Packing up the caravan and leaving Rocklands is a well-organized and carefully defined process, just like any other departure day. Being a new setup, it is taking time to settle into a routine. Glenn takes charge of the exterior, while I handle securing the interior. My role also includes giving the space a thorough clean and, if there’s enough water left, running a quick load of laundry. The laundry stays in the machine and gets hung out once we arrive at our next destination.
With everything packed and the caravan hitched, we rolled out of camp. Our first stop was a pre-arranged Woolworths “Click and Collect” order in Hamilton. This service, when available, is such a timesaver—especially in unfamiliar supermarkets where navigating the aisles can feel overwhelming. Although caravan parking isn’t an option, it feels a bit funny collecting groceries from a designated parking bay with a trolley! From there, we load the items directly into the caravan and toss out any unnecessary packaging before continuing our journey.
Next on the agenda was refueling. Before arriving in a town, I use an app to locate the cheapest fuel and map out the best access points. This kind of planning is crucial, particularly on busy days when we’re taking care of multiple tasks like restocking, laundry, fueling up, and topping up our water tanks. Maneuvering a big rig through unfamiliar streets isn’t easy, so having everything planned keeps things efficient and stress-free.
As we headed out of town toward our next destination, we encountered an unexpected detour due to an accident. But hey, what’s another 50 kilometers when you’ve got all the time in the world?
Eventually, we arrived at Lake Bolac. Unfortunately, we were greeted by what felt like the entire mosquito population of Australia. Needless to say, the decision to move on wasn’t a hard one!
Out came the “WikiCamps” app and the weather forecast to help us decide on our next stop. With temperatures predicted to hit 40 degrees, Halls Gap in the Grampians seemed like a great choice. To make things even more comfortable, we opted for the NRMA caravan park, where we snagged a lovely shady spot under some trees.
We stayed for four nights and, despite the heat, managed to fit in quite a bit of exploring. Highlights included a bike ride out to the Bellfield Reservoir, a few scenic walks like Venus Baths and Mackenzie Falls, and a drive to the Buloke Lookout. On our final day, this lookout became the site of a dramatic rescue operation. Early that morning, we—along with the entire caravan park—were woken by the sound of police and rescue helicopters overhead. While these situations are always tragic, it’s awe-inspiring to witness the incredible skills and dedication of these rescue teams in action.
From Halls Gap, we are now, as Chris Rea’s song goes, “Driving Home for Christmas.” We’re off to Kyvalley to spend a few weeks of the festive season with family.
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