Where to next?

You might wonder how on a trip to Western Australia we ended up on the Gold Coast. Well that's what happens when you don't have a fixed itinerary. After Broken Hill we headed to Lightning Ridge (also not on our plans but not so far away).

We had to decide where to next?

There was flooding down south, Queensland was 60k north, so we headed to Queensland.

We have been in Port Macquarie for the last couple of days and will start our journey home tomorrow.

Heading East

After heading through up country we spent a couple of days in Esperance.

Then headed back across the Nullarbor.

 Through the Gawler Ranges.

And on to the Flinders Ranges. We had planned to spend more time there but the skies opened while we were at Wilpena. We sought advice from the ranger who said "Go back to bed with a hot water bottle". The road north was closed due to flooding and the dirt roads were unsafe.

We decided to head through the Southern Flinders to Peterborough where we learned about its railway history at Steam Town. We then spent a couple of days in Broken Hill where we visited galleries and had tea at the Palace Hotel which was featured in Pricilla Queen of the Desert.

Tonight we are in Cobar and heading north toward Lightning Ridge tomorrow.

Down to Up Country

We have heard of people going 'up country' now we know where to find it. We traveled down to Lesueur National Park.

Then down to Nambung National Park to explore the Pinnacles desert. 

Further down to Dryandra where we stayed at Dryandra Woodlands Park and went on a guided nocturnal tour of Barna Mia, a predator-proof sanctuary for endangered marsupials including Bilby, Boodie, Woylie and Marla. Barna Mia is at a secret location within the park and its only when you book for the tour that the location is disclosed.

Down, down and we came to Kojonup (a  wildflower hot spot). We think Koji, as locals refer to it, is the capital of 'Up Country'. Exploring google maps to decide on our next destination we found that a majority localities in the area end in up. There is Changerup, Dinninup, Kulikup, Jingaup, Mobrup, Chowerup, Jackitup and lots more ups

We chose a route past the Balicup Lake and Jebarup Nature Reserves and have spent the last two nights at the Mt Trio bush camp in Amelup on the edge of the Stirling Range National Park.

Here we have been on a guided walk to Orchid City.

Tomorrow we will head into the national park and then eastward through Toompup, Ongerup, Needilup and Jacup

Heading Southward

After our sojourn in Coral Bay, we have been gradually heading southward. Spent a couple of days exploring the highlights of Shark Bay ... dolphins at Monkey Mia, Stingrays at Eagle Bluff, stromalites at Hamelin Pool. At Shelly Beach we saw shells and along the road we met a Bobtail Lizard.

Further down the road we found the famous leaning trees of Greenough and visited the abandoned village which is now managed by the National Trust. We camped last night at Western Flora Caravan Park which is set in bushland in the middle of nowhere. And guess what! ... there were more wildflowers.

Coral Bay

We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and arrived in Coral Bay on Monday and have propped for a while. Have snorkeled off the beach, toured the bay in a glass bottom boat and explored the Ningaloo Reef James Bond style on a sea scooter tour.

Tomorrow it will be more snorkeling and kayaking before continuing the journey south on Saturday.

What a Week in WA

Wow its been a week since our last post. We've been to...

Coalseam Conservation Park

Geraldton

 Kalbarri

 

Left the country to travel to the Principality of Hutt River where we were greeted by Prince George and had an audience with Prince Leonard on his 91st birthday.

And explored the highlights of Carnavon

Wildflower Wanderings in WA

A week ago Adrian couldn’t tell the difference between a daisy and a dogwood but now he can spot spiders, donkeys, snail and other orchids as well as various varieties of everlastings, damperia, hakeas and more. Yes, we have entered wildflower country. 

 

From Merredin in the wheat belt we travelled to the New Norcia to explore Australia’s only Monastic town and then on to the Wildflower Way with a night at Dallwallinu, one in the bush and now at Mullewa.

Along the way we have made excursions to wildflower hotspots, seen mini wave rock and tramped numerous nature reserves.

So, A horse sticks its head in a ute …

After seeing the whales at the Head of the Bight, we made it across the Nullarbor to WA, spending nights at Cocklebiddy and Kalgoorlie before heading north to explore sculptures on Lake Ballard and wild flowers around Niagra Dam (where we camped last night).

Today we went to the outback town of Kookynie (population 13) because we heard a story about a horse that goes into a bar …  The horse didn’t make an appearance while we were at the pub but we spotted him as we cruised the ruins of this ghost town. The horse ambled over stuck his head in the ute and had a laugh. Western Australian Tourism has a video on youtube about the horse click to see

After a few laughs with the horse we travelled to Merredin. We will stay a here a couple of nights to get the washing done and explore the area. 

On the Road Again

We have been on the road since Monday and have made it to the Nullarbor plain. We are staying at the Nullarbor Roadhouse tonight and will head back to the Head of the Bight tomorrow to look for whales.

Called in to look around an old homestead at Yanga Lake near Ballranald in NSW, spent most of a day touring Burra in SA and caught up with a friend for a cuppa in Port Augusta.

But mostly we have been just travelling so far.

Joy did break up the trip with a bull ant ride.

Getting ready for our next trip

Its been a while since our last post and its been a while since we have had a major adventure. We have had a few short holidays and a Pacific Island cruise since and now we are getting ready for our next trip.

We haven't however been sitting around doing nothing. In April 2015 Adrian retired and we decided t to build our own slide-on camper. It is now complete. We have tested it on a couple of short trips and now we are ready to go exploring. If you are wondering what is involved in building a slide-on camper, here is a short film of what was involved:

We had the shell manufactured to our design by Styromax www.styromax.com.au. Putting it together and fitting it out was a family affair and took about six months.

Next week we are heading off to Western Australia