A day looking at some of the highlights of the Mallee District of Victoria. Before leaving Swan Hill, we check out the Murray River bridge. This bridge is a historic, heritage-listed timber and steel lift-span bridge built in 1896. It was the first lift-span bridge on the Murray River to let paddle steamers pass. We … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 8 – The Mallee District
First up today is a walk around the Port of Echuca, once a busy and vital port for paddlesteamers on the Murray River. The multi-level wharf caters to level changes in the river. PS Adelaide A barge used to transport River red gum logs Barges historically transported wool bales before road transport took over. Bee … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 7 – Echuca to Swan Hill
The morning is spent on the floodplain of the Murrumbidgee River with the highway never far from the river for about 200km. A short drive south from Griffith to Hanwood brings us to McWilliams Wines and its Big Barrel. By the way, what did the contestant of the Griffith Edition of The Bachelor say to … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 6 – The Long Paddock
Today we explore the Riverina area with Griffith as our base. Donald Mackay was an Australian businessman and anti-drug campaigner from Griffith. Concerned about the growing illegal drug trade in his local area, and learning of a large crop of marijuana in nearby Coleambally, Mackay informed Sydney drug squad detectives, resulting in several arrests and the conviction of four men. … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 5 – The Riverina
Today we do another section of the 643km long Kidman Way named after Sir Sidney Kidman (1857–1935), a prominent pastoralist who built a massive cattle empire once owning several properties along this route. At its peak, the company was the largest private landowner in Australia, controlling over 3% of the continent, with over 68 stations and … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 4 – The Kidman Way
A south-west run today through outback New South Wales. Cotton is the major crop around Dirranbandi. Our second visit to the Hebel Hotel – officially opened in 1894 as a Cobb & Co changing station before later commencing operations as a hotel. Outside the pub are a number of old posts; these are the original … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 3 – Good to Go to Goodooga
This morning we head west to Texas (as in Texas, Queensland, Australia). But first a visit to the Big Thermometer at Stanthorpe – do we agree that this is the best Big Thing around these parts? Well, to a certain degree. The Celsius scale was named after Swedish astronomer, physicist and mathematician Anders Celsius who, … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 2 – Deep in the heart of Texas
The state we’re in! After the trials of 2025, the Grey Naumad and the Red Rover are taking to the road again for another journey in this great land for some more grey no-mad-ness. We will take roads less travelled wherever possible. So, we will attempt our first vacation in nearly two years starting in … More The State We’re In 2026 – Day 1 – Down and out through the Downs
Big Apple at Spreyton. I went for a walk last night and there was an Apple pie, Apple strudel and Apple Charlotte on the ground. The streets were strangely desserted. The Big Spud at Sassafras. This guy once had a chip on its shoulder. Despite being skewered in the …. well, I’m not an expert … More Big Things of Tasmania
Another hot day with a beautiful Jacaranda tree at our accommodation. Back on the Newell Highway heading north – my clever co-pilot managed to take a photo without a truck in the frame. We passed through Gilgandra, the Warrumbungles and Coonabarabran to be able to spend time at our major quest for the day – … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Days 48 and 49 – Piliga sandstone caves and back in the Sunshine State
We continue our journey north via the Olympic Highway, Goldfields Way and Newell Highway. Silky oaks were common in town and in paddocks around Gerogery. Morning commercial flights – vapour trails. Impressive old building at a small town called The Rock. It is named after a prominent local peak, The Rock. I just call it … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 47 – The Rock, Elvis and the Temora Tornado
Phone recepion onboard relies on signal from shore so after a couple of hours there is no signal. In the middle of the night, the phone starts pinging as reception from King Island is available for an hour. Then no reception until a few hours from Geelong. This is the Victorian coast sometime around 3am. … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 46 – Picnic at Hanging Rock, Crimes and Vines
