Australia, The Great Adventure

Archive for September, 2007

Given my situation of having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and able to work a bit, but not quite enough to support us, we are having to rely heavily on God to ensure that we can keep going. And this trip, although we feel very strongly that we are called by God to head out “into the unknown”, we have no idea how we are going to fund it - either to get all the things we need to get started, or to have an ongoing income along the way.

The Age’s Travel Blog has posted a great article including many reader’s suggestions for things to do in and around Darwin, at the top end of Australia.

Well, we’d thought we were going to go the POD storage option, but after a small amount of investigation we’ve decided that’s just not a goer. We really liked the idea because they bring the shipping container to you and you pack it at your leisure - the idea of having it in the back yard and we could just slowly load it for a month or two, sounded perfect. Unfortunately there was no way to get the shipping container into the backyard without removing a fence post as well as a couple of sections of fence! Hmmm. Oh well.

Today we went out to the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and everyone, even the adults, had a wonderful time. And the weather was really good too - you never know with Melbourne at the best of times, but in the middle of spring the weather’s even more unpredictable!

The boys and I met up with their Grandparents to have a picnic at the Children’s Garden. Grandma June had suggested we meet at the gardens and I suggested we meet at the Children’s Garden as it is enclosed, only one gate in and out, and is designed specifically for children to explore and enjoy.

Robert Holmes runs a B&B along side his observatory, and conducts daytime talks and demonstrations on the planets, as well as hands-on sessions at night observing the stars and planets.

Talbot is located about half an hour North of Ballarat, Victoria.

Source: RoyalAuto September 2007

RACV has an online Trip Planner that is a free service to members.

Use it to do anything from create a map and driving directions, to plan accomodation, attractions, town information and multiple maps.

Find it at www.racv.com.au, click on Travel and follow the links to the Trip Planner.

There are a string of gorges and chasms that are just begging to be explored East of Alice Springs.

See www.centralaustraliantourism.com for more details.

Source: RoyalAuto September 2007

“Fish Creek, population 201″

So reads a sign on the Meeniyan-Promontory road. This is the introduction into an area of lush green pastures, rolling hills, vineyards, beaches and headlands. From Phillip Island to Yarram, and up as far as Walhalla, this area has a lot to offer.

For more information visit www.visitvictoria.com.au and click on the Gippsland or Phillip Island links. Also try www.phillipisland.net.au, www.promcountry.com.au, www.parkweb.vic.gov.au and www.gippsland.com and click on the Tourism link.

Source: RoyalAuto September 2007

The world’s largest 3D replica of our solar system has been built along five roads leading to Coonabarabran in country NSW. Fibreglass models and huge billboards, stationed along the roads replicate the sizes and distances of the planets from the Sun to Pluto.
Call (02) 6849-2140 or http://www.solarsystemdrive.com.

Source: RoyalAuto September 2007

We need to investigate what license we need if we drive a bus as an RV. Are there different licences for different sized busses? How do we go about getting them? Will we need lessons? How much will it cost? What is the time delay on booking?

OK, I checked out the VicRoads website, and it all depends on what size vehicle we want to drive. Assuming it is a bus, then it is likely that we will need at least a Medium Rigid (MR) endorsed license (over 8 tonnes gvm (total weight when loaded), and one rear axle). Unless it isn’t too heavy - between 4.5 tonnes and 8 tonnes gvm means a Light Rigid (LR). But if we want to tow a trailer, then we need at least a Medium Rigid. If we want to drive a bus with two rear axles, then we will need a Heavy Rigid (HR).