I do love road trips. Add the fun of planning, packing, and looking at new things out of the window along the way—the different cuisines or lifestyles when you get there. And Melbourne to Mildura and Broken Hill was our most ambitious yet!

Travelling with kids

While this one, our fantastic ‘Broken Hill or Bust’ goal,  was still a great success. Travelling with a nine-year-old does limit your patience ‘chi’ a tad. They talk. Constantly, and while we didn’t hear one single “Are we there yet” or “How much further?” having been pre-warned under sentence of dumping by the roadside ahh no ice creams for a day. We still had constant fidgeting, the rustling of lolly bags (maybe it was the sugar high), and many “I’m thirsty, hungry” on the long legs. Next time, leave the short person at home or plan shorter hops. Six hours in a car is just too much for a kid to bear 🙂

Mildura

We were all up by 6 am, on the road by 7 am Friday in horrible drizzling rain, and rugged up in warm clothes. Our first overnight stop was Mildura, which we hoped to make by 1.30 pm, giving us time to take a paddle steamer cruise. After stopping for coffee, photo, or loo breaks every few hours, we soon realised we had significantly estimated our travel times. We wouldn’t be there in time, and our paddle steamer cruise would have to be the next day. As we headed further north, the weather got better, but the wind was chilly, so the coats never came off until we were almost at Mildura. But from there on, we were basking in sunny skies and warm weather for the rest of the trip.

Accommodation Problems!

Once we arrived at our accommodation, we encountered the first significant hiccup. Our booking wasn’t on the books. I always travel with my accommodation confirmations printed. Upon checking my paperwork, we were definitely due. However, on theirs, no. Thankfully, the lovely proprietor had one room left, making us very comfortable and welcome. I then phoned ahead to Broken Hill, and we weren’t expected there either! To compound the issue, they were fully booked. However, they could accommodate us in another holiday rental owned by a relative. Thus, we didn’t drive all that way and slept rough.

Accommodation issues resolved. We were soon in sleeveless tops and sipping chilled wine. The short person headed for the pool and returned quickly, slightly disgruntled. She couldn’t swim in it as it needed cleaning after the previous night’s storm. We ran into town that night for dinner and dined at Stefano’s near the Mildura Wharf. The staff were lovely and accommodating (we found pleasant staff and service people throughout our travels).

Stefanos, Mildura

My travelling companion on this trip was my #1 sister. As she had been ill with the flu and tummy troubles leading up to the trip, we decided to play it ‘safe’ menu-wise. We had the dipping bread with oil and balsamic, calamari, garden salad, and the obligatory Sauvignon. The short person ordered the child’s eye fillet with salad. Our meal was lovely – but nothing to write home about (yet I write here, lol). The child’s steak was cooked well done, but we assumed that being a child, they figured they wouldn’t like it rarer, so we gave them a pass on that. Calamari was lovely and tender and service attentive. We were well and truly fed, watered and tired from the long day and were all in bed lights out by 9.30 pm.