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Post by Koala on Dec 19, 2017 18:04:58 GMT 10
Hi Rob, pleased to have you and Jen along. We now have a nice dozen vans which makes for a good sized group. We are heading up to Jindabyne in a couple of weeks to check out the caravan park and a few places of interest for you to fill in the day there. Do you think that you could send me your contact phone number by PM ?? thanks Can we go yet  ?  Koala |
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Post by Koala on Jan 22, 2018 17:16:05 GMT 10
A bit of a update on the tour. Judy and I plus Michael and Anne (Tooleyau) have just returned from spending a few days at Jindabyne doing a bit of research for the tour. All is good and we managed to organise a couple of interesting things for the tourists such as a visit to the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre at Cooma where we will be given a special talk for our group about the Snowy Scheme and a special group guided tour locked in at the Murray 2 power station outside Khancoban. We will be going into the national parks so will need to pay $17 per car for 24 hours (pensioner car holder cars free). It doesn't work out too bad if we are smart and enter the park from midday one day to midday the next day which is a 24 hour period......I will explain at the time. A friend who had been to the region previously recommended this place www.wildbrumby.com/ which we visited for lunch. It is a schnapps distillery and Austrian themed restaurant which I can recommend after duly sampling what was on offer It is out in the middle of nowhere between Jindabyne and Thredbo and the carpark was full which is a good indication of the place. I am looking forward to meeting up with everyone and hope that you enjoy the high country as much as I do.  Koala |
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Post by Wodnas on Jan 23, 2018 19:18:07 GMT 10
Hi Ken,
Your itinerary sounds great. Jen and I thank you for organising this.
We are looking forward to it.
Thanks Rob
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Post by murray on Jan 23, 2018 20:19:55 GMT 10
Hi Ken, Your itinerary sounds great. Jen and I thank you for organising this. We are looking forward to it. Thanks Rob I woundn't be thanking Ken till he comes across with the scones  |
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Post by Wodnas on Jan 24, 2018 8:17:59 GMT 10
Fair point although I don't need them.
Still grateful though.
Cheers
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Post by Koala on Jan 29, 2018 15:56:49 GMT 10
Another update on the organisation for the tour. To date we have 13 vans on the tour which are coming from places as far away as Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, NSW, ACT, Victoria. We just need to have SA and NT representatives to cover the whole country. After giving it much thought I have revised the route after we leave Jindabyne. Now we will travel over the mountains to Khancoban Via Adaminaby and Cabramurra. This is a very nice drive where you stay up in the high country for longer and there is more to see. www.visitnsw.com/destinations/snowy-mountains/cooma-area/adaminabyCabramurra at 1480 meters is the highest township in Australia. www.visitsnowymountains.com.au/towns/cabramurra.phpAlthough we do drive to the highest points of Australia, for the most part the roads rise and fall fairly gently. There is one steep downhill section after Cabramurra which will test your brakes a bit. To be on the safe side I do suggest that as a precaution you carry out some pre trip maintenance by checking the brakes on both your van and tow car. Just for Murray (Tas), a bakery has been located at Cooma, Jindabyne and Adaminaby. And Ice Cream shops are at Cooma and just across the road from the caravan park at Jindabyne Can't wait. Koala |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Jan 30, 2018 16:28:24 GMT 10
For those people who don't have a NSW National Parks Pass and are eligible for free entry, it looks like you need to have an exemption card. Here is the link to apply for one: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/passes-and-fees/exemption-cardsNote that it says on this site to allow a month for processing!!! Poor over-worked public servants!!!  |
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Post by Koala on Jan 30, 2018 18:11:35 GMT 10
When we entered the park last week they asked at the gate whether there were any pension card holders in the car. A friend in one car produced a pension card so the car was let in free of charge. This appears to be the process in practice and was confirmed in discussions at the information centre.
Could be handy to have the parks card anyhow if you intend to visit often as it would speed up the process a bit.
Koala
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Post by Koala on Feb 5, 2018 9:13:05 GMT 10
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Post by Koala on Feb 5, 2018 9:45:32 GMT 10
I have been speaking to the various caravan parks to confirm that all is well. Apparently they all have 11 bookings recorded for our group which is 2 short of the number who have contacted me to indicate that they are coming along.
So if you have not booked your sites yet I suggest that you do so ASAP.
Koala
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Post by wildbrumby on Feb 5, 2018 22:11:54 GMT 10
Booked Jindabyne and Colac Colac today. Just need to book Tawonga tomorrow. All good koala. Looking forward to this trip with 12 other vintage vanners.
I'm heading through the mountains on Wednesday, for 1 week of R&R at Wallaga Lake, Bermagui. We leave from Mannus, through Tumba, then along the Elliot Way, down through O'Hares (which the locals call Sioux City) up past Cabramurra, Kiandra, Adaminaby, (we usually stop here to stretch our legs, check out the op-shop and hit the bakery) The op-shop comes before the bakery though. Then on to Cooma, stretch our legs again at Nimmitabel, down the Brown Mountain and onto Wallaga Lake. It's such a great scenic drive.
We drive that way quite a bit, so if we can, we just pull over when it's safe, to let other traffic pass us. We usually get a good response from traffic once they pass. Most times a wave.
Xmas day was spent up in the High Country.
My son fished the Dry Dam at Cabramurra. We had our morning tea there. It was jacket weather up there. Then we drove along a ridge, which was a dirt road, and ended up in the Mt Selwyn car park and past the ski lifts. Pretty awesome country. The fog set in whilst we were up there.
I always take a jacket when I go up into the High Country. Being summer, someone in our group didn't think it would turn cold. Always be prepared in the mountains.
We went onto Long Plain Rd, which is off the Snowy Mountains Hwy. It's just magnificent in there. It's a dirt road and you pass this little creek, which you can step over, which is the start of the Murrumbidgee River. There are free camping spots in Long Plain. Non powered. Heaps of brumbies. Saw a dingo also previously on another trip in there. Coolamine Homested is a must see and then on to Blue Waterholes for our Aussie Bush Xmas lunch. There are caves at Blue Waterholes, which are great for exploring.
On the way home, we had our afternoon tea at Three Mile Dam, also free camping. Beautiful spot. Brumbies everywhere there as well. And if you're like my son, who is a keen fisherman, then don't forget to bring your rod.
So koala has booked us a great touring route through the most spectacular, scenic part of this country.
Just thought I'd share a part of my adventures in the mountains.
wildbrumby
wildbrumby
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Post by thegeneral on Feb 5, 2018 23:45:38 GMT 10
I am looking forward to this great trip as well, coming from a flat sandy plain wow mountains may be snow even. I have ordered
my Aussie Ugg boot's today. I plan to arrive in Canberra on the Friday . I am looking at staying Friday Saturday @ Riverside c/p.
Many thank's to Koala and helpers. he does a lot for some one who spends 18 hour's asleep up a gum tree.
Any one else arriving early we might be able to stay at the same park. any ideas welcome.
Graeme.
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Post by Koala on Feb 6, 2018 17:05:56 GMT 10
I am looking at staying Friday Saturday @ Riverside c/p. Any one else arriving early we might be able to stay at the same park. any ideas welcome. Graeme. Hi Graeme, Pleased that you are preparing for your trek across the big plain to the east coast You may throw in a bottle of oxygen for use at the higher altitudes If you are looking for somewhere to stay on arrival in Canberra then you may be best to stay at Exhibition Park Ph. 02 6205 4976 as I believe that most other fellow tourists are staying there. Here is a bit of homework for you for being cheeky, the story of the wild brumby horses in the high country is interesting and historical. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrumbyIt would be good if you could give a 20 minute talk at happy hour Koala |
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Post by thegeneral on Feb 6, 2018 20:15:36 GMT 10
hi Ken, actually it was supposed to be a compliment. Yes l can give a talk on Brumby's be warned if it is late in the happy hour l could mumble on for an hour. Graeme  |
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Post by Koala on Mar 14, 2018 19:08:30 GMT 10
Only a couple of weeks until we hit the highway to the High Country. Everything seems to be coming together nicely and I am looking forward to meeting up and having a yarn. Just a reminder to carry out some safety checks on your van and tow car. Some working brakes will help to reduce the stress level. For those travelling from warmer climates, you will need a wind jacket and warmer clothing as it can become quite cool at higher altitudes regardless of the temperature at lower levels. The exception would be Murray (Tas) as whatever weather we have will no doubt seem like a heat wave for him.    Can't wait. Koala |
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Post by Gypsy 10 on Mar 19, 2018 22:43:38 GMT 10
Koala......none of the links for where is are working for me...........is it me or is there a typo?
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Post by Koala on Mar 20, 2018 5:24:40 GMT 10
Hi Gypsy10
I tried the links on a couple of computers and they work for me.
For some reason they dont work on my Samsung phone which is a mystery to me.
Koala
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Post by Koala on Mar 22, 2018 19:26:12 GMT 10
I need to start locking people in for our visit to the Wildbrumby Schnapps Brewery on Monday 16th April. www.wildbrumby.com/They are quite flexible and you can choose to have a meal or just coffee and cake with a bit of tasting. At the latest I need to give them final numbers on Sunday 15th April. The variety and quality of food is very good and offers something different to what you may find elsewhere and you will likely be hungry and ready for a late lunch after your visit to Mt Kosciusko in all that fresh air. The cost is variable depending on how hungry you are Please let me know either on here or by PM if you wish to attend. Koala |
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Post by Roehm3108 on Mar 23, 2018 6:29:15 GMT 10
Sounds good. Count me in thanks Koala
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Post by Wodnas on Mar 23, 2018 10:32:22 GMT 10
Please add Jen and Ro to your list for Wildbrumby.
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Post by tooleyau on Mar 23, 2018 17:47:32 GMT 10
I need to start locking people in for our visit to the Wildbrumby Schnapps Brewery on Monday 16th April. www.wildbrumby.com/They are quite flexible and you can choose to have a meal or just coffee and cake with a bit of tasting. At the latest I need to give them final numbers on Sunday 15th April. The variety and quality of food is very good and offers something different to what you may find elsewhere and you will likely be hungry and ready for a late lunch after your visit to Mt Kosciusko in all that fresh air. The cost is variable depending on how hungry you are Please let me know either on here or by PM if you wish to attend. Koala Count us in. We have nearly run out of the schnapps we bought last time. 🤣 |
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Post by murray on Mar 24, 2018 8:45:23 GMT 10
Another 2 for the wild brumby ,Ken
cheers
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Post by wildbrumby on Mar 24, 2018 16:42:18 GMT 10
Please add wildbrumby & Paul for the Wildbrumby Distillery tour and lunch please.
Speaking of wild brumbies, I used to own a wild brumby. He came from up the high country, which is where part of our autumn tour will take us. He was a stallion when he wandered onto a farm, was gelded and broken in and I owned him for quite a number of years. I don't ride horses anymore because of my arthritis, so "Major", as he was known, went back to his original owner. He was quiet, trustworthy and bombproof and never put a foot wrong. Love the brumbs.
I also worked on Khancoban Station as a jillaroo years ago. We will be driving past here on our tour also. Beautiful part of the country.
Paul used to take his own horses up to the high country and gallop with the brumbies. And yes, he is good with the whip. (Maybe a demonstration at The Nationals with his driz-a-bone and akubra on)
He was checking his cows on his horse one day, as he does most days, and there, near his cows, were two brown snakes coiled together and he had no choice but to get them with the whip. He has lost quite a few cows to snakes. Got the both of them at once.
I'm sure there will be more yarns around the campfire on our tour.
Cheers
wildbrumby:-)
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Post by Koala on Mar 24, 2018 18:04:11 GMT 10
Thankyou Wildbrumby, It sounds like a few good yarns around the campfire will be happening. Paul seems like the ideal man to `get the whip cracking' each morning to round up the tardy vans He needs to bring up the rear to keep the strays moving and maybe he should bring a couple of Blue Heelers as well as the whip It would be a great bonus if we should come across some wild Brumbies in the high country. Koala |
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Post by Koala on Apr 10, 2018 18:02:28 GMT 10
The days are counting down until we leave on the tour to the High Country on Sunday and I have had reports that some are on the road coming to Canberra from far away places. Poor Graeme (TheGeneral) is making his way from Perth and is encountering temperatures in the high 30's which is making the trip a bit uncomfortable for him and the Brougham. I have good news for Graeme though as the forecast temperature in Jindabyne on Sunday will be 3 to 18 degrees so get the Ugg boots out Graeme. On Thursday last week I was having a boring time at work and remembered that they owed me some time off so I gave the boss the news that I wouldn't be in Friday then rang Judy at 11am asking her to pack the van as we are outa here!!! To cut a long story short, we were camped Micalong Creek near Wee Jasper by 6:30 ready to knock the top off a few coldies with friends who were already there before us. Click in the photos to enlarge.   Beautiful days and lovely cool nights hopefully a foretaste of things to come on the tour. Koala |
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