Clare- Echuca



Martindale Hall



10-13/10/11

Today we left Flinders Ranges and went to Clare, We stayed for 3 nights.  We went to Martindale Hall, it was an old mansion built in 1879 for a 21-year-old sheep farmer called Edmund Bowman Junior.  It was in a movie called 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'.    We went to Burra, and looked at an old copper mine and there was lots of old buildings, it was really cool. 

13-16/10/11

We left Clare and went to the Barossa Valley for 3 nights.  We walked around town and stopped at german restaurant, I tried sauerkraut but I didn't really like it.  We went to a winery and learnt how barrels were made, it was cool.  We also went to a little German town called Hahndorf,  it was really cool.  For lunch we had a German platter with different kinds of sausages and pork chops and roast lamb and big pretzels, yum! 

We went to a motor museum full of old cars and motorbikes, it was interesting. 

16/10/11

We left the Barossa Valley and went to Waikerie to see dads aunty and uncle.

17-24/10/11
After Waikerie, we went to Mildura.  We stayed for a week, the caravan park was really nice, right on the Murray River.  We went finishing a few times, I caught 7 carps, but one of my little sisters caught 11!!  We went to hot rod show, it was really cool.

24-25/10/11

We left Mildura and went to Swan Hill and went to an old place called Pioneer Settlement.  We walked around the old town and went on a horse and carriage, and an old car, it was cool.  My sisters and I got a photo of us in old clothes. 

25-27/10/11

After Swan Hill we went to Echuca.  we went on an old Paddle steamer called Pevensy, it was used in a movie and an old tv series.  We walked around the town and to the lolly shop!  Then we went to a place called The Aussie Beer Shed, it was really cool!  When we got there the guy was really friendly and gave a free drinks each!!  He then took us on a tour around the place, There over 30,000 empty beer cans!!

My sisters and I in old clothes.

There was heaps of different cans, there was the first ever beer can and one of the most rarest beer cans and beer cans from years ago, etc. etc. 

Barrel Making



Old service station in the motor museum.



Flinders Ranges

 
The Flinders Ranges were spectacular!!  The view was amazing and it was really cool.  We went on a 2 hour walk down to an old homestead and a few lookouts.  There was a couple of lizards and lots of emus.  We saw some old ruins and we walked through a few dry creek beds to look for fossils, but we didn't find any.

Streaky Bay - Port Lincoln

 
After we drove across the Nullarbor, we stayed at Streaky Bay for the night and when we got up the next day it was very very very very windy and everybodys stuff was blowing away.  So we left and went to Port lincoln.  We went to the National park at Coffin Bay for the day and saw lots of emus.  it was really cool and it was surrounded by the beach, but it was freezing!  When we got up the next morning there was a seal swimming around, it was cool.  Then we went to Whyalla for the night before heading to the Flinders Ranges.

The Nullabor

It took us about 3 days to cross the Nullarbor.  The Nullarbor is the longest, straightest road in Australia.  There was a really big storm that followed us the whole way across the Nullarbor and it was very windy and there was lots of thunder and lighting, it was cool.   We cooked our dinner on the fire, we cooked a roast and a stew and damper, it was delicious!  We didnt see one whale on the trip, but we did see a seal.  We went to the old telegraph station, it was really cool.  We went there 6 years ago when we travelled Australia so we took pictures to compare. 

We then went to Streaky Bay, it was a really nice place right on the beach.  But when we got up the next day it was SUPER windy and peoples stuff was flying away. 

So we went to Port Lincoln. 

Kalgoorlie/ Boulder

Kalgoorlie/ Boulder is a town that started after gold was discovered in the area.  We first went to the museum, it was really interesting.  We saw the first bar of gold that was found in the area, cool.  

This is a mine truck, it cost roughly 4.5 million dollars.



We went on a tour of the KCGM super pit mine, it was very interesting and cool.  We got to see the GIANT trucks they use for mining, they were HUGE! The super pit was really cool and the cars and trucks were tiny. 



This is the super mine.





This ute was run over by a mine truck.



Bunbury- Margaret River.

Looking at the anemone under a microscope.

We stayed at Bunbury for 2 days, the best thing we did was the dolphin discovery centre, it was really interesting.  We got to see anemone getting feed a prawn under a microscope, it was really cool! 

Margret River is known as the wine and food region.  There were heaps of winerys and lolly shops, it was awesome.  We didn't go to all the wineries, but we did go to the chocolate factory, the 2 lolly shops and the fudge factory, yum yum!
We also went to Mammoth Cave, it was really cool.  We got a headset each to listen to information about the caves and the bones they found in there.  It was very interesting. 
We went to a German restaurant it was really cool and the meals were really good.

Exmouth- Canarvon

After Broome, we headed to Exmouth.  On the way we stopped at Roebourne and checked out the old jail, it was really cool.  Exmouth was a really nice place, we got to go snorkelling in the beautiful crystal clear water,we bought a underwater camera to take picture when we were snorkelling,  it was so much fun!   I walked out until i was about hip deep in the water, put my snorkel and goggles on and jumped in and I ran straight into these big fishes!  I freaked out and ran out of the water, it was so funny!  While we were snorkelling I tried to clean my goggles because they were foggy and I kicked some coral with my shin and I freaked out again and I swam as far away as I could, funny!  After Exmouth we went to Coral Bay, it was nice there as well and we went snorkelling again, good fun!  When we left Coral Bay, we headed to Canarvon.  It was also nice, we bought heaps of fresh fruit and veg, YUM!  We also tried some pizza from The Old Post Office where they make one of the top 5 pizza's in the world!  We went on a train ride along the 1 mile jetty, it was fun! Max was allowed on the train too, so he thought he was pretty cool.




Some fish and coral.

 

A big fish we saw.

Broome!!

4/9/11-14/9/11
Broome, one of the best place on earth!!  It has been about 35 degrees everyday, perfect beach weather.  We've been to the beach with Eagle Boys Pizza and watched the sunset, it was awesome.  The best beach is Cable beach with its crystal clear water and white sand, the worst thing is that it is a nudist beach so you have to put up with gross old naked people walking passed all the time, its disgusting!  

We bought some barramundi and cooked on the bbq down at the beach, and we've also had sausages in bread and salad while watching the sunset over the water.  

 We went to a pearling museum, it was interesting.  We learnt about the pearlers and we saw an old diving suit they used to wear, it was huge.  Then we went to Chinatown and bought a few gifts and souvenirs. 

One morning we woke up at about 5.00 to see the moon set, it was cool, the moon was orange and it slowly set over the water.

We rode on the camels along the great Cable Beach.  The camel ride went for 30 minutes, Shae and I rode a camel called Indi.  It was so awesome!  It was freaky when the sit down so you can get off because you have to lean back really far and then they drop down.

After the awesome camel ride we bought pizza and went to watch the staircase to the moon,  it was cool how the moon was red and it turned orange.  There was a market there and we went and looked around, It was cool. 

Ilove Broome, I wish we never had to leave!!

Bungles- day 2

2/09/11
Today we got up at about 5.30 because we turned the clock back a few hours when we drove across the borders.  We packed up the rooftop camper, for breakfast we had cornflakes and boiled water on the fire for a hot milo.  The fire wasn't really going to well so the water didn't boil and it was cold so it tasted gross.  We headed to the visitor centre and grabbed a map,  then went to a few walks at Piccaninny creek.  We walked to the Piccaninny creek and walked to the cathedral gorge and walked around the domes. It was awesome!!


The Domes.





Part of Cathedral gorge, it was amazing!



Bungle Bungles.

1/09/11
Today we left Kununarra and headed to the Bungle Bungles.  We arrived at the van park and left the van, mum, shelby and Max behind.  Dad, Shae and I headed to the visitor centre which was about 53km away, but it tooks us one and a half hours through the tough terrain and a few river crossing.  It cost $26 to camp for 1 night, the first thing we went to was the Kungkalahayi Lookout, the view was amazing. We stopped for lunch at Kurrajong Campsite, and there was a puncture in the front tyre!  D'oh!  Shae and I helped dad let the tyres down so there wouldn't be anymore puntures. Then we went to Echidna Chasm, it was awesome.  It was a 2km walk to the end of the Chasm, it was over 200 metres tall with huge boulders stuck between the walls.  There was heaps of different colours and palm trees growing out of the rock.  It was 34 degrees outside and nice and cool in the chasm.  We were going to walk to the Mini Palm Gorge but it would take 2-3 hours and we had to set up camp.  We camped at Warladi Campsite,  we setup the roof top camper and the portable shower.  Someone started a fire in the firepit and people went over to cook stews and stuff for dinner, we took over a hotplate and cooked sausages over the fire, it was delicious.  Then we put the  billy with water and boiled it up to make hot milo.  We sat around the fire with lots of other people and met a few people. 



The rooftop camper setup.




The Echidna Chasm





People at the fire, shae cooking sausages and i'm holding the torch for people to see.

Lake Argyle

28/8/11
Today we booked another night and we booked a sunset cruise on the lake.  Dad cooked pancakes for breakfast, They were yummy.  We went for a bike ride to the Dam Wall, it was cool, but it was so hot we jumped in the pool when we got back.  At 1.45 dad went to the office and watched a documentary on the making of the Dam wall, it went for 1 hour.  We left at 2.45 on the tour bus and stopped at the boat ramp and jumped on the big orange boat.  The cruise was awesome!!  We got to swim in the croc-infested waters, it was cold but still warmer than the pool!  The sunset was beautiful!The cruise was awesome, it was one of the best things we did this holiday so far.

Lake Argyle

26/8/11

Today we left Katherine and headed to Timber Creek.  We stopped at a few Gas stations on the way and gas prices got upto $1.50 a litre!!  We reached Timber Creek and had lunch, dad decided it was too early to stop so we kept on driving. We arrived at the Western Australia border at 3.00 and had to stop for a quaratine check.  The guy said we had to turn the clock back to 1.30, We stopped at Lake Argyle van park and booked a night.  We went down to the pool, it was freezing in the pool.  After tht we went to the restaurant to listen to a chick called Fina sing.  Dad chucked a dollar in the guitar case and requested a song, and she made him and mum get up on stage and dance. It was funny.

27/8/11

Today we booked another night because we loved the place.  We just lazed around the pool and relaxed all day. It was good.

Katherine

24/8/11

Today we headed to Katherine from Daly Waters.  We stopped at the Mataranka Hot Springs for a swim and to have lunch.  The springs were nice and warm.   

When we arrived at katherine we booked into the van park for 2 days then we went next door to the gas station to buy milk and bread.

25/8/11

Today we just did a really big shopping spree to stock up on food and supplies, then we went to the car wash and dad washed the car because it was really dirty.  

Transport hall of fame.



One of the best museums I have ever been to would be the Transport hall of fame in Alice Springs.  We got to see heaps of old buses and trucks and learn about all kinds of different transport from the olden days.  We even got to see the first Mack truck ever to be built in Australia. It was really cool.

Daly Waters



Some of the bras on the roof!



Mums burger.



The thong tree.



Today we stayed at Daly waters Pub caravan park.  It was a really awesome place, it was a really small town with pretty much just a pub, van park, a small handmade gifts shop and a few houses.  For dinner we decided to go to the pub for a change.!  In the bar there were bras and undies hanging off the roof and peoples licences stapled along the top of the bar.  It was cool.   Outside there was Australia's first thong tree, it was cool.  for dinner mum and dad had a burger while Shae, shelby and i had a pie and chips, it was yummy.  we sat there and listened to a couple of guys sing and tell some pretty good jokes.  it was a really good night.



Chilli, one of the singers and the joke teller.



Alice Springs

Today we left and headed to Alice Springs, we stayed in a freebie camp because the caravan parks were full because of the boat races.

The next day we booked into a van park, set up the van and set off to check out the attractions.  We stopped at Glen Helen gorge resort and had lunch, we took the Cobb and cooked bacon and egg rolls, It was yummy!  Then headed off to some lookouts and Gorges.  My favourite was the Ochre Pits because there was bright colours and they looked like giant lego blocks. 

Ochre Pits.

Ayers Rock.

We setup the van at the Ayers Rock resort and headed off.  We bought our 3 day park pass and drove to Ayers Rock to climb it but it was closed because of the wind.  So we went to the aboriginal culture discovery centre.  Then went to check out The Olga's they were awesome!!  We walked through a gorge and The Valley Of Winds, the view was spectacular!



The view from The Valley of the Winds lookout.



The next day we went back but the climb was closed again.  So dad, Shae and I walked around it, it was about 10kms and it took about 3 hours to walk around it.  We were almost back to the carpark when we saw a pack of wild dogs that some idiot was feeding.  It then attack Shae and dad jumped in an kicked it so it ran off and the rest of the pack followed.

After that we went back to the van and made lunch. Then headed back and the climb was open!!!  Dad and I climbed to the very top of Ayers Rock!!  It took us about 2 hours. 

Dad and I on top of Ayers Rock!!

Coober Pedy.



Fayes above ground pool.




Fayes underground bedroom.

 Info of Coober Pedy:

• The first opal miners called the place Stuart Range Opal Fields, but in 1920 it was renamed Coober Pedy after the indigenous words 'Kupa' meaning 'white man' and 'Piti' meaning 'hole in the ground'.
• Coober pedy is known as the Opal capital of the world because more than 75% of the worlds commercial opal is mined there.
• More than 70% of Coober Pedy's population lives underground.
• The largest opal found was the olympic australis stone from the 8 mile field in 1965, it weighed 3.5kg.

Today we drove around to all the tourist places, the first place was Faye's underground house.  Faye was a young lady that came to Coober Pedy with 2 of her friends, they bought a block of land and started dig out a house.  It took them 10 years to complete it.  The only part of the house that was above ground was the indoor swimming pool.
After we went to the Umoona Opal Museum and Mine, The first part of the tour was to watch a information video called 'The Story of the Opal', it was interesting.  After that we went down an old mine, it was cool to see the tools and the machines that aer used to dig mines and underground homes.
The tour ended at about 3pm, we then headed to The Breakaways.  We waited for a few hours for the sun to set and see The Breakaways change colour.  But then the clouds covered the sunset and we didn't see the colour change.

Clare to Woomera (Area 51 shhhh)

In Clare there was Kangaroos, Emu's and deer.  We fed the kangaroos, Max really liked it.

This morning we fed the emu's before we left and headed to Coober Peady.  We drove through Clare Valley, there was lots of old towns and great scenery.  We had lunch at Port Augusta, scenic but smelly!

Drove through miles of desert, dead kangaroos and cows, the scenery was great but!

Staying at Woomera tonight. They have rockets and missiles here.  We took a few photos around town, there was also a great sunset here and the moon is really big, Must be the aliens.