Hawks Do The Lap

'Tis the season for a low-key, laid-back holiday vibe (during our epic holiday around Australia)We are 1200 km from home, having travelled 34,000 km to get to areas 'mostly' close to Melbourne. We find just the right balance. Follow us through the last 10 days (Days 171 to 180) as we journey through a cross between the Yarra Valley and Phillip Island, settling in Melbourne to celebrate XmasHere's our itinerary:📍Day 171 - Warburton, Yarra Valley📍Day 173 to 176 - Philip Island, Victoria📍Day 177 to 180 - Melbourne, VictoriaIn our regular Podcast, we detail:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts Listen in, slow down, enjoy the journey, and experience the sleepy side of Christmas on the road For images to accompany the story - try the Visual Diary for Weeks 25 & 26 to add pictures to our adventures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O4LDPMfmHB5ynJkh73S99_PRKgGsT8i4/view?usp=sharingThanks for keeping us company

What is there to celebrate in Regional Victoria? She might be small, but she packs a punch! There’s something for everyone, from art and oceans to food, history, gardens, hiking, religions, and day spas, as well as colourful wildlife.Follow us through the last 10 days as we journey through the smallest slice of Australia to find our favourite places.In our regular Podcast, we detail:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts Do listen in, enjoy the journey, celebrate with us and stay up to date. Best wishes for the festive season For images to accompany the story - try the Visual Diary for Weeks 24 & 25 to add pictures to our adventures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SCJd7jNC9uVkIDDnGQV5RRA5Ux0iNNoI/view?usp=sharing

Time is marching on and we are moving between states - crossing over from South Australia and into Victoria. What does the regal Victoria have on offer?We are at Day 151 of 188 days. We crack 33,000 km on the road which is 5 months of driving. Feels like we are on the home straight In our regular Podcast, we detail:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts Our itinerary includes📍 Day 151 & 152 - Robe, SA📍 Day 153 - Coonawarra, SA📍 Day 154 - Mt Gambier, SA📍 Day 155 - Portland, Vic📍 Day 156 - 158 - Killarney Beach, Vic📍 Day 159 - Torquay VicFor images to accompany the story - try the Visual Diary for Weeks 22 & 23 to add pictures to our adventures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-CyqAVQmyyOpigpQ7utgusrt7AoP1QpX/view?usp=sharingDo listen in, enjoy the journey and stay up to date

Come with us as we explore in and around the refined city of Adelaide and its pretty hills. In this episode, we taste the epicurean delights of the Fleurieu Peninsula, the Limestone Coast and Wine Country. We are alive and kicking!Included are:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts ⚡Quick QuipsThese are our reflections of Days 141 - 150 in our whirlwind Lap of Australia. This is the 80% mark of our adventures The Visual Diary for Weeks 19 & 20 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1-SROfTOc5vYzJmZI4uRLQy7dkWAcm5I8/view?usp=sharing

In this episode, we share a slice of South Australia. We move from Port to Port and visit one of Australia’s most bizarrest towns, Coober Pedy, for a prospecting experience. These are our reflections of Days 131 - 140 in our whirlwind Lap of Australia Catch up with our 6 month travel by checking out this Podcast, including:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts  💰It’s A Numbers GameItinerary Includes:📍 Day 131 & 132 - Port Lincoln📍 Day 133 - Coffin Bay National Park📍 Day 134 - Port Augusta📍 Day 135, Hawker and Wilpena Pound📍 Day 136 - Woomera, Wirraminna📍 Day 137 to 139 - Coober Pedy📍 Day 140 - Port PirieThe Visual Diary for Weeks 17 & 18 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1s6tWZClDNXsVCDaSkqK02jFM9WKsQpax/view?usp=drive_linkFaye Naylor’s house is for sale https://www.dailymail.co.uk/lifestyle/article-15275465/Australia-POOL-living-room-Coober-Pedy-cheapest-town.html

We’re celebrating the miles (2,200 km actually) that we have journeyed since our last episode. We have reached South Australia, via the epic Nullarbor plain plus we’ve created golden memories in Kalgoorlie WA. These are our reflections of Days 121 - 130 at the 70% mark through our Lap of AustraliaCatch up with our 6 month travel by checking out this Podcast, including:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts  ✞ Confession cornerOur itinerary features📍 Day 121 - Coolgardie WA & Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA📍 Day 122 - Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA📍 Day 123 - Norseman WA📍 Day 124 & 125 - Nullarbor Plain, Bunda Cliffs📍 Day 126-  Fowlers Bay, Head of Bight, 📍 Day 127 - Penong, Port Sinclair, Lake MacDonnell 📍 Day 128 & 129 -  Streaky Bay SA📍 Day 130 -  Port Lincoln, SAThe Visual Diary for Weeks 17 & 18 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1BHjg3MEN98EIvIwgWvAetl7I14g0gOe4/view?usp=drive_linkAmateur Fossickers Discover Gold:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-27/prospectors-flock-to-goldfields-after-large-nugget-unearthed/105409842Fight for Port Lincoln’s Water Security https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-10/port-lincoln-desalination-plant-aquaculture-water-security/103959976

We’re in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and seen rugged coastlines, pristine beaches, and ancient forests. This is a 400 km exploration of Days 111-120 The weather has taken a nose dive, but it has not dampened our sense of adventure. We’re itching to share this episode with you. Join us on our journey, now some 23,500km since leaving Sydney. We are 3/4 of our way on the LapThis episode features:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts 👣Off the Beaten Track Discoveries🔟Our WA Top 10The Visual Diary for Weeks 16 & 17 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1P_6zgyTHkbEe6fzVnraX-MBL4cciijdX/view?usp=sharing

Perth & Margaret River is a 600 km area, teeming with craft breweries, wineries, windswept beaches and beautiful surf breaks, There’s 2 lighthouses, plus room for adrenaline-fuelled adventures and a dream destination, just off the coast of the State CapitalThis episode features📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts  🪓Top 5 Van HacksThe visual diary for Weeks 15 & 16 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1YxxRL5A8PdGcVydfP-metm5_H6u4S4JM/view?usp=sharing

Walks, Waves and Wildflowers feature in our monumental episode as we travel a further 800 kilometres south in Western Australia. We highlight Days 91-100 and explore the Coral Coast, journeying down to touch the Wheat Belt area and include:📅The Daily Diary🤓Fun Facts 🌸Walks, Waves, and WildflowersWe hit the halfway point of our Lap and 100 days on the Road.The visual diary for Weeks 14 & 15 adds pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1jTgPfQwIa0v7G3IdycCoxud_D096QfQn/view?usp=sharing

Western Australia - you are a water wonderland! Through Days 81-90, we have experienced WA at its wet and wild best. This episode features key highlight locations -  Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay and Shark Bay.Episode 10 includes:📅The Daily Diary🐠Coral Care❓Listeners’ CornerHave a look at the accompanying visual diary for Weeks 12 & 13 to add pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/14wvC578MI0FVg-M69-3R4zV6WhAoA_FD/view?usp=sharing*Best* Whale Shark Tour - Ningaloo Whaleshark Swim www.ningaloowhalesharks.comCarnavon “Don't Look at the Islands” Sculpturehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-18/lock-hospital-memorial-unveiled/11019356

From being awestruck by the luminosity of the night skies or the stunning gorge walks in the Karijini National Park, it's a treasure trove of discoveries from the Pilbara area of Western Australia.These gems are like a Jewel in the Crown of Western AustraliaEpisode 9 includes:📅 The Daily Diary❓Questions & Answers in Listeners’ Corner🎶Face the Music - our Jingle and AIHave a look at the accompanying visual diary for Weeks 11 & 12 to add pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1pYXqGFaeyoGaDVrdzJ-Smz_OU0Ee-h83/view?usp=sharingKarijini Park Guidehttps://cdn1.get-qr.com/files/68aeb6498144cc08011f5b44/1756280414324-a9656652118a2b15302903aaebbdc886.pdfWA Trailshttps://trailswa.com.au/trails/

This episode is called …What? Western Australia…. because it's certainly the way that we feel. Time is racing. We feature:🧜‍♀️Horizontal Falls Focus📚Ross’ Reading Review🗝️Listener’s Corner🧹Busy in BroomeWe are sitting at Days 61- 70 of 188, making almost 40% of the way through our lap around Australia. We have spent 62 days - stayed in 30 towns/ caravan sites - travelled 8500 km on the road and completed another 'almost' 5000km in side trips. 🔦References:Have a look at the accompanying visual diary to add pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nPihx2PxX0czVk3pwCJBQax610SWe1MI/view?usp=sharingBlue Tree Movement ABC: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-01/painting-the-country-blue-to-tackle-suicide-regional-australia/11538858Colin’s Guide to Border Crossing Sept 2025https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ER_OTXhVOsasCyRkPki4Ph3XY2ibd1v0/view?usp=sharing

DL stands for down low, but our DL is Darwin and Litchfield 😋 Days 51-60 have just whizzed by. We are 35% through our Lap of Australia. Here are our NT insights …..on the DL.Including: 📅The Daily Diary❓Questions & Answers in Listeners’ Corner🚶‍♀️Life Lessons walking & hiking - The Over 50s Guide (well - anyone really)Have a look at the accompanying visual diary to add pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1SpPhMt_ZYcba6uNcza5BTs86uEcIyxze/view?usp=sharingABC News - Solar Car Challengehttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-27/nt-world-solar-challenge-darwin-car-race-to-adelaide-technology/105689306?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=messagesABC News - Douglas Hot Springs Closed https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-10/douglas-hot-springs-nt-closure-affected-by-bore-at-sacred-site/102920352

We are now beyond the 1/4 way mark in our lap of Australia.  Come with us on the journeyOver the last 10 days, we have been treated to seeing country through new eyes and experiencing a deeper connection to this ancient landHave a look at the accompanying visual diary to add pictures to our adventureshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/158eBPlgELgGcK2gGVPt66KcMP6faNA7t/view?usp=sharing

With Queensland done and dusted, we’re heading towards Darwin. This is a downright delightful 10 days. Have a look at the accompanying visual diary to check out the descriptions day by day. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT52i1W8Jor0rdMowhmkx-9Ty31Ab3K7/view?usp=sharingFootnotes: Day 32 Editors Note (Facebook - not Youtube) Channel 7: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1158460749424720Hawkeys Down the Mines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17pyPbuFLdMJrVIcR9hgmMl5AZptShD-1/view?usp=sharing

This is a celebration issue - birthdays all round. We’ve clocked up 6000 km plus and almost completed the Queensland leg of our lap. For those who would like to linger over the images, download the pdfhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1wW4Y9Dbpu1Tkdhk0UJXxBhCFpRTKlFI8/view?usp=drive_link

We're 2/3rds of the way through Queensland on The Lap. Now 2800 km north of home and having clocked up 4500 km already, we’ve almost completed the Northern upward leg of our lap. We've got our bearings - Queensland - it’s true! You've been fine as we've travelled north.

We've driven two and a half thousand kilometres away from our home in Sydney, Australia. We find ourselves in Queensland. We are at day 10 of our 6-month adventure. What's been happening? Listen and find out....😀

We're on the 50-Day Countdown. Preparing to Podcast