Category Archives: Queensland

Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, Qld

Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, QLD, Queensland, Trips, , ,

Staying at Hervey Bay was a special experience for me. When I was a child my family had camping holidays here in the 1960s. I have memories of going onto the rocks with an empty glass milk bottle and a knife, collecting oysters. Each time the bottle was full my brother and sisters and I would take it back to the tent where our dad would pretend to drink them and then carry on about them wriggling in his tummy. He loved oysters but it turned me off them all my life until this trip when I made myself try some fresh oysters and discovered how fabulous they are.

sunrise at PialbaBeach

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Maleny, Qld

Maleny, QLD, Queensland, Trips

After Stradbroke Island we returned to Brisbane to have the crown put on my tooth. Then headed to Maleny, in the Blackall Ranges, to catch up with friends who moved there one week ago. They looked remarkably calm considering, or perhaps they were just exhausted. However they graciously gave us a whole day out of their unpacking schedual. The views from their balcony out to the coast line are magnificent. The town of Maleny is lovely and the Maleny Show Ground is fabulous for camping. Its beside the Obi Obi creek, has power, water, clean showers and toilets and is walking distance to town.

We will be staying at Harvey Bay for the next week.

Cheers for now

Helen and Tim

 

 

North Stradbroke Island, QLD

North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Queensland, Trips, , , , , , , ,

We have just spent six beautiful days on Stradbroke Island. I think I could live here permanently. The ferry leaves from Cleveland and arrives on the island in under an hour. The caravan park at Home Beach was quiet and right on the water. A short walk along Home Beach to the west is Flinders Beach, and to the east Cylinder beach which is patrolled and great for boogie boarding. Half way to Cylinder Beach is a Hotel with fabulous beach views, which makes a lovely evening walk. In one particular spot along Home Beach there are a lot of dead trees on the sand, not sure why.

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Brisbane

Brisbane, QLD, Queensland, The Big Lap, Trips,

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

New England Highway, Qld to NSW

Brisbane, QLD, New South Wales, Queensland, Trips, , , , ,

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

1779842_10202005968603061_1383276333_n[1]The BIG APPLE, near Stanthorpe, Qld

golden guitar tamworthTamworth Golden Guitar

 

Tim Roper's photo.Girraween National Park

Brisbane, Qld

Brisbane, QLD, New South Wales, Queensland, Trips, ,

Road trip number two. Our first big trip. Heading for Brisbane. The first night we stopped at Narrandera Show Grounds NSW. The secound night at Narabri Show Grounds NSW. Temperatures have been around 43o during the day, a real test for the van and us. Show grounds are great to stop at over night. Price is low, they have power and water, and lots of space so can leave the van hitched to the car. Arrived in Brisbane on the 5th Feb to catch up with family and friends. I have missed them all and the tropics. IMG_3764 IMG_3765 IMG_3766 IMG_3684