During the past 18 months, travelling abroad to far flung exotic places has become an almost foreign concept as pandemic conditions continue to ‘force’ us to explore our own backyards.
A growing number of Australasians have adopted the “grey nomad’s” approach to holidays and are heading out to explore the ‘real’ Australia.
Verve caught up with Julie and Des Fenning who travelled all the way from the Sunshine Coast to Perth and back again, clean across this giant continent, in just thirty-three days.
Tells us about your vehicle.
It was a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Diesel, borrowed from our lovely son-in-law. We had a Bull-Bar (Roo-Bar) fitted, bought a second spare wheel for the vehicle and a Jerry-Can, none of which we needed luckily, as we managed to dodge the emus and the ‘roos even though we had a few close-shaves.
What’s the most frequent question you get asked about your trip?
What place did you like the most? This is impossible to answer cos we visited such a hugely diverse variety of destinations, for example – loved the accommodation in Streaky Bay in Southern Australia (SA). which was a cabin on the beach. But then loved all the stunning beaches in and around Esperance in Western Australia (WA). But we then had the most amazing stay over on a Cattle Station in Northern Territory (NT) called Tobermorey which is in the middle of nowhere (half way between Alice Springs and Boulia).
Impossible to compare destinations like these!
33 days on the road is a long time. Did you fall into a daily ritual?
Most days were spent driving and then seeing as much as there was to see at our destination on arrival. We drove between 450-550 kilometres a day!
Did pandemic conditions / wearing of masks / distancing / scanning in etc, affect you in any way?
Not really as everywhere we went (Northern NSW, SA, WA, NT, QLD) there were no mandatory mask wearing rules except at a couple of the border crossings. But once you had the relevant Covid Border Pass and Check In App for each of the states there were no issues.
What did you not pack and bring with you that you wished you had?
Extra flasks would have been handy as we had to replace them twice.
Is there anything you packed that you never once used
Two Camping Chairs that never came out of the boot. Australia is pretty switched on when it comes to shaded rest areas on all the main routes.
Has the experience changed you in anyway?
Just that it has made us keen to do more. It also made us realize that we don’t need 5-star hotel resorts and accommodation like we have enjoyed in the past.
What did you miss most?
I think one always misses one’s own bed and the comforts of home, and knowing which direction to head to when you wake up for a bathroom visit at midnight.
The most unforgettable meal?
Homemade Beef Pies from a place called Gem Tree which is the first place you reach after heading off on the Plenty Highway after leaving Alice Springs.
A favourite museum?
We are not big Museum people but we did stop at an interesting mining ghost town called Gwalia between Kalgoorlie and Laverton, WA. (There’s a Laverton in Victoria which gave our GPS a bit of a wobble at one point).
Then there was the Min Min Lights Experience in Boulia West Queensland. Fascinating story.
A wonderful music encounter?
Definitely one evening in Longreach after a river cruise followed by an Outback Dinner Dance Gig. Best evening in the outback ever.
https://outbackaussietours.com.au/tour/smithys-outback-dinner-show/
What inspired you the most?
The adventurous nature of our fellow “Grey Nomads” that we met along the way. They sure make them tough in Australia. One couple we met in Boulia at our motel had not slept in a bed other than a swag, nor had they seen anyone to chat to for 22 days. They had been exploring the Simpson Desert . We went to the local hotel for dinner with them. Couldn’t shut them up. Hilarious!
What did you and Des laugh about the most?
Oh, so many laughs. But one that stands out is when we reached the little ‘town’ of Warburton in the Gibson Desert. Because it is mentioned daily on the weather report we didn’t expect it to be simply a large caravan park. This was our first experience of sleeping in a donga*. Our friends were hysterical at the idea of us spending the night here, particularly as there was a strictly ‘no alcohol permitted’ ruling. But it is the only accommodation we could reach in a day along The Great Central Road.
*Donga is an Australian slang term for a temporary, usually modular building, normally built of lightweight materials so that it can easily be moved from site to site. Typically associated with demountable classrooms and workers accommodation.
What’s the craziest thing that happened?
Quite a few. But probably the fact that the first time we had ever seen an emu in its natural habitat was when we had to ram on the brakes and swerve to avoid missing a mob of emus while traveling on part of the Darling River Run, from Bourke to Broken Hill, a 300 kilometre-long dirt road!
Plans for the next trip?
We have just completed 15 of an 18 day road trip around Far North Queensland, and am writing this from the beautiful little town of 1770. Do google 1770 to discover why this is the only town in Australia that has 4 digits as its name. So much Captain Cook history attached to this little piece of paradise.
Would you recommend that others do this trip?
Absolutely!
Even though I know that dozens of my friends and family would rather gnaw off their toes than drive 12 thousand kilometres in 5 weeks, for anyone with an adventurous spirit it’s a blast!
What’s the first thing you wanted to do when you arrived home?
See the grandchildren and start planning the next trip.
Plans for the next trip?
We have just completed 15 of an 18 day road trip around Far North Queensland, and am writing this from the beautiful little town of 1770. Do google 1770 to discover why this is the only town in Australia that has 4 digits as its name. So much Captain Cook history attached to this little piece of paradise.
