Around Australia in a Tent - A Story from Tracy Hohnke, Maleny, QLD.
From "Tracy Hohnke"

My Husband, 3 children and myself, sick of the mundane lifestyle that most people get themselves into decided to tent our way around Australia. Your keen most people told us ,but really how hard could it be?

We started from our home town of Maleny, a beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland town and headed down the east coast, as it was December and perfect weather for checking out the beaches and doing a spot of fishing. Bundjalung National Park was our first campground, for being Christmas holidays it was reasonably quiet. Access along the beach to Illuka for supplies was fantasic, plenty of wildlife with the wallibies and the eagles soaring around was a great way to pass the time away taking the great photo shot. Snakes aren't in short supply as well, so keep boots on and tents zipped.

Many more wonderful camping spots later, by this time we were becoming experts in erecting the 5 man dome tent we had, all hands on deck By the way our oldest child was 8, then 5 then 2. We took about 6 weeks to get it together as it seemed everywhere we went the rain was sure to go. Mystery Bay camp ground was excellent as the rocky cliffs were all of 10 metres away from the tent and no need for shops as the Trevally and the Wrass we caught kept us well fed.

Down into Victoria we headed into Snowy River National Park where the peaceful surrounding and the purity of the area gave way in the size of the possums. When we heard them coming through the bush at night we weren't sure whether to hang around or not, without a lie they were the size of medium wombats. Nice place to kick start the heart in the freezing waters. The friendliness of the people when your travelling is overwhelming. Further down, the next favourite place and still the no.1 place for my son was Wilsons Promontory, a most amazing place to drive into, the hugh granite boulders and crystal clear waters with the hugh array of wildlife including the ever loving wombats everywhere on dusk having their fill on the grass. A must see place with many, many bushwalks, kiosk, information centre even outdoor theatre.

Forward onto Geelong, Queenscliff for some sightseeing of the historic buildings, another area where the camera worked on overload (as I love historic buildings.) Onto Lorne, Apollo Bay and into Otway National Park. The Cape Otway lighthouse with the lush vegetatian all around is a wonderful site. Around the corner brings you onto the amazing wonders of the world The Twelve Apostles with its many walks and history signs giving you plenty of knowledge of the area.

Across the state to South Australia We viewed the site of Umphersons Caves with its masses of ivy, weeping all over the cave walls, The changing colours of the great lake, and also the cold of 10 deg. in January coming from Queensland heat of approx 32 deg that's quiet cool. Mt Gambier certainly has all it's seasons in one day. Weeks later took us to The Flinders Ranges where I'm sure I could've left my husband, wandering around aimlessly forever in an array of fantastic earthern colours highlighting the skies. By the way don't travel too fast through the creek crossings not as I did mind you, but you could peel your toebar apart, and wonder where on earth you're going to get it fixed. My husband dumped the wife and kids off and we waved good-bye rather hastily as I got left to set up full camp and with dusk about to arrive wondered when he will be back. BUT little towns are known for their ability to do many jobs, just see the deli at Blinman, he's an excellent welder and a true lifesaver.

This story is only the start of our ventures, as from here we did the Oodnadatta Track, Mintibie, Alice Springs , Katherine, Litchfield National Park and many, many more wonderful and inspiring places. This country Australia is one of the most unique countries in the world.

We got flooded out at Alice Springs and woke up swimming in the morning, when normally they don't get rain at all that time of the year, to breaking down in the middle of nowhere, and getting a flat tyre when you've just put your last spare on. But I tell you it was the most wonderful experience we have had and within another couple of years we'll be out there again with 4 children. Next time I won't have morning sickness to battle with...

Tracy Hohnke

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