Pam had not seen the GREAT Ocean Rd. in VIC and also wanted to visit her old Home town of Melbourne (Mexican !!) again. We also wanted to do the BARRY Way, beside the Snowy River and check out Katoomba on the way back. Ticking OFF some items in our BUCKET LIST, while we can still drive OK. Parj made Pam a promise of a CRAYFISH meal in Port Campbell, VIC, which was done in EDEN, at $165 for a HUGE cooked crayfish.
We were VERY disappointed that ALL the chairlifts in THREDBO were closed for yearly maintenance, and had MASSIVE delays in Melbourne, due to a Yearly marathon, which kept us stuck in traffic for MANY, Many hours. Thredbo, the Barry Way, Great Ocean Road & Katoomba were a fantastic experience. The PRADO behaved flawlessly, apart from losing "cruise control" by MUD on the sensors.
We want to do as many GREAT road trips in Australia, while Parj is still driving OK and we both have the inclination for the effort involved. Our planning & packing gets better, every trip.
Now let the photos tell the tale :
Home, Bonogin Gold Coast to Boorowa, NSW. (Parj's rels)
Took off in GOOD weather heading South, for our first overnight in Tamworth, NSW. From Tamworth, we continued South West towards Boorowa, NSW, but had to DETOUR via Bathurst for road closures. Went past Mt Panorama motor racecourse, and no problems to Boorowa, where Parj's niece was building a NEW farmhouse up on a hill.
Car packed and ready to GO, Gold Coast, Qld.
View of Mt Panorama Motor Race track.
Taken with Tri-pod, for future practice.
Left house "armed with ALARMS" for security.
Niece Linda + hubby Cav, Pam + Parj.
In Boorowa RSL club, good feed and laughs.
Boorowa to Thredbo, via Canberra. Easy driving in good weather and road conditions. Few cops ?
As we approached Thredbo from Jindabyne, there was SNOW on the peaks, so we were looking forward to some walks in the snow at to TOP of Crackenback Chairlift and drinks at Eagles Nest restaurant. However, yearly maintenance of the Chairlifts prevented this exercise so we drowned our sorrows in the Alpine Hotel PUB. Parj doing the "serving/wenching duties, as usual !!"
Turnoff to Thredbo Village, snow on peaks.
View out of our TOP floor window, Alpine hotel
Lady Pamela "swanning it" at Alpine Hotel.
Pam & Parj drowning their sorrows because the Chairlifts were NOT working
This follows the SNOWY River for some distance, but Parj was sure that the track had been "straightened" or detoured, as he missed some previous lookouts and bridges from past trips. Track was good, despite VERY heavy rain in Thredbo the previous day.
A lookout on Barry Way, South.
Snowy River on left. Track in good condition.
Lakes Entrance to Melbourne.
Lakes Entrance was a nice fishing village and road to Melbourne was Motorway standard. Finding our Hotel was difficult as neither Sat Nav was up to date. We had a dinner date with some friends in Carlton but did NOT get any photos….TOO busy eating and drinking !! Next day, we checked out a house that Pam used to live in, the got caught in MASSIVE Traffic jams, caused by a running MARATHON thru the streets of Melbourne. Were glad to get back to our hotel and drown our sorrows. Then, UNFORTUNATELY Pam got a dose of Flu or Cold which lasted the rest of our trip. This caused her MUCH misery, and later Parj got a milder dose of the same. Neither of us were tempted to Booze to relive our misery/sorrow !!
Fishing Boats, Lakes Entrance, VIC
View of "Lakes Entrance" to sea.
One of Pam's previous houses, in Melb.
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Thousands of Marathon runners, clogging up theMelbourne streets, for HOURS!!! growl.
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From Melbourne, we headed WEST for Port Campbell, via the GREAT Ocean Road.
We had planned to stop at Point Cook where Parj had spent 4 years at the RAAF Officer Cadet School as a young man. However, the RAAF Museum was only open on Sundays and we were denied entry !! Poor Parj, had spent MUCH time running around the Parade ground in Combat gear, doing punishment drills !! Anyway, we were happy to see the GREAT OCEAN Road and its scenic delights….12 Apostles, London Bridge (fallen down) and much more. Were disappointed at Port Campbell as they had NO crayfish. Parj has promised Lady Pamela a crayfish meal, if we made it to here. Got one later in EDEN, NSW.
Somewhere near Torquay, VIC, on the Coast.
Classic photo of PORTAL to Great Ocean Rd.
What can you say ??
<--View of 12 Apostles, longish walk to here !
Port Campbell to Sorrento, on Mornington Peninsula, Road & Ferry.
It wasn't hard to come BACK on the Great Ocean Road, to Queenscliff, where we caught the Car Ferry to Sorrento, saving MUCH time and fuel. At Sorrento, we wanted to travel to the Old Portsea Army base where Parj did "military" exercises for 2 weeks for 4 years, while serving in the RAAF. However, the road into this area was closed and we did not feel like walking several km at our age.
Car Ferry, Queenscliff to Sorrento, cutting off trip around Port Phillip Bay, MANY km.
Old field gun at Entry to Old Army Base, at Portsea. Parj exercised here as young man.
Sorrento VIC to Eden, NSW along the Coast, heading East then North to NSW.
Eden was a VERY lovely town with superb views and a good FISH shop. Parj was finally ably to buy the "promised crayfish" for Lady Pamela, as a reward. Was huge, cooked and $165, from Tassie. We demolished this with pleasure, after de-frosting the cooked cray in hot water. Hard life, Eh ??
View of EDEN harbour, terrific town + views
Pam holding the frozen Cray, before we ate it.
Cost $165, from Tassie, hard to shell/peel !!
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Eden NSW to Katoomba, NSW. (and Hydro Majestic Hotel)
Headed up the Coast to NOWRA, then up the escarpment to Moss Vale/Mittagong. Then North to Penrith and west to Katoomba or the Hydro Majestic at Blackheath ( I believe). The Hydro Majestic used to be a Sydney Lovers hideaway when I lived in NSW. Has been renovated several times since. All I can say now is that the VIEWS from there are still magnificent, but the rooms are TINY and up steep stairs. Bars were OK but meals were excessively expensive, for what was served. Breaky and Location were OK. We spent 2 nites here so as to look at the wonderful scenery in and around Katoomba, including :- 3 sisters, Echo Point, Scenic Railway, Govets Leap and much, much more. There were MANY overseas visitors here as well as MANY "Grey Nomads" like us from Qld. We were quite impressed by the scenery, not quite the GRAND Canyon USA, but nothing to be ashamed of, none the less.
Hydro Majestic Pavilion. Views at rear were great.
Hydro Majestic Hotel rooms & Parking area. Stairs up were difficult with booze/luggage !
Views out of room…GREAT. Bad photo. Rooms were VERY small a BAD stairs up.
Views from rear terrace, off BAR, hard to take, Eh ?
Monument @ Govetts Leap. Parj walked or hiked down this cliff, as a boy scout, 65 years ago.
View from Govetts Leap, waterfall to right.
View of 3 sisters, from Echo Point..
View from outside our room, on pathway.
View from Inside the Scenic Railway, told it was steepest in the WORLD ?? (Switzerland ?)
Photo from Inside the Cable car. The one across the gully/valley was closed today !
Katoomba to Nambucca Heads, then home to Qld.
The roads from Katoomba to Hornsby were all NEW motorways, some worked on by Parj's relatives ? Could not believe how easy it was to EXIT Katoomba and bypass MOST of Sydney traffic. Was Easy going to our favourite Motel, the Miramar, at Nambucca Heads. Great views, good value and right beside the RSL club for FOOD and BOOZE. Excellent meals, highly recommended.
View East, from Miramar motel room.
View South of Nambucca River, hard Eh ?
Home from Nambucca Heads to Gold Coast, Qld.
Was quite uneventful apart from HEAVY traffic when into Qld. This is expected until the roadworks between Brisbane and Tweed Heads are completed. (works in progress forever ?)Home safely, NO incidents, now waiting to see how many TRAFFIC infringement noticed Parj gets in the next 2-3 weeks. Expect a few from Melbourne, doing WRONG "right turns" the silly VICs have to do ??
We are trying to do as MANY car trips in Australia, while Parj is capable of driving (or hold a license) and the two of us are still willing and able to put up with the work involved ? We are now both 80, and still capable of doing ALL that is required:- Moving gear in and out of Motels, driving 500 to 600 km per day, and doing the GENERAL tourist things like looking at views and taking scenic rides. We have booked several overseas trips next year, including :-
Driving around Southern Europe by hire car, for 4 weeks. Will include :- Switzerland and its best Ski Resorts, Grindelwald and Zermatt, ITALY, Croatia, Greece, Italy, France and Zurich.
Visit South Africa and Victoria Falls, by AIR. Too dangerous to drive a hire car. 2+ WEEKS
Visit China, do Yangtze cruise for 4 days then travel around by high speed rail. Flt. Centre.
We still have several outstanding trips to do in Australia, including Hayman Island, Feb 24, and an overland trip to Perth to visit friends and rels, by PRADO 4 wd. Try and fit this in 2024 or 25, if car, body and license are ALL in order. It a HARD life as long as you can take it, Eh? ?
