Faithful old cummins sitting while we are RVing around Australia

[Tumbleweed]

My wife and I flew to Sydney, Australia last week of Aug. ,, Rented a small camper van. Travelled north up the east coast to Port Douglas, just north of Cairns, west and north to Darwin, southwest to Broome, Perth, Southwest coast, then back east along the south coast across the Nullarbor Plain to Port Augusta. To explore some of the center of the country we travelled to Coober Pedy ( Opal capitol of the world ) then to Ayers Rock. Only one way south from there, so retraced our steps to Port Augusta,Then on to Adelaide and to Victor harber where we are camped for the night. Australia is a vast country, only slightly smaller than the lower 48 States of the USA. We have made 10,850 miles thus far. Australia has very good campgrounds and rest areas and a lot of the rest areas you can stay overnight. Australian campers are mostly travel trailers and tend to be smaller than what we use. Also, probably 80% of their pickup trucks and a lot of the SUVS are diesels Mostly Toyotas and they are very happy with. Getting sleepy gotta go. ED 04 2wd drw 3500 Quad cab 48re ctd 373 ddp trans,boost,egt gauges 2008 31. 5 Citation Fifth Wheel

 

[AH64ID]

Sounds like a blast!

Post up some pics when you can.

 

[Jim W]

Hey have you tried any Vegemite yet?



Near Sydney AU. is a region called Hunter Valley this is Australia's wine country, you might want to check this area out also.



Keep having a great time and sounds like you are having a great time already. Just remember to drive on the wrong side of the road, down under.



Jim W.

 

[Regcabguy]

Beautiful country! I spent 4 months there in '79 with some Aussies on a surfing trip. We had a Chevy Ute(El Camino) and towed a caravan(trailer) from Sydney south to Nowra,then north to Queeensland. Max rent for caravan parks back then was $32. 00/week split three ways!



Driving on the left side was still bizarre when I left,but a great trip. It truly is an enormous country with minimal pollution due in part to the low population. Like most of the world,they embrace diesels.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Hey have you tried any Vegemite yet?



Near Sydney AU. is a region called Hunter Valley this is Australia's wine country, you might want to check this area out also.



Keep having a great time and sounds like you are having a great time already. Just remember to drive on the wrong side of the road, down under.



Jim W.

Yes we did try it Jim, one evening we were sitting around the campfire and one of the other couples served it on toast. They kind of had a smile on their faces as we took our first couple of bites. Far too salty for us. Also, the Hunter Valley sounds interesting, will keep it in mind if we have time and its within striking distance. ED

 

[Tumbleweed]

Sounds like a blast!



Post up some pics when you can.

We are having a great trip. Will post some pics when we figure out how to do it. I've really enjoyed seeing all the Road Trains. I'm amazed how many there are. They do it out of necessity, their distances to haul are so far that to keep cost freight down they pull at least 2 trailers but mostly there are 3 or 4. I talked to a driver hauling fuel, 3 trailers , total wt. 130 tonnes (286,000) lbs. Cattle train 4 trailers, 115 tonnes (253,000) lbs. Iron Ore train 4 trailers 170 tonnes (374,000) lbs. Most are Kenworths, lots of Macks, Western Stars and cabover scanias. Talked to a driver with a new model volvo cabover, he also was pulling 4 Iron Ore trailers. 16. 1 L engine, 12 speed auto, heavy duty axles with reduction hubs. There are trains with more trailers than 4 out in the Outback on the Dirt Roads or tracks as they are called but reduced before they haul on main highways. Wife says lights out. Good Night. ED

 

[Troubleshooter]

If you are still near Adelaide, you might try the Barossa Valley area for your wine tour. We visited Chateau Yaldarra but there are others as well.



Safe travels!

 

[Flexiheep]

If you are still near Adelaide, you might try the Barossa Valley area for your wine tour. We visited Chateau Yaldarra but there are others as well.



Safe travels!

I enjoy AU when I travel there for work, lots of nice folks and a relaxed pace. If you are still north of Adelaide, hit the Clare valley area for wine, I enjoy walking around the Seven Hills winery, lots of neat old stone work from the 1800's and nice folks too.



Enjoying being one of the grey nomads?

 

[Tumbleweed]

I enjoy AU when I travel there for work, lots of nice folks and a relaxed pace. If you are still north of Adelaide, hit the Clare valley area for wine, I enjoy walking around the Seven Hills winery, lots of neat old stone work from the 1800's and nice folks too.



Enjoying being one of the grey nomads?

Upon leaving Port Augusta we travelled to the S. W. end of the Flinders Ranges, then down the Clare Valley, beautiful area, and as you say the architecture , the stone and brick work is awsome, we had the good fortune of meeting a farmer and his wife and were invited out to their farm for tea and their daughter and her husband plus couple of neighbors just happened by. It was really nice. They showed us all around the farm,which included a shop full of old tractors. Very interesting. Yes we are enjoying being grey nomads. After Adelaide, then along the Great Ocean Highway to Melbourne , N. W. to Swan Hill on the Murray River where we are tonight. Plan is to follow the Murray River to the headwaters in the mountains. ED

 

[Tumbleweed]

If you are still near Adelaide, you might try the Barossa Valley area for your wine tour. We visited Chateau Yaldarra but there are others as well.



Safe travels!

Travelled through a lot of wine country between Brisbane Cairns, then south of Perth, The Clare Valley north east of Adelaide and today along the Murray River for mile after mile it was vineyards, oranges, olives and almond groves.

A lot of this south central, south east , as well as south western Australia is grain country. As I have been helping relatives and freinds most of my life in Alberta and Saskatchewan i have a lot of interest in how they farm here. They are just starting to harvest. Computer battery getting low, no electicity as we are in a free camping area right beside the Murray River, beautiful spot. ED