We were intending to continue on to Yass and then Goulburn but the free campsites were few and far between and most on a highway which we avoid where possible so we ended up deciding to go on down to go on down to Canberra for a few days.
We arrived in Canberra about 3pm on the Friday and the campground chosen was the EPIC or Exhibition Park in Canberra which is 5klms from the city centre. In reality it’s the Canberra Showgrounds with a fancy name but does get a lot of use. The campground which is not advertised takes about 60 sites and has all lawn sites, laundry and bathroom facilities etc the same as a caravan park does but at $20 a night against around $45 it’s a cheap place to stay with relatively easy access to everywhere, well as easy as it can be in Canberra.
Saturday we visited the Farmers Market held each Saturday with the Exhibition Complex, Telstra Tower, Australian War Memorial and the Mint and Sunday we took on the Old Bus Depot Markets, Canberra Glassworks, Old Parliament House and a drive around Queenbeyan.
Tomorrow we leave and head for Gouldburn.
The Day We Left
Hindmarsh Island in Background
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Gundagai Here We Come
We travelled through Batlow and Tumut on the way to Gundagai and again the countryside was spectacular. Some parts were vineyards, other apple orchards and after stopping and talking to some guys in a apple orchard I walked away with fresh apples just picked that lasted us over a week.
Gundagai was nothing like I expected it to be. Set in a bit of valley with the river running through it is quite obvious its not a prosperous town and it certainly did nothing for us so we headed bush again for a campsite.
As we turned into Sandy Beach Reserve we nearly fell out the car window with the view of all the other caravans, campers and mobile homes already there. It’s a popular place and a very nice spot to spend a few days away from it all. The other campers certainly weren’t noisy, the scenery pleasant and the river was moving fast. We did some playing around with solar panels here as we weren’t getting the power that I expected. We found that our 100watt panel was putting out 2.4 amps instead of its supposed 4.8amps and was causing problems with the other panels so we quickly removed it and disconnected it from the system. Fortunately for us our neighbouring camper was an electrician who was a big help. We only spent the 2 nights here but could easily have stayed longer.
Gundagai was nothing like I expected it to be. Set in a bit of valley with the river running through it is quite obvious its not a prosperous town and it certainly did nothing for us so we headed bush again for a campsite.
As we turned into Sandy Beach Reserve we nearly fell out the car window with the view of all the other caravans, campers and mobile homes already there. It’s a popular place and a very nice spot to spend a few days away from it all. The other campers certainly weren’t noisy, the scenery pleasant and the river was moving fast. We did some playing around with solar panels here as we weren’t getting the power that I expected. We found that our 100watt panel was putting out 2.4 amps instead of its supposed 4.8amps and was causing problems with the other panels so we quickly removed it and disconnected it from the system. Fortunately for us our neighbouring camper was an electrician who was a big help. We only spent the 2 nights here but could easily have stayed longer.
Heading Higher into the High Country and NSW
After a fantastic few days we headed up further into the High Country. The views and mountains just pose a spectacular backdrop to travel through. We saw a sign about a historic bridge so detoured to have a look. When the road got narrow we stopped and decided to walk the rest of the way for fear there may be no where to turn around with the caravan. It was a good decision as after walking 200metres and around a bend the road ended in a dead end with no where to turn around with a caravan on.
The walk down to the bridge was lovely and all through natural bush and when we got to the bridge it was definitely worth the trip. It was a railway bridge built across a deep gully. The height of the bridge from the bottom was about 100 metres and all the bridge was timber. The timber pylons were enormous and considering it dates back into the late 1890 and early 1900’s its an amazing structure that is still standing.
Once back on the main road we continued our travels towards Tumbarumba in NSW. We had a short look at the town and then headed out to look at 2 different campgrounds. Paddy’s River Fall’s was the first. Fantastic waterfall out in the bush after going down a hairy steep road but not what we wanted as a base. Onto Paddy’s River Flats which was great and other campers, both caravaners and motor homers.
We picked our spot close to the riverbank which we didn’t regret. Actually it was little more than a creek but the water was fast moving and a very picturesque setting. Only problem was not a fish in sight in the crystal clear waters.
From here we went back into town and had a good look around, drove around the countryside and also froze at night with the temp only being at 5 degrees by 8am each day. By 10am the jumpers were coming off and by 4pm you were building a fire.
We had 3 French backpackers who came next to us and they must of froze sleeping in a tent. Their attempt at building a fire showed they had no idea of what to do so for a few minutes they had a bonfire then they had a smoky mess. They spread themselves out till they were a nuisance but were tolerable. At teatime our first day there a guy came in down from us, stripped off and had a bath in the creek. We couldn’t believe it, there was us huddled around a camp fire and here was this idiot jumping into a freezing cold stream for a bath. These mountain men sure are strange !
The walk down to the bridge was lovely and all through natural bush and when we got to the bridge it was definitely worth the trip. It was a railway bridge built across a deep gully. The height of the bridge from the bottom was about 100 metres and all the bridge was timber. The timber pylons were enormous and considering it dates back into the late 1890 and early 1900’s its an amazing structure that is still standing.
Once back on the main road we continued our travels towards Tumbarumba in NSW. We had a short look at the town and then headed out to look at 2 different campgrounds. Paddy’s River Fall’s was the first. Fantastic waterfall out in the bush after going down a hairy steep road but not what we wanted as a base. Onto Paddy’s River Flats which was great and other campers, both caravaners and motor homers.
We picked our spot close to the riverbank which we didn’t regret. Actually it was little more than a creek but the water was fast moving and a very picturesque setting. Only problem was not a fish in sight in the crystal clear waters.
From here we went back into town and had a good look around, drove around the countryside and also froze at night with the temp only being at 5 degrees by 8am each day. By 10am the jumpers were coming off and by 4pm you were building a fire.
We had 3 French backpackers who came next to us and they must of froze sleeping in a tent. Their attempt at building a fire showed they had no idea of what to do so for a few minutes they had a bonfire then they had a smoky mess. They spread themselves out till they were a nuisance but were tolerable. At teatime our first day there a guy came in down from us, stripped off and had a bath in the creek. We couldn’t believe it, there was us huddled around a camp fire and here was this idiot jumping into a freezing cold stream for a bath. These mountain men sure are strange !
Heading into the High Country
After leaving Albury/Wodonga we headed for the hills ! The Victorian High Country. The drive through the hills was spectacular and the countryside needs to be seen to be believed. It is definitely everything that is shown in the adverts and tourist brochures.
We stopped for lunch at a little camp site called Pig Point Reserve which is about the size of a football oval only its nestled into the side of the mountains and on the edge of the Mita Mita River. Truly spectacular place all covered in lawn, open fireplaces, plenty of shade, fairly well protected and then you walked 20 yards to the river. It was unbelievable ! Crystal clear water running fast and here was trout fishermans paradise in the waiting. The river which was more like a creek wasn’t that wide or deep but was beautiful and just the perfect setting. I was ready to setup and stay a few days till I got reminded that we can’t stay in every spectacular spot, so after lunch we moved on and headed for Corryong, the home of the Man from Snowy River, knowing that the “Man from Snow River Festival” was on and that camp sites may be hard to get.
We found a campsite on the banks of the Murray about 20 klms from town called Clarke Lagoon Reserve. Great bush spot and as we sat deciding where to set up we looked behind us and there was a road train of cars, vans and campers coming down the hill behind us. I think we counted 8 caravans and campers, so choosing our spot was done rather quickly. Anyway they all went further into the bush so it didn’t bother us.
Next morning after they all left we had a look at the rest of the reserve and quickly decided to move around the bend and on the riverbank.
From here we did our touring of the High Country as we were able to leave the van each day and go off. We went up to Khancoban to see the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme, it’s a slow drive uphill the whole way until you reach 1058metres above sea level. The mountains are beautiful, the scenery spectacular and the drive slow and winding but definitely worth the effort. The Hydro Scheme was a real eye opener and the engineering feats that were achieved are really quite remarkable. The viewing platforms give fantastic views and the size of the pipes that have been tunnelled through the mountains are enormous. The pics simply don’t do it justice. The drive down the mountain was just as good !
You may wonder why we were 20klms from town. Everything, and I mean everything was booked out because of the festival and even the free camp sites were full to overflowing so that was as close as we could get. The previous town to Corryong was Colac Colac and the caravan park there was full to the brim and they mow down surrounding areas and you can camp there with an unpowered site for $45 a night and a 1/2klm walk to the showers. So being 20klms from town and on the river was just great and free as well. Tickets to the festival were very affordable at $70 for the 3 day pass to all events and $35 on concession.
The high country was fantastic but bloody cold of a night even though the days were around 24 degrees.
This is the place to come during the summer months unless you like freezing. There are signs everywhere pointing out that roads ice up and that they may be closed due to snow. Travelling through here in the summer months is the ideal time and ending at Corryong for the festival the perfect way to end your holiday.
We stopped for lunch at a little camp site called Pig Point Reserve which is about the size of a football oval only its nestled into the side of the mountains and on the edge of the Mita Mita River. Truly spectacular place all covered in lawn, open fireplaces, plenty of shade, fairly well protected and then you walked 20 yards to the river. It was unbelievable ! Crystal clear water running fast and here was trout fishermans paradise in the waiting. The river which was more like a creek wasn’t that wide or deep but was beautiful and just the perfect setting. I was ready to setup and stay a few days till I got reminded that we can’t stay in every spectacular spot, so after lunch we moved on and headed for Corryong, the home of the Man from Snowy River, knowing that the “Man from Snow River Festival” was on and that camp sites may be hard to get.
We found a campsite on the banks of the Murray about 20 klms from town called Clarke Lagoon Reserve. Great bush spot and as we sat deciding where to set up we looked behind us and there was a road train of cars, vans and campers coming down the hill behind us. I think we counted 8 caravans and campers, so choosing our spot was done rather quickly. Anyway they all went further into the bush so it didn’t bother us.
Next morning after they all left we had a look at the rest of the reserve and quickly decided to move around the bend and on the riverbank.
From here we did our touring of the High Country as we were able to leave the van each day and go off. We went up to Khancoban to see the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme, it’s a slow drive uphill the whole way until you reach 1058metres above sea level. The mountains are beautiful, the scenery spectacular and the drive slow and winding but definitely worth the effort. The Hydro Scheme was a real eye opener and the engineering feats that were achieved are really quite remarkable. The viewing platforms give fantastic views and the size of the pipes that have been tunnelled through the mountains are enormous. The pics simply don’t do it justice. The drive down the mountain was just as good !
You may wonder why we were 20klms from town. Everything, and I mean everything was booked out because of the festival and even the free camp sites were full to overflowing so that was as close as we could get. The previous town to Corryong was Colac Colac and the caravan park there was full to the brim and they mow down surrounding areas and you can camp there with an unpowered site for $45 a night and a 1/2klm walk to the showers. So being 20klms from town and on the river was just great and free as well. Tickets to the festival were very affordable at $70 for the 3 day pass to all events and $35 on concession.
The high country was fantastic but bloody cold of a night even though the days were around 24 degrees.
This is the place to come during the summer months unless you like freezing. There are signs everywhere pointing out that roads ice up and that they may be closed due to snow. Travelling through here in the summer months is the ideal time and ending at Corryong for the festival the perfect way to end your holiday.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Travels to Albury/Wodonga
Tuesday we left our hideaway, totally unaware that daylight saving had come in. We travelled through Wangaratta and then headed towards Albury. Veering of the Hume Highway we went to Chilton then onto Beechworth and Yackandanyah. Beechworth we absolutely loved, all the building fronts are still set in the last century and the old worlde feel is everywhere. It was a really great place to visit with lots of really interesting shops including the famous Beechworth bakery, you must eat there ! We only wish that we had the time to spend about a week around here. It is colder as we are now on the outskirts of the ski slopes but it is just really beautiful countryside.
With no close places to stay free camping at Albury or Wodonga we opted for 2 nights in Lake Hume Caravan park. $25 a night and the site we had overlooked the dam which was fine. Bloody long walk to the toilets and showers ! All up hill and down dale on the side of the slopes of the dam.
After looking around Albury/Wodonga which incidentally has a population around 100,000 combined we found a repairer for our toilet and arranged to take it to him wednesday morning. It poured here all night and we packed up wednesday morning inbetween showers. On leaving I went to pay and found the site cost had gone up because we had a water view/front site. I never asked for one and didnt know they were extra but we got charged for one because we had one. I was pretty annoyed as we had quite clearly been had. We walked around the dam walls and spillway after leaving which was really interesting as the dam is only 16% full. Will post pics in the next day or so.
We took the van in to have the toilet fixed and another experience started. What a experience ! This guy as the agent for Thetford toilets, how he makes a living is beyond me. He shares premises with a holden parts wrecker of whom the two do not get along but share the same drive and yard. On going in we found you couldn't turn around and would have to reverse out around bend, inbetween cars and caravans.
After an hour and half I started to get agro because this dickhead had rung thetford to find out how to repair the problem and was hanging around talking waiting for an answer. What would I know, I am only an idiot caravanner according this guy. Eventually I told him to cut the bulshit, replace the fuse cover, clean out where the fuse goes and lets try it. When I got agro he actually did it and I think it was just to shut me up and when it still didnt work to stick it up me. Well it backfired because I was right and the toilet flusher worked, there was no burnt out motor.
So finally we left there, $45 he charged me to do what I told him was wrong with it in the first place and still no return phonecall from Thetford.
We left, van hooked on, set the gps for where we were going and started. The bloody gps tried taking us on a stock route down through the river swamps. Somehow we still haven't got the settings right in the gps as yesterday it tried taking us across the Lake Hume spillway.
We checked into another park, did some shopping, found the model shop I wanted to visit and then died with shock. The model I wanted of a paddlesteamer which you have to build was $400, needless to say we didn't buy it.
Tomorrow we leave and travel again !
Albury/Wodonga is just huge with every imaginable shop and chain store here, how they all survive is beyond me but its a shopaholics paradise here.
With no close places to stay free camping at Albury or Wodonga we opted for 2 nights in Lake Hume Caravan park. $25 a night and the site we had overlooked the dam which was fine. Bloody long walk to the toilets and showers ! All up hill and down dale on the side of the slopes of the dam.
After looking around Albury/Wodonga which incidentally has a population around 100,000 combined we found a repairer for our toilet and arranged to take it to him wednesday morning. It poured here all night and we packed up wednesday morning inbetween showers. On leaving I went to pay and found the site cost had gone up because we had a water view/front site. I never asked for one and didnt know they were extra but we got charged for one because we had one. I was pretty annoyed as we had quite clearly been had. We walked around the dam walls and spillway after leaving which was really interesting as the dam is only 16% full. Will post pics in the next day or so.
We took the van in to have the toilet fixed and another experience started. What a experience ! This guy as the agent for Thetford toilets, how he makes a living is beyond me. He shares premises with a holden parts wrecker of whom the two do not get along but share the same drive and yard. On going in we found you couldn't turn around and would have to reverse out around bend, inbetween cars and caravans.
After an hour and half I started to get agro because this dickhead had rung thetford to find out how to repair the problem and was hanging around talking waiting for an answer. What would I know, I am only an idiot caravanner according this guy. Eventually I told him to cut the bulshit, replace the fuse cover, clean out where the fuse goes and lets try it. When I got agro he actually did it and I think it was just to shut me up and when it still didnt work to stick it up me. Well it backfired because I was right and the toilet flusher worked, there was no burnt out motor.
So finally we left there, $45 he charged me to do what I told him was wrong with it in the first place and still no return phonecall from Thetford.
We left, van hooked on, set the gps for where we were going and started. The bloody gps tried taking us on a stock route down through the river swamps. Somehow we still haven't got the settings right in the gps as yesterday it tried taking us across the Lake Hume spillway.
We checked into another park, did some shopping, found the model shop I wanted to visit and then died with shock. The model I wanted of a paddlesteamer which you have to build was $400, needless to say we didn't buy it.
Tomorrow we leave and travel again !
Albury/Wodonga is just huge with every imaginable shop and chain store here, how they all survive is beyond me but its a shopaholics paradise here.
Our Easter Hideaway
Forest Camp turned out to be a good choice for easter. Apart from the odd picnicer the most traffic we saw were local farmers cutting through the park. We did have a motorhome arrive and stay one night but apart from that we remained on our own which was fine by us.
We went into Wangaratta for a drive and look around and were very surprised. Its quite a large town, well laid out, very busy main street and shopping district and a huge variety of everything you could want. We had a good look around, did some shopping and then went back to our hideaway.
On easter saturday we went back into Wangaratta for a few things, had a look at another campsite on the way back and enjoyed the outing.
Weather all weekend was great, chilly first of a morning but shorts and shirt all day. There were toilets there, firepits and outdoor settings but that was all. The very strange part was that we saw absolutely no wildlife at all apart from 2 skinks, not even a bird. We could hear birds in the distance but never saw any.
It was easter monday before we saw our first bird and then we saw 2 very small ones but that was the extent of our animal viewing.
The solar panels and inverter got some use and Sandy has taken to baking bread in the bread maker again which is a better size for the two of us and more convenient. We have not run out of power or even come close, not even with having the breadmaker on for 3 hours, Sandy using the hair dryer etc which is great.
We still have a problem toilet flusher, or rather the bloody thing isn't working but hopefully we can get that seen to in Albury/Wodonga.
We went into Wangaratta for a drive and look around and were very surprised. Its quite a large town, well laid out, very busy main street and shopping district and a huge variety of everything you could want. We had a good look around, did some shopping and then went back to our hideaway.
On easter saturday we went back into Wangaratta for a few things, had a look at another campsite on the way back and enjoyed the outing.
Weather all weekend was great, chilly first of a morning but shorts and shirt all day. There were toilets there, firepits and outdoor settings but that was all. The very strange part was that we saw absolutely no wildlife at all apart from 2 skinks, not even a bird. We could hear birds in the distance but never saw any.
It was easter monday before we saw our first bird and then we saw 2 very small ones but that was the extent of our animal viewing.
The solar panels and inverter got some use and Sandy has taken to baking bread in the bread maker again which is a better size for the two of us and more convenient. We have not run out of power or even come close, not even with having the breadmaker on for 3 hours, Sandy using the hair dryer etc which is great.
We still have a problem toilet flusher, or rather the bloody thing isn't working but hopefully we can get that seen to in Albury/Wodonga.
Going Into Hiding For Easter
Our stay in Yarrawonga was a short one by choice. It was very apparent that if you weren’t into golf, tennis or bowls or water ski-ing then Yarrawonga and you weren’t compatable. Nice town, lots of new development and housing and a long main street packed with specialty shops. As for groceries, there is a Woolies and a IGA and that was it, nothing else.
The caravan park was enormous and very nice and filling fast for the easter and holiday break. We left to head towards Wodonga/Albury and stopped for morning tea just after Rutherglen, a rather quaint town full of places to eat and wineries and a very narrow but interesting main street.
At our roadside stop we spoke with a couple from Queensland who had just come the other side of Wodonga and down towards Bright. They were very frustrated after looking at every free camp between Bright and Rutherglen and none having vacancies. The news got worse as straight after easter The Man From Snowy River Festival began and people were already arriving for that and everything was completely booked out. Further south was a wine festival over easter and into the kids holidays and same result again.
Frustrated we just gave up and went down to Forest Camp where we spent a night earlier in the week. Here we thought at least we could get a decent campsite and we would stay till after easter. It was a good decision as when we arrived for a late lunch we were again the only ones there. It was beautiful day and we set up in a short time and sat back under the awning and read a book and dozed. Late afternoon a mobile home arrived so we now had company with just the two of us here.
We are 34klms south of Yarrawonga and not that far from Shepparton and Wangarratta, so here we stay till next Tuesday.
The caravan park was enormous and very nice and filling fast for the easter and holiday break. We left to head towards Wodonga/Albury and stopped for morning tea just after Rutherglen, a rather quaint town full of places to eat and wineries and a very narrow but interesting main street.
At our roadside stop we spoke with a couple from Queensland who had just come the other side of Wodonga and down towards Bright. They were very frustrated after looking at every free camp between Bright and Rutherglen and none having vacancies. The news got worse as straight after easter The Man From Snowy River Festival began and people were already arriving for that and everything was completely booked out. Further south was a wine festival over easter and into the kids holidays and same result again.
Frustrated we just gave up and went down to Forest Camp where we spent a night earlier in the week. Here we thought at least we could get a decent campsite and we would stay till after easter. It was a good decision as when we arrived for a late lunch we were again the only ones there. It was beautiful day and we set up in a short time and sat back under the awning and read a book and dozed. Late afternoon a mobile home arrived so we now had company with just the two of us here.
We are 34klms south of Yarrawonga and not that far from Shepparton and Wangarratta, so here we stay till next Tuesday.
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