Mozzies Around Australia: July 2022

Day 104 Mildura to Bendigo

We're home. Stage 1 of the adventure completed. Now its just a week of cleaning up everything, servicing the car and caravan and getting ready to go again before we move to the eastern Loop.

Western NSW and Queensland ,up to the gulf and finishing with week on Fraser Island.

Overnight stops along Stage 1 of our trip.

Day 103 Maslin Rest Area to Mildura

Well we had a big day all round to day . Today we completed the western circuit of our adventure when we arrived in Port Augusta this morning . Its been 17,000 km and nearly 4 months since we passed this way last time. We have seen and done so much that we hope to tell about in the days and months to come.

Port Augusta Welcomes us back

Across the river again at Renmark

Its also a big day km wise as we did end up getting to Mildura after a long day behind the wheel . I knew we were getting close to home as the temperature was dropping and the grey clouds were appearing. As we got closer to Mildura , the rain got heavier and the temperature got lower.

Pulled up for the night at a caravan park - was nice to ahve the heater and the luxury of a longer shower.

Sunny Mildura

Tea at the pub tonight and homeward bound tomorrow.

Day 102 Coober Pedy to Maslin Rest Area

Today was another travel day as we head towards home . It was about a 400k day and we found yet another great free camp. It is only now we are seeing a few animals around - kangaroos for the first time in weeks along with a few emus .

This part of South Australia is very sparse and has a desert like quality about it where you can look out and not see a tree for miles then it changes quickly to grazing land and the trees are back. There are a few salt lakes on the way through and we stopped at Lake Hart as it is one of the biggest. Nice photo opportunity.

Originally we were planning to stop at Woomera for the night and check out the missile park and the museum but the museum wasn't open on the weekend so there was no real reason to stay. Woomera is still a working RAAF base and there are plenty of things on display that they use for blowing up stuff.

Our rest stop was round 100km north of Port Augusta and it was the best night sky we have had for a while. It was also a great night for a fire with plenty of wood around,

Maslin Rest Area

Day 101 Agnes Creek to Coober Pedy

Left early this morning as we wanted to get into a free camp close to town in Coober Pedy. Its next to the Old Timers Mine and Museum and is very popular . We arrived about 11am but it was very windy and so it was like a spaghetti western where you had no greenery and plenty of dust blowing around. The camp area was a dust bowl so parked behind another van already in to get some protection. Once settled headed off to check out the place - full of very interesting characters but also lots of opal shops . Lots of variations in price so if you're interested shop around. We choose to do the Old Timers Museum which includes an opal shop, mine and an underground house . Originally belonging to a fellow called Rod Gough , it has now been upgraded and turned into a very interesting museum giving you a good insight into the history of the area.

Up on top of the hill just near our camp , there is the Big Winch and the " a Tree" . Both have stories attached to them along with a great view over Coober Pedy.

Our final stop was to visit "Crocodile Harry's Place. This is a bit out of town and some of the Mad Max movies have been filled in this vicinity. Crocodile Harry was a bit of a local legend and with his death, they have left everything as it was ( more or less) and you can go and have a look through the place.

We only spent the one night in Coober Pedy but there is more to do and see such as bus tours out to the mines and of course Faye's house . Faye was a pioneer of the area and dug her house out in the early 70's. She had the original opal shop and I do remember visiting her place when I was there as a 14 year old.

Very interesting spot to visit.

Coober Pedy Landscape

Day 100 Uluru to Agnes Creek free camp SA

Left Uluru and headed back along the Lasseter Highway ( Red Centre Way). Today is just a travel day so back to the Stuart Highway at Eldunda and onto a free camp as we make our way to Coober Pedy.

Our stop for the night was called Agnes Creek . This is quite a popular spot about 100kms north of Marla but lots of room and a good place to pull up.

Tomorrow Coober Pedy.