Merry Christmas to all our Blog Followers

Under the Puhutukawa Tree at Tathra

This is our sixth month on the road in Australia and we are still having a brilliant time – no regrets.

In our time here we have certainly gained a respectful appreciation of Australia’s vastness and her very different climatic conditions. We have become experts in ‘on the road’ maintenance (personal and mechanical) and have a total respect for the motorhome’s many technical features that help make our life comfortable.

We are currently in Canberra having the vehicles serviced and to do a bit of ‘clean up’ on both. They get a bit of a battering on the Australian roads. Our plan is to leave the motorhome in Canberra while we fly to Perth on the 21^st December and spend Christmas 2013 with some of the family. We will return to Canberra on 28 December, pick up the motorhome and continue our journey.

So what are our plans for 2014?

Loosely our plan is to spend the rest of the summer exploring the coastal and inland areas of New South Wales, Victoria and ACT.  We are making a quick trip back to New Zealand in March (our visit just happens to coincide with Beachhop Weekend in Whangamata!!) to check on property and touch base with children and grandchildren.

In early May we will make the journey up the middle. Our start point will be Adelaide and driving north through Port Augusta, Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and on to Darwin – a distance of 3032 km. How long will it take us? With planned stopovers we think it will probably take us six or so weeks. There is plenty to see and it’s not a race so we will take our time.

Once in Darwin we will stay in the area for about two months (perhaps with a wee break in Bali for five or so days). There is so much to see in Northern Territory especially in the numerous National Parks. In late August we will meander our way from Darwin down the east coast of Australia and back around the bottom of Western Australia and across the Nulabor into South Australia. By this time it will probably be around Christmas 2014.

However, like all plans we have no control over what tomorrow may bring. We have learned to expect the unexpected and what will be, will be.

If any of you are planning a trip to Australia and are going to undertake your journey in a motorhome or caravan, we would love to have you tag along with us for part of our journey.

Christmas will not be the same without having the children and grandchildren with us but thank goodness for Skype. As a family we are scattered over the world this Xmas but we will do our best to catch up with everyone.

We would like to thank all our family and friends who are following our travels via the blog. While you may not be close by, we do feel like you are all with us.

Take care everyone and we both wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2014.