traveling0z

Monday 4th May,

We wasted no time in getting to know Tassie, we head for Somerset to check into a lovely CP its only $25/night and is just lovely, we need to get some fruit and veg as we were not able to take any on the boat, we settle in then we head off toward Stanley and stop at Sisters Beach this is a really lovely spot and there are only a couple of kids building sand castles!!! apart from that the place is all ours.

We then drive further onto Stanley where the famous "Nut" is, the nut is a lava plug and is just amazing!!!  We have a lovely lunch at the Stanley Hotel - if ever in Stanley have lunch there it is GREAT!!!  We then head back to Somerset to catch up with Uncle Trevor, we had a great night.

Monday 4th May,

We arrive at Devonport at 7am and we are first off the boat :D.  The weather is cool and there is a westerly blowing however the sun is shining!!! Look out Tassie the Hayes' have arrived.

Sunday 3rd May,

Finally we leave Geelong, and head for Port Melbourne, we travel via Queenscliffe and Port Arlington (as we can't board the ship till 5pm and we need to kill some time) we have a lovely lunch at Indented Head - just awesome.

We finally arrive at Port Melb at 2.30pm and there is NO WHERE to park, so we drive round for a bit, then go to the marina at St Kilda and the guy was kind enough to let us park where they park the boats and trailers.  We walk around St Kilda for a while, then head to KFC for a digusting greasy meal (not a good idea when you are about to board a ship and sail Bass Strait)!!!!

We wait 2hrs to board the boat.

As we drive on......................

We had a wonderful time on the boat and we all took KWELLS (sea sick tab's) none of us where ill, Matt and I had a glass of wine and beer as we watched the lights of Melbourne disappear,  the girls loved being on the ship.

Friday 1st May,

We slowly head towards Port Melb, we decide to spend a couple of days outside of Melb (as parks would be too expensive in the CBD) so we stop at Geelong we stay at a VERY average CP we stay here 2 nights as it is just easier than driving round the CBD with the "shack on the back".

Wednesday 29th April

Free camped last night at Johanna beach (No: 679) great spot right next to the ocean (listened to it well into the night and early morning!!) lovely rolling green hills.

Made our way to Apollo Bay today via Bimib NP (lots of Koala's in the trees, we spotted at least 20!!! great to see them in the wild).  Staying 2 nights here in Pisces CP).

Tuesday 28th April

Well God was shining on us today as we are finally doing the GOR today and the sun is shining!!!!!!  The coast line is just amazing and the 12 Apostles (well 11 now) was better than Caroline expected, its really incredible, on the left you have farming country with cows and sheep and lovely green rolling hills, on the right this amazing coastline just takes your breath away - the GOR is a MUST!!!.  We were so lucky with weather and we seemed to be the only ones here!!! The photo's speak for themselves!!

Monday 27th April

We leave Heywood this morning and its still raining :-( we arrive at Top Tourist park at Warrnambool  (via Portland, Yambuck and Port Fairy).  See lots of lovely country side along the way including lots of very old farm houses.  We also learn't how wind farms work!!!

Sunday 26th April,

Its still raining!!!! and the weather has turned really cold Brrrrrrr  -  we decide to head for the Great Ocean Road as we need to get to Port Melb by Sunday to catch the boat to Tassie.  We stop at a Caravan Park (Pinewood CP) at Heywood - really nice park (cheap at $25) lovely green grass, ect.  We catch up on washing and all have LONG HOT showers!!!!!  we have to use the dryers as its just too wet (we bought a mini electric washing machine in Shepparton - only 17kg and its almost paid for itself as we do at least 4 loads of washing a week and at anywhere from $3.00 to $4.00 per wash it was getting expensive).

Matt baked yummy banana muffins mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..

Thursday 23rd April

Arrive at Grampians NP, arrive at Free camp No: 538 (Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve) very basic, no loo's or water - but its free!!!.

Friday 24th April - didn't get much sleep last night and today its raining....... :-(  decide to drive to Halls Gap anyway to have a look,  its far too wet to do any walks ect so we decide to come back after our visit to Tassie.

We decide to drive onto our next free camp (No: 642 Wannon Falls) via Ararat, Willaura, Glen Thompson and Hamilton.  Great Free camp with built in camp oven and camp fire!!  Loo's and water.  Met another family from Stanthorpe - they have 3 children and are travelling for 12mths.

Matthew made good with some of the wood that had been cut up and made seats!!!!!

The girls love their new classroom!!!!! home schooling has to be done

We decide to stay here for another night (Saturday 25th) didn't do much apart from School work (yes on a Saturday!!!) sat around the fire and tonight we had dinner Malcolm Douglas style - we cooked it in foil amoungst the hot coals!!!! all turned out yummy except the spuds!!!!! turned into "crispy critters" we know better next time!!!!

Wednesday 22nd April 2009

We visit Sovereign Hill - What a GREAT Day!!!! all the staff members are dressed in period costumes, there is so much to see and do - well worth the trip and the money.

The girls watched a horse have its shoes replaced, they also learn't how to pan for gold!!!!!!

And they were successful................... not enough to retire on!!!!

We all went on an underground tour of a mine - pretty scary...... we watched a re-enactment of the discovery of the "Welcome Stranger" nugget

We watched a "Gold Pour" the 3kg bar was worth a cool $126,000.

The girls had some fun dipping candles

The finished product!

Tomorrow we leave Ballarat and head for the Grampians National Park - Can't wait!!!