Remote Search Capability

The Illawarra Remote Area Search program has been progressing well, we’ve had a few activations and training days since its inception and vibe has been positive. It was my turn to run a training weekend and I chose the Budawangs (west of Ulladulla) in the Morton NP as a perfect spot to test our skills. Just quietly I wanted to also combine my other love of geocaching with a hike in the area.

On Friday 27^th July, a few members of the group met at Wog Wog campground in anticipation of the 2-day hike the following day. As we arrived onsite we were greeted by a campfire which had us in a false sense of warmth considering how cool the surrounding temps were plummeting. After a bit of banter around the fire and our tents setup we turned in for the night.

Saturday dawned under clear skies but with a real chill in the air, we all commented on the coldness of the previous night and this was confirmed by a thermometer which read -4deg at 7am. After the remainder of our group arrived, we set-off on our hike at 9am. The crispness of the morning soon gave way to a mild day with temps in the mid-teens. The early parts of the walk were a little bland and sceneless as we made our way out onto the plateau. By late morning we’d gotten our first glimpses of the vast and spectacular Budawangs with prominent features like Pigeon House Mt and Mt Cole standing out amongst others. By 1pm we were enjoying lunch on top of Corang Peak but a strong wind had picked up making the exposed peak a little less appealing but still worthy of some great photos. Pressing on we soon found ourselves at Corang Arch while for me was geocaching goal, a recently placed cache making the hike a little more pleasant. We spent some time here exploring the surrounding caves and Conglomerate rock formations.

By mid-afternoon we’d reached our overnight destination of a well-formed camp cave. Dropping our packs after a day’s hiking felt like heaven, we each picked a suitable spot to roll out our bivvy bags before heading off in search of firewood and a nearby lookout. Traversing the track for a few more km’s we reached the stunning Yungra lookout just as the sun was setting on the expansive valley below us…. The view making the day’s hike so rewarding.

Back at our camp cave we settled in for the night as we each enjoyed a hearty meal and the warmth of good campfire. The day’s exercise had clearly taken its toll on us because by 7.30pm we’d retired to the comfort of our sleeping bags and well-earned sleep.

Sunday dawned with the winds stronger than yesterday, thankfully our camp cave had kept us well protected but soon enough we were all packed up and heading into the teeth of a chilly wind. After retracing a short section of yesterday’s walk, we were soon pushing through virgin territory as we continued our Corang Loop hike. One our team had picked up a knee strain which slowed our progress but with gritted teeth he pushed on through some noticeable pain. Traversing the various spurs and ridges we soon found ourselves walking along the banks of the Corang River. The picturesque waterway providing a perfect backdrop to stop and re-fill our water bottles while one of the many cascades gave us another opportunity to find another cache. By late morning we’d moved away from the river, making the slow uphill walk back the cars through the heavily wooded forest.

Nearly 28 hours to the hour after starting our hike we’d made it back to the warmth and comfort of our cars. We’d successfully completed the 30km Corang Loop hike and thoroughly road-tested our capability and equipment.

Victorian High Country

Anyone who’s done some 4WDriving treks will tell you, the Vic High Country is up there as one of the best 4WD spots in Australia. How could we refuse the temptation to not try it for ourselves?

With a convoy of 7 cars we set off in the April school holidays for 9 days in the Alpine National Park of Victorian. Our first day on the road saw us travel through Canberra and Cooma, followed by a quick stop at the Schnapps distillery just outside Jindabyne where some warming nectar for those cold nights ahead was obtained. Continuing south we arrived at Tom Groggin by mid-afternoon where we spent our first night on the banks of the Murray River. By dusk all 7 cars had assembled and we quickly felt at home amongst familiar friends as we laughed and joked around the campfire.

A chilly foggy Sunday morning quickly reminded us that the snow region is no place for shorts and t-shirt as we scrambled for additional clothes. We quickly packed up and excitedly headed for our first challenge, crossing the Murray River. Thankfully or probably more disappointingly river levels weren’t as high as anticipated so the thrill of having water lapping the bonnet didn’t eventuate, however it didn’t stop Sam from lifting her feet up in case water came in the car. With the crossing behind us it was onto our first uphill challenge, these up and subsequent down adventures would be the theme for the week. Our first uphill challenge took us to the dizzy heights of Mount Pinnibar 1772m which was 1000m higher than where we’d camped the night before and would ultimately be the highest point of our trip. The morning seemed to flow from one mountain top to the next and at a relative slow pace, however as the rolled into the afternoon so did mountains and we soon found ourselves on the plains north of Omeo. After a quick stop in Omeo we were heading back into the hills where we made camp near Victoria Falls. A hearty campfire and soothing port ensured the chilly night was not a threat.

It was hard to realise that Monday was a working day for many, however for us it was another day spent 4WDriving as we soon found ourselves sipping coffee in one of the pubs at Mt Hotham. A short while later we were back in the wilderness as we started our ascent of the renowned Blue Rag track. This trail cuts its way along exposed ridges and through forests of dead Mountain Ash trees before a steep and very exposed climb tops out at the Blue Rag Trig. From here the 360deg views were simply amazing as mountain after mountain seemed to fold into one another. Alas there was lots more to do so we had to press on where varying track conditions dictated our speed but most of the afternoon we found ourselves in H4. Sometime in the afternoon we arrived in the picturesque camping spot of Talbotsville vowing to return some day as the camping by the river looked very inviting. The remainder of our afternoon was spent making the very dusty and winding trek into Dargo. Once in town we sought out the local pub which offered free camping in exchange for dining at the pub, which I must say is pretty fair as many of us couldn’t finish a parmy due to the huge size.

Tuesday had us heading straight back into the mountains, today would be another memorable day as we scaled the dizzy heights of the Billy Goats Bluff track to reach the Pinnacles. For what seemed like an hour or more we went no faster than L1 would allow as we crawled our way up firstly Billy Goats knee then it was up the very exposed and ragged spur of Billy Goats Bluff, relieved to have made it to the top without having faced an oncoming car cause simply there was nowhere to pass anyone. Once at the Pinnacles we shared the 360deg views with the resident fire spotter who lives on site for a week at a time ensuring any fire outbreaks are quickly reported. After lunch we stayed up high making our way along numerous ridge lines and stopping a various huts before turning off the main ridge and dropping down into Wonnangatta Valley where we would spend the next 2 nights. As usual we enjoyed a nice night around the fire, toasting marshmallows and tasting various ports that everyone had brought along.

ANZAC day dawned to the howling of wild dogs in the hills, the night before it was the close proximity of deer that caught our attention. For me though, it was my birthday and I shared a lazy start to the day with family and friends, the fire had gone all night and we continued that theme throughout the day, all the kids played so well together while some of us used the nearby bitterly cold Wonnangatta River as an opportunity to have an improvised shower, this proving to be more comical than effective with the water temp being in the single digits. Much of the day was spent lazing around, we explored the historic Wonnangatta Station and surrounding farmland, our kids got to lesson in learning to drive the car. Thank god they have a while before they get their licence. By late afternoon our dessert chefs were busy preparing bush cheesecake and lemon meringue pie. Dinner was a lavish spread, topped with wine and bourbon. For dessert we toasted mine and Scott’s upcoming birthday before spending the rest of the night huddled around the fire.

Thursday saw us on the move again, a brief but fierce rain shower the previous afternoon meant we were packing up some wet gear. After a boring and monotonous trek into Wonnangatta Valley we chose to take a different exit route and were pleasantly surprised by how much quicker and enjoyable the climb out was, this however meant we said goodbye to Mike a little earlier than expected. With our convoy reduced by one we headed back into the mountains where we climbed up to the picturesque Lake Cobbler and a well-earned lunch break. Back in the saddle and with more exploring to be done we headed down the Staircase and onto King Hut where we decided to spend the night. An impressive and well-maintained hut beside the river provided a perfect backdrop to our campsite. As the kids entertained themselves on the swing the adults feasted in another happy hour around the late afternoon fire. As night fell so did the temperatures and with a poorly designed firepit providing limited heat we all chose to have an early night.

Friday dawned as our chilliest of the trek, the ice on the car was probably 3mm thick, the car doors were initially stuck while the car temp registered 0 deg. Thankfully it didn’t take too long for the rising sun to warm the air but our fingers suffered as we packed up cold steel poles and pegs. Just before we jumped back in the cars we were greeted by a droving family who were pushing through the valley herding their cattle off the mountain. It was a stark reminder of how farmers live off the land…. We meandered our way through the valley before climbing out to stop at the amazing “Craig’s Hut” where the views across the mountains were exhilarating. Pushing on we experienced the roughest bit of 4WDriving we’d had for the whole as topped the rise at Mt Stirling. A quick walk had us once again enjoying the magical 360 deg views at a height of 1720m. With lots more to see we kept going past Howqua Hut and onto Mt Buller where the ski resort was busily preparing for the upcoming ski season with snow being prepared for an upcoming media launch. By late afternoon it was time to head off the mountains and down into Mansfield where we had our first night in civilisation for almost a week….. A hot shower, take-away food and some creature comforts never felt so good.

Saturday morning in Mansfield was a hive of activity as the locals seem to flock to town for supplies or simply to catch up with others, there were markets and street stalls everywhere. We had a short look around town before heading towards Beechworth, we were able to squeeze in a quick stop at the Brown Brothers winery before making it to Beechworth where we indulged in the town’s famous pies for a late lunch. The sightseeing theme continued after lunch as we headed to Chiltern and Rutherglen. It was in Rutherglen where we got right into the local culture, stopping to taste a number of local renowned wines and adding a few more bottles to our increasing collection. By late afternoon we made our way down onto the banks of the Murray River where we met up with everyone one again for our final night of the trip. The banks of the Murray River was a perfect spot to unwind as we enjoyed happy-hour with friends. While some enjoyed a swim in the Murray, one of the kids surprised us by catching an impressive Murray Cod simply with a bit of cheese on the end of the hook. By nightfall we bathed in the glow of a roaring fire, the kids toasted marshmellows while others entertained an enthusiastic possum or simply relaxed with a refreshment or 2.

Sunday morning by the Murray River doesn’t get much better, however the corellas ensured it was an early awakening. We were soon packed up and heading to a neighbouring farm which was owner by relatives of the family we’d been travelling with. All the kids were delighted to get on the back of the Ute as they went around feeding the cows…. Sadly the fun was soon over and was time to tackle the 6 hour drive home for work and school the following day. By last light we pulled in the driveway having completed 9 days and 1800kms through the Victorian High Country.  

Purposeful Meandering across Oz - Week 8 (final)

Distance traveled = 1392km

Our final week on the road begun as chilly as last week ended. We enjoyed a lazy morning and hearty breakfast before a short walk to the “Pioneer Settlement”. It’s here the 1890’s has been recreated showcasing an Australian village on the Murray river. Having already enjoyed the settlement on our previous trip we were keen to show Danni and Garth the highlights of this place, however much to our disappointment many of the attractions weren’t operating due to the time of year, nevertheless that didn’t stop us as we spent most of the day at the settlement. The blacksmith held us in awe as he manipulated steel using old school techniques, while a ride in the old Dodge was a must. By late afternoon we were back at the van park where the kids quickly resumed their love of the jumping pillow while we relaxed with a drink in hand and a very friendly magpie. Our Saturday night was spent having some quality time with the kids in the games room.

We woke on Sunday morning with the mercury barely in the positive, the wind chill made it feel even worse. Winter in Victoria in a swag was becoming very tough, with the temps expected to plummet even further over the coming days we decided to have our next few nights indoors…. Back on the road the wind showed no sign of letting up as we crossed back into NSW. This final border crossing making it feel like our holiday really was nearing an end. We zigged and zagged our way across the Hay plains before arriving at Deniliquin. This was one of those little must-see towns as I’d heard so much about the “Deni Ute Muster” that I wanted to put a place to the name and with the muster only a few weeks away the venue and town were getting spruced up. Pushing further across the farming plains we rolled into Jerilderie for a late lunch and a history lesson on Ned Kelly….. By late afternoon we’d made it to Wagga where the comfort and warmth of a cabin would be our home for the next 2 nights. We completed our day with our feet up watching Sunday footy on the tv.

Monday morning reminded us why we’d chosen to stay in a cabin, the temp at 7am was -2deg (felt like -4.6). The car and outdoor surrounding furniture was covered in a heavy frost, but thankfully we were all cosy inside our cabin. After a lazy morning undertaking some domestic chores, we headed out for a bit of sightseeing, however since we’d been to Wagga on numerous occasions there wasn’t too much new for us to see.  Instead some of the family chose to do some retail therapy while the other half did some geocaching therapy. With the family content with this outcome we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon around Wagga. By early evening the temperatures were once again dropping to single digits and by lights out it was already subzero.

Tuesday dawned once again in the negative figures but there was an air of excitement especially with the kids as today we were heading to snow country. Our kids had never seen snow so the prospect of seeing and touching it had them buzzing…. Leaving Wagga, it didn’t take long before the mountainous country loomed in the distance. We stopped briefly in the township of Adalong and Tumut before having lunch at Blowering Dam. Shortly after leaving the dam catchment and the first snow sighting was made, the recent cold snap had provided a dusting of snow further widespread than normal. This was all it took to excite the kids even further and soon afterwards we’d pulled up so the kids could have a play in the icy snow beside the road……. With time on our side we made the short detour into Mount Selwyn where the midweek crowds and conditions were favourable allowing us to spend an hour in the snow. None of us were appropriately dressed for the conditions but that didn’t stop us having a great time for the kids first snow experience. Back in the car we were soon arriving at our Jindabyne accommodation which would be our base for another few nights. A relaxing but early night followed as the prospect of a big day on the snow had us all keen.

Wednesday couldn’t come quick enough, when the curtains were pulled back to reveal perfect clear skies our excitement levels grew even higher. Just after 8am we were at Bullocks Flat Skitube getting fitted out with our snow gear for the day ahead. The steep skitube ride soon had us at Perisher Valley where the expression and excitement on the kid’s faces was priceless. With us all rugged up looking like the “Michelin Man” we headed outside for a day in the snow. After watching and learning the hype of the season skiers we joined the que for our ride to the top of the mountain. Our other traveling family who were regular skiers had joined us as we disembarked at Perisher mid station. It was here the fun began as we all enjoyed some fun in the soft snow, the kids enjoyed snow fights, made snow angels and so much more. The nearby café provided the perfect backdrop for us to recharge with a hot coffee before we jumped back on the chairlift for the ride to the top station. At 2000m above sea level and with the winds starting to howl we were thankful of our warm ski clothes. The views were postcard perfect with snow as far as you could see and it wasn’t long before we’d built our very own snow-man, complete with features and clothing…. With Garth and Danni heading back to Smiggins to ski we decided to descend the mountain as the kids were keen to try tobogganing and tubing. After obtaining our sleds we were soon ready for our first downhill run of human tenpin bowling, I say that because the rules were pretty simple – toboggan down, get off to the side of the slope and walk back up hill. But no, so many foolish people wanted to walk back up the main slope where they were perfect tenpins for the out of control toboggan riders….. It proved to be so much fun. We spent a few hours here alternating between tubing and tobogganing but eventually our weary bodies told us it was time to call it a day…. Heading back to Jindabyne we all rejoiced in what had been a fantastic family day on the snow. By nightfall we’d met up again with our travelling buddies where we all enjoyed a nice meal in the nearby restaurant marking the end of our 8-week adventure together.

Thursday dawned with an air of sadness, our 8-week “purposeful meander across oz” was coming to an end but not before one more thrill. As we packed the car, it started snowing! After playing in the snow all day the kids could now see it falling, all be it only for a brief time – they were so excited…… The 5-hour drive home required one minor detour into Canberra where we officially completed our goal of visiting every mainland state and territory in 8 weeks.

For now, our adventure across Oz had come to an end!

Purposeful Meandering across Oz - Week 7

Distance traveled = 2270 km

Week 7 dawned to our chilliest morning of our trip, our swags had a good coating of frost while the car temperature registered 1deg at 7am…. Thankfully the sun soon provided some warmth and we could slowly pack away our ice covered camping gear. After grabbing a few more pics of the Farina ruins we were soon on the road. It was a short drive into Lyndhurst where we fueled up and some phone reception minded us civilisation was looming before heading out along the Strzelecki track. We found the track to be in remarkably good condition which allowed us to chug along at a good pace. We made a few stops at various icons which included the “dog fence” and a “thermal bore” however the track offered little else to see and by early afternoon we were driving past our intended overnight spot so we pushed on towards Innamincka. The oil n gas fields of Moomba rose as an oasis on the horizon. We stopped for a brief look and were surprised to get full phone reception at such a remote location, continuing further north we finally arrived in Innamincka. We had a quick look around town before heading to the common area for a lovely night by the creek under the stars.

Innamincka Trading Post and pub

Montacollina thermal bore

Sunday dawned well before sunrise as the local feathered fauna providing us with a beautiful chorus of early morning squawks and chirps. With such an early start, we were packed up and over at the pub in time for breakfast... All too soon we were back on the road and retracing our trek back down the Strzelecki track. A few kilometres south of Moomba we turned off towards Cameron Corner (NSW/SA/QLD border). The track into the corner was windy and narrow with plenty of rolling sand dunes that made the trip feel like a ride at Luna Park. Getting out at the corner, the first notable change was the drop in temperature which ensured a frantic dash for warm clothes. After the obligatory photos with us in 3 states we had a warm corner meal before pushing east into Tibooburra for our first night back in NSW since leaving home. There was no respite to the chilly conditions which reminded us "it was still winter" even though we’d been living in t-shirt, shorts n thongs for the past 6 weeks….. With it being one our group’s last night before heading home we enjoyed a night filled with plenty of nostalgia and some bush cooked brownies.

 

Just after breakfast on Monday we bid farewell to Mike (captain Gyro) as he headed for home, for the remaining families we had a quick look around town before heading south towards Broken Hill. Strong winds buffeted our progress all day which made getting out of the car unpleasant but we stopped at the historic town of Milparinka and the Packsaddle Roadhouse, the latter being known in SES circles as one of NSW’s remotest SES Units…. By mid-afternoon we’d made it to Broken Hill where a quick stop for some much-needed supplies were obtained before we decided to head out to the historic town of Silverton for a few nights. Checking in at Penrose Park the kids fell in love with the place as they went off feeding the array of animals and playing on the yesteryear playground equipment while the oldies enjoyed another well-earned ‘happy hour’. Our night concluded with another campfire under cold skies.

Tool tree

Domestic chores and minor maintenance on the car filled our Tuesday morning, we’d developed an infrequent noise in the front of the car which couldn’t be pinpointed but after tightening and checking a few bolts/bearings etc we hoped had been fixed. Mid-morning we headed out to a few attractions around Broken Hill. Pro Hart’s home/gallery, the Line of Lode Miner memorial and the “big picture” to name a few. By mid-afternoon we were back at Silverton for a look around, the art galleries seemingly out-numbered the tourists so we didn’t stay for long. Another stop was the Mundi Mundi lookout, where it’s said you can see the curvature of the earth’s surface (clearly whoever said that has better eyes than us). Once back at our campsite R&R consumed the rest of our Tuesday.

Wednesday was moving day but little did we know that we wouldn’t get nearly as far as we’d planned. We fueled up in Broken Hill before heading towards Menindee Lakes, however by the time we arrived at the town of Menindee the noise in the front of óur car had returned and was getting worse all the time. With too much distance and rough roads ahead we chose to return to Broken Hill where parts and support would/should have been more readily available. The trip back to B-Hill seemingly took forever as the noise had reduced our driving speed…. What could the noise/vibration be? my mind was in overload with various possibilities and Leonie frantically googled ideas that I’d throw her way. I finally narrowed the issue down to the independent live axle, dust and grime had chewed out an idler bearing..... Back in town my first port of call was the Holden dealer but they were as helpful as an umbrella in a cyclone so we tried a few other mechanics where an array of options were tossed our way. The least favoured being “our holiday could be over as parts could take a week to arrive from Melbourne”. Thankfully option 74 sounded the simplest temporary fix – install an aftermarket free-wheeling hub kit which thankfully one mechanic had on the shelf. Some 3 hours later we were on the road again and heading south towards Mildura. However, with light fading fast and the wildlife coming out to play we decided to just head out of town for a roadside rest area for the night, but not before we played “chicken” with the many kangaroos, goats, sheep, cows, rabbits and an echidna that wanted to walk the lonely road…. By 8.30pm on what was a very exhaustive day we were tucked in our swags hoping never to repeat the days’ events again.

Murray & Darling Rivers

Thursday started with another icy frost and temps hovering around zero. Our overnight roadside camp had been relatively quiet with minimal vehicles stopping throughout the night, we were soon packed up and on our way towards Mildura. The car hassles of yesterday seemed a distant memory with no apparent impact on our current driving. An hour down the road we’d arrived in the town of Wentworth, which is where the Murray and Darling rivers join. We took a bit of time to look around witnessing the art of “river locks” before continuing onto “Orange World”, this had been a favourite with us on our last trip so it was a lot of fun to return where we enjoyed a laugh with the host Mario and Maria. By mid-afternoon we’d crossed into Victoria completing a small feat of visiting every mainland state within 8 weeks. Taking time out we checked out the luxury houseboats which dock along the river, at one point we had a tour on one of the luxurious boats on the assumption we’d be making a booking down the track – yeah right!........ The remainder of our day / evening was spent relaxing around the van park, getting regular updates on the NRL as the Eels smashed the Broncos.

Friday saw us on the move once again but not before another chilly start to our day. Winter in a swag in Victoria was becoming a struggle, our warm nights of WA seemed so far ago…. Changing our driving plans, we continued further up the Murray River towards Swan Hill, the following 2-hour drive weaved its way along the side of the river offering picturesque views of the river and surrounding Mallee. Just after lunch we’d setup in Swan Hill, our campsite adjacent to the jumping pillow and playground was perfect for all the kids which in turn was perfect for us as we didn’t see the kids again for hours. Late in the day we headed out to do a bit of sightseeing of the area. Our night saw temperatures drop to chilly levels forcing us to spend the evening in the TV room watching Friday night footy….. dam shame!

Week 7 on the road had been somewhat of a challenge, car troubles and chilly nights.