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'

5th October
Greetings again - from Carnarvon about 1000kms from Perth.  We have enjoyed taking plenty of time out at a couple of great spots.  From Karratha we ended up spending a week at Cape Range National Park and being wowed by the Ningaloo Reef.  We thought we had already experienced and been impressed by aqua waters and white sand- but the spot we were in and all along this coast absolutely excelled.  Fabulous clear aqua water with lovely snorkelling and swimming.  This part of the coast is world renowned for being such an accessible reef right on the beach which enables you to just swim out a little or a long way and be protected by the coral reef boundary.  Clive went fishing with our neighbour and they did quite well - we got three meals of fish for the freezer !

We then moved to another great spot and spent a week there - Warroora station which has one of its boundaries on the same reef but further south.  pretty windy there but spectacular spot overlooking the sea.

We plan to get to Perth first week of November where we will catch up with some friends and have a bit of a look around Perth.  It is about 15 years ago that we had a holiday in Perth and surrounds so it will be interesting to see what we remember and what we have forgotten.

We are now past our 6month stage of our trip.  Some things that have shown to be really useful through the time on the road:

Crocs - the shoes not the animal !
microfibre towels ( thanks Linda)
Wide brimmed hat and sunnies
portable gas ring - even though we have all the facilities inside the van
fold up chairs
Smart phone and an app called wikicamps- this has given us great information on the range of camping areas available in the surrounding area we are heading to.  People provide feedback and prices which are all totally up to date.

We plan to get to Melbourne later in January so we can be around when Finn starts school on 27th Jan.  We will then head off for about another month and do some of the Victoria area. 

So in the meantime we still have many thousands of kms to cover which no doubt will continue to impress us with the vastness and variance of scenery.

pic 1 - view of Ningaloo reef from caravan kitchen window !.  The photo doesnt do justice to the aqua water and white sand contrast.

Pic 2 catch of the day at Cape Range National Park

pic 3 1 mile jetty at carnarvon

love and best wishes to you all

Friday 13th September !
We are now in Karratha which is a very industrial / mining focused main hub in the Pilbarra. Since last post we have been through 2 national parks - each delivering spectacular scenery and yes more gorges.  Each one continues to be unique and really impresses on you the sheer scale of nature at its finest.
We had the pleasure of the company of a couple with their 3 children who are from Tasmania and doing the entire circuit of Oz over a year.  They started in Feb from Melbourne so we are following a similar path back.  We travelled with them through Karijini and Millstream National Parks and hope we will see them again on our travels down the west coast.

Had a couple of nights at a DEC site on the coast about 40 kms from Karratha - beautiful setting with absolute sea views and very few people near us.  unfortunately Clive got attacked again by sand flies which have been proven to be a bit of a problem and sounds like will do for a while yet while on the coast.  They love him and hate me ( not complaining) but it is weird how that happens.  Whatever I have that doesnt appeal I should bottle.  So we came to Karratha but also to try and sort out some solar power issues we are having- nothing major but it has highlighted that our first experience caravanning has posed some things that we know nothing about ( and thats some admission from Clive who can normally figure techno things).  We will continue to see if some strategies we have taken help and at least now we are no majorly isolated from some main centres along the way.

Climate continues to be idyllic- mid 30's ( we did strike high 30's in the National Parks and really felt that) but comfortable temps at night.
Some pics this time
1 . Cape Keraudren - thats us you will see behind the other two vans - fabulous spot
2. just one of the huge number of road trains particularly through the mining areas
3. Spectacular Fortescue Gorge in Karijini National Park.  Wonderful swimming and dont worry - no crocs
4. Huge vistas of amazing landscape through Millstream National Park
5. Boxing kangaroos to entertain us at breakfast time- right outside the caravan
6 Python Pool just towards the end of Millstream National Park.

We are now heading towards Exmouth which is a very popular destination particularly for Perth people.  so may be contending with the crowds but we have noticed a drop off of numbers travelling as the weather warms up more up north.  Many are now heading south for their spring and summer.

2nd september. greetings from port Hedland about 600kms south of Broome. so we have been moving along and absolutely just keeps delivering along stunning coastline. we have had another range of stopovers averaging two- three nights at each. Port Hedland has surprised us in that we knew it is a mining and industrial town but its been a plrasa.lolnt enough stay and enjoyed a day looking around the port and other sights. we go to Karijini national park tomoorrow which is meant to b the jewel in the crown for WA . we are having trouble imagining things being better than what we have seen and expeenced to date. this will be for prob 4 to 5 days then we will be back at the coast again.

23rd August
Greetings from Broome - again but by choice.  we have had almost 2 weeks at Quondong point which was just a lovely place and couldnt move ourselves- also decided to stay there to time it for us to come back to Broome for staircase to heaven when the moon rise co-incides with low tide - a wonderful site.  the weather is certainly warm and have had some windy days which may become the reality at this time of year as we head down the coast- they say its called WA meaning windy australia !

Some pics which are slightly out of order
1. A whale that Clive saw as it became stranded on rocks near where our campsite was.  it was clearly distressed as it came towards the rocks and made a valiant effort to try to get out again but sadly didnt make it.  within a day or so there were sharks having a great feed but after a few more days even they werent around - it wasnt too savoury = fortunately we were far enough away for it not to be noticeable.  Apparently it would have been not possible to access where it was to get it back to see.  a number of sightseers each day asking us for directions.

2. Staircase to the moon. this happens each month for about 7 months at Roebuck Bay at Broome.  it particularly happens at this spot as at low tide the mudflats create a reflection which creates the staircase effect.

3 A view from our campsite where we had almost to ourselves

Better go
love to everyone
Clive and Marian

hi everyone its been a while limited net access and no photos sgain sorry. doing this from phone so it all runs as one ewentry ie no sentences or paragraphs. we have travelled gibb river road which was filled withamazingly beautiful scenery gorges escarpments red cliffs and blue blue skies.. we then had a few days in broome. its a great wee place. reminds us of a very small version of darwin. low to mid thirties went for the fsmous camel ride at sunset at cable beach. a highlight so far. we rode on alice who had a crush onn bulley in front so she just stayed beside him the whole way. he most totally disinterested. . we have hsd the last week at cape leveque which is a peninsula north of broome. we are having serious trouble moving from the area. we have had absolute beachfront sites turquoise ocean white sand and seim whenever takes our fancy.  think we will start the initial southwards travels  from tuesday (happy birthday for tuesday Marsha)but who knows. we will have to ventre out when food and water supplies run lowas we gave no facilities here at all. the van is doing very well. solar power gas water heating and good water storage. have no ifdea whats happened in the world but its still here.

1st August 2013
Greetings for the top of north WA.  We arrived in Derby today having crossed the Gibb River Road.  Jenny and Bill you will be proud of me for overcoming my desire NOT to do it.  I didnt poo myself but got very close many times.  But as you and others said the scenery. gorges and uniqueness of the Kimberley was just amazing and unable to be appreciated without being there to see it yourself.

We met up with a couple from Victoria on our way through to Kunanurra - Bob had some trouble with his brakes on his rig so Clive came to the rescue. We ended up travelling with them as support for them through to Lake Argyle where we  thought we would part ways.  However they offered to change their itinerary and travel with us through Gibb River Road if that would help persuade me to do it.  A very generous offer as they have done it twice before - we took them up on it.  So 7 days later and very dusty and dirty we did it.  We go to Broome tomorrow and then officially start our travels down the west coast for however long that will take us.  Rough guesstimate is that we will get towards Perth sometime in November.

We have met some great people on the way ( and some strange ones as well !). - we regularly have people commenting on the van and asking to see it as they are really impressed with it.  it would be unusual not to have this happening at every stop we make.  We continue to have a wide variety of places where we stay - the solar power and self containment is absolutely great.  and then we also have powered sites periodically where we enjoy having aircon, running water and no limits on water consumption.

Some trouble posting pics so will send this off as text only and then try to follow with pics. it will only a very small range of what we have taken - they cant always do justice to what is before your eyes.

17th July 2013
We are very close now to crossing the border from Northern Territory to Western Australia.  We will do this tomorrow minus our fruit and veges as there is stringent border control between the two states.  The days have been hot and mild nights which will be the case for a long time to come.

Yesterday was Doms 4th birthday - had a lovely chat with him - being 4 is pretty cool.  he had a lovely party and space rocket cake - only sorry we werent there to share it with him.

We had a day out off road without the caravan - went to a homestead which is way out in the boonies - a cattle mustering station which had been preserved from how it was in the 60s.  It was seriously affected by major floods in 1977. It again reinforces the incredible isolation and challenges due to being serviced by very rough roads.  The landcruiser and caravan are covered in red dust from other camp sites we have gone off road.  We rock on into camping grounds and sit amongst the pristine white caravans and cars etc.  Stick out like sore thumbs.

A wee story to amuse you.  Went to the toilet and in process of flushing and what starts climbing up the inside of the bowl was a cane toad !! OMG- did I get a fright but probably not nearly as unpleasent as it would have been for the toad.

Tried putting up some pics  but the link is very weak.  will do some next time

Some pics from the trip to Darwin and Litchfield National Park

pic 1 - the obligatory Mindle Beach sunset and Market at Darwin- wonderful setting and enjoyable relaxed evening on the beach and at th market.

Pic 2 Litchfield National Park - a beautiful natural swimming hole where you could select whichever pool you fancied swimming in including whether you wanted to have a feature waterfall to go with it

Pic 3 had to take this one for Finn - Marsha - make sure Finn sees this pic - he will be a bit tickled by that we think

pic 4 - just to make a change from sunsets and waterfalls - magnetic termite mound in Litchfield Park

pic 5 contrast of burn off on one side of off road and re growth on the other ( Litchfield Park)

pic 6 Wangi Falls- stunning setting including swimming, camping ground ( we didnt stay at the camp as it was full and chose to base ourselves at a different camp and did day trips without have to tow the caravan around each day.

Litchfield National Park

11th July 2013
Been a bit tardy on the blog - its busy being a tourist you know !
Sitting outside at 9pm  at Katherine and its about 26 degrees !  and actually no real issues with mozzies either.
We have had an excellent experience travelling from Katherine to Darwin ( Darwin didnt disappoint again - it is a lovely setting - just a shame it is so bloody far from everywhere), Litchfield National Park ( spectacular !).  we did Kakadu 3 years ago and that was amazing but completely different to Litchfield.  we had at least one swim every day in different and  beautiful natural pools that have waterfalls as a back drop.  Heaps of photos which we will try and upload some soon - just a bit short of data at present.
We are now back in Katherine to do a bit of stocking up etc before we head directly west along the Victorian Highway towards Kunnunara and then Broome - at least a thousand Kms or so !

We have had a wide range of places we have stayed at- of course the caravan parks enable some comforts such as power and running water as well as ability to stock up etc.  so there have been some of those but we have also stayed at a couple of different working stations that have diversified for tourism- very hospitable and pleasant settings, freedom camping where you are totally self sufficient but really doing the whole hard yards ( still with the comforts that the caravan provides !).

So at the risk of rubbing it in too much about warm weather etc we have forgotten what its like to have rain and overnight temps of less than 20.  We also have to check in what date and day it is - week days run into weekends and feel no different- hasnt taken long to shift out of the working realities.  It is incredible how many people are on the road and the number of Victorians outnumber any other Oz states.  Have met a few Kiwis but they have actually lived in Oz for some time- no- one yet doing what we are but theyre bound to be out there somewhere !!

So hopefully will get some photos up in next day or so and will touch base en route to Broome.

29th June 2013
we are travelling steadily north towards Darwin. Since last post we have stayed in a variety of places - all with their own unique flavour.  These have included freedom camping en route to Tennent Creek, Banka Banka Station which has been diversified to enable camping in a lovely spot- great hospitality and an enjoyable overnight stay.  From Banka Banka to a roadside freedom camp ( you start to not hear the trucks passing by through the night !) then a favourite place from our last visit - Mataranka and Bitter Springs- beautiful clear natural springs at 30 degrees temp.  you can visit as often as you like so needless to say it was hard to resist over the two days we were there. Not disappointed this time - it will always be a favourite.  So shorts, T-shirts and togs are now the norm on a day to day basis.
we have had two nights in Katherine- a caravan park with green grass !! you do get to appreciate the things we take for granted in NZ.  We move towards Darwin tomorrow but will take a couple of days to do this- have booked into Darwin as it has limited caravan parks and its the school holidays for the next 3 weeks.  Totally open to where and how fast we go after Darwin other than knowing we will go to Litchfield National Park and start moving south again before we head West towards Broome.

All going well - have trouble remembering which day of the week it is ( sorry to rub that in but it doesnt take long).

Pic 1 is up on a hill looking down on Banka  Banka station - a tiny piece of the actual station
Pic 2 Bitter Springs- photos cant do it justice and really hard to get out of !
Pic 3 Mataranka- also hard to get out of
Pic 4 Katherine - low level nature reserve - Briar and Paul will recognise it well
Pic 5 Sunset tonight at Katherine.

Jenny and Bill - meant to say - your recommendation to stay at the Finke river freedom camp was spot on - a delightful spot in the West Macs.

23rd June 2013
we are now steadily moving north - will be in Katherine in a few days.  Will spend couple of days there enjoying the warm Katherine Gorge water and prior to Katherine spend some time at Mataranka and Bitter Springs- well known for their lovely warm natural springs.  We have now progressed to shorts and t- shirts- a sure sign of the warmer northern territory weather - only a little nudge / reminder that it won't be that pleasant in NZ or other parts of lower Oz

We spent a couple of days in the West MacDonnell ranges west of Alice Springs- a beautiful part of the country with many national park camping areas.  Beautiful weather and beautiful, majestic scenery that makes you appreciate just what Mother Nature is capable of - albeit 800 million years ago !  Great freedom camping areas too.

Some pics to try and demonstrate the majesty of this area.

Pic 1 - Ochre pits
Pic 2 Redbank Gorge
Pic 3 Ghost Gum Tree Lookout.  Note - not too proud to wear the hat with net - forwarned is forearmed for the fly brigade !
Pic 4 Simpsons Gap
Pic 5 - Devils Marbles - en route to Tennant Creek.

19th June
some photos :
1-2 Mildura- a lovely spot - our campsite was right on the Murray River
3-5 Silverton- about 20kms from Broken Hill.  now a ghost town but with very interesting history.  Loved the donkey who wandered freely around the place and was baying at the shop door for lunch ! only in the outback !!
6-7 Broken Hill.  Amazing piece of architecture - memorial to the miners and a restaurant high above Broken Hill.  oversize seat - no I havent shrunk that much !
8-9 CooberPedy - Barren and underground accommodation - not for me but its how many of the locals live- consistent temperature all year round

Its only 16 degrees in Alice today- the locals are feeling it alot.