We drove from 100km south of Mataranka to 60km west of the Queensland (QLD) state border - 800km or so. Along the way we stopped for free coffee, seen grassland fires, seen wondering cattle, waved to passing drivers outback style, and made camp for the night at a rest area.

Free Camping: View Map (rest area: running water, toilets, shelter, tables)

Croajingolong National Park was our first stop in the State of Victoria. This park offers long stretches of coastline. We started walking to a tip along the coast that we saw in the distance. At this tip we wondered between the rocks and looked at different creatures of the sea that have been washed up onto the sand. As we turned the corner of the tip, we found another lovely beach. At this beach we spent some time enjoying the sun and I took a quick dip in the cold Pacific. At this park, one can also do a 5-6 day trek called the Croajingolong Coast Walk.

Later along the Route A1, there was “Fire Burning in Process”. Parts of the forests are burnt down as a measure to stop naturally occurring fires from spreading to the road or houses (that is when a section of the forest has been burnt, there will be no fuel for another fire to burn there).

Plus free wireless ‘hotspot’ on the street at a picnic table in Orbost.

Free Camping: View Map

Drove some more today through towns and New South Wales. Found a freebie at Scrubby Creek Rest Area, just before the Victoria State border.

Free Camping: View Map

We drove in to Australia’s Capital in the afternoon. We had a look through Capitol Hill and the parliament, but there didn’t seem to be many people and it felt a bit artificial. Maybe because it’s a planned city that it felt a bit alien. We restocked on groceries and left.

We then found another free rest area camp ground which was very nice, except I punctured my inflatable mattress with 7 pin prick holes from some sort of ground thorns. By coincidence, Ewa’s mattress has been untouched. Arghh.

Free Camping: View Map

It took us a while to leave Sydney. Phone calls, packing, car cleaning (greasy steering wheel), filling up the tank. Nevertheless we left Sydney at around 2pm, and drove south. The sun set and we found a free camping spot at a rest area 200km down the road.

Tip: Take a camping road atlas with you to save time and money (camping at rest areas in Australia is mostly legal and for free). Ex: Camps Australia Wide

Free Camping: View Map

The start of the day was slow, due to rain and grey skies (cleared up though). We had a nice breakfast of dark round rye bread, chicken pate with pesto, cream cheese and Tim Tams (our favourite Aussie cookie).

We drove along the Tasman Sea Coast and landed at Cape Egmont. This is in the near of Mt. Taranaki (a volcanic mountain, which we will be hiking tomorrow). Mt. Egmont is the name white people gave for Mt. Taranaki. At Cape Egmont, there is a lighthouse and a rocky beach with black lava rocks. We enjoyed this spot to catch some sun, relax and look out into the sea. Thoughts of Australia on the other side kept coming into my mind or as the Aussies and Kiwis say it “going over the ditch”.

We liked this spot so much we decided to stay at Cape Egmont for the night. We did some “free camping” just up on a grassy spot above the rocky beach. It was a lovely evening and an amazing night. This has got to be our number one camping spot, overlooking the sea and Mt. Taranaki. For dinner, we had ravioli with tomato sauce, salad with lettuce, tomato, olive and onion. We watched the tide come back in, it was so dramatic with the full moon. It seems like one can mark the tides progression better on a rocky beach over a sandy one, with the water flooding over into coves and tidal pools. We saw the sunset melt into the water and by night we saw Taranaki lit up by the moon and saw hedgehogs at the side of the road. What lovely creatures. What a magical place, Cape Egmont.

Free Camping: View Map

Last night we drove down south from Milford Sound to the nearby’s of a city called Invercargill, and made contact with the Southern Pacific Ocean. Today, we continued the drive towards Dunedin, along the coastal scenic highways of The Catlins, stopping at multiple peninsulas, bays, and coves. The sights were great along the way, as we’ve seen some nice coastal scenery, penguins and seals. The wind blew strong and to our advantage, as the bloody sand flies (a.k.a. black flies) hid underground where they belong. When in Dunedin, we ate some cheap and filling Cambodian food, stole some free Wi-Fi signal, and made camp 20km north of the city in a closed down camping ground (yes, also for free).

Free Camping: View Map