Broken Hill, NSW - Renmark, S.A. 13/2/12 - 27/2/12



Map of our route from Lightning Ridge, Nth NSW through to Mildura, NW Victoria. You will need to enlarge to see the detail.

After travelling through towns which were established by the mining industry we now enter the riverland region, where vineyards and orchards are the main industry.



WENTWORTH




After leaving Broken Hill we spent 3 nights at a couple of rest areas on our way to Wentworth arriving on 16th February.  The caravan park here, was right next to the Darling River so the river was our new front yard only a few meters from our door. We intended to stay here 1 night but as it was such a lovely place we extended it another 2 nights. Well worth it.

Wentworth is located at the junction of Australia's two great rivers, the Darling and the Murray. Capt Charles Sturt, the explorer, arrived at this point where the caravan park is located, on 23rd January 1830. He hoisted the Union Jack amongst the great river red gums. He may have even pitched his tent at the caravan park (maybe on our site). Huge river red gums are very impressive and many are hundreds of years old. Most of them were felled by European settlement for building boats but they made good fuel for the steam engines that powered the paddle steamers which ran up and down the rivers in the 1800 - early 1900's.

Wentworth houses the paddle steamer 'PS Ruby' , built 1907 which has been restored to working order. This is a fairly small township, with only a few shops.

We visited the Perry Sand Hills a few kilometers out of Wentworth. These are big sand dunes where we both enjoyed having fun (they weren't quite as big as what we expected, compared to N.Z. ones). The sand was scorching hot, hence shoes had to be worn. A couple of huge gum trees have been half buried by the shifting sands. These sand hills have been used in filming desert scenes.

River Red Gum tree 1/2 buried

Where's Wally?

Riding our bikes around, we went to the area where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet and ended up getting sharp thorns in our tyres when we attempted to ride down a track which follows the narrow neck of land between the two rivers. (Not a good idea) Carol's bike had one puncture, but Nigel's had 6 in the front tyre and 2 in the rear. So the next day was spent finding,

Junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers

repairing and removing those nasty thorns. We will think twice now before riding on bush tracks.

The caravan park had a couple of spare kayaks lying around so we took them out and paddled for a couple of hours around the rivers, going from the Darling into the Murray. Had to stop when Carol developed a blister. Great fun though as it gave us a different perspective from the river.

MILDURA - 19th February

Mildura was our next stop, 33kms from Wentworth, where we stayed for 4 nights at the Buronga Caravan Park across the other side of the Murray River in NSW. We felt we were almost home as Mildura is in Victoria and we could listen to Neil Mitchell on Melbourne's 3AW radio station.  We had a lovely grassy site, a bit more upmarket than what we have been used to. Again it was right on the river.

Mildura Campground

Houseboats on the Murray River

There were a lot of houseboats on the river, many of them waiting to be hired. Weather has been great, around 30 deg and no rain since we Lightning Ridge, weeks ago. On Tuesday, 21st Feb, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday (pancake day) by indulging in several pancakes smothered with passionfruit and cream. Yum Yum!!!!

'Lovely pancakes'

We decided to buy a double kayak while here. We wanted to get one before leaving Melbourne but weren't sure if we would use it. The roof racks were left on the car just in case we found something. As our kayaking up in Wentworth was a lot of fun we realised we probably would make use of one on the many rivers, creeks and lakes we came across on our travels. The kayak was bought from a manufacturer who specialises in building fibreglass boats. It was a good deal as paddles came with it. Also while here, we bought some good lightweight walking boots for hikes we plan to do during our journey.

While biking around the river, unfortunately, Carol came off her bike. She was looking at the scenery and rode straight into a metre high wooden post that had been stupidly cemented right in the middle of the track. Not very visible and placed around a corner. We couldn't see what purpose it served as it wasn't at the beginning of the path. She went over the handle bars and ended up in the scrub right by a tree. Fortunately we were wearing our helmets as she hit her head. The only injuries she had was a grazed and bruised knee and a sprained wrist which she has had strapped up and is getting more stronger every day. It certainly could have been a lot worse. We were able to ride back to the park but I think she was still in shock. She will be more cautious from now on and keep her eyes on the track in front of her. Sorry, no photo on this one.


RENMARK

We left the pleasant City of Mildura on Thursday 23rd Feb and headed west to Renmark, just over the border into South Australia. Before crossing the border we had to stop at the fruit fly check point and have the car and caravan searched for any fruit and vegetables we had with us. We knew this was coming up so we spent 3 hours cooking up all our fruit and veges so they didn't go to waste. Hence we had vege patties, mashed potatoes and apple and pear crumble for the last 4 nights. At least we haven't had to think about what to have for dinner. We would be fined $600 is anything was found.

Renmark is another Murray River port. Quite a nice town (even has Target) and as like the other ports has lots of houseboats sitting on the river. There was a great free camping spot here, right next to the river, at Plushs Bend. It was so picturesque and also had a flushing toilet that we stayed there for 5 nights. Unfortunately, being a free camping spot we had no power, so we sweltered in the heat with 4 days being between 36-38 deg each day, getting down to 25-30 deg at night, with no breeze to cool down. Our little 12v fan was worked overtime even though it just moved hot air around.

Nigel standing on a sandbank in Murray River (cooling off)

One thing the hot weather made us do, was to go swimming in the muddy brown Murray River. Carol wouldn't normally have gone for a swim in the muddy river but found it not too bad. It was one way to cool off even going in before bed. We befriended a lovely couple while here, Bob and Judy and dog, Jack. Also, we met a young French boy, probably in his twenties, who was living in his car while working at the orchards picking oranges during the day. His car was all he had. Imagine it in the heat we experienced. He had been staying here since January and was saving to travel around Australia. We met two young French girls doing the same thing but they only stayed one night. They were in search of harvesting work and were finding it hard.

maiden voyage

It was here that our kayak had it's maiden voyage, minus the breaking of the champagne bottle over the bow. It held us well and up to expectations with the two of us paddling in unison. We think we will get much enjoyment from this little craft in the coming months. Carol did her best, even though she couldn't put full force through the water because of her injured wrist. On a 38 deg day, we must have been mad to ride our bikes into the town but we needed to recharge our computer, so headed straight for the Information Centre, where we knew it would be cool and air-conditioned. On our return we stopped at MacDonalds for a well needed milkshake which was welcome and sipped very slowly.  A swim in the river was also enjoyed on getting back.

Campsite from river (true colour)

Looking down river

We had our first view of a koala in the wild just up from our caravan. So much better seeing them out of enclosures. They camouflage very well in the gum trees. (Would have liked to have photo of koala  but it was deleted by mistake). A change in the temperature came on our second to last night and dropped to the low 20s, with welcome rain (our first rain for 5 weeks). What a great relief as we became very tired of the continual heat and not being able to cool down. We thought we would have been having these temperatures up in Northern NSW but have experienced them down south in South Australia.


Our last night here we enjoyed a lovely calm serene evening eating our meal under the awning. Nigel took advantage of it by taking the kayak out on his own to enjoy the peace out on the River. It is now 27th February.

Lovely view at sunset looking up river

We have had excellent word back from home that things are going really well and Mike is doing a fantastic job looking after the property and everything for us. It was even mentioned the pool was sparkling and our cat is being looked after very well (maybe too well, as one day all 4 people fed him and he obviously didn't complain).

From here we will be travelling through the Riverland area following the Murray River and branching off to experience the Barossa Valley which is well known for it's wineries and from there, probably heading over to the Yorke Peninsular bypassing Adelaide, (as we have been there before), and then on to the Flinders Ranges.

TO BE CONTINUED