👻 Ghost Busters, Country Roads & Crossing the Strait! 🚐💨
Hi peeps! 👋
Well, after getting completely stuck in a time warp in Byron Bay, the day finally arrived when I had to do one last lap of the lighthouse, wander down the main street, and say goodbye to a place that had well and truly worked its magic on me. But as they say, when one adventure ends, another one begins! 🌞
Before heading to our next destination, I had a quick fly-in, fly-out trip back to WA to attend a conference as a keynote speaker and squeeze in some much-needed quality time with family, friends and Jack Jack — our much-loved family pet who genuinely believes he's a real boy! 😂🐶
👻 Our Byron Bay Ghost-Busting Adventures!
Now, before I tell you about the road trip, I need to share a little something about our final couple of nights in Byron Bay.
Willy and I somehow managed to book ourselves an Airbnb that turned into a bit of a ghost-busting adventure! 👀
We're talking footsteps in the middle of the night, unexplained banging noises and some seriously disturbed sleep. The first night was so eerie that we abandoned the upstairs bedrooms and relocated to the downstairs lounge room, where we cranked up the television and hoped the ghosts appreciated a good late-night program!
Looking back, perhaps we should have been a little suspicious when we arrived. Crucifixes on the bedroom walls and mirrors everywhere. Yep, nothing says sweet dreams quite like that! 🤣
Let's just say the mirrors and crucifixes didn't exactly put our minds at ease.
Mental note: We're not staying there again! 😂
But Byron Bay itself? Absolutely, I'll be back!
🚐 Byron Bay to Geelong — Let the Road Trip Begin!
Our next big adventure was taking us from Byron Bay, through the back roads of New South Wales and Victoria, all the way to Geelong, where Max was booked onto the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.
First stop: Goondiwindi!
We found ourselves a beautiful camping spot along the river at Lee's Reserve. There's something pretty special about pulling up, setting up camp, lighting a fire and having nowhere in particular to be. We enjoyed a quiet evening by the fire, yarning away and soaking up the simple pleasures of life on the road.
The next morning, it was off to one of the local coffee shops for brekky and a caffeine fix before hitting the road again.
From there, we travelled through Dubbo and Wagga Wagga, before making our way towards Victoria and a rather fabulous little detour that deserves its own mention!
🍷 A Little Detour to Fowles Wine
You know me, peeps. If there's a winery along the way, you'd better believe I'm going to investigate! 😂🍷
Fowles Wine was our stop for a little wine tasting and lunch, and what a cracker of a place to stretch the legs and enjoy some good food and wine.
With a beautiful setting, delicious food and wines worth exploring, it was the perfect excuse to slow down for a while and enjoy the journey.
And let's be honest, it would have been downright rude of me to leave without purchasing one of their award-winning wines!
I headed off with a bottle of their 2023 Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch sparkling Pinot Noir/Chardonnay. 🥂
Now that's a pretty good road-trip souvenir if you ask me!
⛴️ Max Heads to Tasmania!
Next stop: Geelong Port!
It was time to get Max loaded onto the Spirit of Tasmania and prepare for the overnight crossing to Devonport. Woo hoo! Tasmania, here we come! 🎉
This was my first experience travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania, and I have to say, I was seriously impressed. The crew were organised, helpful and efficient when it came to getting vehicles on and off the ferry.
The crossing took approximately 10 hours, and my biggest tip? BOOK A CABIN!
I was gently rocked to sleep by the movement of the open ocean, and honestly, it was probably the best night's sleep I'd had in a long time. No ghostly footsteps, no banging noises and absolutely no need to sleep with the television blaring! 😂
Just the gentle sway of the ocean and a very happy traveller catching up on some much-needed shut-eye.
Next stop, Tassie! 🌿
🌿 Boomerang's Top 5 Road Trip Highlights
Driving through regional NSW and Victoria, taking the back roads and exploring the places in between, was an absolute breath of fresh air.
Sometimes it's the little towns and unexpected detours that make a road trip memorable. Here are five of my highlights, in no particular order!
- 🗼 Goondiwindi — Don't Drive Past!
Peeps, please don't skip Goondiwindi!
This place is a cracker for travellers, especially those of us travelling with our homes on wheels. We camped at Lee's Reserve beside the river, and it was such a peaceful spot to settle in for the night.
The town also offers free camping in designated areas for eligible stays, along with free hot showers at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park.
But one of the biggest surprises was the incredible Nungwai metal sculptures. These amazing works of art, created from scrap metal in all sorts of shapes and sizes, were a real highlight.
Who knew scrap metal could be transformed into such creative pieces?
A great place to stop, recharge, explore and enjoy a bit of country hospitality.
- 🌈 Dubbo — A Beautiful Regional Town
Dubbo was another lovely stop along the way. It's one of those regional towns that makes you appreciate the diversity of places you discover when you get off the main highways and take your time.
There's something special about exploring these communities rather than simply passing through them.
Definitely a worthwhile stop on the journey!
- 🌾 Wagga Wagga — Another Road Trip Gem
Wagga Wagga was another lovely part of our journey through NSW.
Regional towns have their own character, stories and charm, and that's one of the things I love most about travelling around this beautiful country.
You never know what you'll discover when you leave room in the itinerary for a few detours
- 🍷 Fowles Wine — Good Food, Good Wine, Good Company!
If you're travelling through Victoria and enjoy a little winery detour, Fowles Wine is worth considering.
We enjoyed wine tasting and lunch in a beautiful setting, with indoor and outdoor spaces and a welcoming atmosphere for families and dogs.
And of course, I couldn't resist bringing home a bottle!
Because sometimes you've just got to stop, savour the moment and enjoy the good things along the way. 🥂
- ⛴️ Geelong Port — Spirit of Tasmania
My first experience travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania gets a big thumbs-up from me!
The crew were organised and helpful, the vehicle loading process was well managed, and the onboard dining options made the crossing comfortable.
The overnight journey was a great way to travel with Max, and having a cabin meant I arrived feeling refreshed and ready for the next adventure.
Would I do it again? Absolutely, 100%!
Tasmania, you have a new traveller ready to explore! 💚
🚐 Boomerang on the Road — Travel Stats
📍 Starting odometer: 29,600 km
📍 Finishing odometer: 31,616 km
🛣️ Distance travelled: 2,016 km
Stops along the way:
📍 Goondiwindi
📍 Dubbo
📍 Wagga Wagga
📍 Melbourne
📍 Geelong
⛴️ Then across Bass Strait to Devonport, Tasmania!
And, of course, plenty of little detours, unexpected stops and stories collected along the way.
From a haunted Airbnb in Byron Bay to quiet campfires by the river, a cheeky winery stop and a peaceful night being rocked to sleep on the open ocean — this leg of the journey certainly delivered a little bit of everything!
And that's the beauty of this adventure. It's not just about getting from A to B. It's about the places we discover, the people we meet, the stories we collect and the memories we make along the way.
Every kilometre has a story, and I'm only just getting started with Tasmania!
Until next time, peeps…
☀️ Keep following the sun.
📖 Keep collecting the stories.
🐴 And keep an eye out for those little signs along the road.
Because you never know what adventure is waiting just around the corner!
Boomerang is still on the road! 🚐💨💚
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