Wednesday 11 September 2013

Rutherglen - crossed the border into Victoria!


Homeward bound! We decided to make our last stop Rutherglen as that was one of my mum and dad's favourtie road trip destinations and thought that was a fitting end. I can see why they loved it, really pretty town in a lovely spot. We were camped next to a wetlands area (where the boys made their bird hide!)
We went on a 20km bike ride past canola fields, oat farms, the Murray River and wineries. At night there was a camp fire that everyone sat around and had a wine and a chat before heading off to sort dinner out.
We're currently camped at Braybrook in Melbourne. The first day here we got Wil's tooth fixed and Andy came for dinner which was great. The next day we met up with Ange and beautiful Isaac in Williamstown where we went to see the Tall ships and had a lovely lunch and catch up! On the way home popped into Science Works. Its fun being a tourist in your home town!
Today we pack up and leave the van and car here in storage and head to the airport. Off to Bali to finish our adventure! We will be gone for 10 days and i will finish the blog with a Bali Post when we get back!
It's been an amazing trip : )  

canola


start of the rail trail - the old train track has been converted into a bike track that goes through the country side including canola and oat fields and the by the Murray river




Wil and Harry's bird hide!

Tall Ship Festival 2013 Williamstown



catching up with beautiful friends after 5 months!

Science Works - went to see the 'carnival exhibition'
this is a lego map of Melbourne, really great

Jugiong NSW

We stumbled across this town and it was such a great find! We were heading towards Gundigai as a stopover but i spotted some vans in a valley that seemed to be camped in a lush green spot next to a river, so i headed in to investigate. We found the quaintest little town with an awesome free camp. The pub is the longest continually running pub in Australia with original stone work, in fact the town has been there for just on 200 years with a really interesting history including at the time, hosting Australia's worst criminal! The photo of the metal sculpture of a soldier and his horse was shot by that bushranger i just mentioned. The Murrumbidgee River runs through the town. The photo of one of the original houses wasn't a tourist site, it has another more modern home behind it and the property is still lived on..  the cafe was rustic and delicious and filled with lovely rustic homewares to buy and next door was a wine cellar and grocery stands, what more do you need?!
Loved this place.. 
















Jervis Bay

 Jervis Bay is surrounded by beautiful national parks that come all the way to the edge of pristine beaches!
It was also where poor Wil fell off his bmx and broke off half his front tooth and a piece of the one next to it! (all fixed now - we got it patched up then headed to Melbourne a day early and went to the Dental Hospital who rebuilt it with resin!)
our campsite beach



nothing like enjoying a wine in your pj's!








view from the pub!






sunrise from our campsite on the last morning


Berry NSW

We left Sydney heading for Jervis Bay but on the way drove through this beautiful little town called Berry. So quaint but modern at the same time, surrounded by beautiful countryside and stunning beaches only half hour away. I had my birthday here and the boys made it very special for me in such a lovely spot too! Even had a great skate park and lots of lovely homewares shops and cafes to keep me happy too!                Didn't want to leave this town!!  
Shoalhaven Heads, the road leading into Berry






Bakery/cafe - gorgeous!

our campsite at the local showgrounds and sporting oval - you can see the caravans in the distance. 5 minute walk into town and only $11 a night!

Wil's home made 'bindi proof' shoes!

My home made birthday cards, heart melting


the boys cooked an omellete for my birthday brekky!

the Bottle Shop was covered in hubcaps!





old blacksmith building converted to the hairdressers