Day 6 - Omeo

A nice quiet night next to the Mitta Mitta river & as we set off this morning only 1km to the village.

The town started with an open cut gold mine which closed down in 1903. We had morning tea at the General Store.

A quick stop at Granite Flat which was also a gold village. Only the Church & cemetery remain. Then onto towards Omeo on an extremely bendy road. It was 108km from Mitta & there were no straight sections!

The road went over a mountain in the Alpine National Park. The highest point was 1,400 metres.

Faye took a photo of the vehicle screen showing the road which was typical of the whole trip. Took over 3 hours. Had lunch alongside a creek.

Tonight staying in a free camp alongside the creek.

This area caters for bike riders with a special park & tracks going everywhere. Took some photos…

Tomorrow onto the Great Alpine road heading south to the coast. Not sure where we will stop - most likely around Marlo where the Snowy River meets the sea.

Day 5 - The Mill Camp - Mitta Mitta

Left Ludlows Reserve around 10.30 & a short 25km hop to Tallangatta where we visited “The Bakery” after giving the Luna a drink at the old railway station.

A nice town on the upper reaches of Lake Hume. Then onto our next camp just outside the village of Mitta Mitta.

The camp is right alongside the Mitta Mitta river. It is flowing fast today - it is downstream from the Dartmouth Dam.

We have spent this afternoon sitting watching the river - it is reasonably hot today. Lots of birds around…

Tomorrow to Omeo….it is only 110km but it is over the mountains & extremely bendy. Said to be safe for caravans but to take it slow.

Day 4 - Ludlows Reserve Lake Hume

Left Bethungra Dam at 9.30am & headed for Junee…

Morning tea was at Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory - a great stop…

Had to buy some of course!!

Then towards Albury…

Along the way found painted water towers at 2 small towns…

Bypassed Albury & across the Murray into Victoria. We are camped alongside Lake Hume at Ludlows Reserve.

Tomorrow the plan is Mitta Mitta - a road & town we have never travelled previously.

Day 3 - Bethungra Dam

A nice night at Lyndhurst and left there at 9.30am with first stop at Maccas Cowra after lots of hold ups at roadworks.

Then through to Cootamundra via Young where we had lunch next to The Captains Walk.

Lots of “Bradman” things around here - the house above was where he was born. The Captains Walk has busts of all the Australian cricket captains. 

Then through to Bethungra Spiral where north bound trains go in circles to gain height. Missed the XPT doing it by 15 minutes.

Nearby is the Bethungra Dam where we are camped for the night.

Tomorrow we will stay somewhere around Lake Hume via Albury.

Day 2 - Lyndhurst

A slow start this morning (we both didn’t sleep very well last night) - left Bylong around 10.30 and through to Rylstone for morning tea.

The Church is the one at Bylong….

Then through to Sofala for lunch.

Gave Izzy a drink at Bathurst - Faye said “No” to another lap around Mt Panorama! (Izzy has done it previously).

Then through to Lyndhurst where we are camped at the Rec ground. Not long after arrival the front glass door on our cooker exploded (the handle had come loose & Ken was trying to open it) and glass went all over the van - took a while to clear & we might still stand on some glass!

Had a look at Carcoar on the way through (photos above). If you watched the TV series Ten Pound Poms - some of it was filmed there.

Tomorrow towards Junee - not sure where we will stay - Bethungra is a possibility.

Day 1 of holiday to Eastern Victoria & South Coast NSW - Bylong

Left home this morning at 9.30am for a 4/5 week holiday. We are travelling down inland NSW to Albury & then across the mountains to Eastern Victoria & then back up the NSW South Coast.

A relatively short day (206km) to Bylong and then tomorrow through Bathurst. Had morning tea at Jerrys Plains & then some back roads to Bylong Valley road to Bylong. Staying at the local sports ground.

Coming this way we had no towns & avoids going via Sydney.

Still an interesting trip with lots of rocks for Faye to photograph….

Tomorrow the plan is somewhere around Lyndhurst.

Day 11 - Willow Tree

The 4 days at Barraba were enjoyable and we had a great site in the Van Park…

Left there around 10am & went through to Manilla for morning tea…

Then through to Werris Creek - via Tamworth - with lunch in the local cafe.

Werris Creek is a “rail” town with a majestic railway station and the Australian Railway Monument.

Next stop was Quirindi to view its painted silos…

Next stop was Willow Tree Freedom Camp where we are spending the night & will be home tomorrow. This is our final blog for this short holiday.

We trust you have enjoyed coming along with us. Our next sojourn will be from mid February for a month down the South Coast.

Also need to record that Faye has taken the vast majority of the photos you see…

Day 10 - Barraba

Lots of storms around last night - and they are currently brewing again this afternoon. A slow start to the day & first stop was to the cafe for morning tea.

Then went to Horton Falls - about 45min drive to the west towards Mt Kaputar National Park. We were told that there was no water going over but decided to check out anyway & there was some water due to the storms each evening. 

The first 3 photos taken in town…

Some white goats resting near the bottom pool.

Then back to town to buy lunch to eat just south of town in the upper reaches of Split Rock Dam.

Back to the van then for an afternoon nap!

Leaving here tomorrow to head towards home - not sure where we will camp but home on Wednesday.

Day 9 - Barraba

It rained much of last night but the sun was shining this morning so proceeded with our plan to do a loop drive via Boggabri & Narrabri then back to Barraba.  We started with takeaway coffee….

A mixture  of bitumen & gravel…

The last 2 photos are of  “Gins Leap”. Do a “google” to read it’s history.

Then had lunch at Narrabri & back through some of Mount Kaputar National Park.

The last 4 photos taken at “Ancient Geological Site Glacial Area”.

Arrived back at Barraba around 4pm. Still staying here tomorrow.

Day 8 - Barraba

A stormy night last night but not too much rain. Was fine this morning so after  breakfast we walked the main street and had morning tea at the local cafe. The bakery is closed for all of January!

Lots of art & murals around - these 2 in the main street…

Lots of small mosaics around…

Noticed that there are lots of empty shops but some nice buildings…

The painted silos are just south of the town…

Then went for a drive to the east of town - past the Woodsreef Asbestos Mine which was a huge open cut mine until it closed in 1983. Just past the mine was the Woodsreef Heritage town which has been demolished except for the church. It was once bigger than Barraba & in the very early days gold was discovered there.

Had to have the first photo as it was the Bank of NSW….cannot find when it closed. Barraba has no banks now - only the Post Office.

Ate lunch as we drove east - doing 2 loop roads that we were told about at the Craft & Pottery shop (and Faye did buy a couple of things).

Then back to the van for a rest…lots of storms around again.