Lake Lascelles and Hopetoun: A Perfect Spot to Unwind
We pulled into Lake Lascelles in Hopetoun, Victoria, planning for a quick stop. Instead, we found ourselves lingering, drawn in by the peaceful atmosphere and the stunning lakeside setting. This spot is a gem for campers, with free and low-cost sites right on the water’s edge.
The lake is a beautiful oasis in the middle of dry Mallee country. It’s a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, and fishing, and we saw plenty of locals making the most of it. Walking along the shoreline, we noticed how well-maintained the area is—clean facilities, shady spots, and plenty of space to spread out. A few powered sites are available for a small fee, but the unpowered sites offer the best views.
Hopetoun is a small but welcoming town just a short walk from the lake. We wandered into town for coffee and supplies, appreciating the mix of old and new in the main street. The Mallee Bush Retreat, right by the lake, adds character to the area with quirky buildings repurposed for accommodation.
We spent our time at Lake Lascelles simply enjoying the serenity. Sunsets over the water were a highlight, with the sky turning brilliant shades of orange and pink. Nights were quiet, apart from the occasional rustle of wildlife.
If you’re travelling through Victoria’s Mallee region, Lake Lascelles is well worth a stop. Whether you’re after adventure or just a peaceful break, this place delivers. We’ll definitely be back.
Exploring the unbeaten paths of Australia, one adventure at a time! 🌿 Follow along as we uncover hidden gems, tackle rugged terrains, and embrace the thrill of exploring offbeat destinations. 🚙💨
Other updates you may like…
With just one day in Adelaide, we crammed in all our favourites! Art, museums, botanic gardens and a market dash. North Terrace delivered its usual magic, reminding us why this city always feels good to return to.
Adelaide’s best days are the slow ones. Museums, galleries, gardens and the Central Market make up our top five things to do in the city — an easy, walkable loop we return to every time.
Hahndorf gave us a relaxed day of wandering, snacks and a few too many condiments from Beerenberg. Between gin tastings, strudel and leafy streets, this Adelaide Hills favourite is an easy, enjoyable stop with plenty to explore.
McLaren Vale became a favourite during our Port Willunga stay. Art at the Cube, pizza at Chalk Hill and a few essential Fruchocs for the road. A relaxed mix of wineries, food and rolling vineyard views.
The Barossa Sculpture Park and Whispering Wall made for a simple, memorable stop between the valley and Adelaide — big views, strange acoustics and a few fun moments we’ll save for our next Top Secret Dispatch.
A relaxed Barossa morning at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop gave us scones, lake views and a visit to the kitchen from The Cook and the Chef. Peaceful, friendly and a must-stop for Maggie fans.
Waikerie gave us ferry rides, silo art, bakery stops and an easy riverfront stay. A bright Riverland town with good food, calm paths and a few rituals we return to every time we pass through.
A relaxed day trip to Renmark gave us river cliffs, quiet tracks, a friendly pet café and a stop for chocolate almonds. A simple wander along the Murray with plenty to pause for.
From buffalo chicken pizza to desert sculptures and Silverton’s donkeys, Broken Hill gave us art, weather, and classic outback humour in equal measure. It’s a place that surprises every time — dust storms included.
From rainforest pools to outback springs and shaded rockholes, these are the waterfalls and swimming spots that shaped our journey across Australia. Cool water, easy tracks, and quiet corners worth slowing down for.
From Nyngan’s riverside calm to Cobar’s quiet bush camp and the long road to Broken Hill, this stretch of outback NSW is a reminder that sometimes, the in-between days are the best ones.
Armidale gave us cool mornings, friendly markets, and the joy of finding real bookshops again. With gardens, heritage, and country calm, it’s the kind of inland town that makes you want to stay a little longer.
The NSW coast is busy, but not everywhere. From laid-back Woolgoolga to Bellingen’s Butter Factory and the mountain roads to Dorrigo, we found the quiet corners still holding their charm.
Everyone has a list of towns to avoid. We’ve got one too, except we went anyway. From Alice Springs to Port Augusta, these “tough” towns prove reputation isn’t always reality.
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.
We came to Toowoomba for two nights and stayed four. Drawn in by gardens, markets, thunderstorms, and easy charm. A big city with a small-town heart, full of stories and surprises on the range.
From the old Rex Cinema in Monto to a four-kilo peanut haul in Kingaroy, this stretch of Queensland had everything—local tips, bush learning, and the stories you only find on the road.
Living full-time on the road means finding balance between connection and quiet. From calls home to campfire uploads, we’re learning that staying grounded matters just as much as staying online.
A weekend stop in Biloela for new windscreens turned into a laid-back escape. Between Heritage Park, Callide Dam, and country charm, this Central Queensland town proved that even repair days can feel like holidays.
Five hours of potholes, rattles, and questionable suspension from Charters Towers to Emerald reminded us that not every road is smooth.
Charters Towers caught us off guard — a planned two-night stop turned into four days of gold-rush history, quirky landmarks, tyre trouble and small surprises!
From chicken races to jetty-less jetties, Australia’s full of surprises. These offbeat stops are the ones that made us laugh, pull over, and remember why we love the road.
Blistering heat, long roads, and a sense of humour carried us from Julia Creek to Hughenden. Between dusty stops, cool lakes, and cranky tyre alarms, we found that real travel isn’t always picture perfect.
We’ve racked up a few extra kilometres chasing curiosity through Queensland. Side quests that started as quick detours and turned into full-blown adventures. A few wrong turns we’d happily make again.
From Dundee Beach to the Sapphire Caost, these five Australian beaches made us stop for a while. Real coastal favourites that are relaxed and worth the drive every time.
From drive-in towns to riverside camps, these are our hidden gems of Outback Queensland. Small places with big character, strung along quiet highways where the days stretch long.
From red cliffs to waterfall gullies, these are our top five Northern Territory favourites! A mixed of big names and quiet corners that made us stop, stay longer, and fall a little bit in love with the NT.
We’ve gathered a few favourite posts that still stand out on our travels — from Snake Creek and Robin Falls to Lightning Ridge and the RFDS airstrips. Simple stories, still worth revisiting.
We spent three days in Cloncurry, exploring its history, murals, aviation heritage, and dam. From the first Qantas hangar to the birthplace of the RFDS, this outback town surprised us with stories and charm.
Cameron is a travel writer, photographer, and freelance copywriter with more than fourteen years of experience crafting stories that connect people and place. Based on the road in a motorhome with his partner, he documents Australia’s quieter corners through Off the Main Road, a travel journal devoted to the towns, landscapes, and characters often overlooked by the tourist trail.
His writing blends observation with lived experience, drawing on a professional background in brand storytelling. Blending visual storytelling with a writer’s eye for detail, Cameron captures moments that reveal the character of regional Australia—from weathered towns and open landscapes to the honest rhythm of life across Australia.
2025 wasn’t about ticking boxes. It was about slowing down, paying attention, and letting the road lead. A reflective look back at the places and moments that shaped our year, in the order they unfolded.