JEEP TRIP, Newcastle, Canberra, Thredbo, home						file=ACTsnowy.htm
Introduction
Having just bought a Jeep, we decided to
give it a bit of a test run to Newcastle and
the Stockton Dunes, then visit Canberra and
do some museums and culture centres, then
a quick trip to Snowy mtns and see how the
Jeep handles some steep fire trails, near
Thredbo, Tom Groggin, and Mt. Pinnibar.
I also wanted to look up some old RAAF
mates near Nelson Bay, close to the dunes
at Stockton. These guys used to fly Mirages
from the Williamtown airbase, then retired to
the beautiful Port Stephens area.
Yollie was kept busy by attending year end
dancing displays by her grandkids, who put
on a great display of tap at Warners Bay.
Packing	Since we were not camping, the
packing was relatively easy. There was no
need for the large amounts of space req'd
by tents, tables & chairs, food, cookers etc.,
and everything fitted in easy, including the
2 long MaxTrax, used for getting out of bogs.
The dune flag, with skull and x-bones was
the longest item, but fitted in well  in the boot.
The 40 lt., Engel fridge, even had a power point in the back, which was very handy.
With the rear seat removed, the 2-door Jeep Wrangler had plenty of space for such travel modes.
I had expected I may have needed  roof racks, but this proved to be un-necessary, thankfully.
Trip Narrative		The first leg from Tewantin to Warners Bay/Newcastle was via the New
England Hwy, and was un-eventful. The Jeep was very comfortable on the highway, with great seats,
heaps of power, good steering and brakes and a very good cruise control. (had incremental speed
setting adjustments, very handy)   Found a comfortable motel beside the lake at Warners Bay, which
provided a good base for 3-4 days. Yollie was kept busy with her grandkids, and Parj used the
opportunity to visit Stockton Dunes, RAAF base Williamtown and some old RAAF mates who had
retired to the Nelson Bay area...a very beautiful part of NSW.
					Twin seat Mirage trainer, well known to my
Machi and Mirage at RAAF fighter museum.					RAAF mates, who helped create this display.
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My visit to Stockton Dunes, just North of Newcastle, was hurried and disappointing. The dunes area
had been closed, so only a run along the beach was available. I had wanted to see how the Jeep
handled the dunes, which I had visited previously with the Dune Buggy club. Will go again, if & when
they re-open the dunes area. Also, it is best to do this in company with other vehicles, not alone.
Entry to Dunes area and beach. Nice shady spot					Not much traffic on the beach, apart from
to let the tyres down to 15-18 psi, which takes time.					some fishermen and quad bikes.
Handled the soft sand well, never a problem.					Even Yollie, who took this photo, was OK.
The RAAF veterans, there is some heavy					Soldiers Point, tame Pelicans being fed.
rank in this picture. Lovely view & lunch.					I used to know and enjoy this area as well.
Also caught up with an old mate from my University college, now hermitting in secluded bushland,
just west of Warners Bay. He used to be a vet, but is now retired away from the city bustle.
After all the activity in the Warners Bay, Newcastle, Stockton Beach and Nelson Bay area, we
started heading for Canberra, via Bathurst and Cowra, missing most of the Sydney traffic.
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North entry to Stockton Beach, Anna Bay.					View platform in Blue Mtns area, nice.
Another Blue Mtn view, spectacular.					Japanese Gardens, Cowra, well done.
After Cowra Japanese gardens, we headed on to Canberra.  We stayed at the Pavilion motel, near
the city centre, which had been reduced from $225/nite to $100/nite by a friendly Yank receptionist !!
Must have been the December "quiet" period or perhaps the Yanks much admiration of my Jeep.
Parj in front of Centurion Tank, I believe ?					Magnificent War Memorial, superbly done.
The "original" Jeep, 1941 model vs my 2014.					View from War memorial to Parliament house
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Parliament House, next PM perhaps ??					Inside view of house, from visitors gallery.
The famous Telstra tower, on Black Mtn.					Yollie feeding birds in walk thru aviary.
Marvellous tourist site, very well done.
We were very happy with Canberra, much to be proud of and see. Then wanted to head south to
Thredbo, using an inland route west of the Monaro hwy, which I had used before on some ski trips.
Kept getting lost, getting out of Canberra, despite a good Sat Nav, maps and Yollie navigating.
Ended up back on the Monaro hwy, via Cooma, Jindabyne and Thredbo. I had been skiing at Thredbo
since 1964, rating this the best slope in Australia and New Zealand. After they had installed the
snow making blowers, it made skiing from top to bottom possible for longer periods of time and made
the lift queues shorter. I must mention getting a Nastar Gold medal for downhill racing about 1980-81?
This was after rigorous training with my business partner, an ex Wallaby, for 2-3 months beforehand.
We always stay at the Thredbo Alpine hotel, which is very handy to the chairlifts. Not far to walk
with heavy skis after a hard day, and reasonable food, bar and parking. Terrific views of the slopes.
View of ski slopes, Thredbo, from the road from					View from the top of Crackenback chairlift
Jindabyne. Best ski slopes in Australasia.					at Eagles nest, looking at Basin T-bar.
					This is also the walk to Mt Kosciusko.
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Yollie at Eagles Nest. Good restaurant and views.					Looking down on Thredbo, from top of lift.
Map of ski trails, bottom of chairlift.					View from hotel room, Thredbo Alpine hotel.
Near Tom Groggin campground, approaching					View of Murray river ford. Water was flowing
Murray river ford to Victoria.					fast but not too deep to cross.
Showing tree blocking river exit. Didn't have					View of Thredbo Alpine hotel, very close to
my chainsaw to clear this, so turned back !					chairlifts, with good facilities.
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Leaving Thredbo, we wanted to test the Jeep in steep fire trails in the Snowy mtns, leading up to
Mt Pinnibar on the Victorian side of the Murray river crossing. The ford, near the Tom Groggin
campground, was flowing fast about knee/thigh height which would have been OK. However, on the
exit side, a large tree had fallen down (maybe helped by a farmer?) blocking the exit. I didn't have my
chainsaw with me, so we had to change our plans, and travel home via good roads. Had a bit of
trouble turning around in the middle of the river, in the loose, wet gravel. Could have gotten worse.
Headed home via Tumut, Gundagai, Parkes, Narrabri, Inverell, and home, skirting west of Brisbane.
Murray 1 Power station, Snowy Scheme.					Penstocks leading to Murray 1.
Radio telescope at Parkes. The film showing					Peak Hill gold mine, recently abandoned.
many aspects of astronomy, is worth seeing.
The trip home was un-eventful, although many servos and restaurants had closed for the X-Mas hols.
We had wanted to take some inland tracks, west of the New England hwy., but were concerned
about getting food and fuel, so we stayed on mostly good roads.
Avoided Brisbane, heading north, via Warwick, Gatton, Esk and Kilcoy.
Conclusions		Its quite worthwhile to do some motor touring in Australia. We had a good
reason this time in catching up with friends and relatives, as well as testing the new Jeep. The new
Jeep was surprisingly satisfactory, bearing in mind the Yanks "throw away after 3 years mentality".
I was quite impressed with the build and quality, especially the TipTronic auto transmission, engine
power, brakes, steering and instruments. Many useful and worthwhile gadgets including :- Tyre
pressure indicators on dash, Head light height adjusters, inside for load variations, the excellent AC
and audio systems, and so on. A very good, well built car, will be a worthwhile replacement for my
Beach Buggy and 4WD Pathfinder. Looking forward to Simpson Desert, Cape York, and coming back
to Stockton Dunes, if and when they re-open.
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