really is when you see her works displayed so well. 

Out the back of the museum a board walk takes you to the Masonic Lodge. the door is OPEN and all is on display. Very interesting. Next to that is the old police station then on to the Gaiety Theatre and art gallery. An excellent film about the region, mining and tourism runs in the theatre. Well worth watching. What a great way to link the historical buildings in the town and kudos to the people who thought about it.

Good road through to Strahan. Stopped at the golf club. $10 p/n to stay there. Had a look around this lovely old port town but it is quite touristy. It seems that every second cottage is now rented for holidays, and there are several cafes, boat/helicopter/plane tours from the waterfront. 

Went out to Ocean Beach - so glad I didn't take the caravan as the end of the road is quite small and really only suited to campervans. Found the very old cemetery on top of a hill, then up to the water tower lookout. There is only one grocery shop and  one fuel place (a bit hard to get in to) so stocked up.

On to Queenstown. Nice drive although still hills everywhere. Found the Gravel Oval  - they play on this grit - but decided to go on to Lake Burbury. Climbed up the 99 curves through the desolate landscape. They have worked out how to get vegetation to grow again it seems. Photo does not show how steep and windy it is but got there just fine.
Missed the turn to the Lake Burbury camp so on to the council camp ground. $5 p/n but no caretaker so checked it out and decided not to stay either.  Met a couple there who had been in to another camp – Thureau so went the 6km back to there. Had lunch but decided not to stay. Sloping ground and small area.

 More mountains, and area of bad fire. Must have been fast through the manuka. No leaves but the wood still standing. Collingwood camp – who knows what is there. I think the road has been closed on one side. A short tight bit of road in to there so didnt investigate. 

 On to Derwent Bridge. Missed the sharp turn to the boat ramp so turned at the lodge and back in  via another rather overgrown track. Was feeling really grumpy by now as I have scratched the van a bit  but did find the little  camping area. Went for a walk and decided there was no where else. May have to go back the way I came in as the turn to the highway is very sharp. Spent 2 peaceful days beside the river. 3 lots with kids the second night but they were fine. Plenty to entertain them along the banks. Fish jumping!

To Bradys Lake. Missed ‘the wall’ just out of Derwent Bridge. Much easier drive now – out into farmland. Checked out B
ronte village. Pretty rundown chalets etc but used the loo there. Info bloke at the store didn’t seem overly friendly. Rough road – sealed to the store then dirt.

Spent 2 cloudy, damp and cool days at Bradys lake. Found a nice waterside spot. A few others here.  Hobart has had its heaviest rain in years last night and more forecast all over Tasmania so will stay here again.  No radio or internetL Read so much my eyelids are ‘ticking’

Another grey day so off to Tarraleah. Long winding road down through very tall trees to the hydro station at Nive river rest area. Water piped from canals high above on both sides. Tarraleah is a little old hydro town set high above the gorge with tavern, Caravan Park, lodge – aiming for the wedding market I am told. On to Wayatinah Caravan Park. Another little hydro town. Still no internet so paid $2 for their access. Only $15 p/n for me and busy. Lots of bookings I gather. Had unlimited internet for a while so a bit of a catch-up. Rained again!

 Drove through Ouse to Bethune camp. Mob of dairy cows on the road so a bit splattered! Drove over the causeway and turned sharp at the top of the rise through a tight gateway. Bit sloped but found a spot and unhooked. Into Hamilton to empty loo and swap gas bottle. Only a pub/café there. Good coffee, curry scallop pie. Curry overpowered the scallop so a bit of a disappointment.  Small free camp but great park and facilities above it. Paddock opp the pub is terraced for self contained units I gather. Back to Ouse for fuel and groceries. More wind and rain but at least I have TV and internet – and radio!  

I had hoped to go sight seeing but another blustery squally day so read, TV etc. yuk! Got up in the middle of the night and put the feet down - was worried that I would get blown off my blocks. Time for a CP I think so now at New Norfolk for a couple of days civilisation. Must be a big place - have seen 2 car yards already.
Will be around Hobart for a week or so - have to get the clutch done on the ute. Fortunately there is a lovely Grey nomad friend down here who has been a 'life saver' for me with recommendations etc.

To Lake McIntosh

Spent a night at at Gowrie. Heavy rain during the night. Lots camped there. Decided not to unhook the van and do the day trip to Cradle Mountain from the Gowrie camp - and very pleased I made that decision. I would have had to take that VERY windy road three times if I had done the 45 min (?) trip!!!!! The road winds way down to the River Firth then all the way back up. 1st & 2nd gear most of the way towing the van. Will do Cradle Mountain another time. 

Stopped at Black Bluff overlooking Lake Lea.  A large conservation area of native grasses. The vegetation certainly has an alpine feel about it - and the wind was cold! Cradle Mountain in the distance.

There was a farm of sorts along the plateau. Lots of trees have been cut and there was some fencing. Interesting that they use more wires here  and the new fences have steel battens - like NZ to keep sheep under control?

Came across an area of some sort of conifer with brilliant orange/red new growth.

About 7km of gravel roads ready for sealing once I turned onto the Murchison Highway. I was expecting truck rest areas - or ANY rest areas but nothing so far. But then the distances are not great between towns - just takes a long time to get there! I have to remember that 2 inches on the map may only be 50 km rather than the 250 km in WA. The roads do not have wide verges either so no where to pull over easily. All a new learning curve for me.

Out to Lake Mackintosh for a few days. Very pretty hydro dam. Had to drive across a narrow dam wall then down over a spillway. The lake is very full and if it spills we will be stuck here. A local tells me they will come and warn us to move if that is likely to happen. There is an island which is accessible for camping when the lake is lower.

I have been warned about Jumping ants and tiger snakes, and the mossies found me fast! BUT - it is quiet and pretty. Not sure if I will be brave enough to go swimming as some of the campers here are doing! Water is quite cool!
Shifted after talking to some locals. Around the corner at the end of the road beside another dam wall. On sealed area - dry and clean and totally silent at night. Seemed a shame to be at a lake with no view so this is heaven.Spent 3 peaceful days there. Went to Rosebery for fuel and checked out Lake Murchison. Saw a snake on a gravel road there. No where to camp though.
Next stop was Reece Dam. When a local tells you the road out to there is all FLAT for the large trucks taking gear out to build the dam he means NO CAMBER as opposed to no hills! Still - a very nice drive and not as steep as the road to Rosebery. Talking to some campers when I arrived  who suggested I didnt come any further as there were 2 Tiger snakes in the ditch between us! Back pedaled fast. 4 others lots came and camped with their swags late in the evening - a hot night until the thunderstorm hit about 5.30am! I headed of in the morning to Zeehan - a CP felt like a good place to be as this rain is widespread. A good chance to do the washing.

Tasmania 2015

Spent New Years Eve asleep on the Spirit of Tasmania. Braved the bridge in to Melbourne, found the off ramp and managed to park near the ferry. Very pleasant trip across. Upgraded from the ocean recliner to a twin share bedroom so got to have some sleep inspite of a restless chatty lady. The trip was so smooth other than a bit of rolling through the heads.

Off the boat by 6 am. Two cafes open to catch the early traffic - good business sense also as we couldn't get in to the CP until 8.30 am. Took a while for the food to arrive and the girl had no idea what a short black coffee was - so I did explain it to her - after drinking the long black.

 To Latrobe CP - unhooked and slept for 2 hours. Was raining most of the morning but cleared up so I went to Devonport to get groceries. Woolworths open but they don't take the rewards card! Strange. Everything else looks the same in the shop.

The next day I drove via Barrington to see a young friend who had offered me a spot to camp on her property. Unfortunately I was not confident about being able to get the caravan turned around, and the roads in to there are very narrow and winding, but had a lovely few hours chatting about where to go and what is worth taking time to see. Apparently all the fields of opium poppies I have seen are grown for medicinal purposes - only in Tas!

I dropped down to see Devils Gap then to the International rowing course at Lake Barrington. A long deep and dark lake with magnificent trees all around it. Another very windy road down to the rowing - probably wouldnt take a caravan down there, and no camping anyway. A very popular pancake cafe at the top - even the paddock opposite was open for people to park.

Mt Roland is quite spectacular - dominates the landscape. I am loving the trees and gardens - conifers, Rhodos, lawns, Golden Elms - all the things you dont see on the mainland!

Railton is a fascinating little place full of topiary figures. Very clever! Great bakery too. There is a free camp for self contained vehicles, and a dump.

Sheffield is another pretty place with lots of murals on the shops. Can camp at the show grounds but no trees. It also has a dump.

 First camp is at Gowrie - tucked under Mt Roland. Total fire ban today and severe warnings. Quite a few here - the first time I have come across a 'gaggle' - or maybe 'jabber' of single women - all 6 with motor homes and little dogs. Ugh! We have to park on a concrete slab - a shame as the grass looks so inviting. Will unhook and go to Cradle Mountain tomorrow.

So many older cars down here -  like NZ in many ways. Really looking forward to finding a lake camp where I can base myself for a few days. I think this will be a journey of very short trips. Takes a lot of concentration to tow on these roads, although the traffic is OK so far. Haven't come across any big trucks yet.

Called in to the Anvers Chocolate factory - very expensive but delicious - got a bag of seconds - creamy white strawberry flavour covered in dark choc. Also fresh cherries from a pack house!
Passed a few pine plantations  - very tall trees but no pruning or thinning - what a waste.  Maybe not grown for timber but....

Stawell, Greens Lake

Spent 3 days near Stawell at a friends place. Had a great session on his electronic keyboard - and him playing the trombone. Also went to Carols by Candlelight at Halls Gap. Large crowd there for their inaugural one - just a pity Santa went on SO long half way through. Probably should have done his thing before the concert started as it really was aimed at very small children! Very nice dinner at the pub also.

So many Santa's around. In boats, on a woolshed roof, one on an old  harvester complete with reindeer.

On across to Greens lake. Trying to find water at St Araund - ended up a on dead end street and  I could not turn around  so had to back down a few 100m - that was interesting!

Maybe 20 lots of Grey Nomads from the forum here. Lovely to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones. An excellent Xmas lunch put on  by a group of them, complete with presents, crackers and lollies. Some German backpackers were invited to join us - a bit shocked/bemused at having to sit on Santa's knee and get a kiss, but all good fun. Had a bit of a sing with a young musicians as well - lovely guitar player.

More GNs arrived but we all have to be out of here by 29th as the lake is being shut due to bad behaviour last NW eve - what a shame. It is certainly a lot quieter than other times I have been here. Even the boaties have stayed away.

Heading south to Werrebee then off over to Tasmania......

East again

Heading east again - going to Tasmania in January.

Stopped at the rose garden in Meckering -  posted Xmas cards and bought a Lions Xmas cake - did the same thing last year. The shop there is still for sale. Also bought fuel but should have waited - much cheaper at Cunderdin just up the road.

First 2 nights had very loud short thunderstorms and some gentle rain once the wind died down. The caravan doesnt seem to be leaking now thank goodness. Woken at 4.30 the second morning with another storm and thunder that rolled for ages it seemed. 

Camped at Koorarawlyee again. A few here. Such a lovely big clean area.Off to Coolgardie. I see why there were so many dirty vehicles on Friday. Miles and miles and miles of roadworks. Luckily the road was pretty dry by the time I got there - dont want to get my clean caravan dirty just yetJ Was going to camp in the town but not very flat and don’t like town camps so got fuel at the new Caltex and off down to Mt Thirsty. Lots of trucks on the bypass road but a good drive all the way. Found a shady spot to camp – only one other here. A bit cooler thank goodness. Long drive today! 9-30 – 2pm!



Stopped in Norseman for a night. Was very hot and windy so pleased to have the aircon going.

Fuel again at Balladonia then decided to go another 50km to Woorlba Homestead camp where I stayed a few months ago. What a shocking sight. Broken trees everywhere. A lady pulled up in a camper van so we shifted some branches and got ourselves in well away from any trees left standing. She said there was a very bad storm went through last night further east. Glad I missed that one! Luckily the toilet here was miss by a very large tree that crashed. Hope there were no campers hurt. No sign of any broken vehicles. Got in to the same camp as last time though. Council workers came late in the afternoon and removed the tree from in front of the loo and cleared away a few others. it was such a small area of devastation. 100m up the road and across the road there was virtually no damage.
Managed to break another tooth off so now it is a dash to Port Augusta for a dentist! Well - doing 'big' drives for me - 250 km a day! So much for wandering along. Tooth fixed, stock up on fresh fruit and veg then to Burra Gorge for 2 very peaceful days. Decided to change direction as I didnt want to go through the fruit fly zone so headed for Mannum for 2 very noisy nights with young locals. UGH. Nice family next to me though - had a little uke session with them.

Next stop was Parilla then towards Pinnaroo and south on Ngartak Highway. Interesting drive. Gentle rolling land with lots of farms then into low scrub. Looks like a very sandy area. Very dry too. Called into Pertendi hut but decided not to stay. Only a couple of good caravan spots. Old shepherd’s hut has been done up as a shelter. Has been a fire through here also – maybe last year. Border track closed due to fire season. Conservation Reserve, and another camp a bit further south. Then towards Bordertown through immaculate farms. Not an untidy fence anywhere, and large homesteads. Obviously farmers as opposed to graziers! Grain and bright green circles of irrigated Lucerne. Did see a paddock full of old machinery that looked as though it had been laid out for auction. Acres of it! Maybe they used to sell stuff but didn’t see a sign. Has been a recent wind storm by the look of the broken trees along the road.  Bordertown is a very nice place also – bit of money around I suspect. Couldnt find the laundry easily so got fuel and on to Frances. Road ok – sealed but a bit narrow. Stopped at the Rec and found a spot beside the tennis courts but under big tree. Bols, AFL, kids playground and 3 lots of amenities. There are 3 permanent vans here – one bloke is doing 7 weeks grain harvest. Hostage situation in Sydney on the radio all day – ended up 3 dead and him!

Friend came Tuesday. Shifted from under the trees – talk of strong winds so moved right out into the open behind a shed. Wild wind all day so we parked beside a hedge then had to listen to yapping dogs ALL night.

Next day we headed off to Lake Bringalbert. Gorgeous, quiet! Lovely lazy day and a good night’s sleep.

Kwolyin, Mangowine, Marshall rocks, Yanchep

Stopped at Kwolyin again - was there this time last year. OH NO - it has been discovered and heaps of people there - and a group of school kids camping for a few days. Getting hotter now and the grain is getting riper.

Stopped at Kulyalling park for 2 nights as the forecast was not great and too windy still. Nice spot but no facilities. Happy hour with 2 other couples round their campfire.

So much for my trip planner - which does work well but not when I keep changing my mind. At least I have learned a lot more about how my Garmin works.

 Still some pink wild flowers in the more shady places but so often I am unable to get off the road to take a photo which is a shame.
 Called into Bruce Rock for a few groceries - but the baker and butcher are now closed. On to Merriden - should have bought everything there. Much better choice at the IGA.

A night at the Shire CP at Nungarin. Very busy newly refurbished  camp  but only about 8 sites. Full up as it is their Harvest Festival the first weekend in October.  Good facilities and cheap, but no washing machine.  Then spent 3 days at Mangowine Homestead. Annual concert Saturday night which was well attended. For $110 you can order a picnic hamper for 2 including wine - but I just bought a hamburger for dinner. Entertained by a Perth tribute band - Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis.

The caretaker here does such a lovely job of looking after the old Adams homestead and hotel and is most hospitable.

 Went out to Eaglestone Rock camp just for a look. Nice spot with plenty of camping areas, and I gather there are toilets there somewhere but I didnt see them.  A large salt lake runs along the edge of the rock. Good dirt roads around this area. So many dry shallow lake beds everywhere.

 Everything much drier north of the Kalgoorlie highway. Grain ready to harvest and the land looks very thirsty. Has been trying to rain but maybe too much wind.

Spent a few days at Marshall Rocks. Nice spot, new toilet, scattered trees and so peaceful. Large areas for camping and a few picnic tables. A large group of parents and children who belonged to a walking group were here one night - all in tents or sleeping in cars.

Friend who runs a caravan website here also so we have had some lovely long conversations. We went to see the Pergandes sheepyards made from granite slabs again. Much shorter grass this trip but so many flies everywhere now.

Went for a walk up on to the rock. Such great views from these amazing monoliths all over Aus.

An eclipse of the moon tonight - and early enough to see for a change. Stunning orange moon but photos not so good.
From Marshall to Trayning CP. Run by the shire, very new and tidy. Another stunning orange moon.
Called in to Lake Ninan but decided not to stay so on to New Norcia. Camped in their paddock then to Wannamel for a night before heading to Yanchep. Will be here for about 6 weeks so no more updates.