Summary Part 3

During our trip around Australia we could not resist the cheap flights into Asia from Darwin.  While this area is not for everyone, we loved everything about Singapore and were amazed by the sights and experiences available.  There were many surprises and among the most memorable were how clean and pretty Singapore was.  It was a coincidence that it was spruced up for a visit by Wills and Kate and the F1 GP that was due three weeks after our visit. Singapore people in general and young people especially were very nicely dressed and very polite to us visitors.  The same applied in Kuala Lumpur where as soon as we paused in the street to consult our map, some random uni students would stop to help us on our way again. It was great to experience and we could not help but compare it to Australia and sad to say that it would probably not be better.

The respect that Singaporean's have for Australian soldiers and there effort during WW2 was humbling to see in young tourist guides proudly showing off places and relating stories showcasing heroic Australian deeds.

While this little side track was not a planned part of our trip, we loved the experience and highly recommend the opportunity should it arise.  

p.s. the flight cost from Darwin to two countries was half the cost of a trip back any other Capital city in Australia.

The long distance shot when Carol happened to see Wills & Kate arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore

Merlion Statue on Sentosa Island, Singapore

Malasia's version of our Lodge where the leading politician lives for a fixed term and must then be replaced

War Memorial commemorating the ANZAC's efforts in WW2, Kuala Lumpur

Batu Batu Caves, Malasia, nice statue and more than 400 steps up to the caves!!!

inside Batu Batu Caves, shops and temples

cute little animals all over the steps to the caves, well fed despite the "Do Not Feed" notices

KL Tower, great viewing level up top

even more awesome Petronas Towers also in KL

Marina Bay Sands back in Singapore, 3 separate hotels holding up an infinity edge pool and bar area 

The biggest and best greenhouse we could ever imagine seeing in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Some of Singapore's most amazing orchids that seem to grow like weeds everywhere

Another view inside the greenhouse with 6 story high waterfalls coming out of orchid covered buildings

this little orchid would have to be the Mexican

the greenhouses from on top of Marina Bay Sands Hotels

Looking down on Singapore's Eye with the F! Grand Prix grandstands behind 

Statue inside a cathedral in the Indian region of Singapore 

one more beautiful flower in the Botanic Gardens

really well done entrance to the Botanic Gardens left a lasting impression.

Next week we return back to our Australian trip further on from Darwin.

Part 2 of the Big Lap SUMMARY

Fishing NT style with Ted and my 2 bosses from the Hardware

Brisbane city from Southbank taken on a quick trip back east to catch up with Family

Dinosaur footprints at Lark Quarry outside Cloncurry

Pretty lagoon at a freecamp outside Cammooweal

The one and only Daly Waters Pub

Thermal Springs pool at Mataranka

Roper River full of not very hungry Barra, apparently!! They were biting last week...

sleepy lizard in Katherine Gorge

Touring the Gorge for breakfast

very pretty Edith Falls north of Katherine

tonnes of lamp being cooked for the Greek Festival in Darwin. BBQ made by prisoners.

1.25kg Muddie meal for one on the Darwin Wharf restaurant area

Carol ready for a good movie at the outdoor cinema on the Darwin waterfront

Magnetic ant mounds facing north/south in Litchfield National Park

a larger ant mound

one of the twin waterfalls in Litchfield

the other twin falls with a great swimming hole

enjoying an early morning swim in the middle of winter - Litchfield at 9am on 14 July

Michelin Man sandstone formation in "The Lost City"

Mindle Beach with Ted and Linda waiting for the Beer Can Regatta

the winning entry made from 7,000 cans supporting 15 drinkers

NT Parliament House

nice pier and beach on the opposite side of the Harbour from Darwin City

an FA18 bunging on a great show over the Mindle Beach Markets at the end of the Air Force exercises

Mindle Beach sunset - dinner at the markets with this view is hard not to enjoy

Closing the Loop......

Apologies for the Blogs having dried up of late.
Yes, we are back in Brisbane having closed our loop of Australia.  We have been living in our van for 22 months since we left Brisbane in August 2011 and have taken a few weeks off touring and blogging.
However, we are back online and have just completed a review of our photo files.  Its amazing how many photos can be collected in the digital age, we would never have been able to afford getting that many photos developed in the olden days Kodak Photoshop.

The following blog/s is/are a summary of our trip around Australia. There will be some photos at the end of this and more to following in coming days/posts.  The pictures will be in the order of our travels. They are the pictures that invoke the best memories for us and may not be the 'best' photos we have taken. We hope you enjoy and are encouraged to find your own memories in this beautiful country of ours.

We spent 22 months on the road leaving Brisbane on 26 August 2011.  The first 9 months were spent in Central and Southern Queensland and the northern half of New South Wales above Sydney.  Our path then took us to Western Queensland, north to Darwin, and then westwards around Western Australia, east across the Nullabour into South Australia, up through the Centre to Alice Springs, then back south through Broken Hill and along the Murray and around Victoria and South Eastern NSW before heading inland again through the Snowy Mountains, Canberra, back down into bushranger country in Northern Victoria then through Mudgee and Central NSW back to Brisbane.  We had extended stays in Tieri babysitting grandchildren while their parents travelled to Europe, back in Brisbane while our daughter had a baby, Darwin NT where we worked during the winter,  Streaky Bay SA another work project, and a couple of weeks in Mudgee with our son and his family on the homeward run.  We also took a little detour from Darwin through Singapore and Kuala Lumpur after our workmates alerted us to the very cheap airfares to Asia from Darwin.

We met some wonderful friends, new and old, along the way and saw many beautiful places that this country has to offer and took note of many more that looked like they would be worthwhile taking the time to visit if we do another lap one day.  Of particular note were Russ and Jane we camped near during the Tamworth Country Music Festival and caught up with again at Inverell, and Ted and Linda who we camped beside at the Daly Waters pub and then camped a few sites apart in Darwin for the winter months of 2012. 

We were blessed with no mechanical breakdowns, no accidents, no health issues, and suffered no losses despite hearing several horror stories that other travellers were only too willing to share.   

Some stats for those so inclined :--

                Km’s travelled                                                   61255

                Diesel consumed - litres                                     9093.3

                Average consumption Ltrs / 100km                    14.84    Range     9.90    to         21.14

                Average Fuel Cost $/l                                     $ 1.560    Range   $1.24     to        $2.05

                Nights away                                                       646

                Nights in Paid Campsites/van parks                    404        

Average site fee / night (paid & free camps)                     $ 20.91

Average Site Fees (Paid sites Only)                                 $ 34.09    Range   $5.00     to       $50.00

Expenses Breakdown as a % of Total Cost             :--

                                Park Fees                                            12.8%

                                Extras                                                  48.1%

                                Groceries                                             23.9%

                                Fuel                                                     15.7%   

While we stayed in many free camps that are indeed free, the best value site was at the Blackall Campground in town on the river bank for $5 per van per night.  Swan Valley and Fremantle at Christmas time were $50.00 which was fair. The worst value campground was the National Park Campground at Tidal River on Wilsons Promontory. The camp fees here were $48.00 per night for a powered site with no water in the off season. We would still give this park a strong “must visit” recommendation as the coastal scenery and bush walks to adjacent bays are magnificent.  The wombats and parrots that wandered through the park and our annex made us feel very much at ease and we enjoyed our visit a lot.

Town of 1770, QLD

1770 sunset

Farmhouse between Warwick and Toowoomba QLD

open garden at Warwick QLD

Lavender Farm outside Stanthorpe QLD

Browns Falls near Stanthorpe QLD

King Parrot on wattle

Tor in Girraween National Park near Stanthorpe QLD

friendly Kookaburra in Girraween Nat Park QLD

enjoying a campfire in Bald Rock Nat Park, NSW

Stannum House circa 1888, Glen Innes, NSW

Barrington Tops Nat Park in the Hunter Valley NSW

lighthouse at South West Rocks NSW

Timbertown Steam Train, Wauchope NSW

mature Cedar tree Washpool National Park between Grafton and Glen Innes

Crystal Falls near Bellingen NSW

Crystal Falls near Bellingen NSW

Dangars Falls outside Dorrigo NSW

Avenue of fig trees Grafton NSW

big coach at Russel Crowe's Museum of Unusual Things, Nimboida NSW

brave Isobel holding a banded python at Ballina NSW

Natural Bridge near Mt Warning QLD

beautiful country church outside Armidale NSW

Octagonal shearing shed near Armidale NSW

Gibraltor Nat Park between Glen Innes and Grafton NSW

Waratah flower Gibraltor Nat Park

Washpool National Park NSW

Tourist Information Centre Lithgow, NSW

Blue Mountains near Blackheath, NSW

Mt Warning, NSW

Great Dividing Range near Jackadgery, NSW

Carol with the McClymont sisters at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW

Troy Cassar-Daley

Russ with the Golden Guitar and Slim Dusty's 1971 ZC Fairlane

convict built viaduct on the Zig-Zag Railway outside Lithgow, NSW

more to follow.........................................................................................................................................