Apr 12 - Sep 5 Trip Statistics

Number of Days: 147

Total kilometres travelled: 24,518 kms
Average kilometres per day: 167 km/day

Total petrol consumed: 2,922 litres
Average fuel consumption: 11.9 litres/100km

Total petrol cost: $4,644
Average petrol price per litre: $1.59
Average petrol cost per day: $32
Average petrol cost per km: 19c

Total accommodation cost: $1873
Average accommodation cost per day: $13 ($20/day excluding free camping)

Petrol costs were clearly our main expense, being two and a half times our accommodation costs.
We free camped 53 nights - more than one third of our trip.

Sep 1-5 The final days

From Mendooran, it was only a 70km drive into Dubbo. There were a few things to do in Dubbo (like the zoo), but we decided to keep moving. We had a look around town and found it too busy; too many people. We drove on to a place called Toongi and nearly set up camp there. Alas, no internet and no TV reception. On we went to another lovely little town 70kms south of Dubbo called Yeoval, which offered powered camping sites at the disused showgrounds for a bargain-basement price of $8. Both TV and internet reception to be had, making us happy campers.

Princess checked out the facilties at the Toongi camp site

Interesting artwork in the park at Yeoval

Impressive sculpture at Yeoval

Walking down the main street of Yeoval

Lovely spring blossums

Our camp site at the Yeoval Showgrounds, next to the Men's Shed

The following day we set off for a big day in Parkes. First stop was the Dish - an Aussie icon after the movie really put it on the map. Interesting place to visit. We were lucky to see the dish move from vertical to horizontal.

View of the Dish from outside the complex

The dish, in all its glory

The other famous attraction in Parkes that we wanted to see was the Elvis Museum. We had planned to go to Parkes earlier in the year for the Elvis Festival, but we didn't make it (maybe next year?). The museum was really well done, and entry includes access to a vintage car/motorbike museum. Learnt a few things about Elvis, like Priscilla was only 14 years old when the romance started, and he was still writing love letters back to his fiancee. Scandal!

Judith at the Elvis museum

Elvis and his Cadillac

After Parkes, we drove onto another small town called Gooloogong. They provided powered camping for a donation (we gave them a tenner). Yet another friendly and interesting little old town that we enjoyed walking around.

A stunning old church that was for sale - very tempting

The camp site at Gooloogong

The next day we travelled through a few more towns that were nicely presented - Grenfel, Young, Cootamundra. Each were good looking towns with a real sense of history. Our direction was towards Wagga Wagga, as neither of us had been to this town before and we felt that we should. We found a free camp on the banks of the Murumbidgee River near Wantabadgery (about 40kms east of Wagga Wagga). Plenty of room; lovely site; would come back again.

The beautiful country scenery near Wagge Wagga

Great camp site on the banks of the Murumbidgee River

The happy couple at dusk

Our day in Wagga Wagga was a little tarnished by the cold, wet weather. We managed to enjoy our morning tea at a town park - with a power point for toast and coffee - just before the rain set in. Judith was keen to see the Glass Art Gallery, which was exceptional. The art gallery and museum was next door so we visited them as well. The museum had a PowerHouse photography exhibition called Train Spotting which was impressive.

The wonderful Glass Art Gallery at Wagga Wagga

We stopped at Jerilderie and nearly stayed the night, but the free camp area was a little too suburban for our liking (we could see houses in several directions), even though it was right on the river. We found a caravan park in a small town called Berrigan for the night. Sleepy caravan park, with only one other caravan with us, in a sleepy little town. Sounds good, except for the boguns across the road playing their 80s music at full volume. At least they turned the music down at 10pm.

The camp site at Jerolderie that we didn't stay at

The following day, we explored the area where my mother grew up. In between Berrigan and Cobram is an almost non-existant town called Lalalty. All that remains today is a public hall and a school that is now a residence, unfortunately very badly renovated.

The old Lalalty school, badly converted into a dwelling.
This is where my Mum went to school

The Lalalty Public Hall
Not sure what my Mum did here

Under the eaves of the Lalalty Public Hall the swallows have been very active

Once we got over the border and into Victoria, we worked out how long it would take for us to get to our home base of Talbot. A couple of hours and we'd be home before dark. So we kept driving and arrived safely back at our little cottage, the end of our big trip - for now...

Our little cottage at Talbot

Aug 29-31 Narrabri, Coonabarabran, Mendooran

From Moree, we drove on to Narrabri and checked into the Showgrounds. Lots of space, away from main roads and powered site for only $14. Enjoyed a wander around the main street of Narrabri and thought it a nice town.

The Narrabri Showgrounds

The Australia Telescope Compact Array is located 23 km to the west of Narrabri. The following day we went for a visit. I found it quite interesting. Not so sure about Judith. I think she's looking forward to seeing the Dish at Parkes though in just a couple of days time.

Judith enjoys whispering to me about 20m away in front of another parabolic dish

Two of the six 22 metre dishes that move along a railway line to track radio wave emissions from deep space

A scale model to help one understand how the Compact Array set-up works

The telescope array is in the middle of almost nowhere. There was one place on the map nearby called Yarrie Lake so this became our destination for lunch. There was a camping ground but unfortunately dogs are not allowed. We thought it was a lovely spot for our lunch and a bit of a play.

The very pleasant Yarrie Lake, about 30kms west of Narrabri

Our lunch spot on the shores of Yarrie Lake

I found a rope in good condition and went for a swing. Not quite hot enough to let go over the water though...

We got confused (the GPS as well!) on the way back from Yarrie Lake and got stuck on about 20km of dirt tacks. Nothing too scary, but it did cause the shelf in the van to fall off the wall. (My fault for not putting it up properly in the first place.)

The next major town was Coonabarabran. The most notable difference for us was the blossom trees lining the streets. We haven't seen such trees for a long time; certainly not on our trip so far. After a shared coffee and apple turnover, we decided that we didn't want to stay in town and drove on further.

We stayed the night at a free camp site in a little town called Mendooran. We thought the town and the camp site was great, so we stayed for another day. No power, but with our new battery and solar we are fine.

The campsite by the river at Mendooran

Our morning view from the van

Our first night, in the shade of the beautiful trees

Second day, we moved into the sun - for warmth and solar charging

Mendooran is known as the mural town

Another mural on the side of an old shed