Well it is officially four weeks since we left Narrabeen and set off on our journey which has, so far, taken us 1799km (or 1112 miles) from Elanora Heights. We are now on our tenth camp site and our pack down / set up time is defiantly getting shorter!

The van is going well so far and we are getting used to ‘life in a van’. We have worked out the things we use most regularly and need easy access to and also the things that can happily love at the back of the most inaccessible cupboard and we will (probably) put them back in a cupboard when we get back to Elanora! We have spent quite a bit of time over the last two weeks on unpowered sites and realised that power actually isn’t an issue. Our solar panels generate more power than we use. Water is the issue. We had three nights at an unpowered/ no water site for the last three nights and managed ok without needing to fill up with water. Granted we did have access to a cold shower and toilets so not full off the grid but at least good to work out our water usage. Kiera is getting used to life without her long hot showers!

The journey through S.A has been amazing so far and the coastline is stunning. Mount Gambier was beautiful and I would have loved to stop and check out the Blue Lake which was apparently formed from a volcano. The colours looked amazing as we drove past but couldn’t see an easy space to stop with the van. After leaving Port MacDonnell, we found an equally stunning spot (and another lighthouse) at Carpenter Rocks. camped in the National Park, we were lucky to get one of the six allocated camping spots for the night

We had read that Sea Lions come onto the beach and rocks at sunset so we sat at the lighthouse at sunset to see for ourselves. Turns out that Finlay is not only good at spotting lizards but also Sea Lions! Two sea lions playing about in the water and on the rocks and they were still there in the morning when we returned with our cup of tea. A ship wreck on the beach was another reminder of the history of this coastline and wet suits definitely still needed in the water! Fun time kite surfing for Andy.

After a night at Cape Banks, we headed 75km north west along the coast towards Southend. We stumbled across an awesome little cave on the way to Southend. Apparently the cave was found in the 1920’s when a 12 year old boy lost his pet ferret down what he thought was a rabbit hole. The boy tried to dig the ferret out then realised it was a bigger hold than he thought! The cave was pretty cool for a random find along the way!

We managed to get a space at the Southend Campsite Bush site. Even though it is technically still ‘high season’, we seem to be doing ok at getting into places with only a day or two notice. It seems there are lots of cancellations (likely covid related) and I guess many still choosing not to travel. Southend was a great base for 3 nights and a chance to explore the local area. One of the highlights has to be a drive to Beachport and an amazing bay called Salmon Bay. The water was the most incredible blue colour.

On our journey along the SE coastline we have found so many little sleepy fishing villages. Driving into the township of Robe today was the first reminder that we are getting closer to a major city. Only 4 hours drive from Adelaide and I suspect Robe is a favourite weekend destination for many who live in Adelaide. With its wineries, cafes and beaches, it is easy to see why it has grown into one of the bigger townships we have seen so far (but still very small when i compare it back to Sydney sizes)!

100km further among the road and we are tonight settled down at a campground know as Wills Beach Shack, just north of Kingston SE. Another unpowered location right next the beach where we love to be!