Day 12: Dubbo

Day 12 started early with a rush to Dubbo Zoo to secure an electric cart for our trip around the Western Plains Zoo. This actually became a highlight for the boys who would look at animals and then rush back to get the best seat. Amazingly, I did not get to drive this all that much, someone seemed to enjoy driving this and being in charge of the tour.

After being disappointed yesterday with the non compliance of some animals who seemed to wander away from the viewing areas or were asleep (is it worth putting lions and tigers in a zoo where they sleep for 20 hours a day?), many animals were much more compliant and awake this morning. These are magnificent creatures and majestic up close.

Love these Zebras.

Boys, I don't think the elephant appreciates being woken up. Elijah, it is not interested in your Nintendo 3DS.

Fighting for the back seat.

Are those boys playing with the baby rhinos again?

Kurtis' favourite animal...the North American bison. Elijah's favourite....the otter and his recently purchased toy tiger "Softy". Joseph's favourite...the lion.

Oh look, a caged emu. The dozen emus we saw scamper across the road in the middle of nowhere near Woomera would be SOOOO jealous of the easy life.

Kurtis, could you please get off the galapagos turtle.

Dropping Belinda off at her night accommodation.

We certainly have tried to keep costs down on this trip. Here are the boys in our luxury accommodation in Dubbo. It is Joseph's turn to sleep on the floor tonight.

The gallows.

Anyone who knows Kurtis knows he does need disciplining at times.

Day 11: Forbes to Dubbo

153km to Dubbo seems like a day cruise now. Didn't even need a coffee from our well packed coffee machine that is travelling very well from Alice Springs. Kurtis is pleased he no longer has it at his feet. We decided to stop by at Parkes to see "The Dish". We thought it would be more impressive, but this is why they have the best cafe we have been to. We would travel 40km from Forbes any day of the week to have a cuppa and scone there.

Finally have reached Dubbo and we headed to the zoo as quickly as possible. We were warned that it was a hot day (32 degrees!) and we didn't have the heart to tell them we were missing the 38 degree day Alice was experiencing. We decided to do an hour walking tour before we tackle a longer Dubbo Zoo day the next day.

People looked at me strangely when I stood at the fence with the boys and booed the camel exhibit. See these all the time and they are a Central Australian pest. Better to eat than keep alive I think. Ok, I did enjoy riding one and they did help open up Central Australia to the explorers, but they do need to be managed.

The father always looks out for his kids.

The boys just wanted to hear them sing "I like to move it, move it"

Day 10: Melbourne to Forbes

Our longest day on the road. We have now travelled over 3000km to this point. We are still amazed that after and hour on the road, we were still technically in the Melbourne region. We set off early for our trip to the Big 4 in Forbes. 724km later we were there and Elijah (bless his heart) offered to pay for the boys to hire these buggies. We cooked a BBQ and had an early night before we have our shortest trip tomorrow to Dubbo.

I don't think this is the main street of Forbes. Sorry Forbes, wasn't clear where the main centre of town was.

Day 6 - 9: Melbourne

Time for a little rest on the journey. Christmas Day with our old friends the Careys. We have known them since our Mackay days and we were extremely delighted and appreciative to have a place to stay over Christmas. Christmas Day was a smorgasboard of prawns, mussels, salmon, pork, beef, four or five desserts and a couple of homebrews and red wine. Thanks to the Careys for the spread, friendship and some new memories.

Bec and Belinda. Old friends from College days and the 2 best English teachers I have ever had!

Headed down to trendy St Kilda and caught up with one of my ex-students Dave Williams. While being in the Territory for 4 years, for us to both travel 40 minutes to meet up in the middle of Melbourne was crazy, but well worth it. I am not sure we are city people anymore, but are becoming more thankful to the GPS for helping us around the place. Having just done a tick under 2000km so far, we have not yet got sick of listening to directions from Homer Simpson.

We still look like a happy couple. Photo by Joseph.

Day 6: Port Fairy to Melbourne via The Great Ocean Road

This day has been the highlight of the trip. Only around 400km for the day, but we couldn't help ourselves and kept stopping to view the magnificent coastline. And talking about spontaneity, we decided to take the boys up in a helicopter to view the Twelve Apostles. Amazing and breathtaking. The boys loved it and  the photos do not do this trip any justice. We have video as well of the chopper flight and it is just spectacular. I have watched it twice already. The travellers and the car didn't know what hit it with the winding roads. Quite a contrast where we were fearful of falling asleep on the 100s of kilometres of straight roads to the tight corners and speeding traffic coming right at us. The little seaside towns along the way captured our attention and if it wasn't for being Christmas Eve, we might just have stayed somewhere along here.

Day 5: Adelaide to Port Fairy

After 2 nights in Adelaide it is off to Port Fairy, Victoria, some 589 km away. Heading into our third time zone for the trip is a little confusing and at least gives us something to try and explain to the boys why this happens. Port Fairy is a sleepy little place that comes alive over summer. Beautiful and peaceful, it has a rustic charm which the locals are very proud of. All the buildings are old and sometimes we wish we had extended our trip a little longer to make the most of a peaceful place like this. Staying in the good ol' Big 4 helps a lot and this has been the nicest one we have stayed in thus far. We loved the lollies when we arrived and when we left.