We have spent the last three days in the Snowy Mountains. Monday we got to the park, paid $6.00 for each bike for a 24 hr pass, which we over stayed but did not find where to pay on the way out. We have found really nice camping spots in the park. The first one we scrounged up enough fire wood to build us a fire. Saw some wallabies and a quick glimpse of a wombat. We headed for the ski area at Mt. Kosciuszko with the idea of riding it up for a look about. Once there and we decided to hike to a lookout point from the ski lift dropoff, once there we continued on to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko (the highest mountain in Australia) for a 15 K hike. Had a few sore points the next morning. It was 3:30 by the time we got down from the mountain. Then we tried to get on the internet but the shop was closed by the time we found it. We only rode a short distance until we found camping by a river. While we were fixing dinner a fellow stopped to fill his water bottle and told us that we were by an abandoned airstrip and by evening the kangaroos would come out to feed. So about 7:30 I went to check it out and had lots of fun watching the little characters. I’m guessing there were nearly 40! I have been surprised at all the birds and how colorful ( red & green, red & black, blue, white & black, & green). I remember the kids song about the Cocaberra sitting in the old gum tree and I recognized the sound but with all the birds I couldn’t pick him out to see what he looked like. The mosquitoes ate me alive. I had bites as big as quarters, and I had bug repellent on. But the Claratine works great!

The long stright road, we soon started into the Great Snowy Mountains and the roads became really great.

Climbing up Mt. Kosciuszko

On top of the Mountain

Here are Australia's highest toilets, another geographic extreme to check of the list

Camp site

The roads through the park were great and had good character all the way to Bairndale.

Hotels in Australia are more pubs and cafe than places to sleep, but most of the old hotels in the smaller towns have had accommodations like you would expect of a hotel in USA.

Valley

After carrying my tire repair kit for over 30,000 miles I finally got to use it.

Kangaroo

More Kangaroo

We did 27 K of gravel (aka dirt) but I thought it was a great road, other person does not agree.

Have not taken any pictures for a few days as it has been raining most of the time. We went into Melbourne to pickup papers then to motorcycle expo with all the new bikes and goodies.

We have now moved north along the coast. Would have been a nice ride if it was not for the rain. Should reach Sydney tomorrow.