Singleton Postie Bike Bash

July 29, 2016 Itching for Hitching

We stop to stretch our legs at Gilgunnia Rest Area on the Kidman Way in New South Wales and read the history boards. This was once a gold mining town of 1000 people and now it is little more than a piece of gold mining equipment and a dunny in a concrete tank. A ute with a fuel tank on the back pulls up and we wonder what he is doing. Out of the blue a little red postie bike arrives putt putting and fills up followed by another and another. It turns out that they are 30 in total … Continue reading Singleton Postie Bike Bash

NSW, Point of InterestLeave a comment

Daydream Mine, Silverton

July 24, 2016 Itching for Hitching

It’s 2012. We turn off the made road and take the 6 kilometres of unmade road out to the Daydream Mine, the drive alone is worthwhile as it really does have an outback feel, what with the red dusty road, … Continue reading Daydream Mine, Silverton

NSW, Point of Interest6 Comments

On the Wrong Track

July 23, 2016July 20, 2016 Itching for Hitching

As we are leaving Mudgee we discover the now disused but grand railway station and a local tells us that it is in fact the Yass station building, apparently someone in Sydney mixed up the plans and the smaller town … Continue reading On the Wrong Track

NSW, The Pubs5 Comments

A Close Encounter with the Kelly Gang

July 20, 2016 Itching for Hitching

Home for the night is the Mulga Creek Hotel at Byrock ” out past the kiddies playground darl.” The ground is red dirt and the trees well, they’re Mulga. As we follow a track out to the “Rock Holes” a … Continue reading A Close Encounter with the Kelly Gang

NSW, Places3 Comments

Gulgong, NSW

July 19, 2016 Itching for Hitching

We join the Castlereagh Highway and roll into Gulgong on a warmish winter afternoon… An old gold mining town, it is known as the town on the first ten dollar note. There are three loose sheep on the road and a … Continue reading Gulgong, NSW

NSW, Wildlife11 Comments

The Bloody Curlews

July 15, 2016 Itching for Hitching

There is nothing more mournful than the cry of a curlew on a warm tropical night.Late in the evening or just before first light a blood curdling scream will cut the air and raise you bolt upright from your bed. Then you realise that a woman or a child is not in mortal danger, it’s the bloody curlew. They take a lot of getting used to. Continue reading The Bloody Curlews

NSW, Point of Interest4 Comments

Artesian Baths

July 12, 2016 Itching for Hitching

Like so many inland towns there are artesian baths in Lightning Ridge. The locals call them ‘The Bores’. A wonderful 39 degrees and the silky soft mineralised water soothes out every ache and pain that this poor old body has. Continue reading Artesian Baths

NSW, Places8 Comments

Moon Set Copi Hollow

July 8, 2016 Itching for Hitching

Copi Hollow is a small lake in the Menindee Lakes system on the Darling River. We got up before dawn to get an early start as we had a long drive ahead of us. The moon was setting over the lake behind us. Continue reading Moon Set Copi Hollow

Farm Stays, NSW13 Comments

Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high

June 30, 2016June 29, 2016 Itching for Hitching

Forty kms north of Hillston, NSW on the Kidman Way we turn onto a dirt road and pass cotton farms. There are several vans camped at the roadside rest area. We follow the road for 10kms to Billabourie Farm Stay. The family is not home so we choose our spots from several acres of grassy reserve overlooking the Lachlan River. There is no one else here and it is heavenly. A warm afternoon, willows dipping in the river. Water lilies flowering. All of the usual suspects flit about in the trees, cockatoos, galahs, small parrots, Willy wagtails and apostle birds. … Continue reading Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high

NSW, Places7 Comments

If you know Bourke…

June 28, 2016August 31, 2016 Itching for Hitching

The ‘Back of Bourke’ so the saying goes. Bourke conjures up visions of a large dusty dry town, yet it is nothing like that at all. It is not a large town nor small but very green with bottle trees, palms and plenty of parks with lush lawns. The houses are varied in architecture but shady wide spreading verandahs are the order of the day. Best of all for caravanners there is a tall double bay truck wash to get rid of the red dust, the evidence of actually getting this far. The Bourke court house is grand and elaborate. … Continue reading If you know Bourke…