A winter foray to warmer climes

October 18, 2016October 9, 2016 Itching for Hitching

What an odd trip this recent one was. Racing like idiots to get north of unseasonal rains in the inland of Queensland and thankful that we were not being battered by the driving rain and damaging high tides that hit the coast. Then being stopped by record breaking rain in Mackay and having to abandon plans to visit two National Parks, Finch Hatton and Byfield. Fair weather turned to an icy cold blast at Jondaryan on the Darling Downs when the Mercury only reached nine degrees. Ha, the sub tropics! We had grand plans to zig zag across New South … Continue reading A winter foray to warmer climes

Point of Interest, Qld8 Comments

Remembrance at Emu Park

October 17, 2016October 9, 2016 Itching for Hitching

In Emu Park, Qld there is an ANZAC commemorative walk along the cliff top. There are gardens of rosemary and etched sandstone, silhouettes of the troops in France and the most delicate image of the Gallipoli landing on clear glass … Continue reading Remembrance at Emu Park

Overheard, Qld5 Comments

A Keen Swimmer

October 16, 2016September 21, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Emu Park, is a pretty beach side town on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast. We chat to a woman who is exercising her horse on the beach. She reckons he loves the water so much that he’d swim to Great Keppel island if she let him have his way. That’d give the fishermen a surprise wouldn’t it? Continue reading A Keen Swimmer

Point of Interest, Qld2 Comments

Rockhampton and all that bull

October 15, 2016October 6, 2016 Itching for Hitching

I’ve recently learned, thanks to you dear readers that Rockhampton in Queensland is the Home of Beef Cattle. How this knowledge had escaped me is anyone’s guess as the town has six life-sized statues of bulls and my favourite, this mural. Now that is a lot of bull. Continue reading Rockhampton and all that bull

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Spring Bluff

October 14, 2016October 6, 2016 Itching for Hitching

A few kilometres out of Toowoomba, Qld in the pleasant suburb of Highfields a narrow road drops down the escarpment in a sharp 21% descent into the Lockyer Valley. Tucked into the hillside directly below Highfields is the Spring Bluff … Continue reading Spring Bluff

Places, Vic6 Comments

A Dinner Worth its Weight in Gold

October 13, 2016October 6, 2016 Itching for Hitching

I was writing a piece on the high incidence of gold discovery in Australian towns when friends invited us to visit the Tarnagulla Strictly Vintage Fair. I was keen to take part in the celebrations as this is such an interesting and lesser known town in the Victorian Goldfields. Our mate ‘R’ who was born and bred in Tarnagulla organised dinner at the only pub, The Golden Age, for a few mates who are Old Tarnagullans and who now all live in Melbourne, though some like ‘R’ have smallholdings in the goldfields. …The front bar is crowded and a guitarist … Continue reading A Dinner Worth its Weight in Gold

Point of Interest, Qld2 Comments

Charters Towers, wartime

October 12, 2016October 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

Fifteen thousand United States Army Airforce personnel were based in Charters Towers during the war. We are taken on a guided tour of World War Two heritage sites. We learn how a compass was reset on a Liberator bomber after … Continue reading Charters Towers, wartime

Point of Interest, Qld6 Comments

Charters Towers, Venus Battery

October 11, 2016October 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

The Venus gold battery is a few minutes out of Charters Towers. It commenced crushing gold in 1872 and only stopped operating in 1971. It is the best preserved battery of its kind left. Although it rains throughout our tour … Continue reading Charters Towers, Venus Battery

Point of Interest, Qld2 Comments

Bush Church

October 10, 2016October 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

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Vic, Wildlife5 Comments

Cape Barren Geese

October 9, 2016October 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

It’s breeding season for the Cape Barren Geese on Phillip Island and every paddock and park seems to have families of these beautiful grey birds.Native to Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait, Phillip Island is but a mere flap away … Continue reading Cape Barren Geese