MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

MARS Enthusiasts 2019 NSW Camping Muster

We’re back from Carrathool after attending the 2019 NSW Camping Muster with the MARS Enthusiasts Facebook group. This time at Pinkers Beach near Carrathool NSW on the mighty Murrumbidgee River. Amanda and I love this group.

Pinkies or Pinkers Beach Carrathool NSW

Pinkies or Pinkers Beach Carrathool NSW

We Donated to Buy a Bale

Sean and Laura decided to do something different with prizes this year and that was to do a raffle and donate all proceeds to “Buy a Bale” to which on the night $270 was raised. This was a huge effort by all and it is something we should 100% do again.

Saturday nights dinner was camp oven roast and veggies with salads and also some home made desserts. There was a small army of helpers cutting veggies and wrapping trays and also deserts where made Amanda Sloane and Suzi Pallett. We were also treated to some tunes from Muster legend Spikey Singline who bought up all his PA and guitars and sang for us all. Spikey goes good!

MARS Enthusiasts NSW Muster 2019 Camp Oven Cook Up

MARS Enthusiasts NSW Muster 2019 Camp Oven Cook Up

Plenty of Firewood

We were all kept warm by the wood cutting crew. We cut some of the biggest logs we’ve ever seen on a camp fire ever. Mark was the absolute standout in this regard, dragging back what was almost half of a complete gum tree chained up behind his ute.

Camping Muster Pub Lunch

Sunday came and most of us decided to go and help the local Carrathool Hotel by having lunch their. This was a Muster first as we normally all stay on site and this was a great way of getting out and about and doing something different. This was a terrific idea and one we should definitely do it again.

Family Hotel at Carrathool NSW

Family Hotel at Carrathool NSW

Sunday night and something that started at National 2018 was a slap together meal with what ever we had left over and we all just picked at it. It was a bloody ripper meal and thanks go out to all that made something. My personal favourite was the curried sausages made by Leanne.

Cootamundra, Gundagai & Surrounding Areas

Cootamundra, Gundagai & Surrounding Areas

Cootamundra, Gundagai & Surrounding Areas

We spent the Easter long weekend in Cootamundra at the caravan park. We planned on looking at properties around the town so the Cootamundra caravan park was nice and central for us. It’s an older caravan park but everything is exceptionally well maintained and very clean.

Set Up in Cootamundra Caravan Park

Set Up in Cootamundra Caravan Park

Australian Cricket Captains Walk Cootamundra

The Captains Walk features 42 bronze sculptures of former captains of the Australian Cricket team. Sir Donald Bradman was born in Cootamundra and of course he features amongst the captains in the walk! On Friday after setting up we went and had some lunch and did the Cricket Captains’ walk in Jubilee Park again. Amanda was hoping that they had got around to installing Steve Smiths’ bust but alas she wasn’t very happy.

No Steve Smith Bust on the Australian Cricket Captains Walk in Cootamundra NSW

No Steve Smith Bust on the Australian Cricket Captains Walk in Cootamundra NSW

Trungley Hall

On Saturday afternoon we went for a drive out to Temora for a look around. We decided to take the long way back and ended up visiting a cemetary at a little abandoned place called Trungley Hall. I am guessing that in it’s day it must have been a German/Lutheran farming community like the ones in SA around Hahndorf as every name in the cemetery was clearly of German heritage.

Trungley Hall Cemetery NSW

Trungley Hall Cemetery NSW

Gundagai And Cootamundra Backroads

On Sunday went for a drive along backroads between Cootamundra and Gundagai with a little side trip to Tumut thrown in for good measure. We visited the Gundagai Cemetery and checked out Captain Moonlights’ grave – we love our Aussie bushranger history.

Captain Moonlights Grave Gundagai Cemetery NSW

Captain Moonlights Grave Gundagai Cemetery NSW

Loads To Do – Explore The Backroads Between Gundagai And Cootamundra

There is heaps to do down this way, much more than what you see alongside the Hume as you roll on by. We saw quite a few nice little free camping spots in some out of the way places you’d never know existed.

Hema Maps Cootamundra and Surrounds

Hema Maps Cootamundra and Surrounds

Cootamundra Caravan Park

Cootamundra is located 379 kilometres south of Sydney, it’s a small town of 5,900 people best known for being home to cricketer Don Bradman. His birthplace is now a museum well worth a visit. Located in the Riverina Cootamundra is an excellent base from which to explore the region. Cootamundra has a very good golf course and picturesque scenic views. In addition to being neat and spacious Cootamundra Caravan Park is easily accessible from town but sits off the main road. In fact you can walk to everywhere within Cootamundra from the caravan within five or ten minutes. The Cootamundra RSL Club is about two minutes walk from the caravan park. The RSL has a very good bistro and meals are both cheap and generous.

Getting To Cootamundra

Cootamundra is situated on the Olympic Highway, not very far off the Hume Highway. It’s easily accessible when travelling between Sydney and Melbourne. It makes a great stop to break up your journey.

Travel FromDistanceTime
Adelaide to Cootamundra978km10:28
Albury to Cootamundra238km02:24
Canberra to Cootamundra171km02:00
Melbourne to Cootamundra562km05:38
Sydney to Cootamundra379km04:01
Wagga Wagga to Cootamundra90km01:08
Young to Cootamundra48km00:36