Tassie Big Things

Setting off on a roadtrip from Launceston to Hobart after a football game this Winter, Laura and I happened the have checked out the list of Aussie Big Things that are in the Apple Isle, and started making some detour suggestions as we set off. Not big detours, but a slight diversion that would have us collect THREE! Our co-roadtrippers thought we were mad, but they went along with it nonetheless. And loved the end result, I might add!

The diversion meant coming off the main highway, and joining the road that had us also go past the Great Lake. Which was very pretty.

But first on the Aussie Big Things trial were the Big Wickets! In Westbury, they are standing in the public park, next to the football/cricket oval, and stand tall to mark the achievement of the local Australian test player. We were pretty excited to have found these!

Next up, and just further down the road, was a refashioned silo, painted with a handle and spout addition to be the Big Coffee Pot. This was on a farm on the side of the road in Deloraine.



A little further up the road is Mole Creek, and given that we were on a roll, we were hardly going to stop now, so close to another. The Big Tassie Devil! He is sitting out the front of a Wildlife Sanctuary, and looks pretty menacing!

Three Big Things in one day, plus the gorgeous Great Lakes area - definitely worth the detour on our drive down the island state!

FIDO, The Big Dog

I spotted The Big Dog when I was on the train, travelling into the city whilst I am housesitting in the North Eastern suburbs of Melbourne at the moment, and when I looked up what I thought I had seen, it was confirmed that this piece of art near the Fairfield train station is indeed what I thought it was!

FIDO, or the Fairfield Industrial Dog Object, as he is called, fits the bill - he is bigger than the real thing, alright! I didn't realise he was out here, in the outskirts of Melbourne. A bonus find!

A Maze 'N Things

When I was researching the Five Aussie Big Things down on Phillip Island for our roadtrip, I discovered that the Big Tap was situated at A Maze 'N Things, just outside of Cowes.  This looked like such a fun stop, so we factored it into our day.

The Big Tap and it's running water fills the room before the entrance, giving you a hint at the illusions and trickery inside.

We soon found ourselves within the Mirror Maze inside, which was totally confusing, magnified by a group of kids running through around us!  Finding many dead-ends hidden by the mirrored walls, there were times I wondered if I would even find the way out!

Next up within A Maze 'N Things was the rooms filled with illusions - water running uphill, the set-up to look like you are floating in the sloped and trick-proportion room.  Tricks of the eyes and mind are set up in several rooms, and even had us big kids trying to figure out what was going on!

Then there is this Shrinking Room - where Carl has never looked so tall and scary!  Poor B looks tiny here - we had a bit of fun with these photos, of which you can get one to take home.

In Australia's biggest 3D timber maze, we spent quite some time getting lost among the twists and turns!  The goal is to find each of the four coloured flags, which you can see perfectly from the elevated sections of the maze - but they are much harder to find on foot!

We had a good laugh at the signs along the way, both encouraging and having a very Aussie go at you!

The Maxi Mini-Golf outside was our next activity, out in the sunshine of the day.  All 19 holes have some element of tricky and changing landscape between the putt and the hole, with many having elaborate paths and moving parts to get your ball to where you want it to be.

Guiding your ball into a hole and seeing it appear on the next green, through passages of water, or seeing it travel the arc of a mini-ferris wheel to get to the next green section, was all part of the fun and frustration!

A Maze 'N Things, along with the Big Aussie Things on Phillip Island, would be such a great day trip from Melbourne with a family.  And big kids just like us!

I was a guest of A Maze 'N Things, as a travel blogger.

Five Aussie Big Things On Phillip Island

Inspired by a post by Don't Ever Look Back, Belinda and I have been talking about popping down to Phillip Island for some time to check out all five Aussie Big Things.  Last week, amid all the Grand Final madness and preparation, we managed to complete the roadtrip.  Carl, all suited up from an interview, joined us for the drive down to this island past the bay, being just a 2 hour drive from Melbourne.

The first Big Thing to be seen was actually just before we reached Phillip Island, being just outside the town of Bass. The Big Earthworm sits beside the highway, and juts out from the former wildlife park on site.

This attraction has been closed down this year, due to licencing issues with the animals that were kept here, and thus the worm looks tired and unkempt.  I wonder how much longer it will be here to be spotted, roadside.

The worm is here because around this area very long earthworms have been found! Eew! Ha!

Once we had crossed the bridge onto Phillip Island, we stopped for a late breakfast at the Big Wave. Here, surfer Carl demonstrated the moves on the board within the curl - suit and all!

The Big Wave has been here for about 20 years, and is sculptured concrete.  We did have some debate though, about whether it really is a Big Thing, given that it's dimensions are questionably bigger than the real thing - a crucial feature of a Big Thing!

Not much further up the road, on the other side, were the Big Cows.  Grazing in front of the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, these milk producers are spoilt with graffiti markings on their side.  But otherwise, they are fenced into an enclosure, meaning that you can't actually get right up close and personal with them.

People sitting on the decking of the cafe of the Chocolate Factory, and indeed staff there, must get a laugh at people stopping roadside to get a snap with the Big Cows!

Once we had completed the drive past the Moto GP race track, and took in the beach, coast and penguin landing place at the bottom of the Island, we drove towards Cowes and found the Big Koala.

Better looking than his Dadswells Bridge brother, this Big Koala sits next to a brewery and in front of a holiday accommodation resort.  His claws are well defined, and he is surrounded by eucalyptus trees, as he should be!

We stopped in at Rusty Water Brewery for an afternoon pint to finish our day, after we had played at the last Big Thing for the day, just next door.

The last Big Aussie Thing on our list for the day was the Big Tap, and was the most novel of the five of our day.

The Big Tap sits atop of the entrance to A Maze'N Things, and the stream of water appears to be filling the room below it.  Through the windows you can see furniture floating in the room, filled with water.  We were pretty impressed!

Five Aussie Big Things in one day, just a two hour drive from Melbourne city, too good to be true for a couple of roadtripping junkies like us!

Which is your favourite of these?

The Big Wool Bales

Coming back from Warrnambool yesterday, I made a significant detour to track down one of the Aussie Big Things, but also as a continuation of what felt like a bit of a farewell to the region, for now.

I ducked back inland to capture the Big Wool Bales in Hamilton. I am not sure why I haven't found them before, but I didn't really know where they are. You need to head out on the Coleraine Road to see them, but there is a sign about them on the main road.

They are not really that spectacular, but they meet the Big Things brief in that that are bigger than the item for which they are depicting. Apparently you can go inside for the museum of all things shearing, and there is also a restaurant inside! Big bales indeed!

The sign on the site, being on the edge of an industrial area, tells us that Hamilton is the Wool Capital of the world!

I did try and track down the Big Stockman, which is supposedly in Koroit, but didn't find him. There is a statue on the main road of a stockman, but he doesn't fit the Big Things brief...in fact, he may even be less than lifesize, considering my impression of a Stockman would be Hugh Jackman-build from Australia - no?

This detour allowed me to enjoy the view of The Grampians as it came into view in the windscreen, before filling my mirrors for quite some time. A spectacular sunset, with pink and purple clouds dotted all the way home, I also got to check out those gorgeous letterboxes along the road, at Wickliffe as I passed. Such an authentic, rustic, and pretty part of the world, just in our back pocket!

My A to Z of Travel

My itching feet and aching wanderlust has me reading a lot of travel blogs at the moment, and so I have been reading many, many versions of the ABC of Travel meme. I first read it here, and thought I too would delve into my travel back catalogue, for a post.

A: Age you made your first international trip
When I was in high school, Mum took the whole family on our first overseas trip, being a visit to the USA, to go to Disneyland! So I was just 14! We went to the touristy things in LA, like the Rodeo Drive city tour, Universal Studios, and a couple of days at Disneyland, but we also made a day trip down to Tijuana, Mexico, which was a real eye-opener for us all.

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where
You cannot really beat Guinness from the tap, poured within range of the brewery, and I was taken to Mulligan’s in Dublin by some (amazing) locals. They says it’s the pub with the best tap Guinness anywhere, and who am I to argue with their extensive research!

C: Cuisine (Favourite)
My favourite food from all around the world, and the one I have out-of-the-blue cravings for, is the Fish Amok in Cambodia. Made in such different ways around the country, this curry fish dish baked and served in a banana leaf is the goodness of the ‘bodge!

I have recently found a recipe posted online, which sounds pretty spot on. Although I would rather just go to Phnom Penh again, and have it there again!

D: Destinations. Favourite. Least Favourite. Why.
My favourite (Top 5) city destinations have included New York City, Tokyo, Rome, London and Phnom Penh. NYC, Tokyo and London for all the amazing things a big, big city has to offer - so much going on, all the time, so many different neighbourhoods to explore. Rome for the history, and the big city elements. Hard not to love a place with the Colosseum! And then Phnom Penh will always have my heart, after living and working there for 6 months.
These 5 will most likely always have repeat visits for me, whenever I can include them in a trip.

My favourite little town destination is Luang Prabang, in Laos. This is where I would be if I ever wanted to run away and disappear from the world! Such a lovely little tucked away place!

I guess Ho Chi Minh would rank as my least favourite place, if I had to choose one, only because it was just a larger, busier, dirtier version of Phnom Pehn when I lived there, and crossed the border for a weekend visit.

E: Event you experienced that made you say ‘Wow’
The ANZAC Dawn Service at Gallipoli comes to mind immediately here. Such a reverent experience to be part of, and mark the spirit and loss of those fallen soldiers at Gallipoli, but to also mark the contribution of Aussie Defence personnel in all battles, past and present.

F: Favourite mode of transportation
It’s hard to beat train travel in all forms, including the tube in London and the various Metros across Europe. Of course, the ultimate trip was the train across Russia, Mongolia and into China on the Vodka Train. The changing scenes out the windows, the people met and fun had onboard, the stops along the way. This is really one of those life experiences to be savored! But then even the simplest pleasure of a sunrise in the mountains on a train also makes this mode magical. Train, hands down!

G: Greatest feeling while travelling
I love the feeling of freedom, and the knowledge that I can work out how to get around within any culture on my own, that travel gives you. This was highlighted to me in my recent trip to Sri Lanka, and figuring out how to get back to Colombo from Galle all on my own - after a long time off the travel trails! Reminded me of all the things I love about travel, and experiencing real life out there in a different country.

H: Hottest place I’ve travelled to
Sri Lanka wins for this question as well. The hottest I have ever been is sitting in the stands in the sun at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo in 2004 for the test match between Sri Lanka and Australia. So, so hot! The only saving grace was the service of beers in our seats, by the Lion Man with a keg on his back.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where
Having pina coladas delivered to us while we were swimming in the ocean at Playa Ancon, in Trinidad de Cuba will always be the most amazing hospitality service I have ever experienced. Loved it!

J: Journey that took you the longest
The train from Russia to China took us 3 weeks, albeit with many stops along the way. The longest single journey would be my flight over the top of the world, from Bangkok to New York City, being 17 and a half hours.

K: Keepsake from your travels
I started buying an ugly, sticky-out magnet from the places I visited in my early days of travel, as a bit of a piss-take gift for Mum. Now this trend has really taken off with my sisters and I, and Mum now has a fridge full of amazing, hideous magnets from all corners of the globe. The bigger, most sticky-outy, and uglier, the better! I think Mum has not cottoned on to the aim of this little gift purchase now, and takes it all with a grain of salt. But now I think it's actually a bit of a work of art!

I also buy the occasional art or artifact or replica piece from different places, if it catches my eye, with the vision that when I grow up I will have a house filled with amazing things from my travels. My plate from Turkey is one such thing.

L: Let down sight. Why and where?
I think there is certainly something I have seen and thought "is that it?", but totally can't think of anything specific...

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel
I think despite all my trips beforehand, to the USA mainly, my 6 months in Cambodia definitely ignited my wanderlust. The experience of emerging yourself in a city, a culture, a language (although, not very well!), and spending time with locals from such different life experiences was a real turning point for me in terms of a wish to see and do so much more.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in
I splashed out on a hotel in Bangkok after a month of travel. I don't recall offhand what it was called, but was a 5 star with all the trimming. This was a treat for the last night, before heading home. But with all the poshness of it, I arrived into the lobby a filthy, bedraggled backpacker after a day of hard travel.

I had left the beach of Sihanoukville in Cambodia that morning on the back of a moto to the Thai border. During this ride the sky opened up, delivering a torrential downpour that soaked me to the skin. Which included my passport in my back pocket. Once the rain stopped, the sun returned to bake me for the last little bit before the border crossing, and then I took a local bus for the rest of the journey to Bangkok.

I remember being horrified that a porter was going to carry my dusty, soggy backpack for me after check in, that I insisted on carrying it myself up to my room. I am far from a 5-star traveller! I did enjoy the rooftop pool, though, and the full breakfast buffet!

O: Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of while travelling?
Looking through all my photos from my years of travelling, it seems light fixtures, lamps and lanterns feature heavily. I will usually use them as a frame to capture the place I am exploring, and go out of my way to have them in the photo. I had done this fairly unconsciously, although it has amassed a pretty amazing collection!

This one is taken along the canals of Venice, on our weekend trip from London, back in 2006. So pretty!

P: Passport stamps. How many and from where?
Being an Aussie means you get a chance to work on filling your passport pages with a new stamp almost everytime you leave the country; I guess a reward for the distance you usually have to travel to get anywhere!


So, those are the stamps from my second passport ever. In my current one I have 10 stamps.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where
Weird, political or topical, art, is something I seek out when I travel. The Aussie Big Things on roadtrips here in Australia has been become a bit of a quest, and then our trek to see all the art installations in Prague.

This is the Big Oyster, from our Nullarbor roadtrip, which is located in Ceduna, South Australia.

R: Recommended sight, event, or experience
A White Xmas! So, so magical, for someone from the Southern Hemisphere. Our visit to Sweden, and that falling snow on Xmas Day will always be one of the most amazing travel moments for me!

S: Splurge. Something you have no problem forking over for while travelling
I will always try and cram in all the things I want to see in a trip, and will pay accordingly to not skip somewhere just cos of the cost. I remember making a splash in my budget to include the Plain of Jars on my 10 day trip to Laos. We also laid out a bit of cash to see the Terracotta Warriors in China...a point of ridicule now, given that we missed the train that would get us there, by 3 minutes!

T: Touristy thing you’ve done
I do them all, as many as I can manage. I don't really understand going somewhere and not seeing or experiencing that place's claim to fame. Would the ball drop on NYE in NYC count as the MOST touristy?

U: Unforgettable travel memory
Seeing in the Millennium in New Orleans was one of the greatest NYEs ever!

V: Visas. How many of them and for where
Well, in the photo collage above of my old, expired and full passport I have my J1 Working Holiday vise from the USA, several entry and exit visas before the actual Multiple Entry Visa that let me work in Cambodia for 6 months, a couple of full page entry visas into Vietnam, and then my UK 2 year Working Holiday.

In my crisp, new little blue book, I have full page visas for Russia, Mongolia and China, after the Vodka Train. So 12 all up!

W: Wine, best glass while travelling and where
I like wine, and I like to drink it, but I am no expert. I would have to say the South African wines in the Stellenbosch region here, but to be fair our winery tour was a very big day, and I certainly could name any wines or rank any for your recommendations! Great day though, with some spectacular views!

X: eXcellent view and from where
I don't think you can beat the view of the Melbourne skyline coming into view through an airline window, after a long trip away. Will always be home to me....no matter how far, nor for how long I roam!

Y: Years spent travelling
I would say 12 years here, since I set off on my working holiday to Nashville during our Summer of 1999-2000.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where
Despite being a massive sports fan myself, and spending a lot of time with a bunch of like-minded sports fans all around the world, I think the Barmy Army has to get the vote for the most zealous and most impressive sports fans. Their humour, their tenacity regardless of how the English team are going on the field, is to be admired.

Wow, those are some great memories!

The Big Lobster, Big Olive and Big Wine Bottle

Setting off on a roadtrip these days has begun to require the inclusion of an Aussie Big Thing, and crossing a border, to count as a proper trip. Our roadtrip to Radelaide crossed from Victoria to South Australia, and managed not one, but three Big Things!

The first was the Big Lobster in Kingston SE, which we aimed to see in our rough thinking about this trip to the cricket.

He's pretty ugly, and getting aged, weather-beaten and tired, Larry the Lobster is just sitting out on the highway outside of town, soaking in the sun, rain and wind. The tired little cafe and store behind him look like there have been there in the elements just as much as he has, and foiled our plans of getting a lifesize lobster as a keepsake/pisstake.

We found the Big Olive almost by chance, when discussing the other Big Things in the area as we travelled towards Tailem Bend.

The Big Olive is actually two, and amazingly made by the same artist who is responsible for Larry the Lobster! The stop here is more than worth the small detour we made, for tastings of olive oil, awesome olive tapenade and dukkah, and wine.

As we left the store to return to the car our saleswoman pointed out that the green olive is positioned perfectly so that at the right distance you can get a photo with you holding up that smaller olive. Perfect for those cheesy touristy photos!

The Big Wine Bottle, or Church Block for the more wine educated, is at Wirra Wirra Winery in McLaren Vale.

We stopped in here after lunch as our last break before reaching Adelaide, and the end of our roadtrip. Wine tasting was on offer, by a very cute barman, for the non-driving Sheilas.

The Wine Bottle is made of corks! All meshed together with wire, and stands in the carpark of the this picturesque winery in the hills of this South Australian wine region.

Big Miner

As the planning begins for our next roadtrip, and the ongoing discussions that a such a trip should involve a border crossing and a few Aussie Big Things, I have discovered that we actually have one of these Big Things right here in Ballarat.


Of course, I think we don't really pay attention to the Big Miner, cos we pass him every time we drive out of Ballarat, and when we are driving home. Plus he stands out the front of the failed "Great Southern Woolshed", which I think we all just look away from, right?

So, it turns out he is 'a tribute to the tens of thousands of gold prospectors who frequented regional Victoria during the second half of the nineteenth century', but is actually now part of the tacky looking Gold Rush Mini Golf, distracting drivers coming over the hill into Ballarat.

Prawn, Byron and Surfers

With some sore heads from the night before, Belinda, Lisby and I farewelled Brad, and hit the road in search of a hangover saving breakfast. Back on the road out of Yamba, we set out on the roadtrip back to Brisbane airport and the end of our wedding weekend.

Having passed it in the rain and darkness on the way down, we stopped at the Big Prawn at Ballina for a quick snap. The faded and much neglected prawn is sitting on top of a long closed down fish shop, surely destined for demolition.

The next town coming up with Bryon Bay, and having time up our sleeve, and having never been there myself, we decided to head in to check it out. Stopping up at the lighthouse at Cape Byron, we walked to the Easterly point of the Australian coast, in gorgeous sunshine, before stopping for locally made ice cream.

Another very pretty lighthouse on this trip, we then drove through the main street, before finding the highway again. Tracing our steps backwards, we returned across the border to Queensland, and decided a late lunch stop at Surfers Paradise was in order.

Fish and chips at Broadbeach, on the sand, as the sun started to go down, was a perfect cullinary end to our weekend. We completed the rest of the roadtrip back to Brisbane airport, pushing the limits of the pre-purchased tank of fuel. Then Belinda boarded her flight back to Sydney, Lisby to Perth, and I flew back to Melbourne. Another great trip together!

Roadtrip to Yamba

Last Thursday I set out for a big weekend of roadtripping and weddings. Of course, long before the Royal Wedding was announced, I had a 'save the date' on my fridge for this particular weekend, although up until we arrived at our destination, I couldn't have told you where Yamba was!

First I flew up to Sydney, for dinner on Thursday night with the Wilsons. Jess and Andrew picked me up from the airport, and we headed to Marrickville for Vietnamese, and a catch up over drinks. Staying at Casa Wilson again, I then grabbed a taxi out to the airport the next morning, and met Belinda.

Bee and I flew to Brisbane, where we picked up our rental car, and hit the road to the Gold Coast. Travelling down the big lane freeway, Bee managed to spot the sign for Yalata, and so we made a quick detour off the main road, to see The Big Pie. Just sticking out of the carpark at the back of the pie shop, no one but us seemed interested in the Big Thing of Australia - but there were loads of cars lined up in the drivethru to get a pie. Deciding to pass on the pie so as not to spoil our appetite for our lunch date, we hit the road again.

Our Sat Nav with his Irish accent got us to Carl's house on the Gold Coast, where we picked him up to have lunch. Directing us to the Currumbin Surf Club, we sat at the edge of the balcony over the beach, for a great catch up in the alternating sun and rain. Gorgeous!

Back on the road, rather late really, we picked up Lisby just into NSW, and then managed to again fluke the sign for the next Big Thing. As darkness was falling, we drove to the Big Avocado, at a closed Tropical Fruit World.

Impressed that we managed 2 Big Things so far, we then saw the Big Avo another 3 times while we were lost and confused in the back streets of Duranbah and Tweed Heads. Oops! As the rain started the belt down, we found the Highway, and made our way to Yamba, along the north NSW coast.

Arriving at The Sands (after another lost moment), we saw the final moments of the Royal Wedding happening on the other side of the world. Not to worry, seeing the post nuptial commentary meant we knew what to look for in the replay!

We then caught up with the bride-to-be, Belinda, for some drinks, and to hear of the rain for most of the week so far, and the worry and plotting for the back-up plan for the ceremony the next day. Over in Belinda's room, we met many of the girls attending the wedding the next day, and also Brad who had been matched to take the spare bed in our apartment for the weekend. Lucky Bloke!

Back to our apartment to let the bride sleep, we watched Prince William marry his Kate, over wine. So lovely!

Giant Koala

Today I drove to Horsham and back for work, and passed this big ugly monster! Snapped in a tribute to the Aussie Big Things I am anticipating on our roadtrip this weekend...gotta love Australia's fascination with making big things on the side of the road!


I had actually thought that this Aussie animal was past Horsham, as I recalled it being such a funny stop on a footy trip to Adelaide for one of the best finals ever. 2001, and the 4 Reid girls got out here - we have a silly photo of us in front of it with our Hawks scarves on.

Anyway, it's located between Stawell and Horsham, at Dadswell Bridge, where the Grampians are in full view to one side of the highway.

Streaky Bay – Nullarbor Links – Nullarbor

Having heard about the West Coast Whopper through a DVD of Dillo's mates', who had done the Nullarbor roadtrip last Ashes series, we put in an order the night before for the biggest burger in the world to be our breakfast/brunch the next day, as we prepared to head out of Streaky Bay. Getting to the Clearwater Cafe in Streaky Bay, they were just in the last stages of construction of this mammoth meal. Carl originally claimed he could eat 2, but upon seeing the size of the buns alone, the 4 of us ordered 1 between us, and then found a seaside spot to make the eating attempt.

Leaving all but scraps, the 4 of us completed our quarter each, before we climbed back into our Sportswagon to continue on our way.

Getting to Ceduna, we found the Tourist Information to gain details and a playing card to start the Nullarbor Links golf course. Hiring clubs here also, we got to the Ceduna Golf Course, and played the two holes (being 1 and 18 of the actual Course), to start our game. Finding black greens at the course, and fairly green fairways, Belinda and I found out that perhaps golf wasn't our olympic sport - but we'd have loads of fun figuring this out in the next few days!

Finishing the two holes, we returned the clubs, and stopped at the Big Oyster on the way our of town, and back onto the Highway. Two more holes for the Links, at Pedong and Nundroo, some 150kms apart, we then reached the Nullarbor Plain.

Pulling into the Nullarbor Roadhouse for the night, the family room turned out to be one half of what can only be described as a shipping container. We parked, and played a bit of Nullarbor carpark cricket to get the legs working again. Here we met several campervans full of Poms, also making the trip from one test to the other.

With nothing in view all the way around us, we watched the sunset, before we made it to the bar in the Roadhouse, for beers, mingling with the Poms and the locals, Ginger Wine, pool...and what turned into a very big night. Too much fun!

Adelaide – Clare – Streaky Bay

At the end of our pub lunch, after the Radelaide test, Belinda, Dillo, Carl and I climbed into the car that would take us across the Nullarbor to the next Ashes test, and farewelled the rest of the crew. Stopping on the outskirts of Adelaide to get some supplies for the start of the trip, like a cricket set and an esky with beer, we set off for our first stop.

Belting rain for the next hour or so teased us, knowing that our tailend batsmen had just needed to hang in till lunch. Alas.

As the rain started to ease, we reached Clare Valley, and plotted a couple of cellar door visits, close to winery closing time. Annie's Lane was our first stop, for a full tasting selection, and then we were entertained by the presenter at Skillogalee, and impressed with their wines. The Cabernets my favourite.

Reaching the town of Clare, we found the pub where our first accommodation was planned, and made it to the front bar just in time for happy hour. A few rounds to mark the beginning our this trip, planned for months, before dinner in the restaurant of the pub.

An alarm interrupted sleep, we hit the road the next morning, with our sights on Kimba and the big Galah. Through Port Augusta , we popped into Iron Knob for the laugh, and considered the tour of the quarry there. Discovering a whole lot of nothing, we kept driving and then made it to Kimba, which claims to be the halfway point across Australia. Here we stopped for lunch, and our first game of cricket, roadside.

Further down the highway, we ducked back to the coast along Anxious Bay, through Venus Bay as our first sight of the sea, and then up to our next night stop, Streaky Bay. Fish and chips on the beach in front of our cabin at the caravan park, making friends or enemies with the pelicans, and then some beachside cricket, we then entertained ourselves with card games, lots of beer, and Dillo's next installment of port consumption.