Heading to Burleigh Heads for Christmas

Passed through Cobar

Travelling to Burleigh Heads our first night was Nyngan Leisure & Caravan Park - fine for an overnight stay.  Opted for Caravan Park as days were quite hot and nights very warm - airconditioning for a few hours was great to cool the van down.  From here we travelled on Mitchell Highway to Nevertire, then turned onto Oxley Highway to Warren and Gilgandra.  Then we turned onto the Newell Highway to Coonabarrabran and onto Narrabri where we stayed on a property for a couple of nights - very dry and dusty.

Nyngan has the "Big Bogan"

From Narrabri we continued onto Moree encountering a lot of truck traffic including a few wide loads.  After having a look at the town of Moree we drove to Goondawindi where we stayed for the night at the Top Tourist Caravan Park - once again needing a bit of assistance with airconditioning as weather was very hot.  From Goondawindi we turned onto Cunningham Highway towards Warrick where we turned off Highway on Freestone Road to Aratula.  Stayed a while at Kooralbyn with friends Leon and Sandy at their beautiful property enjoying their hospitality and spectacular views.

Time to relax and take in the serenity

Swam with the crocs

One of the Whiptail Wallabies seen on the property

After a week of relaxation, we hitched up and headed to Canungra where we stayed at the Show Grounds (great little spot) and caught up with Helen's great-nephew and had a tour of their newly built home.  Had a nice pub meal - Hels is always in favour of not cooking!!

At this point we drove to Reedy Creek and parked the van at our house sit where we looked after Brad & Kim's lovely home and took care of their older Border Collie (Koby), and young mischievous cat (Marly).  This was a great location as we were close to Todd and Tenelle and with the added bonus that Briony flew back from NZ for Christmas, we were able to spend quality family time together.  Briony was able to sleep in the caravan so we were able to have a wonderful catch up.

Early morning view over the Kooralbyn Valley as the low cloud clears

Celebrated Christmas Day with Tenelle's family at their home - great spread and wonderful company. We appreciated Wayne & Susan's invitation as it was the first time in years that our family were all together for Christmas!!  Great Time!!

Christmas lunch and drinks, all good cheer.

Silverton

Travelled on Barrier Highway through Yunta to Broken Hill, then onto Silverton where we stayed at Penrose Park Caravan Park.  Had to fend off the Babblers and Magpies during Happy Hour!!!  Drove into Silverton for sunset photos at the Mundi Mundi Look Out.

Babblers coming over for a friendly chat

Getting a little too friendly

Come on buddy, this is my home!

Next morning we drove into Silverton and visited the Gallery and Visitors Centre and Cowz Gallery before heading off towards Wilcannia then onto 'Warrawong' where we stayed the night.

Cactus in flower near the entrance to Penrose Park

Silverton from Mundi Mundi lookout, the church is a dominate building in town

Silverton Hotel and a Mad Max vehicle parked out front (not the red one).

Some of the artwork outside the galleries

Can you remember the old milk carts

Wild goats coming for a drink at the roadside stop

 'Warrawong' on the Darling, is approx 200kms from Broken Hill (3km from Wilcannia) as is an outback accommodation set up on a working farm and offers powered sites on green grass and lovely new ammenities.  Were given a mud map and drove around the property calling into Big Red (a big River Gum!!), and Bondi Beach (would have to use your imagination!!).  Had Happy Hour with the new caretakers who have lots of ideas to build up the Farm stay.

Took a drive out to one of the large gums on the banks of the river

This is named ski beach

Every farm has an old Bedford

Peterborough - Rail Museum

After staying the night at my sister's farm at Mt Pleasant we drove back through Gawler, Roseworthy & Sandy Creek where a massive fire had ripped through last week.  So much devastation of crops, homes, sheds, farm machinery etc - we were driving through dust storms as the wind was whipping up the burnt top soil.

Heading towards Clare the dust and wind reduced viability

Cropping had started around Peterborough. View from the caravan park.

Stopped for lunch at Burra (Cornish Pasty as you do) before heading to Peterborough where we stayed in the Caravan Park.  In the morning we visited The Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre which is a static railway museum based in the former railway workshops located in Peterborough. We toured the sheds and the extraordinary heritage-listed ‘Roundhouse’ before getting hands-on with heroic locos and luxury carriages.Great to walk through various carriages, some built in the early 1800s and well worth a visit if passing through the area.

Steam Locomotive T199, letting off a bit of steam!

The South Australian Railways (SAR) had 78 of these engines built from 1903 to 1917 for use on the narrow gauge lines throughout the state.

Australia's only operating triple gauge turntable used to turn the engine around and move in to workshops and storage sheds.

Morris 25 converted for rail travel

Accident Van

Inside the 1920's First Class Lounge car