Hi everyone, we're not long home from our little trip. It started from Romsey Victoria, (home ) early March, first stop " burnt bridge" just of Lakes Entrance, nice free camp. From there we went to sisters holiday house (5 acres just south of Pambula ) stayed for Easter and caught up with my brother who lives in Canberra ,that was great we hadn't been together for many years.
From there we had a short drive to Dalmeny cp run by the council, nice park right on the beach, great place. From there we went to Jambaroo "Kevin Walsh Oval", what a great little place it is ( up in the hills a bit but well worth the detour ).
I managed to bypass Sydney (how good is that )? Next stop The Entrance, you could call this heaven, great CP (over the bridge and turn right ). So far the weather gods have been on our side, drove through Newcastle what a nightmare (wife hadn't been there ). Myall Lakes was great no power but lovely spot, (weather gods not with us now ). Laurieton nice place and weather is picking up, great places too see from here. Coffs Harbour was next stop (CP right on highway not too much traffic noise at night ), so many drives from here and the fresh produce to die for. A short drive to Yamba was next based there for a few days (great seafood ). Took tug up to Byron Bay (what a disappointment ,rain like you wouldn't believe, traffic jams, no where to park. Cape Byron, paid $8 to park couldn't get out of car or see anything due to the rain). Glad we didn't take the van up there.
I suppose you are all bored by now.
The weather gods must have felt sorry for us now as the rain stopped and temperature improve, left Yamba turned left at Woodburn. Gee there are some beautiful little towns around this area. We ended up in Tenterfield (what a drive over the mountains ). Stayed at "Craigs CP" small but good, a very interesting place Tenterfield, a lot of history. On we go through Texas ( very RV friendly town), arrived in Goondiwindi in the afternoon stayed there for a few days ( so different from when I drove trucks interstate 30 years ago ). From there to Lightning Ridge (Glengarry Hilton and the other club out there ), love Lightning Ridge it's so different. Bourke was next, sad to see the bars on what few windows the shops have. Back o Bourke center is worth a visit. From here to a free camp 60 odd kms out of Cobar, then good old Broken Hill. So many things to do around here, went out to Silverton stayed a night a Penrose ,great CP power but no water.
Are you asleep yet? Ok I'll go on.
We're nearly there, next was Renmark Big4 on the river. While there we came across " the chook man " from Daly Waters Pub have seen him up there a couple of times. He comes from Paringa he is a great bloke to speak to, very intelligent and interesting and down to earth.
Then a nigh on The Murray near Robinvale, the a slow drive to Swan Hill for a night then Echuca for the last night of our trip.
Home now and planning our next trip.
Cheers OwenK.
gooba53 said
08:34 PM May 11, 2016
Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you've been up to. Weather sounds a bit disappointing but gee you got around and saw a bit. Good on you. Where to next?
Dianne
Bushpie said
08:40 PM May 11, 2016
Great to have you back Owen and even better to read of your travels.........appreciate the effort..........
Thanks
Dougwe said
08:45 PM May 11, 2016
Great info there Owen, sounds like you had a great trip. I spent 6 weeks in that mess at Byron Bay and only left there 1/5.
How did you "Bypass" Sydney?
Looking forward to your next instalment.
Keep Safe on the roads.
Vince said
09:49 PM May 11, 2016
Seems like a good trek ya had there.
Where did you stay in The Ridge?
Cheers
Vince
Gaylehere said
09:53 PM May 11, 2016
Always love hearing what fellow travelers are up too. Gives one ideas as to where to stay and what to look at when out and about. Cheers.
OwenK said
10:16 PM May 11, 2016
Hi Gaylehere, not real sure where to next but I love SA. So maybe The Eyre Peninsula. There was a lot more to tell about the trip just done. But yeah some times it's hard to condense things. (Thank Christ for spell check ).
Cheers Owen.
OwenK said
10:24 PM May 11, 2016
Hi Vince, we stayed at the opal cp, were there last year too. It's not the cheapest but gee you' ll love it. It's a bit out of town near the hot springs. Plenty to do around Lightning Ridge, must do apart from "car door" self drive tours you must go to Black Hand Mine incredible. Go out to the Glengarry Hilton (fairly rough road ).
Cheers Owen.
OwenK said
10:34 PM May 11, 2016
Hi Bushpie, yeah it was a great trip. Too short but we had a house-sitter and were limited to the amount of time to be away. Yeah we have 3 cats = house-sitter. They say they have 9 lives ( ×3=27). Not great, but they're good cats.
Cheers Owen.
Vince said
10:36 PM May 11, 2016
Hi OwenK
Just curious and yes we stayed at the Opal CP in March this year, nicest park in The Ridge IMO.
The Artesian Springs were a bit hot that time of year, so we went about 9:30 pm at night and it made for a good sleeping pill after a dip.
Chamber Of The Black Hand is a must for any visitor there and also The Walk In Mine was a favourite too.
I just love Australian black Opal and The Ridge is the best place to get it.
Cheers
Vince
Delta18 said
10:37 PM May 11, 2016
Where is this Burnt Bridge you spoke of? We will be in Lakes Entrance in a few months & may look in.
OwenK said
10:46 PM May 11, 2016
Hi Doug, Byron Bay isn't the place for us too busy. How did I bypass Sydney? I'm not too sure, headed for Picton then onto M7 I think, then to M2 I think follow signs to Newcastle, but I took exit to early and had to do a number of uturns. But we managed to miss the big S.
Ps hope you're having a great time in Townsville. I see you on GN all the tim
Cheers Owen.
OwenK said
10:55 PM May 11, 2016
Hi Delta18, it's about 12km past Lakes Entrance on the right hand side. It's on Wikicamps if you've got that also in Camps 7or8 or whatever number you have. It's in the state park.
Cheers Owen.
Desert Dweller said
05:38 AM May 12, 2016
Sounds like you had a great time! It's great going away but it's even better getting home safely. We spend a total of 6 months per year away on various length trips, couldn't stand living on the road full time.
pomme said
10:57 AM May 12, 2016
Hi Delta,
Be very careful when you visit the burnt bridge site, it's "burnt bridge track" as you pull off the road you go the camp spot but what
ever you do don't take your caravan any further, the track goes down hill to the creek, (no bridge there now as the powers that are took it away)
very good fishing spot, fished there for good sized bream for approx thirty years.
Ps. take a good supply of mozzie repellant.
Pomme.
OwenK said
03:37 PM May 12, 2016
Hi desert dweller, yeah we had a terrific time saw lots of new places met some great people. It's really great to get on "the road " , but like you I don't think "full time " is for us. Having a home base gives that security if something were to happen.
Cheers Owen.
BaupleNut said
05:55 PM May 12, 2016
Thanks for the tour Owen,so the seafood is still good at Yamba? Did you take the ferry to Iluka?
Delta18 said
11:22 AM May 17, 2016
Thanks Owen & Pomme, I'll keep that in mind in a couple months when we will be nearby.
Neil
OwenK said
09:09 PM May 17, 2016
Hi bauplenut, sorry for the delay with reply. Yeah the seafood is great (among some of the best we've had ). We ran out of time to do the ferry, we'll be back there for sure and the ferry will be on the list for sure.
Hi everyone, we're not long home from our little trip. It started from Romsey Victoria, (home ) early March, first stop " burnt bridge" just of Lakes Entrance, nice free camp. From there we went to sisters holiday house (5 acres just south of Pambula ) stayed for Easter and caught up with my brother who lives in Canberra ,that was great we hadn't been together for many years.
From there we had a short drive to Dalmeny cp run by the council, nice park right on the beach, great place. From there we went to Jambaroo "Kevin Walsh Oval", what a great little place it is ( up in the hills a bit but well worth the detour ).
I managed to bypass Sydney (how good is that )? Next stop The Entrance, you could call this heaven, great CP (over the bridge and turn right ). So far the weather gods have been on our side, drove through Newcastle what a nightmare (wife hadn't been there ). Myall Lakes was great no power but lovely spot, (weather gods not with us now ). Laurieton nice place and weather is picking up, great places too see from here. Coffs Harbour was next stop (CP right on highway not too much traffic noise at night ), so many drives from here and the fresh produce to die for. A short drive to Yamba was next based there for a few days (great seafood ). Took tug up to Byron Bay (what a disappointment ,rain like you wouldn't believe, traffic jams, no where to park. Cape Byron, paid $8 to park couldn't get out of car or see anything due to the rain). Glad we didn't take the van up there.
I suppose you are all bored by now.
The weather gods must have felt sorry for us now as the rain stopped and temperature improve, left Yamba turned left at Woodburn. Gee there are some beautiful little towns around this area. We ended up in Tenterfield (what a drive over the mountains ). Stayed at "Craigs CP" small but good, a very interesting place Tenterfield, a lot of history. On we go through Texas ( very RV friendly town), arrived in Goondiwindi in the afternoon stayed there for a few days ( so different from when I drove trucks interstate 30 years ago ). From there to Lightning Ridge (Glengarry Hilton and the other club out there ), love Lightning Ridge it's so different. Bourke was next, sad to see the bars on what few windows the shops have. Back o Bourke center is worth a visit. From here to a free camp 60 odd kms out of Cobar, then good old Broken Hill. So many things to do around here, went out to Silverton stayed a night a Penrose ,great CP power but no water.
Are you asleep yet? Ok I'll go on.
We're nearly there, next was Renmark Big4 on the river. While there we came across " the chook man " from Daly Waters Pub have seen him up there a couple of times. He comes from Paringa he is a great bloke to speak to, very intelligent and interesting and down to earth.
Then a nigh on The Murray near Robinvale, the a slow drive to Swan Hill for a night then Echuca for the last night of our trip.
Home now and planning our next trip.
Cheers OwenK.
Dianne
Thanks
How did you "Bypass" Sydney?
Looking forward to your next instalment.
Keep Safe on the roads.
Where did you stay in The Ridge?
Cheers
Vince
Hi Gaylehere, not real sure where to next but I love SA. So maybe The Eyre Peninsula. There was a lot more to tell about the trip just done. But yeah some times it's hard to condense things. (Thank Christ for spell check ).
Cheers Owen.
Hi Vince, we stayed at the opal cp, were there last year too. It's not the cheapest but gee you' ll love it. It's a bit out of town near the hot springs. Plenty to do around Lightning Ridge, must do apart from "car door" self drive tours you must go to Black Hand Mine incredible. Go out to the Glengarry Hilton (fairly rough road ).
Cheers Owen.
Hi Bushpie, yeah it was a great trip. Too short but we had a house-sitter and were limited to the amount of time to be away. Yeah we have 3 cats = house-sitter. They say they have 9 lives ( ×3=27). Not great, but they're good cats.
Cheers Owen.
Just curious and yes we stayed at the Opal CP in March this year, nicest park in The Ridge IMO.
The Artesian Springs were a bit hot that time of year, so we went about 9:30 pm at night and it made for a good sleeping pill after a dip.
Chamber Of The Black Hand is a must for any visitor there and also The Walk In Mine was a favourite too.
I just love Australian black Opal and The Ridge is the best place to get it.
Cheers
Vince
Where is this Burnt Bridge you spoke of? We will be in Lakes Entrance in a few months & may look in.
Hi Doug, Byron Bay isn't the place for us too busy. How did I bypass Sydney? I'm not too sure, headed for Picton then onto M7 I think, then to M2 I think follow signs to Newcastle, but I took exit to early and had to do a number of uturns. But we managed to miss the big S.
Ps hope you're having a great time in Townsville. I see you on GN all the tim
Cheers Owen.
Hi Delta18, it's about 12km past Lakes Entrance on the right hand side. It's on Wikicamps if you've got that also in Camps 7or8 or whatever number you have. It's in the state park.
Cheers Owen.
Be very careful when you visit the burnt bridge site, it's "burnt bridge track" as you pull off the road you go the camp spot but what
ever you do don't take your caravan any further, the track goes down hill to the creek, (no bridge there now as the powers that are took it away)
very good fishing spot, fished there for good sized bream for approx thirty years.
Ps. take a good supply of mozzie repellant.
Pomme.
Hi desert dweller, yeah we had a terrific time saw lots of new places met some great people. It's really great to get on "the road " , but like you I don't think "full time " is for us. Having a home base gives that security if something were to happen.
Cheers Owen.
Neil
Hi bauplenut, sorry for the delay with reply. Yeah the seafood is great (among some of the best we've had ). We ran out of time to do the ferry, we'll be back there for sure and the ferry will be on the list for sure.
Cheers Owen.