Charleville

What a hidden gem! If you have never been to Charleville, I would highly recommend you put it on your list of places to visit. We had no idea this little town of 3500 people had so much history and such an eagerness to share it! Today was spent visiting the Cosmos centre, three times. We had a look around the gallery and booked in our night and daytime viewing, went on the WWII tour and then back for the night viewing. 

The stories of the Top Secret US Airbase here in Charleville was fantastic, a guided tour around airfield and where the barracks once stood. And to think, if they hadn't been here, it would have taken a whole lot longer for us to discover things we take for granted, such as tomato sauce. The kids weren't at all interested, as we expected, but it was an informative and passionate experience, made all he more interesting because of Jane's passion and enthusiasm. 

Megan has loved every aspect of the Cosmos centre, learning about how the sun came to be and the effect it had on the earth. 

Her one wish on this trip, to see a shooting star, well boy did she get it in spectacular style! Minutes after the roof of the observatory opened and before we had really looked into the telescope, an incredibly bright star streaked across the sky. The biggest I had seen and even had our telescope assistant shrieking with delight, she hadn't seen one that long or intense before either. We viewed Venus, Saturn and the moon, even little Peter had a look through the telescope and was utterly thrilled with seeing the moon up so close. It was truly a fabulous experience and well worth the $32 for a family pass. Really looking forward to viewing the morning sun tomorrow. 

Hay to Charleville

With a few Km's to get through, we headed to Shear Australia nice and early. The timing of our visit was ironic and a little bitter sweet. We learned that our shearing contractor, who was very well known in Hay and in he wider shearing community had passed away just as we were departing. The kids loved the interactive stuff and seeing the big outstretched fleece hanging from he ceiling. 

Megan loved finding the truck load of cotton bales after her tour of a cotton farm in Goondiwindi last year, they have had so much rain lately, they can't get the trucks into the cotton gin.

Kids were travelling well and we made it to the Lachlan River rest area for lunch just after midday.

Roads were good with light traffic and not too much road kill. There was a lot of water lying around so you couldn't just pull off anywhere, this made using the rest stops even more difficult as we encountered other Caravanners  who were setting up for a two  night stay and had positioned themselves so that no one else could even get in to stop and turn around. The other thing we noticed that surprised us, other than the huge number of goats, was the amount of rubbish on the side of road, it was just littered with beer, coke and water bottles. 

We eventually made it to Cobar, checked out the Peak Gold Mine and New Gold, that was one epic hole in the ground.

Waited around for a little while in the hopes we might see a truck going in or out but was getting a little cool and windy. The lady at the local tourist info was super helpful with stuff to see and do. Headed to the caravan park then to the local for a Parma. Good caravan park and pubgrub was super.  Was pleasantly surprised by how well priced the local IGA supermarket was so stocked up on heaps of fruit for the kids in the hope of getting all the way to Charleville in the day. Morning tea in Bourke(super busy little cafe in the wharf precinct but missus says the coffee was well worth the wait, she is still miffed that the coffee machine stayed home)

Cunnamulla for lunch and FINALLY changed into shorts and tshirts. Peter had a new lease on life and ran like a loon for the half hour we were at the park. 

Made it all the way from there to Charleville without a stop.

Pretty impressed that we have done 1500+ km since late Thursday, the kids have only watched three movies and we haven't had any major tantrums. 

Home to Hay

Back in November we finally took the plunge and ordered a new Jayco Expanda. Our hopes were dashed a little when it wasn't ready for our annual ski holiday to Deniliquin. While in Deni, we paid a visit to the local tourist info centre where Megan found a brochure for Charleville cosmos centre. Dazzled by the stars, she was adamant that she wanted to go there. With the seed planted, we discovered there was quite an intense meteor shower happening later in the year and it would be a great thing for the whole family to see. Plans for our usual Sunshine Coast trip changed and we were bound for outback QLD. Eager to flee the Victorian cold snap, we hooked up and set off.

Leaving chilly blue skies, we made our way up to Avoca to catch up with Mick, Mandy and their kids, and hearing all about their west coast travels. A magnum of Rymill and list of laughs, a great way to kick off our epic Expandition.

Lunch in Echuca with Steve and Kathryn after finding them camped on the river bank just below Mick's place and it was well and truly time to head into NSW!

Definitely glad to be heading off before the next cold snap!