Category: NSW

NSW, Places6 Comments

Lounging in Lightning Ridge

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Lightning Ridge, NSW Lounging around Lightning Ridge Quite possibly the best attractions in town are the “Three pubs in the scrub” which is a drive out to the Grawin opal fields and its iconic pubs , the “Car Door tours” which entails following the trails of coloured car doors hanging from trees to see the sights of the town and the “Chambers of the Black Hand” a hand hewn underground art gallery like no other. Having got down and dirty noodling for opal and enjoying these tours on our previous visit this time we’re here just for a … Continue reading Lounging in Lightning Ridge

Freedom Camp, NSW2 Comments

Eumungerie Recreation Reserve

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Eumungerie, NSW A kilometre or so to the east of the Newell Highway, Eumungerie is 30kms north of Dubbo. The reserve is well signposted and just beyond the pub. A spacious red dirt camp ground there is power, water, toilets and cold showers for $10 per van per night. The onsite caretakers are happy to provide a fire pit and firewood as well. The big plus is that it is well away from the noise of the highway. And of course there are kangaroos in the surrounding paddocks. Continue reading Eumungerie Recreation Reserve

Freedom Camp, NSW3 Comments

Tocumwal Town Beach

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Tocumwal, NSW A delightful riverside freedom camp situated on a sandy bend of the Murray just behind and walking distance from the town. $10 per night per van gives you a water tap and clean toilets and traffic noise is slight. Courtesy buses are available for transport to the local pubs and clubs. Would we return? Definitely, as it’s an easy drive from Melbourne when heading north to the Newell Highway. And like so many Victorians we always like a spiritual fix of The Mighty Murray and especially in a town as charming as Tocumwal. The kangaroos are … Continue reading Tocumwal Town Beach

NSW, Places2 Comments

Noodling at Grawin Opalfields

Itching for Hitching

May 2016, Near Lightning Ridge, NSW The Grawin Opalfields is a short drive from Lightning Ridge (about 80kms) and well worth the visit for the pubs and the humour. If you are a fossicker there are public dumps available to noodlers. Need an explanation? Well the professional opal miners dump their unwanted tailings at a public dump. Amateur fossickers must never trespass on mine sites but they may fossick or noodle at these public dumps. Read the signs carefully and only noodle where it is specifically allowed. Fossickers do find small pieces of opal at these places. I have no … Continue reading Noodling at Grawin Opalfields

NSW, Point of Interest8 Comments

Hamilton Hume and William Hovell

Itching for Hitching

Mar 2019, Albury, NSW Time and again we cross the path of great explorers. Europeans who set off into the unknown with little more than hope and dreams in search of arable land and inland seas. People who would have seemed small and under nourished by today’s standards, yet filled with tenacity and courage. We’ve crossed Burke and Wills ill-fated route in many places on our travels. They crossed the continent from south to north only to perish part way home. Sturt, McDowell Stuart, Leichhardt, Mitchell and Hume and Hovell among others. In Albury while walking in the park we … Continue reading Hamilton Hume and William Hovell