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Novices on the road
  • Jacqui Zuidema
  • Jamie Zuidema

Novices on the road

Outback and east coast Australia Read more
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  • Novices on the road

    Winton

    October 5, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We arrived in Winton for lunch. Set up the caravan at the caravan park in the Main Street. Again another very hot day. We spent the afternoon in the Waltzing Matilda museum, which, as well as being cool was surprisingly interesting. Back at the campsite there were Brolgas walking down the street(both evening and early morning). There was a bit of a downpour overnight around 11 Mls so things were pretty wet for an early pack up.
    We arrived at the Australian age of dinosaurs at 8:45 for our tour. We cut it a little fine after another mishap typical of us. As Jamie turned into the servo for fuel it triggered the emergency break. The caravan was still half way across the main drag of Winton. We were initially unable to put the plug back in however eventually did so. It’s remarkably easy when you put it in the right way!😁. Fortunately we didn’t need the RACQ although Jamie had started h the e call. Also on the way we drove past. Cattle muster in progress.

    Anyway The Australian Age of Dinosaurs 🦖 🦕was fantastic. So interesting and a real up close experience watching the staff and volunteers uncover and repair the fossils. The setting was spectacular and included a section of a dinosaur stampede m, which they had dug up, relocated in pieces, and put back together over 3 years in an environment that will preserve it. The guides were informative and answer lots of questions. There was also some amazing re enactments set along a walk and interpretive displaces to explain.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Longreach

    October 7, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Arrived here at Longreach at the beginning of afternoon teatime at the caravan park which was set up right beside our site, so we joined in with a very, let’s say interesting, bunch of people.
    We stayed 2 nights and were able to take in a few sites, including the Stockmans hall of fame, the Longreach school of distance education (school of the air) and a sunset paddle steamer down the Thomson river with a camp fire dinner, a short movie and some bush poetry. A very entertaining evening with a local station family and their crew who run the tours.
    The school of the air was interesting and fantastic to see and learn about how they run and how the station children receive their education. They put on a musical every second year and have 4-6 sessions at the school which last for several days. It can involve the whole family. They run Kinder through to year 12 but do the senior years in combination with other schools of the air so that they can offer a range of subjects. Many students also leave during their secondary education to attend a boarding school. Most of the bigger regional areas have boarding schools as well as Brisbane and some children attend interstate boarding schools.
    At the Stockman’s hall of fame we watched a 20 minute movie about the history of farming, stockmen and droving, in Australia. We walked through the hall of fame and then attended a show which combined a bit of country music, comedy, very well trained stock and was run by an entertainer/horse trainer. A very entertaining and informative time.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island visit

    October 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Arrived on a Saturday lunchtime set up camp and had a little explore around town and out to Shute Harbour.
    On Sunday we walked into the marina and caught the ferry across to Hamilton island. Wendy and Gary met us and took us back to their place to stash our bags the headed down to the beach club for a long and delicious lunch. After that Jamie and Gary caught up with Fraser and Wendy took me to her whine club. We watched Ian Thorpe and friends board the boat across to Dent island for his 40th birthday celebrations. They were all having a very exclusive weekend staying at Qualia with a private dinner on Dent Island. Wendy and I, however enjoyed Whine club on H.I. Home made (by Gary) pizza and drinks at theirs to end the day.
    Wendy and I went to water Aerobics the next morning whilst Jamie walked. Gary picked us all up on the buggy and we went for coffee before lunch at the tavern then our ferry ride back to Airlie. During the week we worked (Jamie his usual and me an online course), swam, walked and ate. All in all a great week in a lovely location.
    We also took a day trip to a lovely place called Hydeaway bay.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Airlie to Yeppoon

    October 21, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    On our way south from Airlie our first place of interest was Sarina, in order to tour the sugar refinery. It was a very interesting process and fascinating tour. All the byproducts are used along the way. Some for growing new sugar cane then mulch, ethanol and methanol, molasses and finally the sugar. At Sarina they were a self sustaining mill so used the ethanol to run their furnaces. Well I should have written this down at the time because now we’re not sure…… but something like this. At the mill they also make alcohol and other sugar products. A real paddock to plate experience.
    We then continued a little further down the road to Carmila beach which was an off grid camping area and very unspoilt. A couple of beach walks, fresh air and peace and quite were the highlights here.
    The next morning we drove about 30 mins north and into the hills beyond Yeppoon. Again another off grid camp, this time in a lovely tropical garden/paddock. We played Bocce, lit a campfire and again enjoyed the serenity.
    Yeppoon is also a lovely place, not terribly built up and very relaxed. The caravan park was right on the beach, so daily beach walks were a feature. This was a working stop over for Jamie, and I completed the final 2 days of my online course. It was hot and muggy and rained on and off.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Yeppoon to Hervey Bay

    October 26, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Although we didn’t stay in Rockhampton we walked around the city centre enjoying the old buildings and the riverfront. We decided to continue south to a small place called Tannum Sands, just south of Gladstone. Tannum is a really pretty spot. Small town, not built up, beach and river, amazing weather. A good small town surf life saving club services great fish and chips combined with a G&T on the deck was a great night. We walked and scooted all over on well maintained bike paths and some very friendly locals. A refreshing dip in the river mouth was much needed in Tannum sands.
    The next couple of nights were spent at 1770. Another beautiful place! We walked around town, drove out to some nearby beaches and walks and rode the scooters into Agnes Waters. Very delicious gelato and a little clothes shopping here as well.
    Quiet a few stormy nights this week after most days reaching temperatures in the low 30’s.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    K'gari

    October 28, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Day trip tour to Fraser Island.
    Places visited : arrived in the ferry into Kingfisher resort then off to:
    Lake McKenzie
    Central Station Rainforest
    Eli Creek
    75 Mile Beach
    Maheno shipwreck
    The Pinnacles
    All very beautiful but couldn’t believe the number of tourists😕    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Bribie Island via an inland route.

    November 5, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We took a couple of days to travel from Noosa to Bribie Island. We had intended to visit some wineries but they were not open whilst we were travelling through. However we went though some very picturesque hilly country and their towns. Coffee and muffins at a quaint town called Woolooga then lunch in Kingaroy and stayed the night in Nanango. The next day we visited the Blackburn bakery and bought some beautiful treats, which were delicious, then arrived at Sandstone point caravan park for 2 nights. This resort style caravan park was located right by the bridge across to Bribie Island. Bribie Island has a magical view of the glasshouse mountains. It would be a beautiful spot to view sunset.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Brisbane and North Stradbroke Island

    November 5, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We decided to stay in Brisbane for a couple of days to catch up with one of Jamie’s best mates. We spent an evening out with a couple of Foster people and then the next day went to Bribie Island and dinner with Drew. A fun afternoon walking and exploring combined with a couple of beers. We stayed at Clontarf which is right on the beach. A quiet, small caravan park with a view of Morton Bay across the road. Although after a relaxing start to Saturday, the peace was interrupted by 750 trucks blaring their horns. I’m the convoy for kids rally. It was fun but noisy to watch for a little while. Fortunately for us after the first 500m our walk along the foreshore became peaceful as the trucks took the left fork in the road and we went right.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Tweed heads and Mount Tambourine

    November 9, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Staying in South Tweed. Jamie working. Lots of walking.
    Monday a day trip to beautiful mount Tambourine including Curtis falls, the Botanical Gardens, gallery way and a very steep downhill drive back to Tweed Heads with spectacular views of the Gold Coast.
    On Tuesday and Wednesday, whilst Jamie worked, I walked around Tweed and Coolangatta. I took some photos and started an online basic photography course.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Byron Bay

    November 12, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Byron Bay was extremely busy this weekend and we were lucky to get a caravan park. Stayed just south of Byron and had an unpowered site. Plenty of sun so no worries in that department. The first day , after driving to Byron Bay via a costal route with a lunch stop at Golden beach, battling the traffic to find a caravan park and finally setting up camp, we went for a long beach walk and our day was done.
    We walked around the cape Byron walking trail and then had a swim to cool down. The wind on the beach was cooling enough but I made Jamie come in the ocean with me, after all you can’t go to BB and not swim in the surf! Spectacular views on the walk and we were able to watch lots of dolphins play and some turtles feed.
    We went out to The Farm for a long lunch, followed by beer at Sone and Wood brewery. By then I was ready for bed so we headed back to the van after a quick supermarket stop- cup of soup for dinner!!!    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Yamba

    November 13, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Again we took a costal route as much as possible to Yamba. Some lovely beachside towns in Lenox head and Evans head. Drove into Yamba to the caravan park closer to the shops and the ocean beach. It was our lucky day as they had a site for us. Park is pretty full though. Lovely location at the end of the shops right on the river.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Coffs Coast

    November 19, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We stayed 2 nights in Woolgoolga then 2 nights in Sawtell.

    Woolgoolga was pretty and a lovely seaside town. Pretty windy with lots of holiday makers still around.
    On the way to Sawtell we stopped in Coffs Harbour and walked along the foreshore and over to mutton Island. It was a lovely but fairly steep walk.
    The caravan park at Sawtell was very sheltered. After setting up the van we walked into town. The Main Street is beautiful with amazing old trees though the middle of the shopping area. So many good places and cafes. The main surf beach was spectacular and a bite to eat and drink at the surf club kiosk overlooking the beach was perfect.
    From Sawtell we took a day trip along Waterfall way, which took us up towards Armidale. The road was very steep in parts and we were very happy to have left the caravan behind.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Cental NSW coast

    November 22, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    From Woolgoolga we took a full day to get to Bateau Bay on the central coast. We stopped at South West rocks for morning team and a walk, then later ate lunch on the move. It was a very hot and windy day for travel and it was a challenging drive through the hills around Newcastle. We made it to Bateau Bay around 4pm. We stayed 4 nights for Jamie to work again. On Monday we drove to the Hunter valley and spent the day around Pokolbin. We sampled and purchased lots of food and beverages. I spent a day exploring the northern end of the central coast.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Bulli and Bowral

    November 24, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We drove through Sydney to a place called Bulli beach just north of Wollongong. Travelling out of the hills to Bulli involved going down the Bulli Pass. This was about 3 km of very steep descent, certainly not what we were expecting. We made it and Jamie definitely earned his 5pm drink of choice that day. After setting up the Caravan we drove back to the south west of Sydney to have dinner with the Halpin family. So lovely to see how well the boys were going in Sydney.
    The following day was a trip up to Bowral. We spent time at the Dom Bradman museum, had lunch in town and then visited some lookouts. Unfortunately we weren’t able to go to the nearby waterfalls as they were biting off. Again so glad we were without the caravan. Bowral was a very beautiful place.    Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Batemans Bay

    November 28, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Just before arriving back in Victoria, we had a weekend with our girls in Batemans Bay. It was so lovely to see Liv and Elle again and we appreciated the effort they made to meet us. We had a fun time with long walks, meals and lots of games. Liv and Elle slept in the caravan and Jamie and I tried out the swag. I was very surprised with how well I slept in the swag.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Tathra and Merimbula

    November 30, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We spent one night in Tathra and two in Merimbula. Lots of lovely walks over these 3 days. Weather was nice but not hot. Around 20oC. Very windy again. Wind has been the dominant weather feature throughout November. In Merimbula we were camped beside the Kangaroo fighting and feeding area. They certainly pack a punch when they kick out at each other. I was mostly definitely keeping a safe distance. We enjoyed a relaxing spa and I managed to swim laps one afternoon.Read more

  • Novices on the road

    Mallacoota

    December 5, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    On the way to Mallacoota we stopped to look around Eden, another lovely beach hamlet!
    Although Mallacoota was cold on our arrival day , 16oC, we enjoyed our campsite beside the lake. We explored by foot and I managed my final sunrise for the trip. This one was much earlier than any others I dragged myself out of bed for. But so glad a did. It was a beautiful and very still morning. Lots of bird life to spot and enjoy here.

    We have had an amazing trip; learnt so much about our beautiful country, met some fantastic people, had a whole range of experiences- some of which took us way out of our comfort zones and experienced life differently. We have started our trip in the south in the cold winter and travelled to the outback and the tropical north before taking in the spectacular east coast of Australia. We have been in deserts, outback farming land, gorges, mountains and waterfalls, cropping areas and finally beaches and other waterways. A trip to remember. Now we are home and prepairing for Christmas 🎄. Thank you Australia    Read more

    Trip end
    December 5, 2022
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