NSW Outback and Opals - July 2020

[Dave]

Hi All,

I’m sure we all watched the news of the National Cabinet Meeting last night while holding our breath, as I think that was the last possibility that South Australia might have announced that they would open their border to NSW early. Unfortunately it was not to be, they won’t open before 20 July which is too late for us. There is even the possibility that if the situation in Victoria gets worse then the border closures could be extended. Mariner and Marah dropped back to “maybe” for our trip as they thought they would try to get to South Australia on the 28^th. I hope they have more luck, but if you still want to come with us, more than welcome!

It’s time to accept that we are only going to be doing an Outback NSW touring trip in July. Which may actually be a good thing. If worst comes to worst and one of our group becomes ill, we will not be as remote as we would in SA, and much closer to medical facilities. Community transmission is the new thing ☹
As I said two weeks ago, the Outback NSW trip will also be a bit less hard core. Shorter daily drives on probably better tracks, so it’s going to be a bit more of a holiday – and I think I need a holiday!

I am going to call Wilpena, Arkaroola, Copley and Mungerannie – all the places in SA that I had reserved campsites for us, and CANCEL. We will not be coming home through Nyngan, so I will cancel our camp sites there as well

If you had booked other accommodation (eg a motel or cabin) at Wilpena, Arkaroola, Copley, Mungerannie, Innaminka or Nyngan, I suggest you call and cancel those. If you still had accommodation booked in Birdsville, you should cancel that too. I did get my camping refund from Birdsville back in April. I hope everyone else did.

I have reserved Unpowered Camping at all the spots we plan to stop in NSW – I have just emailed everyone with Camping Bookings and Prices. I am going to call White Cliffs and Tibooburra and change the dates that we will be with them. Tibooburra was originally 22 July and White Cliffs 23 July. On our new NSW Outback Itinerary White Cliffs will be 14 July and Tibooburra 15 July. If you had booked at the White Cliffs Underground Motel, you will need to call them and change the date. Same if you booked a cabin at Tibooburra.

I am also going to call Broken Hill. We are staying there on 12 July as per our original plan, but I will add the extra day 13 July to the booking. Our bookings in Cobar on 11 July do not need changing, unless you no longer want to come along.

If you would like to call any of the new places we will be staying – Wanaaring, Bourke, Lightning Ridge, Tamworth, Gloucester – and book other than unpowered camping, please do. And please say you are with the Sydney Jeep Club group so they can adjust the number of campsites we need. All the contact details are in the emailed Camping Bookings and Prices.

What else?

As we won’t be going as far North, days are likely to be cool, and nights COLD. Potentially 0 degrees at night and high teens to low 20’s during the day. Be prepared.

Toilet paper is disappearing from supermarket shelves again. Even though we will now be staying at places with amenities EVERY night, it would be a good idea to bring a supply just in case.

Oh, and as we are spending two nights in the caravan park opposite Lightning Ridge artesian hot pool, bring your swimmers!

Where do you want to meet up on Saturday 11^th?

I’m aiming to stop at the Shell Servo at the corner of Magpie Hollow Rd and the Great Western Hwy as you arrive in Lithgow at 9.00am for a coffee. Happy to meet there. Otherwise the Honey Haven just outside Mudgee at about 10.30 for coffee and MEAD!!! 2 Hill End Rd, Mudgee. I’ll aim to leave there around 11.00am and be in Dubbo for lunch, then of course Cobar for the night. I’ll use Channel 15 on the radio (Club Channel) and everyone has my phone number…

Please get in touch if you have any questions or to let me know your plans, and I’m going to start making phone calls next.

Thanks everyone, see you all in 2 weeks today!

Dave