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.

We’re chasing warmth in Northern NSW and Queensland’s hidden thermal pools — from the soothing hot springs at Burren Junction to the steamy delights of the north, each dip is a refreshing escape into nature.

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.