Go Camping, Fishing & 4WD Adventures

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December 2015 – January 2016 Issue 100

ADVENTURE: East To West TRAVEL: Take A Bite Of Darwin FISHING: Solomon Gold 4WD: Victorian High Country CAMPING: Top 6 Oceanfront Campsites UNIQUE: Jatbula Trail, NT EXPLORE: Narooma, Australia’s Southern Paradise WHAT’S HOT? The Big Red Bash ISSN 1320-5706

9 771320 570009

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All the latest & greatest gear you will want for Christmas!

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ISSUE 100

CONTENTS 004. From the Editor 006. News, Views & Events 008. Six of Australia’s Best Oceanfront Campsites 012. Coast VS Inland

016. I’ll give you the Tip – Get to the Tip! 020. In the Spotlight – Peta Murray 024. ET’s Kangaroo Valley Camping Adventure 028. Seven Days in Somerset 034. A pleasant Whitsunday afternoon 038. Walking through History on the Jatbula Trail 042. Christmas Wish List 046. Australia’s Southern Paradise 050. Take a bite of Darwin 054. Solomon Gold 058. Eco Vessel 062. East to West [Part 1] 066. The Big Red Bash 070. Paul Arnold Photography 074.

Exploring Craig’s Hut in the High Country

078. Camping Games 082. 4WD TIP: Beach Driving 084. Johnno’s Camper Trailers 088. Canoe Fishing in Darwin Harbour 092. Love at first ‘site’?

094. Celebrate with Cake 096. Subscribe and receive a FREE GIFT 2 |

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FROM THE

Editor

It’s time to celebrate!

Welcome to the 100th edition of Go Camping, Fishing & 4WD Adventures magazine.

I love this time of year. Christmas decorations start to go up, the sunsets are exquisite, singing cicadas, the never-ending feasts and getting together with loved ones to celebrate another year that was.

In our 100th issue, we venture off road to explore new ground. Along with our camping features, the latest news/views and events and 4WD road trips, we have added in some fantastic fishing

articles written by only the best in the biz, hence the name change to Go Camping, Fishing & 4WD Adventures.

We have teamed up with fishing and outdoor fanatic Andrew Ettingshausen and his television show Escape With ET. The new series airs every Saturday at 4:30pm on Channel 10, Southern Cross and ONE, starting December 12th 2015.

ET will be exclusively writing for us, and this issue he talks about his favourite camping destination, Kangaroo Valley. He has plenty of top tips on catching the native Australian Bass and the camping gear he can’t go without. We look forward to having him on our team!

The December edition covers everything from canoe fishing in Darwin Harbour, spectacular oceanfront campsites, walking through history on the Jatbula Trail, crossing the continent in a 30-year-old 4WD, everything you will want on your Christmas wish list and many tips and tricks thanks to our talented travel writers. If this sounds right up your alley, sit down, relax and enjoy the issue!

We would like to thank you for your support throughout 2015, and hope you have a great Christmas and New Year with family and friends.

Stay safe and enjoy the outdoors!

Tiarne Ettingshausen

Find us on Facebook Now you don’t have to wait weeks for the next edition of Go Camping, Fishing & 4WD Adventures to get the latest camping news, stories and offers from around Australia.

Head to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ GoCampingAustralia and join the camping community.

Publisher Michael Vink

Editor Tiarne Ettingshausen E: gocampingmagazine@outlook.com

Advertising Manager Georgina Chapman T: (07) 3334 8007 E: georgina@vinkpub.com

Production Team Chantelle King, Richard Locke, Wei Deng and Karen Belik-Kirkman

FRONT COVER: Cypress Creek, Old Telegraph Track, Cape York.

Photo courtesy of Brett Straughan.

Go Camping, Fishing & 4WD Adventures is distributed through newsagents and camping stores across Australia. Recommended retail price A$6.95. Annual subscription A$33 includes postage within Australia and GST. Distribution by Gordon and Gotch. Editorial and photographic contributions welcomed. Disks, transparencies and self-addressed stamped envelopes are required. The publisher takes no responsibility for the views expressed in articles or advertisements herein.

The publisher could not possibly ensure that each advertisement published in the magazine complies with the Trade Practices Act. While every endeavour has been made to ensure complete accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Print Post approval No. 100000936.

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Contributors Melanie Ball Julie Bishop & Regina Jones Taylor Campbell Chris Errity Andrew Ettingshausen Tiarne Ettingshausen Andrea Ferris Cliff Guy Stefan Hansson Helen Hayes Johnno’s Camper Trailers

Yot Kalia Shane King Miro Mitrovich Kara Murphy Peta Murray Sandy Pavey Rachel Reitsma Brett Straughan Toyota Landcruiser Club Vic Widman Evette Wolf & Oceah Davis

PUBLISHED BY VINK Publishing ABN 3107 478 5676 Bi-Monthly Head Office: 38–40 Fisher St, East Brisbane Q 4169 Postal: PO Box 8369, Woolloongabba Q 4102 T: (07) 3334 8000 F: (07) 3391 5118

News, Views & Events Go Camping | December 2015 / January 2016

NEWS

VIEWS

Image: Pristine conditions: the Moore River and Guilderton Beach. Photo: Manish Ankleshwaria.

Australia’s cleanest beach unveiled Guilderton, located just a 90-minute drive north of Perth, has won the national 2015 Australian Clean Beaches Award, as part of the Keep Australia Beautiful program. The small town is positioned at the mouth of the Moore River in the Shire of Gingin, and is built around an intact coastal estuary system on the Swan Coastal Plain, where sweeping white sandy beaches give way to tranquil estuary habitats teeming with fish and wildlife. It is renowned by tourists and locals alike for its sparkling, clear water and coastline, and the title acknowledges the community’s support in keeping Guilderton’s coastline beautiful.

Other State and Territory winners are as follows: n n n n n

Bondi Beach, New South Wales Richardsons Beach, Tasmania Port Julia, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia Burleigh Beach – Queensland Garig Gunak Barlu – Northern Territory

Chris and Andy Lawler proudly show off their new Stockman Pod Trailer and Outdoor Connection Aria 2 Tent worth $6,494.

Winners are grinners Chris and Andy Lawler were the proud winners of the Stockman Pod Trailer and Outdoor Connection Aria 2 Tent worth $6,494 from our June/July issue magazine subscription competition. They are very pleased to report that they are looking forward to their next camping trip.

“We were blown away by how easy it was to put the Aria 2 Tent up and to put it away and the pod is just such a beautiful trailer with lots of storage,” Andy said.

“Phil was kind enough for us to add a few extras too and we thank both companies for this amazing prize – thank you very much!”

To get your hands on your very own Stockman Pod Trailer or Aria 2 Tent visit www.outdoorconnection.com.au and www.podtrailer.com.au for more information.

The Living Rock – The Invention of Climbing in Eastern Australia

by Michael Meadows The Living Rock explores the history of climbing the many iconic landmarks of eastern Australia from the Blue Mountains, Glass House Mountains, Snowy Mountains, Lamington National Park, the Victorian Alps, and mountains in the Scenic Rim like Mt Barney, Lindsey, Warning and Maroon. It explores personal stories, diaries and accounts of pioneering climbers and their descendants, and details ever-changing relationships between people, mountains and wilderness.

BOOKS

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RRP $39.95 + postage and is available for purchase by emailing livingrockpress@gmail.com or for more information visit www.climbinghistoryoz.blogspot.com.

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Spirits of the Ghan

By Judy Nunn For a summer read during your next camping trip, you can’t go past Judy Nunn’s latest historical based fiction novel, Spirits of the Ghan. The story follows the century-old dream of the completion of the mighty Ghan railway linking Adelaide with the Top End. But construction of the final leg between Alice Springs and Darwin is not without complications, for much of the desert it will cross is Aboriginal land and there is a delicate line to reassure the Elders their sacred sites will be protected.

RRP $32.95 and is available from all good bookstores.

VIEWS

The top end in summer? You better believe it!

Australians are being encouraged to spend their summer in the Northern Territory as part of a new tourism campaign aimed at breaking down barriers that the Territory is too hot or humid to visit from December to February.

Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Adam Giles said the new ‘A summer well spent’ aims to breakdown misconceptions about travelling to the Northern Territory in the wet season.

“The Northern Territory has so much to offer over the summer months. Our waterholes are full, waterfalls flowing, the fishing is fantastic and you can go 4WDing, jet boating or hot air ballooning surrounded by incredible landscapes you simply won’t find anywhere else,” Minister Giles said.

“There are less crowds, flights and hotels are cheaper and few people realise the Northern Territory is often looking its most beautiful and colourful during these months, fresh from wet season rains.”

Enjoying the cool waters of Ellery Creek Big Hole, 85km west of Alice Springs in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

For more information about visiting the Northern Territory or for great deals for travel during December to February visit www.travelnt.com/deals.

EVENTS

Image: The endangered loggerhead turtle nesting on the beach Bundaberg. Photo: Queensland Government

Turtle nesting and hatching – Bundaberg, QLD November 2015 – March 2016 If you happen to be passing through Bundaberg over summer, be sure to call into the Mon Repos Turtle Centre and get up close and personal with the endangered loggerhead turtle during its nesting and hatching season.

For more information visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

The Taste of Tasmania – Hobart, TAS 28 December 2015 – 3 January 2016 One of Australia’s premier food events, The Taste of Tasmania showcases Tasmania’s best artisan food and drink producers. Using their creative flare, producers present a variety of dishes with local produce. There will be sweet treats, boutique and craft beers, wines, whiskeys and ciders, and of course plenty of meals to please all manner of taste buds. Don’t miss the New Year spectacular complete with fireworks to see in 2016.

For more information visit www.thetasteoftasmania.com.au.

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Woodford Folk Festival – Woodford, QLD 27 December 2015 – 1 January 2016 This internationally renowned festival is more than just a showcase of folk music. Sure there are plenty of folk-inspired concerts and acts to listen to, but there are a myriad of other events including street theatre, writer’s panels, a film festival, a children’s festival and art and craft workshops. Camping is available at the festival as are other services such as child-minding and laundry services and plenty of cafés, restaurants and bars.

For more information visit www.woodfordfolkfestival.com.

Tamworth Country and Music Festival – Tamworth, NSW 15 – 24 January 2016 Attracting top country musicians from Australia and abroad, the Tamworth Country and Music Festival offers visitors a variety of events from bush poetry readings, record launches, exhibitions, bull riding and of course more country music gigs than you can poke a stick at!

For more information visit www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au.

Crush Festival – Adelaide Hills, SA 22 – 24 January 2016 The Crush Festival not only celebrates the region’s wine varieties, it aims to showcase the best things about life in the Adelaide Hills.

Festival-goers can partake in wine tastings, degustation menus, music, art installations, markets and much more.

For more information visit www.crushfestival.com.au.

Elvis Festival – Parkes, NSW 6 – 10 January 2016 Slip on your blue suede shoes and get all shook up at the annual Elvis Festival in Parkes. Celebrating all things Elvis, the King devotees and fans alike can enjoy tribute concerts, a street parade, Miss Priscilla competitions, markets, an Elvis Gospel Service and Elvis wedding vow renewals.

Tunarama Festival – Port Lincoln, SA 22 – 26 January 2016 The 55th annual Tunarama Festival, held on the Port Lincoln Foreshore, aims to celebrate the region’s tuna fishing industry by showcasing lots of fresh seafood, local musicians and performers and lots of fun competitions for all to enjoy – there’s the tuna toss, watermelon eating, prawn peeling and keg rolling.

For more information visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au.

For more information visit www.tunarama.net.

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Six of Australia’s Best Oceanfront Campsites Splash into summer by pitching your tent at one of these top oceanfront campsites Words & Images (unless noted) by Kara Murphy

Trial Bay Gaol Campground (NSW) There are 116 campsites in Arakoon National Park’s Trial Bay Gaol Campground, situated around the historic gaol ruins, beside Front Beach’s calm waters. Scuba diving with grey nurse sharks in nearby Fish Rock Cave is certain to cool you off on a sweltering summer’s day, as is a swim in the beautiful blue waters of the bay. In the day’s cooler hours, amble along the 2km return Monument Hill track, which leads to a monument honouring German internees who died in the gaol during World War I, or tackle a longer walk towards Hat Head National Park, to the south.

Where? Trial Bay Gaol Campground is 500km south of Brisbane and 456km north of Sydney, near South West Rocks, NSW. Facilities? An amenities block, picnic tables, barbeques, a boat ramp, café/kiosk, drinking water, showers, and toilets are onsite. Groceries are available in South West Rocks.

Tip: Pick one of the 19 unpowered sites that overlook the water, in the park’s northwestern section.

Book online at www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 6566 6168.

Image: View of Trial Bay from the oceanfront campsites

Red Bluff, Quobba Station (WA) This site is on remote and rugged Quobba Station, a working pastoral property stretching 80km along Western Australia’s Coral Coast. The area is popular for its famous surf break on its northern end, the ‘Bluff Barrel’. However, you don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy camping here. Look out for humpback whales as they migrate north in winter to give birth, or venture into the southernmost tip of Ningaloo Marine Park for great snorkelling and, in October and November, looking for tracks of nesting loggerhead turtles.

Where? Red Bluff is 135km north of Carnarvon, WA, including 60km along a gravel road. A 4WD is recommended.

Facilities? No power. Pit toilets are nearby. Pick up all supplies in Carnarvon.

Tip: Splurge on one of the seascape bungalows or oceanview luxury safari tents, which have rainwater and solar power.

Book by phoning (08) 9948 5001 or visit www.quobba.com.au.

Image: An oceanfront campsite at Red Bluff 8 |

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Teewah Beach (QLD) Only 30 minutes northwest of Noosa’s surf breaks, Teewah Beach, in Cooloola National Park, is justifiably popular. Off-road driving enthusiasts will love cruising along its 48kmlong vehicle access area, whilst its sandy and/ or grassy sites (situated along a 15km stretch of beach, just behind the fragile, vegetated foredunes) are a good place to spend a couple of days fishing, reading, and cooling off in the surf. Drive 8km north beyond the camping area to Double Island Point, where a 2.2km return track leads up to a lighthouse and headland, with stunning views over the blue water below.

Where? Teewah Beach camping area is approximately 150km north of Brisbane and 35km northwest of Noosa Heads.

A short trip across the Noosa River with Noosa North Shore Ferries (www.noosacarferries.com) is required, and you’ll also need a 4WD (preferably high clearance with low range functions) to access the campsites.

Facilities? Bulk rubbish bins are available, but for toilets, showers, untreated tap water, and portable toilet waste disposal, you’ll have to drive to the Freshwater day-use area, just north of the beach camping area. Pick up supplies in Tewantin or Noosa, and bring drinking water, a fuel or gas stove, a portable toilet, rubbish bags, a first aid kit, insect repellent, sunscreen, pegs, and clean firewood.

Tip: Travel two hours both sides of low tide, and check the Cooloola Conditions Report (online at www.nprsr.qld. gov.au) prior to arrival.

Book your campsite and vehicle access permit in advance by phoning 13 74 68 or visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.

Image: A camper walks along Teewah Beach

Mornington Peninsula Foreshore Reserves (VIC) During October to May, three Mornington Peninsula foreshore camping reserves – Rosebud, Rye, and Sorrento – give you an easy base from which to enjoy a walk along Port Philip Bay’s beaches followed by a cool-climate pinot noir. This is a perfect way to unwind after a thrilling dolphin and seal swimming excursion from Sorrento Pier. There are powered and unpowered sites all within a short walking distance of Port Philip Bay’s beaches. However, not all campsites have water views, so ask for one when you book. The largest reserve is Rosebud, with 812 sites positioned along 10km of coast; Sorrento, with 147 sites, is the smallest.

Where? Rosebud, the first Mornington Peninsula foreshore camping area you’ll reach, is 93km south of Melbourne. (Rye is another 6km further on, with Sorrento a further 8.5km.)

Facilities? All three camping reserves have shower and toilet blocks, shade, barbeques, coin-operated laundry, and boat launching ramps. Each is just across the road from Rosebud, Rye, or Sorrento village.

Book your campsite by phoning (03) 5950 1011 or visiting www.mornpen.vic.gov.au.

Image: Sorrento camping area. Photo: MPFS GGOOCCAAMMPPI N I NGG, ,FFI S I SHHI N I NGG&&44W WDDAADDVVEENNTTUURREESS ||

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Memory Cove Wilderness Protection Area (SA) Alongside Lincoln National Park, Memory Cove provides access to a beautifully clear bay and beach, nestled between two vegetated headlands. Limited to 15 vehicles per day, listen for the mournful call of the bush-stone curlew as you fall asleep, and, the following morning, that of the rare western whipbird. After brekkie, embark on a 1km return walk to the ocean coastline, scouting for white-bellied sea eagles, Australian sea lions, dolphins, and (in winter) southern right whales.

Where? Memory Cove Wilderness Protection Area is 50km south of Port Lincoln. A 4WD is recommended, and caravans are not permitted.

Facilities? Long drop toilets are the only facilities. Bring your own drinking water, and stock up on supplies in Port Lincoln. There is one powered site available.

Book your campsite by phoning the Port Lincoln Visitor Information Centre on (08) 8683 3544. You’ll need to stop by the visitor centre to pick up a gate key and special permit.

Image: Abalone, Memory Cove Wilderness Protection Area Photo: South Australia Tourism Commission

Freycinet National Park (TAS) Situated on a small coastal strip, just metres away from the edge of Great Oyster Bay’s safe, unpatrolled beaches, Freycinet National Park’s campsites provide easy access to the park’s wonders. Pitch your tent in powered or unpowered sites along Richardson’s Beach or Honeymoon Bay, and then join a kayak tour of Coles Bay, basking in the pink granite magnificence of Freycinet National Park’s rugged Hazard Range. Afterwards, fuel your next adventure with a scallop pie in the nearby township of Coles Bay before driving a few kilometres south to the starting point of the 11km walking track that leads south to Wineglass Bay, west along the Isthmus Track to Hazards Beach, and then northeast around the base of Mt Mayson back to your car.

Where? Freycinet National Park and Coles Bay township are approximately 193km northeast of Hobart and 173km southeast of Launceston.

Facilities? Campsites 1-18 have power and grey water disposal, and all the sites have access to potable water, barbeques, and the amenities block (with flushing toilets and cold showers). Coles Bay township has general stores, petrol, ice, and gas bottle refills.

Tip: Sites 52 and 53 are further from the amenities block and aren’t recommended for young children.

During the Christmas summer season and Easter holidays, these campsites are allocated via a ballot system, which is drawn on August 1st. For all other times, you can book your campsite by phoning (03) 6256 7000. For more information, visit www.parks.tas.gov.au.

Image: Hiking in Freycinet National Park 10 |

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COASTVS INLAND

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Contemplating a Road Trip? There are advantages and disadvantages to taking the coastal or the inland routes, but either way there is beautiful scenery and historical sites to be seen along the way.

Clockwise from far top left: Access to Cape Tribulation in the Daintree National Park is possible by following the coastal route.

Photo: Courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland | Camping near the coast allows one to wake up with this view! | Setting up camp amongst the red dust | Sharing Fletcher Creek Camping Reserve with an animal feeding on the sparse vegetation

Words & Images (unless noted) by Rachel Reitsma

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here are many iconic road trips in Australia, and you often have the choice of going inland, or sticking to the coast road.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, unique sights and sounds, road conditions and history, and my family recently had this choice to make when we ventured from Newcastle to Port Douglas.

Initially sticking to the coast, we were keen to see the ocean and the beautiful coastal scenery and towns along the route. It was great to see the scenery change from banana plantations to sugar cane fields, with the mountains rising behind them in the distance.

This route has many popular tourist destinations such as the Big Banana, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, and so you share the road with many travellers,

many in campervans and caravans, and a strong representation of European 20-somethings enjoying their Australian leg of their worldly travels. We loved this leg of the journey, but it is important to note that this coastal highway is still undergoing major redevelopment, as towns are bypassed and dual lane carriageways are built, which can be frustrating as you continually stop or slow down for roadwork.

“It was still a magical experience though, to wake up in the morning to the sounds of the ocean...”

As we travelled further north towards the Whitsundays we had the opportunity to do a free camp on the beach. Even though we were taking the coastal route, we only saw glimpses of the ocean and so we were keen to set up the camper

trailer near the water and enjoy the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. However, as we wandered down to the beach in the morning and were confronted with “How to treat Box Jelly Fish stings”, “Shark Sightings” and “Crocodile Infested Waters” signage, we decided we might stay dry for now. It was still a magical experience though, to wake up in the morning to the sounds of the ocean, whilst the kids played in the sand, followed by a walk to look out at the islands on the horizon and witness the tidal flats.

So after a fantastic holiday in Port Douglas, and having driven the coastal road on our way up, we made the decision to take the inland route home, along the Great Inland Highway and the New England Highway. This necessitated a trip over the mountain range via a very windy road at Atherton in order to come down onto GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

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I’ll give you the tip – get to the tip!

Words & Images by Shane King – Gold Class Adventures

Great fishing, beautiful beachfront campsites, awesome four wheel driving, history, waterfalls and not to mention spectacular weather – does this sound like somewhere you would like to check out? If so, put Cape York on your bucket list.

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ur Cape York tour starts from Cairns, and we get straight into it as we venture up the Bloomfield Track into the Daintree Rainforest. Along the way we spend an hour or so with an Aboriginal guide who takes us on a tour of Wajul Wajul (Bloomfield Falls) before we settle into our camp at the iconic Lions Den Hotel. This pub certainly has no shortage of atmosphere and is a great venue for all of us to share a cold beer and get to know each other better.

The next morning, with bleary eyes we make our way into Cooktown where we head straight up Grassy Hill to see where Captain Cook made his way into the Endeavour River over 200 years ago. Then we’re off to the coloured sands of Elim Beach before setting up at Eddy’s camp not far from the coloured sands. Another great night shared with newfound friends.

Day three sees us head through Lakefield National Park which is littered with history from Queensland’s early cattle industry and is a great place to see some of the most pristine waterholes that the Cape has to offer. We stop at Old Laura Homestead, where it is easy to imagine the hardships, but stunning country, endured by our early pioneers.

Heading north still, we then stay two nights in the Bauxite mining town of Weipa, which is a great place to have any mechanical issues sorted and has

a fully stocked supermarket. We take a bus tour of the mine, which also gives us a good tour of the town that it supports.

After a nice couple of days at Weipa, it‘s time to tackle The Old Telegraph Track.

This is the iconic 4WD destination and what most travellers come to the Cape for. We have three days to travel the 150km or so of the track and our first real obstacle, Palm Creek, is only a few kilometres from the turnoff onto the track. After a vertical drop into the creek there’s a long muddy hill climb to get out, and over the next few days we cross many creeks including Bertie, Cockatoo and of course the infamous Gunshot Creek. Thankfully, there is always the ‘chicken track’ though, and this year we needed to use it due to the erosion from a busy season already!

Halfway along the Telegraph Track we stop for a good few hours at Elliot Falls for a bit of R&R and a good wash. Then we head off again to tackle the old log bridge crossing and of course the deepest of them all, Nolan’s Brook. We were well prepared for this crossing with all cars using water blinds and having their snatch straps ready to go, and after walking the crossing first, all vehicles made it through with no worries.

We cross the Jardine River on the ferry and make our way up to Seisia where we set up for three nights. With a free day available, a few travellers take a day tour out to Horn and Thursday Island whilst

others just catch up on some washing and have a look over their vehicles to make sure they were ready for the long trip back south.

Next day, it’s a visit to the very tip itself.

We’ve made it to the northernmost tip of mainland Australia! We spend some time taking it all in before checking out the graves of the Jardine family and returning to camp via some of the World War II relics around Seisia, including a crashed DC3 and a Beaufort Bomber.

Then it’s time to head back down, and our first night we camp at Vrylia Point which is about as good as beach camping gets, with great fishing, a gentle sea breeze and a beautiful sunset dropping down over the water. Our next, and final, stop is at Jowalbinna Bush Camp where our guide takes us on an awe inspiring private tour of some of the best Aboriginal art you will ever see.

Jowalbinna has hot showers and big grassy campsites flanked by beautiful mountains. What a great way to finish our adventure.

Back onto the tarmac, our last day on tour takes us through the mountains around Mount Molloy before descending back into Cairns. We’ve just spent 15 days exploring the Tip of Australia, and it is fantastic. I’ve ticked that one off my bucket list now, when will you???

GOLD CLASS ADVENTURES www.goldclassadventures.com

Top Image: Jardine River Ferry Bottom Image: Vrylia Point on the West Coast 18 |

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St Sa’S large& Caravan nt Camping eve

wednesday 17 February to Sunday 21 February

10am to 5pm

at the adelaide Showground

product demos Ferris wheel kids entertainment seminars see all the leading caravan & camping brands

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In The Spotlight - Peta Murray

Name: Peta Murray State: New South Wales Occupation: I currently work part-time in a busy bakery in Byron Bay while moonlighting as a freelance travel writer.

Background: I grew up in beachside Newcastle before moving to Bathurst in the Central West of NSW to study communications at Charles Sturt University in the early nineties. On completion of my degree, I travelled the world for several years which did little for my career prospects but deeply embedded the travel bug, sowing the seed for countless future journeys and adventures.

How did you get into this industry?

After years of working in hospitality, someone one day asked me what I’d REALLY like to do for a job and, without hesitation, I said I’d love to be a travel writer.

That conversation was a catalyst. Shortly after, I bit the bullet and embarked on a freelance writing course. Upon completion of the six-month course, I had a travel article accepted for publication and, with the proverbial foot in the door, I’ve been lucky enough to get many more stories published in a variety of newspapers and magazines.

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Favourite destination you have travelled to?

Every single one of them but…Platypus Bay on the west coast of Fraser Island deserves an honourable mention.

Between the months of July and November each year, the impossibly clear waters off west Fraser become a nursery and playground for thousands of whales, with beach camping providing front row seats for the humpbacks and their haunting underwater song. An unforgettable experience.

Best camping adventure, and who with?

The Gibb River Road is one of my most memorable camping trips, a journey undertaken several years ago with four friends packed into a Nissan Navara. The timeless beauty of the Kimberley, the stunning gorges along the way, crocodile encounters, the sheer remoteness of it all and the ubiquitous punctured tyre or three make it one of Australia’s truly iconic road trips. If you haven’t already, add it to the bucket list.

From left to right: Peta Murray. Photo: Damian Williams | Gumboots in granite country. Girraween National Park, Queensland – NSW border. Photo: Damian Williams | Cooling off in Fern Pool, Karijini National Park, WA. Photo: Peta Murray. | Signpost along the Gibb River Road, WA. Image courtesy of Tourism WA | Over 160 species of bird call Lamington National Park home. Photo: Peta Murray

Best campsite?

At the risk of cheating, I’m going to name my top three…

Green Mountains campground in Lamington National Park, south-east Queensland, for its incredible abundance of birdlife; Red Cliff campground in Yuraygir National Park, south of Yamba, where you can watch the antics of the resident kangaroos and sleep to the sound of the sea; and Dales Gorge campground in Karijini National Park, Western Australia’s Pilbara region, where you can stroll down for a refreshing dip in stunning Fern Pool before falling asleep to a starry desert sky and the eerie howl of dingoes.

Camping product you can’t live without: My trusty old gumboots. Walking shoes are a contentious issue, with everyone who ventures into the great outdoors having a different opinion on which footwear is best. But, for comfort, durability and all-weather versatility, my vote goes to the gumboot. Hey, if potato farmer Cliff Young could run a marathon in them…

Favourite esky: Any esky that keeps my end-of-day beer nice and cold!

But, seriously, you can’t go past Igloo for a great coolbox.

Favourite sleeping bag: The Sportztrek Extra Lite III…packs away small, is light to carry as the name suggests, micro-fibre insulation ensures warmth even in zero degree temperatures and it’s durable enough to be thrown in the washing machine when you get home.

Are you a sunset or sunrise person?

Definitely sunset! My partner is your typical “up and at ‘em” morning person but, despite his best efforts and copious amounts of caffeine, he’s yet to convince me that dawn (yawn) is the better part of the day.

Your favourite tent:

Do you prefer camping or glamping?

The King Camp Explore 2 is excellent for bush camping due to its light weight and all-weather capacities while the King Camp Holiday 3 is a great roomier option for tenting in places where you don’t have to carry your equipment too far.

I prefer camping just because it feels more like the real deal. Getting right back to the basics is, to me, what “getting away from it all” is really about. With that said, I have to admit that I never say no to a hot shower after a day or two of roughing it.

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Favourite camping activity: Hiking. There’s no better way to see a place than travelling on foot, and being at ground-level greatly increases your chances of encountering the local wildlife.

Most memorable camping misadventure: A few years ago my partner and I decided to hike out to the southern rim of Lamington National Park in southeast Queensland and bush camp for the night. We hadn’t done too much remote bush camping at this stage so our planning had been meticulous and we’d filled our packs with enough gear to cover any contingency nature could hurl at us. “Everything but the kitchen sink” would have been an appropriate description and our packs weighed a collective tonne. After hours of walking, we finally reached our night’s camp spot and gratefully nudged the packs off our weary backs. Pulling out the gas cooker, we sat down to brew a well-earned cuppa only to discover that the one item we hadn’t remembered to pack was the humble box of matches. Just for the record, crunchy instant noodles are NOT a crowd-pleaser!

Favourite photo ever taken: I’m always excited to get a great wildlife shot so my favourite would have to be a photo I snapped of a humpback whale and calf in Platypus Bay off the west coast of Fraser Island. We were on a small catamaran at the time and the whales swam directly over to us, passing beneath the boat several times as if to say g’day before eventually carrying on with their journey. I was in such awe at witnessing these magnificent ocean giants up so close that I literally forgot to breathe (but fortunately remembered to take a happy snap)!

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Clockwise from top left: My favourite photo - whale and calf in the clear waters of Platypus Bay, west coast Fraser. Photo: Peta Murray | Taking in the view from The Needles, Gibraltar Range National Park in northern NSW. Photo: Damian Williams | Wonder what the glampers are doing today. Green Mountains campground, Lamington National Park. Photo: Peta Murray | Johnston freshwater crocodile at Windjana Gorge, Gibb River Road. Image courtesy of Tourism WA

What will be your next adventure?

We are planning a trip to Tasmania early next year and intend to hike through the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, taking several days and camping out. The remoteness of the area, the level of self-sufficiency required and, of course, the notorious Tassie climate will all be challenging but I can’t wait.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Still travelling and writing…maybe saving up for a campervan to “do the lap” of Australia and see this incredible country in its entirety. No doubt with a tent (and gumboots) tucked under the bed!

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ET’s Kangaroo Valley Camping Adventure Words & Images by Andrew Ettingshausen

A

s a child growing up, I always wanted to be a dairy farmer, and often set up my ‘toy farm’ on the lounge room floor. I’d have the farmhouse and sheds, with a good menagerie of chooks, ducks, sheep, horses, pigs and a herd of cows spread out across the floor. This fascination with a farmer’s life was built on my father’s upbringing in the beautiful southern NSW town of Kangaroo Valley.

We would often go and visit my Grandparents there, and I loved heading out on the farms with dad as he did the rounds catching up with his old school mates. I loved this part of NSW, and whilst the relatives are no longer living there, I still get down a few times each year to enjoy this magical valley.

Camping in the Valley is one of the highlights of the year, and setting up the Coleman campsite is still as much fun as ever. Instead of the big Coleman tent, which used to house the whole family, we now carry a few ‘Instant-Up’ 4-person tents and within seconds the campsite is ready to go. These tents are amazing! Gone is the worry of sorting out the gear and making sure you’ve got all the pegs and poles.

It’s all contained within the Instant-Up and within a few minutes you’re putting the last of the tent pegs in the ground and setting up the rest of your camping gear.

From top to bottom: For more shade and protection I always add a Coleman Event 14 deluxe with sun wall and attach it to my main family tent | I always pack a fishing rod because most Australian rivers have great sportfish like this Aussie Bass | My favourite time, sitting around the campfire with family and friends 24 |

With dinner over, sitting around the fire at night watching “bush television” with your friends is one of the great things in life. We are fortunate to be able to camp on one of dad’s old school mate’s properties, right beside the Kangaroo River, which is another reason why I like to head down to the Valley. The fishing can be awesome off the bank or in a kayak as it’s home to a native Australian Bass. Bass love the crystal clear fresh water that runs off the escarpments through the creeks to the main river. The habitat is perfect with lots of fallen trees to call home and an abundance of frogs, grasshoppers and cicadas to feast on.

Nowadays I’m showing my daughters’ boyfriends how to catch these hard fighting native fish and they’re loving the challenge! Of course, a visit to the dairy with my kids at milking time to watch our good friend and farmer Graham in action is always on the top of the list.

The Valley is definitely one of my most favourite parts of the world.

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Image: I love getting up early and going for a fish along the river bank, it’s so peaceful and relaxing

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5 MINUTES WITH ET Favourite place you have ever camped at?

I have done a lot of camping over the years but the one place I return to every year is the beautiful area of Kangaroo Valley in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Best camping memory?

There is something special about getting up just on dawn and wandering down to the river to drop a line in. The mist rolling across the fields and the cows wandering through our campsite are great memories.

Favourite camping product?

First place you ever camped at and who with?

I love the 4-person Coleman InstantUp Tent range. They’re so easy to set up and pull down. It means more fun camping and less time setting and packing up.

If you could camp anywhere, where would it be?

Can’t live without when camping?

A good Esky. I usually take a small 10 litre Classic for day excursions and a big Ice King Cooler for all the food and drinks we need to keep cool for our daily meals.

The Kangaroo River with my family, Uncles, Aunts and Cousins.

I love remote beaches. I am looking forward to camping around the Tip of Australia on a trip we will shoot in December this year.

Are you a sunrise or sunset guy?

As a keen angler sunrise and sunset

are usually peak fishing times, so I love them both.

How do you keep your fire burning?

Once you have lit the kindling and burnt a few thicker branches to create some coals, it’s time to lay those hardwood logs on. The hot coals and a bit of added kindling from time to time will keep your fire smoldering along.

What rod and reel do you use to catch Bass?

I love a Shimano 3 Zero 2-5 kilo rod, with a Shimano Stradic 2500 reel.

Best bait to use catching Bass: I tend to use lures over bait although a live garden worm will work every time.

Lures vary from little Warlock deep divers to soft plastics and vibes, to surface poppers.

Any secret tips?

My favourite time is in Summer when the cicadas call. I like to fish with surface poppers and crawlers to imitate a cicada or frog, and watch the big Bass strike hard on top of the water.

Top: A nice Aussie Bass Below from left to right: Setting up campsite | My Hobie Kayak gets me to places on the river which are impossible to walk to and usually hold all the fish

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Seven Days P in

erhaps if I write really fast I’ll manage to fit seven fabulous days and six nights in Somerset into four pages – or I could make the images really small – but that would serve only to short change a tale that deserves words and pictures as charismatic and colourful as the place in which they were conceived.

Words by Andrea Ferris

The Somerset region is close to the Sunshine Coast, really close to Brisbane, and even closer to Ipswich; as demonstrated by the bloke that camped next to us at Lake Wivenhoe who arrived with his camper trailer at 8.30am, unhooked, set up, and drove back home to collect his boat! It’s been largely a ‘drive or ride-by’ destination for the other half (TOH) and I: a coffee stop on a motorbike ride or a quick pie’n’go on the way to other places seemingly more exotic because they are further from our coastal home.

It was then, with a sense of curious anticipation, that I happily accepted an invitation from Somerset Regional Council to explore their region to test run their ‘real country real adventure’ brand.

In barely enough time for the coffee in the travel mug to cool, we arrived at SEQ Lakeside Escapes, based at the Captain Logan and Lumley Hill camp grounds on the southern end of Lake Wivenhoe.

The campgrounds, separated by an inlet, accommodate more than 100 campers in peak season, but on a sunny Tuesday in September, there were only a handful of campers gracing the shady, gently sloping lakeshore. There are powered sites, but we chose a self-sufficient spot close to the water’s edge for easy kayak launching.

Tackling the Trails A quick sandwich was consumed as TOH unravelled the mountain bikes from the rack (a complex web of Velcro, occy straps and padding) and we were off to ride the Wivenhoe Hill trails, a new 16-kilometre network of multi-use trails by the lake.

It’s an easy three-kilometre ride from Lumley Hill to the site where there’s a

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choice of trails to walk, run, mountain bike or horse ride – joy of joy, no vehicles or motorbikes allowed. The Blue Trail winds around the edge of the lake. Parts were steep, rocky and challenging, giving rise to the literal interpretation of ‘push bike’! Blue then joined the Black Trail, a bitumen hill – long, steep climb up and exhilarating freewheel down to complete a ten-kilometre loop and a respectable 17-kilometre afternoon’s effort.

After a well-earned hot shower, TOH lit the fire and we enjoyed our first Somerset sundowners. (Fires are permitted in designated fire rings or your own fire box and BYO wood.) As a bonus, a full moon rose over the hill in front as the sun set on our back.

Reptiles and Rail Trails Carolling magpies heralded Wednesday’s arrival. A stiff breeze and choppy water meant our adventure of choice was peddling over paddling.

It’s a ten-minute drive to the small rural town of Coominya where the old railway station is a fitting place to park the car and ride the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail northwards to Esk. What’s wonderful about rail trails is that the grade is only ever about two percent and there are no nasty steep surprises.

The 24-plus-a-bit kilometres to Esk is

mostly upwards; a gentle, but constant, climb. The trail is often rough and rocky (padded bike shorts recommended!) and meanders through bush and farm land.

A heart attack moment happened as I cycled over a snake curled up in the sun – I’m not sure who got the biggest fright!

There are four magnificent decommissioned trestle bridge crossings to negotiate where the track drops steeply down into the gully and up the other side. Definitely a ‘push’ bike effort unless you’re extremely experienced and fit.

After almost three hours we arrived at the old Esk station, restored and part of a lovely recreation area. TOH and I made a beeline for the Esk Bakery in the main street, ravenous and ready to tuck into a country-style chicken salad roll and sample a mouth-watering lemon meringue tart. Enter ‘Alvin’ – a cheeky knitted gnome made locally with the proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. (Choose carefully – some more risqué than others…) Fully sated, it was back on the bike for the, mostly, downhill, reptile-free ride back to Coominya where TOH, fantasising about a beer, headed for the pub and I, fantasising about sugar, headed to the local grocery store for a well-earned ice-cream. Back at Lumley Hill, the trail dust washed away, we

enjoyed another fire, some marinated chicken and salad, guiltily followed by chocolate, and an early night.

Perfect Paddling A still Thursday dawn. Not a breath of wind or a ripple on the lake. By 9.00am we’d packed and parked the van and were paddling southeast to Cormorant Bay. The kayaks glided past kangaroos grazing at the water’s edge and vast flocks of cormorants, darters and pelicans hovering nervously nearby.

The timbered hills in the distance provide a green contrast to the mirror-like water and drought-parched grazing land on the opposite shore. We stopped for a muesli bar break on a peninsula, clearly an eagle’s midden, littered with the skeletal remains of creatures great and small.

About two and a half hours (roughly 12km) later we landed at Cormorant Bay, the ‘business’ end of the lake with the dam wall and power station, and the gorgeous Cormorant Bay Café.

Enjoying ‘retirement’, although she’s probably never worked so hard, café owner Terry joined us on the sundrenched verandah overlooking the lake to recount how two years hence she’d sat at the very same table and had an epiphany that led to her present day epicurean existence.

Clockwise from far left: Kayaking on Lake Wivenhoe | Campsite on the shores of Lake Wivenhoe at Lumley Hill. Photo Andrea Ferris | Brisbane Valley Rail Trail – horse riders at Logan Creek – Coominya to Esk. Photo: Paul Heymans | Fernvale cyclists on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

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The menu is a delightful choice ranging from gourmet sandwiches to Asian cuisine. Terry prides her successful business on fresh food and good service.

‘The view,’ she laughs, ‘is just an added bonus!’

difficult to describe without resorting to cliché superlatives. The view is breathtaking and the house, built with local blue stone and timber, envelops you with a feeling of serenity – the working world could be thousands of miles away.

On the paddle back we witnessed the most amazing phenomenon: literally thousands of birds on the lake all taking off as one. The water was glassy and the sound like a thundering waterfall.

Truly spectacular.

Cam only recently began letting the house as a getaway retreat and has plans to include a few spots for camping on the property. Back in Esk, TOH and I felt entitled to a ‘treat’ considering the calories we’d burned lately and where better to find one than at the Nash Gallery & Café in the main street. Sandee creates sweet treats and husband Gary creates beautiful pottery and it all comes together under the roof of the historic Lars Andersen house. We sat on yet another gorgeous verandah surrounded by colourful local arts and crafts and scoffed the best apricot and prune tart I’ve ever tasted!

As the sun sank low on the horizon we bid farewell to Lake Wivenhoe and hello to Atkinson Dam, about a 20-minute drive west.

The renamed Atkinson Dam Holiday Park is being renovated, regenerated, resurrected and restored by the energetic and enthusiastic new owners, Wayne and Wendy. It was a mighty transformation and the results are spectacular – the bathroom was better than my own at home!

We sat on yet another gorgeous verandah surrounded by colourful local arts and crafts and scoffed the best apricot and prune tart I’ve ever tasted!

The park, set in a rural area, is a short walk to the dam and some sites have water views. We’re looking forward to returning to see the finished product.

Tarts and Tree Tops We certainly hadn’t shirked any ‘real adventure’ up to this point, but it was time to seek some rest and relaxation under the shady trees at the Esk Caravan Park.

Before we put our feet up though we grabbed another couple of chicken salad rolls from the Esk Bakery and joined Cam for lunch on the verandah of his stone house, about 20 kilometres up the road at Ravensbourne.

The aptly-named StoneHouse Retreat sits on an escarpment amid 165 acres of Australian bush and, quite frankly, is

Alas, it was Friday, which in September can only mean one thing – where in a Queensland country town can an AFL match be viewed? Why, at the Club Hotel owned by the step-son of a Hawthorn football great of course. And there’s good value country pub meals on offer to boot.

Llamas and Lamps Foregoing high fibre and low fat, TOH insisted on a sausage sanga for Saturday brekkie at the Esk markets, held every Saturday morning with a range of stalls offering antiques and old wares, to home-made beanies and bootees. My pocket money went on a circa 1900 kerosene lamp complete with reflector – a gorgeous reminder of the days before electricity.

Intending to head north to Jimna, we managed a whole 17 kilometres to Toogoolawah before being sidetracked at the Toogoolawah Railway Markets.

Here we met Mark and Louise from Ottaba Llamas who run llama walks on the rail trail near their property. Llamas are, apparently, friendlier than alpacas – less prone to spit when they get cross, which TOH was happy to hear as he headed off on a little llama liaison.

We bought local jam, filled up on

From top to bottom: The town of Esk | Kayaking at Savages Crossing near Fernvale

delicious Asian food and then, feeling decidedly soporific in the spring sunshine, decided to stay the night at the Toogoolawah Showground.

Caretakers Bev and Gordon provide a friendly welcome and a ‘park anywhere, love’ attitude.

After a cup of coffee, a read of the paper and some entertainment watching the skydivers from nearby Skydive Ramblers gliding precariously back to earth, we took an afternoon drive through cattle station country to the westernmost edge of the region to enjoy some impressive views from atop the Biarra Range.

Falling and Four-Wheel Drives The old stables and grandstand were shrouded in mist on Sunday morning, bringing back memories of other country showgrounds on the show horse circuit.

Today, though, it’s the caravan that gets hitched up as we make our way a couple GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

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ESK Town ESK To

Clockwise from left: Esk antiques | Brisbane Valley Rail Trail – Coominya Railway Station | Nash Gallery & Cafe at Esk | The kayaks gliding by pelicans on the shore of Lake Wivenhoe. Photo: Andrea Ferris

of kilometres to Ramblers to get a closer look at the skydiving. ‘Have a go at a tandem,’ says Chief Instructor, Macca (Dave McEvoy) as I asked permission to take a few photos. ‘Absolutely no way in hell,’ or words to that effect, was my answer! Happy to leave our feet well and truly planted on terra firma we absorbed the adrenalin-soaked ambience for a while trying (and failing) to capture a really great parachuting image – harder than you’d think without a megazoom lens.

After all that nervous energy our next stop at the Winya Winery was most welcome.

Sue and Gary Pratten’s boutique vineyard is in the picturesque Mt Kilcoy valley and one of six wineries on the Somerset Valleys Wine Trail. (We just didn’t have time to visit all of them so have provided

Talk to a local

a guide on page 30.) Winya specialises in delicious Angus steak barbecue meals with wine tastings and sales. My recommendation: the Angus Red, a light, fruity wine best served slightly chilled and perfect for summer lunch.

Speaking of lunch, the Kilcoy Bakery beckoned where a chicken mornay pie provided nourishment for the hour’s drive north through the Conondale Ranges to Landcruiser Mountain Park – four-wheeldrive heaven for big boys and their toys.

Alben Perrett’s been welcoming off-road enthusiasts to his 10,000-acre property for more than 25 years. In fact, he told us that more than 300,000 vehicles had visited the park since it opened.

Bush camping anywhere on the property is encouraged, but we chose the Cowah Falls campground, which has a toilet and hot shower. The road in is suitable

Monday morning was too lovely to do anything but kick back in the quiet and read a good book. Reluctantly, I was persuaded to go for a short drive around one of the less challenging tracks that criss-cross the park. We did have two kayaks and two bikes on board, so no serious off-roading was possible, however I did get a good sense of what’s on offer for those that thrive in low range.

A park pass is good for 24 hours so it wasn’t until 2.00pm that we trekked back to the office to sign out and head home.

Doodling in the dusty ute door I reflected on the past week. Did the Somerset region live up to its ‘Real Country Real Adventure’ tag? Indubitably!

Friendly travel advice ~ Tourist maps Directions ~ Brochures ~ Souvenirs

Visitor Information Centres Esk Visitor Information Centre

Fernvale Futures Complex

Kilcoy Information Centre

82 Ipswich Street Esk Qld. 4312 P: (07) 5424 2923

1483 Brisbane Valley Hwy Fernvale Qld. 4306 P: (07) 5427 0200

Yowie Park, Hope Street Kilcoy Qld. 4515 P: (07) 5424 4000

P: (07) 5424 4000

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for two-wheel drives (just) and off-road vans and trailers only. On Sunday night after everyone had gone home the wallabies and deer appeared and all that could be heard was the hoot of an owl.

E: tourism@somerset.qld.gov.au

@Somerset_tourism

www.somerset.qld.gov.au

Somerset Tourism

www.somerset.qld.gov.au ESK Centre ESKTown Town ious s DeliecCentre D odiodu Folic ESK Town Centre Foo ESK Town Centre

n Centre own Centre

s Delicioiouus elic od DFo Food

s DeliDceiolicuious d od FooFo

• Delicious FreshFood Food•• Devonshire DevonshireTeas Teas • Delicious Fresh • Home Baked Sweet Treats and Cakes • Home Baked Sweet Treats and Cakes Nash GalleryJams Jamsand andPreserves Preserves • •Nash Gallery • Home Decor Wares • Award WinningPotter Potter • Home Decor Wares • Award Winning • Flowers Essences • Flowers Essences • Open 7 days a week 8am - 5pm • Open 7 days a week 8am - 5pm

• Group Bookings available both Day and Evening Meals • Group Bookings available both Day and Evening Meals 212 Ipswich St, Esk Ph: (07) 5424 2424 212 Email: Ipswich St, Esk Ph: (07) 5424 2424 info@nashgalleryesk.com.au Find us on Email: info@nashgalleryesk.com.au www.nashgalleryesk.com.au Facebook Find us on www.nashgalleryesk.com.au Facebook

A pleasant Whitsunday afternoon Words by Sandy Pavey – SCAMPER Island Camping

Long white beaches, snorkelling over coral reefs only metres away from your tent, enjoying scenic walks on a deserted island – all this and more awaits you when you camp on the Whitsunday Islands.

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To get there, check out Whitsunday Island Camping Connection Pty Ltd. They operate the vessel SCAMPER from Shute Harbour which is only nine kilometres from Airlie Beach. SCAMPER runs transfers for independent travellers to the National Park camp sites on the Whitsunday Islands, where you can relax at places such as:

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Whitehaven Beach – one of the world’s best beaches. See the moon rise or a sky full of stars.

Explore the eight kilometres of pure white silica sand and a 3.6 kilometre bush walk across to Chance Bay. Paddle Bay and Sandy Bay on South Molle Island – for some snorkelling, beach and 15 kilometres of scenic walks, these tracks are also open for mountain bikes.

Crayfish Beach, Maureen’s Cove and Steens on Hook Island – are remote and beautiful sites which offer some of the best coral reefs and snorkelling in the area.

Cid Harbour offers Dugong Beach, Naris Beach and Joes Beach.

Dugong Beach – is the camp site for the walk up

to the Whitsunday Peak, our highest point on the islands, which is a four hour return trek.

Naris Beach and Joes Beach – offer snorkelling and sheltered small camp sites.

The Cairn camp site also has some snorkelling and a walk up to the Cairn which is a prominent landmark at the northern end of Whitsunday Island.

Denman Island and Planton Island – are small islands that offer a deserted island experience.

All of the above sites have toilets and tables. Our return transfers include water – we supply five litres per person per day. Other than that, campers need to take all their own food and personal supplies with them, as there are no shops at the camp sites or on the islands.

No camp gear? We have camp kits that are basic but adequate and include tent, sleeping mats, mess kits (plates, cups cutlery etc), pot and pan, 1 x 1 burner stove, torch and esky, and other items such as snorkel, mask and fins are available for hire.

We can also carry kayaks on the vessel, but if you don’t have your own, our

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Shute Harbour neighbours, Salty Dog Sea Kayaking have sit-on top kayaks, and sea going kayaks for hire. We can also transfer you to one site and pick you up from another, if you wish to paddle/ kayak from site to site.

You can stay for the amount of nights that you book your National Park camp permit for and we will pick you up on the prearranged day. You can also do multiple sites if you like, with Whitehaven Beach and Crayfish Beach being two popular sites as they both offer such a different experience.

For information about the different sites, what they offer and the return transfer prices, check www.whitsundaycamping. com.au. Call or email for the boat’s schedule and availability for the day that you wish to travel, as departure times are set to work with the tides.

National Park camp permits cost $5.95 pp/per night and are easy to obtain at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au. Whitsunday Island Camping Connection Pty Ltd are an authorised agent with the National Parks, so we can book your permits for you if you wish.

Camping offers you the option of enjoying and exploring the islands at your own pace, staying for one night or ten nights. www.whitsundaycamping.com.au

Clockwise from far left: Campers unloading from SCAMPER | Looking from the tent at Crayfish Beach | Kate on top of the Peak | Campers at Sandy Bay

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Image: Morning light kisses one of the Jawoyn kids as we prepare to leave Crystal Creek 38 |

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Walking through

HISTORY ON THE

l i a r T a Jatbul

T

Words & Images by Melanie Ball

Hundreds of red-tailed black cockatoos, feathers fanning out like flames, fly tree to tree ahead as we begin our 63-kilometre journey along the western edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment.

The Jatbula Trail is like a necklace; a chain of sandstone scrub, woodland and leafy riverine landscapes strung with jewels of permanent water. Over the next six days we will climb to valley views and dip into creeks thick with screwpines; walk beneath peeling paperbarks and over rocky rises crowned with salmon gums and kapok trees with blousy yellow flowers; weave through swathes of tigerstriped grasses, fern-leafed grevilleas and frothy pink turkey bushes; raising dust and squelching mud as we follow blue arrows wired to trees. Each day ends in a campsite beside a stunningly beautiful lagoon or waterfall.

he Jawoyn people have walked the songline between Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) and Leliyn (Edith Falls) for millennia so I feel privileged and excited checking in for the Jatbula Trail in Nitmiluk National Park. From the visitor centre it’s down to the jetty to join a boatload of travellers taking a morning cruise of Katherine Gorge, but my husband Simon and I only need to cross to the opposite bank where we jump off and haul our packs onto flat ground bristling with yellow grass.

The trail is named after Jawoyn elder Peter Jatbula, who was instrumental in this land being handed back to traditional owners in 1989, and a Jawoyn mob trails us into camp at Biddlecombe Cascades that first afternoon. Three adults (two Jawoyn Rangers, who look after country) and six kids, one of whom is Peter Jatbula’s grandson, are also walking the trail as part of a school holiday program.

With Simon and I is a married couple from Tasmania and two work mates from Brisbane. Together we total 15 in number, the daily limit for the trail.

We cool off in Biddlecombe Cascades, where they pool before cannoning down into a gorge. The Jawoyn kids descend, splashing about and clambering surefootedly over wet rocks that we avoid.

A red ochre figure with spiked hair painted

on pale rock, one of two Aboriginal art sites on the trail, is a highlight of our second day on the trail, which ends with us pitching our tent beside Crystal Creek and skinny dipping in a lagoon trimmed with waterlilies.

We cross the creek to start day three, and make our way along to watch the sun set from beside 17 Mile Creek, where it has scooped out and polished deep pools before zigzagging through a rocky barrage and plummeting off the escarpment. Along the way we encounter an extraordinary woman, wearing breast girdle, bracelets, wrist and knee bands, and nose-bone, painted in white, yellow and red on the amphitheatre (more than 400 Aboriginal art sites have been recorded in Nitmiluk National Park). She is a Jawoyn spirit

| G O CGAOMCPAI N MGP,I N F IGS,HFI INSG H I& NG 4W &D4 A WDDVA EN DV TE UN RT EU S R|E S39

39

FACT FILE figure that can entice young men away to their doom – so I am fortunate that Simon is in his fifties!

Despite being graded medium-tohard Jatbula holds few challenges for regular walkers but the Jawoyn mob straggle into 17 Mile Falls well after us.

Gloria, one of the Rangers, bemoans the “hills” we hardly noticed, whilst the kids, desperate to get to the Katherine Show on Saturday, decide they need to start earlier and walk quicker.

Day four is the longest on the trail, and beginning the 17 kilometre hike in pre-dawn pastel light secures us an afternoon of bliss in and around Sandy Camp Pool with a rainbow bee-eater plucking insects from the air overhead.

Many hikers do Jatbula in five days but

we’re in no hurry so while the others have 15.5 kilometres to Leliyn/Edith Falls, we’re treading a measly 11 kilometres to Sweetwater Pool, a stretch of Edith River divided into natural swimming pools by machine-smooth layers of rock.

Having waved the Jawoyn mob goodbye, we spend a long, lazy afternoon in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

And a night alone under a sparkling canopy of stars. Next morning I’m slow to pack up, for while I long for a hot shower and cold drink, I am reluctant to tread those last few kilometres off the escarpment. They’re incredibly scenic, taking in the extended Long Pool on Edith River, and whilst the barra burger and oven-fresh scones at Edith Falls Kiosk are scrumptious, part of me just wants to turn around and go back.

The recommended Jatbula Trail season is 1 June – 30 September.

Bookings commence 1 November at 9am (ACST) for the following year; book online at www.parksandwildlife.nt.gov.au or contact Parks Information Desk on 08 8972 1886 (8am – 4pm) or parks.desk@nitmiluktours.com.au.

A camping fee of $3.30 per person per night is payable at time of booking. Gecko Canoeing and Trekking (08 8972 2224 or gecko@nttours.com) operates transfers between Katherine and the trail.

Clockwise from left: Our Tasmanian walking companions check out the view from the rocky barrage through which 17 Mile Creek runs before plummeting off the escarpment | Soaking up the gorgeousness of Sweetwater Pool | We follow blue arrows along the Jatbula Trail

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© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2012

JATBULA TRAIL

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Christmas Wish List BreggOs Edible Egg Rings

Power Up Your Next Campsite

For efficient camping cooking, what better way than cooking your eggs in an edible ring! BreggOs® Edible Egg Rings are a puff pastry ring, of a similar size to a metal egg ring. The BreggOs are placed in a pan or barbeque plate and an egg is then cracked into the ring for cooking. Best of all they have a long shelf life and do not require refrigeration.

Nothing beats the freedom of going off-road and setting up camp away from the crowds, whether it’s in the comfort of a caravan or the family tent. But when day turns to dusk, enjoying the little conveniences of home like lights, fridges and your laptop is only possible if you have a reliable portable power source.

RRP: $4.55 Stockists and more information: www.breggos.com.au

New Evakool Portable Fridges Evakool has released a new TravelMate range of 12 volt fridge/freezers. The new TravelMate range comprises a choice of end and side opening models with three sizes in each style ranging from 38 to 80 litres. The modern, rugged looking cabinet incorporates many features and in particular a unique design that enables the lid to be opened from either side or removed completely.

The Briggs & Stratton PowerSmart™ Series™ of Inverter Generators are ideal for caravanners, campers and 4-Wheel drivers who like to head bush for a few days (or weeks) but don’t want the noise, fuel smells and power surges that are typically associated with traditional camping generators.

For more information about Briggs & Stratton generators, including price and stockists visit www.briggsandstratton.com.au

RRP: Between $1079 – $1399 including a protective cover and a five year warranty.

Stockists and more information: www.evakool.com

Garmin Epix Now you can get all the functions of a Garmin ABC (altimeter, barometer, compass) device, plus the full-colour maps that let you not only track where you’ve been, but let you plan for what’s ahead, with the Garmin Epix. The revolutionary Exo™ antenna means better signal strength and quicker fixes. An 8GB internal memory can support additional mapping, and the Smart Notification function means you will never miss a text, email or notification, unless you want to stay off the grid.

RRP: $799 Stockists and more information: www.garmin.com.au 42 |

GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

New Bullbar Anyone?

Opposite Lock’s Bullbar Design Team have come up with a range of premium bullbars for the recently released Nissan Navara NP300, Landrover Discovery 4 and Mitsubishi Triton MQ, that sets new standards of style, durability, and reliable functionality. All are ADR and airbag compliant, they are phosphate cleaned, textured matt black powder coat finish for added durability and can be colour coded if required at an extra charge.

For more information on price and stockists visit www.oppositelock.com.au or call 1800 624 444.

Space Saving Water Bottles New in 2015 is the collapsible Hydrapak Stash™ Bottle. The soft TPU walled bottle integrates an innovative moulded top and bottom that snaps together for easy storage and transport.

When ready to drink, simply squeeze to release, remove screw-cap, and fill.

The Stash™ is a perfect companion for camping, adventure travel, and everyday use. Available in 750ml and 1L bottles.

RRP: From $18

Power Strip Light Bar Kits 12V LED lighting is fast becoming one of the most effective ways to light up your campsite. New model LEDs are brighter and use less power and the Outdoor Connection Power Strip Light Bar Kits are a complete lighting package containing the light bars, 12V plug and lead, assorted extension cables and splitters and dimmer switches.

The 4 Bar Kit also has a 240V to 12V transformer (36W). It comes in a neat compact carry bag.

RRP: 4 Bar Kit $259.90 and the 2 Bar Kit $154.90 Stockists and more information: www.outdoorconnection.com.au

To purchase and more information: www.hydrapak.com

Bosch High-Pressure Washer To Clean Up Life’s messy – clean it up with Bosch’s extensive highpressure washer range. Models vary in flow rate and pressure, but all offer a robust cleaner. Already assembled and ready for use with a range of accessories you’ll have the camping gear all clean and ready to go for your next trip.

For price, stockists and more information visit www.bosch.com.au

GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

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Tool Master – MP600 Pro Scout by Gerber

Shelter From Your Car Get your hands on a Rhino-Rack Dome 1300 Awning for your vehicle to give you some extra shade on your next campsite.

The roof domes up to offer the extra headroom underneath and the awning provides weather protection from rain and sun, and easily mounts to the front, side or rear of your vehicle. Made from a heavy-duty rip-stop polycotton, it is tough, weather/water proof, mould resistant and UV50+ protected. The coverage area is a generous 2.5 m x 2.4 m. It’s quick to set up and easy to use, is compatible with most vehicle roof rack channels, and comes with a one year warranty.

This multitool is perfect for anyone that doesn’t like to be caught unprepared in any situation. Featuring 15 stainless steel tools with independent tool rotation including; flick-open pliers, wire cutter, fine edge knife, serrated edge knife, 3 flat-blade screwdrivers, crimper, scale, crosspoint screwdriver, bottle/ can opener, Fiskars® scissors, universal saw coupler with the replaceable RemGrit blade, file and ruler. Saf.T.Plus™ component locking to keep you safe regardless of whether you’re using the Pro Scout or not.

RRP: $139.95 Stockists and more information: au.gerbergear.com

RRP: $379.00 Stockists and more information: www.rhinorack.com.au

Explore Cool Breeze Fan Summer camping can be tough in the heat, so this versatile fan is just what you need as part of your camping kit. The lightweight 12V DC powered fan has three speed settings, as well as folding legs for easy storage.

Measuring Your Battery Power

Available at all good camping stores.

With 12V power is becoming very popular with campers, Outdoor Connection has released two new products that will take the guesswork out of monitoring the battery usage. The Solar Charge Meter measures the power going into your battery from a portable solar panel and simply plugs into the power cable’s anderson plug, while the 12V Power Use Meter measures the power being used.

RRP: $154.90 for the Solar Charge Meter and $259.90 for the 12V Power Use Meter Stockists and more information: www.outdoorconnection.com.au

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GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2012

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GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

Australia’s

SOUTHERN PARADISE There are literally countless magnificent destinations to go camping and explore throughout Australia, but few offer the unique, unspoilt beauty and relaxed feel of the New South Wales Eurobodalla region.

In particular, the friendly and colourful township of Narooma, with its opal blue oceans and waterways, fringed by estuaries, eucalypt forests and rolling farmland.

Words & Images by Cliff Guy 46 |

GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

T

he locals here have every reason to smile as much as they do, enjoying life in what can only be described as a southern paradise.

Renowned as a prime fishing and nature-focused destination, Narooma’s stunning natural wonders are complemented by an impressive range of quality cafes, restaurants and clubs and further enhanced by some of the happiest and friendliest people I have ever met. Excellent camping areas can be found throughout the Eurobodalla shire, so establishing a good base in Narooma from which to explore is a breeze.

A pleasant 15 minute drive south along the edge of the Eurobodalla National Park is Mystery Bay, where there is

Clockwise from far left: The beautiful Wagonga Inlet Narooma | 4WDing through the eucalypt forests near Narooma | Getting back in touch with nature is always a good thing | Camping grounds at Mystery Bay | The waters off Narooma are a whale’s playground. Photo courtesy of Eurobodalla Shire Council.

ample camping adjacent to the sea.

The coastal rock structures here are made of black mudstone and slate, and date back nearly 500 million years to the Ordovician period. These are a result of immense tectonic pressure and just one of the many ancient sites in the Eurobodalla region that showcases a part of our 4.6-billion-year-old planet’s formation.

Camping is also available in the Mimosa Rocks National Park a little further south, Brou Lake campground in the Eurobodalla National Park and a number of areas north of Narooma.

Or you can take to the 4WD trails and head out a bit further up into the wilds of Bendethera Valley Campground in the Deua National Park. If you have the time, perhaps try all of these beautiful

spots, or you can simply set up seaside at the superbly located BIG4 Easts Holiday Park at Narooma where you are guaranteed the warmest welcome and an ideal central position to venture out from.

All in all, Narooma is one of most scenic towns and areas of the NSW Far South Coast Speaking of adventures, consider taking an eco-tour, fishing or whale watching expedition on one of Charter Fish Narooma’s purpose built crafts. From close encounters with Australian and New Zealand fur seals or snorkelling in crystal clear waters around Montague

Island, through to targeting some of the mightiest and tastiest fish species around, Benn and his crew enthusiastically deliver a safe and informative oceanic adventure to create lifelong memories.

Montague Island has earned the title of the Jewel in the Crown, with the northern part of the island made of lava extrusion from a volcanic eruption around 95 million years back. The southern end has been formed through intrusive igneous rocks that have cooled beneath the surface and weathered through erosion.

Montague’s land and surrounding waters are alive with seabirds, fish, whales and seals, and this amazing nature reserve is also rich in history, sitting just 9km off Narooma. A must see and explore for all visitors.

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Be rri W dale BENDIGO Dunolly 2228 Be Mount Beauty na Jin lla da byne Euroa Thredb Bermagui La Nimmitabe Mt Bogongke Dartmouth o Village l Stawell Stay safe and Bright enjoy your camping.

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Bairnsdalehen Orbost Cann River M M Cape Howe Pakenham ng Camperdown PORT Ma Pa ffr all a lla a ynesville n i u o r a c coo PHI h LLIP ac D Be Winchelsea o ot ta rragul Fish Narooma custom a Clockwise from below: One of the Charter e W Inle l C La a i ke r s anbourn En Cobden t tr M an ce Colac La ke Wellingt e Sa le M oe built boats | Ancient rock formations at Mystery Bay on Forrest Traralgon an Cowes Narooma is approximately 350km from Sydney and 680km y v t 0 Morwell 20 bell Leonga tha A Y Lorne ne ay e OT W from Melbourne.

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clothing and camping wise.

Visit these links to be sure of updated news and info on camping grounds, fees, rules and bookings.

Touch base with the happy team at Eurobodalla Tourism on 1800 802 528 or visit www.eurobodalla.com.au www.eastsnarooma.com.au www.charterfishnarooma.com Other handy links www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/ Mimosa-Rocks-National-Park www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-andaccommodation/campgrounds/middle-beach-campground www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-andaccommodation/campgrounds/Bendethera-Valleycampground

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© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2012

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Take a bite of Darwin T

here is no other city in Australia quite like Darwin. It has overcome great adversity, surviving the horrific bombing raids by the Japanese in WWII (there were 683 bombs dropped on the city), and the relentless, destructive and brutal force of Cyclone Tracey, which destroyed 70 per cent of the city on Christmas Eve in 1974.

Words by Helen Hayes

Darwin is hot in more ways than one, as Helen Hayes discovered.

There are signs of the war everywhere – old bombs are still found occasionally – and these sights blend into the tourist trails seamlessly. There is a surprising amount of things to do here, so don’t plan on just spending a day or two. Here are our top ten things to add to your list.

Do a sunset harbour cruise We booked the Sunset Buffet Dinner Cruise on the Charles Darwin with Darwin Harbour Cruises and set off from Stokes Wharf for the two-hour cruise around the harbour. Just when you thought the sunset couldn’t get any more colourful as the sun scooted over the horizon, it did, and watching it with a glass of wine in hand was perfect. The food gets a big tick as well.

Visit Mindil Beach Markets Another chance to ogle that sunset over the Arafura Sea and shop at the same time. The Mindil Beach Markets are part of the fabric of Darwin with visitors and locals alike strolling amongst the 60+ international food stalls to pick up dinner to enjoy on the beach. Afterwards, shop for a didgeridoo, a piece of Indigenous art, fashion or craft, have your tarot cards read or have a massage. They are on every Thursday and Sunday evening from late April to late October.

Do a tour to Corroboree Billabong If you don’t have time to ‘do’ Kakadu, the half-day Wildlands Wetlands Safari on Corroboree Billabong is excellent. Part of the Mary River Wetland, we see huge crocs, incredible birds including jabiru, jacanas, herons, brolgas and sea eagles, and love cruising through the lily pads. The guide is very knowledgeable and we learn a lot, and the bus driver points out many things of interest on the way there and back.

Swim in waterholes at Litchfield We sign up for the full-day Litchfield National Park tour with AAT Kings and despite having heard how beautiful the falls are, everything exceeds our expectations. We walk down the 135 stairs at Florence Falls and can’t wait to get in the cool, fresh GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

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Rabbit Flat

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T E R R I T O R Y

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TANAMI DESERT

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B Anthony Lagoon

Eva Downs

Lake Buck

Gununa

Wollogorang

Calvert Hills

Rockhampton Downs De Burgh Lake

Lake Gregory

THINGS TO DO

Mallapunyah Springs

Ucharonidge

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Supplejack Downs

Mt Webb 531

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Mistake Creek Limbunya

Alice Downs

Hotel Oaks Elan Darwin is a very modern property with spacious rooms and convenient touches like a kitchenette and washer and dryer. Seoul Food – the onsite restaurant is

erin

GULF

© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2012

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Batchelor Holiday Park Batchelor Holiday Park is the gateway to Litchfield National Park and has all types of accommodation including powered sites, grassed shady tent sites, ensuite sites, large super sites for big rigs, ensuite family cabins and luxury two-bedroom villas suitable for families of 4 or 6. There is mini golf and a pool. www.batchelorholidaypark.com.au

Dorisvale

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Batchelor

Camping Darwin FreeSpirit Resort is 15 minutes from the Darwin city centre and has everything from modern villas and cabins to powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites. It has three pools, is perfect for families and has lovely landscaped gardens. www.darwinfreespiritresort. com.au

So

Humpty Doo

Fog Bay

Hyland Bay

Finke Bay

Chambers Bay

Howard Springs Point Stuart

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Mountnorris Bay

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WHERE TO STAY

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Croker Island

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Litchfield Helicopters: www.litchfieldhelicopters.com.au Darwin Waterfront: www.waterfront.nt.gov.au Crocosaurus Cove: www.crocosauruscove.com Darwin Heritage Walks: www.walkdarwin.com.au

FURTHER INFORMATION NT Tourism: www.travelnt.com Image: Stokes Wharf. Photo: NT Tourism

und

o Termite M

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Image: Kris Cameron with a flowery cod

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Solomon

Gold Words by Stefan Hansson Images thanks to Fish About Tours

T

he Spanish first named the Solomon Islands during their quest for golden riches, based on the biblical King Solomon of golden fame. Although the islands were blessed with golden sun, golden sand and golden sickles, the Spaniards dismissed the islands as another false alarm, when they saw no evidence of golden temples and jewels amongst the natives. The irony is that there were actually rivers of gold beneath their feet, and for many years now gold has formed the backbone of the Solomon Islands export industry.

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Clockwise from top left: Cheyne Sales with a mangrove jack | Boys popping, hoping to hook up! | Big GT

However, as our crew assembled in Sydney on a cold September evening, it wasn’t gold that we were hoping to plunder from the Solomons, but rather their rich seas, hopefully full of piscatorial jewels. The Solomons is a fishing paradise, and my companions Cheyne Sales and Kris Cameron, having never fished the Solomons before, were leaving nothing to chance. Both had at least 15 kilos of lures in tow, and were keen to load them onto the Solomon Airlines plane that now flew direct from Sydney to Honiara.

The fishing in the Solomons comprises some of the best mix of reef, river and blue-water fishing to be found in the South Pacific. This is particularly so in the Western Province, where the majestic Vonavona Lagoon is fringed by spectacular broken reef, dropping off into 3000 metres of crystal blue.

Flying into Munda on our Dash 8 we could almost see the fish waiting. We were staying on Lola Island, owned

by Joe and Lisa Entriken and situated inside the lagoon itself – one of the best fishing bases in the Solomons.

Their new boat, the 8 metre aluminium plate Ramonalola, sat ready at the island’s wharf as we arrived.

Staying for a week on a sparse, idyllic, almost unpopulated island in the middle of a coral lagoon isn’t always as easy as it sounds, but a cold Solbrew on arrival got us in the mood for a crayfish dinner, and it wasn’t long before the competition had started – well before a lure was cast. Big words call for big actions, and in the heat and humidity of the Solomons, you will work hard if you’re not acclimatised.

So with a 6am start and a few solid hours of popping under our belt, albeit with some nice red bass on board, we headed out for more relaxing pursuits, namely trolling the ledges for a few Spaniards. The new Samaki Pacemaker 180 made a good first impression, and we made our way back mid-afternoon with a nice bag and a smile on our faces.

Red bass are one of the tastiest fish in the sea, but also one of the most likely to contain ciguatera, and so it’s rarely eaten in the South Pacific. The western province of the Solomons is remarkably free of this toxin however, and the deft touch of the chef back on the island really brought out its best.

It was unanimous that the red bass fillet, lightly coated in flour and spices and pan fried could be the best fish we have ever tasted.

There are many attractions to travelling and fishing in the Solomon Islands. The people are friendly, the

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language barrier is almost nonexistent, and the weather always warm. The biggest highlight for us however, was the differing options and environments to fish. One day we would go popping inside the lagoon for bluefin trevally, red bass, and a mix of other reef species, whilst the next day we would spend the morning trolling for sailfish before dropping by a deep water ridge in 200 metres and picking up some ruby snapper for dinner. Then we might spend half a day up a river chasing big jacks.

When the conditions allowed us to check them, even the fish-attracting devices (FADS) sitting in over 1000 metres of water turned it on for us, with some nice sized dolphin fish and the ever present small yellowfin tuna. Of course, a trip to the Solomons without popping for GTs was never going to happen, and with so many options available, we left wishing we could spend more time, and knowing we’d be back.

Whilst we obviously went for the fishing, the natural beauty, and the people of the Solomon Islands, all help to make this trip a wonderful adventure. We left with wide smiles and great memories, and were soon winging our way back to Sydney excitedly chatting about how soon we could get back. www.fishabout.com.au

Image: What a fish! The beautiful mahi-mahi (dolphin fish)

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The Eco Vessel – eco-friendly drink bottle for your next outdoor adventure.

Eco Vessel reusable products are developed from safe, sturdy, sustainable materials while offering innovation and practicality. You can feel secure knowing that Eco Vessel drink bottles are made of high quality, non-leaching materials and are designed for your safety, ease of use and convenience.

stainless steel inner, a copper inner which conducts heat/cold and extends insulation time, a vacuum centre and a 304 grade stainless steel outer. Keeping drinks cold for up to an amazing 36 hours or hot for up to 8 hours makes Eco Vessel the perfect outdoor companion for water, tea, coffee, beer and a lot more.

Eco Vessel offer a diverse range of hydration products including triple insulated stainless steel, glass, filtration and kids drink bottles ranging in size from 295ml to 1900ml – which are a high performance alternative to single-use plastic drink bottles.

Eco Vessel is passionate about giving back and has partnered with ‘Water for People’, whose mission is to provide longlasting solutions to the water, sanitation, and hygiene problems in the developing world. 1% of the purchase price of every Eco Vessel is donated directly to ‘Water for People’ and is used to further their, and Eco Vessel’s mission of providing clean drinking water to Everyone.

Eco Vessel TriMax® triple insulation technology bottles consist of a 304 grade

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GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

Treat yourself and your family to Eco Vessel’s stylish and eco-friendly water bottles – you will love them!

Eco Vessel offers some really exciting features not seen in other drink bottles on the market: • TriMax® Triple Insulation • Reusable, Washable, Recyclable • No BPA, no phthalates, no liners • Fits into most cup holders • Interchangeable lid designs • Removable ice, fruit, tea strainer • Premium 304 stainless steel • Never sweats • Lifetime Warranty

Eco Vessel have just launched some great new products into Australia & New Zealand: Eco Vessel have just launched some great new products into Australia & New Zealand The Big Foot is a 1.3 litre TriMax® triple insulated beast which will quench even the biggest thirst and comes in an assortment of cool colours.

A really neat feature of Big Foot and all Eco Vessel bottles is they offer interchangeable lids: 1) A dual use leakproof screw cap lid – with a wide opening for easy filling and cleaning and a smaller opening for easy drinking.

Above: Big Foot 1.3L – colours available are Silver Express, Mossy Oak, Black Shadow & Hudson Blue Left: Dual leakproof lid design Below: Removable ice, fruit, tea strainer

2) A flip top spout lid with silicone straw for the convenience of one handed, tilt free drinking – the lid also contains a valve so the spout won’t leak into your backpack.

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The Boss Growler

Aqua Vessel Filtration Bottle

Double Barrel Insulated Mug

This is the mac daddy of Eco Vessel bottles with a commanding 1.9 litre capacity and is the perfect addition for your next camping trip. Keep your water or beer icy cold for up to 36 hours and your soup, coffee or tea hot for up to 8 hours.

Aqua Vessel looks like the kind of water bottle you’d take to the gym, a music festival or on vacation. What makes this one unique is a nifty hydration system that can filter water from streams and lakes, making them perfect for all outdoor adventures. We like the fact that this simple piece of gear does double duty.

This double insulated stainless steel mug is fashioned like a beer barrel but isn’t just for beer. Hot tea/coffee stays piping hot whilst cold drinks stay cold and fresh and you won’t wear either with the open/close slider lid.

The Boss includes a removable stainless steel infuser, so you have the option of adding the flavours of fresh fruit to your drinks. If you’re a tea enthusiast, fill the infuser with leaves and the Boss will be your favourite tea maker.

On a warm summer day, pour some wine in the Boss, add some sliced orange, lime, pineapple and enjoy refreshingly chilled sangria that will stay cold all day – perfect to take on a picnic or day at the beach!

A plant based filter attached to the straw lid cleans water of the nasty gunk- like toxic chemicals, heavy metals, microscopic pathogens, chlorine, sediment, and dirt – with every sip. Aqua Vessel is tested to remove 99.9% of Giardia and Cryptosporidium – the most common cause of waterborne illness.

Aqua Vessel also reduces fluoride and the quality US made filter will last for over 370 litres of use.

There’s no better bottle for camping, travelling and everyday enjoyment when you want clean good tasting water.

Below: Boss Tea/Fruit Infuser

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Below: How Aqua Vessel Works

With the Double Barrel you will never have to drink warm beer again and it doesn’t sweat which is perfect too.

Made from #304 stainless steel, they can handle knocks on the road and last for many years to come! The Double Barrel is also available in a Copper finish which extends insulation time even further.

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Clockwise from top: Steep Point | Head of Bight | False Entrance | Sinkhole owl | Gilgarabbie Bore

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East TO WEST WITH OUR

FINGERS CROSSED PART 1 Can a near 30-year-old 4WD cross the continent after having already conquered the most southerly and northerly points of the mainland?

Words & Images by Brett Straughan

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The idea for this journey came about after a previous trip where a group of likeminded 4WD enthusiasts set a limited budget to fund an adventure to the northernmost point on the Australian mainland. The Cape York Misers Challenge was born and so the search for a suitably qualified vehicle began. It had to be cheap and it had to be in a condition that would allow it to not just be registered, but to also be nursed to the very top of Australia and then deliver its driver back home again. There were two other conditions placed upon it by my travelling companion, Shane Gerrish – it had to be a Nissan Patrol and it had to be red.

Shane’s planets aligned to the point where he crossed off four of the five conditions after stumbling across a Turbo Diesel Patrol with 412,000 kilometres on the clock sitting in a yard on the outskirts of Brisbane. The only catch being it was white – but a home spray job in killrust red would soon fix that. Some new tyres, a few bits off ebay and a whole lot of elbow grease had breathed new life into it and so in May it conquered Cape York without any issues, unlike many of the other vehicles that dared make the trek north. The question then arose, if it could take you to the top, just how

far could $1300 worth of 4WD go?

To answer that, the ageing Patrol then headed south to Wilsons Promontory and Tidal River where Shane would try to reach South Point. Once again flushed with success and an absence of mechanical issues, our thoughts then turned to the big one, departing from Byron Bay on the east coast and making our way to Steep Point, the most westerly point on the Australian mainland. If we took the safest most direct route, we would still be looking at well over 5000 kilometres just to get there, let alone all the extra distance we would rack up in side trips. But with confidence riding high, the decision was made that we would depart on a four week journey driving off into the sunset. And so it was that Shane in his leaf-sprung, near 30-year-old Patrol and me in a slightly more comfortable V8 Toyota Landcruiser Sahara, rendezvoused at dawn at the Cape Byron lighthouse to set off on another great adventure to the other side of the country.

Our plan was to head towards the start of the Nullarbor as quickly as possible and then slow down from that point and take in some sights. So, on day three of the trip, we found ourselves at Fowlers Bay Conservation Reserve,

Image: Head of Bight

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South Australia. The relevance of Fowlers Bay was not lost on us after discovering that it had been a repeater station for the telegraph line that in the late 1800s was making its own journey between Eastern and Western Australia. From Fowlers we made the decision that we should avoid the bitumen where other more scenic options were available and so we headed west along a track between the coast and the Eyre Highway heading towards the head of the Great Australian Bight.

After an unavoidable section of bitumen we soon dropped south off the highway past Gilgarabbie Bore where a stone house and tank still stand. It was here that we would visit our first of many sinkholes for the trip as well as finally feel that we were at the edge of the world as we stood high above the ocean on the majestic cliffs of the Great Australian Bight with the wind in our faces. No photo can do the experience justice.

It is something that everyone should do at some stage and here we were, isolated, awe-struck and wondering all the time whether the little red Patrol would make it through the rest of the journey. Only time would tell...

James Baroud have long been the internationally respected name in rooftop tents and adventure 4WD accessories and are now well established as the market leaders in Australia through the unparalleled durability, capability and design of their products.

At James Baroud, there is a constant strive for perfection and this has culminated in the launch of the 2015 model range and the unveiling of what is considered to be the best ‘soft’ shell roof top tent on the market, The ‘Vision Horizon’. The Vision is much lighter, but packs in all the key features from the hard shell range: • • • • • •

100% waterproof 3600 views Gas struts Aluminised canvas Full ventilation Easy to set up and stow away

James Baroud hard shell roof top tents are the ultimate solution for people wanting to spend more time holidaying in comfort and less time worrying about it!

Horizon

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jamesbaroud.com.au

THE

BIG RED BASH

F

rom July each year, tiny Outback towns dotted throughout Queensland come alive with events showcasing life in the Outback (and its quirks). You can watch cowboys take on a raging bull at the Bedourie Rodeo, check out yabby races in Windorah or join over 7,000 punters at the Birdsville Races. You can see if you’ve got what it takes to win Outback Ironman in Winton or you can head 35km west of Birdsville to the Big Red sand dune for Australia’s newest and most remote event on the Outback calendar – the Birdsville Big Red Bash.

Come July, Birdsville will be teeming with Outback travellers as the fourth annual Birdsville Big Red Bash rolls into town for two days and three nights of Aussie rock and country music in the red sands of the Simpson Desert.

Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes will return to headline the festival after an 66 |

Jimmy Barnes and Paul Kelly head to Birdsville to rock the Outback Words by Taylor Campbell Images by Benjamin Knight Photography

impressive high-energy performance at the 2015 event and shares the top billing with Australian music legend Paul Kelly, who will journey out to Birdsville for the first time ever in 2016.

“Everyone I know who’s been to the Bash says it’s a great event. It’ll be my first trip to Birdsville and I’m really looking forward to it. I hope the pub doesn’t run out of beer!” Kelly said.

Jimmy Barnes is also keen to journey to the Outback again.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to the Big Red Bash in Birdsville next year.

This is a unique setting for a rock ‘n’ roll show, combining Australian rock ‘n’ roll and an extraordinary location, making it like no other gig in the world.”

Singer-songwriters Brian Cadd and Glenn Shorrock will team up and perform classic songs and other crowd favourites during two massive sets on the first night, and country music sensations Adam Brand

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and the Outlaws, Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey will inject some country flair into a bill steeped in Aussie rock.

Cassar-Daley has performed in Birdsville before, but never with Big Red as his stage backdrop.

“When you get to do a gig that looks like the heart of Australia, it’s going to be special. We have a show here that people will travel for miles and miles to see, so the desert will come alive with Australian music reverberating off the amazing sand dunes. I can’t wait to get out there to play,” he said.

The Angels, Shane Howard, Russell Morris, Christine Anu and Mahalia Barnes round out the artist line up and larrikin Wilbur Wilde will return as MC for his second Bash, keeping the crowd entertained between sets as he did last year.

The 2015 event saw over 3,000 revellers travel from every state and territory in

Clockwise from top left: View across the ‘Bashville’ campsite | Wilbur Wilde and Mick Lindsey jamming onstage | Kids play on Big Red

Australia to set up camp on the dry lake bed close to the staging area with the famous Big Red landmark providing a spectacular 40 metre high backdrop for the concert stage. The family-friendly campsite, filled with motorhomes, RVs, 4WDs, caravans and camper trailers, stretched off into the distance. An electric atmosphere swept through the crowd, with concertgoers spontaneously breaking out in song and dance to famous Aussie anthems such as ‘Tip Of My Tongue’, ‘Touch’ and ‘Take Me Back’.

4WDing and caravanning enthusiasts from all over the country travelled to Birdsville for the uniquely Australian

concert, with many citing the journey and the destination as one of the main drawcards.

“Our road trip to Birdsville began in Melbourne and we loved every minute of the 25 hour journey. The landscapes of the Outback are so varied; along the way you see everything from red dirt, to dense scrubs and gibber plains. Topping it off with some classic Aussie rock was awesome,” said Jackie Parker.

Event organisers are preparing to again blow away concertgoers, with the 2016 event set to be even bigger and better, with a few surprises in store.

The spectacular light and laser show will return, where the Big Red dune is illuminated with stunning formations under the dazzling desert night skies.

The campsite, aptly named ‘Bashville’, buzzes with excitement and camaraderie during the event. Ticketholders are given free camping for the three nights and create spacious ‘villages’ made of tents, caravan and RVs on the dry lakebed.

Those not used to roughing it are well looked after, with facilities like toilets and showers on offer. Campers can bring food, water and alcohol (no glass bottles!) onsite, allowing them to toast marshmallows or kick back with a cold

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beer as they sit around the campfire.

There are also a variety of food and coffee vendors onsite at the event.

esky lids and making ‘sand angels’ – it’s the most kid-friendly music festival in the country.

The Bash draws a diverse, yet like-minded crowd, ranging from groups of friends to couples and families – the common thread is that everyone has an appreciation for good music and good times.

Free daily entertainment for kids by Discover Australia will also be in the mix, connecting kids with the early history of Australia through fun and educational workshops filled with Australian bush songs and anecdotes. Top that off with helicopter rides over the great Simpson Desert and there’s no way the kids can complain they’re bored these school holidays!

With the school holidays falling at the same time as the Bash, there’s no better time to take a family road trip and show the kids the diverse landscapes of the Outback in their own backyard – it’s both the journey and the destination that make this uniquely Australian event so special.

Over 600 kids played in Australia’s biggest sand pit in 2015; cartwheeling and back flipping in the sand, surfing down the dunes on boogie boards and

For the travellers looking to make the trip worthwhile, there are plenty of other events that fall before and after the Bash that showcase the best of what the Outback has to offer, including the Bedourie Campdraft and Gymkhana (2 & 3 July) and the Bedourie Camel and Pig Races (9 July).

For just $350, revellers get two epic days and three massive nights of entertainment, plus three nights’ FREE camping next to Big Red – it’s the cheapest multi-day festival ticket in the country. Family tickets can be purchased for $755, but unlike your usual family pass of two adults and two kids, kids tickets are unlimited.

Tickets will be capped for 2016, so event organisers advise everyone to purchase tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the event website – www.bigredbash.com.au A big road trip to Big Red for the Birdsville Big Red Bash – it’s going to be massive. Plan for the journey of a lifetime through the Outback with good mates, good music and good times. Oh, and the pub guarantees Paul Kelly they won’t run out of beer.

Clockwise from top: Jon Stevens and Diesel wowing the crowd of 3,000 strong | The McClymonts dancing in the daylight | Jimmy Barnes and Jon Stevens rocking the desert

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PAUL ARNOLD

“My work is not so much about the art of the photograph, it’s about the love of the bush’’ Image location: Ormiston Gorge, West MacDonnell National Park 70 |

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unique. Internationally renowned, and locally revered, no other photographer understands or experiences the Territory with such a depth of passion.

Words by Miro Mitrovich & Images by Paul Arnold

W

hen I am travelling around going to different places and meeting people, you always come across someone who is out of the ordinary and during the NT Variety Bash I met Paul.

This bloke with a bushy hat, workmen clothes and a camera is as down to earth as anyone can be. The stories started flowing about how he goes away months at a time in the Australian Outback to get the SHOT!!. He was telling me he can sit for days in the same spot and wait for the moment. Being a photographer myself why wouldn’t you do what I do – select auto, take the shot then let Photoshop do the work. That’s the difference between a passionate photographer and a hack like me. It wasn’t until I went onto his website and saw his photography I realised the passion Paul has for his work.

Paul’s photos were absolutely mindblowing, I have never seen natural landscape images this good in my life.

I could see why he spends days at a time taking these shots. Paul has a studio in Darwin and he is well known in the Territory but I wanted to let Australia know that this bloke is a hidden treasure.

If you go to Darwin go and see his studio next to Crocosaurus Cove in the main street, you won’t be disappointed.

I have asked Paul to send me some history and I have included this in the article.

Paul’s History: “My work is not so much about the art of the photograph, it’s about the love of the bush’’ Paul Arnold photographs are as iconic as the Northern Territory landscape is 72 |

Long before he picked up a camera, Paul was a passionate bushman. The roads he has travelled criss-cross the Territory like a sprawling spider web, barely a track unexplored.

Each Paul Arnold Limited Edition print is truly unique and an artwork that you can enjoy for a lifetime.

Paul’s passion for the bush enables him to recreate not just what he sees, but what he feels. He spends days, or even weeks, watching the light, colours and textures of the landscape and its wildlife unfold before capturing its beauty. “I know the bush, that’s what I know, and that’s the challenge, to photograph the bush in its natural light. I just wait for the right light – you would be amazed what you can do if you just sit.”

Viewing the camera as little more than a recording device, it is experiencing and sharing the land that is the driving force of Paul’s work. Behind each of Paul’s images is a tale of his adventures in his

bush office; stories of near misses and extraordinary experiences where he has managed to get himself and the people he runs into on the road out of sticky situations, with little more than a few cable ties, some elbow grease, and a determined attitude.

Paul Arnold’s commitment to achieving world-class standards across all levels of his artwork is demonstrated in his use of world-leading photographic equipment, museum grade prints and Fine Art Trade Guild framing guidelines.

The Paul Arnold Limited Edition prints are a select collection of images, personally chosen by Paul himself. The image will have captured a rare moment, be the window to an extraordinary story or evoke a moment of charged emotion.

Paul will judge this from what he felt when he was shooting the image and the lengths he had to go to capture the image.

These rare and distinct images are only released into the Limited Edition collection based on a specific number of prints, each one beautifully presented using only the highest quality of print and framing standards.

Each Paul Arnold Limited Edition print is truly unique and an artwork that you can enjoy for a lifetime. www.paularnold.com.au

Image location clockwise from below: Sandover Highway | Davenport Range National Park | Bukudal Sunrise – Arnhem Land

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Words & Images by Vic Widman 74 |

Exploring

Craig’s Hut

in the High Country

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ne of the most iconic locations in the Victorian high country is Craig’s Hut, originally built in 1981 as a film set for the Australian film “The Man from Snowy River”.

The original hut was never built to last much longer than the time required to complete the filming. However with the hut becoming a tourist attraction in its own right, the local community and 4WD clubs banded together to restore and improve it so that it could remain standing and endure the harsh climate that the high country can dish out.

Sadly however, a log hut cannot withstand bushfire, and it was burnt down in the 2006 bushfires that ravaged the area. By now though, Craig’s Hut had been attracting an estimated 20,000 visitors each year, so once again the local community, clubs and Parks Victoria raised funds to rebuild it and this was

completed in 2008. It is now the most visited 4WD location in the high country.

It is found east of the town of Mansfield off the Mt Buller Road, via the Stirling Road to the oddly named Telephone Box Junction and Circuit Road. In good weather, you could drive within 1.5 kilometres of the hut in a 2WD vehicle.

The last 1500 metres definitely requires 4WD with low range but even this track becomes impassable in wet weather.

There is a day car park served by a toilet and picnic table and the hut is fenced off to keep vehicles at least 100 metres away. The view, from what is known as Clear Hills, is outstanding on a clear day and the hut, due to its place in folklore, is always worth a visit.

There is no camping allowed at the hut, but there are some great camping opportunities just down the mountain.

From Craig’s Hut return to Circuit Road

Image: The famous Craig’s Hut has been rebuilt following the devastating 2006 bushfires

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Clockwise from top: Information plaque provides the history of the original King Hut | Lake Cobbler is a manmade lake, you can camp here, the ground is a bit uneven but the views are reflective | Whilst in the area make sure you visit Bindaree Falls just off the Circuit Road | The road to the odd named Mountain No 3

and turn left a short distance back along Circuit Road, and you will make a right turn onto King Basin Road. This leads down a winding road past amazing tree ferns and tall timbers to the King River. If you cross the King River (4WD definitely needed), you will come to a large flat area known as Pineapple Flat, a perfect spot to camp with the river running just a few metres away.

If you back-track over the King River and turn left and continue to follow King Basin Road, you are in for a beautiful drive up the King River, crossing it several times. Again you will need a 4WD with low range. This track is suitable for true off-road trailers, but not caravans.

As you meander along this beautiful valley there are several side tracks, each

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leading to secluded campsites beside the river. If you were to continue all the way along the King Basin Road for nine kilometres you will come to another large clearing beside the river. Here you will also find the rebuilt King Hut and a long drop toilet for your convenience.

This is my favourite camping spot in close proximity to Craig’s Hut. Base yourself here for a few days and enjoy visits to Lake Cobbler, which is up the rough 4WD track known as the staircase, or Bindaree Falls not far off the Circuit Road, the imaginatively named Mountain No 3 and of course Craig’s Hut. Please be aware many of these roads are seasonally closed from after the June long weekend to just before the Melbourne Cup weekend and they

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may also be closed after wet weather or during high bushfire danger periods – best to check on the Parks Victoria website at www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.

The best map for the area is the Buller Stirling Outdoor Leisure Map, and fuel and other supplies are only available at Mansfield.

Why don’t you join Great Divide Tours on a 4WD tag-along tour to the Victorian high country and take in Craig’s Hut with us? Check out all the info at www.4wd.net.au Great Divide Tours www.4wd.net.au

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Camping Games – Never Too Old To Play!

Words & Images by Evette Wolf & Oceah Davis Away from the distractions of modern life, camping offers an ideal opportunity to play. In the outdoor environment creativity flows and families bond together. It makes my heart sing to watch my children playing together in a stream, up a tree or covered in mud. I love inventing stories around a campfire or watching animals form in the clouds. Play is for everyone and age is irrelevant. To get started all you need is a simple idea, and here are some of my family’s favourite games to inspire you to play on your next camping adventure!

CAR GAMES Number Plate Acronyms Look at the number plate of the car in front of you. Use the letters to make a funny sentence.

For example HYM could be, Her Yellow Monkey, Handsome Young Mule or Hereditary Yodelling Malfunction.

Speed, Distance, Time Close your eyes for 30 seconds and guess what speed you are travelling. Obviously the driver can’t play this one! Every half an hour, guess how many kilometres you have travelled. Without looking at a clock, guess when you think a minute has passed.

An interesting exercise in time perception!

Back Seat Hide and Seek Using your imagination, choose a hiding place in your backyard at home. Others can ask yes or no questions and try to guess where you are ‘hiding’.

Crazy Character Creation Fold a piece of paper into thirds. The first person secretly draws a head making sure the neck is continued onto the next fold.

The next player continues on from the neck and draws a torso, leaving lines for the legs. The third player finishes the character by drawing the legs. The paper is then unfolded and a crazy character revealed!

Who Can Stay Quietest The Longest The winner is the person who can stop themselves from making a noise for the longest time. (Tired parents LOVE this game!)

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CAMPFIRE GAMES Unfortunately/Fortunately Take it in turns to each say a sentence that builds a story, alternating the start with unfortunately and fortunately. For example: I might start by saying, ‘unfortunately a red back spider bit my finger last night.’ The next person might say ‘but fortunately the spider bite gave me special powers.’ The next person could then go on with ‘unfortunately the special power made me invisible and I have a date tonight,’ and so on until a conclusion is reached. Expect lots of laughs with this game!

Charades This classic game never gets old. Choose to mime the title of a book, movie, TV show or song.

Shadow Puppets This ancient art form delights children and adults alike. Use a torch or campfire light to make shadow characters with one or two hands. Experiment with different characters, and make up funny voices to accompany them.

Constellation Stories Look up at the night sky and search for constellations, or invent your own. A friend of mine discovered a Christmas tree in the stars! Make up stories using these objects and characters.

Clockwise from far left: Exploring in the Adelaide Hills. Photo: Evette Wolf | Camping swing, Portland, Victoria. Photo: Evette Wolf | The freedom to run, Second Valley Forest, South Australia. Photo: Oceah Davis

NATURE GAMES Boat Building Using anything you can find around you, such as bark, leaves and sticks, create a small boat and see how it floats. Have races with other boats!

Make a Cubby

Pooh Sticks In my opinion, this game, invented by AA Milne for Winnie-the-Pooh, is the ultimate in camping games. It is so simple and mesmerising that playing it is almost like a meditation. All you need is a bridge with a flowing stream under

it, and a stick. Work out which way the stream is flowing and after the count of three drop your sticks into the water. Turn and look over the other side of the bridge to see whose stick comes out first.

Build a hideaway by using sticks and fallen-down branches. Try tying sticks into a tee-pee shape and putting the branches on top. Sit in your new ‘holiday house’ and read, play cards, watch birds or have a picnic.

Mud Pie Cafe Make a variety of ‘pies’ by squishing mud together.Decorate your creations using stones, sticks and flowers. Set up a ‘cafe’ and act out different characters; you’ll need a shop keeper and customers.

Playing in mud is strangely satisfying, and you’re never too old...

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100 Ways to Play Outside Images: Beach races, Silver Sands, South Australia. Photo: Evette Wolf | Big kids at play, Blow Hole Beach, South Australia. Photo: Evette Wolf

Build a sand castle

Collect rose petals for potpourri

Listen with your eyes closed

Fly a kite

Have a picnic

Roll down a hill

Look at bugs with a magnifying glass

Decorate pine cones

Ride a bike

Make a mini golf course

Explore a rock pool

Go beach combing

Climb a tree

Collect seeds

Explore a cave

Build a tree house

Track an animal

Go snorkelling

Create a pulley system in a tree

Make a tyre swing

Run under a sprinkler

Build a tee-pee

Go surfing

Climb a big rock

Bury your friend’s legs in sand

Search for shells

Catch a fish

Watch birds Roast marshmallows on an open fire Tell stories around a campfire Make boats using bark, sticks and leaves Skim rocks over water Jump waves Catch yabbies with a net Pick flowers Play charades

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Have an egg and spoon race Build a campfire Dance with sparklers Learn to twirl fire Sing Dance a rain dance Have a water fight Throw water bombs Jump in a pile of leaves

Play beach cricket Search for spider webs Play hopscotch Go Geocaching Tell ghost stories Play cards Hold a fishing competition Make damper Make a bow Use your towel as a cape and pretend to fly

Draw with a stick in the sand

Imitate bird calls

Balance rocks on one another

Fly paper planes

Make a sand sculpture

Make a treasure hunt

Make music with rocks and sticks

Throw a boomerang

Swing on a hammock

Dig for water

Search for bush tucker

Throw a Frisbee

Use a flint to start a campfire

Paddle down a river

Run with your dog

Build a raft

Make a milk carton boat

Play twenty questions

Blow on a dandelion flower

Look at the moon with binoculars

Watch the sunset

Balance on a log

Make a rope ladder

Blow bubbles

Night walk with a spotlight

Swing from the branch of a tree

Watch shapes in clouds

Search for buried treasure

Smell flowers

Collect feathers

Pretend you can yodel

Build a nest

Make a daisy chain

Catch rain with your tongue

Frolic under a full moon

Play hide and seek

Make mud cakes

Make a bird watching hide

Invent stories

Watch for falling stars

Create shadow puppets

Make an obstacle course

Dig for worms

Paint

Jump in puddles

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WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR SECOND BEST

THE 30 SECOND TENTS

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The shape of the Oztent is an Australian Registered Trademark.

With a reputation built on quality and reliability Oztent has been the choice of Australian adventurers, helping create awesome experiences for over 20 years.

Find out more about the range at: www.oztent.com

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4WD Tip: Beach Driving Words & Image by Toyota Landcruiser Club

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S

ome beaches have extremely hard packed sand whilst others have extremely soft sand. On hot days sand will usually be softer than on cold or wet days. Sand will also generally be firmer nearer to the water and softer further away. The secrets to successful beach driving in soft sand are low tyre pressures and sufficient forward momentum. If the sand is like concrete there may be no reason to drop your pressures, but if it is extremely soft, then your pressures may need to be 15 psi or lower. Keep a check on your tyre pressures as substantial increases can occur due to heat build up.

Vehicle speed needs to be fast enough to maintain good momentum, but slow enough to avoid danger from dips, sand drifts and other obstacles. High range is generally okay, but low range may be needed in very soft sand. Sand, sun and glare can also make judging the depth of dips and drifts very difficult, so err on the side of caution. Avoid braking if possible, let the sand slow your momentum; braking pushes weight forward and down which can result in digging in, bogging, and at worst a roll over, particularly if the vehicle is turning sharply at the same time. NEVER drive across a slope as the risk of rolling the vehicle is greatly increased.

With very low pressures and a tyre burying itself into

the sand, it’s also very easy to roll a tyre off the rim. So avoid making unnecessary turns; when you need to turn make as wide an arc as is reasonable. Better still, try and find an area of hard packed sand to make your turn.

Turn away from the water if it is close, but if it is a long way away and there is absolutely no danger of a bogged vehicle being swamped, then turning towards the water can be okay. Make sure also that you check the tides.

When you leave the beach ensure you re-inflate your tyres to a pressure suitable to the new terrain.

And remember, salt water is very corrosive, so stay as far away from it as you can get. Avoid driving on wet sand, and particularly avoid driving in the water itself.

Swirling water can turn even hard packed sand to slurry, which makes bogging far more likely. After driving on a beach, even in the soft, dry sand well above the high water mark, give your vehicle a thorough wash as soon as possible. Dry beach sand also contains salt crystals, so wash the vehicle once, and then wash it again. Get into all the nooks and crannies, and especially wash out the chassis rails. If you intend to do a fair bit of beach driving, then consider having your vehicle professionally treated with fish oil. Fish oil is an extremely good rust protector and inhibitor. Sure, it will stink for a week or so, but it might be well worth it in the end.

 For cars, 4WDs, caravans, campers & trailers  Guaranteed for life  Simple, safe & lightning fast to use  Suitable for all bikes from carbon lightweights to heavy electrics  Delivery anywhere in Australia

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JOHNNO’S CAN MAKE CAMPING YOUR BUSINESS

Images: Courtesy of Johnno’s Australia

Johnno’s Camper Trailers is a name that has long been at the forefront of camper trailer design, manufacture and business development in Australia.

In a competitive industry, the success of the Australian owned company has been underpinned by its track record and reputation for rolling out award-winning Aussie-made products, as well as creating opportunities for keen campers to mix business with pleasure.

For more than 15 years Johnno’s has been committed to growing its nationwide network of camper trailer agents who sell and hire their superior products, and their latest evolutionary move is producing more ‘happy campers’ than ever.

The company’s unique new business model offers three options to suit people’s business and lifestyle dreams – Sales and Hire, Sales Only or Hire Agent Only.

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choice, a simple framework and more diverse paths to growth.

or plug into an existing complementary business, it suits a wider range of people.”

A ‘roll’ model for sustainable business An option attracting considerable interest is the Hire Only Agency, which presents an ideal low risk opportunity for anyone wanting to put a stake in the ground and have a business that is easy to run and a joy to own.

At the crossroads of business and pleasure Ask any Johnno’s agent and they’ll tell you that investing in a Johnno’s outlet isn’t about buying a job, it’s a chance to turn your passion into a thriving business and a way of life. So it’s no surprise that becoming a Hire Agent has massive appeal for anyone who loves camping and exploring the great outdoors.

Whether you want to work from home, set up a shop front or operate an existing business and are looking to expand, becoming a Johnno’s Hire Agent offers the scope and scalability to make each a viable option.

National Sales Manager Rob Grossman believes it’s that versatility that is without doubt one of the greatest attractions of the Hire Only Agency.

“Because it has minimal set-up fees and can stand alone as a simple income stream

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That was definitely a big part of the attraction for Victoria’s Diamond Valley agents Peter and Janette Talty.

“We’ve done a lot of camping over the years, so the opportunity to buy our own Johnno’s business wasn’t a hard choice because it lets us enjoy the best of both worlds,” said Peter.

Clockwise from far left: Simpson Desert – (newcastle trailer) NT | Cruiser on hill – Gunshot Cape York Qld | Cruiser and trailer on the beach at Cape Peron WA | Inside view

“Five years ago we both had full-time jobs, now we have a business where it’s easy to work in with people, so we can structure around peak holiday and hire times and still accommodate our own family, camping and time out plans too.”

The couple can vouch for the fact that there’s nothing better than being able to work in an industry where you get to deal with people at their happiest, ready to head off on holidays and hit the open road.

“We’ve met so many beautiful families and never tire of hearing their stories when they bring their hire trailer back.”

The hire market is on a high Since starting their Johnno’s outlet the Taltys have experienced a really strong response from the hire market, including brand new customers giving camper trailers a try for the first time.

“Most people are pleasantly surprised that

they can hire and how affordable it is,” said Janette.

That’s a sentiment echoed by Adelaide South Johnno’s Agent Adam Gramola.

“From young families to older couples, many of them are hiring because they’re sick of tents but don’t have anywhere to keep their own camper trailer, or have a caravan but want to go somewhere off the beaten track.”

“I know I can give customers a trailer that will go the distance, that they can always travel safely and comfortably in, and always come back in.

Peter and Janette’s confidence in the product has been high from day one, and that is reflected in the amount of repeat business they receive.

“We get people who’ve never banged a peg in the ground before, but they come back and hire again because it’s such an easy experience.

Knowing that we can send them off anywhere and the camper trailer will do everything it’s supposed to do, is really important for us. You couldn’t do that if you didn’t have a good product.”

The trailers are incredibly reliable, very well built, and the maintenance is negligible.

That’s why they’re always hired out. We give them a good clean when they come back and away they go again – time in and time out.”

Combine that confidence with a strong hire demand, the service they receive from Head Office and being part of a supportive agents’ network of like-minded camping people, and it’s not hard to see why these Johnno’s agents love what they do.

The win:win of flexibility and freedom As the ultimate lifestyle business a Johnno’s Hire Agency is all about offering

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flexibility and freedom – to choose where you work from, when you work, to start small and grow your business as demand increases, or plan big right from the outset.

Rob Grossman said there is no limit to the number of trailers an agent can have in their hire fleet.

“Agents ‘own’ a postcode or town depending on the area for an initial term of 24 months, and are required to turn over their hire fleet every 12 to 18 months so that they have the latest models to offer customers.

There’s also the opportunity for hire agents to upgrade to Sales and Hire if they’re in the right region, and grow their own hire network.”

Agents benefit from being able to work with other distributorships to gain knowledge and learn as they grow. If an agent is not assigned to an Area Distributor, they work directly with Johnno’s Australia.

A quick start pays dividends For Adam and Toni Gramola, becoming Johnno’s agents was a case of love at first sight.

After looking to hire a trailer here in South Australia and finding there were no agents hiring or selling them, they ended up buying a Johnno’s trailer, took it away for a month and did 12,500 kilometres in it.

“We fell in love with the product. So it wasn’t a hard decision to take another step and actually buy a South Australia agency,” said Adam.

“I was so impressed with the camper

trailer, I knew other people would be too.

I wanted to buy into a business that was already there for me, the network, the support that you get, the website, it just made it an easy decision for me. Straight off the bat we were able to get trailers in and hire them out straight away.”

Performance that goes the extra mile Talk to any Johnno’s agents and you’ll soon find they are totally sold when it comes to the performance of the product they hire or sell – both in terms of how it delivers for their customers, and for themselves as business operators.

Being able to give families the chance to enjoy camping holidays in virtually any location, easily and affordably is made that much easier with a product that stacks up as world class.

Made with Australian steel and canvas and a build quality second-to-none, Johnno’s camper trailers make the agents’ job easier from the get go, in terms of reputation, marketing and the customer experience.

“We are looking for agents who are energetic, people-oriented, passionate about camping and committed to working within our sales and hire framework, so that together we can continue to effectively meet the needs of the camping community,” said Rob Grossman.

“Johnno’s is now Australia’s fastest growing network, built on the strength of positioning that comes from producing a quality product and offering reliable support and service to everyone within that network.”

Discover a new way of living and working The vote is in and the thumbs up from agents like the Taltys and the Gramolas speak volumes.

Peter and Janette from Diamond Valley thrive on “getting out there, going to shows, meeting people and showing them our wonderful product.”

“The beauty of it is we’ve been able to take on this business and make it ours, building our own personality into it in our local area. It wasn’t a huge outlay, is easy to manage and you own your trailers. It all adds up to a smart move for us.”

For Adam from Adelaide South it has proven to be a low risk, sound business with really great returns.

“It’s a no brainer as far as I’m concerned. If I had my chance again and had to make the choice to do it again, we would for sure.”

People’s reasons for choosing to join the Johnno’s network are as diverse as their favourite camping spots, but they all have one thing in common – the desire to be able to own and grow a business that serves their life, not the other way around.

Becoming a Johnno’s agent ticks all the boxes and provides the perfect opportunity for those who never stop exploring.

If this sounds like you – visit www.johnnoscampertrailers.com.au, call Rob Grossman at Johnno’s Australia on 1300 725 451 or email explore@ campertrailer.com.au and start your journey to the good life today.

Left: Kilkivan bush camping grounds QLD Below: Trailers that will go the distance

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CHECKLIST

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Canoe fishing Words & Images by Chris Errity

Image: The author with his first canoe-caught barra in Darwin Harbour.

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A good mate of mine, Wayne Baldwin, has been fishing Darwin Harbour for some time now in his 12 foot canoe, which he has named The Bismarck! He mainly fishes on his own due to the ease of using a canoe and being able to fish the flats in a vessel that can easily move through a foot of water quietly. He has a 2hp motor fitted so he can reach the areas he wants to fish quickly and then once he arrives he uses the quiet stealth

approach with his paddle. Some may think he is tempting fate with the local crocodile population present where he fishes, but he has had no issues with these reptilian hunters at any stage while fishing the harbour. Still he will be the first to admit that he is always wary of their presence and will move on if one shows a little too much interest in him.

For some time now I have been interested in fishing with Wayne to observe his techniques and see just how easy it is for two anglers to fish out of a canoe.

He has been incredibly successful over the years using this approach and has landed many barra accordingly. So when the opportunity arose to have a fish with him one afternoon after work I jumped at the chance. This particular afternoon Wayne decided to fish the flats opposite Dinah Beach boat ramp on an incoming spring tide. He prefers fishing spring tides that rise to about seven metres in height as many barra move along these flats on the incoming tide to feed. Wayne had fished the same area the afternoon before, landing four barra and dropping many which is why he had invited me

to come with him the next day to have another crack at them even though the tidal movement was significantly less.

I met Wayne down at the Dinah Beach ramp just before 5pm. The tide had turned and just reached the bottom of the ramp. Wayne secures his canoe on roof racks on his 4WD. It only takes him around three minutes to remove the canoe from the roof racks and drop it on the side of the ramp. The small outboard is then placed on the transom of the canoe and we are ready to roll.

The canoe has a surprising amount of room and could easily accommodate the two of us plus a couple of tackle boxes and rods. The tide was still a little low to fish the flats so we cast around the rocks near Tipperary Waters where Wayne has landed several good barra before. At around 5.30pm we moved across to the flats to fish a small gutter on the incoming tide.

The water was extremely low but we managed to position ourselves within casting distance of the gutter. We used a small anchor to hold ourselves in the prime position. The water had only just reached the gutter on the edge of the mangroves and already the barra were starting to feed in only six inches of water. They were almost lying on their sides as they chased the mullet across the flats.

The water clarity was not good, but Wayne assured me it would clean up a little as the tide rose. He also let me know that we only had a little under an Left to right: The sun sets over the city of Darwin | Wayne’s canoe on the ramp ready to go fishing | Wayne with an average sized barra from the flats

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hour before the water would rise too high and the good fishing would cease as the barra would move into the mangroves.

There were many aerial roots present on the edge of the flat and Wayne said

the best fishing occurred just as these were engulfed by the tide. He was not wrong as he soon had his first fish to the canoe. At around 50cm in length this was a common sized barra for the harbour. Wayne was using one of his small homemade minnows in a silver mullet colour which is pretty much all he uses when fishing the harbour. It is a shallow diving twitch minnow which works extremely well fishing shallow waters on the flats around snake drains and small gutters. I used a small Reidys B52 as the water was so shallow.

It was not long before Wayne landed another fish and this one was just legal at 55cm. The tide was pushing in quickly and the water clarity did indeed begin to improve. The barra seemed to be laying up beside the aerial roots as they moved

across the flats towards the gutter. I received my first strike from a feisty fish which still managed to peel me into the mangroves. It is amazing how much power these small fish have in short bursts. The hooks pulled and the fish escaped. Wayne had another two strikes before he planted the hooks in the next fish and landed another barra in the 50s. Soon after I hooked and landed my first barra for the session at 62cm. The water level had risen considerably now and was around 50cm deep. The mullet were now less prevalent as they had moved up into the mangroves.

The barra continued to strike our lures on the edge of the aerial roots, but it was difficult to hook up on them properly.

Many of them were soft, frustrating strikes and so difficult to stick the hooks in. However, we still managed to land a few more barra between us before the tide had risen too much just on sunset.

With a total of six barra landed between us and many more lost it had been an extremely enjoyable hour session fishing out of a canoe only five minutes away from one of Darwin’s most busy ramps. I was most impressed with the stability of the canoe and how useful it was for this type of fishing. The two of us could quite easily stand up in the canoe and cast our lures with precision without losing our balance. We returned to the ramp just before 7pm and packed the canoe up before heading home after another successful barra trip so close to home.

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Love at first ‘site’?

How technology keeps me in love with camping.

Words by Yot Kalia

I

’ve often been asked whether I believe in love at first sight. At times, my logical predisposition contradicts my optimistic view on life and I’ve found my response to be oddly diplomatic – “Well I think it’s more of a physiological reaction to the symmetry of one’s face, but then again I have friends who swear they went weak at the knees from a set of piercing baby-blues!” Irrespective, I don’t pride myself on being an expert on matters of the heart. Love is deeply subjective and in my experience bizarre, unusual and at times just downright weird.

Luckily when it comes to falling in love with your camp ‘site’, you can find a community of serial ‘daters’ and really get to know a place before pitching a tent. Locking eyes on the perfect resting place is now only a click away.

Online, a camper has the ability to select their perfect destination based on their personal preferences. A camper can check out photos, identify the amenities offered, see the proximity to local attractions and find out whether they are free or require payment. This enables all of us to make a more informed decision

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for ourselves and our families; increasing the likelihood of falling in love, once we reach our camp site.

Today, the easiest way to access information about your next site, is to utilise the wealth of online knowledge and reviews. By leveraging websites that include camping spot features like ParkMyVan (the online verified park listing powered by Camps Australia Wide) and the Wiki Camps App, to looking through reviews at TripAdvisor and Badgers MyParkList (now reaching its 18th year) – making an informed decision on finding your perfect site has never been easier.

Once you find your Romeo, however, you have to do all you can to minimise the chance that something or someone won’t come between you and your love.

For some of us, it might be as simple as missing keys, a flat phone or having your kids (and husband!) screaming at you for pizza in the middle of the outback.

Thanks to some non-intrusive tech additions, these potential buzz kills can be solved.

For the missing keys, you can’t go past a little device called Tile. Have you woken

GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

up the next morning and can’t find keys or the esky at your camp site? Then consider this small device. Just larger than a dollar coin, you can place (or stick) these tiles to items you don’t want to lose. When you begin searching for a lost item, your phone tracks the Bluetooth signal strength of your Tile up to 100 feet with a distinctive melody. With a little creative thinking, you can attach this to all your camping valuables, whether it be your camping stove, camping trailer or the children! The beauty of this device also means that it can talk to other Tile owners. This means if you are looking for your misplaced item at the camp site,

Above: Betsy, “The Kombi” at Palm Beach leaving Sydney. Image: Jeremy Greive Below Left: BioLite Energy Campstove. Image courtesy of BioLite

you may be able to see the location being forgotten about back at your home… or worse, someone else’s!

For a flat mobile, check out BioLite CampStove (around $199). It has been around for a while now and is an ingenious device that converts a small campfire into electricity to recharge your phone. Another option is the solar

charger (Goal Zero has a large collection) which works as fast as a wall charger.

Just make sure you have sun! For more information, check out Go Camping’s online portable solar power comparisons.

As for the request to dine on pizza, apart from indulging in it before you leave, the fanatic in you won’t be able to go past a portable microwave oven (Wavebox

Portable Microwave Oven or Travel Buddy Ovens, both around $250). These gems are a life saver!

Now we know love can be a very fickle matter. When mixed with the right proportion of innovative solutions – websites, apps and clever devices – it’s really making it a whole lot easier to, well, fall in love at first ‘site’!

P: 07 4666 6058 E: relax@goomburraforestretreat.com.au W: goomburraforestretreat.com.au A: 268/271 Forestry Reserve Road, Goomburra QLD 4362

A secluded haven in the forest, Goomburra Forest Retreat is ideal for your short break or extended holiday.

Power down in your fully appointed eco accredited self contained cottage at this 4 star getaway in the beautiful upper Goomburra Valley. The picturesque 130 acre property borders Heritage Listed Main Range National Park – Goomburra Section.

Admire spectacular views over the Scenic Rim towards Brisbane and Lake Moogerah, waterfalls, bountiful flora and fauna when you explore the numerous walking trails. If rest is what you seek, Goomburra Forest Retreat provides tranquility in a relaxing environment.

Choose from studio or one bedroom cottages which are spaced well apart for privacy.

For the more independent traveller, Goomburra Forest Retreat also features a newly established This | G O C Acaravan M P I N G , park.

FISHIN G & family-friendly 4 W D A D V E N T U Rpark E S offers full amenities and grassed, 84 level sites with creek frontage.

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Proudly brought to you by

®

Celebrate With Cake Congratulations!

100th issue, a great milestone to achieve and proud to share with the GC team!

Enjoy the cakes!

Hot or cold, the DreamPot does it all! Win over family and friends with these cakes on your next camping holiday. Buy a set of Queen writing icing for a fun, novel way to surprise someone special.

Words & Images by Julie Bishop & Regina Jones

Apple Cinnamon Cake Ingredients: 80g butter ½ cup caster sugar 2 eggs ¾ cup self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 apple peeled and sliced thin Master Foods cinnamon sugar Method: Grease and line small inner pot with baking paper. While preparing cake mixture bring 2½ litres of water to the boil in large inner pot.

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Whisk eggs in. Fold in sifted flour and baking powder. Spoon into small inner pot pushing mixture right to the edge of pot. Place apple slices on top partially overlapping. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar. Cover tightly with alfoil then lid. Place over large inner pot as a double boiler. Turn heat to low, making sure it is still boiling at all times for 30 minutes. Then transfer to DreamPot for minimum 1 hour.

For more easy and delicious camping recipes visit our website at www.gocampingaustralia.com.au

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www.dreampot.com.au 1800 636 073

CA MPING AUSTR A LI A

259 Denison St | Rockhampton | QLD | 4700

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheesecake This is a surprise twist of sweet and savoury tastes with chocolate maltesers blended in. We used Kraft Whip peanut butter which is airy, light and fluffy to blend. [ 3 litre DreamPot, 18cm silicone springform pan ] Ingredients for base: ¾ packet (20 biscuits) of Malt biscuits 1 tbl cocoa 125gm butter, melted Ingredients for filling: 250g Philadelphia 60% less fat spreadable cream cheese 2 tbl brown sugar blended with 2 tsp of hot water 300ml Nestle carnation lite cooking cream 250gm Kraft Whip peanut butter 100gm approx. Maltesers crushed (save some for decorating) Method: Place biscuits in a double layer of freezer bags. Crush biscuits carefully with a wine bottle or something similar.

Transfer crushed biscuits to a mixing bowl and add cocoa. Melt butter and mix through for base. Line springform pan with baking paper. Press biscuit base into the springform pan and place in inner pot. Transfer inner pot into camp fridge.

Place the cream cheese, cream and peanut butter in a bowl. Blend with a fork for a few minutes. When the mixture is a creamy light texture add the maltesers and melted brown sugar. Stir through.

Remove inner pot from fridge and pour the cheesecake filling into the springform pan. Return to fridge to set for a day or ideally overnight.

Decorate when you are ready. As the inner pot with cheesecake in springform pan has been refrigerated together it will travel in the DreamPot and stay cool for hours.

Camping Cook Book A Woman’s Look at Camping Cook Book with Simple Recipes that are a creative new taste twist for camping, featuring spectacular landscape photography. $29.95 inc. p&h or 2 copies for $50 inc. p&h in Australia. Free Christmas gift wrapping! www.wlacamping.info E-mail: AWomansLook@bigpond.com for bank deposit details.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Hassle Free Holiday – Julie & Regina GO CAMPING, FISHING & 4W D ADV ENTURES

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