Coming Home

Since my last post, we've tracked our way to home.

We crossed the Qld border and visited family and friends along the way.  Our final night was spent at Alkoomi Farmstay (about 40km south of Rockhampton just off the Bruce highway.  Early kick off after a glorious sunrise, we kept heading homewards once we could smell it.

We've enjoyed our time away but it's always great to return home.  Been missing the family, so looking forward  to 'squeezing' the littlies.  

I always finish each trip with some trip stats, so here they are:-

Distance travelled:  11,566 km
Average economy 16.5 litres/100 km
Fuel used: 1,980 litres
Fuel costs: $3,600 ($50/day)
72 nights on the road
Average accom: $14.81 /night

Thanks for following along our 2025 Sleepin' Around adventure.  

We look forward to the next one!

 

Truckin' North

Well, we've made it back into the home state (just in time for Origin).  Since leaving Menindee Lake area, we've traveled roads we've never taken in the past.  Passing through Wilcannia, Cobar, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Lightning Ridge.  As we transited north, the greener the countryside became - makes for a pleasant drive.  Also noticed the closer we got to Queensland, the shittier the roads became.

We're spending the next week or so catching up with family whilst on our homeward journey.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a few images from along the way.

A mandatory snap before leaving town - we camped here overnight.

Brewarrina Fish Traps - the pelicans are lined up for the buffet

Popular rest area for a free camp

Our overnight campsite was beside the bridge

Alley beside John Murray's Gallery

A quick dip in the Artesian Pool ~ 40°C

The Hebel Hotel - a classic aussie bush pub

Menindee Lakes

A short drive (100k's) to the ESE of Broken Hill, and we spent a few relaxing days parked up beside Lake Pamamaroo near the small town of Menindee.

We pretty much had the entire southern side of the lake to ourselves for the duration of our stay.

We were joined by an abundance of local wildlife.

 

 

 

 

Silver City and Surrounds

Leaving Marree, we backtracked down via Peterborough and crossed the border into NSW.  Checked out the Ochre Pits on the way to our overnight camp beside Yanyarrie Creek just off the highway (RM Williams Way).

Turnoff sign might have been made Friday afternoon after a liquid lunch!

Ochre Pits/Cliffs near Lyndhurst

 

A couple of locals at Yanyarrie Creek

Our campsite for night at Yanyarrie Creek

Then onwards towards Broken Hill where we stayed at the Regional Events Centre for a few days to restock supplies and check out the 'Silver City'.  Fun fact:  Broken Hill operates on South Australian time zone despite the fact it's in NSW.

The street names in Broken Hill are a step back in time to high school chemistry lessons - Oxide, Boron Bromide, Iodide, Argent, Silver to name a few.

As well as mining, Broken Hill (and Silverton) has a substantial history in the art 'industry'.  

We visited Jack Absolom's Gallery, Pro Hart's Gallery and the Silver City Art Centre - home of "The Big Picture".  It's reputed to be the world's largest acrylic painting on canvas by a single person - 100m x 12m.  It took Peter Anderson 2 years to paint it. 

Pro's collection of Rolls Royces - four of them

"The Turnstile" by Pro Hart

"Bushtown Christmas" by Pro Hart

"Shed Hands End of Season Party" by Pro Hart

Pro's workspace

Pro's tool box

Part of the big picture

The Big Picture

Pro Hart's daughter, Julie, is also a painter and has her own gallery.  We dropped in there too.  Her style is heavily influenced by her father.  Got to have a chat with her.  She told us of a time when she would be working on a piece and she went off to make him a sandwich and a cuppa for lunch.  When she came back, he had painted a couple of people and sheep in her painting - he said it needed it.  There's a painting in her gallery he'd done so much to, she told him he should sign it so he did, both signed it.  That painting is not for sale!

We took a trip out to Silverton, about a half hour drive away.  Some wonderful relics of 19th century life and architecture around in this old ghost town.  It gives off a Ravenswood vibe as you walk around the 'streets'.  As most know, one of Silverton's claims to fame is as a location for shooting Mad Max II the movie.

 

Onwards!