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Big Rigs on the road. We had to pull over and stop to allow this rather large mining truck to pass. Set off into sunny skies, very flat, low scrubs, few trees and sparse grass lands. Wentworth on the Murray River Wentworth is where the Darling River meets Australias longest river, the Murray. The Darling …

Head off towards Broken Hill. The distance is 450klm. We intended to overnight at Wilcania, but made go time. The weather was sunny and the drive easy and flat. It is a small town in the Central Darling Shire with a population of 750. The Darling River flows through the town, and during the River …

Head off towards Cobar for the night, another clear sunny day. Typically we travel around 300klm per day, with a stop for lunch in an outback town or if not a rest area (Lay-by)which there are many along the way. Narromine Population 3500, also has lakes and wetlands and plenty of wildlife. It also has …

Orange Home of The Wiradjuri people. A convict settlement was established in the 1820’s, which was named Blackman’s Swamp after James Blackman. Orange was named by Thomas Mitchell, who was an associate of the Prince of Orange in The Peninsula War. Graziers began occupation of this region in the late 1820’s. Orange is renowned for …

  After a great break in Canberra, we set off for Bathurst 275klm north via Goulburn, Black Spring and Oberon. There are a couple of routes, we decided on the more varied path with steeper climbs and descents. It was winding and steep (close to Black Springs over 15% at times) in some places but …

Head north towards Deniliquin, which is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It sits on the Edwards River which is a branch of the Murray River. Pop. over 8000. In September each year The well known Deniliquin Ute Muster is held, (Pick-up Trucks), this is celebrating all things Australian. Music, camel …

Named after Queen Victoria, Queenscliff is located at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay approx 80klm from Melbourne. The Port Phillip Heads is the point for all shipping both container and passenger into the Port of Melbourne. I sailed through these heads in June 1969, and Sarah in February 1970. Queenscliff was settled in the …

Very grey day, with drizzle as we leave Melbourne towards the Murray River which forms a natural border between New South Wales and Victoria to our north. 150klm north, lies Bendigo, over the dividing range and the winter sunshine awaits which is very normal after the coastal clouds which are much more present in the …

Last year I was 70 and Liam & Ryan treated me to a weekend away at Wilsons Promontory including a hi-speed boat ride to the surrounding islands. A weekend for three, Sarah was wondering who the third person was, until mum was advised that she was not part of the plan. It was for Liam, …

Another opportunity to take the van back on the road as we are traveling to Canberra to visit our family, so we decide to visit a number of Victoria and NSW rural towns that prior to modern freeways you had no option but to travel through. First stop for a cuppa in Shepparton. Lovely winter …