Ned Kelly tagalong 1st March 2026

 Let's get Away! 50 + Solo camping group Tag a Long organized by Velma Faulkner.

This unusual rock formation is on the right a bit before Dubbo. Had to stop for a photo since my last one is over 10years ago.

Arrived at Panai Ave rest area just north of Dubbo, to stay for the night, there was only one other camper parked up nearby. 

Perfect sun rise this morning.

Velma arrived around 11am at Panai Ave rest area at Tomingley and after our meet and greet and a cuppa we followed to Newell Hwy south. She was driving a holden station wagon and towing a trailer with her camping gear. 

While I was waiting for her, I just so happened to be National cleanup day. the local people did an excellent job picking up all the rubbish.

On the way to Parks, we met up at the Dish.

then continued on to Forbes to park up for the night. 

It was painful to me to watch how Velma unpacks her camping gear. An awning off the side of the car, privacy covers on the internal window, a shower room, table and chair, cooking items unpacked, all being taken out of individual packages, and then in the morning, watch her repack into those individual bags once again. Was this going to happen every night?

Forbes is a lovely town. 

Forbes to Barmedman to check out the Mineral pool and have a shower. It was raining when we arrived, the $1 hot shower was the coldest hot shower I've ever had.

Drive thru Ariah Park, Ardlethan, Grong Grong, Narandera, Gillenibah, 

Tocomwal sits on the Mighty Murray River. it is very busy here.

We stayed the night at Jerilderie to meet up with Kerry who is traveling from Tasmania.

Then Finley, we stayed there 1 night. The girls went on to Glenrowan next, I had been there before, so I continued on thru to Tocumwal then Shepperton. Had a haircut there and lunch then onto Benalla. Stayed 2 nights Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th, in a lovely RV friendly camp near the library.   

The girls arrived back here on the second night.

The girls continued on to Euroa, I headed back to Shepparton where Velma was looking for a place to camp the night. Kerry went on her way to Canberra where she had a house sit.   

Velma couldn't find a decent place to park up for the nigh at Shepparton so she texts me that she had booked into a motel for the next 4 nights. 

So, I thought that was a bit rude, considering she was the organizer of the tagalong. I figure I'd continue on to Greens Lake for 2 nights Thursday and Friday. I had earlier told Velma about Greens Lake, hot showers, flushing loo's, lovely lake not far off the hwy. 

Full Moon shining over the water was beautiful.

It got rather busy by Saturday, I didn't realize it was a long weekend in Victoria. Maybe that's the reason Velma chose to book into a motel for 4 days?

Was her loss, anyway I was a bit disgruntled with her change of plan. I had paid for her and my ticket on the Paddle Steamer for Monday. I didn't now want to wait till Monday as it was only Thursday and why should I hang around after she changed the itinerary. So....

Saturday 7th, I left Greens Lake for Echuca for the Paddle Streamer booking office on the Murray River. I canceled both tickets then decided to do the Paddle Steamer by myself, Velma would have no problems booking another ticket for her Monday cruise. Of course I let her know about the cancelation and that she wouldn't even have to book as it was not busy on this particular Paddle Steamer. 

It was an interesting cruise up the river. there were so many people kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, boating and sitting by the river swimming and relaxing.

I left my phone in the car by mistake so no photos of the Paddle Steamer.

I wanted to follow the Murray on the NSW side to Corawa and stayed 1 night there. It was a great camp spot, many campers there. I found a quiet spot near the bush and had a very good night.

Howlong Camp Sunday, one night stay, a relaxing time on the Murray river, an old stomping ground for me. It was a long weekend in Victoria so there were many local families enjoying a river swim and a few boats about too. later in the day I seem people camping under the bridge and I see a caravan pull up further along the river. I wasn't alone but I feels like it, I had the river and the night to myself. 

Back to Forbes to overnight, it's a lovely town to stay in.

Tuesday 10th I needed a shower so headed to The Rock, on the way to Wagga Wagga, beautiful free hot shower and a good-looking town too.

Jerrys Plains 10th Wednesday night.  I was home on Thursday.

Meet up with Jo on her return from Qland

Griff and I thought it'd be nice to meet Joanne as she returned from her usual winter escape to Townsville Queensland for the winter and to see her army son Riley. 

We met up at Manilla for 1 night.

A good steak was what I needed.

Jo wanted to stay in Tamworth for 1 week as she had some repairs that needed doing to her caravan. We booked into Tamworth trotting club.

There were pancakes for breakfast

When we left Tamworth, our first stop was Wallabadah camp ground.  Next night was at the Murrurundi pub

Camping out back of the pub

I parted with Jo and Griff. Stopped at Burning Mountain for lunch.

I continued on to Gloucester caravan park for a few days on my own.  Griff arrived later that day.

Chloe had not been a well girl for about a week.

Angus had been gravely ill but recovered and was looking his old self.

Was in my old spot once again.

Chloe was so ill the vet advised she be put down. It was very hard to see Griff say goodbye.

We will all miss you Chloe

Took a look at Bulahdelah lions park on the way home.

A few weeks went by then I heard Angus had also passed away.
 

Queensland for winter June/July 2025

At last, I'm heading north on Thursday12th of June to warmer weather, a planned meet up with Joanne and Rose to travel a little bit up the coast road. We will meet for our first night at the Royan Hotel Kew and discuss our next evenings stop. We are not doing a tagalong, just meeting up for the overnight catch ups.  

First night stayed at the Royal Hotel at Kew NSW for one night, Jo had a few drinks. There was a great little store across the roundabout from the pub that sold precooked meals reasonably priced. Rose didn't arrive.

Stopped to Alstonville NSW for 1 night $25.00, Rose caught up with us there.

Jo and Rose convinced me to travel thru Brisbane via the link road, the fee was only $5.80 but the traffic was just amazing, a 4-land bottleneck, never have I see anything like it.

Stopped at Kellinworth Queensland $20 per night for 3 nights with Rose, Jo and Griff, Griff had arrived there a few days earlier. Rose left after one night to head her own way. On the day 3 Griff went south, and Jo and I headed north.

Next stop is Gingin free camp for 1 night.

And of course, Jo meets a traveler who worked at the same place as she out Scone way, That girl! she has a knack for meeting people from her area.

The hippie van's owner was Portugues, traveling to Cairns for winter, he had the longest matted dreadlocks I've ever seen.

 

19th Marlborough Hotel for 1 night, very good $5.00 shower and loo. Large tv screen in the beer garden for state of origan 2, Queensland won the match, a lot of noise coming from the locals, I think, especially as we two were wearing blue shirts.

Kattabul hotel, the 20th I think. was 1-night, free if you buy a drink. We had a very good burger cooked on the bbq even though their kitchen was under repair and not serving food.

We met a lovely traveler named John, we invited him to sit with us for dinner, I think he enjoyed our company.

These two guys had this gigantic fire started fairly quickly. 

Met Major Mitchell, at the Information tourist hot spot at Proserpine. Jo and I had coffee, plenty to look at while resting off the road.

20th June Home Hill, shower, loo, water, dump point, shops, free overnight parking. I said goodby to Jo in the morning. Jo is heading to Townsville to see her son and I am turning west to Dinosaur country.

Giru to Woodstock. the road wasn't too bad, many creeks and one lane bridges but fairly decent considering it's a flood area. This saved me from traveling further toward Townsville. 

21st June Woodstock big grass area free toilets stay 3 nights. I had a very welcome break from driving.

Charters Towers has a Woolies right in the middle of town, I parked easily nearby and enjoyed window shopping.

24th Campaspe River camp near Homestead. Just an overnighter, had toilet, there were 3 other campers already there. The parking area is situated between road and railway but didn't bother me at all.

Hughenden for lunch, wasn't a lot there to see so I continued on.

The road going to Winton was the worst I've been on, it was terrible, throwing the caravan from side to side and up and down.

Pulled in at Confield, just a small campground with toilet, seating and a fireplace for one night. 2 motorhomes pulled in with 2 single women, Adel (grew up on a cattle station) and Lorraine (retired Registered nurse) they parked up near me so they could use the fire so of course joined them ....  Cameron came shortly after, He has been hitchhiking up and down to east coast but now needed to get home as his dog was sick. We watched the sunset together then had a roaring fire, music and dancing, those two girls were much fun with a little bit of the funny stuff and wine.

It was bloody freezing in the morning so ran the heater, can't live without it now.

 

Cameron sleeps in a hammock with a sleeping bag and a tarp over the top. I think...are you sure it's warm enough? I cooked him a Jaffle on the fire and Lorraine cooked sausages to share with all of us. He was such an honest and friendly man.

To Winton, the road was a little better. 

Before I arrived, I booked a half day Red Dirt tour to Lark Quarry Stampede the next Saturday the 28th costing $120.00 Well worth the break from driving 110kls out to the Quarry.

North Gegory hotel is my 2 night's stay @ $15 per night in the centre of town so easy walking for me. The tour will pick me up at Matilda info centre, so I plan to leave the pub grounds early and park up in the street, then have breakfast before 8am as pick up time is 8.30am.

Now for the dinosaurs. check out the other page.

I left Winton at lunchtime after the Red Dirt Tour of the dinosaurs.

Feeling very happy I'd seen them.

Stopped at Macsland rest area for the night, toilets and internet here with plenty of bush camping spots for privacy, about 20ks out of Longreach. There were a couple of campers already here and a few others arrived near and after sunset. I was the last to leave in the morning.

Longreach wasn't that far down the Landsborough hwy. It was Sunday so everything was closed, not the bakery though. I bought a lovely cheesecake.

Drove thru Barcaldine, nothing open there too. Heading south I could see I was driving into a storm. Squarley rain clouds, very black.  

Ended up in Blackall in a camp spot that I've been to before, put the xtrail into 4x4 and slipped and slid into a spot for the night or maybe two, will wait the rain out here, no point getting bogged and not getting out at all.

Well, I did get bogged try to get out in the morning. Many vans tried to leave during the day. Most people were unhappy there was no assistance from the council to assist in getting them out and are refusing to leave the $10 camp fee. I figured it a sure bet that it would be dryer tomorrow. 

I walked the very short walk to town. I found free hot showers in the centre of town. Tomorrow I will park nearby a have a quicky before leaving heading toward Tambo the Teddy bear town.

Pancakes for breakfast in my new frypan.

 In the town of St George I had the best beef and pea pie

It's been really cold especially at last night's stop Augathella. On zero degrees this morning with frost on the ground I left fairly early around 8 and drove most of the day to Nindigully pub and camped the night. I think I'll try and make for home as quick as I can and crank up the air conditioner to high.

My last night was at Muswellbrook showground, I left there very early around 5 am. Couldn't wait to get home. I arrived home safely.