Burke & Wills Camp Site At Lake Pamammaroo

We travelled up to Menindee from Carrathool via the Cobb Highway and Ivanhoe Menindee Road to meet up with our mates from the MARS Enthusiasts camper trailer group.

We left Carrathool and headed towards Hay where we fuelled up and headed North along the Cobb Highway to Ivanhoe. This bit of the trip is part of what is known as “The Long Paddock”. On the way we stopped off at One Tree Hotel again. It’s a cool place with great history.

One Tree Hotel On The Cobb Highway

The Ivanhoe Menindee Road

We fuelled up at Ivanhoe then hit the Ivanhoe Menindee Road again. We absolutely love this road. The Ivanhoe Menindee Road is an absolute beauty. We have used it heaps of times. It goes from being mild to wild depending on when it’s been last graded and how many unthinking people have driven along it while it was wet. It’s about 200ks long. Slow down getting on and off the short bitumen bits either side of cattle grids as they can have some pretty good drop offs. There are alternate ways you can go to avoid it but we love it so there’s no way we are going out of way to not travel along it.

Dropping Tyre Pressures In Preparation For The Ivanhoe Menindee Road

Burke & Wills Free Camping On Lake Pamammaroo Near Menindee

The campground on Lake Pamammaroo near Menindee is an absolute gem. We’ve been there three or four times now and and it’s awesome. You have your choice of camping on the lake foreshore or on the banks above the river near the weir. There is water available although it is untreated and not fit for drinking and flushing toilets. Loads of bins are provided and they are emptied regularly.

Burke & Wills Free Camping On Lake Pamammaroo Near Menindee

Maidens Hotel Menindee

After setting up camp at the Burke & Wills free camp ground on Lake Pamammaroo we all went out for dinner at the Maidens Hotel. It was a good way to end an excellent day and catch up with old friends and a few new ones. The meals were really good. Everyone was really excited about the upcoming trip to the Dig Tree and Birdsille. Back at camp we had a few beers, lit a fire and talked in to the evening.

Maidens Hotel Menindee

Birdsville Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Our next big trip is going to be four weeks through outback Australia. We are leaving from Sydney and travelling up to the Dig Tree via Menindee and Tibooburra with a bunch of good friends from the MARS Enthusiasts Camper Trailer Group.

National Muster Trip Dig Tree Birdsville Track Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

The Real Aussie Outback

After the Dig Tree we are going up to Birdsville via the Planet Arrabury Road with a stop over at Haddon Corner. At Birdsville we all plan on driving up “Big Red” to watch the sunset. After exploring Birdsville it’s down the Birdsville Track to Farina with a night inbetween at the Mungerranie Hotel.

Burke & Wills Dig Tree

Oodnadatta Track

We are leaving our camper trailer friends at Farina and heading across the famous Oodnadatta Track to William Creek. We’ll be camping at Arckaringa Station for a few nights and having an explore around the Breakaways and the painted Desert. Then it’s on to Coober Pedy. We are then going to check out Woomera and explore around the town and look at all of the leftovers from the rocket range days and then it’son to Roxby Downs. Silverton is our next stop for a few nights and we’ll visit Broken Hill for about the fifth time. Then unfortunately it will be time to head back home.

All up we plan on about 7,000kms and many of them will be on red dirt. We love red dirt. It’s going to be an awesome trip. Please follow us along!

Dig Tree Birdsville Track and Oodnadatta Track Travel Itinerary

Day	Town	State	Distance	Time	Where To Stay
Saturday	Carrathool	NSW	589	05:59:00	Truss Bridge
Sunday	Menindee	NSW	489	05:18:00	Burke & Wills Camp Site
Monday	Tibooburra	NSW	444	05:06:00	Aboriginal Land Council Camp Ground
Wednesday	Dig Tree	QLD	292	06:00:00	Burke & Wills Dig Tree
Saturday	Birdsville	QLD	450	09:00:00	Birdsville Caravan Park
Monday	Mungerrannie	SA	313	04:11:00	Mungerannie Hotel
Tuesday	Farina	SA	262	03:31:00
Thursday	William Creek	SA	304	06:00:00	Anna Creek Bush Camp
Saturday	Arckaringa	SA	238	05:00:00	Arckaringa Station
Monday	Coober Pedy	SA	141	03:00:00	Oasis Tourist Park
Wednesday	Roxby Downs	SA	452	04:45:00	Discovery Parks Roxby Downs
Friday	Past Peterborough Barrier Hwy	SA	425	04:27:00	Nackara off Road
Saturday	Silverton	NSW	278	03:04:00	Penrose Park
Tuesday	Emmdale	NSW	323	03:31:00	Emmdale Roadhouse
Wednesday	Nyngan	NSW	292	03:02:00	Nyngan Leisure & Caravan Park
Friday	Forbes				Jemalong Weir

Carinda Hotel David Bowie Lets Dance Location

Carinda hotel was used in the David Bowie film clip for Let’s Dance. Amanda and I called in to Carinda Hotel and we absolutely and totally loved the place.

Carinda Hotel

Our Pub Ratings

Vibe 90% 90%
Architecture 50% 50%
How Easy Is It To Get To? 75% 75%
Was The Beer Cold? 100% 100%
Did We Love It? 100% 100%

Location Map

About The Carinda Hotel

Years ago I was sitting on the lounge early one Sunday morning watching Rage and the film clip for David Bowies “Let’s Dance” came on and being a lover of both Bowie and country pubs I decided to look up where it was with the view to going there one of these days.

Carinda Hotel David Bowie let's Dance

The hotel from the film clip is in a small town called Carinda, about 70ks from Walgett NSW. Amanda and I called in to Carinda Hotel and we loved the place. You could feel the history inside, it’s old, it’s a bit dishevelled but you wouldn’t want to change a single thing about it. Throw the David Bowie history in to the mix and well, just go there and see. I bet you can feel something. I did.

Carinda Hotel David Bowie Lets Dance Famous Tiled Wall

The Carinda Hotel publican Leanne was a lovely lady, very welcoming. The beers were icy cold and the lunch was bloody awesome. You can camp for free out the back of the pub, or if that’s full (pretty unlikely) there’s also free camping down the road at the showground. Well done Carinda and Carinda Hotel, the place is a 10 out of 10.

Carinda Hotel Hamburger

Let’s Dance Carinda Festival

The small rural town pays an annual tribute to legendary musician David Bowie when it hosts the annual Let’s Dance Carinda Festival over the October long weekend.

Up to 800 people are expected to attend Carinda Hotel for the next Let’s Dance Carinda Festival.

Let’s Dance Carinda Tribute Committee are in the throes of putting together a wonderful time for everyone to enjoy and hopefully lift the morale in the drought-stricken country.

Carinda Hotel David Bowie Lets Dance The Long White Duke Filmclip

Committee secretary Joy Dare said the inaugural event attracted about 200 people.

“Then there was about 450 people at the second event (in 2017) and this year we’re hoping it builds up to 800 people,” she said.

“People who couldn’t make it last year told us that they were sorry and are hoping to attend this year.”

Free showers, toilets and camping are accessible at the sports ground where the festival takes place. Breakfast will be available with a continuous barbeque during the weekend and meals at night. https://www.facebook.com/Lets-Dance-Carinda-303940966427490/

Carinda Races

Carindas’ biggest event of the year is its picnic race meeting held each July. Carinda and District Race Club has been racing since 1915 and stages a six race meeting every July. Outback racing at its best! All racing enthusiasts please put it in your diary. https://www.facebook.com/carindaraceclub/

Where’s Carinda Hotel?

Carinda Hotel is in the small regional NSW town of Carinda in central NSW about 70ks from Walgett NSW.

Contact Details

Address
22 Colin St, Carinda NSW 2831

Phone
(02) 6823 2218

Getting There

Travel From	Distance	Time
Walgett to Carinda Hotel	70km	00:53
Lightning Ridge to Carinda Hotel	148km	01:50
Bourke to Carinda Hotel	191km	02:27
Sydney to Carinda Hotel	628km	07:31

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

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

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

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

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

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 From	Distance	Time
Adelaide to Cootamundra	978km	10:28
Albury to Cootamundra	238km	02:24
Canberra to Cootamundra	171km	02:00
Melbourne to Cootamundra	562km	05:38
Sydney to Cootamundra	379km	04:01
Wagga Wagga to Cootamundra	90km	01:08
Young to Cootamundra	48km	00:36

Craigs Hut in the VIC High Country Near Mt Buller

We have been up to Craigs Hut. We were camping at Lake Eildon for the NYE weekend with a big bunch of friends and last time they had all camped there I noticed a Facebook post by Kev and Deb Smith where they went up to Craigs Hut for a day trip back in November and I thought it was something we’d like to do.

We went up with our friends Simon and Tracy Kelly and it was a magnificent day out. The views from not just the hut but everywhere else up there are incredible. You can see for miles, literally from one mountain top to another. The roads are very easy to get along if you stick to the main ones. Next time we visit up there I would like to have a crack at one or two of the more difficult tracks.

It was a really good experience and I highly recommend that if you have the chance to give it a go that you do.

View From the Back Verandah of Craigs Hut

About Craigs Hut

Craigs Hut is a replica of a high country cattlemen’s hut. It is located on Mt Stirling about 51 kilometres from Mansfield. Craigs’ Hut was originally built for The Man from Snowy River film made in 1981–82. Craig’s Hut was burnt down by major bushfires in 2006. It was rebuilt and opened back up in January 2008.

Inside Craigs Hut Mt Stirling

How to Get to Circuit Road

Head towards Mansfield along the Mt Buller Road towards Mt Buller. Take a left at the Mount Stirling Road which commences at the toll gate at Mirimbah and this takes you to Circuit Road. The toll gate at Mirimbah only operates during the snow season. There is no charge for access outside the snow season. Mansfield to Mirimbah is about 30ks. The Circuit Road complete round trip starting and finishing at Mirimbah is about 80 kilometres if you do the 10k return Bindaree Falls detour.

Circuit Road is ok for 2WDs however it does have some corrugated rough sections. Circuit Road and many of the tracks in this area are subject to seasonal road closures. Those in State Forest and National Park are closed to vehicles from about the Thursday after the Queens Birthday long weekend in June until the Thursday before the Melbourne Cup weekend in November. Contact Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board on 03 5777 6077 to check the status of closures within resort.

How to Get From Circuit Road to Craig’s Hut

Access to Craig’s Hut is 18 kilometres from TBJ along Circuit Road. A 4WD track accesses the hut from Circuit Road. The road up is very steep and you’ll need a 4wd with low range and good ground clearance to get up and down it. It’s easy if you just take your time. Also make sure to keep an eye out for others coming up and down the track as it’s very narrow with limited passing spots. If you can’t get up the track don’t worry you can walk up from the bottom. It’s only a couple of kilometres although quite steep.

Near Circuit Road Mt Buller

Wingello State Forest Free Camping For The Weekend

Wingello State Forest is only about an hour from where we live in Southwest Sydney so we often spend the weekend in Wingello State Forest free camping. As with all NSW State Forests it is dog friendly. If you are in to mountain bike riding then this is a great place for you. There are many marked mountain bike trails throughout Wingello State Forest. Many mountain biking clubs use Wingello State Forest for events.

There’s a main campground area in Wingello State Forest with drop toilets and we have camped there before. You can fit about a dozen vans/tents in there. It gets jam packed on weekends near Christmas and also over any public holiday weekends. If you’re a bit more adventurous like us there are at least half a dozen really good sites out in the forest itself where we are this weekend. If you are really adventurous (like us) and don’t mind getting your vehicle in to low range there are even more great sites down some little tracks.

Dog Friendly Free Camping Wingello State Forest Two Hours From Sydney

Wingello State Forest is only about an hour from where we live in Southwest Sydney. Distance wise it’s about 70 kilometres for us, plus whatever you need to add for getting to your camping spot out in the forest.

As with all NSW State Forests it is dog friendly. There is no drinking water available so you have to bring your own. Fires are allowed but with restrictions and only at certain times of the year. State Forest Rangers patrol the area.

Free Camping Wingello State Forest Sunset View

If you are in to mountain bike riding then this is a great place for you. There are many marked mountain bike trails throughout Wingello State Forest. Many mountain biking clubs use Wingello State Forest for events.

One last thing to keep in mind. Wingello State Forest is an actively logged area. Logging operations take place almost all year round so pay attention to logging trucks in the area when driving through the forest.