We’ve just returned from another fabulous driving holiday.
They’ve become a bit of a favourite of ours, my husband loves driving and I love the planning.
We both love discovering new areas of Australia – what we describe as ‘colouring in the map’.
You know, you hear of place names – Parkes (from the film The Dish and its annual Elvis Festival), Bourke – with the common phrase of a person being, or going, Back O’ Bourke.
So why not visit them?
We get the maps out (yes, real paper maps!) and look on good ol’ Google and try to work out what’s doable (and affordable).
We work out our stopovers in places we know there are things we want to see and do.
Then try to find out what other quirky or interesting things we might see en route, building in leg stretches as we go.
I’m sure for some people the idea of a driving holiday can sound quite boring.
Ha! I can hear my old needlework teacher saying ‘only boring people get bored’.
But she’s right – there’s so much to see.
On this particular trip we observed the constant changing landscape, discovered interesting tiny towns, spotted wildlife (especially emus), and noticed the different types of farming – cattle, sheep, chickpeas and cotton.
As a passenger it’s easy to read a book, listen to a podcast or look at social media to pass the time.
But you miss out on so much if you don’t pay attention to what’s happening around you.
We spotted Wedge-tailed Eagles, Nankeen Kestrels, Eastern Rosellas, Ringneck Parrots and Apostlebirds.
There were so many other fun things we saw on this trip: the Big Apple (Stanthorpe), the Standing Stones in Glen Innes (where you can be a human sundial), discovering Coonabarabran is the Astronomy Capital of Australia!
We also disovered that Sir Henry Parkes comes from my neck of the woods in the UK – and was such an important figure in Australia’s history – known as the ‘Father of Federation’!
Finding out the facts and fiction of the film The Dish.
Seeing the Big Bogan in Nyngan.
Observing that wild goats are everywhere around Bourke.
Discovering that Fred Hollows burial site is laid out in the shape of an eye.
“Fred Hollows, eye doctor. The key he used to undo locks was vision for the poor.”
Seeing the 40,000+ year old Aboriginal fish traps in Brewarrina.
The art everywhere – murals painted on silos and toilet blocks, and sculptures – including Stanley (that’s all I’m saying on this one!)
Bathing in the Artesian Bore Baths in Lightning Ridge – which is black opal country.
All this (and 2,890 kms) in just one-week!
You can see and do so much in just a simple drive – it doesn’t have to be a full day – or a full-on holiday.
So get out there, explore and notice what’s around you.
Ann🙏