September/October 2025 Australian Camper Trailers Group National Get Together - Ariah Park

The Australian CamperTrailers Group's 19th national meet was held at the Ariah Park Showground, Ariah Park, in the Riverina region of New South Wales, 65 kilometres south of West Wyalong, from Monday, 29th September to Friday, 3rd October 2025.

The Group’s national meet sticker this year featured grain as the background, as Ariah Park is the birthplace of bulk grain handling in Australia. On the 27th September 1916, Australia's bulk wheat was loaded onto a train for the first time. In 1919, wheat silos were built beside the railway line.

The week attracted 141 people in 65 camper trailers, caravans, motorhomes & tents. 

Thursday/Saturday 25/27 September 2025 - Mullumbimby to Ariah Park

We broke the 1200 km trip from Mullumbimby to Ariah Park up over a few days.  Mullumbimby to Somerton, Somerton to Cowra and then Cowra to Ariah Park. 

Day 1, we camped at the Somerton Pub, where we could have dinner and a drink without having to set up the camper.

Day 2, we called into brother Steve's at Mullalley for morning tea and then headed on to Cowra, set up camp at the caravan park in town and then out to dinner with granddaughter, Artie.

Day 3, we visited the Cowra Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) at the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre. Lots of traditional Japanese performances, martial arts, tea ceremonies, origami/bonsai workshops, and food stalls amidst the gardens' blooming cherry blossoms.   This is a pretty spot with a not-so-pretty history. The Garden is located on the site of the World War Two Japanese prisoner of war camp and the site of the infamous Cowra breakout in 1944. The garden was built to commemorate the Japanese prisoners of war who died at the breakout.  A great place to visit today.

Lunch at the Gardens and then the drive to Ariah Park in time to set up camp at the showground, late afternoon in time for another beautiful sunset.

Sunday, 28 September 2025 - Ariah Park

 A quiet day today before the actual get-together starts tomorrow.

A wander to downtown Ariah Park.  We were impressed.  The main street, Coolamon Street, features shopfronts in their original early 20th-century structures and is shaded by century-old peppercorn trees. As with many rural towns in Australia, the town is struggling, with lots of shops closed, but it appears loved.  There is a group of locals who dress up the empty shop windows so that the closed shops are not an eyesore.  

After lunch, we headed a few kilometres out of town to where quite a few draught horses were resting for the night.  Barellan, 130 ks west of Ariah Park, holds a Working Clydesdales "The Good Old Days" Weekend in October each year, considered one of the largest gatherings of heavy horses in Australia. The horses (and wagons) trek 200km from Stockinbingal to Berallan over 8-9 days.  28-40 horses, predominantly Clydesdales and 9-13 horse-drawn wagons make the trek, with the rest stop just north of Ariah Park one of their camps.

Cooling down tonight and certainly time for a campfire.

Monday 29 September 2025 - Ariah Park & Temora

After this morning's opening and morning tea, we headed into Temora to have lunch and do some shopping.

So much Canola out in flower at the moment and also some lupins.

Dinner tonight thanks to the Temora Antique Motor Club, followed by the annual auction with proceeds ($5,345) donated to the Ariah Park Community Projects Committee. 

Tuesday 30 September 2025 - Ariah Park

 A few workshops today, ladies' morning tea for Jill, Accessories & Spares, a camper trailer walkaround and Lithium Batteries.  It's always interesting to find out what others are doing and there's always something new to learn.

Tonight was the Trivia Night and no, we didn't win again.

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 - Ariah Park

A bigger day today.  Breakfast cooked for us by the Ariah Park Men's Shed, followed by a market up the street, including a car expo by the Antique Motor Club.  Quite amazing the number of stalls and the talents of the locals.  We purchased a few bits and pieces to go in the garden at home. 

Breakfast by the Ariah Park Men's Shed

We then tagged along with local historian, Bill Speirs, who took a group for an informative walk around the village, and the day finished with barefoot bowls and dinner at the Bowling Club.

Thursday, 2nd October 2025 - Ariah Park

Today was 'Temora Day' and most of us headed off to Temora to visit both the Temora Rural Museum and the Temora Aviation Museum.

We were very impressed with the Rural Museum, one of the principal heritage exhibitions at the Temora Bundawarrah Centre.  What an extensive range of memorabilia: Sir Donald Bradman’s First Home (a meticulously reconstructed hardwood slab cottage where the cricket legend spent his early years); an Ambulance Museum (An impressive collection of vintage ambulances and medical transport history); a Rural Fire Service Museum (ditto the Ambulance museum); historical buildings (including a one-room public school, a bush church, a country dance hall, and a replica flour mill); Agricultural Machinery ( A vast assembly of restored tractors, stationary engines, and vintage vehicles, many maintained in working order); Jimmy Sharman Memorabilia (a dedicated display for the famous boxing promoter and showman); and a Rock and Mineral Display (The Athol Stean collection, featuring impressive specimens and a replica of the 'Mother Shipton' gold nugget).  Just excellent.....  Purchased a piece of Temora Green Stone for our rock collection.

Afternoon and one more museum - the Temora Aviation Museum.  The Museum was established in late 1999, based on the collection of 'warbird' aircraft owned by David Lowy. It's also home to the Air Force Heritage Squadron's Temora Historic Flight with aircraft that range from before World War II to the Vietnam War era.  

The town of Temora is notable in Australian aviation history. The Royal Australian Air Force set up the No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School here at the museum site in May 1941.  More than 10,000 personnel were involved in the school's operation, with more than 2,400 pilots being trained here.  At its peak the Training School had 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft for training purposes. 

Until today, we did not have a very favourable opinion of Temora.  Some years ago, we were travelling through this area and had a not-so-pleasant experience of a night in a Temora Hotel.  That's another story!

Our opinion has now changed.  An impressive town, an impressive community spirit and excellent museums.

Friday 3rd October 2025 - Ariah Park

Quite a change in the weather last night with a bit of rain and quite a drop in temperature.  We even put up the 'long wall' for a bit of extra protection.

Friday, a few more Workshops (GPS Mapping, Best Water Filters) followed by an afternoon tea by the Ariah Park CWA and the Get Together's Closing Ceremony.  Next year's meet, Crows Nest in South East Queensland.  Jill even won the raffle, a B.E.S.T water filter.

Dinner Tonight at the Ariah Park Pub (a heritage-listed federation-style pub built in 1914).

Saturday, 4 October 2025 - Ariah Park towards home .....

Packed up and on our way to Sydney today.

One more museum in Temora before heading further east, the Railway Museum.  The museum is housed in the restored heritage-listed Temora Railway Station. Officially opened in 2016, the museum is housed in the original 1893 station buildings and showcases a comprehensive collection of railway memorabilia, photographs, and historical stories.  We were shown around by a retired fettler who obviously loved what he was doing and really did a great job of 'showing off' all that was on display.

Sydney for a few days at Damian and Sarah's, then on to Tamworth for Alex's 60th year High School reunion and then home.