Stolen

Nothing ever prepares you for the early morning wake up call. Your heart sinks as you expect it to be family ringing with bad news. You can imagine my surprise when I answered the phone at 4am on the 24^th May with the voice saying “its Constable so-n-so from Lake Illawarra Police”, he asked us various questions about our 4WD and its whereabouts. He went on to say that it was currently on fire at Dunmore.

Our Landcruiser had been stolen from out the front of our house, used a ATM ram-raid at a Kiama hotel before being ditched and burnt out….. Just great.

At first light we headed down to Swamp Rd in Dunmore where a most depressing site awaited us. Our 80 series Landcruiser was gutted, what was more depressing was the personal items that I’d lost. The glove box and console had so much trivial junk that is worthless to most and then there was the back of the car, only the weekend before I’d coordinated a 4WD course for SES and most of my recovery gear and 4x4 accessories were still in the car.

Thanks to the low-life scum who stole our car, justice will catch up with you one day.

School holidays in FN NSW

School holidays coincided with my birthday this year so we thought it’d be nice to take the kids for weeks holiday to my parents place at Lennox Head. The timing of the trip worked well and we were able to take Aj with us.

Getting an early start and with improved road conditions on the Pacific Hwy we made good time and by lunchtime we’d arrived in Lennox Head allowing us to have a relaxing afternoon.

Over the following days we caught up with friends at a local geocaching event, found a heap of local caches and took in a few tourist locations before heading up to Ipswich to catch with my sister and her family. Our latest family addition, Blade (niece – son) had grown so much since we’d seen him. They are so cute in those early years of development.

The highlight of our week-long holiday other than celebrating my birthday with family was our time at Wet n Wild on the Gold Coast. The kids couldn't care how cold it was and with wetsuits on we made the most of our day at the theme park. We tried nearly every ride on many occasion returned for a 2^nd and 3^rd go.

Unfortunately our holiday came to an end all too quickly and we were soon heading out west to drop Aj back at home, but not before an overnight stay at Gunnedah.

Once again, the Bere’s have enjoyed a memorable week on the far north coast of NSW.

Weekend in Thredbo

As we headed off on our weekend to the Snowy Mountains we were still kicking ourselves at what “such a great deal” we’d scored. 3 nights in a Thredbo lodge for a ridiculously cheap price. So you can imagine our excitement to be heading away for the weekend. It’d been many years since I’d been there and the rest of the family had never been.

Getting away on the Friday, the drive seemed to take longer than anticipated but I think that was due more to the excitement of what lay ahead. As we passed through Canberra and Cooma the rolling hills gave way to steep sided mountains. Unfortunately at this time of year there was no snow to be seen but the mountains looked inviting for what we had planned.

Just on dusk we arrived at the Gunyang Ski Lodge in Thredbo, seeing the lodge carpark empty excited us even more. Could we have the place to ourselves? We quickly opened the front door and felt the warmth and comfort generated by heated floors and numerous heaters throughout the house. We quickly settled in enjoying the creature comforts of this 6 bedroom lodge.

Saturday dawned with clear chilly skies and the promise that today we’d walk to the top of Australia. By mid-morning we were sitting 4 abreast on the chairlift which jettisoned us to the start of the summit walking track. With enthusiasm we set off on our 6.5km trek to the top of Mt Kosciusko. The walk was fairly demanding on our kids and had to stop numerous times for a rest. The closer we got, the more the weather seem to take a turn for the worse. Ethan was really struggling and just before Rawson’s Pass the heavens opened, sending rain and hail our way. The clouds and thunderstorms rolled in and we made a quick dash for the nearby toilet block for shelter. It was here that we made the decision that Leonie and Ethan would turn back while Sam and I would continue to the summit. A mere 800m later the 2 of us were atop of the highest point in Australia….. It felt exhilarating and a sense of achievement.

Sunday dawned with the same clear skies and once again we took advantage of the great weather by taking the kids on the toboggan rides and another ride up the chairlift. With Thredbo experiencing perfect autumn days the area was packed with hundreds of mountain bikers all keen to experience the downhill action. Wanting to see more, we jumped in the car after lunch and headed to the nearby ski fields of Perisher Valley and Smiggins Hole. By contrast these areas were like ghost towns but both offered the beauty of mountain streams and barren grasslands. Late in the afternoon as we headed back to Thredbo we stopped by a local winery which specialised in schnapps. Leonie took a liking to many of their products but we settled a beautiful butterscotch schnapp. Once back in Thredbo the kids hit the aquatic centre where they played on the waterslides and pool while I took a walk around the streets of Thredbo, in particular I visited the site of the 1997 landslide where a plaque and a manicured terrace is a reminded of this tragedy.

After another cosy night in our majestic lodge, Monday dawned with the realisation that we were heading home today. Our 3 day get-away had gone so quickly. This area offered so much in both summer and winter and we vowed to come back. As we headed out of the mountainous area we took the time to have a look around Jindabyne and Cooma.

 
The weekend had been so rewarding and a lot of fun for our whole family.

Festive Season 12-13

It really is a joyous time of year and one that we always spend with family. This year all of Leonie’s family came together at her brother’s place on the Sunshine Coast. It’d been a few years since we’d been to their place for Christmas so we were looking forward to our holiday.

We got an early jump on the holiday traffic by leaving a day early. After picking the kids up from Grandmas we headed up the pacific Highway, the usual traffic jams were encountered around the various roadwork sites, but overall it was a good run up to my parents at Lennox Head.

The following day we drove the remaining few hours to the Sunshine Coast. After a warm welcome we were soon setup in our caravan enjoying the spoils of being in the holiday mode. Over the following days the rest of the extended family arrived taking our numbers to 20 people under the one roof.

As Christmas Eve approached the gifts under the tree and the excitement grew. Our kids couldn’t wait and as Christmas dawned the kids were awake at 5am anxious to open their presents. By mid-morning presents were open and we’d polished off a hearty breakfast. Lunch and dinner seemed to blend into one as we consumed a feast of seafood, meats and salads. The day concluded with us relaxing on the veranda.

The following days were more of the same with plenty of food, drink and relaxation consumed. Eventually we packed up and made our way down the coast to my sister’s place at Ipswich. It was here that we caught up with my family and celebrated a belated Christmas, which saw the kids spoilt even more.

We decided to take the kids to ‘Wet n Wild’ one day. By 10am the park was absolutely packed and thoughts of turning round soon gave way to a fun day in the water. A late afternoon thunderstorm temporarily closed the park but it also reduced the crowds allowing the remainder of the day to be queue free. By days end, the kids were totally exhausted and we’d had a great family day out.

After celebrating Dad’s birthday with him it was time to head for home and chose to travel inland. We stopped at Tamworth for 2 nights where we celebrate New Year’s, Tamworth style. The caravan park put on a Country music night complete with band and travellers revelling in the festive spirit.

Regrettably for us, we spent a very hot New Year’s Day travelling home. Our 2 week getaway had come to an end all too quickly and it was time to return to work. Once again we’d enjoyed a memorable festive period.

Outback NSW - Cameron Corner

Both of us have wanted to go to Cameron Corner for some time now and for whatever the reason it’s just never happened, that all changed these last school holidays. With limited time available due to work and other activities, it was to be now or once again the trip would be postponed.

Weeks of planning, car preparation and organising had finally come to together and it was on the Friday of the Oct long weekend that we set off for our first stop – Mudgee. It was here that we collected Aj after a night of heavy rain and storms. Heading west we soon found clearer skies as we passed through Dubbo and Narromine before stopping for lunch at Nyngan. After filling our stomachs and letting the kids burn off excess energy we pressed on to Cobar for a nights accommodation in the caravan park. As the sun set we had time to take in a few of the local tourist spots which included a visit to the historical mining equipment which is part of Cobar’s Copper history.

An early start to the day ensured that we made good progress to our days travel, but nothing can prepare you for the relentless long stretches of road that lie between Cobar and Broken Hill. To break our journey we selectively stopped and various geocaches which excited the kids as they took charge of finding the treasure. Little has changed since our last visit to Wilcannia and this time was no exception, so we easily passed through town and onto the nearby rest area where we stopped for lunch. Here we chatted with a couple of truckies who continually drive the Brisbane to Perth run. It’s not something I could regularly do!

Back on the road we were constantly amazed at the wildlife which roams the open highway. Kangaroos, Goats and Emus were never far from the front of the bull bar. Arriving in Broken Hill it was surprising to hear that accommodation was limited so we jumped at the first spot offered to us. We booked in and set-up camp in what turned out to be a nice caravan park. As the footy grandfinal was on we kicked back and enjoyed the late afternoon with drinks and nibbles’.

A day of sightseeing around Broken Hill filled our next day. We took in the views from the Mullock Hill, which included some fun on the huge bench seat. We then headed out to the Royal Flying Doctor Service where the kids got to appreciate the size and remoteness of our beautiful country. After our tour of the base we headed out to the old mining town of Silverton, here we toured an old school. This was a fantastic view into our schooling past and something we all enjoyed. We looked around the old buildings and some of the Mad Max memorabilia which is on show. Back in Broken Hill we visited the Living Dessert Sculptures just on sunset.

A new day and a big step in our adventure through the outback, today we would be heading to Cameron Corner. We left Broken Hill by 9am with full tanks of fuel and water, lots of food and then a bit more of everything – just in case. In some ways the remote outback was a little daunting but a challenge that we met head on. Driving towards Tibooburra you quickly got to appreciate the semi arid environment we were entering. The roads were often dirt which created plumes of dust. Oncoming vehicles were visible well before they reached us due to the dust. We stopped at the roadhouse of Packsaddle where we enjoyed an ice-cream and a look over their SES shed before moving onto Milparinka for a late lunch. Back on the road we eventually made it to Tibooburra where we refuelled before heading west to the corner. The 140km of dirt out to the corner seemed relentless but eventually we crested a sand dune where the dog fence and corner store were visible. To our surprise the corner was bustling meca of cars and people. A variety bash had stopped over for a night, they consumed the whole campground forcing all the one-off holiday makers into bush camping. After setting up we sat back and enjoyed happy hour under a setting sun and then a star filled sky.

Our second day at the corner was pure relaxation, we spent the morning playing a few holes of golf on the new tri-state course before spending the afternoon trying to keep cool as the day had become rather warm. Late in the afternoon we shared a beer at the store before taking some memorable photos of the area.

As the day dawned we were up early as we had a big day ahead of us. Packing up we said goodbye to the corner and hello to a day of dirt roads. The 140km back to Tibooburra seemed to take forever but eventually we pulled up at the “School of the air” where a welcoming teacher showed us around the school. The kids were amazed at the fact only 9 children attend the school.

Back on the road, we headed south to Milparinka where visited the Sturt Cairn, this was an interesting piece of history and well worth the stop. Once again we had lunch in the deserted township of Milparinka. Pressing southwards we took an old bush track across to White Cliffs, this part of the journey emphasised the remoteness of the area we were in. For the 170km cross-country trip we only seen one car on the road.

Arriving in White Cliffs we were once again faced with a barrage of variety bash cars, two groups had occupied the entire town, forcing locals to open the showground simply so they could camp in town. We grabbed a spot at the caravan park where we spent the afternoon relaxing and reminiscing of our holiday to-date. A sour moment just on dark when Ethan ran into a steel post had us hoping there wasn’t serious injury sustained, however the resilience of kids shone through and he was soon back on his feet with the only damage being to Mum and Dad’s nerves.

Waking up, the early morning heat had us packing up rather quickly. A visit to White Cliffs wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Jock’s Place. This character of the outback lives in an underground home/mine, he opens his doors to tourists to witness the underground lifestyle, it was here that we seen opal in its rawest form. Heading further south we passed through the town of Wilcannia, this marked a milestone in our big outback trip, from here to home would be travelling on previously travelled roads. It didn’t deter us from enjoying the sights along the outback highways and by late afternoon we’d arrived at Cobar. Once setup, we had time for a few more geocaches before settling in for a relaxing night.

Unofficially this was our last day of holidays. The further east we travelled, the greener the countryside become, more traffic on the roads and sense of disappointment that our holiday was coming to an end consumed us. By mid-afternoon we’d arrived in Mudgee where we bid farewell to Aj before having one last night in the van park.

Our 9 day outback adventure seen us
• Go to 3 states
• Do 3400km of driving
• Visit towns of Cobar, Broken Hill, Cameron Corner, Tibooburra and White Cliffs

Caving

I’ve longed to take our kids caving. Aleesha-Jayne can’t remember her first experience while Samantha and Ethan had never gone proper caving. So in chatting to the kids about caving they all related their experience of walking through a large cavern out the back of Orange NSW. In reality they had never experienced the fun of crawling through tiny underground holes.


Over the father’s day weekend in conjunction with SES friends we headed down to Bungonia Caves for a weekend of caving and abseiling. The weekend started very chilly as A.j and I drove through snow west of the Blue Mts. Arriving late in the night it was pleasing to see Leonie had setup camp and we soon bunked down for the night. As the temperatures plummeted we were woken by Ethan who’d become very sick and was vomiting in the tent. Unfortunately this lasted for most of the night.

By morning Ethan and Leonie with much regret had decided to return home due to sickness. This was a bit of dampener for us but with Leonie’s blessing I chose to stay with the girls and we got ready for our first cave. With harnesses, helmets, & headlamps we headed into “Grill” cave where we all had a lot of fun exploring the tiny nooks and crannies. In some places the girls were excited that only they could fit through the tight holes while I had to go another way. After a few hours we returned to the surface. Later in the day we explored a number of other caves before returning to our campsite for hearty dinner.

Sunday morning saw me smothered with Father’s day gifts from the girls, unfortunately Leonie couldn’t be there to share the morning with me. After breakfast we headed off to Hogans wall where the girls were excited to go abseiling and with plenty others around to help they were soon being lowered over the 25m cliff. Sam couldn’t get enough and was quickly back for another go while A.j was a little more reserved.

With the weekend coming to an end, it was time to pack up and have a bit of lunch before heading for home. I can’t wait to share another caving experience with the family, hopefully will get to enjoy it next time.

Family helicopter ride

There’s something about a ride in a helicopter that gets everyone excited, whether it’s your first ride or you’ve been lucky enough to have had a few rides. So you can imagine the surprise on our kids’ faces when we surprised them with a helicopter flight. Both Leonie and I had gift vouchers that needed to be used so we opted to make the experience a family affair.

Arriving at the Illawarra Regional Airport we were blessed with clear skies and after the obligatory paperwork we were ushered to the waiting area for our turn. Soon enough a smallish helicopter returned from a previous flight. We were given our final instructions and directed to the appropriate doors. The kids and Leonie sat in the back seat while I sat up front with the pilot.

After buckling up and securing the doors we asked the pilot if she would be so kind as to fly over our house as we thought this would be fun to see from above. “No problems” and we were soon lifting off. Everything below us quickly became miniature as we climbed to 2000ft. We were all amazed at the beauty which can only be captured from seeing the vista from the seat of a helicopter.

After a short flight north we were soon buzzing over the top of our house. The kids were amazed by how small our house looked from above. Flying west we ventured up onto the escarpment where we took in views of the water catchment area. From here we headed back towards the airport and soon enough our 15min joy flight was coming to an end.

Reality of our flight ending is when everything returns to normal size and you feel the skids touch the ground.

 What a great way to spend Sunday morning!