BootsnAll Travel Blogs

The next few days were a mix of sunshine and rain so I didnt get too much use out of the hostels rooftop loungers.
I spent a lot of time walking around the city – which I quite liked – despite not expecting too (after talking to other travellers who didnt really like the place), but time is of the essence, so I packed my gear and moved on again (not getting a chance to drive over the SHB as it was closed for resurfacing 🙁 )
Next stop was Manly: its a nice beach and town just north of Sydney. I got there in a smidgeon of rain and with strong winds…all made up for by the fact that it was heaving with totty competing in a Surfboat competition! Pretty crazy event launching the boats into the surf as it crashed onto the beach.
I had to leave though, as it was all full of the beautiful people and I dont fit in.

Heading north I stopped at Putty beach, but couldn’t get in the campsite as it was fully booked. Sat on the beach for a while, then headed along the coast trying to find somewhere else. Eventually I gave up and headed into Terrigal, where I booked into the YHA hostel (using a girl called Kim’s phone…thanks!) nice bunch of people here – irish guy and some english. Had a great time playing in the surf that afternoon: big stuff and a crazy ‘reflection’ wave from the shore, so just as you prepare for the wave in fron, you get smacked on the back of the head by the one from behind!! We all headed to the local bar/hotel that night : it was packed with lots of girls in full slap and guys in vests (singlets) had a canny night, then left them there and went for a walk and sit on the beach by myself. Eventually when I got back to the hostel I watched the tennis with Kim.
Next morning, I said my goodbyes, packed and headed into Gosford to pick up my coat and beanie which were being sent from Foster YHA (I’d left them there a week or two ago) $22 later and were reunited 🙂

Heading further north I drove the Gateshead, into Newcastle, where I eventually got parked and headed into the tourist information place…only to bump into my new found stalker: Kim! Lol …she had picked up her kids and was spending the day in the ‘toon’
There’s not a lot in Newcastle and few links to ‘OUR toon’ so I left, bypassed Wallsend, passed Gosforth and Warkworth and then stopped in Hexham for fuel! …weird!

Still raining as I headed West (gonna start heading inland towards Alice Springs) so I stopped in Denham – a little town with little interest…. I stayed in a caravan that night as my tent was still wet and it was raining. ,..and I got a special deal.
Up early and continue West on the Barrier Highway I drover as far as I could, wthout falling asleep. I was going to stop in one roadside rest area, but the mud and amount of ants was bewildering…so I continued on to Meadow Glen ….which didnt have the mud, but did have the ants 🙁
…I slept in the car.
Up very early and onwards thru Broken Hill (stopping for groceries and to book a flight from Heathrow to NCL on my return) and to Yunta, where I parked in the town (not that there was much of one) and chatted to a couple of couples who had also stopped for the night. Nice guys (grey nomads) so we shared a beer and watched the trains passing thru. and took photos of a great sunset.
After tha it was to Port Augusta, via Peterboough and some lovely scenery(chatted to a couple at a monument pass while making coffee) bought a rear wheel cylinder for the car as I think the one is leaking slightly and I dont want to be caught when I get into the outback (It’s ‘Australia Day’ today) then North up towards Coober Pedy though I still havent decided which way to go
I stopped at Woomera (the Aussie range and nuclear testing facility) in a barely used campsite. chatting to a couple of aussies and a dutch guy that evening – one of the aussie girls gave me a map for the Oodnadatta track, so after ringing the guy at the Pink Roadhouse there, I decided to head that way tomorrow (its featured in one of my 4×4 mags and looks interesting)
Another early start (is there another kind?) and I headed to Roxby downs, let my tyres down a bit and started on the Oodnadatta track …turs out its a big wide gravel motorway, so not technical at all.
Was nice to pass Lake Eyre and some great scenery, but at last I arrived at the Pink ROadhouse.

I arrived on a cold night and fell straight asleep in my dorm room at the YHA Central (Melbourne)
woke up in the morning to a sunny start (that was about to change) so I headed out to find my car.
I hadnt taken a GPS of where Id left it 6 weeks ago, so chanced it and set off walking. ….straight to it! I said hello and reconnected the battery, checked the water and oil (both good) and the tyres. A few turns of the key later and it started! …I love this car.
I parked around the corner and had poached eggs on toast and a flat white to celebrate.
Back at the hostel, I parked out front and then went in to pack my bag and check out. As I left the building I found a parkie about to give me a ticket and have the car towed for parking on a clearway!!!! luckily, he was a nice fella and let me go
I drove South and West, heading down towards Wilsons Promentary …however the camp sites were all booked and it was raining by now too, so I carried on to Foster and checked in to the YHA there.
I toddled off for a pie and a coffee and on returning to the hostel found it to be full of chicks! …germans x 2, swiss x 2 and ozzie x 2. We all had a few vinos that night an a good laff.
Next day I left (and left my jacket there too 🙁 ) and headed north east on the road to 90 mile beach. I camped at Paradise beach, which wasnt really a paradise as the flies and mozzies were quite bad: so bad that at one point I ran along the beach to escape them and pulled my calf muscle again!!!!

Up early the next day and on to Sale where I had a Mac’d coffee and stole their internet wile it absolutely lashed down outside. I rang me ma’s cousin Dorothy and arranged to pop in after doing some shopping for a lens cap for my wide angle lens.
I arrived at Paynesville to meet Dorothy and her hubby Ty. Spent 4 hours there chatting about all manner of things… nice couple. Had a nice time there …while it thundered and hailed outside.
Off north via the Great Alpine Road, I got to Omeo by evening so pitched up at the campsite and ate a nice pork steak…. or 2. jus before the rain hit.
It snowed that night.
Freezing cold I headed north on a nice gravel road (the Alpine Way) and eventually reached the ski resort of Thredbo. Another YHA here to stop in.
After a bit of a wander that night I set off the next morning to the top of Mount Cozkiouski.
Its a steep climb – mainly steps, but after 1 hour and 5 minutes, I got to the top (its supposed to take 2-3 hours) then I wandered along thetop a bit and took some photos before heading back to the chair lift cafe for a flat white.
Back at the hostel, I checked out and headed East. Did quite a few k’s before getting tired and stopping at Mystery Bay …..turned out to be a primitive campsite in a GREAT location in gum trees RIGHT on a great beach, surrounded by other great beaches and some great rock formations too. I spent 2 nights here, eating a drinking coffee on the beach.
After Mystery Bay I headed north to Narooma YHA. Nice hostel with a nice beach – however the pearl here was the beach just along from the main beach: Cemetery Beach and Glashouse Rocks. Bluddy amazing beach and rock formations…spent a lot of time here over the next couple of days.
I moved out of the hostel after one night and set up camp in a free site at Lake Brou (an old guy called Richy had pointed it out to me) nice beach and people here, so I stayed for a couple of nights and did a lot of chillin and a couple of nice walks along the beach.

After Brou, I headed north again to Batemans Bay…again staying at a YHA, however this time I camped at the YA which is within a camp site. Met a dutch guy called Thomas who is cycling his way around some of Oz …nice guy: good at finding Iphones……
Lot of walking at Batemans, not much else to do, so after one night I moved on, heading north. Sadly there a complete lack of free camping now and at Kiama, I was quoted $50 to camp for the night …so I continued on to Wollongong, where I stayed at the YHA (yet again) nice old fella here who is in the middle of a court thing to get custody of his kiddy back from his mother in law.
I bought a hat here too …an oilskin cowboy hat.
Up early and I managed to post my credit card under the office door instead of the door card!!!!
30 mins later and staff turned up to open the door and let me recover it and move on
I headed north on the coastal route to Bald hill and a quick trip along the Sea Cliff Bridge and watch the hang gliders
Continuing on to a little bay for coffee and brekkie (am I feelin rich or wot??)
Then into Sydney: thankfully Co-pilot got me tright thru the centre of Sydney without any hassle and right nto the hostel at the ‘Rocks’!!…amazing these satnavs
the hostel has a rooftop terrace with incredible views over Sydney harbour ..and we’re so close to the bridge that I get nice photos of it and the Opera house just from here!

I still had a good walk around to get more tho ….
Quite like Sydney. Found a nice cheap chicken Ceasar an a cheapish bar at night too.
The hostel has en-suite bathroom in the 4 bed dorm too which is nice.
Saturday and an early start to walk over the bridge and then get the ferry back to Circular Quay however its raining so after a quick stop for coffee and bread & butter pudding mmmmmmm I headed back to the hostel ….by the time I got there the rain was torrential and thunder rolled across the city.

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