NT, The Characters You Meet2 Comments

It’s More Than Just Souvenirs

Itching for Hitching

It is the time of the year when we become a little more reflective, a little more caring of each other and grateful for life’s experiences. Sometimes we bring home something more than souvenirs from our travels. Last winter we were lucky enough to spend a few days in Katherine in the Northern Territory. The town had a warm friendly feel to it and the locals were welcoming to tourists. We were kept busy with all of the attractions that the area had to offer until I tripped and broke my ankle. While I was waiting in the Emergency Department … Continue reading It’s More Than Just Souvenirs

NSW, Places, Point of InterestLeave a comment

Cowra’s place in history

Itching for Hitching

A visit to the holographic show at the tourist information centre explains the town’s war history and the Japanese breakout that occurred there. We are surprised to learn that Italians and Indonesians were also housed at the Cowra POW camp during World War Two. The Italians worked the local farms and became popular with the locals. The Indonesian families had been considered a threat by the Dutch and thus were held on their behalf. The people of Cowra have retained their humanitarian values all these years and Australia’s UN World Peace Bell sits proudly outside the civic centre, the only … Continue reading Cowra’s place in history

NSW, PlacesLeave a comment

Sofala

Itching for Hitching

We leave the Castlereagh highway at the tumbledown town of Ilford, NSW and head off through the hills on what is unromantically named Tourist Drive 4. TD4 is a hilly road winding through brown farmland with sheep and the gum trees are adorned with mistletoe. We drop down a steep hill and find ourselves in the village of Sofala, it is Australia’s oldest surviving occupied gold mining town and there is still a little prospecting done here. It was also used in the 1974 movie “The Cars That Ate Paris”. We park the rig and walk as the street is … Continue reading Sofala

Caravan Parks, Qld, Top SpotsLeave a comment

Evening Star

Itching for Hitching

Evening Star Tourist Park is a working station and caravan park a mere nine kilometres out of Charleville, Qld and when we call in (winter 2014) it is managed by cheery Neil and Dot. The place is so good we book a second night as soon as we’re set up. It’s as neat as a pin with a real bush feel. There are spacious gravel sites and ensuite amenities surrounded by red dirt and mulga scrub. There is a licensed bar and camp kitchen that is run by Lenny the muso and his wife Annette who is the camp cook. … Continue reading Evening Star

Qld, WildlifeLeave a comment

Wet Emblems

Itching for Hitching

It is winter 2014 and we’re in Longreach in Western Queensland, there are clouds gathering, rain is forecast but the locals are reluctant to talk about it. They’re in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. Overnight it starts raining and hasn’t let up all day. The red dust has turned to slippery, sticky mud. I can now see how the unmade roads around here quickly become impassable. Any wonder it was the birthplace of Australia’s iconic airline Qantas. Just turning the car around at the end of a residential street we churn up ruts in the mud. … Continue reading Wet Emblems

Farm Stays, WALeave a comment

Nambung Station

Itching for Hitching

I think I found Nambung Station on the internet while researching our WA trip. It was only 22kms off the main highway along a very good dirt road. As we drove through Moura I rang ahead just to make sure that they were still accepting guests. When we arrived the manager Sonia greeted us warmly with a freshly baked cake. The camping area is large, flat and well grassed. Water is available and a dump point, there is even an airstrip. I’d like to see Big4 and the other formal parks try to match that. From our caravan we could … Continue reading Nambung Station

Farm Stays3 Comments

Farm Stays

Itching for Hitching

There are so many options when caravanning and camping, Caravan Parks, National (& State) Parks, Free Camps, Showgrounds and Farm Stays. There is nothing quite like a Farm Stay. For a reasonable fee hundreds of farmers across Australia offer basic camping facilities and provide city folk with an insight into what life on the land is like. Or more specifically what life in their part of the country is like as conditions vary so much across Australia. Every property is as different as the farmers themselves and the facilities they offer vary too, but that is part of the experience. … Continue reading Farm Stays

NSW, Places, Point of InterestLeave a comment

The Buster

Itching for Hitching

Its mid winter and we find that the two council caravan parks in Woolgoolga are almost full with southerners.  But at least we can squeeze into Woolgoolga Beach Caravan Park. As it’s only an overnight stop we would much prefer to have a drive through site but beggars can’t be choosers. We are put at the very corner of the camp beside the intersection of two shopping streets and there are no fences. In fact we could pretty much crawl across the street to the pub or shout our coffee order to the cafe beside us. A guy walks past … Continue reading The Buster

Places, Qld3 Comments

South Johnstone

Itching for Hitching

In north Queensland we had passed an intriguing pub at South Johnstone but couldn’t park the van. Being only a short distance away we decided not to let this one go. Next day we cross the South Johnstone River on a large causeway style bridge with no rails, these things freak me out. The thought of rushing floodwaters and crocodiles is enough to give anyone a thirst. South Johnstone has a large sugar mill at the south end and the South Johnstone River at the north end. In between there is a narrow road, about six empty “shops”, the Criterion … Continue reading South Johnstone

Bush Poetry, Uncategorized2 Comments

There’s Movement at the Van Park

Itching for Hitching

There’s a woman in the dunny Blowing hair all around And talking incessantly Of problems, they abound. Campers are walking Their poodles and shih tzus Dawdling and chatting And sharing, the day’s news. There’ve been some young blokes Misbehaving in the park Drinking and fighting Even shooting, in the dark. We nomads are excited Our minds are all abuzz It’s not every morning We have breakfast, with the fuzz. – Lindsey Wood Continue reading There’s Movement at the Van Park