We have had a wonderful eight weeks in Brisbane catching up with family and friends.
Category Archives: Brisbane, QLD
Homeward Bound – Brisbane to Melbourne
Having said our sad farewells to family and friends in Brisbane we headed south. (Friends now also include the lovely Dr Lawrence Lee and all his wonderful staff who we got to know very well over the 5 months. If you have a detached retina go see him, he is fantastic.)
The first night we stopped at a free camp, ‘Beardy Creek Rest Area’ near Yarrowford, NSW. Wind so strong the trees were horizontal, thunder so loud it shook the van, lightning like the midday sun, and hail like snow.
Emerald, Monto, Maleny and Brisbane, Qld
After leaving Longreach we travelled east along the ‘Capricorn Way’ stopping at the very small town of Jericho for lunch. Cattle along the highway were a constant worry.
On the Road Again
We are on the road again!
Summary thus far.
Left Melbourne boxing day 2014.
Travelled north, following HIghway One along the east coast until reaching Cape Tribulation at the end of May.
Headed back to Cairns via Port Douglas to get on the bitumen road to Cook Town (there is a dirt road from Cape Tribulation to Cooktown, but our van is too low for creek crossings)
Brisbane
Hello, I am typing this while on the ferry heading for Stradbroke Island for five days.
We have just spent two fabulous weeks in Brisbane catching up with our wonderful family and friends. My sister took me on a shoppathon which was lots of fun, we just needed a foot massage by the end of it. Tim spent a few days either under the van or on the roof, not just to get out of shopping, but to fix the fridge which has proved unreliable at times. I will leave that to him to write about, quite an adventure in detective work. And yes, he and our brother-in-law Mike got to drill more holes in the van. I got to the dentist and will return on our way back from Stradbroke Island to have a crown put on. A big thank you to my sister and brother-in-law and nephew for having us stay with them and park our van in their carport.
We don’t have any photos to show you as we didnt take any touristy pics.
The ferry is ready to dock so I will sign off for now and post all about our island adventure soon.
cheers
Helen and TIm
Howlong, NSW
From the Warrumbungle National Park we headed home to Melbourne. Stopped at Oberon Caravan Park NSW, for a couple of nights. Then two nights at Howlong Lions Rest Area, right beside the mighty Murray. A nice spot, free camping so no power or water. The only thing I had not tested in the van was the gas oven, so I made a cake.
Siding Spring Observatory, NSW
None of the telescopes were damaged to any extent during the 2013 wild fires but all staff were evacuated from the area and some outbuildings were lost.
Warrumbungle National Park, NSW
The Warrumbungle National Park, ‘Blackman Camp No.2’. We had the place to ourselves which was fantastic. There is an amenities block, well designated camping areas, no water or power but that’s no problem, great internet and phone coverage due to the close proximity of Siding Spring Observatory.
2013 wildfires followed a few weeks later by devastating floods changed the landscape of this magnificent place but could not take away the magic and beauty of the Warrumbungle’s.
New England Highway, Qld to NSW
We left Noosa and headed south, travelling through the Granit Belt. The first night we stopped at a free camp on the side of the road called Heifer Creek Rest Area, Qld, very nice grassy spot, not too close to the road and a few other campers around. The next night was raining and as it was getting dark we pulled into a spot called ‘Mother of Ducks Lagoon’ in Guyra, NSW. We bought apples and pies at Vincenzo’s Big Apple, visited the Golden Guitar at Tamworth, but the highlight was stopping at Girraween National Park and swimming in the river along with lots of little tortoises, such a relief to escape the heat in this magical place.
Heifer Creek Rest Area
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The BIG APPLE, near Stanthorpe, Qld
Tamworth Golden Guitar
Girraween National Park
Noosa, Qld
We headed from Brisbane to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast to catch up with friends and enjoy some sun and surf.
THe long paddock 