14th March 2014
we have now come completely full circle and have been in Melbourne twice since end of January.  We saw Finn start school then went off to travel around more of Victoria.  While we have seen quite of lot in previous years this took us to other new parts of the State that we haven't seen.

We headed to Lake Eildon which has a number of national park campgrounds.  Most of the time we were the only ones there which was quite a surprise.  Went through Bonnie Doon just for the hell of it as this was made famous in the great Ozzie film The Castle.  Travelled to the Alpine area which is another interesting place to be  in the summer and when its not snowing.  Gives a whole different perspective even when you are 1700 meters high and no snow.  Still a lot cooler than at sea level.

 Craigs hut in the Alpine ranges

 Mount Beauty, also in the Alpine ranges

Obligatory call into the Dargo pub.  Actually stayed for two days behind the pub.  Great spot and hospitality

Iconic rural Victorian high country 

 Effects of  bush fires around Dargo area

 Wilson's Prom

In most places we were in lovely bush surroundings with a river and not too many flies !! We visited Craigs Hut which is famous from the movie Man from Snowy River as well as Dargo in the Victorian High Country.  Have been to Dargo before but was good to go back after a few years.  Clive did some 4WD trips around this area as it is well known as a 4WD adventure playground.  As you no doubt have guessed I was happy to pass on this.

Wilsons Prom was also a lovely spot and can see the appeal for Melburnians.  Beautiful beaches and National Park settings. We completed this part of the Victorian circuit through Venus Bay and coastline.

The State of Victoria has its own incredible scenery and history.  A much smaller mileage to traverse than we have done over the last year but still much and see and do another time

We are now back in Melbourne until we return to NZ.  The van is in storage and the Toyota will join it the day before we go back.  The rest of the time will be to re- immerse with the grandies and reflect on an amazing year of experiences and scenery.

6th February
A long time between blog entries so a bit to catch up on.
We completed a housesit for a week in Adelaide over the Christmas period. Just 2 cats to mind so a pretty straight forward experience in an inner city suburb.   We had a very enjoyable Christmas Day with Brendan and then headed off from Adelaide on 27th Dec.  Managed to put a small hole in the cladding of the van when driving it out of where it was parked at Brendan's.  Murphy's Law that we have travelled 25,000kms through rough as roads and managed to do this on a piece of guttering !!  Sent photos of the damage to a caravan repairer who quoted $10,000 to repair -  WHAT ??????  said it would need the whole side replaced.  No way.  So we spoke to the caravan manufacturer in Melbourne who is happy to repair the area at a fraction of the cost when we are back in Melbourne and it wont require an insurance claim.

Decided to travel south of Adelaide to the start of the Murray River and follow it through to Victoria.  We were travelling through the peak season including school holidays so wanted to avoid the Great Ocean Road option.  This was a good decision as it let us see parts of South Oz and Victoria that we hadn't travelled before.  We had no problems finding great spots along the river with no issues regarding space/ availablility.  So plenty of bush camping up until we got to Berri and Renmark where we encountered a heatwave of above 45 degrees for days on end.  Bailed to caravan parks over this period as air con was a life saver as well as having access to a swimming pool ( couldn't get motivated to swim in the Murray - its very muddy and not at all inviting looking albeit lovely camping alongside of it).  We basically rode out the heat wave by watching the Ozzie Open Tennis - at least there was something that could kill some of the  time in a van with all windows closed and blinds shut ( day and night !)

Along the Murray there is a ferry system for getting across to little towns etc.  It is deemed to be a road system so no charge and they run 24/7.  Became a pretty standard way of crossing from one side of the river to the other.

In Mildura ( Victoria) still riding out the heat wave and woke at 2am to a very strong smell of smoke.  Outside was really thick with it.  Nothing on phone or TV about it and within half an hour it had cleared. In the morning it transpired that there had been a wind change and this had brought the smoke in from a bushfire about 30kms away.  People pretty unfazed by it - said yeh they had smelt the smoke too but no need to do anything ! Something we hadnt experienced - makes you very aware of how close things get during the fire danger period.  Next day we went to a bushcamp as we had planned but after being there during the day decided it was too islolated ( only ones there which is usually a bonus) and no cell phone cover.  So travelled another few kms to an area that had other people and was just near a township.  No other close calls but not wishing it to happen again either

So we travelled along the Murray until we got to Echuca in Victoria.  Full circle from the beginning of our travels in May.  We arrived for Australia Day long weekend where we met up with Marsha and family as well as some friends of Marsha and Justin.  It was a lovely way to meet up again with the grandies who had a lovely time at the caravan park and all the activities it provided.
Finn stayed with us for a night after we left Echuca en route back to Melbourne.  He was a pleasure and so excited about sleeping in the caravan with Nanny and Grandad.

Add caption

 At end of Nullabor in a little place that had the littlest laundromat ever !

 A typical camp spot - often only us or only a couple of others.  Great.  You can see the rig and how close the spots generally were to the river bank and bush setting

 An historic town called Morgan which is at the north west part of the Murray River in South Oz

 A typical sunset along the Murray

Another view of a sunset on a very still night - stunning

A little place called Barham where this original lift bridge enables you to travel from Victoria on one side and NSW on the other other side of the Murray River

 Camping at Echuca.  Great weather.

 On a paddlesteamer at Echuca- historical town which featured on a movie " All the Rivers Run".

 Big bro in control

Think we may have to downsize to this if we keep putting dings in the van- did another one exiting from the caravan park at Euchuca.  However- a bit of serrindipity - always felt there was a lack of area to put the generator into so the caravan manufacturer is going to put a locker into the area that got the second ding !!! again without having to make an insurance claim

Finn ready for school and Neko ready for Daycare

So we have had over a week in Melbourne enjoying immersing ourselves with the family again and appreciating some home comforts.  Will probably head off again next week for some more terrains around Victoria.

 Hi Again.
Have had to load photos on separate blog
as Server had issues, probably due to the
amount of time it takes me to type..

Part way along Nullabor is this straight road
It doesn't appear to go for ever as you can only see 20kms before the earths curvature takes effect

The first camp site and sunset in SA. the cliffs are about 200ft high

 This has got to be the worlds smallest
Laundrette its in Fowlers Bay

 One of the flush toilet buildings at Cactus Beach
Wouldn't normally take photos of toilets, but this place is unique

The Southern Ocean out from Sceale Bay

Hi Everyone,

Over amonth since our last post, Internet coverage is our reason

We're now in Adelaide, arrived yesterday and staying with Marians brother for a couple of nights and then do our house sit for 7 days.

Arrived in Esperance we were there 14 years ago but our memories are so distorted and nothing looks the same. Found a great restaurant for anniversary called the Loose Goose, strange name but highly recommended and excellent food.
The wind waas still blowing and temps still in hi teens but it is spring so typical of weather there except a little cool.
We had the first problem with the toyota which was low oil pressure this turned out to be a faulty gauge so fitted a cheap gauge to monitor the pressure and will fit new sender unit in Adelaide.

We moved on from Esperance to Norseman which is the west side of the Nullabor and made our way to Ceduna the east side arrived 6 days and 1190kms later. People have said the Nullabor is so boring! admitidly theres not alot to go its no different to alot of the roads we have travelled and you start to see subtle difference in the surroundings and its not corrugated. The last 2 nights in WA we spent at Fowlers Bay and Cactus beach. FB is a loverly bay steeped in whaling history and CB is a surfing reserve which has been tastfully done as a bush camp.

From Ceduna to Streaky bay this a beatufull town and will explode during the summer season with holiday makers. Then to Sceale Bay,some of the best coastal scenery we have seen,Baird Bay, sealions and bird life in  ther natural enviroment and Murphy's hay stacks, an unusual rock outcrop in the middle of the wheat fields mistaken for haystacks by a Mr Murphy

We were treated to 2 thunder storms 1st at cactus and 2nd at Sheringa beach, amazing how much more severe they seem when your in the middle of nowhere. More lightening than thunder and rain so at night it really lite the caravan up.

Not going to bore you with every place we stopped at but there were many more great overnighters at National parks and DEC (Dept of Enviroment and Conservation) and free or privately owned camps on the way through to Adelaide, But will say that we spent a couple of nights in the Clare valley and one in the Barossa Valley, Some great scenery through here and the wines are great too. Will do some trips out from Adelaide back to Barossa and to McLaren Vale while were here. When the temp drops at present it 45.9 degrees yep thats hot.






We spend 4 1/2 moths in Western Australia and drove into SA on 1st Dec, The boarder crossing not so harsh as when we crossed into WA as we had eaten every thing that they were inspecting.

Before we finally left

November 18th Monday

Hi All,
We're now at Walpole. Almost seems strange to be on the way again, almost 3 weeks in Fremantle with the caravan parked up Matt/Nicky's drive. Very quickly feel back into work mode although its hard moving your day back as its light about 4.30 am no daylight savings and temps of 30+. Fremantle is a loverly city,we enjoyed a few meals out with Matt/Nicky and the weekends avoiding the heat. The beaches are really packed after work and the weekend
Thanks again to M&N for there hospitality and the use of his tools

We left Freo (3 weeks and I'm a local) and drove to Nannup. We met Frank and Jill earlier in to trip at a camp out of Kununara and again at 80 mile beach, we took up there offer to stay a few nights. Nannup is a loverly backwater town of 500 people and we camped at there farm 5kms out of town.

Nannup was a central spot and we did day trips to Margaret River,Augusta, Bridgetown( great cidery and brewery there) and Cape Leeuwin ( the most southwest point), Bought some wine at MR as you would and enjoyed one with Frank and Jill.

After 3 nights we needed to keep moving the 3 weeks in Freo had put us behind a little to be in Adelaide for the house sit at Xmas. So we have come direct to Walpole seeing sites on the way. The weathers alittle cool 18/8 and will stay that way for a few days. The camp has a great setting on an inlet lots of fishing/swimming/yatching etc with pelicans and rotunda on the jetty. Will be magic in the summer

Today we went to "The Valley of the Giants" Huge Tingle and Karri trees 400 yrs or more that have suffered from fires,insects etc to be hollowed out see photos. The area is so well done with an aerial walkway, about 360 m long so you walk mongst the trees 40m off the ground, as well as walking through the trees on the ground.

Tomorrow we start towards Esperance will take several days, as usual, but wedding anniversary on Saturday so need to find somewhere nice for a meal

 sunday at South Beach Freo

 Busselton Underwater Observatory at the end of the Pier

 The Busselton Pier 1.8kms long

 Lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin

 Walpole inlet motorcamp

 Giant Tingle tree

Same again




hope you enjoy the pics as much as we did taking them

Regards to you all Marian and Clive

9th November 2013
Its been a while - we arrived in Perth two weeks ago.  Clive was offered some building work through Matt whom we have been staying with, so we brought our stage of travel from Geraldton to Perth forward - flexibility is the name of the game !
I have taken the opportunity to have a week with Marsha and family - just lovely to reconnect with them all.  Finn starts school in January and is becoming a grown up young man.  Neko is terribly cute and has an amazing vocabulary for a not even 2 year old ( 21st Dec).
They have both transitioned into having me around with absolute ease so its lovely to know that they havent forgotten me/ us over the last 6 months.  Neko just called out to me ( I'm babysitting) " Nanny I need you" !!  She also has me totally won over as whenever she wants something she says " Please Nanny" in the cutest way !!!!  Works in her favor every time.
So, Clive's work will finish middle of next week then we will move ourselves along the south west coast of WA, heading to Adelaide by 18th December, where we will do a housesit for a week as well as spend some time with Brendan.
When we leave Adelaide we plan to head to Melbourne following the Murray River.  Conscious that it will be through the school holiday period then so think it may be slightly less crowed inland rather than coastal. It will also give us another part of Victoria that we haven't seen already.
 We are now seeing a real change in the scenery where there is actually green grass and pastoral land, in stark contrast to red dirt and very limited bush/ general growth.  no pics this time - don't have the camera stick with me.
Love to you all
Marian

Hello everyone
We're moving along slowly (and thats the best way) and now in Kalbarri. We decided to stay 5 nights as the camp offers one free also free wifi so been great to skype grandkids, emails etc.
Since leaving Carnavon we spent two nights at Quobba point which has a settlement of Humpys (bach or crib to us) made from corrugated iron and often old caravans, these are pretty run down but some are still used. Abit of an eye sore but interesting inthat it shows the interest in fishing that went on there before it became a sanctuary. Amaizing though is the Blow holes just up the road, water spout 30 to 40 metres in the air. We then moved on and spent a couple nights at Gladstone. An old port for out loading wool etc now abbandoned. Boy, was it windy overnight and got our first rain nearly closed the road. We now now what W.A. stands for, who thought Western Australia , WRONG "Windy Always" We then moved to Hamelin Station, still a working station 500,000 acres mainly sheep, beautifull camp with alot of new buildings. Went up to Denham and over to Monkey Mia and saw the Dolphins. Really gone commercial since we were there in 1999. As I said we're in Kalbarri, a seaside town next to a

Dolphin Feeding at Monkey Mia

Hamelin Station Camp, camp kitchen and BBQ area

Natures window Kalbarri NP

Pelican feeding Kalbarri beach front
 

Natures bridge Kalbarri coastal highway

'Z" bend Kalbarri NP

      

Quobba Blowholes

National Park. Great town, touristy but not to badly populated since school holidays over. The wind drops in the morning so we race out to see the attactions at the National Park and down the coastal road and then laze about in the afternoon maybe by a pool and then have happy hour with people we have met on the way, Great life for some 'aye'
Start off towards Perth in a couple of days, catch up with some friends, one expat irish/kiwi and others we met last trip, also going to the Perth 4x4 show, well I am. Now you now whos written the blog this time.
Send another Blog soon
Cheers Marian and Clive, 'kokoda kiwis'