Kimba, home of the Big Galah

Day 5. 22 July - Port Pirie to Kimba, SA

One of the odd things that travellers come across in Australia are the giant replicas of some iconic Aussie figure or famous product of the respective town. Kimba is well-known for its Giant Galah, the ubiquitous cockatoo of the Australian outback.

A must-do for travellers arriving in Kimba......take a photo!

Another claim to fame for Kimba - the midpoint of the Australian continent 

Another pride of Kimba is this beautiful Silo Art farm scene

The route from Port Pirie to Kimba was going to pass Mt Remarkable National Park so we decided to drop by for a short visit. Day pass to enter was $15.00 per vehicle. There was time for only one walk and picnic lunch before continuing on to Kimba.

Mt Remarkable NP is very popular with hikers

On the 2.4 km Daveys' Gully trek, with views of the distant granite cliffs 

Despite the dry and stony terrain, there was the occasional tiny but pretty flower

Making sure you do not feed the friendly wildlife such as the Kookaburra 

Our base for the night was the unremarkable Kimba Roadhouse Caravan Park!

 

The Church of Fish & Chips, Port Pirie

Day 4. 21 July - Adelaide to Port Pirie 227 km

We took the A1 on the Princes Highway to Port Pirie, passing through towns with interesting names like Two Wells, Dublin, Port Wakefield, Bumbunga, Snowtown (lots of wind turbines) and Crystal Brook. Our accommodation was the Hillsview Caravan Park

The heritage building that is the train station and museum in Port Pirie

My co-driver....

Making way for the many road-trains

The best Fish and Chips in Port Pirie operates from a former church!

Here's the proof!

A memento from the friendly fish and chips lady 

  

Bye-bye Victoria, hello South Australia!

Day 2. 19 July - Nhill to Adelaide 353 km

We crossed the VIC/SA border on the A8, passing through towns with interesting names like Bordertown, Coombe, Keith, Tintinara, Tailem Bend, Coonalpyn and others. In Adelaide, we stayed at the pleasant, retro-style Jasper Motel, one of the few non-caravan park accommodation of our trip. It was our first time in Adelaide, so we stayed a couple of nights to enjoy the city.

We're in South Australia! No fresh fruits and veges please!

Many towns try to make their towns interesting - Silo Art in Coonalpyn Downs 

Using art to make crossing train lines safe

Use the underground tunnel while enjoying colourful art

Our accommodation in Adelaide, the Jasper Motel

Being the good tourists that we are....

Stately buildings line the wide, main streets

The well-stocked Adelaide Markets which I think rivals Melbourne's Victoria Market

No wonder there was a queue outside....the lunch sold these yummy meat rolls

Nhill, VIC to Adelaide, SA

 

Westward Ho! Melbourne to Western Australia

Day 1 - 18 July. Melbourne to Nhill, VIC - 370 km

Maiden trip for the BirdMobil! We started off from Melbourne on a cold, winter morning. The (tentative) plan was to drive over to Perth (for a wedding) and then continue on with birding and sight-seeing in WA before heading back....if the BirdMobil, funds and enthusiasm hold up!

In high spirits, despite the cold morning, as we left Abbotsford 

Our first stop Nhill, VIC where we stayed at Nhill Caravan Park

Our newly-acquired Toyota Hiace campervan the BirdMobil.....

which will be our home for the next few weeks or months 

Morning birding at a wetland park before we hit the road westwards to

Perth, still 3,000 km more to go.....!

Melbourne to Nhill, VIC