Oh Fruit Fly! Travelling Cobar NSW to Albany WA

Submitted: Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 10:54
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Well an upcoming trip from Cobar NSW to Albany WA means I have to start planning the food around the fruit fly check points. Being the cook it's my job to ensure adequate nutrition whilst not breaking any laws of course.

So far it stands something like this.

Cobar to Broken Hill 464k's with a checkpoint (well self regulated disposal) before broken Hill.

Broken Hill to NSW border 49ks - possible checkpoint?

NSW to Partoo to Orroroo to Wilmington to Port Augusta 327ks no checkpoint, camp somewhere before Port Augusta for the first night.

Port Augusta to Ceduna 465ks & checkpoint, spend night two in Kimba/Ceduna

Ceduna to WA Border 486ks and checkpoint, third night WA border

I really haven't decided where to buy fruit and veg on the way. Obviously no sense carrying anything we can't eat before Broken Hill (5hrs from home). No point in stocking up in Broken Hill as there could be a possible checkpoint at the border?

Get some around Port Augusta to last a day until Ceduna, and after the WA border we should be right!

Certainly makes it a bit of a challenge to feed the kids healthy stuff and not just bikkies and the like.

Any advice of things I may have overlooked or general opinions welcome.
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Reply By: DIO - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:03

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:03
You can expect to get stopped at Oodlawirra in SA on the way from B/Hill. Have a look at this Link to PIRSA for additional info and Fact Sheets on the subject of Road Blocks etc. Don't forget, Inspectors often doing roving checks and road blocks. They can and do turn up anywhere in proximity to Inspection Zones. They WILL issue fines if it's apparent you've ignored warnings.
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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:23

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:23
We were looking at not going through Oldawirra - instead go north of it along the dirt roads and probably camp at one of the small reserves / parks on the way (Black Rock CP). Obviously we are unlikely to have any prohibited fruit & veg as we don't plan to stock up in Broken Hill so it's not checkpoint avoidance and shouldn't be an issue should we be stopped.

Interesting that there is a checkpoint at Oldawirra considering Yunta isn't part of the exclusion zone, hence I assumed there may be one at the border.

Thanks for the info, good to know we are allowed to keep Spuds and some other veggies. So spuds, noodles, carrot and peas for dinner it shall be. Not sure if giving the kids too much dried fruit would be a very pleasant experience considering the youngest is still in nappies and Daddy doesn't change them!
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Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:46

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:46
Outa Bounds

There are no camping facilities at Black Rock CP

You could camp at Hancocks Lookout just before Horrocks Pass. Turn left off the Wilmington/Port Augusta Road. Its about 3 or 4 km. Any camping shown on Hema Maps near towns in this denotes a Caravan Park.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:43

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:43
Ok, thanks will definitely have to keep that in mind. It was a Hema road atlas that I was referring from.

We don't have a complete set of maps of Aus, obviously do have some of the areas we have been to. I guess it is one thing we should do - buy some more detailed maps that cover state by state.
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Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 08:15

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 08:15
Came through Oodla Wirra on Saturday and Sunday for the Nackara Drought Relief Concert - where were you Willem? Auntie Ruth was there - and the checkpoint was not manned.

Obviously it is seasonal or only open at busy times.

Cheers
Andrew.
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Reply By: disco driver - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:14

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:14
Hi outabounds,
The checkpoint at Ceduna only checks stuff coming into SA from the west, so should not be a problem.

Depending on where you stay at the WA border, Border Village is just (by about 100mtrs) inside SA and Eucla is through the checkpoint and about 10km into WA.
Next place of any size is Norseman.

Raw Fruit & Vegs, Honey are not allowed through into WA.

My suggestion FWIW would be to motel/camp in SA (just) and then come through the checkpoint in the morning. This will get you into Norseman and replenish fruit & veg there as F&V at roadhouses before Norseman will not be cheap.
Turn left at Norseman to Esperance (well worth as couple of days) and Albany is about 450km west again.

Happy travelling.

Disco.
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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:33

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 11:33
Hi Disco Driver,

Thanks for the advice on Ceduna, I had read that was the case but wasn't certain. Hubby has penciled us in to stay at WA border and then Balladonia as our plan is to do 500ks a day distance wise, however it's still up for discussion and some days may be longer so as to spend more time in certain places. Generally the plan is to set up camp around 3pm for a bit of r & r. Kids are early risers so the getaways are never too late.

We used to work and live in Norseman (3yrs) so I'm very familiar with the shopping there and no doubt may come across a familiar face or two. Agree that it would be a good place to stock up.

We plan on spending a few nights in Esperance - in the National Park would be nice, so maybe save the shopping until then and just get some essentials in Norseman. Next overnighter after that is probably Bremmer Bay.

Cobar even though it's bigger by a reasonable amount often reminds me of Norseman, and the 3hr drive to Dubbo is very much like those 2hr drives to Kalgoorlie or Esperance!
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:03

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:03
Also no Cartons, and Hessian into WA
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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:36

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 12:36
Nice tip! After reading some camping cookbooks and the like I was actually thinking of packing spuds and onion into a cardboard box. Looks like we'll stick to plastic then.
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Follow Up By: Des Lexic - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 19:37

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 19:37
I think that Polystyrene boxes that have been used to store friut and veggies in them are a no-no also.
You could dehydrate fresh fruit into slabs and give them to the kids to lip sip suck and they will then get their healthy tit bits. Food that has been processed is also OK too I believe.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 06:28

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 06:28
Hey Uncle Des

What do you have on your mind,eh?

>healthy tit bits< = healthy tid bits

RONTFLMAO

Cheers

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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:46

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:46
LOL, right along with "lip, sip, suck"
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Follow Up By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 08:13

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 08:13
The packing matter is rather irrelevant anyways, as the WA inspection folks will want your potatoes and onions anyway.
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Follow Up By: Des Lexic - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 19:27

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 19:27
Willie, you can have the "tids" and I'll have the "tits"
Outa Bounds, I'm Des Lexic and I can say anything I like LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - Hughesy (NSW) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:13

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:13
Spot on Discodriver. I got pulled over on the WA border one and I knew I had no nuts/fruit or veg so the bloke is doing is usual speech and I'm just half daydreaming saying no no no. Opens up my food compartment and there is a brand new squeeze bottle of honey......whoops. I reckon the old honey catches a few travellers out.
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:19

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:19
Hughesy
When I moved here from Qld they took ny Capilano honey off me, when I get to the supermarket to re-buy, what do I see on the shelf, yep.... Capilano Honey
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Follow Up By: disco driver - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:56

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 22:56
Hi All,
Let's not start this honey thing yet again.

This issue has been done to death in previous posts and follow up's. Go Look

You don't have to believe me but there ARE valid reasons for the restrictions on honey into WA. Go search agric.wa.gov.au to find out why

All honey coming into WA retail stores from Eastern states has one extra treatment during the processing/packaging chain, so the Capilano honey in stores in WA is not identical to that from over east. Might look the same, taste the same but it has been heat treated.

Disco.
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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 18:11

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 18:11
When coming into WA, you can stop the night before, and prepare the veges. Peel potatoes, carrots and onions well, and show these at the inspection point. So long as there is no soil, they should pass. They will keep for a few days in plastic bags. Anything else can be cooked and refrigerated or frozen if you have a fridge. If in doubt, take a few packets of dehydrated potato and peas etc. You won't starve, unless your main diet is fresh salads.
Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 19:50

Sunday, Jun 03, 2007 at 19:50
That's what I've done in the past when travelling west. Stay overnight somewhere near Ceduna, cook up the remaining fresh stuff to make the following night's meal, then it's a simple job of reheating it the next night, rather than stuffing around cooking at the end of a long Nullarbor drive.
Dried veges, fruit and nuts are no problems with the WA checkpoint, just fresh stuff that's a no-no. And honey.
Gerry
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Follow Up By: Outa Bounds - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:49

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 07:49
Honey is my only gripe! I love honey & hate having to give it up only to buy exactly the same brand from probably the same supermarket chain! And it's not something you can finish up before the border LOL.

I'll have to get hold of those little motel tubs I guess, but they're no Clayridge or Beechworth!
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 16:19

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 16:19
Outa Bounds - Just take enough honey to get you to the border, then if you can manage without for a few days, never mind the same supermarket brand; get some local honey - lovely. It is an industry worth protecting.

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Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 09:40

Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 09:40
Outa Bounds
I had to drive to the Border to Escort a truck back to Perth , I always carry honey and wasn't going to give it away , it was bought in Perth , anyhow I pulled up about 65klm West of Eucla ,put the honey under a bush to collect on the way back, On the return I said to the Truckie what I was about to do and asked him to drop back a bit as I will only be about 25 seconds, after I got the honey he say's over the CB "How the hell did you know where it was" I told him I marked the spot with the GPS.....,anyhow one of the inspectors told me that if I (Pilot Cars) stop and let them know i just come in from the West to start a job that they then know where we come from when we leave the BP,

Doug
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