Camping out west

As a family, we love nothing more than to explore the beautiful country we live in. Whether it's going on little adventures in the car, or taking camping holidays. Being outdoors and experiencing nature, as well as discovering new towns, and bushwalks are exciting to us. There is nothing better than sitting around a campfire on a crisp, clear night and looking up at a starry sky!

For a while, we had been planning to go on a camping trip with our friends that travelled along the Newell highway to places like Dubbo, Coonabarabran, Warrabumgunles National Park, Glen Innes, Inverell, and Tamworth. So when Popette asked if we could purchase a bale of hay or donate some money to the farmers, we thought it would be a good idea to go during the holidays and visit the areas where we could donate directly to the rural towns and support the farming communities.

Being able to visit small businesses and see farms who weren't getting any rain, was a good life lesson for our girls. It taught them what measures farmers had to take so they could feed themselves, their stock, and water their crops.

Driving along the Newell we spotted numerous rigs hauling bales of hay

On the stretch to the Warrumbungles NP

The views up the top of Siding Springs - you must go on the behind-the-scenes tour!

Kangaroos are everywhere!

The Kangaroos in the afternoon sun at Copeton Dam

Pilliga Sandstone caves at Coonabarabran

View of Mt Kaputar in the distance

With the Giraffes at Dubbo Zoo (and yes Popette is nearly taller than me!)

Emu chicks - from an Emu farm we visited in Tooraweenah - we purchased some emu oil
 and a couple of knitted emu soft toys. The farm was having a bad year and
 worried that if they couldn't buy feed from a local, they would have to cull some more of their emus.

Popette running with the emus

Standing stones at Glen Innes

Taking in the view of the lake while enjoying breakfast

Within the Warrumbungles - the view from our site

Warrumbungles

Fossicking for sapphires, Hubby had good eyes and found me one!

It's lovely seeing stock grazing on the side of the road

You can't stop in Tamworth without visiting the Giant Golden Guitar - my first visit!

Here are some ways you can help support farmers, if you are thinking of taking a camping trip out west:

• Visit towns that are affected by the drought,
• Stay in the local caravan parks or hotels, 
• Purchase items from the local stores, 
• Instead of taking groceries with you, buy them when you get there.
• Enjoy a meal at the local pub, or pickup some pies and bread rolls from the bakery, 
• Visit the family-run tourist attractions - some of the attractions we visited included: fossicking at Sapphire, a Crystal Museum/Shop at Coonabarabran, Dubbo Zoo, Siding Springs Observatory & behind the scenes tour, and an Emu Farm at Tooraweenah.

You might have seen some of these pics shared on IG or FB. I tend to spend more time posting photos to my Instagram account rather than posting to my Facebook page, so it would be great if you would come over and join me. 😊