Star Date Nov 2024

Posted on by trekswalkabout

Back home and some last thoughts. Being in a whizzbanger is very different to a wobble box and anything else we have ever had. It will still take us a while to adjust and work through the pros and cons of a small van. We are used to getting to camp, setting up, unhooking the van and then free to drive off, head into town or go exploring. It was the same with the Aussie Swag Camping Trailer and even in tent camping.

Sun setting on the gum trees

With Trek we are learning to do what we need to do before we get to camp, going someplace after camp involves packing up. Of course there is also plus’s with that, if we don’t like a spot or prefer one “just over there” it’s a lot easier to move. Moving every day is also a lot easier, setup and pack-up is very quick.

We have been travelling and exploring Australia together for nearly 40 years. We have had several different types of accommodation in that time but a camper van is something new to us.

It will all take some adjusting and a different mind set. Getting use to the limitations but also appreciating the ease, lower fuel cost, simplicity and quick setup.

Us at Donnellys Castle

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip, we came home relaxed, uplifted, optimistic that if Chris kept being as well as he has been over this 4 1/2 weeks that we still could still have some more great adventures together and we could do it in our little Trek.

Trek went awesome, very nice and easy to drive. Comfortable, fuel economy was great. Our setup of the van was outstanding, we could not think of anything we would have done differently or regretted. Very happy with it, and soooooo looking forward to exploring more of our undiscovered country.

Stephen’s Creek camping

Chris has done most of the driving in the past, so this was a real test for Kate as the sole driver. Have to say, you go girl, you did awesome.

Live Long and Prosper 

Bingara

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Now this is what we were saving those extra days for. We love this place, a real favourite. For Chris it was especially nice and something he really wanted to do again. With his health situation we didn’t know if we would ever get the chance to stay here again together so wanted to do it while we could, putting aside as many days as possible.

There are approximately 5 free or donation camps in the Bingara area along the river. The town is lovely with lots of murals, shops, great parks, dump point and water filling.

We were fortunate to get a really good spot to ourselves for many days right on the river bank. Jess enjoyed a dip every day as did we. The water was a little cool, let’s say refreshing. We really enjoyed ourselves here, it was a time for us, especially for me driving those long km’s days at times to really unwind and relax. Dips in the refreshing water and campfires at night.

Beautiful spot overlooking the river

A double rainbow

After 6 nights we reluctantly moved on. Stopping the night at Jennings Rest Area just inside NSW from Qld. There really isn’t much here but a good spot and popular spot one we have stayed at several times. The old train station and NSW/QLD border is only a short walk.

The station was a bit over run with grass and the trains were obviously not running. Talking to the visitor info centre at Stanthorpe we know this was due to a bridge issue from recent bush fires. Plans are in place to restore it and the have trains running again.

From here it was only 50 odd kms to our next destination. Again one Chris was particularly looking forward to.

Live Long and Prosper 

Artesian Bore Baths

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Heading north through Gundagai, home of the dog on the Tucker box. To Young where we stopped and got a bag of cherries and a cherry pie. Cherrie pie I found way too sweet so poor Chris had to eat all that himself, a challenge he told me he was up too.

We stopped for the night at Wheogo Park Rest Area at Forbes a 48hr limit. This has been a favourite spot to stop when passing through Forbes. It’s a great spot that was pretty busy. Being small we were very easily able to find an out of the way spot. Lots of walking in the area not far from town.

Wheogo Park Rest Area at Forbes, NSW

Dragon Boat practice

Continuing north through Dubbo home of the great Dubbo Zoo. Gligandra, Coonamble and onto Pilliga. Some of these roads we had not been on before.

Pilliga has a council run Artesian Bore Spa Baths with a camping area. Hot pool is free but there is a $5 fee per night for camping which you must book via the Narrabri Council website. They call it a primitive campground with basic facilities, which do include toilets and a bore water shower, table and chairs and a cover over the hot spa. So it didn’t sound too primitive to us.

Our camp spot

This is where we had our 39th wedding anniversary with bit of special meal, well as special as it gets in a camper van. We spent 2 nights here, hot pools are a concrete pool but very much artesian water with that smell of sulphur. Our skin was soooo smooth and very much needed after the dryness of the Murray. It would be great to come back and spend a few days here in cooler weather. 35 degrees day time temperature was a bit warm really. Soaking in the thermal water on a cool day warming them bones would be lovely.

Artesian Bore

Sunset at Pilliga

The GPS and Google Maps in there wisdom sent us on a “short cut” which was shorter but a dirt road for many many km’s. I was not so keen to do a long distance stint on a dirt road but Trek coped with it surprisingly well with no dust ingress inside, so we were very happy.

Next stop was Moree staying at the Gwydir Caravan Park and Thermal Pools. Now we have stayed here before in 2018 in the camper trailer. The big draw card is those hot pools, 4 pools of varying temperatures and a cold pool. Since we were last here in 2018 the caravan park side of it has deteriorated, we have heard stories from other travelers about where the money goes that I won’t speculate here. But it sure was not going back into maintenance of the park.

Amenities were filthy, cleaning did not get done every day, they were old and run down, tiles and pavers missing. On my last day I could not get any hot water for a shower. The grounds were not well maintained, the pools are the big draw card were also dirty. Many people were complaining. Some of the reception staff (not all) were rude and abrupt, many also mentioned that, it was hit and miss who you got on checkin. We had heard the caravan park could not get enough staff. We were given a small dirt site because we were “small”. We paid the same amount though as bigger vans on the bigger sites. Mind you many of them were also tight with people unable to put their awnings up.

In rained one night with over 40mm and our site was flooded as were many others. As I said we have stayed here before and we came back because of the hot pools. We were solely disappointed to the point we have no plans to ever go back unless there is a big change in the management/ownership of the place and we can not recommend it.

Live Long and Prosper 

 

Towards Echuca

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Last time we drove through Swan Hill we did not stay here, so we thought we would and splurged a little bit and got a riverside site at the Big 4 Swan Hill for 2 nights. Well we regretted that decision. The park is in a good location on the river next to the Pioneer Village which is not dog friendly. We got to watch a paddle steamer from the village go past once a day and that was fun.

Paddlesteamer went past everyday

The amenities were great, camp kitchen was great, well stocked, air conditioned, lots of table and chairs, pool also looked great. Easy to walk into town which we were not that impressed with. Next to a great park with lots of swings and places for people to picnic. The caravan park is very popular, most of the sites away from the riverside had green grass. This is where we made our mistake, paying extra for a riverside site, that were very very well used with no grass, just dirt and dust. There was no way we could attach our hose to a water tap that was far too away from our van. Honestly if you stay here just get a normal site.

After leaving Swan Hill we stopped for the night at Covina RV Park 72 hrs max stay. What a great little spot, very friendly town. Park is right next to the bowls club who apparently come over on Friday’s and invite the campers to a game of bowls and BBQ for $5 per person. We did buy lunch in town. Unfortunately only had time to spend 1 night here but it would have been good to have spent several night.

Covina RV Park

Our plans when leaving home was to free camp along the Murray, but as mentioned any place we did call into and we did keep checking them were very dry, dusty and busy. And with the heat we decided this trip might be better to stay at caravan parks if needed. Murray River camping offers some really great spots that are free but also very popular so over used and the ground does not have chance to recover.

We knew Echuca was a place we wanted to spend a few days, so we had to book here a few days in advance. We stayed for 3 nights at the NRMA Echuca Holiday Park on a new Ensuite site. It was fantastic. And well worth the extra dollars for us with Chris, making having a shower so much easier. It was also within walking distance of town.

Ensuite site

We walked up and down the streets several times, explored all areas of the Port of Echuca with a walking tour, really worth doing. Echuca is pretty dog friendly, Jess was welcome at the port and on a paddle steamer. There are plenty of places you can sit and eat outside in the Main Street with a dog. Something that was very much lacking at Swan Hill, we could not find any suitable places to sit at outside and get a meal with Jess.

There is loads to see and do at Echuca much of which we had done before. We were keen to do another Paddle steamer cruise which Jess enjoyed being on. The PS Pevensey is what we went on, Jess even got her own ticket.

From Echuca we headed to Wodonga, checked out the area a bit before heading to Ludlows Reserve for the night right on the edge of the Hume Dam.

Rewarded with a rainbow after a storm

This is a free 24hr camp area, really good spot for the night and pretty popular as well not surprising.

The next day we drove to the Hume Dam Wall and that is also worth a look.

Hume Dam wall

We thought we were going to spend more time in the Murray Region, but with the unexpected heat, dryness and dust we decided to start moving north. We had a few places we really wanted to call into and stay and the extra few days, we were able to add into this part of the next journey made that possible.

Live Long and Prosper 

Broken Hill

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It was 2009 the last time we were in this area, how time flies. We were excited to spend a few days here looking at things we didn’t do last time. We found it a lot more RV friendly this time around with water taps for filling the van and some lower cost camp sites.

We spent our first night at a place right on the edge of town, it was not a good experience so won’t go there.

Our first destination was straight out to Silverton. We were here in 2009 and the place had changed a little bit with a extra attractions like the Mad Max Museum. What is now the bakery was a newly build shed that photographed beautifully in the new dawn. We like most of the people that visit Silverton had a coffee and something to eat there.

Silverton sign, new from our last visit

It was pretty warm so we appreciated any air condition places we found. The Mad Max 2 Museum was one of those and also dog friendly so Jess was able to keep cool as well.

Mad Max

The Museum was great very interesting and if you are a Mad Max fan then definitely well worth doing. We are not real fans of the films but still found it interesting and could definitely appreciate all the work, information and the collections that had gone into the place.

We also went and looked at the Old Goal Museum which again was dog friendly. Loads of information and history on the area, also worth checking out.

We drove out to Mundi Mundi lookout where you look over the Mundi Mundi plains; this is where Mad Max 2 was filmed. And I now believe where the Mundi Mundi Bash is.

After this we headed back into Broken Hill to the visitor information centre. From there we booked a free town tour the next day and had lunch at the local cafe.

Where Pricilla Queen of the Desert was made

From here we went to the Pro Hart Gallery, again dog friendly. We loved it, we are not arty people but loved his story and you can’t help appreciate his incredible work. Highly recommend visiting this place. We bought a couple of things including a puzzle of one of his painting that we put together once home and glue it onto a backing board and hung on our wall. Our own bit of Pro Hart painting and the only one we could afford.

There is a huge wall painting in one of the rooms that is incredible, we were in awe of his talent. His collection of Rolls Royce’s out the front.

This was very impressive

One of his Rolls Royce’s painted

We picked up a few supermarket items then headed to our camping spot for the night at the racecourse. We thought it was a pretty good spot.

Next day we did the town tour with a retired miner. Very informative, Jess was also welcomed, tour took a couple of hours and is well worth doing.

After a bite to eat and with our discounted ticket from the walking tour we went to the Silver City Mint and Arts Centre. This is the home of The Big Picture the world’s largest acrylic painting by one artist at 100m long. It is the backdrop in a room with an outback display of animals, trees and bushes. Also worth considering seeing on a trip to Broken Hill.

You walk onto a board walk into the room

We enjoyed our time in Broken Hill, pleased it was far more RV friendly and also pleasantly surprised how dog friendly the area was.

Just one section of the painting

Live Long and Prosper 

 

Trekking Down The Murray

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We have done a few more short local trips, with Chris’s health taking a turn around for the better. With some good MRI reports and his improved health we wanted to go away for our Wedding Anniversary his medical team encourage us to take a descent break.

Feeling confident in our setup we had the opportunity between chemo rounds to go away for 4 1/2 weeks. We do look at life and travel a bit differently these days, treating each trip as possibly our last together and wanting to make the most of it especially for our anniversary.

Chris wanted to soak in some hot pools, head south along the Murray, get some apple pie at Stanthorpe and chill and relax at Bingara. So we planned a route.

We headed off the day after my birthday and family celebrations the night before. First stop was a couple of nights at Boomi Hot Springs and caravan park just into NSW.

Boomi Hot Pools, also a large cold pool

Next stop south was Collarenebri, staying a night at Barwon River Camp, a free camp just across the bridge walking distance from town. There are several free camps in this great little town. And a new highlight is the new Collarenebri Artesian Pool, a real credit to the town and a must stop for a relaxing dip. Very well set up, free, hot showers, toilets table and chairs and some shelter. Well done Collarenebri.

Collarenebri hot pools

As relaxing as the hot pools were, it was time to keep moving south. We stopped for the night at Gunderbooka Rest Area between Bourke and Cobar in NSW. We were able to get well off the road hidden behind some trees surrounded by red dirt. It was a wee bit warm, we sat inside the van with the aircon running watching some YouTube’s. Our only company was some wild goats.

Gunderbooka Rest Area

Cobar was a brief stop on our way through, we were pushing south to get to Broken Hill for a few days. Not a lot to see along the way except loads of goats. Goats very close to the roads, one had to stay very focussed watching out for them. Luckily they had the sense to run away not across the road.

Cobar

Next was Broken Hill for a few days ……

Live Long and Prosper 

Apple Pie

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Ha ha can you guess where Chris was keen to go?

We have been to Stanthorpe many many times. Every time we go there we find new stuff we did not know about. Watching a video a while back from Caravan Adventure Aus on their time here we discovered a few new places to check out. It’s worth a watch.

One of those place was the Red Bridge “Built in the mid 1880’s. Built without modern equipment using manpower, horse drawn drays and explosives. Shanties and hotels catering for the workers followed the construction of the line” is what the plaque reads.

No longer red

Apparently the bridge was red at time of construction so hence the name. It is a very short east walk from the carpark in good weather.

There is also a boardwalk across the river

Jess and Chris

We called into the visitor information centre and had a lovely chat with the ladies there. A walk about the park and a walk into town, filling in a bit of time before we went……. for that apple pie.

Suttons Apple Farm and Cafe. We have been here mmmm maybe a few times one time we shared a slice. This time it was our late breakfast. All we can say is yum yum yum

Yummy apple pie

We thought we better walk off of the apple pie, heading to Donnellys Castle. If you watched the Caravan Adventure Aus it will show what this place is like. Really is our kind of place with granite boulders to walk around and explore. Can’t believe we only just found out about this place. It is a little bit hidden out of the way.

Donnellys Castle

Jess had fun as well, as it is dog friendly

Great views from the lookout

We loved it and Chris did really really well, walking along tracks with tree roots and rocks to navigate around. Chris had a bad stroke during a brain biopsy where he was also diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He has recovered a significant amount from the stoke but still has some mobility issues. So rock hopping was an outstanding achievement.

Chris did really well

We felt very optimistic that we could do some further trips together.

Live Long and Prosper