In February the sun is at it’s strongest, the rains are at their rarest and the grass is at it’s brownist. Kids have gone back to school but summer is still at full tilt which means there’s really only one place to be – at the beach. And who doesn’t like the beach, especially if you can pack up Wanda, your trusty 4WD camper, and head to some of the … Continue reading →
The capital city of South Australia, and the state’s overwhelmingly largest city, is Adelaide. The name was given to the city in 1836 after the wife of King William IV at his request. Whatever, it’s definitely the big smoke in this vast area of Australia and after enjoying Kangaroo Island for a few days our plan was to head into the city. But of course we didn’t take the most … Continue reading →
We stood out on Cape Willoughby, a handsome historic lighthouse which was partially blocking our view of the wild Great Southern Ocean sparkling far below, knowing the next landfall in that direction was Antarctica. But we weren’t standing on mainland Australia. We were standing at the eastern point of Kangaroo Island, a large island off the South Australian coast with it’s own beautiful landscape and rugged coastline. What a place! … Continue reading →
No, not the Eyre Peninsula, been there, done that. This state seems to have an over-supply of peninsulas lined up next to each other, each with their own personality and features. Jutting out into the Great Southern Ocean between the Eyre Peninsula and the Fleurieu Peninsula is the Yorke Peninsula, somewhat forgotten and lost in the shuffle of more renowned places. But we were keen to explore this crooked finger … Continue reading →
You can only go south for so long before you eventually run out of road and have to turn around. That’s what happened to us when we arrived at beautiful Fishery Bay, the furthest south any public roads will take you on the Eyre Peninsula before you have to turn around and head north. We woke that morning at our sandy campsite on Spalding Cove and drove to the end … Continue reading →
South Australia is a huge state, substantially bigger than New South Wales, and features stunning desert beauty as well as rich agricultural land, a vibrant wine-growing industry and some of the best coastline in Australia. Our focus over the next couple of weeks was going to be the Eyre Peninsula, a pizza wedge-shaped appendage of Australia poking out into the Great Southern Ocean and forming the eastern edge of the … Continue reading →
If you live somewhere in Australia outside South Australia you’ve probably heard of the Flinders Ranges or the Gammon Ranges. But have you heard of the Gawler Ranges? Well, we had vaguely heard of it, sort of, but it had never been on our flightpath until now. We were traversing the vast open spaces north of the Gawler Ranges and zeroing in on them. The Gawler Ranges sits just north … Continue reading →
The Oodnadatta Track, using one of the coolest Aboriginal words I’ve ever heard (and meaning the ‘blossom of the mulga’) is 615 kilometres (382 miles) long but we had another 400 kilometres (240 miles) of the outback track to explore and it was an irresistible magnet on our flexible travel plans. And of course the challenge of the journey is all part of the fun. The morning started on the … Continue reading →
Australia is a wonderous place for many reasons but some of it’s natural features go to the next level. Think Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Kakadu, and the Simpson Desert as starters. I would add to that list Lake Eyre, an extraordinary natural phenomenon that deserves everyone’s attention. And we had it in our sights. Lake Eyre is what is called an endorheic lake which is basically a collection of water … Continue reading →
South Australia is a wonderful candy store for travellers of all types and interests but one of their sweetest lollies is the remarkable Flinders Ranges. Running roughly north-south in the central eastern section of the state, the Flinders features numerous world class national parks and an Aboriginal reserve plus jagged dry mountains, salt bed lakes, significant seasonal rivers and fabulous flora and fauna. For outdoor enthusiasts there is endless camping, … Continue reading →
Julie and I plan to spend the summer in Australia but that doesn’t mean we plan to sit around and do nothing. We’ve passed through South Australia a few times and been there with the kids years ago. We also crossed the spectacular Simpson Desert in the northern parts of the state but every time we go there we feel the state has a lot to offer us if we … Continue reading →
The outback of Central Australia with it’s ancient red rock mountains and vast sandy desert has been referred to as the land of lots of time and has been immortalised as such in song and movie. Our team of intrepid walkers were half way through the second half of the 230 kilometre Larapinta Trail with still a few days to go and we were hungry for what might lie ahead. … Continue reading →
The late afternoon sun turned the red rock mountains jutting up to my left an almost fluorescent orange as I adjusted my pack and followed the well-worn path eastward. Ahead of me were my fellow walkers and good mates Chook, Hoppy and Cam. We had allocated seven days to walk from Ellery Creek Big Hole to the Telegraph Station near Alice Springs as the second half of the iconic Larapinta … Continue reading →
Zach and I were in the middle of traversing the Western Arthur range on one of Australia’s most iconic – and difficult – multi-day walking tracks. We had already been on the trail for four days and woke on day five at High Moor with the cloud cover high and dry…at least for the moment. It was time to hoick up our packs and tackle what is regarded as the … Continue reading →
Tasmania is unquestionably the adventure playground headquarters for outdoor enthusiasts in Australia. With vast swathes of the island preserved by national parks and world heritage protected wilderness areas there are almost unlimited opportunities to explore places very few people venture into. And after three previous trips to Tasmania to do multi-day walks there was still one trip – the biggest and baddest of them all – that I just had … Continue reading →
The Blue Mountains are part of the Great Dividing Range that separates Sydney from inland Australia. This vast wilderness area is protected by a series of inter-connecting national parks and World Heritage areas which preserve this natural wonder for all time and provide an adventurous playground for those hearty enough to venture into them. One such exploration track is called the K2K, a three day, two night trek through some … Continue reading →
For many Sydneysiders the quintessential summer holiday is to pack up the caravan or load up the family car with tents and chairs and too much stuff, then head either down the coast or up the coast for a camping beach holiday on one of the many gorgeous beaches in the state. If you can include a national park and maybe visit friends along the way it would be almost … Continue reading →
Some places just grab you and never let you go. They are beautiful or memorable in different ways but no matter where you go afterwards you always remember them. Julie and I have such a place and we’re fortunate it is also very close to where we live in Australia. And curiously, it is a town that no longer exists, lost to the Aussie bush and the passage of time. … Continue reading →
Australia is home to some of the best multi-day walks in the world, covering a variety of environments such as forests, deserts, coastal stretches and alpine mountains. In short, we’re spoiled for choice, both on quality and quantity. But one walk has always stood out on any list, and particularly the one between my ears, and that is the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory. And when all the stars … Continue reading →
No holiday is complete without dropping in to see friends who live in some beautiful place you rarely get to. And when those friends are joined by other mutual friends to turn it into an eight-some weekend – well, it doesn’t get any better than that. And so it was that we left beautiful Congo Beach and headed north to rendezvous with three other couples in Bendalong, a beautiful and … Continue reading →
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the Australian Alps on the Victoria side are absolutely stunning. We wanted to maximise our time in this inter-connected string of national parks and state forests that cover all of north-eastern Victoria while still leaving time to take in some sunshine on their wonderful beaches. Our target for the day was remote Errinundra National Park which has basically no paved roads … Continue reading →
One of the great things about living in Sydney is that it is better than Melbourne. In fact, ask anyone living in the state and they’ll tell you New South Wales is better than Victoria. Better weather, better beaches, better footy codes, better ski resorts, better history and culture, better beer, better everything. And Sydney, one of the great cities in the world, casts a long shadow over an admittedly … Continue reading →
Some places are very special to visit but they’re a long way away and you have to be committed to make it there. But other places are equally spectacular and only a short distance away, almost in your back yard, so to speak. We tend to overlook such places because they’re not part of a longer or more elaborate journey. This is the case of the Victorian Alps, locally known … Continue reading →
There is something special about reaching your summit, regardless of the context or definition of what that summit might be. Will and I always knew that the biggest challenge of the South Coast Track was crossing the Ironbound Range with its highest point 910 metres (3,000 feet) above our coastal campground. That was our summit, in more ways than one, and would mark the both the figurative and literal highlight … Continue reading →
Tasmania can be a wild and beautiful place, especially if you have strong legs, a good backpack, comfortable shoes and a sense of adventure. Julie and I had previously done the Three Capes Track before I joined our three sons to do the famous Overland Track. But the South Coast Track was another step up and our oldest son Will agreed to join me in tackling this iconic track on … Continue reading →
Who wants to predict the weather these days? Drought when there should be rain, rain when it should be dry, even snow – yes, snow – when you least expect it. Julie and I left Sydney knowing the forecast was going to include some rain but we didn’t expect rain every day, nary a blue spot in the clouds, rain on and off, rain hard and light, rain day and … Continue reading →
Here’s something we learned the easy way – when you are on a camping holiday and the weather is mostly grey clouds with bursts of rain all day there’s no point in hanging around the beaches and staring forlornly at the sky. Instead, head inland, particularly towards the New England Tablelands which are famous for its raging rivers, deep gorges and stunning waterfalls. And when water levels are at flood … Continue reading →
This Covid thing has kept Julie and I – along with everyone else in New South Wales – locked up for 20 months or more and during that time the best we could have hoped for was to travel around this huge state. Crossing borders into other states was – and still is – strictly forbidden. Just as well then that NSW is blessed with an extraordinary range of places … Continue reading →
Willy Nelson, the legendary American country western singer, once sang, “On the road again, just can’t wait to get back on the road again…”. Julie and I knew exactly how he felt. The good people of New South Wales, having been double-vaxxed at 80% of the eligible population, were released from our nearly four month lockdown and allowed to explore our great state. We wasted no time packing up the … Continue reading →
Is there life after the pandemic? Well, we don’t know yet because this freakin’ thing just keeps giving – or to be more accurate, taking – and everyone just has to do their duty until we all get vaccinated. While Australia has been excellent at suppressing the virus and keeping infections relatively low we haven’t been nearly as good at rolling out the vaccine and rolling up our sleeve. Never … Continue reading →
The devastating bushfires in the summer of 2019/2020 caused significant and sometimes tragic losses to thousands of people in eastern Australia. They also hit our property in the Wolgan Valley, burning virtually every square metre of our land and in the process damaging or destroying almost all our fences. But its been a case of mates to the rescue as the group of guys from the Cronulla beaches that I … Continue reading →
Murramarang National Park deserves all it’s accolades – a beautiful stretch of coastline with gorgeous beaches flanked by uncut forests, all of it thankfully protected for future generations. Murramarang is also geared to handle the demands of people coming to enjoy this area with four national park campgrounds, a couple of communities carved out of the park which provide numerous caravan parks and a network of roads that connect it … Continue reading →
Here’s a couple of rash generalisations after exploring the south coast for the last couple of weeks. First and foremost, this is a beautiful place by any standards. The mountains, forests, bays and beaches, national parks and the twisted waterways are just world class. But curiously, the area is very thinly populated, ‘major’ towns like Eden and Bega only have 3,000 to 4,000 residents and most communities have much less. … Continue reading →
Kosciuszko National Park had entertained us for a few days, including the highlight of climbing to the top of Mt Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, and we could have stayed longer but our weather apps told us the weather on the coast was finally going to be what one would expect in an Australian summer – hot and sunny. So in our ever-flexible travel mode we decided to head for the … Continue reading →
Okay, the south coast beach holiday didn’t start out ideally as bad weather forced us inland to drier locales. But that’s okay because there’s a few gems we wanted to explore or revisit after long absences, including Deua National Park. Deua is the sight of many family camping adventures with its wild and steep four wheel drive tracks, the beautiful Bendethera Valley and the extensive limestone caves which anyone hearty … Continue reading →
Summer in Australia means a hot melanoma sun, long sandy beaches and icy cold beer. Throw in some cricket on the radio, backyard barbies and sand in your tent and you’ve got it covered. Thirty years ago Julie and I would stow the tent on the sedan’s roof rack, buckle in the kids and head down the south coast where we could enjoy as many of these experiences as possible. … Continue reading →
On the one hand, its hard to find anything good to say about 2020. The pandemic has disrupted the lives of practically everyone on the planet, and for most people that includes the loss of personal freedoms, jobs and even loved ones. In relative terms Julie and I have been touched very lightly by this fiasco, the worst thing happening to us being the loss of overseas travel and the … Continue reading →
Over the last few days we’ve been exploring parts of Australia we know little about, particularly the Riverina district along the Murray River. The greater Riverina area has some of the richest soil in Australia, perfect for growing endless crops of wheat, canola and other grains. The small rural communities that line the Murray support the farmers of these vast fields and have found their niche drawing visitors with golf … Continue reading →
What is it about muddy slow-moving rivers? Six months ago Julie and I only knew the basics about the amazing river system of western NSW but since that time we’ve been exploring rivers such as the Barwon, Lachlan, Wabego, Culgoa, Mcintyre, Severn and of course the mighty Darling (which, by the way, all those other rivers eventually flow into). And we’ve been completely taken by the geology, history, economics and … Continue reading →
New South Wales is a huge state and when you weave your way through some of it’s hidden pockets it can take some time to reach the furthest boundaries. But that was our mission as we left the modest regional centre of Bourke and pointed Wanda in a westerly direction towards Sturt National Park and the far northwest corner of the state. And that means long stretches of straight rough … Continue reading →
New South Wales is speckled with hundreds of national parks – in fact, an astonishing 237 at last count – many of them offering no services to the passing traveller or are otherwise completely inaccessible. These obscure green splodges on the map may lack outstanding features that would otherwise attract a crowd and instead are intended to preserve valuable geological places or areas, sometimes for its flora and fauna, for … Continue reading →
Sydney is truly one of the great cities of the world – a world class harbour, stunning coastline, iconic buildings, rich history and sparkling weather. There’s no doubt Sydney has it all. But that being said, after months of self-isolation, social distancing and tedious boredom it was fantastic to pack up our new truck/camper, the recently arrived Wanda, and head out north or west or south or wherever we wanted … Continue reading →
This Covid thing is a never-ending nightmare and driving Julie and I crazy, as it is for millions (or billions!) of other people around the world. Our Follow the Sun journey is on indefinite hold. We can’t travel, we can’t work, we don’t know when it will end, we have public health concerns and constraints, we have frustrations. But we acknowledge we’re better off than most people. Fortunately Julie and … Continue reading →
Julie and I have often said that our special happy place is our block of land tucked away in the Wolgan Valley where we have been going for 20 years to escape the city and enjoy the magnificent bush of Australia. We usually camped there but our long term plan had always been to eventually build a home on the property which would allow us to spend up to half … Continue reading →
I’ve always liked the idea of time travel. Not for the purpose of going forward to find out what will happen but more so to go back in time and get a better understanding of what it must have been like ‘back then’. I would have liked to sail with Magellan as he circumnavigated the world, explore the American west with Lewis and Clark, and hang out in the mining … Continue reading →
Mutawintji National Park is the setting of one of our family’s most dramatic travel stories. Way back in 1999 Julie and I and our three young kids were camping in the park and took a day walk up spectacular Homestead Creek gorge with a peaceful dry creek bed and high rocky walls. Unexpectedly a torrential storm of biblical proportions came in, flooding the gorge and forcing us to work as … Continue reading →
And so it came to pass that after all of us Australians did what we were told and self-isolated, kept our distance, washed our hands, stayed at home, lost our jobs and missed our payments, such obedience exactly opposite to the usual irreverent and independent nature of such people, that the whole thing miraculously worked and the evil virus more or less slipped away into the nasty dustbin of history. … Continue reading →
Julie and I are sitting patiently at home in Sydney, waiting for this dreadful corona virus to finish doing its evil on the world before we and millions (billions!) of others can resume normal life as we knew it – or whatever the new ‘normal’ will be when that time comes. In the meantime, we are reminiscing about our fabulous Follow the Sun trip which was interrupted after completing four of … Continue reading →
Wild uncontrolled fire on private property never ends well, especially when it is in a remote or hard to reach area. Such was the case for Julie and I last December when our beloved property in the Wolgan Valley was engulfed in flames during Australia’s horrid bushfire season. Amongst our sadness arose an offer of help from mates I’ve been running with for many years, guys who are more comfortable … Continue reading →
Everyone likes a road trip, right? The fun of seeing new places, getting out of the general day by day rut, spending quality time with others, collecting new memories. Road trips are cool. The idea of hitting the road on a camping trip with the plans to visit many old friends along the way absolutely hit every button for us. As it happens, we have a number of friends we … Continue reading →
For all its beauty and benefits Australia can present some serious challenges for those who live here. This big brown land is vulnerable to years-long drought followed by devastating floods, throw in the odd cyclone, then go back to interminable drought. And then lay over the top of this the worst four letter F word of all time – fire. Australia does fires better – or worse – than anywhere … Continue reading →
While we slept warm and dry in Windermere Hut on the second night of our adventure there was rain and snow falling outside all night. We had been told that today would be the worst weather day of the week but we were battle-hardened and ready to take on all the elements no matter what is thrown at us. And we had adopted a catchcry that summed up our approach … Continue reading →
We trudged up the steep track, using our walking poles to balance ourselves as we planted each foot in the deepening snow. As we reached the ridge line the howling wind hit us full force and we bent over to shield our face from the stinging snow and counter the force of the wind trying to sweep us away. Step by step through the snow, some drifts more than two … Continue reading →
Tasmania is a giant playground for outdoor enthusiasts, people who like to walk through native rainforests, stride sheer ocean cliffs, trudge up and down dramatic mountains and mix with unique flora and fauna. All of this while not really caring about the weather, which in Tasmania can change hourly. Julie and I have been flat out busy during the last couple of months in Sydney but we took a break … Continue reading →
The last two and a half years Julie and I have been unintentionally redefining what ‘normal’ means to us. Is our new normal living in Tramp and travelling the world? Is it couch surfing with family and friends when we’re temporarily back in Australia? Is it being permanently retired? Is it being grandparents? Or perhaps in this mixed-up phase of our lives it’s just a little bit of everything. Whatever … Continue reading →
Our Follow the Sun journey has taken us to 42 countries across three continents and spanned 463 days of exploration, adventure and discovery. We’ve learned about the history, culture, people and language of all these amazing new places and loved every moment of it. But sitting patiently in the background to all these experiences are our family and friends – very dear to us and an important part of our … Continue reading →
It’s a great life on the road, that’s for sure, but it’s also wonderful to go home to our family and friends after being away for many months, catch up on what everyone’s doing, hear their stories and share some of our own. There’s many hugs to share, excited voices, laughs all around, all great fun we had been looking forward to and really loved. And of course, there’s the … Continue reading →
We spent nine glorious months exploring the vast continent of North America and every day discovered many beautiful places while enjoying an endless stream of adventures. But our growing family drew us home, back to our base camp in Sydney where we reveled in the joy and love of our new granddaughter – beautiful little Abby.
Continue reading →Almost 25 years ago Julie and I came up with a crazy idea of climbing into some sort of four wheel drive camper and driving around the world, spending a summer in each of the six reachable continents in the world. The idea didn’t have much form or focus at the time but it was nice to have such a grand – and somewhat whacky – idea to have as … Continue reading →
Favourite moment for 2016? Really, is it possible to pick just one amongst so many? Where do I start? Well, the highlights reel for our family in 2016 is long and spectacular but there’s been a few standouts. We had multiple family weddings, a couple of graduations, milestone birthdays, fantastic holidays, stunning weekends under the stars and much more. But its pretty hard to beat watching one of your children marry his long … Continue reading →
Our small brightly coloured twin prop airplane banked low over the gently rolling green pastures below us and slowly descended to the single runway with a small terminal at its side. Big healthy cattle didn’t bother to look up from their tall grass as we passed low over their heads, still within sight of the surf crashing on nearby beaches. It was the idyllic scene of some old school TV … Continue reading →
Weddings are a time of family and friends, reunion, ceremony, teary eyes, funny speeches, beautiful gowns, duplicate gifts and most importantly – joyful celebration. And recently it was all this and much more for Julie and I as we saw our oldest son Will marry his beautiful sweetheart Gemma on a bright sunny day in the gorgeous gardens of a historic homestead in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney. What … Continue reading →
In 1978 I was a green-as-grass California kid straight out of Uni with an idea of travelling in Europe for a couple of months before going home and getting some sort of graduate degree. It seemed like a fine idea until a company that ran camping tours around Europe for the 18-35 year olds asked if I would like to become a tour leader. Without any consideration of what it might … Continue reading →
Cockatoo Island is the largest island in Sydney Harbour and has played a key part in Australia’s convict and maritime history since it was first put to use way back in the 1830’s. Today it holds a proud place amongst UNESCO World Heritage locations for is convict heritage and later became Australia’s first shipbuilding centre. In fact, the last ship built on Cockatoo Island was finished as recently as 1983. Julie … Continue reading →
The Cool Convoy’s epic journey across the Simpson Desert was finished with all six vehicles and 17 people successfully making the 3,600 km round trip journey from Adelaide. But for two vehicles and the four of us we still needed to drive back to Sydney, accompanied by our trusty trailer carrying all the group’s camping gear. But this second shoulder trip, as it was called, would not be a quick … Continue reading →
The Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park is a rugged and remote national park in the northern section of the magnificent Flinders Ranges, one of the true highlights of any visit to South Australia. We were camped at the southern end of the park in the Italowie Gorge and woke to a very cold and grey day, the sky threatening rain but the high red rock cliffs surrounding us seemed to act … Continue reading →
We’ve never camped with 7,000 people before but that’s what we faced when we woke up in the middle of a cow paddock on a cold winter’s morning outside of Birdsville. There was a huge range of campers, trucks, tents, shelters, trailers and every other type of camping paraphernalia spread out all around us as music lovers had come from everywhere to enjoy the festival. Someone said it looked like … Continue reading →
The fourth of July was a special day for many reasons. Yes, it is significant for Kathy, John and all the half Aussie/half Americans in the group. But it was also our sixth day since we left the relative comfort of Oodnadatta – which seemed like a year ago – and the day we finish our trip across the Simpson Desert. Tonight we will end up in the iconic Queensland town of Birdsville. … Continue reading →
These dry salt lake beds are beautiful to look at but can sometimes be very tricky to cross. They tended to be very rutted from previous vehicles and in many cases their lowest spot still contained water and a lot of very deep sticky mud. We approached each one carefully, often scouting ahead and choosing our path before crossing. When we came up to the edge of a particularly large … Continue reading →
Mornings in the desert were my favourite time of day. It would always be cold, below 5 degrees, usually a thick dew across the sand, flora and tents. You could almost sense the desert waking up around you as the sun poked its head above the closest dune. The light would play off the morning clouds, creating a beautiful sunrise, and slowly our camp of 17 intrepid travellers would wake … Continue reading →
We left the relative comfort of the Pink Roadhouse in Oodnadatta and headed off on a muddy track with the plan to take five or six days to across the Simpson Desert. After almost two years of planning for this moment it had finally arrived and our team of 17 adventurers were keen to get started. But we also knew the circumstances of our crossing were not ideal – all … Continue reading →
The big morning had finally arrived. We woke to grey skies and wet tents but everyone was pumped with excitement and anticipation. After a little extra time to allow the new teams to pack their vehicles for the first time we were off on the 2016 Simpson Desert Expedition. Each car had chosen their handle for our radio communications – there was Cruiser, Disco, the Angels, Corral, JALT and the Crambos – … Continue reading →
It is a major technical and logistical challenge to drive a vehicle across the Simpson Desert given its remote location and 1,100 parallel sand dunes. But first you have to get there and for four of us that means driving from Sydney to Adelaide where we will meet the other 13 members of our group who will fly in and pick up their hired vehicles. But of course we weren’t … Continue reading →
A mad idea started to form about two years ago when Julie and I were looking for our next big adventure, something which definitely had to involve exploring more of Australia. We had fond memories of when we led a group of family members driving to the tip of Cape York and we wanted to combine an outback adventure with a big family event. After a nano-second of consideration we knew what … Continue reading →
We’ve covered a lot of ground over the last few months without actually going too far (if you don’t count our quick trip to California for beautiful Bryn’s wedding!). There’s been baseball (of course), and bushwalking (of course) and camping (yes, of course). But the family also has a bigger drone that takes absolutely fabulous photos and videos, there was a romantic weekend thrown in there and we all had … Continue reading →
Julie and I love weddings. They combine three fantastic elements which make them unmissable for us – celebration, reunion and travel. So when we heard one of our beautiful nieces in the US had chosen the date and place for her nuptials we locked it in before the invitation arrived. And the double added bonus to the whole event was that the lucky couple had chosen the family ranch in California as their … Continue reading →
Easter bunny season is one of the best times of the year if you are around little kids. Not only is it fun to watch young children celebrate Easter with the mythology of the Easter bunny and the whole chocolate eggs thing, but even big kids and adults can get momentarily wrapped up in the fun. And that’s what we all did at our annual family gathering, camping at the … Continue reading →
The shiny green moss was wet and slippery from the overnight rain. I couldn’t find a suitable place to put my left foot that would hold my weight and every time I tried to reposition myself I hit my head on the rock I was trying to crawl under and around. It was dark and cramped and somewhat concerning. I eventually pulled myself up on two little handholds until I … Continue reading →
The sun was beating down on us, my legs were starting to cramp and I knew my water supply was getting low. We were crossing a very steep slope with huge fallen trees, thick scrub and loose rocks. The light was fading, we were off track, completely dependent on our GPS and fairly exhausted as we tried to find a way off this steep escarpment. It might have been a precarious … Continue reading →
The Christmas and New Year holiday period is very important for most families as a time of reunion and celebration. It’s also a good time to slow down a bit, reflect on the year past, raise a glass or two and spend some quality time with loved ones. But it can also be a bit chaotic with gifts, parties, special meals, visitors and just coordinating all the different activities that … Continue reading →
We stood on the edge of the escarpment, staring in wonder at the beautiful Grose Valley that stretched out far below us. The high vertical cliff walls that dramatically marked the valley’s northern and southern boundaries acted as barriers to even this intrepid group of bushwalkers. But our mission for the day was to explore the area around Mt. Hay, a modest rounded mountain of 944 metres that marked the high … Continue reading →
The three of us stood on a high narrow ridge that spectacularly divided two deep valleys. On our left we looked down into the vast Capertee Valley, stretching as far as the eye could see, bounded by dramatic cliff walls with majestic Pantoneys Crown acting as an island in a sea of green gum forest. On our right lay the Wolgan Valley, our second home, with the Wolgan River flowing peacefully … Continue reading →
The colourful early stages of Australian history are filled with the folklore of bushrangers – men who lived beyond the law, surviving on their wits and excellent bush skills while robbing people, stealing cattle and occasionally killing those who would try to stop them. These were desperate times for many people who were trying to survive in a harsh land. But today’s Australians have taken very kindly to these unique characters … Continue reading →
There is something special, really magic, about going to new places, enjoying new experiences, learning new things. Mix these emotions with a dose of adventure when the GPS is your only guide, add in a group of new friends who are kindred spirits and top if off with a light rain that ensures you are slightly soggy. The final product is a great day of fun, exploration and camaraderie. Such were the ingredients … Continue reading →
“Whoever sitteth on this carpet and willeth in thought to be taken up and set down upon other site will, in the twinkling of an eye, be borne thither, be that place nearhand or distant many a day’s journey and difficult to reach.” So says the story in the Arabian Nights about the mythical Flying Carpet, a great solution to all travel and transport challenges. Recently I was given the opportunity … Continue reading →
Winters in Sydney are fairly mild by world standards and generally speaking we’re spoiled by the weather. Having said that, this time of year there is less sun, sometimes a chilling breeze and no use for the world famous beaches. But winter is our favourite time to leave the big smoke and head to the smoky fire around our campsite where we can enjoy the magnificent scenery and breathe some fresh air.
Continue reading →The Gardens of Stone National Park is a seldom-visited track of preserved land covering part of the Great Dividing Range northwest of Sydney which now forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. The park gets its name from the beautiful pagoda rock formations, limestone outcrops and other exposed rock sculptures that are unique to this area. And from our property it is smack-dab in our back … Continue reading →
If I had been standing on this point on a fine April morning in 1770 I might have seen Captain James Cook on the bridge of HMS Endeavour as it dropped anchor in preparation of him ‘discovering’ Australia for King George III. With much less historical significance but possibly with more appreciation for the spectacular scene before us, Julie and I stood on the high cliff marking the end of … Continue reading →
A wedgetail eagle soared gracefully above us, effortlessly catching the light breeze as he looked down upon us. “I wonder if he appreciates the magnificent views he has from up there” I asked no one in particular as I stared upward. “Probably not,” a fellow bush walker answered, “he’s just looking for his next feed”. But from this lofty perch on the top of Pantoneys Crown I couldn’t imagine anything … Continue reading →
Summer is a time for stepping outside, stretching the legs, putting on the sunnies, cranking up the barbie and perhaps working up a bit of a sweat. We’ve been following these rules with an action-packed couple of months, including being part of a memorable baseball game, camping at our property and enjoying a huge family celebration at Easter.
Continue reading →More than 100 years ago some hearty men and women lived in a remote and isolated valley near what is now called the Blue Mountains and eked out an existence mining for shale oil. It was a hard life in the small mining community of Newnes, now just a ghost town deep in the Wolgan Valley, with long days marked by hard work under difficult circumstances and very little reward. … Continue reading →
There we were deep in a building below the level of the sea looking at priceless 4,000 year old Egyptian artifacts, strange modern art pieces and some confronting displays that challenge all your senses. It may sound like an odd combination but it’s easily explained – a long weekend in Hobart with some great friends, the highlight of which was a provoking visit to the Museum of Old and New … Continue reading →
There we were, sitting around a hot crackling fire, surrounded by beautiful rainforest, cold drinks in our hands, tents nearby. As often happens in Barrington Tops National Park, a light drizzle was falling but it made no difference to us as we enjoyed this special family time together doing our favourite thing. As a break over the Christmas holiday season it doesn’t get any better than this.
Continue reading →The Royal is one of the true treasures of New South Wales. Its close proximity to Sydney, only a 15 minute drive from its southern suburbs, makes it accessible to everyone with a yearning for the great outdoors. And what a special place it is! The Royal National Park, to use its formal name, was established way back in 1879 and is the second oldest national park in the world, … Continue reading →
There is a saying somewhere about growing boys getting bigger toys but we can submit recent evidence that it applies to girls also. Our beautiful remote property on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains near Sydney is surrounded by rarely visited national parks and a huge world heritage location. For the last 13 years it has been our escape plan from the bustling cities of Sydney or Bangkok. But … Continue reading →
The Blue Mountains National Park features some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Australia. Given its close proximity to Sydney you would think this magnificent park would be swarming with dedicated tree huggers, weekend romantics, family adventurers and suburban escapists. But on a recent weekend we were determined to get away from the crowds, dive deep into the secrets of the national park and visit one of the … Continue reading →
Australians have a very loose definition for mountains. This is mainly because as the oldest planet on earth Australia’s mountains have all worn down to the point that most countries would just call them large hills. But where Australia’s mountains may lack height they more than make up for in deep gorges, long waterfalls, sweeping views and even glacial lakes. And in two recent successive weekends we explored and conquered … Continue reading →
The Christmas holiday period is a busy time of year for most families in Australia, especially with the warming summer weather, school holidays, traditional family reunions and exchanging of gifts. This year we had all of that plus a milestone birthday celebration, a family wedding and a big week of work at our country property. Those couple of weeks were a fun and rewarding period which we thoroughly enjoyed, barely … Continue reading →
Sometimes, if you’re really lucky, an opportunity comes up to do something you couldn’t otherwise justify. You need a good excuse, a valid reasonable explanation, for doing something that might otherwise be out of reach. And I was exactly this lucky when a former colleague of mine was having a surprise going away party and I was invited to attend. Yes, I had a great excuse to go back to … Continue reading →
Australia has some of the most diverse and unique animals in the world. The continent is probably most well known for its wide range of marsupials but there is also a spectacular choice for reptiles – read snakes and crocodiles – fish and birds. And then there are the introduced species, some of which wore out their welcome long ago. Whatever the case may be, as we travelled around Australia for … Continue reading →
