Ballarat

14th September 2026

Distance: 308 km

No rush this morning as we only had 300km to drive to Ballarat so after a lazy breakfast my daughter went to get fuel. She discovered her fan belts were squeaking so there was a change in urgency.

Fortunately she found a mechanic who tightened the belts almost without any wait so all was once again sweetness and light and we set off for Victoria.

The rest of the journey was uneventful, we stopped at Hamilton for lunch, probably a mistake as it was very busy and we should have stopped a bit later at Dunkelp a much smaller town only a little further on.

It was noticeable that Victorian roads (at least those we travelled on) were in a very poor condition compared to those in NSW and SA. They were full of potholes.

Arrived at the NRMA Holiday Park in Ballarat about 4pm and set up on two adjacent sites not far from the amenities block. After a bit of a chat decided to stay three nights, so an extra night was booked.

15th September 2026

Distance: Walking only!

Sovereign Hill

When we checked in to the caravan park the girl at the desk told us that Sovereign Hill was only a short walk away, Looking it up on Google maps it is indeed a mere 600 metres so just after 9.30am we set off through the back gate of the caravan park.

I wore my warmest feather jacket as the top temperature forecast for today was only about 11°

We arrived at the entrance to the park a few minutes before 10am and joined a small crowd assembled outside. There were already two coach loads of school children assembled and more arrived while we waited. They had their own entrance and as we had pre-purchased tickets we were nearly the first to enter.

I had been before some years ago but it has expanded a lot since then and seems more popular than ever.

We had a really fun day, saw many demonstrations/re-enactments, travelled into the workings of the gold mine, rode in a horse drawn carriage, had a Devonshire tea, an excellent sausage roll, my daughter even panned for gold and found some!

Amazingly we didn’t leave until nearly 5pm, there was so much to do, as I say it was a really good day out.

16th September 2026

Distance: 32 km

Fuel: 37 L

It was very cold this morning, I ended up wearing my big jacket and gloves, it took ages for my fingers to warm up.

We had few plans today other than visit Lake Wendouree – the site of water sports for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. (canoeing, kayaking, rowing)

Our first stop was a shopping centre near the lake to get milk and other odds and ends plus a warm jacket for Katie. Because it is supposedly spring all the winter clothes had gone so there was little choice.

We then drove the couple of kms to the lake to see the Olympic rings etc. Because it was a miserable day we didn’t stay too long.

Following this we drove to Ballarat Vintage & Collectables Market just out of town, it was an interesting place to look around though it is sad to think that records and DVDs are now collectable items.

Filled up with fuel on the way back to the caravan park before returning to my book until dinnertime. While it rained overnight it didn’t actually rain today even though it looked like it might at any moment.

17th September 2026

Distance: 407 km

Fuel: 41 L

Into NSW

We are on the move today to Jerilderie in NSW. After breakfast. packing up and preparing to leave was the order of the day. Once I was hitched up we were ready to go. As Katie reversed out of her spot she noticed a puddle of oil left on the concrete. Not a good sign.

We stopped at a town called Elmer and using my tarpaulin she crawled under the the car to see where the oil was coming from. Turns out it was from the engine rear seal and not an insignificant problem.

After a bit of discussion is was decided to abandon the trip and return to Canberra from Jerilderie. We changed our route slightly so that we could buy some oil in Shepperton to keep the engine topped up.

We stopped at the Big Strawberry for a strawberry ice cream (of course) and at some Silo Art we saw by the roadside.

Eventually arrived in Jerilderie just before 4pm, filled up with fuel before going to the caravan park and set up our camp, unfortunately we didn’t have adjacent sites but were very close.

Spent a very pleasant few hours at the next door sports club where we had a few drinks and a very large meal which I could not finish.

18th September 2026

Distance: 430 km

Back to ACT

Sadly this was to be the last day of our trip for the reasons outline above. So it was a straight drive east until we hit the Hume Highway then heading north to the Barton Highway and Canberra. We stopped once at a village just outside Gundagai to make tea and take a rest from driving.

While it was disappointing that we didn’t achieve what the trip originally set out to do, we had a very enjoyable time, it was a good shakedown trip for the new home built motorhome. Even I have at least one thing I want to change on my camper when I get home.

We still have the Oodnadatta Track to conquer on another adventure!

Statistics

Distance Travelled: 3500 km

Fuel Used: 350 Litres

Average Fuel Price: $2.50/L

Total Fuel Cost: $880

Accommodation Cost: $360

Starting a Winter Trip

Distance: 610km
Fuel: 62L

The first few days of this trip were spent in Canberra visiting my kids. On the way I stopped at Lake George to see if it had any water left as from the road it seems to mainly contain sheep. From the lookout there was a little water in the distance.

As for my vehicle it looked much the same too.

What about this trip?

My daughter and I hope to visit Camerons Corner, the place where the borders of NSW, Queensland and South Australia join. The success of this trip relies on the weather. Particularly the lack of rain.

Her car is a Suzuki Jimny a very small four wheel drive, she and her husband do a lot of camping so she is well equipped with swag, sleeping bag etc. The car is equipped with a very sophisticated awning that covers nearly three sides of the car.

The first day of our trip was from Canberra to Narrandera, slightly over 350 kms. We only stopped briefly in Junee just for a snack and to stretch our legs so we arrived at the camp site just after 3pm.

Rather than cooking we went to the local RSL for a very nice meal, refueled the car and, after a chat, to bed.

18/19th May 2018–Canberra & Home

18th May

Distance: 225 Km

Only a couple of hundred k’s to travel today to my daughter and son in law’s house in Canberra. My last chance to see them before they go to Europe for a six week holiday.

The scenery changed from the flat plains to rolling hills as I went south toward the Hume Highway. Didn’t stop in Boorowa because it was too early for coffee in the end I didn’t stop until I reached my destination.

19th May

Distance: 277 Km
Fuel: 51 L

Canberra is cold at night. There are a lot of nice things to be said about Canberra but its climate is not one of them.

Spent the morning with the kids then set off after lunch so they could continue their packing and travel preparations in peace.

Arrived home at about 5pm.

Statistics for Trip

Total Distance: 7905 Km
Total Fuel: 824 L
Length of Trip: 26 Days
Total Fuel Cost: $1205
Average Fuel Price: $1.46/L
Total Accommodation Cost: $723
Average Park Cost: $28.96

Summing up

Good trip – saw just about everything I expected or wanted to see and I enjoyed every minute of the trip. Love travelling inland Australia; there is nowhere in the world like it. Apart from the miserable weather near Ravenshoe on the way up the weather for the whole trip was near perfect; warm sunny days and, even in NSW, dry (cool) nights.

On occasions found towing a bit of a nuisance because it meant that in some towns or places of interest it was not possible to park or turn round. Would still use the camper for longer trips but for shorter trips am definitely thinking of going back to my tent with the option of the odd motel stay.

I don’t think I need a powered site because the solar panel on the car roof, together with the aux battery, seems to run the fridge easily with some power to spare. During the whole trip the fridge was never plugged into the mains power at all yet the battery remained fully charged or nearly so. We shall see, when spring comes I might give it a go again, I always liked camping.

25th November – Canberra

After one night at Batemans Bay (there really is nothing there unless you like fishing or boating) drove up the Kings Highway to Canberra via Braidwood and Queanbeyan to spend a couple of nights with my daughter and her husband. Arrived Friday afternoon

On the Saturday made a brief trip into the centre of Canberra to visit the National Portrait Gallery which I had not seen before – the paintings used to be housed in Old Parliament House. Finding a parking space in the Parliamentary triangle was hell but eventually managed to find one right next to Lake Burley Griffin.

After visiting the gallery walked beside the lake and then visited Magna Carta Place next to the old Parliament House Gardens.

As you can see the day was a beautiful sunny day however in the evening the heavens opened and hail and rain poured down. We were going to Belconnen on the other (northern) side of Canberra. Until the Woden turnoff the rain and hail continued when, just as suddenly as it started, it ceased and the roads were suddenly dry.