And so this is Christmas – it has really crept up on us, we have had the most relaxed lead up ever. It wasn’t till we saw that house in Burra on our xmas photo that we realised it was only a couple of days away. This year we have not been caught up in the retail buzz around xmas, we haven’t had carols pushed upon us, its been very quiet and relaxed.

Gaz had a Christmas wish – to have an oven to use. We did, and it was a great gas oven – so he weaved his magic and we ate like kings.

After eating all that – dessert was simple. Choc dipped Stawberries with the Salted Brandy Caramel sauce we picked up at Maggies on xmas eve. Yum Yum!

After 2 great restful days, our last morning in the Barossa was for a little bit of wine tasting and aerobie in the Bethany Park.

Thru the Adelaide Hills, with a quick stop at the Rocking Horse Toy Factory.

Today we have our first booking for accommodation  since we left home – knowing we needed to get to the Barossa Valley by today, but have made up the way as we went along.

So welcoming as we arrived into Nuriootpa to see a beautiful Eucalyptus Macrocarpa on the side of the road – my Dad loved this native and it was very special for Gaz & I to see it in flower – and show it to the kids – merry xmas!

Our first stop was Maggie Beers farm house, the kids were very happy to see the ‘studio kitchen’ and even happier to see Maggie in there. Look carefully between Max & Leni thru window.

Next stop Santa and stock up on food for 3 days in the Barossa Valley.

Our little tree is set – complete with our new Christmas lights – yep gotta love a freebie – get a case of Coopers and get some xmas lights free. We didn’t realise til we set up the tree that each light is a lil bottle of Coopers beer – too cute!

A short drive to historic Burra, where we got the key to the town’s historic sites and rode our pushies around half of them, and drove by the rest after lunch.

We started at the old brewery, after being told the filming of ‘Wolf Creek 2’ has recently finished here. It was very eerie, taking ourselves thru these dark abandoned tunnels.

So on we went to the smelter, police lockup and courthouse.

Followed by lunch under the peppercorns at the Copper Mine, Hamptons Village and Gaol. It was a fun day that we could do at our pace with the key to let ourselves into the sites. Max & Leni had a treasure hunt printout to look for things at each site.

40 km’s back to camp at Clare tonight, the temp dropped, and it was really cold, out came the beanies and thermals again…..

Overflowing gutters in the south of the Yorke and the wind on our tail we head straight for the Clare Valley, this weekend is all about us!!

First stop, after Shaz & Curls recommendation, was Greg Cooley wines, Lisa looked after us, the tastings were very generous and the hospitality warm, we are beginning to like the feel of this region already.

A nearby caravan park looks lovely and leafy for us (haven’t seen much grass since Balranald), we arrive to check in and revealed behind the gardens are a pool and jumping pillow….now the kids are in heaven, we strike a deal with them for Saturday’s wine tasting, for every hour they let us taste (in peace) we will supervise at the pool for 1/2 an hour! We think that’s fair….after all this weekend is all about us Its the first time we have been to Clare together…

But the kids actually loved the day of tasting too. We found so many friendly, hospitable people who included the kids in their warmness, we all loved it. Some of our fav people were at a new cellar door called ‘shut the gate’ after enjoyable & interesting conversations and great tastings, we made our purchases and then were walked to the truck, with a farewell gift of a just opened (almost full) tasting bottle of our fav wine and about 10 fresh lemons from their tree – Rasa & Richard we love the feel of your place and we were so glad we popped in. We wish you all the best of luck. Thanks for a great finish to our day.

Today is blowing a gale! After a really hot day and sleepless hot night yesterday –  the winds are here.  Our drive is south into the winds, there is no way we can put the tent up  in this weather. The drive is thru wheat farms, with some farmers harvesting in the heat and wind, we came across a paddock fire, which was quickly being pushed across the golden fields.

After a delicious pub lunch (Gaz votes best Ham Steaks this trip!) at the Troubridge Hotel.

We head to the nearby Wattle Point Wind Farm. Made up of 55 wind turbines, on 11.5  km sq of land at the base of the Yorke Peninsula. Over a year it can generate enough renewable energy to power approx. 52,000 SA homes. What a day to visit, and watch those puppies hum. The winds were so strong we could barely stand our ground. No wonder AGL chose this place! Buy their shares.

After being blown away today we booked a cabin for the gusty night and hit the 1/2 court for a scrimmage!

It was nice to sleep in and listen to the rain on the roof, knowing we had an easy pack-up today.

We needed a swimming beach to escape the predicted heat wave, so a quick trip south toward the Yorke Peninsula to Wallaroo, we book in for 3 nights to ride it out.

We spent our days cooling off at Office Beach, a 50m walk from our tent site.

Had to be careful where we stepped in the water – the Blue Swimmers were on! So the 4wards had their 1st crabbing outing that night at dusk.

The sunsets were amazing, we had a full moon rising to the east behind the ferry and the sun setting to the west, behind the busy jetty dotted with fisherman and crabbers,

Max & Leni filled in the time with Chess, Lego and beach combing…

Then THURSDAY was here! Yep it got hot.. We were prepared for a 40 degree day….. It beat that. We went for a drive and shopped in air conditioned target in nearby Kadina, then hit the ‘Coopers Ale House at the Wallaroo Marina for lunch and an afternoon of gaming…

A short drive south today to Port Pirie, we decide on a cabin for a couple of nights and relax with the cricket on the telly for the avo

The nearby Soloman Beach was great for evening handball and beach footy.

Each morning we heard the gurgling, dulcet tones coming from the river, from who we nick named ‘poh piri pavarotti’ he swam all morning along the winding river mangroves, past the largest lead smelter in aust, singing with gurgles, many old standards like, ‘its a beautiful world’ & ‘ oh what a beautiful morning’ he had the camper crowd watching on from afar……. it was most bizarre…. But made us all SMILE

Now I love a rusty old tractor, but couldn’t go past the one outside the theatre which had special attention. I just love it when people with a talent use it… this town had trees, tractors and table & chairs, covered with knitting… more than I’ve seen before. LOVE IT!

Only a quick drive South to a small National Park – Mt Remarkable, just below Port Augusta.

We found a lovely spot by the Mambray Creek – pulled a can of chickpeas with mortar & pestle out of the kitchen, and before we knew it we had hummus dip for afternoon snack. Max & Leni played in the hollow tree nearby – building a fort.

We setup camp near the Baroota Ruins, another clear moonlight night, still no campfires – but we cooked dinner in the firepit to make it feel more like we had one.

A table full of treasure found around the ruins – glass, tiles, terracotta, wire, metal…. we added a few finds.

Gaz found a scorpion under a rock as we were leaving.

Today we are excited to take a walk through a shady gorge to view the pound. Its a flat scenic walk along side a dry creek bed, So much birdlife, and Max spotted a shingleback beside the track.

The kids are lovin the outdoor classroom

Lunch on a limb, its getting hot now so off to the pool we go.

Sipping on ‘Wil-Pina Colada’s by the pool….

Late afternoon drive to see Sacred Gorge

Camp darts

Our daily ride to the resort pool was fun, passing the kangaroo’s and occasionally an Emu or two.

We like this place so much, we book in for  third night. So Max & Gaz can attempt the 923m high Mt Ohlssen Bagge, overlooking the Wilpena Pound resort.

Gaz has a new mini-me walking buddy, complete with bamboo walking pole from home….

Max gets to down a cold can of cola at the top. Gaz loved the views to Lake Torrens and Lake Frome from the summit.