Mount Buffalo has a number of granite mountains and tors atop a massive mountain of granite. There is a 36km steep winding road to the top. Slow trip up the mountain – the Bright area is a haven for hard core cyclists. Next weekend is the Mount Buffalo Classic race to the top so we … More The Australian High Country 2018 – Day 4 – Mount Buffalo

A morning visit to the the Bellview Hill Lookout provides views over Cowra and surrounding farmland. It’s very dry in this district. A jet heading away from Canberra. The best house in Koorawatha, south of Cowra. Young is the cherry capital of Australia – sadly cherries are not in season so we did’t even get … More The Australian High Country 2018 – Day 3 – Cowra to Bright

Before we left the motel, another visit to our dear friends. Eastern rosellas were active in the paddocks in the early morning fog. We had a quick look around Armidale for the local Federal member but everyone was tight lipped. These wooly locals called out Baa-naby to no success so they went for a munch … More The Australian High Country 2018 – Day 2 – Armidale to Cowra

On the road again….can’t wait to get on the road again! This time south to the Victorian alpine areas and Kosciusko National Park (and some places in between). Cunningham Highway near Maryvale The Big Apple at Thulimbah near Stanthorpe – decent job with the streaky skin. One of the mysteries of the Granite Belt – … More The Australian High Country 2018 – Day 1 – Home to Armidale

We are definitely in country music territory. The music blaring out at last night’s dinner nearly gave me indigestion but in Tamworth you have to embrace it or leave town. We left town. Another big thing ticked off my chook food bucket list. This mega-bird was in Moonbi at the base of the New England … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 31 – New England Tableland

Another cold start, another frosted car. Minus 2.5 in Dubbo this morning and it was still only 2 dregrees at 10am in the shade. We had a quick look around town at some older buildings – one dating back to 1851. The Warrumbungles beckon from the Newell Highway. We turn off at Tooraweenah and take … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 30 – The Warrumbungles

A cold night in Hay, down to  minus 2.3 degrees. The car was frosted so I moved it into the sun to thaw. it was still 2 degrees in the shade at 10am when we left town. Ice crystals on the windows Ice patterns on the windscreen Superb blue wrens were active in the trees … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 29 – Hay to Dubbo, the Mid-West

Mildura is a huge agricultural area. They grow mostly table grapes but there are still wineries in the area. Oranges and grape vines go on for kilometres in places. Local produce from a farm roadside stall. Hand picked tangelo from Orangeworld. Lots of grapes Stanley Wines tanks. The confluence of the Darling and Murray Rivers … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 28 – Wentworth to Hay – never astray

A trip to Lake Mungo takes a U-turn when we get a flat tyre. We retreat to Mildura and a tyre dealer. After organising for a new tyre that has to be shipped from Melbourne, we head for the wharf and a paddle-steamer tour on the PS Melbourne. As the Minnow had trouble with the … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 27 – The Murray River

We woke to a cold foggy day in Clare. It didn’t get above 8 degrees until lunch time. Our accommodation has resident alpcacas. The one at the front was a bit grizzly because he hadn’t had his morning coffee. His name was Alpacino. The beautiful Clare Valley. Bird life was prolific in the morning. Adelaide … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 26 – Sturt Highway

Port Augusta is still arid but on our way to Clare, the country changes dramatically to a glorious green. It also started raining about Port Pirie and hasn’t stopped since. A trip out to the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens is a pleasure. The grounds have a fantastic mix of arid zone plants from three states. … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 25 – Back to the green

Coober Pedy to Port Augusta is 542km with two roadhouses and two Rest Areas (with toilets). The landscape is characterised by treeless plains of saltbush on the top of the jump-up country. The entry to the Lookout Cave Motel Sunrise on the hill above our unit The edge of town looking north to The Breakaways … More The Red Centre – Winter 2017 Day 24 – The great Australian loneliness