From Rochester, we were soon passing through Echuca, but not before we stopped to consider spending several nights at the Rotary Park south of town.
We had read reports about how lovely it was, but we just drove in and kept going. It's just a dust bowl, and although it costs $10 per night, it just wasn't to our liking.
We had planned to spend the evening in Deniliquin, but stopped just short in the small town of Mathoura. It offers free parking behind the local bowls club, so arriving just at lunchtime, we decided to head over for lunch. Ros had the parmi, and I had the chilli Cointreau prawns with rice, alongside a few Tooheys Old. Both were beautiful meals.
We had read reports about how lovely it was, but we just drove in and kept going. It's just a dust bowl, and although it costs $10 per night, it just wasn't to our liking.
We had planned to spend the evening in Deniliquin, but stopped just short in the small town of Mathoura. It offers free parking behind the local bowls club, so arriving just at lunchtime, we decided to head over for lunch. Ros had the parmi, and I had the chilli Cointreau prawns with rice, alongside a few Tooheys Old. Both were beautiful meals.
Our minimum temperatures over the past few days have been around 7 degrees inside the van, with the outside temperature even colder, so our diesel heater has been working hard.
We soon passed through Deniliquin, then onto Jerilderie, Griffith, Rankin Springs, and finally to the showground in Weethalle. At $10 per night for power and water, it's a fantastic spot to camp.
We always use our own facilities, regardless of whether we're in a caravan park or a showground. Even though we paid our $10, we chose to camp privately, away from the taps and power points. So, we simply set up camp on a patch of dirt, but unbeknownst to us, we had set up on the 8th fairway of the golf course. Of course, with the current drought, there is no grass on the fairways—just bare dirt.
We soon passed through Deniliquin, then onto Jerilderie, Griffith, Rankin Springs, and finally to the showground in Weethalle. At $10 per night for power and water, it's a fantastic spot to camp.
We always use our own facilities, regardless of whether we're in a caravan park or a showground. Even though we paid our $10, we chose to camp privately, away from the taps and power points. So, we simply set up camp on a patch of dirt, but unbeknownst to us, we had set up on the 8th fairway of the golf course. Of course, with the current drought, there is no grass on the fairways—just bare dirt.
We were asked to move so the ladies could complete their round of golf.
When the caretaker took our money and we explained that we were there to photograph the silo, he showed us a photo of the just-completed silo in Grenfell. We didn't need to divert as we were passing through Grenfell the next day on our way to Cowra.
Heesco Khosnaran has also painted these silos.
And in this photo, Ros can be seen standing at the base of the silo.
We have passed through Cowra many times, but we have never stayed overnight. This time, we stayed for two days at the showgrounds, which offered power and water for just $20 per night. It's close to town and the other attractions the town has to offer.
Another first for us was visiting the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. The gardens first opened in October 1979, with the second stage completed in November 1986. The seniors' card discount was $13 for entrance to both facilities.
Unfortunately, the skies were overcast, but the forecast for the following day predicted continuous rain and strong winds, so we decided to go ahead anyway. The photos would look much better on a lovely sunny day.
Another first for us was visiting the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. The gardens first opened in October 1979, with the second stage completed in November 1986. The seniors' card discount was $13 for entrance to both facilities.
Unfortunately, the skies were overcast, but the forecast for the following day predicted continuous rain and strong winds, so we decided to go ahead anyway. The photos would look much better on a lovely sunny day.
Well, the weather bureau did get the forecast right for the following day. After a quick check of the shops in the main street, followed by a lovely lunch at the Quarry Restaurant and Cellar Door, it was back to the van for the rest of the evening, accompanied by rain, strong winds, and pea-sized hail.
Another very cold morning, so the diesel heater was turned on before we were brave enough to take our showers and finally have breakfast.
A relatively short drive today, just 178 km. We travelled via Canowindra, Cudal, Molong, and then to Wellington. Our campsite tonight is just north of Wellington at Ponto Falls on the Macquarie River.
Our last visit here was in 2008 when we had the place to ourselves and camped down on the river flats. This time, it’s different, as the access road is now paved instead of a badly corrugated dirt track. There is also a drop toilet and rubbish bins.
Although we are camped about 20 metres above the river, we are still surrounded by lovely large river gums and have a view downstream along the river.
A relatively short drive today, just 178 km. We travelled via Canowindra, Cudal, Molong, and then to Wellington. Our campsite tonight is just north of Wellington at Ponto Falls on the Macquarie River.
Our last visit here was in 2008 when we had the place to ourselves and camped down on the river flats. This time, it’s different, as the access road is now paved instead of a badly corrugated dirt track. There is also a drop toilet and rubbish bins.
Although we are camped about 20 metres above the river, we are still surrounded by lovely large river gums and have a view downstream along the river.
The current temperature is 16 degrees, but with the wind chill, it feels about half that. We are presently tucked inside the warmth of the van, reading the Sunday papers we bought in Cowra this morning.
Unfortunately, I will have to brave the elements this evening while I'm outside cooking our Bangalow pork fillets.
We are now heading home, with today's drive taking us through Gulgong, Ulan, and onto the Golden Highway to spend the evening at Jerry's Plains.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but when we first camped at Jerry's Plains many years ago, we had the place to ourselves. Tonight, there are twelve vans set up for the night.
A donation was requested, which we were more than happy to make. However, I did notice that the 10 vans that arrived after us didn't even bother to drop a coin in the donation box. This, of course, happens far too often on our travels.
Unfortunately, I will have to brave the elements this evening while I'm outside cooking our Bangalow pork fillets.
We are now heading home, with today's drive taking us through Gulgong, Ulan, and onto the Golden Highway to spend the evening at Jerry's Plains.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but when we first camped at Jerry's Plains many years ago, we had the place to ourselves. Tonight, there are twelve vans set up for the night.
A donation was requested, which we were more than happy to make. However, I did notice that the 10 vans that arrived after us didn't even bother to drop a coin in the donation box. This, of course, happens far too often on our travels.
We left the next morning at around 9 am and for the first time used the Hunter Expressway, which then connected to John Renshaw Drive. Just over an hour later, we were passing through Raymond Terrace. We had planned to spend the evening somewhere between here and home, but seeing we were making such good time, we decided to carry on home. After a brief stop in Kempsey, we arrived home by 3 pm.
