Heaps of old gold mining towns in Vic- El Dorado is a good one, Dunnolly, private message Goldfinger, he lives near Bendigo and knows all the good spots. Enjoy, watch out for fires.

Thanks for the update spida

Hi All You Solos,

I'm in Mannum SA visiting friends. Mannum is a lovely little town (north of Murray Bridge)  with a FANTASTIC mechanic who has a dual trade certificates. He is also a Auto Electrician. I highly recommend Wayne  the owner of Mannum Automotive Centre 08 8569 1602 .....I know this because he is fixing work done on my car and van which was supposably done by qualified persons at the time I purchased my van .... He has found backwards wired, wrong sized wiring, faulty wiring etc etc which has been causing me no end of trouble with flat car batteries and van batteries that just wont charge either by driving or by the 2x 120w solar panels.  Oh ...one of those was stuffed too and the wiring too small to work efficiently...and the fridge not working on 12v when travelling etc etc and the list goes on. But he is sorting it all out for me.

Apart from that, the weather is hot during the day and cool overnight -- today 26* day and 14* overnight tonight with low humidity. Mannum rarely gets rain as it is in a rain shadow but as it is situated on the Murray River they pump from there.
Mannum Waters Marina is a huge new house boat marina and new housing development overlooking the water. The sunset photo shows the marina in the background and my car and van at the bottom of my friends drive.

There are 2 supermarkets, pubs, hospital and plenty of quaint shops to cater for locals and tourists as well as the businesses that service this crop - rye I think and onion growing area. The town has moorings for paddle steamers too as well as houseboats for hire. Adelaide is 1 1/2 hours drive from here.
The bird life is wonderful. Pelicans, crows, spoonbill ibis (I think), black kites - many circling in the thermals, shags, black swans and many more. In the highest trees along the river big nests built by maybe eagles can be seen.

Water sports are popular on the river and BBQ's on the lawn at the waters edge in town are too. It is a lovely place to visit.

NB...There USE to be free camping on the other side of the Murray River accessed by a 24 hour Free Ferry but the council in all there so called wisdom has now attached a FEE of $10- a night. This is recent so many camping info still lists this site as free. There is a new Dump Point at the camping area though.

Panther wrote:

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Hi All You Solos,

I'm in Mannum SA visiting friends. Mannum is a lovely little town (north of Murray Bridge)  with a FANTASTIC mechanic who has a dual trade certificates. He is also a Auto Electrician. I highly recommend Wayne  the owner of Mannum Automotive Centre 08 8569 1602 .....I know this because he is fixing work done on my car and van which was supposably done by qualified persons at the time I purchased my van .... He has found backwards wired, wrong sized wiring, faulty wiring etc etc which has been causing me no end of trouble with flat car batteries and van batteries that just wont charge either by driving or by the 2x 120w solar panels.  Oh ...one of those was stuffed too and the wiring too small to work efficiently...and the fridge not working on 12v when travelling etc etc and the list goes on. But he is sorting it all out for me.

Apart from that, the weather is hot during the day and cool overnight -- today 26* day and 14* overnight tonight with low humidity. Mannum rarely gets rain as it is in a rain shadow but as it is situated on the Murray River they pump from there.
Mannum Waters Marina is a huge new house boat marina and new housing development overlooking the water. The sunset photo shows the marina in the background and my car and van at the bottom of my friends drive.

There are 2 supermarkets, pubs, hospital and plenty of quaint shops to cater for locals and tourists as well as the businesses that service this crop - rye I think and onion growing area. The town has moorings for paddle steamers too as well as houseboats for hire. Adelaide is 1 1/2 hours drive from here.
The bird life is wonderful. Pelicans, crows, spoonbill ibis (I think), black kites - many circling in the thermals, shags, black swans and many more. In the highest trees along the river big nests built by maybe eagles can be seen.

Water sports are popular on the river and BBQ's on the lawn at the waters edge in town are too. It is a lovely place to visit.

NB...There USE to be free camping on the other side of the Murray River accessed by a 24 hour Free Ferry but the council in all there so called wisdom has now attached a FEE of $10- a night. This is recent so many camping info still lists this site as free. There is a new Dump Point at the camping area though.

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 Hi Panther - hope you don't mind but I have to say that pink typing is very hard on my eyes, I love the choice of your pink theme (my niece is around 30, and she won't wear anything else than pink - even her hair).  As for Mannum, I have heard that many stories about from friends, I will get there one day.  All the towns down the Murray around that way are lovely.

The silos in Toodyay WA are being painted as well - couple of them are abstract designs, and others have people on them - look great!!! Can just see the ones at Grong Grong (where they kick the footy over the silo (Victoria)) - done with Billy Brownless booting the footy over the silos - would be grea advertising!!

Cover pic is of Swimcart beach, St Helens Tas. Am back there again, absolutely love this place good fishing and peace and quiet.

I remember Mannun well and had spent many Easter Long Weekends camped there across the river from the main street. i vividly remember the floods of 1955 when the water was up and around the shops and i think the pub which was on higher ground the only premises not affected by the flood. Back in the 50s floods were a regular occurrence and the Murray Cod were very large at least 2ft (60 cms) in length, sadly those days are gone since the other states have tapped into the murray waters for irrigation. As kids we used to ride the punt at night and climb up on the back of the trucks being ferried across and help ourselves to the water melon and rock melons. Cheers Allen

adreamer wrote:

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Do I book the park when I get there?

You look like you are enjoying your travels.  We might catch up somewhere along the way.

Helen

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 Hi Adreamer,

I haven't been there but I did ask my friend about your enquiry re booking and this is her response
"Its a huge camping area with good amenities and some powered sites. Didn't check the payment system but its a Lions club project so just enquire at the pub or store on your was down to the campground. "

I hope this info helps re Brim and its camping area.

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Two beautiful towns to visit...1st..Cobram on the Vic side of the Mighty Murray..great place to stay over only 1hr from Shepparton..from there planning day trips to many varied and interesting places..folks super friendly esp in center pub...truelly great place..paddle steamer/sports club..golf club/senic drives etc..
2nd...Manilla on the fossickers way, looking from Syd towards Tamworth it is left then 45klms above...2 rivers meet in the town plus close to Keepit Dam/ Splitrock Dam..2nd listing for Hang Gliding in the world/caravan park right on the river, nothing toffy but clean and well maintained/good shopping etc plus 30min drive into Tamworth which has everything to offer..hugs Salty

Am in Cobram as I write this waiting for mate to be discharged from hosp plus another lady on her way to join me to share a few klms..