After braving Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Mullumbimby was an exhale. A leafy hinterland town of markets, vintage shops, and slow mornings at the showgrounds. Proof that the best stops aren’t always planned.

Every now and then, you meet people on the road who feel like old friends. Mel and Susie’s bush poetry, humour, and warm-heartedness made us instant fans — and lifelong mates.

We rolled into Lightning Ridge for the third time — this visit a little muddier than usual. After dodging puddles and slick backroads, both the moho and Jimny looked rally-ready and well-travelled.

From Burren Junction’s steaming thermal pool to Rowena’s country pub, this stretch of Northern NSW delivered good food, warm water, and muddy roads—proof that slow travel still brings the best surprises.

Narrabri was a familiar dot on our map — we’d passed through before, but this time we decided to linger and take a closer look.

We rolled into Baradine with no big expectations and left a few days later completely charmed.

While in town, we couldn’t skip a quick visit to the Big Bogan — cheeky as ever and just as good for a second round of photos.

This was our second visit to Cobar, so we stayed for two nights this time to get a proper feel for the place.

As huge fans of space and science, this iconic landmark was a definite must-see, and it did not disappoint.

This incredible railway depot is one of the few remaining roundhouses in Australia, and stepping inside felt like stepping back in time.

From Bermagui to Batemans Bay, the coastal road carried us past dolphins, fish and chips, and a growing sense of ease. Small towns, quiet bays, and days that felt unhurried—finally finding our road rhythm.

Tilba Tilba cheese, Bermagui’s Blue Pool, and tall pub stories marked the moment we started finding our rhythm on the road — and learned that good cheese might just be worth every detour.

In Merimbula, we traded busy travel for slow days by the sea. We fixed our first flat tyre, ate oysters by the dozen, and learned that quiet time can be the best part of the trip.

Our first motorhome trip from Geelong to Eden was equal parts chaos and discovery. We packed too much, sang off-key in a winery, and learned fast that the road has its own rhythm.