Month: December 2015

Caravanning Hints, SA, WALeave a comment

Mental Telepathy

Itching for Hitching

The quarantine officer at the SA border was so helpful. He even gave us a quarantine guide booklet listing the do’s and don’ts for each state. After much discussion and cooking of the vegetables that shouldn’t cross the border, we reach the WA border quarantine point. I think we must have read the booklet in reverse because we had all of our fruit and vegetables confiscated except for one measley carrot (the one that somehow missed last night’s stir fry) and an unopened bag of lettuce leaves. Poor Woody is frantically unlocking hatches and Eskies for inspection while choking on … Continue reading Mental Telepathy

NT, The Pubs2 Comments

Daly Waters Pub

Itching for Hitching

Driving down the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory, we can’t go past the iconic Daly Waters Pub for a lunch and even though it is three kms off the highway there is a traffic jam of caravans out front and more out back in the yard van park. It’s a classic curiosity pub full of paraphernalia and Dad jokes. Of course there’s underwear hanging from the rafters too. The folks around here must wander home half naked after a night on the beer having left their clobber either in the pub or draped over an ant mound somewhere along … Continue reading Daly Waters Pub

The Characters You Meet2 Comments

True Blue Aussies

Itching for Hitching

We’re at a service station in Bendigo, Vic two old codgers with long flowing beards and well developed paunches are filling their absolutely immaculate, head turning, bright red, FJ Holden. They both start whooping and hollering in greeting to a mini van driver. The sign on the side of the van says “Living leather 100% dead cow”. The van driver hops out he also has a long flowing beard and an artificial leg. “Watcha been up to?” they chorus “Aah scratching my arse. Where’d ya get that heap a shit?” says the van driver. Continue reading True Blue Aussies

Freedom Camp, National Park, Places, Point of Interest, SA, The Characters You Meet, Top Spots1 Comment

Pildappa Rock

Itching for Hitching

About 15kms off the Eyre Highway near the town of Minnipa in South Australia, Pildappa Rock stands high and proud above the wheat fields. The Eyre Peninsula is known for its granite monoliths and nearby Mt. Wudinna is 2nd largest to Uluru. Our mate finds a perfect campsite beside the wave face of the Rock and we constantly marvel at its size and the lichen stripes and patterns. Our other fellow campers are sprightly eighty year old retired Clarence Valley farmers in a camper trailer. We climb the rock and watch the sun set over the wheat fields. Our neighbour … Continue reading Pildappa Rock

NSW, Places, Point of InterestLeave a comment

Shipwreck Walk, Stockton, NSW

Itching for Hitching

The Newcastle Shipwreck Walk is on the northern breakwater at the mouth of the Hunter River. Built on the rusting hulks of numerous shipwrecks it is a place for reflection. Like all piers it is the preferred spot of fishermen and those who’ve passed are also remembered here with poignant messages painted on the rocks. “I always thought I would see you again.” A bike or a bucket on the path signifies a fisherman at work below on the rocks. Feral cats also a feature, live amongst the large rocks. They are hard to see but their meows are a … Continue reading Shipwreck Walk, Stockton, NSW

Caravanning Hints2 Comments

One Advantage of Owning a Caravan That the Salesman Won’t Tell You About

Itching for Hitching

We’re home again after a three week trip and I decide to bake some biscuits for a picnic that we will be going on. It’s an easy recipe and I soon toss them in the oven to bake for 15 minutes. Will I have a quick shower? No I might get distracted, how about catching up with the newspaper on the couch? Great idea I tell myself and settle in. After 12 minutes I peer through the oven door and little seems to have happened. They certainly aren’t brown and cracked on top like the recipe says. Oh, well just … Continue reading One Advantage of Owning a Caravan That the Salesman Won’t Tell You About

NSW, PlacesLeave a comment

Ship Watchers Heaven

Itching for Hitching

There used to be a fantastic overnight free camp at Nobby’s Beach in Newcastle, sadly it is now closed: Newcastle looks fabulous and we quickly find the free camp at Nobby’s Beach. The van is actually rocking in the stiff breeze, but we are in the company of a number of other RV’s and the view of the harbour and city lights is stunning. The harbour activity and the work of the tugs make for a great nights entertainment. The next best spot in the Newcastle area is the town of Stockton on the opposite side of the Hunter River. … Continue reading Ship Watchers Heaven

NSW, PlacesLeave a comment

Broken Hill ‘Tinnies’

Itching for Hitching

At first glance the houses, or ‘tinnies’ as they are known, of Broken Hill, NSW appear to be small, tired, unkempt corrugated iron shacks. But on closer inspection no two are the same, most are very neat, although few have gardens as we coastal dwellers know them. There is a lack of water in this town, so those who want a garden, have invested in succulents and oleanders. There must be a termite problem because the power poles are concrete and iron like those in Adelaide. This would explain the use of corrugated iron for the houses. Some houses have … Continue reading Broken Hill ‘Tinnies’

Freedom Camp, Places, Top Spots, Vic2 Comments

Nug Nug, Vic

Itching for Hitching

Just a short 10kms south of Myrtleford in the Ovens Valley there is a delightful bush camp called Nug Nug. Managed and well maintained by local residents there is lush green grass and both native and specimen trees beside the gurgling Buffalo River. There are toilets, a BBQ and power and river water are on tap. A small daily fee is charged. Myrtleford is a great base for exploring the Ovens Valley and there is no shortage of local produce. It may have a funny name but Nug Nug is a place where you end up staying much longer than … Continue reading Nug Nug, Vic