Category: National Park

National Park, Qld15 Comments

Carnarvon Gorge, Qld

Itching for Hitching

We turn off the highway towards the Carnarvon Gorge and wind through green grassy farmlands where the cows loll about. This is a hidden valley. In the distance the sun picks out the escarpments of Carnarvon. We pass the remains of an aircraft which crashed during World War Two killing the crew of Australian and US airmen, we are constantly surprised at the places where we find evidence of the war. We ford small creeks and the road turns to corrugated dirt for another fifteen kilometres. Woody grits his teeth. We cross Carnarvon Creek and enter Takarakka Bush Resort. Damn … Continue reading Carnarvon Gorge, Qld

National Park, WA, When Things Just Go Wrong7 Comments

The Perils of Getting Up Too Early

Itching for Hitching

Normally we never drive early in the day or after mid afternoon because of the risk of hitting a roo on the road. We drive from Melbourne to Esperance, over 3000kms without seeing a single kangaroo. We’ve seen thousands of emus but where oh where are the kangaroos? Is this some kind of record for driving in Australia? Then just when we have to arrive early to secure a spot at a way too popular NationalPark camp ground, out pops a roo and wham. A couple of days later a policeman at a random breath test tells us to get … Continue reading The Perils of Getting Up Too Early

National Park, NSW, Places, Top SpotsLeave a comment

Woody Head

Itching for Hitching

At Iluka, NSW which is opposite Yamba on the mouth of the Clarence, we choose to stay at the Woody Head camp ground in the Bundjalung National Park. The camp ground is in a sheltered basin overlooking the ocean and surrounded by World Heritage rain forest. We set up on a large level site and have lunch with a wild turkey and a couple of old ducks. There are a lot of people camped here but it is incredibly quiet, except for the screeching of the lorikeets and the pounding of the surf. Back at camp we enjoy the solitude … Continue reading Woody Head

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

National Park, Places, The Characters You Meet, Top Spots, WA2 Comments

Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton

Itching for Hitching

In Western Australia the National Parks have a system of camp hosts. Camp hosts are volunteers who stay on site for about six weeks at a time. Their task is to manage the camp and the fees and keep the amenities clean. The system works very well and the camp grounds are a credit to the camp hosts. When we arrive at Big Brook Arboretum it is being hosted by Jim and Flo. “It’s a Conservation Park so dogs are allowed”. Says Jim as he puts his arm around Flo. We sit around the campfire and celebrate Jim and Flo’s … Continue reading Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton