Category: Vic

Freedom Camp, Places, Taking Directions, VicLeave a comment

Sebastian, Vic

Itching for Hitching

We intend to spend the night at the Sebastian Recreation Reserve so we take the Marong Bypass to avoid Bendigo. It is still raining, steady soaking rain. Gabbi Garmin decides to send us down a shortcut and before we know it we are sliding along on a stretch of very wet clay road, hanging on and hoping that our new four wheel drive does what it is meant to do. By the time we reach Sebastian we look like we’ve been to the outback with red mud from top to tail. Needless to say Gabbi gets told once again. Sebastian … Continue reading Sebastian, Vic

The Pubs, Vic1 Comment

The Gellibrand River Hotel

Itching for Hitching

We chance upon the sleepy little timber town of Gellibrand and stop for lunch at the Gellibrand River Hotel. It’s a case of kick the dogs out of the way to get to the tables, but I guess that’s country pubs. There has been a pub on this site since 1898. This area once boasted a narrow gauge railway to haul timber down from the Otways. There is a photo on the wall of a hollow tree trunk so large that several men and a horse are standing inside it! The butt of one felled tree was so large that … Continue reading The Gellibrand River Hotel

The Pubs, Vic3 Comments

The Kevington Hotel

Itching for Hitching

If you meander about 10 kms south of Jamieson, Vic along the Woods Point Road, the road follows the river and is rather winding so meandering is the correct description here, you will find the quaint old Kevington Pub. Built in 1862 it is the last of the original pubs on this road. The others having succumbed to the ravages of fire or progress. The hotel is flanked by tall poplars that are as old as the pub. It is well placed in gardens that roll down to the banks of the wild Goulburn River. The narrow bar is adorned … Continue reading The Kevington Hotel

Vic, When Things Just Go Wrong, WildlifeLeave a comment

The Garden of Eden

Itching for Hitching

There are fairies at the bottom of the garden. Every morning at Skipworth Reserve fairy wrens no bigger than a hailstone from a Sydney summer storm, hop about the grass.”Don’t let your coffee go cold.” Says Woody as I climb the steeply cut clay steps down to the river bracing myself on the grassy banks for support. I really don’t want to break any more bones this year. The river looks superb in the morning sun and the water is not cold. Looking back up a photo of the van from part way up the steps would look good. As I … Continue reading The Garden of Eden

Caravan Parks, Vic, When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

Not a Drop to Drink

Itching for Hitching

We had spent the weekend with mates in Badgers Creek Caravan Park in Healesville prior to us leaving on the first leg of our ‘big lap’. It was a very ‘nose cold’ night but we slept in until 7:15am. It is around zero degrees. Brian leaps under the shower and there is only a trickle of water. After racing about to check the taps he decides on a quick ‘bush shower’ under the trickling shower. Then it is my turn and guess what? There is barely a drop left. We hadn’t filled the tanks at home expecting to keep our … Continue reading Not a Drop to Drink

Taking Directions, VicLeave a comment

GPS

Itching for Hitching

With each trip we learn a little more and we decide that we need more in the way of maps than an outdated Atlas and two Camps Guides, oh and of course Google Maps on the iPhone. We now have our new Garmin GPS plugged in and it has been updated with the most recent maps as well as the Free Camps from the OZ Camps web site, which show as Points of Interest on the GPS. Wow there’s nothing stopping us now! She’s even directing us around our own suburb, this is a little disconcerting, “no, we are not … Continue reading GPS

Freedom Camp, Top Spots, VicLeave a comment

Ayson’s Reserve

Itching for Hitching

We often camp at Ayson’s Reserve just outside of Elmore in Victoria. It is on the Campaspe River. Ayson’s is the original site of the Elmore Field Days before it became too large. It is perfectly flat with enough room for what looks like a hundred camps. There are toilets and a dump point. It is well grassed and maintained and stretches for about a kilometre along the river bank. This is a perfect spot to be in hot or cool weather. In summer you wake to the screech of cockatoos and the smell of hot dry bush. Which way … Continue reading Ayson’s Reserve

Vic, When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

Bushfires

Itching for Hitching

Never before had I considered proximity to an airport and a hospital to be important when caravanning. In February 2014 we were enjoying a caravan club weekend muster at the Park Lane Top Tourist caravan park in Traralgon, Vic. On the Friday a fire started in Yallourn North and we were entertained by the fire fighting helicopters and fixed wing aircraft buzzing overhead. On the Saturday we were hunkering down to a serious heat wave and by mid morning on Sunday the heat was extreme and a strong wind was rocking the caravans. There were fires at nearby Bruthen and … Continue reading Bushfires

Bush Poetry, VicLeave a comment

Tarnagulla

Itching for Hitching

Stillness, quiet the smell of dust in the air. Cold clear nights, cold noses under a million stars. Dry grass, cracked earth the ground peppered with quartz. Striped gums, yellow gums pepper trees laden with pink corns. Kangaroos alert, feeding mobs of bounding roos. Galahs grazing, chattering flocks wheeling overhead. Gumnuts, slivers of bark a carpet of dry leaves. Stillness, quiet in the tall spindly, silent grey bush.  – © Lindsey Wood, ifh2015 Continue reading Tarnagulla

Freedom Camp, Top Spots, VicLeave a comment

Charlton Travellers Rest

Itching for Hitching

A favourite spot of ours is the Travellers Rest at Charlton, Vic. It is on the Calder Highway halfway between Melbourne and Mildura and it caters well to tourists. The manager Phil Brock makes everyone welcome. There are camp areas for those requiring power as well as ensuite sites and at the far end of the park there is a donation box area with water available for those free camping. A swing bridge crosses the river and links both areas of the park. Near the bridge there is a small herb garden for campers to use. There’s plenty of parking … Continue reading Charlton Travellers Rest