Burrum Heads

What a busy time we have had since arriving here at Burrum Heads. We have been here a week tomorrow and the time has just flown. Burrum Heads is 32 klms north of Hervey Bay and is a quiet little seaside town unlike Hervey Bay that is developing along the lines of the Gold Coast all hustle and bustle! Since being here in the Beachfront Tourist Park we have had Christmas in July a very enjoyable night that regular park patrons organised each year, they bring in caters even Father Christmas and his Elf. I have even attended an exercise morning, thinking I was meeting up with the ladies to go walking only to find myself in an hour class which was a walking  work out over four miles! We have also been up to the local bowls club for a couple of games of bowls, just checking to see if those new bowls that I had to buy still perform. Last Saturday we went to a market at Howard 23 klms away near the Bruce Hwy, it was a very large market with lovely fresh fruit and vegetables also plenty of craft. Monday we had a trip into Hervey Bay which required a stop at Dan Murphy's as we needed to stock up on our liquid refreshments. The esplanade is very busy with all it's accommodation, eateries and tourist shops, all that much worse due to the school holidays. Today we headed south to Maryborough to check out the street market where once again there was plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to be had.

On arrival here we thought the caravan park to be small and pokey and it was very tight to get into our site, but it has grown on us as we are only three caravans back from the waterfront where many hopefuls spend time trying to catch that elusive fish.  It is quiet relaxing to take your chair down to the waterfront and just sit and watch the Pelicans and fisherman doing their thing. Our friends Maree and Brian are also here along with their friends Christina and Eddie which means we have been enjoying a good fun Happy Hour with plenty of laughs. We are also regular customers at the Bakery that is only two minutes along from the park, morning coffee and cakes. We are also spoilt with a butcher and Foodworks right on our door.

Yesterday we had a visit from Barb and Stan our neighbours from back home, they are currently staying ar Hervey Bay and had spent time here eleven years ago and were surprised at the changes.

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

Hervey Bay

Burrum Heads

Burrum Heads

Wuruma Dam

Wednesday found us at Wuruma Dam after leaving the bumpy gut shaking Burnett Hwy, to travel along a developmental road which was a more even surface.The road would change from double lane to single lane and occasionally we would need to pull over to let an oncoming vehicle pass us, hoping they would stay on the sealed surface but no they all had to go flat chat with one wheel in the gravel even though we had pulled right off. The last kilometer was a good gravel road leading into the campsites that were right down beside the dam. We were lucky that a motor home had left that morning and we were able to get a good foreshore site, with great views of the dam and the entertaining wildlife.

We had a great two days there enjoying the beautiful weather and the appreciating the serenity of the area. It was lovely to lay in bed looking out onto the dam watching the ducks ducking and diving, the pelicans gliding on the water, such majestic birds. Cattle were grazing around the foreshore of the lake and would sometime wonder amoungst the vans.  We were able to put our new fire pot to good use as there was plenty of fire wood to be gathered close by. We learned that our next door neighbours had come in for two nights and were still there a fortnight later. Wuruma Dam is one of those places that once you get there you do not want to leave. We would have loved to stayed longer but had a booking at Burrum Heads so needed to head off this morning. Before we left we gave the neighbours 30litres of water and our remaining bread so they are able to stay on for a few more days.

View looking to the right from the caravan

View looking to the left from the caravan

Our Campsite at Wuruma Dam

Visiting Kookaburra's

Baz enjoying the vista from our campsite

Duaringa - Cania Gorge

Sunday it was another sunny clear day as we headed back out to Clermont, after our four night stop at Theresa Creek Dam. We are heading south east, which means we will be back under the Tropic of Capricorn and the weather will be slightly cooler. It was a fairly uneventful drive south back to Emerald and then southeast on the Capricorn Hwy then stopping mid afternoon at Duaringa at a free camp that the local council has provided for RV travellers.  We decided to set up for the night around the back of the camp area alongside a park and a lovely grassy spot near some Paper Bark Gum Trees. Sometime later I was reading in the Wiki Camps app that it is not wise to camp near the Paper Bark Gum Trees as your car and van will get cover in Bat droppings, oh well will just have to clean it off if that happens.  Later that evening we were startled with a splattering noise on the caravan, thinking that the Bats must have all let go at once and doused our van in dung! Baz went out to investigate only to find out that the sprinkler system had activated and was spraying along the side of the van. Checking the trees the next morning we realised that the council had trimmed the tops which has meant the Bats have relocated elsewhere.

The last couple of days we have been in at Cania Gorge and staying at the Top Tourist Caravan Park so we can catch up with the washing and cleaning. Looking forward to being able to wash the car and caravan at some stage as both are looking very dusty.  The caravan park is relatively busy as it is now school holidays and there are quiet a few camper trailers with young familys who come here to enjoy the wildlife, walking tracks and the relaxed bush camping experience. Today Baz and I thought we would do the 20 minute walk to view Big Foot, returning 2 hours later after deciding to take on one of the longer walks, of course we did not go prepared with water. The days here have been in the low 20’s but the nights drop very low to 1 or 2 degrees.

 We have been cursing that we had not packed our fire pot which Baz had made out of a 9kg gas bottle, as we have been to many camping spots where we could have used it. We had decided when we get home Baz would make another one out of a 4kg gas bottle as it would be much smaller to find a home for, we had seen a couple of designs that would be ideal for our use.  Lucky for Baz when going to the kiosk at Cania Gorge Caravan Park for our ice cream, they had exactly what we wanted, so it ended up being a very expensive ice cream treat. Of course we had to try it out, works very well!

Cania Dam

Big Foot Cania Gorge

Baz out for some exercise

Baz enjoying his new fire pot 

Families playing chess at Cania Gorge Caravan Park

Injune-Springsure-Theresa Creek Dam

Sunday was our last day at Mitchell, which found us getting down in battery power after three days spent in a relatively shady spot. We ran the generator for a few hours on Saturday which gave the battery some kick, but I watched a few hours of TV that night and undid all the good work! We decided the best thing for us was to pack up and move to an open spot so the solar panels could do their job.

Once our relatively quick move was completed we went for our daily soak at the thermal pool spending the rest of the day doing R and R at the caravan, before returning to the thermal pool for our last visit.

We then proceeded to the Coach House Hotel for their Sunday night roast, $20 for a three course meal of home made veggie soup, roast pork and lemon meringue pie.it was a very enjoyable meal all that much better because I didn't have to cook it!

Monday found us on the road again heading further north to Theresa Creek Dam. We passed through Emerald stopping for the night at Injune Racecourse, a budget overnight stop $15 for power and water, with plenty of firewood for a communal fire at happy hour. We had a peaceful nights sleep as it was far enough away from the hwy not to hear the trucks. The next day we proceeded onto Virgin Rock a freebie two klms north of Springsure. Virgin Rock was named after the feature which resembles The Virgin Mary and child, the rock has eroded over time but is still very impressive as it is lit up at night in the middle of nowhere. Once again Baz and I had a good nights sleep only to be told the next day the passing trucks applied their air brakes and tooted their horns when passing, Baz and I must have certainly been sending up the Z's !!!

Wednesday we arrived here at Theresa Creek Dam after stocking up at Clermont. We are here at this stage until Sunday, then we will head south again and out to the coast. We have a booking at Burrum Heads from the 4th July for two,weeks, and hope to catch up with Maree and Brian. They have been delayed getting away because their washing machine flooded the house causing considerable damage. Our campsite is located on the hill overlooking the dam, as we are able to get TV reception from there, but unfortunately no internet or mobile phone coverage. This is unusual as most places have had internet and mobile phone but no TV. The solar panels are doing their job well so I will be able to watch as much TV as I want, this means Baz will not have to play Sequence with me to pass the evenings.

We are currently sitting in the car about 500 mtrs up the road from the van as we can pick up the internet there and also have phone cover. I am quickly posting this blog before I loose it again!!!!!!

Virgin Rock sun rise

Theresa Creek Dam

Sunset Theresa Creek Dam

Mitchell

We left Surat on Thursday and made our way to the Neil Turner Weir at Mitchell. We had a very uneventful trip stopping at Roma to check out the little drapery store next to Mitre 10. This store has so much stock you have to see it to believe it! The shelves reach the ceiling and each shelf is jam packed with reams of material, some have been there so long that they still have pounds shilling and pence on the price tag. I have never seen such a collection of buttons, you name it that store would have it.

 We were pleasantly surprised with the condition of the Warrego Hwy between Roma and Mitchell since we had last travelled this way, a vast improvement from the roller coaster ride three years ago.

We are camped at the Neil Turner Weir that is only a couple of klms from town, it is a large free camp area with many Grey Nomads taking advantage. Friday it was the short trip into town for some supplies and a visit to The Great Artesian Spa. We were very lucky to have the thermal pool to ourselves and the manager very kindly turned the water inlet up so we could enjoy a very therapeutic massage. By putting one leg up against the side of the pool you were able to lean back into the water stream and received a good pounding on you neck and back. We have bought a three day pass so we can go there each day we are here. I went with my shampoo, conditioner and hair dryer, and was able to have a lovely long shower drying my hair, what a luxury. When we are free camping we shower every day but we have to limit the water we use, turning off the tap while you soap yourself then the tap back on for a quick rinse. I am able to dry my hair if Baz fires up the generator, sometimes he is receptive!

There is plenty of fire wood to be gathered in the area so we have been able to enjoy a camp fire and try are skills with the camp oven again. 

Drapery Store Roma one of many isles

Relaxation time in the Thermal Pool Mitchell

Roast beef and veggies

Mitchell campsite

Nindigully-Surat

Woohoo we are back on the road again!

We extended our stay at Moree to 2 1/2 weeks, we still do not know where the time went.  The days passed very quickly as we would start the day with a soak in the pools, then by the time you had your shower it was time for morning tea. A few hours later in was time to hit the pools again before Happy Hour. We also managed to get a few games of bowls in while we were there, with me splurging out for a new set, just could not pass up on the good deal that was on offer from a mobile bowls dealer, I certainly saved Baz some money! hehe!

We parted ways with Alan and Fay yesterday after a very enjoyable three weeks of their company, they are heading towards the coast and we are still heading north to outback Qld,  may cross paths again in a few weeks. They made sure we did not have too much spare time on our hands, with organised bowls games and hanging out at the Service Club enjoying great meals, raffles and a couple a wins on the pokies.

On arrival at Nindigully we found that there had been a few changes along the river since our last stop 3 yrs ago, with a walk way and sections set aside for free camping. After a leisurely afternoon sitting in the sun and catching up on some reading we ventured over to the pub for happy hour, $3 for a pot. When the sun went down it chilled down very quickly but we rugged up and braved the chill to listen to a bush poet (Bushie Thompson)who was entertaining the campers at the fire.  He managed to get quiet a few laughs not only from the poems he recited but also his jokes.

Today we headed a little further north travelling through St George and onto Surat, when we are again free camping along with about 35 caravan, motor homes and buses all enjoying a great spot just out of town on the Balonne River.

Moree

All is OK, we are alive and well! I have just been on the lazy side and haven't updated our blog! We arrived here at Moree a week ago, initially  booking in for 5 days then extending to 7 and are now here for another week. We have a nice large site at the Gwydir Caravan Park as you will see from my photo, unlike some of the sites where if you have your awning out you are only a couple of inches away from the next van, sometimes not enough room to extend it right out. The park has been packed out every night as it is a favourite stop over for many Grey Nomads, with its 4 Artesian Thermal Pools which vary in temperature from 34 to 39 degrees and also a cooler 25 metre pool.

We are becoming quiet water logged, as every day we head over to the hot pools first thing in the morning, then again in the afternoon around 4 o'clock prior to Happy Hour, very therapeutic for those aching muscles. Most days I have been brave and managed to swim 10 laps of the pool before slipping quickly into the hotter thermal pool. The weather temperature here is around 21 degrees during the day and a cool night of 8 degrees, so there is plenty of steam rising off the pools of a morning.

Since being here at Moree we have had a couple of games of bowls, enjoyed a big feed of Ribs at the local Tavern, yesterday was a busy day of swimming & bike riding in the morning, a roll up of bowls in the afternoon then a soak in the pools before going out to the Thai Restaurant that was recommended by someone in the pool, lots of information passed on in there! Our friends Fay and Alan entered in a bowls competition and had to play four games of fourteen ends today while we had a very leisurely day here at the park catching up on some reading and soaking in the tubs, oh such a hard life! Tomorrow we may hop on the bikes and ride to the bowls club and go and support them, as it is another big day for them as the tournament is played over four days.

Our plan this year is to stop in places for a longer period of time, so most likely the Blog will not be updated as often, as we do not want to bore you with too much of the same.

Out large site

A bit too squishy for us!

A feed of Ribs!

Early morning soak!