Five weeks in South Australia
The transaction of the boat being completed we decide not to return immediately to France. We want to take advantage of the Australian summer and explore the national parks in the south of the country by Campervan.
Our bags are ready – 29 December 2023
TAO is now in the hands of new owners Melissa and Sean. At their request, we sailed together for the last time to Gosford (6h of navigation) so that they become familiar with the different manoeuvres and technical details of the boat. The next day they drove us back to the rental agency in Sydney where we picked up our Campervan.
Our itinerary
Mungo National Park
The further we go inland, the hotter it gets, especially in the Mungo National Park located south-west of Sydney, about 900kms away.
The park is a set of sand dunes, of plains and ancient dry lake beds. Herbs, Shrubs and cypress pines are the most common plants in the park.
We sleep in one of the campsites located in the bush. Before sunset, kangaroos emerge from their hiding places to feed on leaves, branches, water-rich tree shoots or succulents. Some of them timidly approach our location, attracted by the basin of water we have prepared for them.
This is the only time we can get very, very close to them.
The next day, wake up at 6am for a short walk. Despite the cloudy sky, the sun's rays are intense,
It's already done 30 degrees.
Change of scenery
Leaving the campsite we take a detour to Waikerie in the north-east of Adelaide to take a closer look at silos painted by talented artists.
Tour through the old copper mines in Kapunda operated until 1879.
Innes National Park
The park located in the far south-west of York Peninsula is only 300km from Adelaide. The beautiful coastal landscapes and beaches attract many visitors every year... of which we.
Stenhouse Campground is on the beach, so we stay there for two nights to discover the coastal paths and dip our toes.
Cape Spencer lighthouse
Golf Spencer – Ethel Wreck Beach
Deep Creek National Park
The park consists mainly of rolling coastal hills,
Along the way there is a variety of shrubs,
while the hills are covered with stunted, windswept brush.
We take a long hike along the coastline that leads to Blowhole Beach facing Kangaroo Island,
On a daily basis, kangaroos approach camping areas where the grass is a little greener.
The next day another walk to Bridgewater Cape where strange rock formations line the coast. They are composed of fossilized woods that have been transformed over time into the minerals silica.
It's a shame that a wind farm contrasts with this desert landscape.
We continue on our way to Port Fairy
to the Twelve Apostles south-west of Melbourne. The training of 12 Apostles dates back more than 10 million years. It is the result of erosion that has isolated these limestone towers from the high cliffs facing them. Wind and the forces of nature continue to shape these rock formations, of which there are eight to date.
Grampians National Park
We took out our only winter clothes to visit the park and the waterfalls for two days.
Swimming in the Mac Kenzie Falls is out of the question
nor in the Fish Falls below, The water is frigid.
Picnic along Wartook Lake.
Rather surprising to come across a family of Emu (Ostriches) Right in the middle of the road.
Kosciusko National Park – Alpine way
The Alpine way that leads to the park is quite austere, Eucalyptus trees have turned greyish as a result of repeated forest fires.
Inside the park all kinds of hikes are possible and for the more adventurous it is allowed to camp under the stars.
The rocky slopes are steep and dotted with yellow flowers.
In this vast territory, the Snowy Mountains dominate with Mount Kosciusko, whose highest point is at 2228m, the highest peak in Australia.
Every day we do different walks of varying lengths.
Thredbo and Perisher ski resorts are the best in NSW with great alpine hiking and mountain bike trails.
From Thredbo we take the chairlift to the highest point.
Mount Kosciuszko in the distance.
Once back down to the resort, we take a short trip to other slopes, thinking we can walk. We didn't realize they were meant for mountain bikes...
Too bad at least we'll have seen some scenery!
We leave the mountain ranges in the direction of the east coast with a few stops by the sea.
One of the last campsites under good guard before returning to Sydney!
Sydney – Paris ✈️✈️
We ended our journey in Australia, Plane tickets are booked for our final return "on dry land".