Tag: Caravanning

Places, Qld, Showgrounds8 Comments

Finch Hatton

Itching for Hitching

July 2018, Finch Hatton, Qld Inland from Mackay the Pioneer Valley is positively bucolic. Small sugar towns, old Queenslanders surrounded by palms and cane, acres of cane. Sugar mills belching steam high into the air. Marian, the town where Dame Nellie Melba once lived as a young bride in an unsuccessful marriage. Towns like Mirani, Gargett where we stop to walk through the market and then we arrive at Finch Hatton. The Main Street of Finch Hatton, where a railway line once ran is lined with palms and big old mango trees. There’s a pub, a general store, a real … Continue reading Finch Hatton

Why Caravanning14 Comments

A Moveable Feast

Itching for Hitching

This winters’ (2018) trip has been a fabulous trip for food. Starting with the winter warming curry pies from Grist Bakery at Kyneton only a few hours from home. The cumquats that we added brandy to at Cunnamulla and are now enjoying 4 months later. In Cairns it was fresh prawns, coral trout and Spanish mackerel from several seafood wholesalers. Along with red paw paw, juicy thin skinned mandarines and sweet giant passionfruit from Rusty’s Market. In Ingham it was Italian smallgoods, imported cheeses and an array of olives from Lou’s Food Emporium and bacon chops from the butcher next … Continue reading A Moveable Feast

Caravan Parks, Places, Qld, The Pubs, When Things Just Go Wrong5 Comments

A Hasty Visit to Cooper Creek

Itching for Hitching

June 2018, Western Queensland After about 250kms (from Quilpie) we come to masses of greenery and a sign declaring 10kms of Cooper Creek channels. This is it. In water terms it’s the aorta of Australia’s central river systems. I’m excited, this is what I have wanted to see for so long. Before making camp we drive into Windorah for fuel. There is a sign announcing “No shooting on town common.” Either the locals here are a colourful bunch or this sign is directed at us. We return to Cooper Creek and find ourselves a perfect campsite only to discover that … Continue reading A Hasty Visit to Cooper Creek

Caravan Parks, Vic, Wildlife8 Comments

Lake King

Itching for Hitching

Feb 2016, Rutherglen Caravan & Tourist Park, Rutherglen, Vic Plovers, herons, magpies and mudlarks. Corellas play in the trees, the lake shimmers and changes by the hour. A pelican spends his day perched on a branch. A mismatched family of domestic ducks swim about. There are purple moorhens and white faced coots and every evening the setting sun reflects pink across the water. Continue reading Lake King

Caravanning Hints18 Comments

Seduced by Diesel Heating

Itching for Hitching

Having diesel or gas heating in a caravan means that in cold weather you can still enjoy the natural beauty of freedom camps rather than paying top dollar for a campsite in a Caravan Park just to be able to plug into their power. We’ve owned our caravan Priscilla for close to five years and she’s probably around six years old. As her layout and size suit us quite well we’d prefer not to upgrade as we figure that she and us will probably wear out at about the same time anyway. Because of her age we had decided not … Continue reading Seduced by Diesel Heating