Mt Gambier

spida · Guru

Mt Gambier

Cruising Cruze · Guru

Its done for a reason Spida maybe not important to you but very important to the farmers millions are involved

why do you think there are so many stop't with food at the airports

please just think abouth it

it's only done to keep everything healthy and free from pest an diseases

Gerty Dancer · Guru

It lets the system down when theres gaps between quarantine check-points, I'm sure people who are aware of their location take advantage to bring fruit/veg interstate, putting all our efforts to waste.

spida · Guru

I have absolutely no objection to abiding by the law and getting rid of all fruit and veg.
What I do object to is the fact that inspite of all the dire warnings NO-ONE bothers to check. If they are serious then stop us and make sure, otherwise the word will get out that there is no need to bother as you wont be checked. I was so prepared to be stopped, and went through everything many times and worried about my dried fruit and nut snacks.....

fireheart · Senior Member

There has never been a personal checkpoint between Vic and SA in the South East. It relies on an honesty system with the dump bins just over the SA border.
I remember many moons ago as a little girl going and checking the bin that was not far from my Aunties place at the time to see if there was any fruit in there. Never retrieved much, but do remember bannanas once and feeling so pleased with ourselves, my cousin and I took them back only to be told we were not allowed to eat them and they had to go in the bin. Still it did not stop us from going on our little expeditions to the bin on a Saturday afternoon while the Mum's did whatever Mum's did back then, and we were probably complaining about them as we wandered up the road as all youngies do when sent off to play while you are sure there is something so much more interesting happening around the kitchen table.

herbie · Guru

Spida may be they think only honest people use this entry point into SA ...Did the same thing as you did first time we went that way...there was back packers at the free stop and when they realized there was no human to check out our rigs they just put all their fruit vegies and what ever , back into Whizzz BANGGGGG and drove on through.So again it only work's if you are honest and care about our farmers welfare.

A must see in the Mount is the sink hole and another grate spot is out at a place called Black fellows Rocks (maybe the name has changed now , but that is what it was called last time we were there .

Regards Herbie.

Wayne Dwop · Veteran Member

spida wrote:
Feeling DONE! All that worry about making sure there was nothing in the way of fruit and veg when I crossed the border (where actually is it - didnt see a sign) - and not a single quarrantine stop in sight! (from Dartmoor). People wandering around the free camp there trying to give away fresh fruit etc for nothing. I did cook up potatoes and onions so didnt have much to get rid of luckily. Still - the day we risk it they will open the stop I guess!
Any nomads around Mt Gambier? Will be off to a free camp tomorrow for a few days, working my way up towards Adelaide.

Quarantine road signs and fruit disposal bins

Highways not serviced by permanent quarantine roadblocks have quarantine road signs and honesty fruit disposal bins. You must dispose of any prohibited fruit and vegetables at these sites. These roads are subject to random roadblock operations. If you are detected carrying fruit and vegetables past these bins you will be fined.

Quarantine road signs and fruit disposal bins are located on the:

Nelson Highway near Mount Gambier
Princes Highway near Mount Gambier
Glenelg Highway near Mount Gambier
Wimmera Highway near Naracoorte
Dukes Highway near Bordertown
Stuart Highway at Marla

BriVee · Veteran Member

Hi Spida, yes spot checks are carried out and fines issued to those caught. Apart from that hope you enjoy our lovely Mount check out the Umpherston Sinkhole and take some fruit to feed the possums at night smile also walk around the Blue Lake and have a coffee at the coffee shop which sells the tickets to tour the pumping station ($3.50 for coffee and complimentary chocolate) and head down to Plants on Sturt (Sturt St) for a light lunch, spend the afternoon at the main corner and see the free movie Volcano. Take a picnic down to the lakes and enjoy the walk in the wild life enclosure, it's currently being upgraded I think but is a great little walk. oh I believe cheap camping may be available at the showgrounds the council office should be able to tell you about that, Our library has free internet too both wifi for your own laptop and also pc's for those without. Then again dont forget the great vineyards of the Coonawarra lots of free wine tastings if you are into wines, visit Mary Mckillop centre in Penola, the info place in Penola has heaps of local information and free maps. Kingston on the way to Adelaide has now got a free 24 hour r v park - its opposite the fish and chip shop near the jetty on the forshore at the center western edge of town. Also Langhornes Creek has a lovely free camp spot opposite some wineries. And if you are heading up to Barmera ask about the R V Park at Bruce Oval, $5 a night, not sure if this has been approved yet but it is in the offing has been mooted as being for a max 4 night stay, donation for water to fill tanks. However if going through Naracoorte dont forget the caves up there. Have only just got back from Yankalilla so am out of date with the nomads forum hope this info is not too late for you. Cheers Veronica smile

BriVee · Veteran Member

The free camp at Langhornes Creek is called Frank Potters Reserve has plenty of shade or sunshine for solar panels, when we passed through yesterday there were about 6 vans spread across the area another 15 could fit in comfortably with plenty of elbow room smile

Victor Harbor is a lovely spot but dont know of any free camps however the Adare camp ground set in a bushland area is offering 4 nights for $60 however I personally dont know it. The Flinders Ranges are beautiful, as are numerous small towns around Adelaide. This website may assist you http://www.australiancampsites.com.au/ it is new and still accumulating sites. Heaps to see in the Riverland but you do have to watch out the fruit fly zones they are ultra strict but it is a beautiful spot. There are about 10 ferries scattered along the river and several bridges if you cant find one ask a local they are very friendly and will soon inform you of their distances.

Enjoy yourself in this lovely state however I am sorry to say they truly have not recognised the benefits of being R V Friendly towns as most seem to encourage use of the parks. Oh whilst I think of it Strathalbyn has a great coffee shop and bakery in the High Street next door to the old fashioned lolly shop, it's a must stop on our trips through, in case you havent guessed by now, I love a good coffee. Tomorrow we will be in Plants on Sturt about 10:30 for my coffee fix if you are in the vacinity would like to say hello. A Kiwi is the proprietor Sonja is her name.

Cheers, Brian & Veronica

-- Edited by BriVee on Wednesday 27th of February 2013 12:39:26 PM

spida · Guru

Thank you for all the suggestions Veronica - am really enjoying this lovely town. Will find your free camp also - am wondering where to go next.

Thank you Wayne - I am pleased to hear that there are random checks. As an ex-farmer I understand about these things and was just really concerned that the check points were not 'manned'.