North to Rocky for the Winter 2016

This trip took us northward up the New South Wales Coast, stopping at Nambucca Heads, Grafton, Ballina and then to the Gold Coast. We kept going north through Brisbane and on to the Sunshine Coast to our first objective, Hervey Bay.

After a week in Hervey Bay we continued north chasing the warmth to Bundaberg and then the Town of Seventeen Seventy (our favourite spot on the whole trip) and finally to Rockhampton and out to the coast just south of Yepoon.

On the way south we went inland free camping here and there before crossing the border back into NSW at Goondiwindi, then south through Moree and Coonabarabran, stopping with my daughter and family near Coolah for a few days before heading home.

Thursday 23 June 2016

We left Black Head a few days later than expected because of the East Coast Low that developed and brought bad weather to the whole of the east coast of Australia. A 200km drive today north past Kempsey and on to Nambucca Heads. There were lots of road works from Port Macquarie onward as they are duplicating the Pacific Highway. We pulled into the Foreshore Caravan Park and got a very pleasant site backing on to the river. Very nice to sit and watch the pelicans swimming past.

Monday 27 June 2016

It didn't take us long to pack up and depart the van park. Today we were heading north towards Grafton. There were a lot of roadworks as the new motorway was being built and the traffic was very heavy through Coffs Harbour. After two hours we arrived at the van park in Grafton. While it is only on the outskirts of the city, with no water or bush views, it is the best park we have stayed at, with large sites, shade trees and neat gardens. After lunch we drove in to town to do the necessary food shopping, and to also get a battery for the van remote control that operates the lights and the rear vision camera. We put up our new privacy screens and spent some time adjusting the guy ropes. It got cold very early, so indoors from 4pm onward.

Wednesday 29 June 2016

We had a couple of problems with the van, the first being a slight leak in the sink tap that had been dripping into the cutlery drawer, the second was a broken bracket on the awning mechanism. The drive through to Ballina was uneventful, although the traffic was quite heavy. At the caravan park we got a drive through site as we only staying the one night. Drove into town to the caravan service centre and got the support bracket replaced and then on to get some lunch. Then we took a walk along the breakwater - where there was a big swell coming in.

Thursday 30 June 2016

Very pleasant morning. Seemed to get everything packed up quickly. Drove to Brunswick Heads and sat around having a coffee and then walked around to the beach. Watched a pod of whales just off shore.

Got to Tallebudgera park on the Gold Coast just after lunch.

It's a BIG park, but not full. Nice site, but being school holidays there were lots of kids. Just the usual Gold Coast!

Took a walk along the path behind the park out to the ocean. The park organised a paella hut for the evening, so dinner was easy.

Monday 4 July 2016

Up early to pack up ready for the drive to the Sunshine Coast. The Gold Coast motorway was very busy and the motorway north of Brisbane was madness. After settling into the park at Mudjimba drove into Maroochydore for a look around. It has developed since our last visit.

Thursday 7 July 2016

Decided to take a drive into the hinterland. Drove through Nambour and on to Mapleton to look at some falls and do a short bush walk. Nice views back across to the coast. Wanted to stop at Kondalilla Falls, but the car park was full, so we had to continue on - a bit disappointing really. Stopped for a look at Lake Borumba before driving through Maleny, again no parking space, and on to Conondale and then Kenilworth for some lunch at the local bakery. We completed the loop via Eumundi back to the caravan park.

Monday 11 July 2016

Oddly enough, we had some light rain just as we were starting to pack up. Departed just before 10am on the road for Hervey Bay. Heavy traffic going through Gympie. Arrived at the van park around 12.30pm. Set up the van, had lunch (always late when travelling), did supermarket shopping, had a snooze and then walked along the beach. Beautiful warm evening.

It would appear that this area becomes a Victorian town over winter.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Decided to drive into Maryborough and do the historical town walk. Lovely to see many of the old buildings in such good order. We had lunch at the wharf café. It was quite good, excellent value and the right size helpings.

Afterwards we walked around the three main museums (Military, Portside and Bond Warehouse). In the evening we took a shortish walk along the beach.

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Took a drive down to the river heads and watched one of the barges come in from Fraser Island. Then back to Urunga and walked to the end of the nearly one kilometre long jetty.

Thursday 14 July 2016

Drove around to Burrum Heads. The caravan park was full and very tight. Walked along the footpath by the waters edge and stopped to watch some fisherman. Amazing how one can catch fish while the others get nothing. Had a coffee at the local bakery. Came over very cloudy, so it looks like the bad weather is back for a few days. Wind came up after we went to bed, so I got up and furled the awning. Got back to bed and remembered I hadn't closed the caravan boot. Back in bed and then I heard the cord on the awning slapping against the window... Bugger!

Friday 15 July 2016

We had missed visiting the old hardware store in Maryborough, so we drove back there to take a look. The hardware store ran for over 100 years by the one family and when the last member retired in 1972 at the age of 88, he walked out one evening, locked the door and never returned. It is now National Trust and is retained as it was. Some of the stock goes back to the 1880's. Well worth visiting as it brought back many childhood memories.

Sunday 17 July 2016

Still nasty weather with strong wind gusts and rain. Took a walk around the shopping centre up the hill and had a coffee and fruit cake. In the afternoon we drove round to Urunga marina to have a look. Certainly much larger than last time we were there. We also walked around the Chinese Garden.

Monday 18 July 2016

Sun started to come out as we were packing up. Everything outside (awning, privacy walls) still wet. Left around 9.45am. Just a two hour drive up to Bundaberg. We had booked into the Riverdale Caravan Park because it was the only place with space available. Wikicamps reviews had some very mixed comments. Yes, it is a bit run down (flooded 3 years ago) and lots of backpackers, but they are all separated from the caravans. A quiet park and close to the city. More supermarket shopping in the afternoon along with a visit to Bunnings to buy some wood and a saw - to cut stabiliser rests. Done! I put out the awning and privacy walls late in the afternoon for the first time in four days. After dark the view across the river was nice.

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Took a drive down the Elliott Heads and walked along the beach. The van park there looked nice, though full. From there we drove around to Burnett Head and the Port area.

Lots of cropping in the area. We saw sugar cane (obviously), sweet potato, zucchini, strawberries, as well as macadamia, mango and avocado plantations.

Wednesday 20 July 2016

We had yet another quiet morning and then after lunch took a walk across to the Botanical Gardens to look at a few museums. The walk took us past the railway museum, but unfortunately it was a closed day. (Perhaps we should have checked beforehand!) The garden was a very pleasant walk around the lakes, with a narrow gauge railway that operates on the weekend. We soon came to the local museum and spent a while looking round it. A little further on we arrived at the Hinkler Museum and spent more time walking around the exhibits. We stopped for coffee at the adjacent shop and spoke to a Melbourne lady with two golden retrievers who had just seen a snake eating a frog on the path. Di and I had just been questioning if snakes hibernated here during the winter.

Monday 25 July 2016

Got packed up early, although the awning and sides still had dew on them. It was a short drive to the Town of Seventeen Seventy (1770). What a great name for a small town. It used to be known as Round Hill, but was changed in remembrance of Captain Cook who landed there in May 1770 - only the second place he had landed on his cruise north along the east coast.

We took a walk from the van park to the ocean beach. Beautiful sandy beach. Later in the afternoon we drove through the township area and up to Round Hill. This really is a lovely area.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Today we booked for the LARC tour to Bustard Head lighthouse. A LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo) is a "duck". That is, it is a boat / car / 4WD that weighs 5 tonne, has tyres of over six foot diameter, has a 3 foot diameter propeller for use when floating, holds 32 people and has a 300hp diesel engine.

Saturday 30 July 2016

Up early as booked into Seventeen Seventy Golf Club competition. After being introduced my playing partners, I discovered that one of them lives two hundred metres from us and we have mutual friends. Got closest to the pin on one of the par threes.

In the evening we drove down to the beach to watch the sun go down across the water. Absolutely beautiful.

Monday 1 August 2016

Packed up and left by 9.30am. Today's drive of just under 300km takes us back on to the Bruce Highway past Gladstone and into Rockhampton and then on to Kinka Beach and Coolwaters Holiday Park (a few kilometres south of Yepoon). Once settled in we drove into Yeppoon for some grocery shopping and also to buy a new TV for the caravan as the old one had died. Set up and working well.

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Drove down to have a look at Emu Park. Walked around the main street and up to the war memorial. Very nicely done. There is also a monument to Captain Cook called the Singing Ship, that makes a sound when the wind blows through it. Bought some coffee and cakes and sat in the park while we ate them. Great views of the coast and islands.

Thursday 4 August 2016

Opted for a trip to Rockhampton. First stop was the information centre - placed right on the Tropic of Capricorn. Walked along the river front looking at the heritage listed buildings.

Then to the FLOW centre to take a look at the management of the Fitzroy River and catchment. As we were in the middle of town a visit to a cheap shop and Rivers was called for.

Then we drove out to the botanical gardens and had a great lunch - burger and steak sandwich, after which our walk was curtailed because of mozzies.

Friday 5 August 2016

Took a walk out on to the beach and along to as far we could towards the causeway. Found lots of mozzies walking back through the bush to the road. Later in the afternoon drove down Emu Park to get some stuff for the mozzie bites.

Saturday 6 August 2016

Did the Bluff walk in the morning. Really nice views around Rosslyn.

Tuesday 9 August 2016

Did a short walk up to the top of Double Head at Rosslyn Bay. Interesting geology and great views. Later in the afternoon I threw a line in at the estuary - with the expected result.

Census night - but could not login to the site. Will leave until tomorrow.

Wednesday 10 August 2016

Up early to catch the boat out to Great Keppel Island.

GKI, back in the 1970's was THE place to get wrecked. Everytime we tried to book in there it was full. Sadly times change and the resort here declined and evenually closed. It was fenced off on this visit.

PS. we have heard that it's been sold and will be redeveloped.

Friday 12 August 2016

We had so enjoyed our trip to Great Keepel Island that we decided to have another day there - this time to do some walking.

Once we left the ferry we headed up to the Hideaway for coffee. I was surprised by the number of people there.

From there we walked along past the airstrip up over the hill and down on to Long Beach.

At Long Beach, named after it's major feature, had no one on it, so we stopped for lunch there and had a swim.

After a short rest we had to start our way back to the main beach to catch the ferry. We walked the length of the beach and we climbed over into Monkey Beach. After walking to the other end of Monkey Beach we started the big climb - up and over and then down into the main beach.

A little time for shopping and drink and then back on to the ferry. Very pleasant day.

Tuesday 16 August 2016

Very pleasant morning as we packed up. Today was a 175km drive through Dululu, Banana and on to Theodore.

Arriving at the show-grounds we found a good spot to stop. We even had power. After lunch we drove into the town and down to the river via the Junction camp-ground. This camp ground is supposed to be a 24/48hour stopover, but many stay there the whole winter, stopping any transients camping there. I guess the town enjoys the money they bring in.

Friday 19 August 2016

As we had not unhooked last night we had a leisurely pack up and started the 200 kilometre drive to Goondiwindi. The road was very bumpy and for several sections of many kilometres the speed had to be held back. We got a message from John and Robyn saying that they were staying in Goondiwindi and that we should meet for coffee in the afternoon. After we set up at the park we met them at the botanical gardens for a walk and then back into town for coffee. We had yet another quiet evening.