Comfort Inn Deakin Palms Mildura

During the night I heard the continuous rumble of trucks go past on the Sturt Highway, which runs past the Paringa Lutheran Church where we were staying. After yesterday's scenario, with the rough and sometimes non-existant road shoulders plus the traffic, I thought we were going to be in for a tough day.<br><br>However, the good Lord blessed us with a great day and a State Government ...

After another look at Mad Max's Car and Silverton we headed south through the saltbush to Mildura. We were all very excited when we hit border into Victoria. We set up camp on the banks of the very picturesque Murray River and went into town to see a lock and a paddleboat.

... our version of the crack of dawn (roughly 10.00), stopping in Wedderburn to fire up the gas stove for coffee and a slice of Maureen. (Carrie's famous fruitcake is named for the author of the original recipe and has accompanied us on many trips over the years.)<br><br>By lunchtime we had reached Wycheproof, but with happy memories of too much cake, no one felt much like eating. Instead we turned to Mount ...

... family photo, although we were missing the members lazing about on the beach in QLD. Mum and Dad made thier nightly speech that only I was actually listening to I think as others started up conversation and with horror we discovered that the tatoos we had so cleverly put on our faces of the Australia flag wouldn't come off for 3 days in which we would look hugely patriotic. I must say though that ...

Departed Melbourne for Hattah-Kulkyne National Park at 8AM, we arrived at our campsite about 3:30 and were greeted by a group of apostle birds. We then found a way through a dense stand of redgum saplings that were on the old lake shore and went for a walk on the lake ...

... fish in a place where neither of us speak the language and we don't know where we're going. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to. 70% of the excitement is planning The planning is always an exciting part of any trip. Researching the destination, filling the pages of my guidebook with post-it notes and dreaming about what I'm going to do is all a huge part of my travel process. I love to be across it all before I go and have a rough itinerary and list ...

Greetings, We have moved on from Melbourne and are heading for fruit picking country. Our first stop is Shepparton, Victoria. Sunday, we stopped to visit Marg and Alan in nearby Benalla, some friends of Wendys. Wendy worked for Marg at the Emu Motel in Tasmania and has kept in touch over the years. Our intention was to keep heading for Mildura Victoria. Mildura is a large grape growing area on the banks of the Murray River ...

... is like a ghost town most of the time, especially on Saturday afternoons as most shops close at lunchtime. There is a shopping mall just outside of the town on the way to Irymple which has most of the big shops and a supermarket and is the main place to go if you have some time to kill. First night I end up going out drinking in Mildura with some of the people in the hostel. We go to O'Malleys, an Irish bar (what else!) which is to become ...

Gps 34 12. 474s 142 08.198e so we didn't get to see much of renmark itself but what we did see was lovely- the riverside views were enough to keep us happy and last nights sunset was beautiful but we are moving on to mildura today - a similar sort of place on the banks of the murray - very popular with holidaymakers apparently - and it takes us a little further towards our next big target - Sydney which we should reach in time for the Australia day ...

... Kulkyne? National Park. Saw ranger - he gave us directions for a good free camp on the banks of the Murray River. On our own except for a couple of campers around the river bend. Magic spot - birds amazing. Sausage casserole from home. 12V, gas & porta-loo. Wash in the red dish. Early to bed. Warm, just sleeping bag open.