Camped along Dumaresq River

 Another night along the Dumaresq River in QLD but this time at Bengalla Reserve. The reserve has a few nice camping spots and we were lucky to get one close to the river. We only saw 3 other vans in a 2klm stretch. It’s disappointing to see previous campers leaving their broken bottles and cans left in the camp fire, 5 minutes of pick up and I had put it in a bag to be disposed of properly.  

Plenty of bird life, with Corrella’s out numbering everything else, was nice listening to the Kookaburras calling out.

Bingara NSW - Again

 Base for the next few days is Bingara NSW. One of our favourite places to stay through out Oz. Freedom Camping along the Gwydir River, the weather could be a lot warmer and some sun for the solar would be welcomed but the peacefulness & the Birds is my kind of place.

Still Glamped up at Bingara NSW, went for a drive to the camps further up the river where we last had the company of our Bro Kimbo & Nerida … memories came flooding back remembering the good times we all had together .. He must be watching over us because he directed Vickie to walk to the river edge where she found a fishing rod someone had left behind ..  Thanks Bro 

A drive up to Batterham Lookout where my mother Grace and her husband Neil’s ashes are scattered. A truly beautiful lookout over the town. We love Bingara and we will be back again one day.

The Roxy Theatre and Cafe

Wallabadah - Wet & Cold

We can recommend the Chinese Restaurant at the CoolahCountry Club, we had a lovely meal 

of Honey Chicken & Deep Fried Beef in plum sauce …superb. 

More chilly and wet weather - will it ever end .. we stopped at Gunnedah for some shopping and took scenic route to our overnight camp at Wallabadah. A very interesting park recognising the convicts and Sailors that came to Australia on the 1st Fleet. Some very sad stories written but overall the memorial park has been wonderfully created by the town.

Sofala - Coolah NSW

 Stopped for a look at Sofala NSW .. no Te Do 😂 A quirky old town with even older looking buildings. The weather continues to be very cold and constant drizzling rain so only a short walk around the streets. 

Stopped for the night at Coolah Sporting Club .. Thank You Town of Coolah for being RV Friendly and encouraging travelers to stay and hopefully spend a few dollars in the town.

One of many older homes with interesting yard art 😁

Exercise while you mow

Lots of junk I mean memorabilia here

Been a while since these moved under their own power

Main Street of Sofala

Historic Bridge Sofala

The old historic walk way has been rebuilt and placed at the entry to the town. 

New Van Time - You Ripper

 We recently drove from Home in Western Australia to Melbourne Victoria in preparation for picking up our new Caravan. We left in wet and cold conditions, on our 1st day our windscreen was cracked from a rock thrown up by an oncoming truck and the 2nd day we collided with a large male kangaroo! Sadly he was badly hurt so I had to send him to Roo Heaven. Luckily our damage was minimal with nothing more than some plastic fasteners holding a trim panel on. We were sleeping in a roof top tent for the trip over so we wouldn’t have to deal with Motels etc but with lousy weather we found ourselves just driving the kilometres and collapsing in the Roof Top Tent each night. The ladder was an experience :-) after two nights we were in no hurry to do it again so we advertised it in Adelaide and sold it straight away. The rain did ease whilst we were visiting our daughter in Adelaide. It was lovely seeing our family and visiting the best Chinese Chicken & Rice at China Town :-) We stayed a week and then onto stay at a sisters home at Frankston. Here we stayed 3 nights in a stunning home overlooking Port Phillip

On Thursday it was off to the Masterpiece Factory to take delivery of our new van. We were very pleased with how it looked, Vickie’s interior colour choices and my external choices. To compare it to our previous MP Optimum it is difficult because so many changes have occurred since our 2022 model. Suffice to say we are extremely happy with the finished product. 

We didn’t leave the factory until 4.30 arranging insurance on the phone so we only drove 75 kilometres and stayed at a free camp at Tooborac where it continued to rain, we managed to empty the rear seat area of van provisions and had an early night. 

Next day we continued on to Mathoura where we are staying behind the Bowling Club, another free camp though we did go to the club for a meal and drinks, Vickie managed to get some money back playing the pokies. :-)

Tomorrow we have no idea but continue further North hoping to find some warmer weather. 

Some photos of the build of our 20’6 Masterpiece Optimum Off Road Caravan

Pick up time

Our 1st night in the Van

Lucky we scored a concrete pad as the rain continued 

Build pics of the caravan. 

New regulations regarding battery systems in vans require isolating and external venting. 

Excellent job done in fitting the Victron Management System 

Terraglide AirBag Suspension controls

Internal 

Internal