Greenhill Reserve, Aarat Vic

Long weekend camping in the Van for only the 2^nd time and “off grid for the first time. Intended to camp around Mount Cole Vic until we come across several “road closed” signs unfortunately ignored the first one believing that the camp would be close only to find I was WRONG!! Tried to turn around but no luck so fortunately about 50m up the track was a clearing where we could turn around

Several calls latter to Matt who we were camping with Greenhill Lake Reserve just before Aarat was the location of choice, 2 big lakes, flushing toilet and plenty of room when we arrived for us all. Was a long weekend in Vic so we decided to take the Friday off and head out and come back on the Monday, camped with Malcolm & Nikki + Matt & Kerry and children

3 days of just sitting around talking, laughing, great Sunsets, fire and for us particularly getting used to the van, great location and quite given  2WD access and a LWE Set up the camper, very quick much easier than the FF camper, certainly a lot of leanings with the van given our 2^nd time out and 1^st without power, finally read the instructions to get the fridge working on gas, run out of water on the last evening, Solar worked well, problem with the sink not emptying, but a great time away regardless and a lot of learning and advice form Matt & Kerry who have a Jayco

Discovery Park, Lake Hume Ebden Vic

Picked up our new Van on the Friday and 2 nights at a CP close by to test out everything, set up and generally just get used to the trailer and where everything would go. Off to Bunnings on the Sat to get some stuff to do with the camper. Had a powered Site “air cond” worked well !! and all in all learnt a lot definitely next level in “camping”  

Goolwa: Murray Mouth

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Christmas /New Years trip along the Murray to reach the “Murray Mouth” in Goolwa SA.

Wednesday 26^th  (Boxing day) left home and headed for a camp ground “Green lake” near Sea Lake west of Swan Hill arrived to be surprised that they had powered bush setting sites  for $20 per night a quick set up - just pulled the camper up to sleep. Interesting conversation with the local collecting the fees that the lake itself had been empty of 18 years and was run down until in recent months it was starting to be filled a nice spot

Thursday 27^th : Sea Lake to Loxton SA for 3 nights using as a base to explore the areas and towns around arrive early afternoon and set up in the powered section, great Site, shady and close to amenities Temp was around 45deg a drive into town to get some cold meats/salads as cooking dinner was not going to happen tonight! In fact we did not cook any food during the trip, Pub lunches and cold meat /salads brought from Coles/WW each day

Friday 28^th:  Day for driving around the towns along the Murray stopping at Berri, Barmera, Renmark, Monash, Kingston on the Murray, Waikerie (Had lunch at the community club, best $12 Burger ever had) Blanchetown, Swan Reach then back to Loxton a long day, lots of Kms but some great towns and sights along the way

Saturday 29^th : Decided to drive to the Barrossa Valley in SA, lunch in the beer garden at a local Pub in Tanunda and a visit to a local Winery back to camp easy salad dinner & drinks into the evening

Sunday 30^th:  Drove from Loxton to Murray Bridge for 3 nights again using this as a base to explore along the Murray set up in the CP then into the tourist info center for some map’s and info, drove around town and took in some of the local attractions, Drove to a town called Mannum for a late lunch and walk around town and back to CP for dinner and drinks  

Monday 31^st: early start to Goolwa to see the “Murray Mouth” where the river meets the sea, the purpose of the trip in the first place as we had visited a place call Khancoban visited there some years ago and was interested in the Murry a little research and given we live so close and camp along the Murray around Ecucha / Cobram etc was the catalyst for the trip to the “Murray mouth”

Tuesday 1^ST Off to a place called “Hahndorf“ a German town for a look around as this was recommended from someone we met at the CP as well as friends who have visited, coffee and walk around town. We decided to head back to the CP and pack up and head home instead of driving on the Wednesday as planned. Arrived home around 9:30pm all in all a good decision as we had seen everything we had planned and would have wasted a day

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