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12—3—22 October—Tumby Bay, SA
It’s time to move on again and we are heading to Tumby Bay on another sunny day with almost no wind so it was quite a long easy run through gently undulating beautiful, countryside. Along the roadside there was lots of wild flowers growing; it looked really pretty. We travelled on the A1/Eyre Highway until until it veered west and we continued south onto the Lincoln Highway all the way to the Tumby Bay turn-off and we drove into town to the Tumby Bay Caravan Park.
While in Tumby Bay we attended the local Church of Christ and Dean met Joan Winter (Schunke) who was a good friend of his mum when the girls were young. On the next two Sundays we drove out to Ungarra Church of Christ for the morning services and were able to catch up with lots of relatives.
On Monday of the October Long Weekend we ventured out to the Yallunda Flat Annual Show. It was a very well attended show for the local community and we enjoyed walking around checking out the stalls, tasting the food and watching the horses.
During our time in the Tumby Bay area we caught up with many of Dean’s relatives for coffee or meals. We were very blessed with the time we spent visiting Uncle Malc & Aunty Raelene (M&R). We spent time with Anthony & Tabitha (A&T), Malvern & Lynne, Grantley & Dale and Rebecca at various times and places catching up. We thoroughly enjoyed the times reminiscing with everyone we met.
We had a day of travel to Port Lincoln to have lunch with Dean’s cousin, Sharon Wait (Fatchen), Robert (son), Callum (grandson) and M&R. It was a good time of chatting of life, family and photos of course. After lunch we explored the marina area and a local lookout before heading back to Tumby.
M&R took us on a drive around town checking out the mural artworks and then out to visit Redcliff campsite (Church of Christ) where, believe it or not, we met up with around 50 relatives at a birthday camp/gathering. We visited A&T (M&R son) on their farm at Ungarra. We drove around the property checking out the crops and wild flowers growing.
Cummins is a small town we visited and stopped for lunch at the 5 Loaves Bakery. We also drove to Coffin Bay and after driving around we had lunch at the Coffin Bay Hotel. We ventured down to the Coffin Bay National Park and visited lookouts of the cliffs of the Southern Ocean for some beautiful views.
We shared a BBQ lunch with M&R and two SIM families, who had stayed at the caravan park near us. They were visiting on their way to a weekend camp further south at the Camp Nyroca site. It was a great time of fellowship.
On Tuesday it was time to pack up in preparation for leaving on Wednesday and in the afternoon we visited M&R for coffee and to say goodbye.
13—22—27 Oct—Whyalla, SA
As we left Tumby Bay we turned right onto the Lincoln Highway and followed it all the way to the Discovery Foreshore Caravan Park. It was an easy run up with a bit of a tail-wind but when we arrived it was very windy for the whole evening.
We visited the Information Centre/Maritime Museum including The Whyalla (ex HMAS Whyalla) tour and model trains and later in the day we drove around the foreshore, the marina and up to Hummock Hill lookout. The Elvis Museum was a highlight for Reen. Peter was the best tour guide around his home, from floor to ceiling in every room and also included the front porch, back yard and garage. It was FULL of Elvis memorabilia, just amazing. He also told us to visit the Route 66 cafe for more memorabilia and good food; we did. We also took time to walk around the craft market which is set up in the original accommodations buildings of the steel mill workers.
We finally got some time without winds and took a walk along the beach behind our 5R. On Tuesday 21 November the sunset on our last night in town was beautiful.
14—27—31 Oct—Quorn, SA
It’s time to move on again and today it is a short run north to Quorn Caravan Park. We travelled on the Eyre Highway to Port Augusta and then onto the Augusta Highway and turned left on the Flinders Ranges Way through to Quorn. Being a short trip meant we arrived in time to have lunch at the Quandong Cafe.
In the morning our first stop was to the Information Centre and Train Museum at Quorn Railway Station. We explored the town and took in the historic buildings. Just before sunset we headed to the Silo Light Show and settled down in our chairs to enjoy the show projected onto the silo. Quorn is a lovely little town with an amazing historic story.
We always like to support small country towns and we did enjoy eating at the Quandong Cafe and the Transcontinental Hotel.
15—31 Oct—6 Nov—Rawnsley Park Station, SA
It’s Friday and we are off again, this time deeper into the Flinders Ranges to Rawnsley Park Station. We again travelled on the Flinders Ranges Way and turned left onto Rawnsley Rd. As we travelled through the hills we climbed to 479 m in the Flinders Ranges. We arrived around lunch time and set up in a lovely site with mountains on three sides of us.
Rawnsley Park Station is a 4th generation working sheep station which has been developed into a tourism hub with over 30,000 people visiting each year.
The station is very well equipped with a small info centre and grocery shop in the reception office in the caravan/camping area. The site also has eco villas, cabins, the Woolshed Restaurant, a helicopter on a helipad and an airstrip with Cessna’s which do tours. We had takeaway pizzas from the restaurant back in the CARDIS.
We ventured out exploring the station and surrounds on a very hot day. We attempted going to Rawnsley Bluff but the sign at the carpark read 12.6 km hard walk; not today. We went on to Pugilist Hill lookout which is about 10 km drive with great views of the Chace Range. The Rawnsley lookout is about 13 km along Flinders Ranges Way and overlooks Rawnsley Park Station. We drove into the carpark of the Arkaroo Rock area and found information of a 3 km hike; but not today either.
We were looking forward to the scenic flight over Lake Eyre for the day and were a little disappointed when the day started out windy with showers and storms predicted. Issue 1: the plane we were supposed to go on was grounded with an hydraulic leak and it’s replacement was already out on a short flight. Issue 2: just after take off the pilot’s seat dropped and he couldn’t see properly so this meant we just did a quick loop around and landed. Issue 3: over Lake Eyre the storms were getting worse. This all meant that there could be no flight today.
As we were now at a bit of a loose end we decided to visit Wilpena Pound to have a look around. We visited the Information Centre and had lunch at the Discovery Restaurant. We checked out the availability of a scenic flight from Wilpena and they had space on the coming Wednesday so we booked in Wright Air.
On flight day we woke very early and headed to Wilpena air strip for a 0630 hrs flight. Our pilot, Paul was fantastic with all the information of the area and great skill in giving us a steady flight. We saw some amazing countryside, from mountains, plains, towns, properties, natural attractions, salt lakes without and with water of many colours. The weather and company (another grey nomad couple) was perfect and the six hours literally flew by 😆.
16—6—10 Nov—Peterborough, SA
In the morning it was time to move on again and we were ready to leave the station, though sadly, and head to Peterborough Caravan Park. We headed along the Flinders Ranges Way, turned left onto RM Williams Way and then left onto Petersburg Rd to Peterborough.
We headed out to explore the town and visited the train carriage in the middle of town as a museum and we did enjoy the restoration, photos and historical info and watching the short video of the train trip from Peterborough to Broken Hill in the 1880’s. Peterborough is a junction for for main roads and at the entrance to town from each road they have a steam train on a bridge (all different) and info, so we took photos of each one. We visited the lookout for an overview of the town.
While in town we had coffee or meals at The Junction Hotel, the Tinsmith Cottage and the Steamtown Dine Inn. We enjoyed the meals and the interactions with the locals.
We left Peterborough feeling a little sad for the town. It was obvious during our time there that the town “lived in the past”. From the steam trains (both real and models) everywhere to the scads of generally well-maintained old stone/brick buildings, there seemed to be a focus on yesterday to the detriment of today. Sadly, many of the old business buildings were closed/empty; even the Steamtown Museum and Visitor Centre was closed. We suspect if it wasn’t for the couple of servos and thriving Foodland store, the town would have withered away completely by now.
17—10—15 Nov—Broken Hill, NSW
Today we arrived back into NSW – politically at least – Broken Hill operates on SA time and is more operationally connected to Adelaide than Sydney! We had a smooth drive up the Barrier Highway and Reen had her very first run with towing the CARDIS. She seemed to cope pretty well and all passengers survived.
We enjoyed Broken Hill, but felt it was very much a mixed bag. Some areas felt to be on the decline, while just down the road all seemed spick and span and vibrant. It’s probably the only caravan park we’ve ever seen/stayed at where we didn’t ever find anyone at the office: even check-in was by (email) pre-allocation of site number and touch-screen login! A little weird!
We visited the Information Centre which was a well set up location with lots of info. While in town we managed to see the Indian Pacific train at the station on it’s way east. We also visited a few food outlets for coffee or meals including the Line of Lode cafe, Old McLeod’s Bakery, Bell’s Milk Bar, Mac’s Oven Foods and KFC.
We enjoyed an adventure to Silverton and out around Mundi Mundi plains and the Umberumberka reservoir; the Mad Max references everywhere around town would have movie buff’s in raptures. The donkeys have run of the town and like to meet the people. The historic building are mostly all in great condition and being used.
The relatively new Line of Lode Miners Memorial was a respectful and sobering reminder of the risks of that line of work, set in beaut location overlooking the town. At the Silver City Mint and Art Centre we marvelled at the ‘Big Picture’ which is the world’s largest acryllic painting by a single artist, 100m long and over 12m high and painted by Peter Anderson, a local artist. On our last day there we went to the Pro Hart gallery—he was obviously a well-respected and loved local figure with a remarkably diverse artistic output.
18—15—17 Nov—Cobar, NSW
It was travel day again and we headed off again along the Barrier Highway on our way to Cobar Caravan Park. It was a loooong drive of 454 km or for us six hours including a few stops. Reen did another couple of hours driving, so getting her hand in quite well.
After the day we had we headed to the Empire Hotel for dinner; very nice meal. On Sunday we joined Tea Gardens Baptist Church for the online service and then headed to Subway for lunch. We’ve been here just a year or so ago, so not planning any sightseeing and will move on tomorrow.
19—17—20 Nov—Gilgandra, NSW
As we left Cobar it was a pleasant, easy run as we travelled on the Barrier Highway to Nyngan where we join the Mitchell Highway to Nevertire where we turned left onto the Oxley Highway to Gilgandra showground – although there was a bit of gusty wind across us for the later part of the trip. It’s a bit dry at the moment, but that’s pretty much how things are this time of year!
Gil is Reen’s hometown and where we originally met about a squillion years ago, so we’ll spend the few days we have here catching up with family. It was good to catch up with Reen’s cousin Linda at Cafe 41 for coffee. We shared a BBQ at her brother Wes’, Sim’s family and their son Mark & Beck and children. We also travelled into Dubbo to have dinner at the South Dubbo Tavern with her brother, Doug & Terri and their son Jacob, Alicia and Olly (Oliver), it is always good to catch up them.
20—20 —22 Nov—Cassilis, NSW
As we left the showground we turned onto the Oxley Highway/Warren Rd and then turned right onto the Castlereagh Highway/Mendoran Rd and at Dunedoo we turned left onto the Golden Highway and then left onto Cassilis Rd to the Bowling Club. As we travelled through the hills we climbed to 575 m in the Great Dividing Range. It was quite a hot day with an afternoon storm.
We stayed at the club for two nights and while in town we ate at the Royal Hotel and the Bowling Club for dinners and at Erika’s Cafe for breakfast; it’s great to support the small towns. Cassilis is a lovely little historic town with some of Reen’s family being among the original settlers in the area in the 1840’s.
21—22 Nov—1 Dec—Tea Gardens, NSW
As we left Cassilis we drove along the Golden Highway through to the M15/New England Highway/Hunter Express Way and left onto John Renshaw Drive and along to the A1/Pacific Highway and right onto Myall Way to Tea Gardens. We set up on the grass at the back of Tea Gardens Baptist Church for 9 nights. While in town we caught up with some friends and attended Church. It’s always good to visit the area.
22—1—3 Dec—Cardiff, NSW
On Monday we packed up and headed along the A1/Pacific Highway to Travelhome at Cardiff. We parked in the driveway and set up for 2 nights for them to look at some issues with the CARDIS (the lounge-slide needs a little TLC!!) and are re-booked for further work there in January.
23—3 Dec—Feb 2026—Granville, NSW
We left Cardiff early on Thursday morning and travelled on the A1/Pacific Highway to Granville. It was straight back into the crazy-busy suburban hustle – if ever we needed a reminder of why we chose to sell-up and hit the road, this was it!
Reflecting on our overall 107 day, 3-state loop; we had an absolutely fantastic time. After some initial mechanical/electrical hiccups, the truck and CARDIS performed faultlessly. Weather was generally fine – only a few days with any rain – although *very* windy almost everywhere. We were privileged to see some iconic parts of our country (Great Ocean Road, Adelaide Hills, Flinders Ranges, Lake Eyre) and spent some wonderful hours and days reconnecting with family, some of whom we’d not seen in donkey’s years! We continue to be amazed by the variety of scenery that Australia presents us; almost every day gave us a different landscape, sometimes so radically different as to make us wonder if we were even in the same country.
For those that care, here’s a few overall stats:
- Kilometres in total: 7,988
- Kilometres towing the CARDIS: 5,062
- Nights in caravan parks: 58
- Nights in showgrounds/other: 48
- Litres of diesel used: 1313
- Overall fuel consumption: 16.4 l/100km
- Dearest fuel: $2.04 at Cobar (NSW)
- Cheapest fuel: $1.73 at Pt Augusta (SA)
- Highest point above sea-level along trip: 720m, just south of Daylesford (VIC)
We really enjoyed our adventure and are always thankful to our Lord Jesus for going before, watching over, protecting and guiding us every day.