Week commencing 11.04.11

Week Commencing 11 April 2011
Monday – After lots of discussions last night we had a change of plans. Decided to head to New South Wales via Murray River district. Don’t really know why the change , guess we are bit over the deserts. As we leave Port Augusta and travel over the Sterling Ranges, we decide it was the right decision. Beautiful green rolling hills and very pretty ranges. Our first stop for the night was Renmark, the caravan park was situated right on the very full Murray River. We settle in early as it is very cold.
Tuesday we hook up and take the van into town to have a look around. We have decided we need to visit here again, a very lovely part of the world. We hit the road and head for Mildura. The trip has been very uneventful. We arrive at Mildura and spend the afternoon having a look around. Yes, another beautiful part of Australia. We traced the story of how Mildura became an irrigated oasis in the midst of an arid land. We also visited Woodsies Gem Shop, an amazing place, it was once a family hobby that has grown into an outstanding display of gemstones, jewellery and gifts. Over 6,000 pieces of jewellery in innovative styles . Crafted in their workshop on site. Aladdins Cave is a spectacular display of crystals, fossils and carvings from around the world. Worth a visit.

Wednesday, left camp around 10am (people always talk when you are hitching up) strange. We stopped for lunch only and arrived at Narrandera around 4pm. Set up camp, went for a walk and just rest for the rest of the afternoon.



Thursday 14th, up early had a walk around town and then hit the road for the trip to Yass via the Dog sits on the Tuckerbox. Yass caravan park an interesting place, nobody at reception so we just went on in a chose a nice spot, went into town to have a look around. When we returned a van on either side, really close they really pack them in. We paid for our site and went into the Soliders Club for dinner.
Friday we headed for Canberra only a short 90kms. The caravan park is not the best but will serve the purpose. We settle in and then head off to see Parliament House, what an amazing place. We took a tour which was very informative and takes you to some places the public are not allowed. The building cost around 1.1billion dollars to build, all tax payers money.
Saturday was of course TAB day, so we went into NSW to Qubenyane , shared lunch with John and then I took myself off to Lennon Bros Circus, it was a great afternoon.
Sunday, Bernie & Bev picked us up and gave us a tour of their hometown of Canberra. We visited the markets at Kingston and then as we were driving around Bernie managed to get us lost. We then went back to their son Brendon’s place for a late lunch. Brendon, Bec and their children Mackayla & Karlie were delightful, a great afternoon was had by all.

Week Commencing 04.04.11

Week Commencing 04.04.11
We left camp and popped into Tumby Bay , just interested in having a look as lots of people said it was nice. Not a bad little spot but the weather was overcast and did not give us the best impression. On the way we past a truck and a rock got the windscreen, this is the second hit we have had so when we arrived at Port Augusta we telephone O’Briens and organised for them to be fixed. We enjoyed the salmon we had bought before we left Port Lincoln.
Tuesday was spent sightseeing around town as the car was in for a service and a bumper recall. Port Augusta sits on both sides of Spencer Gulf, with the Flinders Ranges as a backdrop. We found this wonderful bakery with the most delicious cakes and bread.
Wednesday we head off to Coober Pedy, I am very excited because this is one of the places on my wish list. As we travel along the Stuart Highway we see lots of salt lakes, they are huge. We call into Woomera for lunch, this place is like a ghost town, very strange as the house are empty and neglected. We speak to the gentleman at the Museum who tells us there is about 140 people living there of which 40 are children. Alot of the homes have been taken away, but in Woomera’s heyday there were about 7,000 people lived there. Hart Lake is where the rocket launching took place back in the 50’s & 60’s. As we drive towards Coober Pedy we stop at Hart Lake and take a walk down to the railway crossing. We do a silly thing like standing and lying on the track to take some pictures. As we start to walk back to the car, a train comes along the track. Not so sure we should have been playing games. Anyway we survived and have the pics to prove it. We arrive at Bon Bon free camp some 180 kms from Coober Pedy and set up camp for the night. We decide to stay inside as the flies would carry us away.
Thursday up and away be 8am (another record) we arrive at Coober Pedy to this weird looking place. We pass to big mines along the way, the first is Prominent Hill and the next an Iro Ore mine. As you get closer to Coober the fields are scattered with piles of dirt (we have since found out they dig holes some 60mtrs down looking for the opal, the dirt is just left where they dig). We both found this rather strange. We arrive at the caravan park and find a park which is under a huge shadecloth shed. We set up camp and decide the best thing is to take the afternoon tour which includes the following:
The Magnificent Breakaways Town Area
The Dingo Fence Underground Home
The Opal Fields Underground churches
The Moon Plains Umoona Mine & Museum
Opal Mine Boothill
Underground Churches:
St Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church – is a National Heritage listed building as it’s the first underground church in Coober Pedy and possibly the world.
Serbian Orthodox Church – striking with its scalloped ceiling, rock-carved icons, and brillant stained-glass windows.
Catacomb Church – Originally built in 1977 this unique church is cut out of the sandstone in the shape of a cross. The cross, lectern and communion table fashioned from local mulga wood and an old miner’s winch.
The Breakaways –colourful low hills which have broken away from the Stuart Range – hence the name. Famous for spectacular sunsets and the numerous motion pictures made in the area.
Moon Plain – Desert-like moonscape with fossilised shells, grey, soft clay dirt& cracks that appear to be bottomless, is nicknamed “the Moon Plain”. It has been the scene for numerous movies.
The Dog Fence – is the longest continual construction in the world. Stretching some 5,300km it begins east of Queensland and ends up north of Ceduna in the Great Australian Bight. Originally built to protect the sheep country in the south from the Dingo in the North.
We had drinks with our neighbours, they have been on the road 2 weeks, funny we were the experienced travellers (I don’t think you ever stop learning when you are on the road).
Friday we woke to another beautiful day. John & I walked up town and checked out the jewellery stores looking for a ring. We finally decided on a beautiful ring from this lovely lady called Stella.
Opalios – meaning Opal (o-pal) n. Precious stone which sparkles with various bright colours.
Ios (ee-os) n. From Greek. Meaning Fever
History – Opal mining – There are no rules in finding opal, throw your hat and dig where it lands. Opal mining has been done with Bulldozers, Excavators, Drilling rigs, Tunneling machines and Blowers, or by hand with picks and shovels using Explosives a Winch and Ladders. Blowers and tunneling machines have been purpose built just for opal mining. If found, Opal is still removed by the miners using a hand pick. Each Opal miner is allowed 1 claim of either 50m x 50m or 50m x 100m. Claims can be staked anywhere in the opal fields as long as you are not in anyone else’s claim or in the middle of town.
We (George & Stella) arrived in early 1973 with a plan to stay for 3 months. Over 36 years later we are still here. We fought the flies and dust and have passed the harder times without running water, air conditioners and television. We can honestly say No regrets, and given a choice would do the exact same thing again. Our story isn’t much different to most of the Opal mining families at that time, most came here with dreams of making millions. Now Coober Pedy is home to us. Opal has taught us valuable lessons, through its beauty, we are glad to share this experience.
Types of Opal – Solid Opal – Opal that has been mined and is presented in one piece, either in its naturally occurring state or after being cut and polished. It has not been chemically treated and has no other materials cemented to it other than by nature. Solid Opal can be put in water without worry. (this is the type of Opal we bought)


Saturday we drove direct to Port Augusta. Sunday was a rest day, did the washing between the showers of rain and prepared to head to Broken Hill on Monday.

Week commencing 28.03.11

Week Commencing 28 March 2011
Monday we decided to attempt the Cape Bauer Loop, the scenery along this section of Great Australian Bight is both rugged and spectacular. Hallys Beach is a beautiful surf beach, some 100 steps take you down to the sand. John tried his luck at fishing, unfortunately no luck. Our next stop was Whistling Rocks and the Blowholes. The loop continues along the shoreline and you can see over the bay back towards Streaky.
Tuesday, we went back to Hallys beach to try our luck at fishing, once again we were disappointed. Where are all the fish? Time to pack up for our next adventure, off to Port Linclon or Coffin Bay, we will have to wait and see what the day brings. Life is good.

Wednesday – Time to leave Streaky Bay and head down the road to Coffin Bay. We buy some bread from the Honesty Bakery at Colton , enjoy bread rolls with vegemite for lunch. Arrive at Coffin Bay, quite a big town, settle in and head to the National Park. What a beautiful park, we saw lots of wildlife, a Tiger snake crossing the road, rabbits, emus and lots of birds. The views were to die for, rugged cliffs and beautiful blue water. Just look at the pictures and you will see what I mean.


Thursday, we arrived at Port Lincoln, settled in and then off to explore the area. We took the scenic drive which gave us views over the port and back into the hinterland. We went to the Visitors centre to arrange for us to go into the Lincoln NP tomorrow. You have to pay for the permit and also leave a key deposit so you can enter the NP. Both very cold it was into the van for dinner early.
Friday, still cold but we were up early to venture into the NP . We saw lots of emus, kanagroos, birds. The road to Memory Cove was very bumpy, it took some 50mins to drive 19kms. We were a little disappointed when we arrived, it was an overcast day and the water colours suffered because of this. We still did the walk around the point, saw some seals on the island just outside the bay. We enjoyed our lunch and chatted to some other Queenslanders. We stopped off at some points of interest on the way back and saw lots of emus with their chicks. Very cute. When we got back to camp we caught up with John & Judy who are staying here also. Judy and I organised to have our girls day tomorrow. Very cold so we are tucked up in the van to watch the footy.



Saturday and Sunday were relaxing days. Judy and I had a lovely lunch and afternoon tea. We then asked the boys to take us out to dinner. Very nice evening was had by all. John & I have spent Sunday detailing both the van and car. He is making a screen for the radiator as we have heard there are bugs on the road north. The guys on both sides of us are all out there helping, really nice fellows.

Week Commencing 21 March 2011
The day went well with an easy drive from Kal to Norseman, lunch with Bev and Bernie and then onto Fraser Range Station. We were invited to take a walk with the owner and her pet sheep, Barbara and Billy, most entertaining. The station is in the process of becoming a fully functioning sheep station, it has been run down and needs a lot of work.
Day two , we left camp early and the day was uneventful until we ran over a dead roo on the road. John had no option as trucks were coming and he could not go around the poor thing. No problems and we continued onto our next free camp. We had enough room for all the vans to be in a circle so we had drinks, watched the sunset over the plains and enjoyed a great dinner together.
Day three, once again a good day of driving, the scenery has changed a little and it is starting to look more like we had expected. All you can see is rolling plains of stunted trees. Once we get to the WA&SA border we can stop at the lookouts. The views are fantastic, rugged coastline and blue ocean. Now Patrice my good friend had told me a couple of her friends are travelling to WA from SA, you wouldn’t believe we call into a lookout and start chatting to this couple and blow me down it is Trice’s friends, John and Kathy. We are all amazed at this meeting. We finally pull in at our next stop over for the night. We are settled on top of the Bunda Cliffs. We go for a walk along the cliffs, settle in for drinks and dinner. We decide to eat inside once the sun sets a the place is full of mice, I mean hundreds of them. We did get a beautiful sunset at this spot also.
Day four, we leave our friends, Bev & Bernie, John & Judy and head for Ceduna. Today is a very special day, our Mikayla is three and we need to have service so we can skype. The trip into Ceduna is uneventful, we get through quarantine with no issues. Settle into the caravan park, have a look around and then it is time to skype. Mikayla is so excited and tells us all about her day, sounds like she had a great birthday. Nanny will not be missing her 4th birthday.

Friday we are out of the park right on 10am (there is a van waiting to take our spot – a very busy park). We arrive at Streaky Bay to a bleak cold and miserable day. Time to find the winter woollies. We catch up for drinks with Rod & Anne (I used to work with them at Schenker), while we are there who should turn up but John & Judy, they were lucky enough to get a night here. (This park is very busy also).
Saturday, I had morning tea with Judy before they headed off south, not sure where they were going. John spent the afternoon at TAB and I enjoyed some me time.
Sunday we took a picnic lunch and did the Westall Way Loop. This 31km loop is just 10kms south of Streaky Bay and is jammed packed with attractions. View the Southern ocean from the Highcliffs, where sea stacks loom out of the ocean. Further along is the popular surf beach, Granites, which boasts a lagoon style rock pool for the ‘not so brave’ to swim in. Smooth pool serves up amazing ancient rock pools where you can explore and snorkel. Speeds Point has massive waves that pound the rocks, you walk the rocks and explore the many pools. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Yanerbie beach and then talk a stroll along the white sandy beach. We finished the day with a visit to Murphy’s Haystacks a 1,500 million year old geological wonder. Local legend has it that Murphy’s Haystacks acquired their name from a Scottish agricultural expert who saw the landmark in the distance while travelling on the main coach. Shimmering like haystacks in the hot afternoon sun he was very impressed with the sight before him and remarked, “That man must harrow, look at all the hay he has saved”