11. - September 2025 - Adelaide to Canberra drive

Entry 11 – September – 2025 Adelaide to Canberra drive

After our Oodnadatta Track excursion, we spent around a month at our home base. It was a busy period. There were some medical stuff and attention to Steve’s dad’s estate requirements. Also, car maintenance necessities, including utilising an old toothbrush to help clear the build-up of dust in those awkward locations on our 4wd and caravan after our Oodnadatta Track journey.

Our 4wd had a dent erased from one of its doors. Prior handing it over to the crash repairers we gave it a thorough clean, utilizing some masking tape to highlight the location of many paint chips collected over the years.

On collection of our 4wd we were provided with a small container of paint with a tiny brush and we promptly attended to all the identified paint chips.

With all the required items for attention receiving a completion tick, we connected the caravan to the tow tug and headed out. There was a feeling sensation of too much work and not enough play/relaxation.

There was a couple of days driving, followed by a couple of nights camped at the beautiful free camp of Sandy Point, Hay, N.S.W. We didn’t take any photographs as we had been there and done that before. It was quality time, stretching out and relaxation.

Our next stop was at Narrandera Brewery Flats free campground.

Just down the road a bit was a Koala Sanctury. Late afternoon we walked about a bit in the Sanctury. Koala’s generally sleep during the day and feed during the night. We did lots of looking about, into the tree canopies.

We spotted a couple of Koala’s high up, sound asleep. It was difficult to obtain that grand photograph due to the thick camouflaged tree foliage, and the fading light with the sun setting for the night.

Walking along the road back to camp we were delighted to spot a mum and her baby out having a feed of their favourite food, gum leaves.

Down the road a bit at the town of Wagga Wagga. We deviated away from the main highway, travelling along a less congested country side road. We were still travelling the same direction as the main highway. Our rate of speed slowed significantly due to the narrow windy road. It was quite the relaxing drive with our eyes wondering about, enjoying the beautiful scenic country side.

We spent a couple of nights at Sandy Beach Reserve, on the banks of the fast-flowing Murrumbidgee River. It was a beautiful setting with plenty of bird activity flying around. There was the constant background noise of chirping birds. It seemed where-ever we wandered there were different families of wrens, led by a proud blue wren. Each morning, we were serenaded by long choruses of kookaburra laughter. It was a delightful setting.

Our final night en-route to Canberra, was spent at another free camp location, Joe O’Connor Reserve at Yass. Another beautiful setting on the edge of the Yass River. We were able to cross the river at a weir and walk into town. If the water had been flowing any faster, the crossing would have been under water.

In the morning it was about a 70-kilometre drive to our son’s home. We were starting a week’s worth of activities with our grandchildren, during school holidays. It was going to be a long, tiring week and a fabulous experience.

It seemed like a week of eating birthday cake with two birthday celebrations.

Steve went for a push bike excursion, his first push bike ride for a few decades.

There was a trip to the Canberra Floriade, tulip festival, including a Ferris Wheel ride.

Many playground visits.

Work chores to complete.

It was a wonderful week. A couple of nights we were asleep for the night within an hour of returning to our caravan. That is 6.30 pm and bed time.