Denise and Barry's Caravan Travels: 2019

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Gulargonbone -West Wyalong - Cobram

We had lovely weather at Moree every day was in the very high 20’s, as we travel further south I am sure it will not be as warm. Our next stop was Gulargambone a small country town that needs support, many of the shops and businesses are closed and the local community are trying very hard to brighten up the township to attract the travellers so the town will remain viable. Bernadette and Dave that own the local caravan park are great hosts with their happy hour each evening, with damper made in the camp oven. They also put on a roast Wednesday and Sunday nights for $12 a head, profits going to the Royal Flying Doctors, this winter season raising nearly $14,000, well done Bernadette and Dave. We had planned to stop for one night ended up staying for two, changing our plans once again so we could stay for the roast night and for a day trip out to the Warrumbungle National Park and the Siding Spring Observatory, Australia's largest optical telescope. The Observatory is located on the edge of the Warrumbungle National Park around 70 klms from Gulargambone. Some areas of the Siding Spring has restricted access to the public as it is an operational research facility. We were able to go up four floors to the top viewing platform in the Observatory where we could observe the giant telescope. I cheated by taking the lift, Baz is a little wary of lifts so he took the stairs, he was still complaining two days later of having sore legs.

Leaving the Siding Spring and the spectacular scenery of the National Park with its rugged peaks, we decided to explore a little further afield and ended up at Tooraweenah a tiny rural village where we had lunch at the pub, enjoying a lovely gourmet pizza before returning to Gulargambone.

Travelling a little under 400 klms from Gulargonbone to West Wyalong we only needed somewhere to stop for the night so ended up at the showgrounds, $20 for power and water with very new amenities.

On the road again the next day we were headed to Cobram, one of our regular stop over places along the Murray. Cobram is only about 3 hours from Melbourne so we can travel into Melbourne to catch the boat from there on Sunday. Today we went back over the Murray River to Tocumal market and also met up with Bridget and Don for morning tea at the Bushlands on the Murray Cafe. This weekend is very busy everywhere along the Murray as it is a Victorian long weekend also school holidays and of course it is also the AFL Grand Final weekend. We returned to the Willows Caravan Park in Cobram to spend the afternoon in the camp kitchen with fellow travellers to watch the Grand Final, a very one sided game with Richmond winning over GWS by 89 points.

Tomorrow brings the end of nearly 5 months away from home, we are so lucky that we are able to do what we do, spending Tassie Winters in the warmer states. We are already planning and looking forward to next May when we will again travel to the Big Island for more adventures.

Bullock Team at Gulargonbone

Baz looking a litte Rustic

Wheat Silo Gulargonbone

Siding Spring Observatory

At least it's not a broom stick

Telescope in the Observatory

Warrumbungle National Park

Selfie

Tooraweenah Pub

Burrum Heads, Kilkivan, Dalby and Moree

Finally heading south after four and half months, not sure we are ready to go home, but missing the Bilton family heaps and it will be lovely to catch up with family and friends. Will need to do a little maintenance on the van once we are home as the hot water cylinder is cactus. It decided it would start leaking again just before we left Bargara, was going to have it looked at on the way down but have decided to wait until we get home. It only leaks if we hook up to mains water so have just been filling the water tanks and using the water from them and not turning on the hot water. Only replaced the cylinder three years ago, first one lasted five years and this one was supposed to be the improved model! Not happy!

We spent our first night on the road back at Burrum Heads, this time staying at the Adventure Park 10klms out of Burrum. It is located on the Burrum River and the camp ground is alongside a fresh water lake which is a catch and release. Our main reason for going back to Burrum was to buy another folding mountain bike the same as Barry's and to also catch up with Tina and Geoff that came out from Hervey Bay to meet us for lunch. Tina and Geoff had planned to be at Agnes Waters the same time as us but due to Geoff ending up in the Bundaberg hospital for a few days we missed them in transit.

Leaving the coast and heading inland and south, our next stop was Kilkivan Bush Camp a natural camp ground with an abundance of birdlife. Poor old Baz had to make a hasty dash inside the van as he wasn't keen to share his breakfast with a pesky, cheeky parrot, not only did it try to steal his muffin it also left it's calling card on his shorts. Since we were last at Kilkivan they have installed a swimming pool that I made good use of as it was a very hot 30 deg afternoon. Baz was even going to get in until he felt the water only managed to the bottom of his short legs, what a piker!

Leaving Kilkivan we travelled 200 klms to Dalby a rural town in the Darling Downs, the caravan park is situated close to the town centre, after a little rest we enjoyed a pleasant walk up to the shopping centre for a few supplies. The Caravan park and surrounding areas are a little dusty due to the water restrictions in place due to the drought. The surrounding countryside is certainly drought-ravished with baron paddocks causing many landowners severe hardship some have missed three crops in a row, that is three years with no income.

After a one night stop over at Dalby we travelled down through Goondiwindi, again lack of cotton crops due to the drought. Not only does this effect the farmers it also goes down the line to pickers/workers, truck drivers, accommodation and retail business in the towns. No money from crops no money to spend in the towns, many a retail business is finding it hard to keep going.

Our next stop was Moree, we love going to the Gwydir Carapark with their thermal pools. We booked in for four nights ended up staying for five. Even here at Moree the caravan park which is usually lush and green was dry and some sites had lost all their grass and were very sandy. Hopefully they will get a decent rainfall soon. We would go to the pools morning and late afternoon for a leisurely soak in the artesian water that is sourced from 750 meters underground,

Catch up with Tina and Geoff at Burrum Heads

Adventure Park Burrum Heads

Birdlife Kilkivan

Patriotic House Moree

Friday, September 20, 2019

Agnes Waters and Tannum Sands

We left Bargara after spending six weeks there and we are already looking forward to next year. Our next stop was Agnes Waters, which is located halfway between Bundaberg and Tannum Sands Gladstone. It makes a great meeting place to catch up with our QLD family while we are at Bargara and for them to come and visit while we are there for our week. The caravan Park at Agnes is ideally located right on the beach and walking distance to the township and eateries.

Our neighbours from home Sue and Mike are at Agnes the same time as us, we enjoyed time on the beach swimming and body boarding along with the relaxing happy hours never lost for something to talk about. We introduced them to the game of Sequence, Sue and I made a good team thrashing the boys both evenings that we played. Agnes is another great place for riding the bikes with a good bike/walking track out to 1770 which just happens to pass the Marina at 1770 where you can get the most wicked vanilla slices. Looks like Baz and I will be a little rounder when we get back. Our time there went much too fast and now only leaves us three weeks before we need to be back in Melbourne to catch the Spirt back home to Tassie. How lucky are we that we get to spend our winters in QLD every year, looks like poor old Tassie had a cold miserable winter this year, glad to have missed it.

Finally made it back to Jason’s at Tannum Sands, here for five nights before we head south. Always lovely to spend time with them as Liv and Archie are growing up so very fast. They now have a dog which is called Thor, Thor is a Groodle (Golden Retriever/Poodle) now only three month old. A very big puppy for three months, thinking he will grow to be a very BIG dog. While we were there it was maintenance time with a car service, hair cut and colour also a massage, I think she may have been a little rough with the massage as I had a very sore back for a week after!! Our last day at Tannum was Sunday with time spent down by the river with Jason having a dive while Archie tried his hand at fishing. Next is was up to Canoe Point which is a lovely family park with barbecues and room to play only trouble was wood barbecues,, and there was a total fire band. It was back home to get the gas cookers to do our egg and bacon rolls. Lucky I took my little butane burner up as Jason’s was out of gas! (How unusual) Finally lunch was cooked, then off down to the beach for Archie to try out his early birthday presents that we gave him, a foamie surfboard and cricket set. It was a lovely way to spend a family day, later that evening Jase and Neat went off to the pictures to use their Gold Class tickets while they had babysitters.

Agnes Water Beach

Enjoying the sun and surf with Sue and Mike

Liv and Archie with Thor

Just a big Teddy Bear

Disco night at school Archie won a voucher
for best dancer

Lake Redbrook, Tannum Sands and Bargara

How slack am I this year! It has been quiet a few weeks since I have updated our blog, thought it was about time I did something about it, so here goes.
We spent a lovely four nights at Lake Redbrook Holiday Retreat that is situated in an idyllic cane farm setting, just north of Childers. We enjoyed a wonderful peaceful time there soaking up the atmosphere around the lake, beautiful walks, lots of animals and bird life. Happy Hour around the campfire with Gazza supplying yummy eats. We made the most of having a relaxing time there as our next port of call was Tannum Sands where family make the most of having us there, looking after grandkids, cooking and helping out around the house.

A phone call from Tannum “ will you be available Friday to do school drop off and pick up?” We hadn’t planned to get there until Friday, so we said ok we will arrived Thursday. Driving up The Bruce Hwy on the Thursday another phone call “what time are you arriving? Can you do school pick up?” Yes, will need a map of the school so we can find the classroom! Not only was it pick up but also had to have Archie at swimming lessons 30 minutes drive away, so it was all go straight up as soon as we arrived. Things didn’t get much better over the next couple of weeks a very busy life is led by our Queensland family.

Leaving Tannum Sands we back tracked south to Burrum Heads where we have a regular booking for three weeks. It was so nice to be settled there with our friends Maree and Brian, this year we were missing Christina and Eddie who stayed home in Tassie for family reasons. Hopefully all our group will be back on deck next year. We get asked what do you find to do when you spend time in one place, it is really not hard to do nothing! Burrum Heads is 30 minutes north of Hervey Bay so when you need a little retail therapy it is not too far to go into Hervey Bay or down to Maryborough. We find the time flies by each day by the time you have a chat to others in the park, go for a walk I also do quiet a bit of reading, thank goodness I have joined the library and download books to read as it was costing me a fortune buying them through Amazon.

Our next stop Bargara Beach for six weeks, we have now been here for five weeks and on count down now to the time to move on next week, where has that time gone?.There is always something happening around the park sometimes it gets a little hectic as we now know quiet a few regulars, also we have friends that stop in at the park to catch up as they travel north or south. The great thing about Bargara is the beautiful coastal track for walking or riding the bikes we find that we hardly use the Pajero while we are here as the township and supermarkets are all within walking or riding distance. The water temperature has been around the 20 degree mark so have enjoyed a number of swims unfortunately haven’t been able to get the old Baz in this year. We have managed to get in a few games of bowls since being here, was getting a little disappointed as always seemed to loose our games in the last end, finally had a win last week winning by just one shot.

While at Bargara we travelled down to Brisbane by train with our friends Cheryl and Greg to see the Fleetwood Mac concert, loved the concert, was a little worried when Mick Fleetwood was doing his drum solo that he maybe overdoing it a bit! We stayed at the Spire Residence which had this amazing infinity pool on the rooftop, made your bits tingle looking out at the view below. We also went to the Eat Street Markets a bustling market scene and was amazed how the stalls are fitted into old shipping containers, there is something for everyone with the 180 dining and entertainment stalls. Too many choices, luckily we were told to go there hungry.