The Final Sprint Home

24th May 2025

Distance: 457 Km

Fuel: 45 L

Dubbo to Wollongong

Intended to set off very early today. Once again there was the slight chance of rain so set up wet weather protection. In the event, while it was cloudy most of the day it actually didn’t rain at all.

Not looking forward to today’s drive, it will take me through the Blue Mountains and the outskirts of Sydney on a weekend. I set off before 8am when it was still quite dull.

Lake Windamere told me that I was nearing Lithgow and the Blue Mountains.

Finally the mountains came into view.

Followed by a power stations and some villages.

No photos of the trip through theBlue Mountains but eventually I was in a traffic jam on the M7 – at least the Hume Hwy and home were getting nearer.

I eventually arrived in Wollongong at about 1pm quite exhausted as I didn’t stop at all on the drive, I was that keen to get home I just kept going..

Statistics

Where would we be without some statistics for the trip?

Total Distance travelled: 8671 Km

Total fuel used: 972 litres

Average Fuel Consumption: 11.2 litres per 100km

Total Accommodation Cost: $710

I had a lovely time in Darwin, it was so much fun. I do like Darwin.

Was disappointed that I could not travel the way I had originally intended because of the tremendous flooding in Quilpie, Stonehenge etc. The Aramac to Torrens Creek Road only opened a couple of days before I travelled it. Even on the return journey there was still flooding and road damage in that area so I avoided it.

During the last few days of the trip I really was just intent on getting home so I set longer drives than usual but it was still OK. The cost of accommodation at caravan parks has gone up a lot since Covid with powered sites sometimes over $40 but most were between $33 and $40 per night. Unsurprisingly many caravans could be seen making use of (free) rest areas for the night.

If I visit Darwin again I will fly.

Back in New South Wales

Wyandra to Bourke

22nd May 2025

Distance: 363 Km

Fuel: 54 L

I was up early and had my shower just before the sun came up – I have trouble sleeping after 6am anyway.

Breakfast this morning was one of my remaining porridge servings plus the inevitable coffee before getting ready to leave.

Have to stop in Cunnamulla for fuel, it would possible to get to Bourke without refuelling but it is over 240km with no fuel stops so I feel safer with a full tank.

It wasn’t long before I crossed into NSW. Stopped a couple of times to stretch my legs at rest areas.

One thing that was immediately noticeable was the number of feral goats at the side of the road, so many goats.

Arrived about 1pm at the caravan park, I have stayed here recently on my way back from Mitchell – co incidentally the park is called Mitchell Caravan Park.

Bourke to Dubbo

23rd May 2025

Distance: 384 Km

Fuel: 42 L

Similar to yesterday I was up early and after breakfast was on my way. Set up my wet weather protection in the camper (plastic protecting the bedding) as the weather forecast indicated a slight chance of rain. In the event it was sunny all day.

Stopped briefly in Nyngan.

Then only stopped a couple of times, quite keen to get home now.

As well as plenty of feral goats, the harvest must have been good this year because there were hundreds of cotton bails along the road

Have never stayed at this park before and had great difficulty finding it, the sat nav had it completely wrong, Google didn’t know even though it is marked on Google maps. Eventually got there after much hunting back and forth – have it marked in my sat nav for future reference..

Even Further South

Winton to Blackall

20th May 2025

Distance: 403 Km

Fuel: 44 L

Two fairly long drives for the next couple of days both about 400kms each day. As you can guess this trip is now about getting home.

Left the Winton Wanderers Caravan Park about 8am to drive to Blackall

Stopped in Barcaldine to fill up with fuel at the self serve diesel only tanks.

Didn’t stop at Longreach but passed the Qantas Museum.

Finally saw the Blackall town sign.

Arrived at the caravan park about 1pm and immediately realised I have stayed here before – for some reason I get Blackall and Blackwater muddled up. Anyway set myself up in a nice spot. The place has these new(ish) unisex toilet/shower all in one facilities which are very nice but can fill up at certain times. I am not a fan I prefer separate facilities.

Drove into Blackall to look for fuel even though I only needed about 8 to 10 litres, it is comforting to start each morning with a full tank.

Blackall to Wyandra

21st May 2025

Distance: 405 Km

Fuel: 36 L

Today is once again well known territory.

Stopped at Augathella as I always seem to do, took a few of my usual photos, discovered the pub coffee shop didn’t open for another half an hour so went on my way.

Filled up with fuel in Charleville at another of those self serve diesel only stops, same company as at Barcaldine, must have a look on line to see if they have a map showing all their sites, they are so much cheaper than the regular servos.

The sky started to cloud over and I thought it might rain but eventually the clouds dispersed and the sun came out again.

Went past the wrecked railway bridge at Angellala – a truck carrying fertiliser caught fire and exploded. It wiped out the road and rail bridge, only the road bridge was replaced, the railway line was abandoned.

Wyandra is a funny stop, very rudimentary facilities but only $20 a night behind the post shop.

This will be my last night in Queensland, just two more nights in NSW before I am home.

More Queensland

18th May 2025

Camooweal to Cloncurry

Distance: 332 Km

Fuel: 41 L

Up as usual just after 6am for a shower but not a long drive today so didn’t need to leave until after 9.30am – had a leisurely breakfast and read some of my book before packing up.

The hills surrounding Mt Isa are really nice but soon the town came into view.

Topped up with fuel in Mt Isa then it was on to Cloncurry.

Stopped a couple of times along the way before arriving in Cloncurry. Had to do a U turn after driving past the caravan park entrance.

After setting up had a look around town, I have been here before and remembered visiting the Museum (shut on Sunday) so drove out to Chinamans Dam

19th May 2025

Cloncurry to Winton

Distance: 354 Km

Fuel: 45 L

Left the park about 8am.

Shortly after leaving Cloncurry turned right toward Winton for a pretty uneventful drive, only stopping a couple of times.

Arrived just before 1pm.

The caravan park is a couple of kms outside Winton so drove into town for fuel and a walk around, it hasn’t changed much.

Return to Queensland

16th May 2025

Larrimah to Threeways

Distance: 468 Km

Fuel: 51 L

The wind has been my enemy, the fuel consumption has gone through the roof, headwinds all the way.

Stopped briefly at Daly Waters Roadhouse to stretch my legs, bought a Dagwood Dog to eat as I drove.

Filled up at Elliot at the unattended truck stop – reasonable at $2 a litre. Visited the Elliot WWII Staging Camp.

The rest of the journey was through changing landscape

Finally arrived at Threeways where I paid for a night’s stay.

17th May 2025

Threeways to Camooweal

Distance: 450 Km

Fuel: 91 L

I considered going south from here but the 0° night time temperatures in Alice Springs put me off.

So turning left it was!

One fairly long delay due to roadworks.

First stop was Barkly Homestead for fuel, by then I had less that a quarter tank because of the crosswinds, have made such a difference to fuel consumption, much worse than the last trip to Uluru.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

Checked into the Post Office Hotel Caravan Park instead of the roadhouse, it cost $5 more than the latter, not sure it was worth the extra except that pub was closer.

Once set up spent the evening in the pub. Had a pleasant enough meal there.

Out & About in Darwin

9th May to 15th May 2025

Spent a few days with my son and his fiancé in Darwin where they currently live.

This is my third visit to Darwin, a city I like very much however I have never visited in the wet season, all my visits have been in what you might call the shoulder season when the monsoon has ceased but the crocs have not been moved from some of the tourist swimming spots and the night time temperatures are still on the warm side, however the humidity of the wet season has gone.

This trip was visiting family so tourism was not high on the agenda however I did visit a couple of very interesting museums, the Seabreeze Festival and the WWII tunnels built to store oil and protect it from the Japanese bombing.

The tunnels were first on the list, my son hadn’t seen them before.

The Oil Storage Tunnels

Seabreeze Festival

Over the next couple of days we went to the Aviation Museum and the Military Museum as well as other Darwin social activities.

The Military Museum

The Aviation Museum.

The museum had a B52 decommissioned after the Arms Limitation Treaty with Russia, it was massive.

The Mangrove Boardwalk

Similar to the Jervis Bay Mangrove Boardwalk but with the added attraction of crocodiles (we didn’t see any).

On my final night there we visited the local pub where I had a very nice steak on their Steak Night Special.

Sorry, I ate a bit before I thought to take a photo.

The Top End

9th May 2025

Distance: 502 km

Fuel: 44L

Larrimah to Darwin

Today was basically a drive to the finish. No bookings tonight, am staying with my son and his fiancé. As they don’t get home from work until 4pm (ish) so there is definitely no rush.

Filled up with fuel in Katherine which will get me to Darwin.

The rest of the drive was uneventful, I stopped a couple of times to stretch my legs, as I got further north the vegetation got more lush.

Darwin traffic was just the same as any city.

Arrived at my destination just after 4pm and parked my camper on the grass verge. Then reversed my car into a tree! (I was too busy making sure I didn’t hit my camper.) Put a ding in the tail gate. Ho Hum.

The Pink Panther

8th May 2025

Distance: 467 Km

Fuel: 45L

Threeways to Larrimah

Originally was going to take three stops to get from Camooweal to Darwin but decided to do it in two because the last stop was only a couple of hours drive from the destination.

Today headed for Larrimah Hotel which I had pre-booked through the G’day app on my phone.

Set off about 8am after the usual shower and breakfast. First stop the John Flynn Memorial – he founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Almost immediately came across the cyclists I passed yesterday, I had pulled to the wrong side of the road to overtake a road train when it began to signal and pulled out in front of me as it passed the cyclists, once it had completed that it moved over and I was able to pass.

The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, I stopped to make tea a few times, stopped at Elliot for fuel (at an unattended truck stop). My fuel consumption for the last several days has been exceptionally good with tailwinds making my fuel consumption below 10 litres per 100kms which is better than I normally get just driving the car alone.

Arrived at the Larrimah Hotel at about 1pm, I have to say it is not what I expected from a G’day Parks caravan park, nothing wrong but I was expecting something a bit more up market whereas it was much the same – a roadhouse with older facilities.

Into the NT

7th May 2025

Distance: 448 Km

Fuel: 31L + 20L (from can)

Camooweal to the Stuart Highway

Another fairly long drive today, this might become a habit as I am thinking of reducing a three day trip to Darwin to two days.

Today’s drive is basically from one roadhouse to the next but one along a straight road.

Didn’t want to set off too early because the NT is a different time zone, half an hour later than AEST.

Stopped at the Barkly Homestead (a roadhouse) for fuel.

Came across some cyclists in the middle of nowhere.

Before continuing onto Threeways and the Stuart Highway.

Where I stayed for the night.

To the edge

6th May 2025

Distance: 451 km

Fuel: 46 L

Julia Creek to Camooweal

A long drive today (and tomorrow) so early shower and breakfast. Packed up relatively quickly before setting off.

Another lovely morning with a beautiful sunrise. Pleasant drive through changing scenery.

Only one town to get through today – Mt Isa. At I approached the industrial mining scope of the city became clearer, from a faint smoke smudge on the horizon to the industrial complex.

Stopped a couple of times in rest areas along the way but still arrived in Camooweal at 1pm.

Checked into the roadhouse caravan park, with hindsight I should have tried the pub’s caravan park as I have stayed at the roadhouse before.

Once set up I filled up with fuel then walked down to the pub for a couple of beers and to enjoy their aircon. Apart from the roadhouse and the pub the town has pretty much closed down though there are some tourist attractions nearby.