Staples to Keep On Board

February 4, 2018January 29, 2018 Itching for Hitching

We rarely leave the bitumen so supplies aren’t such an issue. All around Australia most towns these days have good supermarkets and I’m sure that even if our fridge/freezer broke down we’d still have enough food on board to keep us going for quite some time. Pasta, rice noodles, canned soup (there’s nothing better than soup on those cold wet nights when you are too tired to cook), rice (short grain and Arborio of course because Woody loves his risotto), small cans of tuna for lunches, sandwiches and salads. Tubs of tomato paste and bottles of passata. We always carry … Continue reading Staples to Keep On Board

SA, Wildlife2 Comments

Thunderboxes

February 1, 2018January 29, 2018 Itching for Hitching

March 2015 It is a warm morning in Pildappa, South Australia and I’m sitting in a National Park long drop trying hard not to breathe until the day’s work is completed, when an ant bites me! Ouch!! Translation note: Thunderbox = unsewered outdoor toilet, hence ‘long drop’. Campers sometimes remark on how well the rangers have dug the hole as they often listen for the deposit to reach the bottom. Continue reading Thunderboxes

Freedom Camp, Vic7 Comments

Our Top Ten Free Camps in Victoria

January 25, 2018January 24, 2018 Itching for Hitching

A friend (Yes G, that’s you) recently asked if I would put together a list of our favourite free camps. Here are the ones that we’ve stayed at and that always spring to mind when we think of introducing people to free camping. Before someone says “But what about Nug Nug” Each of these is totally free although there are other temptations to be had at Brown Brothers. Skipworth Reserve, Jamieson I’ve posted several stories about the beauty of this place. Well maintained level sites, good drop toilets, fire pits, friendly birdlife, a gurgling mountain stream and only 4kms from … Continue reading Our Top Ten Free Camps in Victoria

Freedom Camp, Places, Vic2 Comments

Vaughan Springs

January 7, 2018January 6, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Tucked in the hills a mere 14kms south of Castlemaine, Vic is the tiny, wee hamlet of Vaughan Springs. This was once a gold mining area and a young lad by the name of Jim Paull was working in the … Continue reading Vaughan Springs

NSW, Places5 Comments

Tuross Head

October 21, 2017September 21, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Tuross Head on the New South Wales south coast is set on a high ridge with stunning views over the lakes, river mouth and sand spit. On the cliff top I chat to a local man who tells me that sometimes emus can be seen on the sand spit. Now that would be a sight to see. Continue reading Tuross Head

Farm Stays, Freedom Camp, Vic8 Comments

Broken Creek Bush Camp

October 17, 2017October 16, 2017 Itching for Hitching

Spring 2017 We take a short drive out from Benalla, Vic to check out Broken Creek Bush Camp, the one that was recommended to us around a campfire up in Miles, Qld and recently by a couple of mates. This … Continue reading Broken Creek Bush Camp

Overheard, Qld3 Comments

It gets warm in Normanton

October 16, 2017October 13, 2017 Itching for Hitching

July 2014 We’re in Normanton on the Gulf of Carpentaria and I hear a Grey Nomad complaining about the heat (it’s 31 degrees and feels like 41). A local curtly rebuffs her with “wait till summer when it’s 56 degrees and 80% humidity!” Continue reading It gets warm in Normanton

Point of Interest, Vic13 Comments

Chateau Tahbilk

October 14, 2017October 11, 2017 Itching for Hitching

It is by no means the oldest vineyard in Australia but Chateau Tahbilk’s heritage stretches back to its first vintage in 1861. It went on to boast international awards. When the phylloxera outbreak destroyed vines around the world some Chateau … Continue reading Chateau Tahbilk

Point of Interest, Vic8 Comments

Goulburn Weir

October 13, 2017October 11, 2017 Itching for Hitching

In the Spring it is a pleasant drive through golden canola fields from Nagambie, Vic to the Goulburn Weir. Australia’s Irrigation scheme was the brainchild of later to become Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. Built of large granite blocks the Goulburn Weir was opened in 1891 and was the first ‘diversion structure’ in the scheme. Water from the Goulburn River is diverted from here into the Stuart Murray Canal which flows north to Rushworth and the Waranga Basin. When the weir opened it housed one of the Southern hemisphere’s first hydro-electric schemes which attracted tourists to marvel at the ‘illumination’. A … Continue reading Goulburn Weir

Flora, Vic2 Comments