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#vanlife 2024
  • Katie Burke
  • Katie Burke

#vanlife 2024

Two weeks on the road, seeing where the wind blows us. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 14, 2024
    Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler

    Here we goooooo!

    November 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Packed and ready to go (sadly, Murphy won't be joining us but wanted to be in the photo). First stop, Brisbane for a work lunch today and then Ipswich for a research day tomorrow. I'm channeling holiday vibes even though I've got 2 more days of work until holidays officially begin!Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Talebudgera Creek

    November 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    With work stuff finally finished we jumped into our trusty van "Vincent" and began the holiday for real. First stop, Burleigh, right on Talebudgera Creek. We're parked up in a caravan park on the river's edge along with every caravan in Australia it seems. This afternoon was spent bike riding along the coast and enjoying a swim in the river. This evening we enjoyed dinner out with Steve's childhood friends from Liverpool. Hardly any photos sorry. I must do better tomorrow.Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Exploring Burleigh and surrounds

    November 17, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The holiday feels like it's really started today. We woke with the light and set off early on our bikes for coffee (and donuts, don't judge me!) by the water followed by a swim in the crystal clear water. Then we were off on the bikes to explore North of Burleigh. Just to keep things fun, Steve's bike started jumping gears which led to a jammed chain that he couldn't "unjam". Fortunately we weren't far from a bike shop that opened on Sundays. While they worked their magic we headed to lunch at a gorgeous vegan restaurant (The Green House) then drove through the hinterland, stopping next to a river for a Nanna nap. While waiting for the bike to be finished we headed to the beach and then took a walk around Burleigh Heads National Park walking trail. All of this by 4pm! Wine time has just finished and Steve is cooking up an early dinner. Come sunset, I reckon we'll be in bed. Night!Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Yamba

    November 18, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Vanlife update!
    The day began with a very exciting trip to a muffler repair place to fit a new muffler after our old one blew out. We are very proud to say that the muffler repair guy said he'd never seen a muffler as bad as ours. We left Gold Coast around 11 o'clock and headed south towards Yamba, stopping at Bangalow for a nanna nap and lunch at a park. Arriving at Yamba, we had time to go for a bike ride along the harbour wall before the rain drove us back to our van to shelter from the rain. Fortunately the rainy weather broke long enough for us to cook dinner, and by us, I mean me! I know the world may be shocked, but I can still cook. It's now raining again and we are bunkering down in the van playing some music and about to play rummikub. Loving the flow of each day. Not sure yet what tomorrow will bring!Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Yamba to Bellingen

    November 19, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Hello from beautiful Bellingen. We'd hoped to do another night at Yamba so that we could explore the surrounding area more but but the weather had other plans. We decided to flee the rain, jumping in the van and just driving. A birthday phone call to my beautiful friend Lisa F (big shout out, she's 60 today!) set our course to Bellingen on her recommendation (good call Lisa!) We stopped on the way in McLean (fantastic coffee at Botero Roastery), crossed the Clarence River on the ferry, and ended up in Sawtell for lunch. I had a "moment" in Sawtell when we were cooking lunch in our van in a beachside carpark... I realised I was finally one of those people I'd looked at in their vans cooking in a car park. Living the dream! We arrived in Bellingen around 3 and explored the town then early dinner at our showgrounds camp.Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Bellingen to Forster

    November 20, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    As much as we loved Bellingen, we were hankering for dry skies so set sail seeing where we could glimpse more than wet and grey. We decided to head towards Port Macquarie which seemed to forecast dry, only to be greeted by a downpour upon arrival. We managed lunch under cover beside a beautiful moody windswept beach, and even got a walk in when the rain abated. Then south to Forster, where our entry was heralded by vibrant blue skies and turquoise water. So this is where we have decided to park up, and have spent our afternoon riding our bikes around the picturesque coastline. If the weather holds tomorrow we'll stay another night. For now, we're tucked up and cosy enjoying our own private cinema.Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
    11

    Forster

    November 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Waking up to blue skies, we decided to stay in Forster for another day. We spent time at the beach and ocean baths through most of the morning, enjoyed a long and leisurely mid day nap, and took an afternoon bike ride over the bridge to the sister town of Tuncurry. I decided to take a yoga class with a gorgeous view late afternoon then we enjoyed dinner out. Our walk home at sunset was spectacular and filled with many dolphin sightings. Steve decided to strip off and jump into the water and one dolphin swam right up to him very briefly. A beautiful end to a beautiful day!Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler

    A weekend at Newcastle and Wyong

    Nov 23–25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We've reached the half way mark of our trip, Wyong, to visit Elise (daughter) Cam and Cayden (grandson). The visit started with a meet-up/day trip in Newcastle and a leisurely weekend in Wyong. It feels a bit luxurious to sleep without a wall either side of the bed! It's our first time meeting Cam and a big thumbs up from both of us 😁Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
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    Nambucca Heads

    November 24, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    We bid our farewells to Elise and crew around 10am and headed north with no fixed plans although a thought that maybe we'd stop at Nambucca Heads. When we arrived it was blowing a gale but we found a caravan park right on the water that was sheltered by a small island, so decided we'd found today's piece of paradise.Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler
    21

    Back to Yamba

    November 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We wanted to see more of Yamba and surrounds on our way south but the rainy weather pushed us away so we have headed back to explore. The Angourie rock pools have been a highlight. The blue pool is a former rock quarry from the late 1800's that was abandoned when an underwater spring was hit, filling the quarry with water. Beside this is the green pool, a rocky pool on the beach. The rest of our day included the obligatory nap, bike riding, sunset wine time etc. Tough times.Read more

  • Katie Burke#vanlife 2024Traveler

    Brunswick Heads

    Nov 26–28, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    From Yamba we had planned to spend a couple of nights at Byron Bay. However, upon arrival, we realised we had hit Byron the same time as NSW schoolies. So, after a stroll around town, lunch and a swim, we headed further north to the much more sleepy Brunswick Heads. We have enjoyed a quiet couple of days here biking around town, swimming, a visit to Mullumbimby (oh my, amazing Yemenite food at Ya'Man) and sleeping and reading. For our final night we splurged on a meal at Trouble San. Tempura brussel sprouts was way more delicious than it sounds. Today our plan is to head back home with the sun in our souls and rest in our bodies.Read more

    Trip end
    November 28, 2024
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