30 August - 1 September Bright VIC

The journey to Bright was on a very bright day. We stopped at Glenrowan - Ned Kelly country and stood right in the area where the last shootout took place. There is great satisfaction in actually experiencing the place of something that has only been factual information stored since childhood, of a man in a 45kg armour who took on the law. Most days I liken our boys to the Ned Kelly Gang. The blacksmith who resided there had a fantastic shed full of Ned Kelly crafted souvenirs and he made the armour for the ABC program. The village itself was charming. Another highlight of the day was the Milawa Cheese Factory. We virtually had lunch there, the lady couldn't cut the cheese fast enough when she saw us coming! We also taste tested jam, chutney, chocolate even chili chocolate. The Alpine region of Australia is so beautiful - the trees, the flowers, the mountains, the rivers, the cottages, the "Bright Lager". The drive up to Dinner Plains, which is a little way past Mt Hotham, was so exciting. The first glimpse of snow on the mountains and by the roadside was unforgettable. The boys were just so excited as we made our way up the mountain and through the clouds, sometimes with very little visibility in front of us. We had snow chains for the car tyres, but did not need to use them. Finally we reached our tobogganing destination, "Scrubbers End", yep that sums us up. We had a ball on the snowfields, ploughing down our fellow skiers. We really enjoyed the little town of Bright. Unfortunately, Bright turned dull, but still had a wonderful appeal. The boys picked bunches of flowers for me - daffodils, jonquils and camellias and some of our best memories have been the 6 of us crammed in the van on a rainy day, stuff everywhere and watching dvds on the laptop. We could actually be the cast of the "Merlin" 2 series if it came to the crunch. We have watched it many times!!!

29 August Shepparton

We stayed in Shepparton for 1 night on our way through to Bright. Cow artwork all around town, looks like a nice place. As soon as we arrived at the caravan park, a 14year old girl, Bethany from Tasmania, rounded up the boys and took them to the park. Thomas, hid, she wasn't his type. There was a free pool table and they took on Bethany. Poor Bethany!

Christopher has learnt many things, but no he is not driving yet, just checking the indicators for Jamie. The boys have mastered the art of putting our little Jayco Hawk up and down now - can this go on their school report?

26 - 28 August Buronga border of Mildura NSW/VIC

A memory of this journey was sitting in the car by the roadside eating about 2kgs oranges so we wouldn't have to bin them before we reached the border. Guess what? quarantine check station was closed. We joked "No officer, no oranges here" we stunk of oranges. Buronga Family Park was such an excellent find - 23 acres, by the Murray River - playground,tennis court,farm animals, park lit up with fairy lights at night, great camp kitchen. We really loved it here. We walked down to the weir and saw all the paddle steamer boats and lots of hungry pelicans. We went to Woodsies gem shop. He had every precious stone you could imagine. The boys took their collections in and with great interest he named the stones and encouraged the boys to keep digging. We paired off and went through a hedge maze. Christopher and Jamie won. The rest of us got so frustrated, we cheated and went through the no entry doors, otherwise we would have been in their until dark. Thomas, Matty, Chrissy and Riley let me off cooking for the night and whipped up fantastic pizzas, drawing the attention of many of the campers. Christopher and Riley were in awe of this square box that sat on the fridge. Ah... the television, but we have not missed it one bit.

24 - 25 August Renmark

We camped at a place called Plushes Bend, which is a lovely spot next to the Murray River. With heavy rain approaching, I can honestly say this is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen (Jamie would beg to differ as he was draping our van with a big blue tarp, he says this is a very expensive tent on wheels!) We fished in the Murray River, but no Murray River cod to be caught today. We watched a program at the information centre about the Murray River - the livelihood of so many industries and lives worldwide are at stake if a cleanup program does not take place.
We have seen so many vineyards, minus the grapes though, as fruit picking season is in February and so many rose gardens minus the roses. It would be so beautiful here when everything is in bloom. The apricot trees are so beautiful and orange trees are ready for picking, so many just lying on the ground. I did manage 2 wineries and we all enjoyed Almondco - so many yummy flavours. We poked around at a few antique, collectable shops in Paringa and low and behold, Frank the Chookman brought a massive black stump here in the 1980's, his name rung a bell as we saw him at Daly Waters weeks ago. We met a lovely couple from Bracken Ridge, Mo and Glenda, we sat around their fire (a gas bottle, upside down, bottom cut out) they are kindly making us one when we return to Brisbane.

21 - 23 August West Beach/Adelaide

We are in the "Big smoke" again, not sure if we like all these traffic lights and cars. We stayed at a big 4 caravan park which had a massive jumping pillow and games room. The weather was quite rainy and dreary, but the sun shone brilliantly on the 22nd - Matthew's 11th birthday. We caught a tram into the city and then back to Glenelg (a popular seaside village)for lunch at Hogsbreath Cafe - you couldn't wipe the smile off Matty's face. After a huge lunch, he was presented with a complimentary cocktail. He said the day had started out a "bit pear shaped, but then changed into an apple" - he had a very good day! The tram conductor was the most jovial person I have ever encountered on public transport - he was just jumping out of his skin, a great "Welcome to Adelaide". I had the wonderful opportunity to catch up briefly with an old school friend, which made my visit here very special. The last day here was again raining, blustery (all those adjectives)so I did my time in the laundry(scrubbing those grubby little socks, which really should have run away on their own by now)and had "my time" watching the clothes in the dryer go around and around (how much more money do I have to feed into this thing!)

20 August Auburn / Clare Valley

The desert of Central Australia is now a only a memory, but a vivid treasured memory it is. How on earth did we get to the english countryside so quickly? Rolling hills, vineyards, sheep, antique shops, overcast skies. A gorgeous contrast to "up the road", but we do miss the Red Centre - it is so different and unique. I'll let you imagine how much interest Jamie and the boys have in antique shops and wineries (Jamie does not drink wine). Anyway we had a lovely stay at the showgrounds, the caretakers were wonderful and we were near the Riesling and Rattler Trails (walking and bike trails through farmlands and vineyards). This is very pretty countryside.

18 - 19 August Port Augusta

Goodbye opal fossicking, hello 10 cent return on bottle and cans. Yes the boys have a new focus. On the first morning they rummaged through the bins at the caravan park and became very competitive trying to be ahead of a man with a trailer with the same hobby. They made a total of $7.80, not bad for few minutes work. At Port Augusta we stayed at Shoreline Caravan Park and caught 1 whiting off the old bridge. It seemed odd, looking at grass again and the weather was cold, but beautiful and sunny one minute and raining and blustery the next. We have seen lots of sheep and lakes and mountain ranges.

15 - 17 August Coober Pedy

Wow, what an interesting and unique place - Opal capital of the World. Population 3,500. Coober Pedy, comes from aboriginal words kupa piti which means white man in hole. Shops underground, homes underground (called dugouts), even a caravan park underground (shaded sites???) Mounds of earth everywhere, very colourful. We took an underground mine tour at Toms mine, lots of explosive equipment, you know all the stuff that boys love!! (I hope they didn't look to clearly at "How to make an explosive.") We spent a lot of time in the public opal noodling pits. It's addictive!! Nearby are the land formations "The Breakaways", low colourful hills which have broken away from the Stuart Range. The dog fence can also be seen here. It is a 2m high wire fence stretching for 5,300 km across 3 states to protect sheep country in the south from the native dog/dingo. Our last day here was so very windy, we thought the van might take flight.

14 August Marla SA

A long drive today. We stopped at Erldunda (best hot chips), Mt Ebenezer and Kulgera. We have reached Marla in South Australia. It is very blustery. We will pack up early and head for Coober Pedy. Electric blankets and heater are coming in very handy.

12 - 13 August Kings Canyon

We spent 2 wonderful days here, camped at a spot with Kings Canyon (which is in the Watarrka National Park), as the backdrop. We bungey strapped Christopher and Riley to ourselves and played Avatar for the next 4 hours doing the Rim walk, which also took us to the depths of the canyon 270 metres down to a waterhole called the Garden of Eden. Poor Jamie twisted his ankle on the last km, so it was a very long K. It was a fantastic scenic walk, ascending, descending, stairs, bridges - so dangerous as well, hence the bungey straps. At the camp ground, there were signs everywhere with the savage face of a dingo on them and the metal gates at the amenities had to always remained closed in case you found a dingo in the toilet I guess!!! They roamed freely around and did not bother us. We met a lovely retired couple from Cleveland, Peter and Suzie and at night we went to a bar/bistro called the Outback BBQ. "The Roadies" a man and a lady, sang, told jokes, got the audience up on stage etc, our boys played pinball machines, pool and a game with big rifles to shoot deer. It's good for accuracy skills I guess! Everyday they are learning something new.

9 - 11 August Yulara - Uluru and the Olgas

It was so exciting driving towards Ayers Rock awaiting the first glimpse of it. We knew Mt Connor was first and wondered why it doesn't get as much publicity as Ayers Rock, as it looked equally impressive. We stayed at Ayers Rock Resort and with arrows, it directed guest accommodation this way, campers that way. We had a nice secluded spot at the end of the camping area until on dark 3 bus loads of school children came to camp in swags opposite us - they would have been freezing - the mornings were 2 degrees. We scored a free night, as Jamie went bleary eyed to reception the next morning and kindly mentioned the disturbance. Thomas, Matty and I did the base walk, which was 9.5 km and we all managed another short walk, as well as a little ascent up the rock itself. We did not climb all the way due to various reasons, one deterrent was watching the climbers come down the cliff face backwards hanging onto chains or on their bottom. Pretty treacherous!!! It was so impressive, so beautiful and mysterious. Three aboriginal boys came running past us with their dogs. There is nothing quite like the laughter of an aboriginal child - they are so carefree and happy. We had a great view for sunrise and sunset, the colours change so quickly. The boys chased rabbits dug holes and rolled in the red sand. We like red clothes and bedding. The colours of the landscape were so vibrant and contrasting, fluorescent like and there so many little desert flowers. THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA.

The Olgas/Kata Tjuta were 45km from Uluru. These are 36 enormous rock formations, more lush surrounds than Uluru. Christopher was "busting" and proceeded to pull down his jeans and had a leaf ready, which Riley suggested would be a good idea. They all cooeed and attracted more attention to ourselves. I think all the foreigners thought we were mad. They ain't seen nothin' yet!!!

5 August Devils Marbles

4 August Attack Creek

Overnight stop here, freebie with long drop - if I can use this one, I can do anything. That can of Glen 20 sure came in handy. It was quite hilarious, the track up to it was red soil like a red carpet and it was perched with pride of place on a little hill. Attack Creek had no water in it, so we collected firewood and found Thomas a huge didgeridoo ("throw it in the back of the car with the rest of the rocks, spears, sticks and memorabilia"). It was mum and dads last night with us, as they were heading back inland Qld. They have been such wonderful company and support as they have travelled this route before and we feel really lucky to have shared part of our journey in Australia with them. Some days our family was a total misfit, tantrums all round, other days we appeared quite normal (appeared!!!!) Anyway porta potty says he's enjoying his ride on the roof and will he be coming down at all? !!!!! (Matty took the opportunity to really feel the Stuart Highway).

2 - 3 August Dunmarra

Back down the Stuart Highway we go. We stopped at Katherine for lunch and at Mataranka, the birthplace of Jeanie Gunn who wrote the book "We of the Never Never". The Daly Waters pub was a quirky place in the middle of absolutely nowhere, a few bantum chooks running around, a man making wooden souvenirs and the ultimate backpackers pub and campground with "The Chook Man" entertaining nightly,sounds interesting!!! We saw the aeroplane hangar that was used during the Second World War, monuments to the early explorers such as John McDouall Stuart that led a party from Adelaide to Darwin. What a fantastic feat.

31 July -1 August Adelaide River

On our way to Adelaide River we went to Berry Springs and through some of Litchfield National Park. Beautiful areas to enjoy such as waterfalls, swimming holes, magnetic termite mounds - fantastic scenery. Thomas and Matthew are playing with the big boys now, yes that's them ready to dive from under the waterfall out of earshot from nagging mother, all I could do was take heaps of photos!! Crocodiles - haven't seen any lately, though they do put the warnings everywhere. We met up with mum and dad and had 2 nights at Adelaide River in the showgrounds. The boys had hours of fun playing in the cattle yards (no cattle), we visited the war memorial so beautifully kept, train museum and have been keeping an eye out for the Ghan(luxury passenger train that travels from Darwin to Adelaide and back twice weekly). Mosquitoes and blustery weather here, but the night sky was spectacular, so many stars and the milky way clearly visible.