Our New Starlink setup

Previously, we purchased a Starlink Gen 2 unit mounted on a pole, connected to our generator box. However, its size made it awkward to store, forcing us to run our inverter to use the dish.

We ordered the Starlink Mini ahead of our four-month trip to Tasmania. Its integrated router provided reliable performance, enabling us to stream television shows and use our mobile devices over Wi-Fi without any issues. To power the Starlink Mini, we purchased a 12-volt power solution from All Terrain Action, a Melbourne-based company. Our order included a 12V to 48V converter, an Anderson 50A connector, a 25 cm output wire with a 7.5 amp fuse, and a 30 cm long 16 AWG 5.5x2.1 mm female connector. We connected the Anderson plug to our Anderson outlet on the drawbar, which powers our electric jack.

Upon returning home, we considered permanently mounting the mini dish on the canopy of our Chevrolet. We were interested in a solution from Outcamp, a South Australian company, that offers a remote-controlled 12V to 24V power supply with an Anderson plug. This package includes two remote controls that can turn the mini dish's power on and off from up to 50 metres away. 

Remote-controlled power supply.

Rouge Canopies, based in Dubbo, New South Wales, manufactures a mount that attaches to the crossbars of our canopy. The Rouge Canopies Starlink Mount is only 46.46 mm high, allowing us to drive into our garage without needing to remove it. The mount features a black textured powder coat that matches our Midnight Edition Chevy. 

You can also purchase a 3mm UV-stabilised polycarbonate cover, available in black or clear. We chose the transparent cover to enhance heat transfer, especially during camping trips in Northern Australia. Additionally, we ordered a three-metre power cable to replace the original fifteen-metre cable that comes with the mini dish. The new cable will connect to the power supply linked to our lithium battery in the canopy.

Starlink has unveiled a new plan called Standby Mode, which we have chosen to adopt. This upgraded Pause feature ensures that you stay connected, even when you’re not actively using your regular service plan.

For just $8.50 per month, you gain access to unlimited low-speed data, making it perfect for essential activities such as making calls, sending texts, and effortlessly reactivating your service during emergencies or in areas with limited coverage. Furthermore, you'll continue to receive important software updates, keeping your system running smoothly and up to date with the latest enhancements.

Tasmanian Trip Costings

Below are the costs from our recent four-month trip around Tasmania, starting from our home on the NSW mid-north coast. We left home on January 5, travelled to Tasmania on January 20, returned to the mainland on May 21, and came back home on June 7.
The return trip on the Spirit of Tasmania boat for a 4WD and caravan at 16 metres, with two-berth cabins both ways, totalled $2,438.18.
 
Accommodation costs at caravan parks in Griffith, NSW, and in Tasmania, at the following sites: Cradle Mountain, Bothwell, Cambridge Park near Hobart, Port Arthur, Ross, Bridport, and Port Fairy in Victoria, on our return from Tasmania, totalled $1,917.98.
 
The national park stay was at Mt Field, costing $80.00.
 
Our low-cost camping fees totalled $1,137.46.
 
Tour expenses, covering the Woolnorth Tour to Cape Grim, the Macquarie Harbour and Gordon River Cruise, the West Coast Wilderness Railway, the Cape Raoul boat trip, the Isle of the Dead boat tour, Port Arthur entry fees, the Bruny Island cruise, and the Maria Island cruise, amounted to $3,008.00.
 
During the trip, we travelled a total of 10,345 kilometres and consumed 2,290 litres of fuel, with an average of 22.14 litres per 100 kilometres. Considering Tasmania's terrain, we are quite satisfied with these results.

Belgrove Distillery - Kempton Tasmania

This blog entry couldn't be posted until a family member, who reads this blog, received their birthday present we bought from this distillery.

 

While staying at Bothwell in the Highlands, we drove to the outskirts of Kempton in the Tasmanian Midlands to tour Peter Bignell's Whisky Distillery.

Peter distinguishes himself from other whisky makers by cultivating his own rye corn on his land. During our visit, he had a plentiful supply of rye and was waiting for a contractor to harvest his already sold field, which was prepared for loading onto a ship heading to the mainland.

He also developed his own copper, running on biofuel made from the unused cooking oil of the roadhouse we saw earlier. In fact, his forklift tractors and hot water systems are all powered by this used cooking oil. Thanks to the farm sheds on his property, Peter can also reuse the collected water for brewing and dilution.

We purchased two bottles: one was 100% Rye whisky aged in Pinot Noir casks, and I also bought a bottle of his Frankenstein whisky for myself, which contains grappa and remnants of leftover liqueurs and spirits that Peter produces.

Over the past four years, the globally acclaimed Jim Murray's Whisky Bible has awarded seven Belgrove whiskies as Liquid Gold, including naming it the best whisky in the southern hemisphere in 2019.

Into New South Wales and heading home

We departed Longwood under light rain, joining the Hume Highway heading north toward the New South Wales border. It had been years since our last drive on this route, and we were glad to see that Wodonga and Albury now feature bypass roads. We made a quick stop in Tarcutta for coffee and a toastie, then proceeded to Jugiong, where we intended to stay for two nights.

The site requests a donation, which we are happy to provide. Water taps and rubbish bins are located throughout the area, along with a dump point.

Interestingly, there are two spots here that serve excellent food. The first is The Sir George, offering both accommodation and a restaurant, while the second is the Long Track Pantry, serving seasonal breakfast and lunch dishes.

Although we were away from the highway, the hum of trucks was still audible, but we both managed a good night's sleep.

We loved our morning coffee at the Long Track Pantry so much that we decided to buy a kilogram bag of their coffee. This way, we can enjoy our morning brew until we get home. We also purchased two on-site meals: butter chicken and slow-cooked lamb, which we'll enjoy on our journey home—especially if the weather becomes stormy, as forecasted.

Today's lunch at The Sir George consisted of a wood-fired pizza and Stone and Wood beers.

On our second morning at Juigong, it was pretty cold, with temperatures dropping to -1.5 °C. We positioned the van to catch the first sunlight, while the diesel heater kept us warm and comfortable.

After debating whether to extend our trip or head straight home, we decided we could be back in four days.

On Thursday, June 5, we travelled through Young along the Olympic Way, turned west at Bathurst, and took the Great Western Highway to camp at Lake Wallace, just outside Wallerawang and near Lithgow. 

The trip covered 297 kilometres. We had previously camped here in early January during our southward journey, and it's a large, free camping area. The butter chicken we bought at Juigong was delicious, and the pack provided enough for two meals. Although we didn't have rice, we enjoyed it with pasta from our pantry.

It was extremely cold overnight, with this morning's temperature at -3.5 degrees.

On Friday, June 6, we travelled north along the Castlereagh Highway to Mudgee. From there, we took a minor road through Ulan to connect with the Golden Highway, heading east toward Merriwa, where we initially planned to camp overnight.

However, due to the King's Birthday weekend, Merriwa was extremely crowded, with many campers and busy streets. Therefore, we decided to keep going further east to Jerry's Plains, a favourite spot of ours, which is 80 kilometres farther. Tonight, three Bushtrackers are camping there.

On Saturday, 7 June, we initially planned to drive to Buladelah. However, after travelling additional miles the day before and noting that the Pacific Highway has a dual carriageway, we chose to return home. We stopped briefly at a rest area just before Taree for coffee and a sausage roll. It had been five months and one day since we left home in January.

Victoria

We spent six lovely days with my brother and his partner in Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula. During our visit, we went on various excursions, including visiting the cellar doors of several wineries. We especially enjoyed Oakdene, Terindah, and Lethbridge wineries. Of course, we purchased wine from all of them and had lunch at Terindah Estate.

On Sunday, we walked around the boats moored at Queenscliff, and we enjoyed lunch at The Dunes restaurant at Ocean Grove Surf Club

We had planned to leave on Monday, May 26, but the weather forecast for South Australia and Victoria prompted us to stay an extra day. We hoped the predicted strong winds would have passed before we set off.

Lunch on Monday was at the Queenstown Sorrento ferry terminal. The restaurant here serves delicious food, which we all enjoyed.

We left Point Lonsdale on Tuesday, May 27, to camp at Port Fairy, located between Warrnambool and Portland. During our trip today, we encountered strong winds and light patchy rain that later turned into heavy downpours. It's very cold here in Port Fairy with strong winds, but at least the sky is blue. We are safely tucked away among the pine trees in the caravan park.

We were there to meet Alan, whom I've known since our primary school days in Port Moresby. He recently purchased a camper trailer nearby and joined us for the night on Wednesday before heading off to Melbourne and then returning to his home in Perth.

I used to think Tasmanian roads were in bad condition, but after our 234 km trip today, Victoria may have taken the lead and is racing ahead to the finish line.

We've planned to spend three nights here with the caravan park's special: stay for two, and the third night is free. 

We love Port Fairy, and this will be our fourth visit. The town features charming old buildings, a variety of restaurants and cafes, and numerous women's clothing shops that cater to the affluent residents.

Beautiful homes line the banks of the Moyne River, many of which have been refurbished from their original use as warehouses or homes belonging to fishermen and boat captains from days gone by.

On Friday, May 30, we travelled 251 km to Newstead, just outside Castlemaine, to visit friends who, like us, once lived in Canberra. Despite Google Maps often suggesting different routes, it displayed only one option today, despite my efforts to find alternatives. As a result, we took a series of rough roads, including narrow, one-lane stretches of bitumen. 

We frequently stay at the Newstead Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, which costs $10 per night and offers showers, toilets, a dump point, and potable water - an ideal spot to relax. The nights have been extremely cold, with lows reaching as low as -2.5 degrees Celsius each morning.

On Saturday, we had a delightful lunch with friends at Das Kaffeehaus, known for its excellent service and tasty food. Ros and I ordered the beef and pork goulash, but we couldn’t fit in their strudels or other desserts.

On Sunday, June 1, we embarked on another cross-country journey, passing through Elphinstone and Heathcote, then travelling seven kilometres on dirt road to camp at Longwood Recreation Ground, just south of Euroa. For lunch, we savoured bangers, vegetables, and mash at the White Hart Pub in Longwood. We planned to meet friends here, with whom we had travelled along the Gary Junction Road from Alice Springs to Marble Bar 2007.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3, we leave Longwood and join the Hume Highway, heading through Wodonga and Albury and eventually crossing back into New South Wales.