Mt Buller

We’ve been busy on the road – well as busy as anyone can be tripping around in our motorhome, Delvy, enjoying the great outdoors of Australia. Recently, a few people mentioned they have missed reading the Adventures of Delvy so it has motivated me to fill in some gaps since I last wrote.

Having just spent a few days at one of my favourite places in Australia, I thought I would start there. Some 6 years back I managed a lodge, SkiLib, over two summer seasons on Mt Buller in Victoria’s High Country, and have been keen to return for some time. After enduring the heat from the lowland this summer, the coolness at 1590 metres above sea level was very welcome, as was the spectacular scenery.

On the road from Mansfield. Mt Buller ahead in the distance.

The best of both worlds

For total freedom to explore this planet, what more could anyone want other than a bus and a boat? Up until last week, we have been enjoying the benefits of both for the last few months.

Boat and Motorhome - the two best toys

Freedom camping around Australia

I confess, my husband and I are in love with our motorhome, or more accurately, what our motorhome enables us to do. Since we first had her fitted out in Tasmania in 2012, Delvy, as she is fondly called, has given us the freedom to go where we want when we want. And what we love the most is freedom camping in a variety of places - it’s all part of the adventure. 

Freedom camping, Candelo NSW

Trip to the Tip

I snuck out of our hotel room for an early reconnaissance mission – I needed to know the route to take on foot that afternoon for our 1330 hours rendezvous. My sidekick was oblivious to what I had planned, wanting our first Delvy alternative holiday to remain a mystery. Little did he realise he was viewing the preparations from our hotel balcony all morning, along with other tourist and working vessels moving in and out of Marlin Marina and Trinity Inlet in Cairns.

Plenty of boats in Trinity Inlet

Up in the Ayr

With the ongoing fascination of flying, who better to assist us with these new adventures than Delvy.

Last week we headed north from the Whitsundays to the Burdekin district for some time in the air, camping out at the Ayr airfield with a trillion mosquitoes and other bugs. Thankfully, the aerodrome building, complete with flyscreens and cooling fans, gave us somewhere to retreat safely before we sealed ourselves inside the motorhome for a good night’s sleep.

Delvy at the Ayr Aerodrome club

Delvy update

It’s been awhile since Delvy last had an adventure. Since the trip to Magnetic Island she now has a fabulous new parking spot, thanks to the generosity of a friend.  

Under the mango tree

Wildlife encounters on Magnetic Island

At last, a proper Delvy adventure! This time off to Magnetic Island, 8 kilometres east of the city of Townsville in north Queensland. After an intense year of getting things back in order from Cyclone Debbie, it was a wonderful feeling to be going on a holiday, together, and to discover new places.

First stop, the Big 4 Walkabout Palms in Townsville to rendezvous with friends for dinner, who dropped in on their way back to Rollingstone, a 30 minute drive to the north. A pity the BBQ didn’t work but we made good use of the electric frying pan instead, which was supplied in the camp kitchen.

The next morning, we left in good time to get to the Fantasea Cruising Magnetic terminal on Ross Street. It’s rare to see a 7-metre motorhome on the vehicular ferry but as we both work for the parent company in the Whitsundays we were given some special treatment. Lucky us!

Cruising to Magnetic Island with Fantasea