The Burra Passport Tour is a wonderful concept and being able to pick and choose what historical sites to visit is a big plus. Up on the hill behind Redruth there is a small village of stone ruins known as … Continue reading Burra Passport Tour – Hampton Village
Guidebook in hand and still engrossed in the history of Burra we stop outside Smelter’s Home Hotel which for a time was operated by Woody’s ancestors in the nineteenth century. A tradesman pops out and suggests that we should meet the owner. Val is a charming lady who knows the history of the pub and of all its publicans. It is Australia’s oldest unrenovated hotel. In the early days when there was a death in the district the pub was used as a mortuary, which has to be better than using the butcher shop. Back when the miner’s dugouts in … Continue reading Burra Passport Tour – Smelter’s Home Hotel
Continuing our informative Passport Touring of Burra I’m intrigued by the stonework of the Redruth lockup. We find its replacement, the more austere Redruth gaol to be quite unnerving. You know that feeling when the hairs go up on the … Continue reading Burra Passport Tour – The Gaols
I know that I mention the Murray River a lot in these pages but with its tributaries the Darling, Culgoa, Balonne and Condamine, an impressive 2740kms makes it Australia’s longest waterway and the third longest navigable river in the world … Continue reading Cadel Ferry
In historic Burra, SA our caravans back onto the Burra creek in the little caravan park. Ducks wander the park and swim noisily about in the creek below. A small bridge leads to the heart of this charming heritage town with its vine clad verandas and flagstone footpaths. Perhaps we’re biased as Woody’s ancestors settled here back in the 1850’s but we can almost sense their presence, it is a town that is easy to be captivated by. The Caravan Park manager is a bit of a character and he tells us where to park our vans and asks us … Continue reading The pub?
Knowing what foodstuffs can be taken across state borders can be extremely confusing. To protect the aquaculture industry in Tasmania one must avoid importing certain uncooked fish as well as fruit and vegetables. And don’t be surprised to see sniffer dogs at entry points ensuring that you’ve done the right thing. We have found the South Australian border control to be friendly and helpful and officers are happy to give out brochures on what items can and can’t be imported. I’m sure that most caravanners have a story like ours about Western Australian quarantine checks which can be can be … Continue reading Quarantine
I race into town, buy a bra then pop into the Echuca Medical Centre, watch a documentary on the Danish royal family and have some stitches removed from my arm by a gentle Indian doctor. Then I realise that I haven’t combed my hair this morning. Bugger, gee this life is relaxing. Back at camp we say our farewells (shit! Have I combed my hair yet?) and hit the road for South Australia. Continue reading Just another Monday morning
The twin township of Echuca / Moama is a Murray River playground. Providing everything that one would need. Is it any wonder that the population of the area is growing. Moama Waters Holiday Park is about 4 kms from the … Continue reading Moama Waters Holiday Park
For those new to retirement and caravanning trip planning the where to go and when to go must be baffling. It’s hard enough to come to terms with the fact that you now have all the time in the world. At least until a debilitating illness takes hold of you! Let alone trying to understand why southern caravanners are more interested in northern weather patterns and cyclones on the TV weather report than how tomorrow’s weather will affect their golf game. To put it simply, there’s an exodus north in the southern winter not only to ease the aches and … Continue reading Route Planning
Here’s one for Lyn from Lynz Real Cooking. And thanks to her question I’ve had a wonderful morning learning about the habits of Australian freshwater crustaceans and I now live in fear that a colony of Western Australian Marron that … Continue reading Yabbies
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