Australia here we come!: January 2013

Saturday, 19 January 2013

15/11/12

We left Narrabri at 8.53am and drove to Moree. Karen made inquiries about caravan repairers and found there were none in town. We had a quick drive around Moree and tried to find the plane on a stick that I had seen on a video but we had no luck so we continued on towards Goondiwindi.

We stopped for lunch at what we think was the Kulgari Bore Rest Area somewhere between Moree and Boggabilla. After lunch we drove to Boggabilla and I wanted to have a beer in the Wobbly Boot Hotel. Both Karen and Mary-Anne said NOOOO!!!! at the same time. Then it was onto Goondiwindi and back into GOD’S COUNTRY. We also gained an extra hour in Queensland.

We went to the Visitor Information Centre and got the phone number and address of an alleged caravan repairer in town. There was no answer on the phone so we drove to the address. Just our luck - there was no one home. We decided to continue onto Inglewood as there was still plenty of the day left. What a pleasure it was to drive on Queensland roads again after being away for so long. At Inglewood guess where we stopped first? Correct. At the Visitor Information Centre. We got information on the Lake Coolmunda caravan park and decided to stay there for our last official travelling night of our epic journey. It was a great park with views of Lake Coolmunda and plenty of powered sites and water. It was a bit hot though, about 36 degrees. However there was a breeze and shade from the awnings to make for a relaxing afternoon.

Tomorrow we will meet our granddaughter, Stella, for the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The More Visitor Information Centre

Lunch at Kulgari Bore

Our campsite at Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park

There were nice views of the lake in the distance

We were visited by a couple of peacocks

roaming the caravan park

14/11/12

We left Gilgandra at 9.15am and headed north on the Newell Highway towards Coonabarabran. After about 40kms we turned off the highway and took the Warrumbungle Tourist Drive. It was a very scenic drive through the Warrumbungle mountains with lots of steep and windy sections. We eventually made it to the Warrumbungle National Park and we went to the Visitor Information Centre. There were many displays to view which explained the formation of the landscape and the history of the area. Karen found a book on wombats and bought it for our granddaughter, Stella.

After taking many photographs we hit the road again and stopped at Coonabarabran. We had lunch in a beautiful park on the banks of the Castlereagh River. During lunch we decided to push on and head for Narrabri. On the way the Newell Highway lived up to its reputation as the semitrailer capital of the world. For every one car that passed us, in both directions, there must have been ten semitrailers. They were everywhere!!!!!

It was a relief to eventually arrive at Narrabri. Again we went to the Information Centre and obtained a list of caravan parks. We decided on the Highway Tourist Villa and Caravan Park. It was not the most picturesque caravan park we have visited but there were no trucks inside it. After setting up camp we went for a drive through town and refuelled both cars.

The Warrumbungle National Park Visitor Centre

The Warrumbungles

Lunch at Coonabarabran alongside the Castlereagh River

Castlereagh River alongside Coonabarabran Park

Coonabarabran Park

A Cotton Picker inside the Narrabri Information Centre

It was a bit cramped in the Highway Tourist

Village, Narrabri

Michael had just enough room outside his caravan

to place his chair.

13/11/12

We packed up this morning and were on the road by 9.10am. We drove through some wonderful country and were not bothered by huge amounts of traffic until we arrived at Gilgandra. We went to the Visitor Information Centre where Karen asked if there were any caravan repair places in town. The answer was NO but we were advised to ask the NRMA before we left town. Luckily the NRMA office was not far away and we went there. We were told again there were no caravan repairers in town but we were given the phone numbers of two local plumbers that may be able to look at our leaking hot water system.

It was near lunch time so we went to Hunter Park and had lunch under shady trees. After eating, Karen rang a plumber. He must have been close by because he came to the park within 10 minutes. He had a quick look at the hot water system and told us he had no idea how to fix it. Feeling a little despondent we drove to the Gilgandra Rotary Caravan Park and booked two sites for the night. The caravan park has lots of large grassy sites and plenty of shady trees. This was just what we needed today with the 38 degree temperature.

In the afternoon Karen and Mary-Anne walked to town and did a small shop and Mary-Anne even had a haircut. I stayed at the caravan park and guarded the vans. It was so hot today that it generated the first thunder storm of the season. The sky to the west became black late in the afternoon and thunder could be heard in the distance. It didn't take long and the storm was on us. One close lightning flash took out the power in the caravan park and the accompanying loud thunder clap almost gave Karen kittens as she was walking back from the toilet block in the dark. The storm didn't last too long but it did lower the temperature. After about an hour the power was restored and we could finish cooking tea.

Hunter Park, Gilgandra

The Coo-ee Heritage Centre, Gilgandra

The Gilgandra Caravan Park was very comfortable

Beautiful trees in the grounds of the Gilgandra

Caravan Park

11/11/12

When we woke this morning we were surrounded by cars parked everywhere while people visited the Sunday Markets which had been set up on a grassed area a short distance from our vans. We were planning to leave this morning and the way the cars were parked we couldn't get out. Luckily for us it was not a large market and the people were not staying long. When close cars left I put our table out near the road so no-one could hem me in again. We eventually got away about 9.30am and headed for Orange. We had a quick drive around town until we found the Visitor Information Centre. We went in and had a look around and I bought a small soft toy for my granddaughter, Stella. Then we hit the road again and planned to spend the night at Gulgong. On the way we passed through Molong and had lunch there behind the Information Centre and Craft Shop in a shaded area under wonderful grape vines. When we arrived at Gulgong we found the caravan park had a sign stating the park was full and the office was closed. We had a walk around and found about 14 empty powered sites. Mary-Anne said they could stuff their sites so we continued on. Finally about 3.30pm we found a wonderful privately owned caravan park at Dunedoo with heaps of empty powered sites. We set up camp and spent a restful afternoon.

12/11/12

We woke to brilliant sunny skies and a mild temperature this morning. We decided to spend another day here just to relax and recharge our human batteries. The Mary-Anne did some washing while Karen sat around in her PJ's reading her book. I spent the morning updating the computer diary. The rest of the day we just sat around doing bugger all.

We were camped very close to the Markets

The Orange Visitor Centre

The Banjo Patterson Memorial at Orange

Lunch at Molong under the shady grapevines

Molong Park

The Information Centre/Craft Shop at Molong

Our lovely spacious sites at the Dunedoo Caravan Park

10/11/12

We woke to a cool morning and it was very overcast. At about 9.45am we went to the historic house where former Prime Minister Ben Chifley lived. We took a guided tour through the house and were amazed how a Prime Minister could live in such a humble dwelling.

From there we went to the house of a former local identity, Ida Traill. She was a woman of means and lived in the house from 1938 until she passed away in 1976. The house was built in the 1850's and is a marvellous example of that era's architecture. The grounds are spacious with many beautiful large trees and countless rose gardens. It was a virtual mansion compared to Ben Chifley's humble half duplex home.

We left the Traill house and returned to the Show Grounds. We walked to the dog trials which were being held in the centre area of the main arena and watched the antics of the owners and their dogs for about half an hour before returning to the caravans.

The Chifley Home & Education Centre

Ben Chifley's Kitchen

Ben Chifley's Lighthouse

Miss Traill's House

The beautiful gardens and trees at Miss Traill's House

Beautiful roses

The gardens are sometimes used for weddings

Lovely shady trees

Our campsite in the Bathurst Showgrounds

9/11/12

We had a lazy morning and after lunch we had another drive around town. We drove through the back streets and marvelled at the beautiful old brick homes with lovely gardens. The girls wanted to visit Stocklands Shopping Centre and we wandered aimlessly around for 1 hour. Then we went to Aldi and did some serious shopping.

Aldi even sells grog in NSW. What more could you want from a shop?

Later that evening we discovered that a trotting meet was being held in the main arena so we ventured over to have a look. It is good that none of us bet because we didn't pick one winner all night!

Our campsite was not far from the main arena

We enjoyed the Trots

The beautiful night sky

We sat in the Grand Stand to watch the Trots

8/11/12

We left Lake Lyell and Lithgow at 8.45am and drove straight to Bathurst. We went to the Visitor Information Centre and discovered the Show Grounds had powered sites with water for caravans. We also got directions to Mt Panorama and that was our next port of call. Both cars and caravans did two laps of the famous race track. I was amazed how high up it was at the top of the mountain at Skyline and could not imagine doing 200kph along there. The drive through the Esses was fun and Conrod Straight was fantastic!

After our adrenaline rush we drove back to town and booked into the Show Grounds. After lunch we went for a drive around town and found a mower shop that sold Weber products. Mary-Anne and I each bought a large Weber Q BBQ plate. Then we found the Peace Garden and the Japanese Garden both situated in a large lush green park on the banks of the Macquarie River.

We returned to Mt Panorama so Karen could have a drive around the Mountain. After a fast lap we went to the National Motor Racing Museum. We sat through a video on the history of Mt Panorama from 1938 to 2006 and then viewed all the old racing cars and motor bikes on display. It was good to see there was a large section set aside to honour Peter Brock, The King of the Mountain.

Mount Panorama

The Main Straight and The Pit

Murrays Corner

The caravans 'rearing to go'

Peace Garden

Beautiful gardens on the banks of the

Macquarie River

The Japanese Garden

Peter Brock - The King of the Mountain

The National Motor Racing Museum

Some of the racing cars on display

in the museum

Part of the Peter Brock Memorial Display

6/11/12

The girls did some washing today and I caught up on a backlog of the blog. We discovered a water leak in the hot water system that had wet a lot of items stored under our bed. I tightened the inlet and outlet connections and will have to wait and see if that fixes the problem. The rest of the day was spent doing nothing but relaxing.

7/11/12

Today we thought we would see some of the attractions of the Blue Mountains. First we drove to the Cool Climate Botanic Gardens at Mt Tomah and spent three and a half hours walking through the grounds. There are plants and trees from many cold countries as well as spectacular views over the Blue Mountains. We also sat through a video of the Blue Mountains. We had lunch in the picnic area before heading off.

We stopped at Pierces Pass Picnic area and were greeted with more spectacular views over the Blue Mountains. Just out of Lithgow we stopped at the Hartley Historic Village. It was a small town established in the late 1800's but went into decline when Lithgow became the major centre for business and Government for the area. There are still a number of old buildings in fairly good repair. The standout building is the old Court House. It was constructed from sandstone in a Greek style. It has beautiful columns at the front entrance and still appears that it could be used if needed. None of the buildings can be accessed so we could only look through the windows.

We continued back to Lithgow and the girls ordered me to stop at a craft shop on the outskirts. It was raining very heavily and I missed the narrow entrance and had to do the block to get back. As usual, it was full of crafty rubbish and I was bored in one minute. Then we went for a drive through town and found the statue of Marjorie Jackson (The Lithgow Flash) who won a gold medal at the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952.