On our way to Coonamble when we hit the crossroads, B55 Castlereagh Highway to Coonamble a really rough road before we arrive in Coonamble. We were going to camp at the Showgrounds but it’s closed due to a rodeo in town this weekend, we should volunteer Des, so we stop at the information centre for more details. I got a mobile number but the grounds they were preparing for campers was that black soil and Des was sceptical if it rains so I found a camp just out of town, Nakadoo is a free farm stay just out of town. We stayed long enough to see the rain out and sat around the fire pit chattering with fellow campers.
Des and I cracked up watching these Ducks follow each other all in a row, now you don’t get to see that very often.
A great free farm stay just out of town with all types of animals roaming the grounds.
Someone’s happy in her little part of the world as she takes watched over her chicks below.
I opened the gate and they all rushed me expecting food and they didn’t look to happy with my empty hands.
At first I thought she was having a baby but at a closer look her utter was hugely enlarged.
A Ute in the paddock makes for a great photo.
The Ducks Waddle
The painted silo features Australia Pink and Grey Galahs, fence posts to signify the rural aspect of Coonamble, plus the sun, moon and the southern cross.
Sons of the Soil Hotel
A hotel, was built in this site as early as 1879. It was then renamed the Occidental and, in 1889, Tattersalls. It was burnt down in 1929 and the current building was constructed in 1930 for the huge sum of £13,500, it became the Sons of the Soil hotel in 1984.
The Bus’, a depiction of three young children astride one horse on their way to school.
Cartoons of various local characters (and, of course, their nicknames) have been placed on walls around town. As you wander around you will come across Fluffy, Singo,
Magpie, Darla and others.
The original Commercial Hotel was built in 1877 and was destroyed by fire in 1908, this hotel was rebuilt on the same site in 1913, Note the Cobb & Co look out tower.
20230610 Des and I have been looking for a rodeo where we can stand around the rails and look through and Coonamble has just that. We booked into the caravan then walked to the rodeo to check it out. The Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft has been running since 1955, and is the largest event held in the Southern Hemisphere. Cowboys and cowgirls take to the arena to compete for over $30,000 of prizes in steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing and the best of all, the Saddle Bronc, Bareback and Bull rides.
The Coonamble Rodeo sign was built in 1984.
We gazed through the rale and watched with excitement as the bull riders are released from the gates and the rider holds on like hell hoping to reach their time before jumping from the bull, if they can.
Even kids aged between 11 to 14 give it a go and amazingly do very well but its quite eerie watching them.
These kids are never on their own they have three guys who are never far behind them, there job is to protect them if the bull turns, one guy quickly layed over one boy as a bull turned on them.
This spiffy looking trucks is set up inside selling Western Gear.
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Later in the afternoon we returned to our camp to rug up some more and thank god I did as it got freezing, we saw it out and left for home shivering all the way, well Des did because he doesn’t know how to rug up like me, I’m surprised he didn’t wear thongs. The first Rodeo ever recorded in Coonamble was run in conjunction with the annual P & A Show in 1934. It consisted of one event – a steer ride, one-off events such as these were held each year with all proceeds going to charity. In 1946 the Coonamble Rodeo Association was formed and Rodeo’s were held in the middle of a hard dirt paddock where stock often got away and was “lost” for days, then in 1955 timber yards were built and the first official rodeo was held. The current steelyards were built in 1985 for the Australian Rodeo Championships, today the Rodeo & Campdraft attracts crowds of up to 6000.
20250406 What an amazing experience, we are so proud of our little man Hamish after being excepted to be part of a high level U12 squad to travel to Spain to participate in the MICFootball Tournament. (Costa Brava, Barcelona). MICFootball is one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in the world that’s been running for over 20 years. Many of the highest quality and well known clubs from around the world participate in this tournament every year. Teams such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool FC and Bayern Munich just to name a few and now that day has finally arrived and we are all very excited. Des prepared us a late lunch, his famous prawn cutlets that we pigged out on before heading to the airport, we had a clear run all the way and arrived in ample time so after our goodbyes we watched as Des drove off until he returns in three weeks to pick us up. Des drops us off and with our suit case in tow we head inside to check in our luggage, let the fun begin. F...
20240911 On our way towards Tamworth, we heard there rain heading our way so our aim is to park at the lookout in Moonbi that has solid ground. The wood has been stripped around the camp site so I walked deeper into the bush and returned with a bag, there’s no stopping me when it comes to my fires. Des prepared dinner while I set up the fire, we had dinner then sat around my nice fire while sitting under the nights stars and enjoying a few ales. We had a new camper turn up today and camped just in front of us with his little Jack Russell Dog who came for a visit and took a liking to Des. The Moonbi Lookout, Perched on a huge granite outcrop at an elevation of 754m (2,473ft) above the sea level. The View overlooking the valley below, stunning. The Moonbi Lookout is off the New England highway then follow the Lookout Road to the car park at the top where there is plenty of room for overnight parking. When camping at the lookout follow the track and check out the old stone built amenities...
20240909 We left Narrabri looking for Gin’s Leap rest area that’s apparently is on the highway and I have no doubt there will be lots of traffic noise. OMG! We just passed a fox sitting on the edge of the road that looked like a lost puppy, or it had a full belly from pigging out on the dead carcass or maybe it was just watching the traffic go by. The road from Narrabri is a smooth drive, so far, as we search for a place to camp, when we spotted a road to the left so Des turned off and there in the middle of nowhere stood an old pub in the town of Baan Baa. W e asked if we could say the night, sure the young barmaid said, the meals looked delicious, they had my favourite crumbed lamb chops so thats me sorted for dinner. I walked the town and got some photos before retiring to the van for a nap while listening to the laughter coming from the Pub so later in the afternoon we cracked a beer, drank it then off to the pub we went. Des found his place at the bar. On opening the do...
We gazed through the rale and watched with excitement as the bull riders are released from the gates and the rider holds on like hell hoping to reach their time before jumping from the bull, if they can.
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