Location: Toowoomba, Moree, Eumengerie, Bathurst

Regions: New England, Western NSW and Nepean – Blue Mountains

State: Queensland and New South Wales

Time: 15 July – 24 July 2023

Average Temperatures: -0.4 – 13 degrees

Reason: First week of travelling Australia – visiting family

After many years of planning we finally set off from Toowoomba early on 15th July 2023. First stop Bathurst NSW then Morgan SA to visit family and we then plan to head West to Perth for a special Birthday!

The first day of travel went well as we travelled from Toowoomba through Goondiwindi to Moree in just under 4 hours. We plan to travel slowly about 250 – 300 kms per day but as we were delayed due to the first service on the van we did about 330kms. We stayed at the Discovery park which was old but clean and with lots of hot water. The thermal springs (hot and cold) were a treat too. Moree has a lovely walking track along the river and an Art trail.

On the second day of travel we took an AllTrails walk in Pilliga National park on the Sandstone Caves Circuit (about 25kms outside Coonabarabran). A 1.7km loop medium grade circuit with some steps, past 5 significant caves, some with Aboriginal Art and a good lookout over the Pilliga State Forest.

Camped at Eumungerie, outside of Dubbo, very flat camp with power and water. Fires allowed and firewood available. Lovely clear starry skies and brilliant sunset and sunrise. Toilets and cold only showers. Clean and well kept.

Our week in Bathurst was wonderful. Despite some very chilly temperatures (one morning was -4.6, feeling like -9.6!), catching up with my Uncle Tony, and cousins Michael and Mandy and their families was lovely. My sister Kay travelled over from SA too which was special.

During the week we met beautiful baby Jace the new addition to the family, visited Mandy’s co-op Art Gallery, travelled to Leura near Katoomba to help Michael pick up a railway scale he’d bought at auction, had many family dinners (thank you Mandy & Chris and Michael & Karren), visited Michael’s property at The Rocks for a bush walk, visited Mt Panorama, walked and enjoyed the lovely history and architecture of Bathurst including the Carillion which was a favourite landmark of my mum’s and even helped the “Booger Brains” win the local Quiz night!

Best of all we spent lots of time chatting and catching up with family and getting to know the younger ones.