Gulargonbone -West Wyalong - Cobram

We had lovely weather at Moree every day was in the very high 20’s, as we travel further south I am sure it will not be as warm. Our next stop was Gulargambone a small country town that needs support, many of the shops and businesses are closed and the local community are trying very hard to brighten up the township to attract the travellers so the town will remain viable. Bernadette and Dave that own the local caravan park are great hosts with their happy hour each evening, with damper made in the camp oven. They also put on a roast Wednesday and Sunday nights for $12 a head, profits going to the Royal Flying Doctors, this winter season raising nearly $14,000, well done Bernadette and Dave. We had planned to stop for one night ended up staying for two, changing our plans once again so we could stay for the roast night and for a day trip out to the Warrumbungle National Park and the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia's largest optical telescope. The Observatory is located on the edge of the Warrumbungle National Park around 70 klms from Gulargambone. Some areas of the Siding Spring has restricted access to the public as it is an operational research facility. We were able to go up four floors to the top viewing platform in the Observatory where we could observe the giant telescope.  I cheated by taking the lift, Baz is a little wary of lifts so he took the stairs, he was still complaining two days later of having sore legs.

Leaving the Siding Spring and the spectacular scenery of the National Park with its rugged peaks, we decided to explore a little further afield and ended up at Tooraweenah a tiny rural village where we had lunch at the pub, enjoying a lovely gourmet pizza before returning to Gulargambone.

Travelling a little under 400 klms from Gulargonbone to West Wyalong we only needed somewhere to stop for the night so ended up at the showgrounds, $20 for power and water with very new amenities.

On the road again the next day we were headed to Cobram, one of our regular stop over places along the Murray. Cobram is only about 3 hours from Melbourne so we can travel into Melbourne to catch the boat from there on Sunday. Today we went back over the Murray River to Tocumal market and also met up with Bridget and Don for morning tea at the Bushlands on the Murray Cafe. This weekend is very busy everywhere along the Murray as it is a Victorian long weekend  also school holidays and of course it is also the AFL Grand Final weekend. We returned to the Willows Caravan Park in Cobram to spend the afternoon in the camp kitchen with fellow travellers to watch the Grand Final, a very one sided game with Richmond winning over GWS by 89 points.

Tomorrow brings the end of nearly 5 months away from home, we are so lucky that we are able to do what we do, spending Tassie Winters in the warmer states. We are already planning and looking forward to next May when we will again travel to the Big Island for more adventures.

Bullock Team at Gulargonbone

Baz looking a litte Rustic

Wheat Silo Gulargonbone

Siding Spring Observatory

At least it's not a broom stick

Telescope in the Observatory

Warrumbungle National Park

Selfie

Tooraweenah Pub

Burrum Heads, Kilkivan, Dalby and Moree

Finally heading south after four and half months, not sure we are ready to go home, but missing the Bilton family heaps and it will be lovely to catch up with family and friends.  Will need to do a little maintenance on the van once we are home as the hot water cylinder is cactus. It decided it would start leaking again just before we left Bargara, was going to have it looked at on the way down but have decided to wait until we get home. It only leaks if we hook up to mains water so have just been filling the water tanks and using the water from them and not turning on the hot water. Only replaced the cylinder three years ago, first one lasted five years and this one was supposed to be the improved model! Not happy!

We spent our first night on the road back at Burrum Heads, this time staying at the Adventure Park 10klms out of Burrum. It is located on the Burrum River and the camp ground is alongside a fresh water lake which is a catch and release. Our main reason for going back to Burrum was to buy another folding mountain bike the same as Barry's and to also catch up with Tina and Geoff that came out from Hervey Bay to meet us for lunch. Tina and Geoff had planned to be at Agnes Waters the same time as us but due to Geoff ending up in the Bundaberg hospital for a few days we missed them in transit.

Leaving the coast and heading inland and south, our next stop was Kilkivan Bush Camp a natural camp ground with an abundance of birdlife. Poor old Baz had to make a hasty dash inside the van as he wasn't keen to share his breakfast with a pesky, cheeky parrot, not only did it try to steal his muffin it also left it's calling card on his shorts. Since we were last at Kilkivan they have installed a swimming pool that I made good use of as it was a very hot 30 deg afternoon. Baz was even going to get in until he felt the water only managed to the bottom of his short legs, what a piker!

Leaving Kilkivan we travelled 200 klms to Dalby a rural town in the Darling Downs, the caravan park is situated close to the town centre, after a little rest we enjoyed a pleasant walk up to the shopping centre for a few supplies.  The Caravan park and surrounding areas are a little dusty due to the water restrictions in place due to the drought. The surrounding countryside is certainly drought-ravished with baron paddocks causing many landowners severe hardship some have missed three crops in a row, that is three years with no income.

After a one night stop over at Dalby we travelled down through Goondiwindi, again lack of cotton crops due to the drought. Not only does this effect the farmers it also goes down the line to pickers/workers, truck drivers, accommodation and retail business in the towns. No money from crops no money to spend in the towns, many a retail business is finding it hard to keep going.

Our next stop was Moree, we love going to the Gwydir Carapark with their thermal pools. We booked in for four nights ended up staying for five. Even here at Moree the caravan park which is usually lush and green was dry and some sites had lost all their grass and were very sandy. Hopefully they will get a decent rainfall soon. We would go to the pools morning and late afternoon for a leisurely soak in the artesian water that is sourced from 750 meters underground,

Catch up with Tina and Geoff at Burrum Heads

Adventure Park Burrum Heads

Birdlife Kilkivan

Patriotic House Moree