TRAVEL BULLETIN
ALL THE LATEST 4X4 NEWS AND EVENTS
Events that were postponed or in doubt are coming back online, so it’s time to get out and about to enjoy this great land and support the communities. The situation is still fluid and things are changing all the time, so please check with event organisers before locking in your plans. BAY OF FIRES FREE CAMPING (TAS)
There’s free beachside camping within the Bay of Fires Conservation Area on the spectacular east coast of Tassie. And while camping is only permitted within designated areas, it is pretty darn popular. The maximum stay is four weeks, while dogs are permitted (on a lead) in most campsites.
For more info, go to: parks.tas. gov.au/explore-ourparks/bay-of-firesconservation-area/ bay-of-fires-camping
LAURA RODEO & RACES TO RETURN (QLD)
After being cancelled for the last couple of years, the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft and Laura Races will be back for 2022. It’s a great weekend of racing, bull riding, fun and games. Mark the dates: June 24 to 26.
CAMPING IN VICTORIA (VIC)
With an upsurge of homegrown travel, a lot of people will be wandering Victoria looking for the perfect campsite. For help, check out: campingvictoria.com; campsaustraliawide.com; parks.vic.gov.au; or find and join the ‘Low Cost and Free Camping Australia Wide’ Facebook group.
NEW PARKS IN THE WEST (NSW)
Added to recent purchases in the Corner Country, another 165,000 hectares of land in far-western NSW has been acquired by the state government to expand the National Parks & Wildlife Service estate. The government has purchased Avenel station, north-west of Broken Hill near the Border Fence, and Koonaburra station between Ivanhoe and Cobar.
Avenel is home to 30 threatened plant and animal species including the eastern fat-tailed gecko and the dusky hopping mouse, while Koonaburra supports 20 threatened species.
WADBILLIGA NP CLOSED (NSW)
Along with a host of other parks in the south-east of NSW, the Wadbilliga NP has been closed for months due to significant bushfire and subsequent flood damage, particularly relating to bridge infrastructure. The closed areas include the Lake Creek campground and the Cascades campground, amongst others, as well as the Wadbilliga Road.
It is likely that most areas within Wadbilliga will remain closed to the end of December 2021; some other parks and facilities will be closed for longer. Check: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov. au/alerts/alerts-list
THROW A TUNA (SA)
The ever-popular Tunarama Festival is set to liven up the city of Port Lincoln between January 19 and 23. With 60 years of heritage to draw on, there’s a lot to see and do. Kids can join in with the prawn toss, while the salmon toss is for older children. The adults get to throw a frozen whole tuna weighing between nine and 10kg, with the record standing at more than 37 metres. The winner takes home a grand! For more information, visit: www.tunarama.net
SEALING THE STRZELECKI TRACK (SA)
There is a concentrated push to seal the iconic Strzelecki Track. This 472km mainly unsealed road links the towns of Lyndhurst to Innamincka in the northeast of South Australia and is a popular route for four-wheel drive travellers.
It is also a vital supply link for the major oil and gas facilities located near Moomba, in the Cooper Basin, and is an essential transport corridor for outback communities, tourism and pastoralists.
The southernmost 50km of the Strzelecki Track has been sealed and is now open to traffic. Stage 2 is currently being worked on, while a further grant will go towards completing the sealing of the track by mid 2025.
Expect a lot more caravanners and 2WD cars to be heading to and from Queensland once this ‘track’ is bituminised.
More at: www.dpti. sa.gov.au/