Yes Billeeeee, Gunbower is on the main highway between Echuca and Swan Hill. Its all free camping so won't have to book. When I get Myrtle back will go for a drive and get any more info we might need.
Beth54 said
06:41 PM Aug 1, 2011
Happywanderer wrote:
Would be fantastic if Beth came too, great to see you all meeting up for coffee Pam, have a cream bun for me. Wombat is a funny man isn't he?
I'd love to, but too soon financially, for me to go on another long trip yet. I have a tentative plan to go to Vic next year. When's a nice time of year? IS there a nice time of year to visit Vic? Only stirring!
I think I'll be doing a few small runs within SEQ during the Spring, when I get my new/old vehicle.
Happywanderer said
07:00 PM Aug 1, 2011
Beth, In the winter its too cold and in the summer its too hot. But I don't mind the heat and would rather it to the cold so will trip around Vic in the summer. Summer would be the best time for you to leave Qld when it gets too hot up there. We don't have the same humidity down here. Know what you mean regarding costs. I think I can afford my new inhouse battery this week but I have a list a mile long of other things I want for Myrtle including new curtains, replace fire extinguisher, gas bottle. All that list have to be done before I head off up north on my next big trip.
Beth54 said
07:49 PM Aug 1, 2011
I don't like the heat or the cold.
I went to Vic in February several years ago, and never again. The dry heat reacts badly on my skin.
I can deal with the humidity as long as I can be nearer the coast or there's some water to get into...a pool or river, not the surf.
God I'm fussy hey?!
So I guess it'll be Autumn or Spring.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Monday 1st of August 2011 07:50:57 PM
jules47 said
09:48 PM Aug 1, 2011
All understandable Beth - the seasons in Vic are a lot different to up here - tho spring starts in September, it sometimes still feels like spring till almost Christmas - the hottest months are usually January and February - tho having said that - down there, anything can happen weatherwise - we have had the heater on Christmas Day, then the next year, air conditioning was the go - totally unpredictable - the way Victorians like their lives!!!!
Happywanderer said
09:56 PM Aug 1, 2011
Now now Jules, thats enough. I don't like the cold, I don't like the changeable weather. Must say the last two days have hit 20 so getting wamer. Yes Nov Dec is probably better than Jan and Feb which get stinking hot. And then again probably March April would be a good choice also.
Beth54 said
07:31 PM Aug 2, 2011
My d-i-l comes from Vic, her parents live in Sunbury. It seems they get both extremes there.
Every time they come up here in winter, they say it's not cold, but this year they felt it.
The Mum is the sort that nothing in Qld is as good as Vic!
Not even our hotdogs/frankfurters!
Happywanderer said
08:02 PM Aug 2, 2011
On news tonight Beth, they say we are having the hottest spell on record for this particular month. So far 3 days of 20 degrees and going up to 22 tomorrow. I'm wondering if we are in for a long hot summer down here.
jules47 said
08:54 PM Aug 2, 2011
Sure sounds like it doesn't it Marj - but it could just as easily turn cold again - I remember being pregnant with my son who was born in October 1977, and going through a heat wave in the September, and freezing cold when he was born a month later!
Pam said
08:23 PM Aug 7, 2011
I hope to come across for a day visit. Our camper is not set up for free camping.
Do you know definite dates yet?
Happywanderer said
08:53 PM Aug 7, 2011
Looks like the 1st week of November Pam. Some have said they are down for a week to 10 days in the area. I think they will come and go at different times. Will let you know closer to the time when I know more. I have your number, will give you a call. May get up to Deni for a day trip myself before then while running Myrtle in.
bill12 said
01:54 PM Aug 8, 2011
I see that the island is 50klms long, andthere are lots of camping places. What dates are you thinking of, and how will I find the campsite.Is there phone coverage. I would like to see Myrtle.Bill
Happywanderer said
02:19 PM Aug 8, 2011
Bill, My suggestion is to go in at Gunbower itself. Daughters b.in.l said go in beside the Gunbower pub. As I said above I can only estimate it to be 1st week in November. Its up to anybody and everybody to choose their own visit dates. Jonathan is hoping to go down and have a look there, perhaps stay a couple of nights sometime this week. Perhaps he will come up with the best spot to stay in. I can't get there as Myrtle still in the shop waiting on some parts, mainly speedo. The first weekend 5th / 6th is the Murrabit Market which is quite large and only just down the road from the other end, Koondrook end.
bill12 said
02:46 PM Aug 8, 2011
Sounds good. I am still finalising the sale of the business , and getting the HJ on the road.I hope to head south in October, but have no set plan.It would be nice to go down. We shall have to wait and see. Bill
jonathan said
06:24 PM Aug 8, 2011
Hi folks ..
Unfortunately I didn't get away to Gunbower today Marj .. was down in Kangaroo Flat by 0800 .. now at a place about 16 k's east of Elmore called Green Lake .. and its beautiful .. and I'm the only one here ..
To effectively look at Gunbower, I'll need to get there when its not so soaked. At the moment I wouldn't be able to get off the main roads to look around.
I'll find out tomorrow when I'm rrequired to go down to Kangaroo Flat to get some work done on the vehicle .. and I hope the weather dries up a little so that I can then look at Gunbower before I head up to Parkes in NSW ..
Keep you all advised ..
Jon
Happywanderer said
06:33 PM Aug 8, 2011
No point trying to check it out with all the wet we've had Jon. Myrtle still in the shop anouther couple of days, they are having trouble sourcing a speedo. When I get her back will go for a drive myself and take my camera. Then we'll all know.
Travel Bug said
09:44 PM Aug 8, 2011
Jon, thanks for the update.
Marj, good idea about the pics.
Cheers. Pam.
Pam said
08:03 PM Aug 9, 2011
Thanks Marj,
Will catch up .
PM when you think you may come for a drive.
Happywanderer said
06:39 PM Aug 14, 2011
Went for a drive down to Gunbower Island today. Different to what I expected. You turn right between pub and petrol station which by the way you can get a fishing license from. Cross over the bridge and travel about 7 ks. Just before the boat ramp, (about 20 metres) turn right into the Gunbower National Park, take the 1st turn left ( the others are a bit damp at the moment but will be dry by November) And drive along a track through some trees to the banks of the Murray River. At least 4 of the 7 ks is tar sealed, the rest is patchy, some sealed and some unsealed dirt/stones, not too bad though. There is a large sign at the gate of the National Park. We could see fish jumping around in the river and further along the banks could see other campers. The first lot were a family in a large caravan, looks like they had been set up there a while. and further along again was a one person set up, he had a fire going and was fishing. Where we parked was a large area with the remains of a fire and some flat mats looked like left from previous campers as door mats. Will post some photos.
Happywanderer said
06:43 PM Aug 14, 2011
This is the parking area showing the remains of a fire. and the last one you can see other campers down the river.
You can see all 5 in the first one, and one in the last Marj. Is that the vehicle you went in ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
Happywanderer said
08:14 PM Aug 14, 2011
Yes, that is S.in.L.s Nissan Patrol Sheba. There were twice as many cray pots as that, didn't get them all. Then we went to Torrumbarry Weir. That was different, took photos there too. There is a C/p next door to the weir, quite large and goes along the river bank. Got photos of the fish ladder, birds standing there waitng for the fish to come up. Saw a bird grab one, they are very quick.
Happywanderer said
08:18 PM Aug 14, 2011
You can see the fish ladder with the birds waiting.
Great shots Marj. Looks like plenty of space everywhere there. Are those People in boats in the second Pic. ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
Travel Bug said
08:58 PM Aug 14, 2011
Thanks for the photos Marj.
Looks like a good spot with lots of space.
Happywanderer said
10:31 PM Aug 14, 2011
Don't think there were any people in boats whin any of the photos. Although did see a boat go out from the boat ramp just along from the Gunbower Camp. Yes Pam definitely plenty of room for everyonhe but must be self contained, didn't see any toilets anywhere. S.inL. did say he thought his brother hires a portaloo from a compnay not far from there when they go camping. If there were a few who needed it might be worth looking into.
Ron and Shirley said
03:27 PM Aug 17, 2011
Been offline for awhile.
Is the proposed Gunbower Campsite in the National Park (no dogs/pets)?
Happywanderer said
03:37 PM Aug 17, 2011
Oh gosh Ron and Shirley, I don't know. On the outside of the National park, we drove for a while along the river, couldn't see any decent sized areas to park. River on one side and farms on the other side. If it turns out to be not suitable we can all move to somewhere else. Jonathan said Green Lake was good, down by Elmore. Same distance from here as Gunbower Island but in a different direction. But Gunbower Island is 50 ks long, I'm sure we can go up the other end and find something suitable. Or play it by ear when.........
I'd love to, but too soon financially, for me to go on another long trip yet. I have a tentative plan to go to Vic next year. When's a nice time of year? IS there a nice time of year to visit Vic?
Only stirring!
I think I'll be doing a few small runs within SEQ during the Spring, when I get my new/old vehicle.
But I don't mind the heat and would rather it to the cold so will trip around Vic in the summer. Summer would be the best time for you to leave Qld when it gets too hot up there. We don't have the same humidity down here.
Know what you mean regarding costs. I think I can afford my new inhouse battery this week but I have a list a mile long of other things I want for Myrtle including new curtains, replace fire extinguisher, gas bottle. All that list have to be done before I head off up north on my next big trip.
I don't like the heat or the cold.
I went to Vic in February several years ago, and never again. The dry heat reacts badly on my skin.
I can deal with the humidity as long as I can be nearer the coast or there's some water to get into...a pool or river, not the surf.
God I'm fussy hey?!
So I guess it'll be Autumn or Spring.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Monday 1st of August 2011 07:50:57 PM
Must say the last two days have hit 20 so getting wamer. Yes Nov Dec is probably better than Jan and Feb which get stinking hot. And then again probably March April would be a good choice also.
My d-i-l comes from Vic, her parents live in Sunbury. It seems they get both extremes there.
Every time they come up here in winter, they say it's not cold, but this year they felt it.
The Mum is the sort that nothing in Qld is as good as Vic!
Not even our hotdogs/frankfurters!
I'm wondering if we are in for a long hot summer down here.
Do you know definite dates yet?
May get up to Deni for a day trip myself before then while running Myrtle in.
Jonathan is hoping to go down and have a look there, perhaps stay a couple of nights sometime this week. Perhaps he will come up with the best spot to stay in.
I can't get there as Myrtle still in the shop waiting on some parts, mainly speedo.
The first weekend 5th / 6th is the Murrabit Market which is quite large and only just down the road from the other end, Koondrook end.
Hi folks ..
Unfortunately I didn't get away to Gunbower today Marj .. was down in Kangaroo Flat by 0800 .. now at a place about 16 k's east of Elmore called Green Lake .. and its beautiful .. and I'm the only one here ..
To effectively look at Gunbower, I'll need to get there when its not so soaked. At the moment I wouldn't be able to get off the main roads to look around.
I'll find out tomorrow when I'm rrequired to go down to Kangaroo Flat to get some work done on the vehicle .. and I hope the weather dries up a little so that I can then look at Gunbower before I head up to Parkes in NSW ..
Keep you all advised ..
Jon
Myrtle still in the shop anouther couple of days, they are having trouble sourcing a speedo. When I get her back will go for a drive myself and take my camera. Then we'll all know.
Jon, thanks for the update.
Marj, good idea about the pics.
Cheers. Pam.
Thanks Marj,
Will catch up .
PM when you think you may come for a drive.
You turn right between pub and petrol station which by the way you can get a fishing license from. Cross over the bridge and travel about 7 ks. Just before the boat ramp, (about 20 metres) turn right into the Gunbower National Park, take the 1st turn left ( the others are a bit damp at the moment but will be dry by November) And drive along a track through some trees to the banks of the Murray River.
At least 4 of the 7 ks is tar sealed, the rest is patchy, some sealed and some unsealed dirt/stones, not too bad though.
There is a large sign at the gate of the National Park.
We could see fish jumping around in the river and further along the banks could see other campers. The first lot were a family in a large caravan, looks like they had been set up there a while. and further along again was a one person set up, he had a fire going and was fishing.
Where we parked was a large area with the remains of a fire and some flat mats looked like left from previous campers as door mats.
Will post some photos.
This is the parking area showing the remains of a fire. and the last one you can see other campers down the river.
The white dots you can see in the water in one of the phots, might be in the last ones, are where the cray pots are located.
You can see all 5 in the first one, and one in the last Marj. Is that the vehicle you went in ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
There were twice as many cray pots as that, didn't get them all.
Then we went to Torrumbarry Weir. That was different, took photos there too. There is a C/p next door to the weir, quite large and goes along the river bank. Got photos of the fish ladder, birds standing there waitng for the fish to come up. Saw a bird grab one, they are very quick.
You can see the fish ladder with the birds waiting.
Torrumbarry Weir
Great shots Marj. Looks like plenty of space everywhere there. Are those People in boats in the second Pic. ?
Cheers,
Sheba.
Thanks for the photos Marj.
Looks like a good spot with lots of space.
Yes Pam definitely plenty of room for everyonhe but must be self contained, didn't see any toilets anywhere.
S.inL. did say he thought his brother hires a portaloo from a compnay not far from there when they go camping. If there were a few who needed it might be worth looking into.
Been offline for awhile.
Is the proposed Gunbower Campsite in the National Park (no dogs/pets)?
If it turns out to be not suitable we can all move to somewhere else. Jonathan said Green Lake was good, down by Elmore. Same distance from here as Gunbower Island but in a different direction.
But Gunbower Island is 50 ks long, I'm sure we can go up the other end and find something suitable. Or play it by ear when.........