Posts Tagged ‘great drive’

We decided to deviate from our intinerary, something we have become very good at! Although sometimes it is not planned at the time.

So after Mackay, we decided to stop in Ayr, a great little town 80km south of Townsville. It’s a good old country town, buzzing with busy farmers and tonnes of produce. There is still enough sugar cane to sink a battleship, but two things Ayr has that not a lot of these small country towns have are, one, it is right on the beach, and two, it has an enormous water supply in the Burdekin River and Dam which flow through the southern side of town. Water is never a problem around here, even though they have balmy summer days all year round.

Produce is grown by the hectare and therefore there is nothing better for a campervanner/caravanner than roadside stalls from which you can stock up on supplies. Just 10km south of Ayr is a little place, totally hidden away, called Ashworth’s Treasures of the Earth. It’s the biggest gem and fossil collection I have ever seen and to think it’s all the way up here, tucked away from prying eyes. But the strange thing is, prying eyes is what they do get – and by the bus load. People come from all around the world and while we were there, one German tourist said that he has been gem collecting his entire life, and this was the best one he had ever seen! Go Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

The Ayr township has everything you could hope for and some great little restaurants too. That’s if you are getting sick of constant BBQs, of course. Alma Beach is just a 15km drive north and is an awesome beach. The tide goes out such a long way that you get to do drag racing on the firm sand of the beach. The kids ran up and down the beach for hours. It’s truly idyllic and, with not a lot of people around, you are pretty much left alone to enjoy it and soak it all up.

Next stop is Cairns and we can’t wait!

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT
The Great Australian Doorstep – visit www.thegreataustraliandoorstep to purchase DVDs of the first two series.

Now here is some very sound advice. Advice I wish I had been given earlier!

We left Nelligen, bound for Bathurst, and we let our trusty Tom Tom do the talking … really, really bad idea. We went to Bathurst on a “long cut”, via the goat tracks of southern NSW. I swear these roads had not been used for many, many, many months (see attached picture). We were on this particular road for four hours, so a five-hour trip turned into an eight-hour trip. I guess the scenery was spectacular and it did give us an insight into a road definitely less travelled, so I am thankful for that, although not very thankful with four kids in the back. So, here’s an important rule: when travelling in the country, don’t use your Sat Nav! Stick to trusty maps and common sense.

Once we finally arrived at Bathurst we were pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a town of petrol heads and boy racers … well, there are plenty of them, but Bathurst has so much to offer in a historical sense too. And I mean plenty! The botanical gardens are an absolute treasure. They have a plaque walkway with all the original families who settled there 120 years ago. You could easily spend an entire morning here, just reading up and learning about early life for the farmers in the area. And you never know – you just might find the rest of your family tree.

PETER “SPIDA” EVERITT

Catch The Great Australian Doorstep on Foxtel’s How To channel.