My wife Shannon and I left Forresters Beach and headed inland to Walgett to see relatives. First time I'd been out in the country. Went to Lightning Ridge and down an opal mine then made straight for the coast. Crossing the Great Dividing Range was beautiful. First beach town was Yamba, then virtually every beach to FNQ and Cape Tribulation. Went whale watching at Hervey Bay and snorkelling off Cairns. Also did some work with a friend designing.

Three months later we drove back inland on our way to the Northern Territory. Went underground at Undara Lava Tubes, through Mt Isa and finally Tennant Creek. The Devils Marbles were great, then Alice Springs out in the middle of nothing but red. Macdonnell Ranges either side of Alice are amazing. Desert and gorges and rain. Were stuck at one campground for three days following 30 minutes of rain.

Kings Canyon, Henley Meteorite Craters, Uluru, The Olgas. Into South Australia and arrived at Port Augusta. The Flinders Ranges were great and empty. Camped alone most nights. Back to the coast and Marion Bay. Adelaide, Barossa Valley, I didn't drink wine before going there. Around the coast to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. Wicked!

Stayed with a friend at North Melbourne and tripped out from there. Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island, Wilson's Promintory, Sale and up to Merimbula in NSW. Great Alpine Road in summer where it was down to -6 degrees at Falls Creek and snowed after we left. Back to Melbourne where Shannon worked then headed West. Through Ballarat, The Grampians NP, back to SA and Mannum on the Murray. Back to the Barossa, can you blame us, and onto the Eyre Peninsula. Port Lincoln and survived Whalers Way for a few days camping on our own. Plagued by mice in our campervan at Elliston and surfed infamous Cactus. The Nullabor was amazing. Spectacular lookouts over the Great Australian Bight.

Into WA, first stop Esperance. Cape Le Grand NP were the most beautiful beaches we've ever seen. Inland to Wave Rock and Stirling Ranges on the way down. Sore calves for a month after the climb. Around the coast to Cape Leeuwin and Margaret River. Stunning area. Up to Perth then onto Geraldton to work for 4 weeks. Shannon nursing and I pruning grapevines. The Pinnacles and Kalbarri NP are extraordinary.

Monkey Mia where Shannon hand-fed a wild dolphin and Exmouth, Cape Range NP, Ningaloo Marine Park. Coral reefs as good as Queensland just metres off the shore. Plenty of sharks though. Karajini NP for amazing gorge treks and rock climbing. Broome and Cable Beach. Wish I was lazing there right now. Through the Kimberleys past  the Bungle Bungles and Cunnanurra. Into NT and Keep River NP which is virtually undiscovered and one to listen out for. 45 degrees at Victoria River then arrived at Katherine and the hot springs. Katherine Gorge, Edith Falls, Litchfield NP and Kakadu are unsurpassable.

Friends at Darwin to stay with, which was a fun place with food, markets, music and drink. Dripping wet 24 hours a day due to the humidity though. Need the beach again. Down the Stuart Highway to Mataranka Hot Springs, Daly Waters Pub and Three Ways. Back into Queensland and Mt Isa then down to Longreach and Gladstone. Back to the East Coast and the Town Of 1770. Noosa, Maroochydore then the Gold Coast and Burleigh Heads. Byron where the Pass was good, Coffs Harbour and back to the Central Coast.

16 months, 50,000 k's and a heap of petrol. What a journey