On the Road - Day 2, 3, 4, 5

Lake Cullulleraine

We left Renmark after our overnight stay and didn't unhook the caravan so that saved Ron's back which gives him a fair amount of pain although he rarely complains as it could mean the end of our caravanning days and we do love travelling.

Our first stop was at Lake Cullulleraine, a freshwater lake just over the border in Victoria.  We had a walk around the lakeside, and morning tea before heading off to Mildura.

The George Chaffey Bridge between Mildura and Buronga

We had booked a site at Buronga which is just across the river at Mildura.  We were hoping we could get a riverside site but they are so popular that we should have booked much further ahead so we decided to take what we could get.  There are many caravan parks on the Mildura side of the River Murray but we have stayed at Buronga previously, we will have to remember to book well in advance next time.

Interesting sculpture at the caravan park

Not the most picturesque site but we had power and water and we are self contained

After setting up in the park, we discovered we had lost our long sullage hose somewhere along the way so we will make do with the shorter one. The maintenance man at the caravan park offered us some leftover pipe but unfortunately it was the wrong diameter, but we were able to just let the water out onto the grass.

Overnight we had some rain and it was still raining after we had breakfast so we just took our time then headed into Mildura to see if we could get a trip on a Paddle Steamer.  We booked a short trip on the PS Melbourne which was great as we had enough time to have a look around the wharf area before boarding the paddle steamer.

All steamed up!

Stoking the fire on PS Melbourne

Pelicans on the river

PB Mundoo being restored

Lock 11

We had a great trip up to Lock 11 and back to the bridge, also saw the Paddle Boat Mundoo and Coonawarra.  The weather was still a bit overcast and spitting with rain but we were prepared for the weather with rain coats.

The end of another great day on the river

Next morning we drove around Mildura and walked around the riverfront then had lunch at the Dockside Cafe which we had seen on our river trip.  It was a lovely cafe and perfect for a light lunch with lovely views and the staff were very pleasant which always makes for a good lunch.

View of Marina from Dockside Cafe

Lovely swan paddle boats for hire at the Marina

After lunch we did a bit more sightseeing and called into the Information Centre in Mildura which was really interesting and well set up for getting information with a lot of good displays.

Left Buronga Caravan Park after a cold night and headed to Lake Boga where we planned to see the Catalina Flying Boat Museum. 

 On the way we took some photos at Nyah where we had stayed before on another trip, and then to Swan Hill.  We have been to Swan Hill many times so just drove through and headed on to Lake Boga.

Paddle Steamer Gem in Swan Hill

The Catalina Museum at Lake Boga was so much better than we expected and we spent  quite some time there looking at the displays.  

The Lions Club of Lake Boga restored the Catalina A24-30 and the original secret communication bunker as a commemoration to the service men and women who served at Lake Boga from 1942 to 1947.

The museum holds many artefacts relating to the history associated with WWII including the historic Catalina Flying Boat.

Lake Boga Caravan Park

On the Road

We have had another road trip along the River Murray.  We have our caravan at our son's place about an hour from our home, and got to his place and packed the van quickly and hooked up and set off late morning.  We had a rough idea of where we would go, but plans often change along the way.

Enjoy the photos o the first day On the Road.

River Murray near Walker Flat, Sth Aus

Mallee on roadside

The Big Orange, Berri, Sth Aus.

 

River Murray

Paringa Bridge, Renmark, Sth Aus

River Murray

Skywatch Friday

 We have had some very hot weather lately and  decided to head to Brighton beach in Adelaide  as it often cooler at the beach later in the day. The Sculptures which are displayed every year are for sale and some of the profit goes to the Surf Life Saving Club. Some of the sculptures are huge so not really suitable for our small garden, but they are quite amazing.

Brighton Jetty

Some of the surf lifesavers training on the beach

A Blast from the Past

Back in 2006 we did one of our first trips away in our caravan.  We travelled with friends and drove to the Northern Territory.  We had a wonderful trip to the middle of Australia and it was the first time we had been to this wonderful part of Australia.  My diary has been a great help in getting the information as my memory is not good on the details.

  

9th July 2006  We left home at 9.45 am, stopped for fuel at Port Wakefield and then lunch at a rest area just out of Port Pirie. Drove on till 4.30 pm when we stopped at roadside Rest Area and set up with friends D & M.  Weather cold but sunny.

10th July  Had breakfast around campfire, as it was a cold 10 degrees C in caravan, then packed up and on road to Pimba. Scenery is now better with small low scrub.  Had lunch at Rest Area near Glen Dambo and then fuel at Glen Dambo .and back on road to Coober Pedy and then onto roadside rest area south of Cadney Park. 

11 th July Saw wedge tailed eagles and a dingo on road to Cadney Park then continued on to Marla and then Kulgara for fuel and morning tea.

Fun photo at Kulgera

From Kulgera we headed to Erldunda and then Curtin Springs where we stopped for the night at the Caravan Park.

12 July 2006 Left Curtin Springs and headed for Uluru caravan park and arrived about 10 am, set up on our booked site as the park was almost full.  The caravan park and Resort is well set up with shops etc so we stocked up with a few essentials and had lunch.  We then drove out to the Rock and walked around the base.  It is much bigger than it appears in photos.  The weather is getting cooler and starting to rain. Had an early night.

Sunset on the Rock

Walking track up the Rock

The Rock
 

Although named in 1873 in honour of the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers, it is also known by its Aboriginal name ‘Uluru’ Considered one of the great natural wonders of the world and one of Australia's most recognizable natural icons ‘The Rock’ is also a sacred part of Aboriginal creation mythology, or Dreamtime (reality being a dream).  

We were very lucky to be at Uluru when there was a rain storm and the transformation of the Rock was amazing with the change in colour and the waterfalls making it spectacular.

 13 July 2006  A day spent around the caravan park as we had problems with a hose connection and the rain overnight had caused a lot of mud in the park so we didn't venture too far.

Cave at base of the Rock

We didn't climb the Rock although a few people did but it is a dangerous climb and quite a few people have died or been injured while climbing. The Uluru climb was closed permanently in 2019 and in 1985 Uluru National Park was officially handed back to the traditional owners.

14 July 2006  After a few days at Uluru we travelled to Kings Canyon and arrived there without a booking so had an unpowered site but we were ok with that.

The Rim Walk

15 July 2006 Had a good night's sleep and organised ourselves for the Rim Walk in Kings Canyon, which I was concerned about as my knees had been hurting.

Kings Canyon

Views from the Rim Walk

Palms in the Canyon

Amazing view from Kings Canyon Rim Walk

The walk was well worth the pain and effort but it took us 4 hours so I didn't do much walking over the next few days.  I was so pleased to have made the walk and it just proved to me that you can push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of and I am so happy that I did it.

16 July 2006 We packed up and were on the road by 8.15am and back to Alice Springs and booked into a caravan park there so that we could get organised with power and water. Spent the day sorting things out.

View of Alice Springs from the lookout

17 July 2006 We left Alice Springs and headed to Glen Helen Gorge about an hour's drive.

We booked into the caravan park and went for a walk down to the waterhole along the Finke River.  It was very pretty and we enjoyed the views.  At the caravan park there was a musician playing in the Bar so we had a great evening.