2016 Queensland Trip - Hurdle Gully Lookout

Day 17 Tuesday

We left our lovely caravan site at 1770 and headed for Gladstone where we wanted to find a Chemist to get some scripts filled.  This exercise proved more difficult but we again got our Navman onto the job and arrived at the Stockland Shopping Centre, but then of course had to find a park suitable for the van.  We did eventually find a park down the road from the shopping centre so left the van there and got some exercise by walking the few hundred metres to the centre, lucky it was a nice day and the walk was good for us.  I had a quick look around the shops while Ron got the scripts filled and then, guess what,  we had a nice cold milkshake at a cafe before heading back to the caravan.

On the road to Gladstone, Queensland

We headed off  to Calliope, fuel $129.9/ltr.  We then set off again and started to look for an overnight spot to camp for the night.  We found a good rest area called Hurdle Gully, it wasn't the one we had been looking for in our Camps Book, but we didn't want to keep going so decided to stay at Hurdle Gully.  When we first pulled in I was happy to find a couple of other vans there so that made me feel much better as I don't like camping in isolated areas if nobody else is there, I guess it's safety in numbers, but it doesn't worry Ron, just me!! He is happy to keep going if I don't want to stay.

Hurdle Gully Lookout

Day 18 - Wednesday


Overnight stop at Hurdle Gully

We left our overnight stop and headed into Monto but we were a bit early and no shops were open so we continued on to Eidsvold and fuelled up again at $1.259 cpl.  We then drove on to Mundubbera, another nice little town so we stopped for another milkshake, I'm trying to keep up my calcium levels!  Its quite hot now, around 30C, so hot coffee isn't so appealing.
We drove around this little town as a friend used to live here as a child so we tried to find the church his father preached at, and at last we found it but it was being used as a community craft centre.  We continued on and just out of Gayndah a stone flew up and chipped our windscreen but we were able to keep going as its only a small chip at this stage.  The next town was Wondai and we noticed a huge Second Hand store right in the middle of town so decided to stop as Ron is always interested in finding blacksmith's tools, but his luck was out, although we had a good chat to the owner who said that blacksmith tools were getting hard to find. 
Our next stop was Kingaroy so we stopped to do some grocery shopping and then found the camping ground at the Showgrounds for $25 per night which was good and very quiet with quite a few other caravans.

Kingaroy Showgrounds camping area

The Big Bucket at Nanengo

Day 19 - Thursday
We had a good night's sleep in the Kingaroy Showground camping area & we  headed off after driving around the town to find some of the famous Kingaroy peanuts, but unfortunately peanuts are now not grown much in the area, but we did find a Peanut Van so purchased a few packets.  Just out of Kingaroy was the little town of Nanango where we stopped to look at the Big Bucket, there was another Peanut Van there so we bought a few more packets for snacks on the way.
 Ron sent a message to his youngest brother who was apparently heading to Beaudesert for a motorbike rally. Our friends who live on the Gold Coast had recommended that we stay in the caravan park at Beaudesert so we were hoping we might catch up with Rod & Alison.
Our next stop was at the little town of Toogoolawah where we bought some meat at the Butcher, its always good to get country meat, then of course we found a coffee shop, then headed off to Beaudesert.  We arrived at the caravan park just as Rod was booking in at the office so once we were all booked in we caught up with them and had a few drinks.

Mundubbera

2016 Queensland Trip - Tin Can Bay to 1770

Yesterday we drove from Eumundi to Tin Can Bay.  On the way to Tin Can Bay we stopped at Gympie to look at the free camping area which looked very good, but there were already a few vans there and it would have been a tight squeeze to fit our van in, so we decided to keep going.
We arrived at Tin Can Bay and drove around to see what was there, we were surprised to find a couple of caravan parks but they weren't right on the beach as we had hoped.  Anyway, we settled for a small park with all the facilities we needed for a few days and at $30/night we were happy.  We got set up after a quick walk around the park and settled on an end site which gave us a bit more room but it was near the road but it was not a busy road and Tin Can Bay is a sleepy little place tucked away from the main highway.  We had the Marina opposite us and at the front of the caravan park and over the road was the ocean, so we could do a great little walk to both areas.



Tin Can Bay

DAY 12 - THURSDAY
We headed off to see some of the beaches around Tin Can Bay.  Our first stop was at Rainbow Beach, a lovely little touristy place, a few beachwear shops, souvenirs and cafes, something for everyone!  We had a walk around  and then headed to Inskip Point where the Car Ferry leaves for Fraser Island.  The Ferry was just arriving as we walked onto the beach so we stayed and watched the 4wd's coming off aas well as a caravan which managed to get bogged in the sand!  Some drivers just shouldn't tow caravans!  Someone eventually came along and got him mobile again.

Inskip Point

Inskip Point

Car Ferry at Inskip Point

Unloading the vehicles at Inskip Point

Beautiful beach at Inskip Point

DAY 13 FRIDAY
We woke to a rainy morning and decided to pack up and head further north.  We never plan ahead too much and make our minds up as we go, depending on the weather and also how we feel but we are always keen to get on the road and see some new places.
We left beautiful Tin Can Bay and headed towards Maryorough and then on to Childers where we stopped to buy a few groceries.  On the walk back from the supermarket we came across a tiny little ice cream shop and couldn't resist trying them.  What a surprise, the icecreams were huge and so delicious, probaably the best we have ever had, and we do love ice cream.

Ice cream shop at Childers

Woodgate Beach opposite our caravan park

Woodgate Beach

Woodgate Beach

DAY 14 - SATURDAY
We left Serenity Bay caravan park at Woodgate Beach and headed off again.  Our stay at Woodgate Beach was only for a night and in hindsight we should have stayed longer but the site we were allocated was right beside a refrigeration unit which went on and off all night which was not good for sleeping.  The other parts of the caravan park were lovely with shady trees and grassed areas but it was full and we hadn't booked ahead so we have to take what is available, that is the downside of not planning ahead!  We did enjoy a couple of walks along the beach and the caraavan park had a nice coffee shop with lovely views of the beach so we were happy with our stay there, so on the road again to another little beachside town called Seventen Seventy.  The town of 1770 is the older part and the new area is called Agnes Waters.  We drove through Bundaberg, well not through it as our Navman took us through the back roads and finally out of the main part of town and onto the highway to 1770.  We arrived at Agnes Waters around 12 noon, found the Info Centre and then had a look at the many caravan parks both in Agnes Waers and 17770.  Some were very full and others were a long way out of town, so we decided to settle for Captain Cook Village CP at 1770.   This one was a short drive from the beach from the caravan park on a track only available to the caravan park.
Our site was on the edge of the forest and we loved the spot withl ots of shade as well as a cement slab for the awning.

The town of 1770 was built on the site of the second landing of Capt. James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour.


1770

1770

A late afternoon walk on the beach

DAY 15 & 16

Sunday had a lazy day, enjoying sitting around and relaxing.  On Monday we decided we would stay another day, so booked that and then drove to the Paper Bark Forest and went for a nice walk, bought some supplies from the supermarket and a couple of souvenirs for the grandchildren.


1770 was the site of the second landing of Capt. James Cook in 1770.

Coastline at 1770



1770

Camping spots -Qld trip -Beerwah 2016

Day 8 - Sunday
We eft Mullumbimby Showgrounds, the weather was cool and it looked like we might get some rain. We set our Navman to get us to Beerwah and hopefully on the shortest route via the Tollway.  Not loong on the road and Ron decided that Navman was taking us the wrong way so we ended up trying to get ourselves on the right roads, which of course was a disaster when you have a van on behind and have no idea where the roads go.  Eventually we got onto the Motorway and found our way to Beerwah Sportsground where we were going to stay for a few nights.  The Sportsground was quite good for a few nights, not particularly pretty where we were parked on some old bitumen but it was level and we didn't have to worry about overhanging trees and it was a good price.

Not sure if this is the tunnel we should be going through - can't turn back now!

Over the bridge 

 

 

Finally got to Beerwah Sportsground

Beerwah is a great little town and has all the facilities needed including Aldi.

Day 9 - Monday

We set off this morning to meet Kirsten, Michael and grandchildren at Australia Zoo. The Zoo is much larger than I was expecting, and we had a great day with the family.  The weather was perfect and there was so much to see.  It was very well organised and lots of information about feeding times etc and special events which were great. 

 Dy 10 - Tuesday

Today we left the van at Beerwah and headed off
to Maleny & Montville.  We walked around these lovely little towns, stopped for coffees and gelati - a good day out!  On way back to Beerwah we stopped at a lookout to view the Glass House mountains.

Near Montville

Views from near Monville



Lovely lunch at Montville


DAY 11 - WEDNESDAY

We left Beerwah this morning and headed to Eumundi to meet up with our daughter as Eumundi have great open air markets and we have heard they are really good.  We arrived there about 9 am and were absolutely amazed at how huge they were and how many people there were, roads blocked off, huge parking areas and masses of people everywhere. Now we have a problem - how are we ever going to find our daughter & family?  I rang her but it is so crowded and there seemed to be no landmarks to meet at, just heaps of stalls, so we said we would just look around on our own and see what happens, might be lucky and find each other.  Before long it started to rain, so we had to find some shelter, along with everyone else!  I rang Kirsten again & she said they were having coffee at a little shop in amongst all the stalls and as it turned out, it was right near where we were standing and I managed to see the grandchildren first, so we all had coffee together.  Ron was not feeling like walking around so we left him and we took the children and had a nice little walk around looking at the great handicrafts and lots of clothes which were quite different to our shops down "south".  Then back to the coffee shop to find Ron and to have some lunch before we parted company and we travelled north on our trip.

 

 



One of the many parking areas at Eumundi