Réinitialiser la recherche
Big Adventure
  • K and A's road trip
Actuellement en voyage
mai 2018 – déc. 2031

Big Adventure

Travels in a motorhome
This blog is written to remind us where we have been and what we have done En savoir plus
+8
S’abonnerAperçuCalendrierPartagerPartagerListe de choses à faire
Les plus anciens en premier
  • Vu pour la dernière fois
    Aujourd’hui
    K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Carnarvon

    9–10 mai, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We did another relatively short hop down the coast to the seaside town of Carnarvon, which lies on the Estuary of the Gasgoyne River. Carnarvon is the centre of a major fruit growing area in Western Australia, and there is a Fruit Loop drive in the season when fruit is available at the various farm gates. Not much to be seen at this early period in the fruiting season, but an interesting drive all the same.
    We arrived in Carnarvon in early afternoon and drove into the town for a look-see. It is a town with a dubious reputation, allegedly due to the aboriginal problems with alcohol.
    It was a bright, sunny and very warm day. The air conditioning in the Woolworths' Mall, and their reasonable pricing levels after the expensive groceries further north were very welcome.
    The town itself is a bit of a mish mash of low developments but with some nice housing around the river.
    Karen found a reference to a craft shop selling fabric that she just couldn't resist.
    We visited the craft shop on our way out of town the following day. There are some very talented people working within the group collective. Some more fabric was purchased to fill our cases on the way home.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Coral Bay

    6 mai, Australie ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Next stop Coral Bay, also on the Ningaloo Reef coast. A 2 to 3 hour drive from Exmouth, again on quiet roads. It is easy to keep to the 110km speed limit with nothing really to slow down for - no traffic lights, roundabouts, T junctions etc. Just km after km of tarmac road through a landscape of bush, red soil and the odd tree.
    We branched off the road as we left to look at big gorge we had been told about then passed once again through the termite fields. There were signs telling us to look out for kangaroos, emus and cows which might wander out into the road. We saw cows and the odd goat and sheep but no emus at all. The only kangaroos we saw were dead ones that had been hit by vehicles.
    The campsite at Coral Bay was extremely busy and was situated opposite the most beautiful beach and bay. After setting up on our pitch we walked along the beach towards skeleton point, where the reef sharks nursery is situated. As we walked along we spotted many blue spotted rays in the shallows, close enough for us to touch had we so wished. Sadly we did not spot any sharks but the coastline was interesting. Opposite our campsite was Bill's Bar which offered free wifi (our campsite did not have this available for us). As B's Bar had happy hour from 5 to 6pm we enjoyed a beer and glass of fizz (for K) each evening as we caught up with emails and other messages.
    On our first full day in Coral Bay we took our snorkels down to the beach (Bill's Bay). The sea was like a mill pond and crystal clear. There were many people on paddle boards and kayaks, also some snorkeling. We enjoyed the beach and sea, but were disappointed with the snorkeling close to shore. The living reef here is further out at this location, with the coral close to shore mostly dying. We did see some fish but nothing like we'd seen at Exmouth. The next time we joined a glass bottomed boat trip which took us further out to view the living reef. We were not disappointed!! Again the water was turquoise and crystal clear, so inviting. We were able to snorkel in 2 different locations from the boat, the first spot in very deep water with coral everywhere. So many different breeds of fish. The next stop off point was in shallower water. Here we spotted a puffer fish and a green turtle. The turtle was initially nestled amongst the seaweed on the seabed, but then came up to the surface right next to where we were swimming. Absolutely wonderful. We were very pleased we had joined the trip - our last chance to see all of the wonderful sealife before we start heading south towards Perth.
    3 days had been just enough to enjoy this spot on the Turquoise Coast. Tomorrow we head to Carnarvon.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Exmouth

    2 mai, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We had a long journey today to reach our next stop at the most northerly location on this trip. We got up early and had decided to leave before breakfast. Before we set off K went to reception to check messages, only to find a message from Kirsty along with a photo of our new grandchild- both K and baby still in the birthing pool. "We have news" read the message, but no mention of sex of baby or how it had all gone. We knew we would have to wait until we reached the next site, as it was now midnight in UK.
    The journey went very smoothly, and the kilometres sped by. We stopped for breakfast at a rest spot. The roads were extremely quiet, and we drove for long stretches without seeing a soul. The first 100 miles saw us pass 19 cars passing in the opposite direction and 4 in the direction in which we were travelling. The landscape remained pretty constant - brush and scrub for much of the way. As we drove further north there appeared hundreds and hundreds of termite mounds, stretching as far as the eye could see. After 680km we reached our new site in the small town of Exmouth. The first thing we did was contact Kirsty and Matt. We enjoyed a video call with them and met our new grandson, Jasper. All had gone well and mum and baby were fit and well. Happy times.
    We set up on our pitch and then went into town to buy champagne to welcome our 8th grandchild. We found a bar selling real ales brewed on the premises. Alan could not resist, so in we went. The Friday night market was just opening up and the bar/brewery (called Floss) was playing some banging music across the market place. There was a DJ on the roof running through his play list - Alan loved it - the drum and bass -Voulez Vous quite brilliant. DJ Flo-tation was the man responsible. The bar served some good beers and the XPA was fine, K enjoyed a glass of Margaret River SB - beautiful. We enjoyed our meal and fizz that night, knowing that all was well in Chepstow.
    We spent 4 nights, 3 days at the Ningaloo campsite. Each day we drove out to visit the N Reef - just amazing. The first day we snorkelled from Turquoise Beach. As the name suggests the waters were blue and crystal clear. We were able to snorkel from the shore, getting in at one end of the beach and drifting with the current to the other end. Out of the sea and back in again to do it all over again. And again!! There were so many fish to be seen, all colours and sizes. We just loved it!!! The following 2 days we snorkelled from the Oyster stacks. Again wonderful seas with so much to observe. At times it felt like being inside an aquarium, with fish everywhere we looked. Magical!! The drive to and from the snorkelling spots was about 70km each direction, so as we returned each evening to our campsite we felt weary.
    On our way to the beach one day we diverted to do the Mundy Mundy walk through a gorge and up to the high ground. A beautiful walk with some steep uphill climbs at times - which meant of course that we had to climb back down too to reach the car park. At times a little scary with the heights involved.
    The evening shower each day was bliss, after being under water for so long, walking through gorged and sunbathing in between. We had so much looked forward to this part of our trip, and were not disappointed. An absolute treat.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Denham and Shell Beach

    1 mai, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We had decided to visit Shell Beach today, which we had passed on our way to Denham. On the way we stopped off at Eagle Bluff viewpoint. It is situated on a high cliff overlooking the Denham Sound. We walked along the boardwalk hoping to spot turtles, dugong or even sharks. Plenty of fish to be seen but none of the larger creatures we had hoped to see. Another beautiful spot along this stretch of coastline.
    We then made our way to Shell Beach. The beach is made up of tiny shells, all from the Fragum cockle. At places the shells are 10 metres deep. The sea there was idyllic, crystal clear and a perfect temperature. The water here is twice as salty as usual sea water - due to high evaporation and limited water flow. As a result floating in the sea was so easy. We were thankful that the many flies in the carpark here did not follow us onto the beach. Some people were wearing fly nets on the beach, but we were quite content without. We were in and out of the sea which was very shallow, and although we walked a long way into the water it was still below knee depth. Back at the campsite we were keen to check our messages on our phone. Kirsty was due to give birth a week ago, so each day we are convinced we will hear news. We only get Internet at the campsite reception, so K regularly plods down there to check. But again no news.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Denham

    29 avr.–2 mai, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We rose early and left site at 7:30 to travel further north. Our next stop being a town call Denham, and a site adjacent the beach near the resort of Monkey Mia. The peninsular lies within a World Heritage Site due to its unique features and sea life.
    We breakfasted en-route at a road rest area and arrived in Denham at about 12:30pm.
    After setting up we wandered into the town in glorious sunshine. The temperatures are rising as we move towards the Tropic of Capricorn, this latitude being very similar to Rainbow Beach on the East Coast.
    we enjoyed a couple of beers to cool us down in the local hotel and visited the adjacent Bottle-O.
    On Wednesday we drove off to Monkey Mia which was 20k further up the road to have a look at the dolphin experience. Historically the locals used to feed dolphins at this point which earned its reputation as a place to interact with them. Over time it was realised that feeding the dolphins was not good for their continued well being as they were beginning to lose the ability to hunt for themselves.
    As a consequence the protocols have changed and the emphasis is now on careful interaction with, very limited feeding. Three interactions are offered each morning by the local rangers which give an informative talk about the dolphins, should they come in to interact and to feed them a maximum of 10% of their daily dietary requirements.
    A mother and calf came in not long after we arrived. It seems these two are the most often seen in the resort, recognisable by the damage sustained on their dorsal fins. There were a lot of fish sheltering under the jetty whilst we were there.
    After breakfasting, we watched the pair return for the second interaction of the morning. They were accompanied by a large turtle.
    We then spent some time on the beach. As the tide came in so did a multitude of other dolphins, much to the delight of the paddle boarders and swimmers in the sea. Apparently there are about 3000 dolphins in the greater Shark Bay area overall. We saw some out at sea fishing where the seagulls were also working.
    A fantastic day in the most beautiful surroundings.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Kalbarri

    26–29 avr., Australie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We spent the day locally, walking around the town in the morning. We walked along the beach to viewpoints to look over the sea and river. The river Murchison flows into the sea here, and where it meets the sea a reef has formed, blocking most of the entrance into Kalbarri. There were lots of fishermen out on the rocks and by the river's edge. We wandered around the few shops in the town and then back to base. The afternoon was spent on the beach. Perfect temperature of 26 degrees with clouds to begin with. K went for a swim - cool water to begin with, but very pleasant once in.
    The following day we wandered down to the sea shore again to see the pelican feeding. 5 birds came in for their fish, apparently they are lazy hunters which wis why they could not sometimes be bothered to compete with the seagulls when a fish thrown at then hit the ground. After breakfast we drove along the coast to Shellhouse Grandstand to start a walk along the clifftops to Island Rock and the Natural Bridge. The walk was about 3.5 k each way with a strong breeze blowing towards the sea. We were accompanied for much of the walk by Swifts which were picking off the flies around us. Our WA salute (swatting flies away) was spared for the duration.
    We drove further down the coast to visit Hutt Lagoon and Port Gregory.
    Hutt Lagoon is famous as the Pink Lake due to its hue caused by a specific algae growing in the very saline water. Quite a spectacle.
    Port Gregory offered us a General Store, but not much else, however, we enjoyed our ice cream.
    On our last day in Kalbarri we drove a little way down the coast to the car park serving Mushroom Rock and completed the circular walk on the cliffs and in the Rainbow gorge. The landscape is almost lunar at times, with scrub interspersed amongst the red rocks and sandstones.
    after that we drove to The Blue Holes where we swam in the very refreshing water on a hot day. Karen got her snorkel out for a looksee under the surface.
    In the evening we dined at Finlays Fish BBQ, quite an institution in the town, and in a unique position on an industrial estate. We were glad we had booked in advance as all tables were sold out for the night. The place was buzzing with families, enjoying the (brewed on site beers) and the food all accompanied by live music. There were about 12 beer options all brewed on site. The 10% Black Stout looking particularly dangerous. We had a great evening.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Kalbarri

    24 avril, Australie ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    The next morning we drove a short distance to Lake Thetis in Cervantes. There we walked along the boardwalk and then around the lake to view the thrombolites which are within the lake. They are rock like formations and are millions of years old, among the planet's oldest life forms. Apart from the group of Japanese tourists it was very peaceful walking around, and there were many shore birds to look at on the way. From there we drove north to Kalbarri, our next stop. On the way we stopped at Geraldton ( a large town) to buy snorkels ready for later in our trip. We reached Kalbarri mid afternoon and dropped in at the tourist information centre prior to checking in at the site. We wanted to buy a NP pass for the next 2 weeks, but were told they only sell 5 day passes. We needed to go the Head office for NPs, which was a 2 km drive away and would be closing at 4pm. We arrived there as they were pulling down the shutters. Fortunately they realised we had arrived and re opened for us. Tomorrow was to be a bank holiday for Anzac Day and they would be closed. We were very grateful to come away with the necessary pass which we would be using the next day. We set up camp, erecting the gazebo next to our campervan. Doesn't take long. We are here for 5 nights, and spent the evening perusing the information we'd picked up en route, making a plan for the next 4 days. Lots to see and do here.
    The next day we walked over the road to the beach to watch the pelican feeding which happens daily. The pelicans could be seen in the distance, but did not appear at the allotted spot, despite being lured in by various attempts of fish throwing. The seagulls enjoyed a feast and took advantage of the seagulls' disinterest. Once the fish was gone 2 pelicans flew over and landed on the beach in front of us. We then headed off for the Kalbarri NP. First stop was the Skywalk, 2 platforms that hang 100 m above the Murchison river gorge. Surprisingly K was not scared looking down and around at all the views. The car park and the walks around the Skywalk were very busy, it being a Bank Holiday. Next stop was Nature's Window, a natural rock formation that frames a view of the River Murchison. It is reached by a 1km walk culminating in a bit of a scramble along rocks to view the window through the rocks - a bit hairy at times!! We had planned on completing the Loop Trail from Nature's Window, a 9km walk. When we realised this involved walking along cliff edges and a steep descent down to the river followed by a steep uphill climb we opted not to do this. The views from Nature's Window showed us just how hairy this walk would probably be! Instead we drove to another walking spot in the NP, from where we completed the 6km Four Ways trail, which was a walk along a sandy and rocky path down to the river. By the time we returned we were starting to feel weary. One more stop before heading back to base - a short walk to the Z Bend lookout, where we saw the river form part of a letter Z as it meandered through the gorge. Once back at the campsite we had a refreshing beer, followed by a very welcome shower. Then over the road to the beach to watch the sunset - took a bottle of fizz with us to do so. We slept well, having walked 17000 steps over the day.
    ......    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Cervantes

    23 avril, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We travelled north along the Indian Ocean Drive for about 2 hours, until we reached The Pinnacles within the Nambung NP. They are set within desert landscape and comprise of thousands of limestone pillars up to 4 m tall. We parked up at the visitor centre and read the information panels telling us the history of what we were about to see. There are various theories as to how the Pinnacles came about - but no one is really sure just how they evolved. We followed a 1.2 km walking trail through many of the pillars of rock, stopping to take photos. A real spectacle to see. From there we drove to our first campsite at Cervantes, a small coastal town.
    We had a wander through the smalltown to a look out point to the sea, this is on the turquoise coast. There were some grey clouds about but we could see the colours in the water when the sun shone through. we walked along the beach back into town.
    The site was busy (it still being the Easter school holidays in WA and Anzac Day on Friday) and our pitch was wedged in between families enjoying the beach and heated on site pool. Although it was noisy during the day by 9pm all was silent, and we slept well.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Perth WA

    21 avril, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our 5 and a half hour flight to Perth went smoothly, and the Quantas staff looked after us well. We were met at the airport by our nephew Will, whom we had not seen for over 5 years. He drove us back to his house in Fremantle in his parents' campervan - which we were to use for the next 3 weeks to tour the coast north from Perth. We were given such a warm welcome by him and his family. His 2 children Gus and Mia displayed no shyness and quickly launched into asking us questions, showing us their toys and generally chatting. It felt much like being back at Jamie's house in Brisbane! We spent 36 hours with them, which gave us chance to unpack our suitcases into the van and go off shopping for food and other essentials. We left Fremantle by 9.30am on the Wednesday to travel the first leg of our journey north. The campervan has everything we require and is very comfortable to drive and live in. We are excited about the next 3 weeks of travels.En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Brisbane

    19–21 avr., Australie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We had two days of feasting to finish off our trip to Queensland this year. The girls all love sushi, and Jamie had mentioned a local Japanese restaurant that does an all you can eat menu.
    We rocked up at Okami for lunch. The food was very tasty indeed and the dishes kept coming, Sophie and Sammy were relishing ordering dishes via an ipad interface. We all left the restaurant absolutely stuffed - and did not eat another thing for the rest of the day.
    On Sunday we all visited Renee's parents in Boondall, where another feast had been prepared. A most enjoyable afternoon catching up with their travels around Australia. Again we did not eat again that day.
    Back at home we began the task of filling suitcases for our journey to Western Australia. A lot of fabric once again to pack. With various trips to Spotlight and 2 or 3 visits to The Nest we had accumulated a big pile to take home.
    On Monday we all enjoyed a breakfast of bagels, smoked salmon, avocado and scrambled eggs. After (tearful) goodbyes Jamie drove us to the airport for our 1pm flight to Perth. Our adventures in Queensland over for another year, but a 3 week trip in WA before returning home to the UK.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Brisbane

    12–18 avr., Australie ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    After emptying both cars and the trailer we relaxed back at home with the family. We obviously had made the right decision to pack up camp, as the weather turned out as predicted - some sunshine but a lot of, at times, heavy rain. Monday was a lazy day after a lot of busy days whilst camping. We were keen to visit a local shop called The Nest. It had been recommended to us whilst camping by a fellow camper. It is an op (charity) shop that sells fabric and haberdashery supplies. An aladdins cave!!!! We loved it, and spent ages there browsing the well stocked shelves. We came back with a bag full of various fabrics. The rest of the day we spent at home, sorting out washing etc.
    Tuesday is Renee's day off work, so we all packed into the Isuzu and we drove to the botanical gardens at Mount Coo'Tha. As we approached the weather closed in with a rain storm. However it had cleared by the time we rocked up in the car park. The gardens were looking verdant after all the rain. The sausage tree being quite unusual.
    A little shower of rain came through whilst we were out but we were able to find shelter in the memorial to Australian servicemen and women.
    After our walk around the gardens we drove towards the city for a bit of Op shopping in Paddington. Once again the ladies found some bargains.
    We then all enjoyed a meal at the local Italian cafe/restaurant.
    Wednesday was a chilling sort of day, playing games with our grandchildren. Summer is nearly, but not quite yet, getting the hang of losing gracefully and somehow the rules seem to change on many games just at the last moment. We are all enjoying playing the 2 new games we bought - Skipbo and Five Crowns. Sammy plays a keen game (and is usually VERY lucky with the cards she is dealt) and often wins. If not her, then Sophie, with the odd game being won by granny and grandpa.The sun was shining again, so we all enjoyed the pool. In the evening the girls assisted K with her hair styling.
    Thursday was a similar day to Wednesday with us enjoying life with our the family. K visited the hair dressers for a cut, after which we took the girls out shopping for easter chocolate.
    We all drove to Redcliffe on Good Friday to visit the Easter market. It was very busy, Sophie found a gold chain she liked. We wandered along the coast path towards Scarborough to stretch our legs for a bit. It was a hot day on our return to the car. We then drove into Scarborough to an ice cream parlour. The single scoops were enormous and kept us going until dinner in the evening.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Noosa North

    9–15 avr., Australie ⋅ 🌩️ 24 °C

    Jamie drove in early on Wednesday to help move us all from Maroochydore back to a different site at Noosa. This is to be our last site in Queensland on this trip. The site is at Tewantin on the river near the Noosa Marina. Jamie returned to Brisbane in the afternoon for another couple of peaceful days at work. We looked after the girls again for two days, taking them to enjoy the great surf at Noosa Main Beach and to enjoy the ice creams at 72 Flavours on the Gympie Terrace.
    On Thursday we drove to the Tewantin mountain viewing platform, which after a short upward walk from a car park gave us great views across the region and towards Noosa Heads. After that we had a look at the Botanical Garden at Lake McKenzie, all very pretty.
    In the aftenoon under blue and grey skies we took the SUP to Gympie Terrace so the girls could launch into the river. Great comedy moments for all but grandad who was left holding the SUP on two occasions during the inflation process. On both occasions the heavens opened, the girls legged it to the car, giggling away as grand dad took a soaking. Credit to Sophie though as she toughed it out with grand dad on the second go. The three girls and granny enjoyed the experience. Karen managed to stand up for a few seconds but did not have the confidence to take the paddle. We stopped off at a couple of Op shops afterwards and the girls found some absolute bargains.
    Friday morning we spent on the campsite mainly by the swimming pool. At lunchtime a lady arrived with a variety of small animals to show and talk about. We all enjoyed touching and at times holding snakes, a 4 year old crocodile, bearded lizard and a barn owl. Summer was the first in the queue to hold each creature and did so without a qualm. We returned to our favourite beach in Noosa in the afternoon, and all except Summer enjoyed bracing the huge waves as they reached the shore. A bit ferocious for Summer, but she enjoyed looking for shells on the beach.
    On the way home we picked up the ingredients to make pizzas in the site pizza oven. They were very tasty.
    Jamie and Renne joined us in the evening after their working week, and quickly set up their swag and gazebo to see them through to Tuesday.
    On Friday we all drove into Noosa, in separate cars. Parking was difficult but we managed eventually to park near Hastings Street. We wandered along Hastings Street and through the parks and woods to the spit at the head of the river. The river side beaches were very calm. The estuary opening onto the sea looked ferocious. Back in town we found Jamie and family on the main beach, so we settled down together to enjoy the waves in sunshine. In the evening the heavens opened once again as we prepared our evening meal in the camp kitchen. It rained all evening and most of the night, great thunderstorms crashing through. We all stayed dry playing card games in the trailer.
    Sunday's weather promised sunshine, with two days of rain to follow, so we decided to strike camp when we could get everything packed away dry and return to Brisbane.
    We waited until the sunshine had dried out all our canvas before shutting down the trailer for this trip and returned to Brisbane mid afternoon.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Maroochydore

    5–9 avr., Australie ⋅ 🌩️ 27 °C

    We packed up early and travelled down the road to the Big 4 site at Maroochydore. Our pitch was available as we arrived, so we were all set up again by 11.30am.
    After lunch we walked along the river to the river heads. At this point lies the Cotton Tree camp site, which is where we were when we decided to flee back to England due to the developing Covid crisis back in 2020.
    It was the start of the Easter school holidays and the site was very very busy, everybody shoehorned in on the beach side sites. We walked through the site to the beach and had a look at some of the beach stores, prior to wandering back to base.
    In the evening we drove to Mooloolaba where we were looking forward to a fish platter on The Wharf. We had seen the Prawn Star restaurant advertised and the locals gave it a high recommendation. The restaurant occupies two old fishing vessels on the dock side. The sea food platter was delicious, served with good beer and wine.
    On Sunday Jamie, Renee and the girls came to join us. We pitched their tent next to ours, then spent a couple of hours on the beach at Mooloolaba to enjoy the waves. After an evening bbq J and R returned to Brizzie. We were looking forward to spending 5 days with the girls allowing their parents to work unhindered.
    A fabulous week with our 3 granddaughters. We returned to the beach on Monday, after walking trip on the boardwalk in the local swamp, much to the delight of the midgies and mosquitos. We enjoyed the waves once again and explored the area's Op shops (charity shops to us). The girls very adept at finding real bargains.
    On Tuesday we visited Amazeworld, which we all enjoyed greatly. Comedy moments watching people getting lost in the hedge maze. The puzzles were good for the older girls and Summer enjoyed joining in when she could. She particularly enjoyed the rope tangle.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Noosa Everglades

    30 mars–5 avr., Australie ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We packed up once again and travelled a little further down the coast to the Habitat Noosa Everglades resort. We have been here many times and just love walking in amongst the kangaroos, which come into the site to eat the grass.
    Our journey was delayed by flood waters which closed the quickest routes for us to the location. We needed to travel via Noosaville to avoid road closures and even then our last leg required us to pass over flooded sections of the road.
    A lot of rain had fallen in the area. The lake, which is the largest salt water lake in Australia had risen about 4 ft above normal levels. The site usually has a string of campers along the waterfront, but all those pitches were flooded and unusable. The large pitches in the dell were also completely underwater. The beach was completely underwater and all boat hire and tours cancelled for three days.
    Our pitch (no 28) was clear so we were soon all sorted.
    We fell into the bar for a refresher prior to our evening meal. Children were enjoying playing in the water filled pitches. Kangaroos bounced around us, some in touching distance.
    We had planned a quick evening meal, as it happened it was even quicker than anticipated. Turning on the lights in the tent brought in hundreds of little beetles which swamped our food prep area. We had our meal in the sanctuary of the tent.
    In the morning we put up the awning front and side panels in order to prevent a repeat.
    On Monday the sun was shining once again, so we drove into Noosa Heads to enjoy some time on the beach. The surf was great fun as usual. A Boost fruit juice as we came off the beach was very refreshing.
    Some of the flood waters on our approach to the site had receded, and we could see that the level of the lake was dropping.
    Tuesday saw us do the Noosa Heads walk, one of our favourites. This time we passed along Alexandria Beach and after a wrong turning eventually back to the car park by the tanglewood track. Lots of dolphins were playing off dolphin point and we saw them surfing the waves. On our return to base we took in the Laguna Lookout.
    On Wednesday we drove to Eumundi Markets, one of the busiest markets in the Sunshine Coast region. Rain showers came rushing through. We spent much of our time there dodging heavy showers as we dodged from one stall to another. We have visited this market many times and never seen it this quiet. A combination of term time and heavy rain we suspect being the reason for this.
    When we returned to the campsite we found the beach was exposed and water levels in the lake back to normal.
    On Thursday we drove to Sunshine beach and walked the coast path towards Perigean beach. We were once again caught in a couple of rain showers, so we returned quite damp to our car. We then drove to Perigean Beach and found a fabulous cafe (Perigean Pantry). The coffee, chocolate brownie and carrot cake were all fabulous.
    On Friday after breakfast we drove into Noosa Marina and walked along the river to Noosa Heads, Hastings Street. The weather quite changeable with showers and sunshine, sometimes at the same time. The river was as busy as usual. As we got to Noosa Main Beach a heavy shower breezed through. We resisted the temptation to get a bus back to the marina and enjoyed an ice cream at 72 Flavours on our return. Weary from our lengthy (16kms plus) walk when we reached camp again.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Hervey Bay

    28–30 mars, Australie ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    After spending the morning at KB resort we boarded the early afternoon ferry back to Hervey Bay. It was raining heavily as we left the island and as we arrived back on the mainland. Thankfully by the time we arrived back at our campsite the rain was lighter. We quickly put up the first part of the tent but did not bother with the awning. We cooked and ate in the camp kitchen as the rain lashed down once again. There were many frogs jumping around on the waterlogged grass next to the kitchen. We chatted to a french family who were also sheltering from the weather. They told us they are away from home for 6 months touring with their 2 children- 1 month in Australia, then onto the Philippines and Thailand.
    We awoke the next day to light rain, but thankfully the skies cleared and the sun appeared. We walked along the esplanade from Torquay (where we were staying) to Urangan. A 10km return walk. We were expecting to see 2 beachside markets on our walk, but each consisted of 3 or 4 stalls only. Maybe the weather had put some stallholders off. We spent the afternoon back on site catching up with emails, whatsapp calls to family and blog writing.
    Tomorrow we move onto Noosa Habitat, one of our favourite spots on the east coast.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Day 2 of excursion.

    27 mars, Australie ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    After an early breakfast we set off on our journey up 75 mile beach. Again we saw dingoes along the waters edge. As the day went by we were to see many more. Our first stop was at the Maheno shipwreck. The ship was built in Scotland in 1905. Originally it was used as a cruise liner (having 6 decks) and later was commissioned as a hospital ship during the First World War. Shortly after the Japanese bought it as scrap metal it was hit by a cyclone in 1935. Its ruins now lie on 75 mile beach, and are quite something to see. Apparently 90% of the ship is now under the sand, but there is still plenty to see of the 123 metre long ship. We were allowed to paddle in the shallows of the sea near the wreck, but no swimming is allowed on the Eastern coast of the island - for 3 reasons - rip tides, stingers and sharks. 3 very valid reasons!
    Next stop was at the Pinnacles, coloured sand formations (apparently 72 different colours are there - can't say we spotted that many). In days gone by the Pinnacles was a women- only spot on the island for the aborigine women. This is because the coloured sands reportedly had health benefits, which the women made use of.
    We then drove a long way along the beach to reach the Champagne Pools, just north of Indian Head. We walked along the boardwalk and then down many steps and along rocks to reach the rock pools where the ocean's waves crash, bubble and fizz over the volcanic rock formations- the only place along the east coast where you can swim. The water was clear and pleasantly warm. Many fish also enjoyed swimming there.
    Driving back down the beach we reached Eli Creek, a popular attraction on the island. The largest Creek on the island, with over 4 million litres of clear, fresh water flowing into the ocean every hour. We were each given an inflated rubber tyre which we used to float down the gently flowing water. The water was cold (as it comes from underground) but we enjoyed meandering along in our float. A picnic lunch was eaten on the beach next to the car park. As a dingo approached our group our guide waved a broom and shook sand at it. It quickly ran away and did not bother us again.
    After a short break back at Eurong resort to freshen up we drove back across the island to Kingfisher Bay resort where we would spend our 3rd and final night on the island.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Eurong Resort

    26 mars, Australie ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    We joined a 4x4 bus tour of the island over two days. Hosted by Blair (a Kiwi) with K'Gari Adventure Tours. 13 of us set off from the jetty at Kingfisher Bay , with 6 more to join us at Lake McKenzie, our first stop. The drive from KB to the lake was fascinating. We drove inland through forest and rainforest areas along tracks of sand. On the island (which is 125km long) there are no roads at all, only sand tracks. At times the journey was extremely bumpy and we were thrown around the bus a little. We passed through native gums and grasses and lush rainforest. So many huge trees towering above us, some of them over 1000 years old. All very exciting. At lake M we all swam in the crystal freshwater. This perched dune lake, one of forty of its kind on the island, is fed entirely by rainwater. White and extremely fine silica sand surrounds the lake. Unfortunately the skies were heavily clouded and the lake did not sparkle quite as much as in the pictures we'd seen. But still absolutely stunning. Our next stop was at Central Station, the original logging station in the times when trees were cut down and cut into logs. In the 1920s this place was home to more than 100 people. 2 of the original buildings still remain. We walked through the old station to join a boardwalk along the Wanggoolba Creek. The creek was crystal clear and wound its way through towering palm trees and giant King ferns - so tranquil and beautiful. Apparently when the aborigines inhabited the island the gorge was a women- only area. This was because it was a cool place to be (with the canopy of plants providing much shade) and also had plenty of water - 2 of the necessary requirements for the women to give birth. The aborigine men would wait at the top of the gorge until the women had given birth and walked back up to the top!!
    After a short bumpy sandtrack drive we reached the sister resort to KB which is situated on the Eastern side of the island. There we ate a buffet lunch and freshened up before driving along 75 mile beach. We quickly spotted a dingo walking along the beach close to the sea. We drove as far as lake Wabby where we parked up and walked the 2.2 km walk through bushland and sanddunes. We were each given a large stick (painted orange at each end) to carry with us in case a dingo should appear. Apparently waving this stick at said dingo would be enough to scare it away. Thankfully we didn't have to put this to the test!! The lake is situated at the bottom of the golden Hammerstone Sandblow, and will apparently one day be engulfed completely by the shifting sands. Again we swam in the lake. We spotted many fish swimming close to the shore, many of them dogfish.
    We drove back to Eurong beach resort, where we checked into our room for the night. A very welcome refreshing shower after the activities of the day. We slept well that night and needed to be up early the next morning ready for day 2 of our 4WD excursion.
    .......    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Kingfisher Bay

    25 mars, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Our day started with a late morning pick up from our campsite and a journey to River Heads in Hervey Bay to join a barge crossing over to the Island. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and became a UNESCO site in 1992, due to its natural beauty.
    We were transferred from the landing jetty to our first resort on the island, Kingfisher Bay resort. This resort provides eco luxury accommodation, visited by British Royalty on occasion. There were posters and information about the then Prince Charles and Prince Harry with Megan when they made visits.
    After unpacking we headed off on a short walk around the resort and its environs. Our walk began with a very steep climb up through some of the accommodation and then along to the viewing point which overlooked the jetty and the sunset bar. On our way down to the bar it started to rain a little, enough of an excuse for us to sit in the shelter of the bar with a drink. Back at our resort we swam in one of the 4 swimming pools there. Again it rained but not enough to stop us swimming. We ended up in the hot tub which was under cover.
    In the restaurant we shared a bottle of Fraser Island fizz and ate a light meal. The cheese platter we opted to finish with was huge. We could only eat a little of it. The rest was packed into a box for us to take away.
    .....    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Hervey Bay

    24 mars, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    A one day stop over on a site in the middle of this busy town. We had booked a three night trip on K'Gari, leaving from Hervey Bay the following day. The site were happy to store our car and trailer for a nominal fee, which was very helpful.
    We found the Information centre to get some extra info about the island and walked along Urangan pier.
    Fishermen and women were adamant that they do catch something sometimes,    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Rainbow Beach

    20–24 mars, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We travelled south to Rainbow Beach, where we had a site booked at the holiday village for 4 nights. We stopped off at Maryborough to get some provisions along the way.
    It was scorching hot as we arrived on our campsite. Reversing the trailer onto our pitch highlighted the noise problem with our car. A chap on the adjacent pitch told us it sounded very serious!! We hurriedly dropped everything onto our site, emptying the car completely in case we ended up leaving the car at the garage. Our new neighbour found us the details of the local 4x4 specialist, and we drove around to them with trepidation. Large dollar signs were ringing in our heads.
    Once again, the service was very quick, very efficient, and very friendly. We were imagining being stuck while a new differential was delivered. However, all that was needed was a bit of oil on the rear metal plates which were grinding against each other with only dried up oil between them. $160 dollars and 45 mins later we left the garage mightily relieved.
    The township is named for the colourful sands in the cliffs nearby, which you can normally walk to along the beach. Cyclone Alfred put paid to that. The walk to the cliffs is only able to be completed at low tide, but the sand has been washed away to leave rugged impassable rocky structures.
    We spent our days on the beach, enjoying the great surf and warm water.
    One day we drove to see the great Carlo sand blow, amazing and a spot for hang gliders. We also drove up the peninsular to Inskip Point which is where there is a southern access onto K' Gari (Fraser Island). There were a lot of people fishing the waters there. The barge to K'Gari was plying backwards and forwards across the water.
    The next day we went on a bush walk to Poona lake where we enjoyed a tea-coloured warm lake swim. After that, we drove up to Inskip Point to the beaches there. Locals were pulling small fish out of the waters. We did not venture too far into the sea due to the presence of sharks, rips, stingers etc..
    4 days was not really enough time to see and do everything here. Next time when we visit we will do more of the national park walks.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Burrum Heads

    16–20 mars, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We packed up early and headed south. We had booked a site at Burrum Heads for 4 nights. It is a relatively new "bush" site that has been built around a lagoon on the edge of the township next to the beach - Burrum Shores beach side site. Our pitch was accessed by driving through the lagoon, about 10 inches deep at its deepest. As we drove onto the site we were welcomed by a group of kangaroos hopping about the grounds. The lagoon was full of birdlife - ducks, black swans, cormorant and shags, egrets and heron and a large group of pelicans.
    Our pitch overlooked the lagoon, set back about 20 metres from the beach.
    After we were all set up again, we took a walk along the beach. The tide was out a very long way, much like Weston-super-Mare.
    The camp kitchen had 2 smoker bbqs, which we were looking forward to trying out. However we soon discovered that they were not working that well.
    On Monday we walked along the beach again into the township. The fallen trees on the shoreline always provide interesting sculptures. We stopped by the local shop for an ice cream and a coffee just as the local MG owners club stopped by.
    We walked back to camp via the sea line, and the tide was again a very long way out. Soldier crabs were out on the sands in abundance, scurrying away from us as we progressed. There must have been millions of them.
    On Tuesday we took the car out to travel the short distance to Howard. K had spotted a fabric shop on our drive through to Burrum on the day we arrived. We spent a while mooching around the shop but no purchases were made.
    After that, we had a quick look at Hervey Bay, where we had coffee and snacks in a seaside shack. We then walked along the long pier at Urangan. There were many fishermen (and women) out but no fish had been caught.
    On Wednesday we had a look at Toogoom - a very small place on the coast. As we parked our car a couple advised us that there were all sorts of horrible noises coming from the rear of our car. We drove around a bit but could not hear anything ourselves. We then spent a relaxing afternoon on the beach, an overcast day but plenty warm enough.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Town of 1770

    13–15 mars, Australie ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    We drove into Agnes Water this morning, as we had planned to walk the red Rock Trail which is a 3.5k trail along the coast . We parked up by the paperbark boardwalk, currently closed due to maintenance issues, and set off through the bush to a beach side carpark. The walk took us through bush land and along three sandy beaches separated by rocky headlands. At the end of the trail there was a red rock.
    We had completed this walk on a previous trip, but the sea views are always worth doing it again. A long boardwalk takes you down to Spring Beach, where surfers enjoy the waves unmolested by casual swimmers.
    A cooling breeze from the sea was very welcome on a very hot day.
    We returned to base for lunch and a refreshing shower then wandered down to the local 1770 Marina, where we were to join an evening sunset cruise.
    We filled K's water bottle with ice, tonic and some gin, then sat by the waterfront enjoying the activity on the boats below and sipping our G and Ts. Youngsters were trying their hand at fishing off the marina.
    The evening cruise was most enjoyable. The operators laid on a delightful cheese and cold meat platter, which was very tasty. It being a Friday demanded our opening a bottle of fizz.
    The cruise chugged along around Bustard Bay, named by Captain Cook in May 1770. CC stopped off in the bay on 23rd May 1770 to have a look at the environment. A small boat went ashore on 24th May. Joseph Banks dug up 33 specimens of the local flora, whilst other members of the crew shot a Great Bustard. This apparently gave them a hearty meal, following which CC named the bay Bustard Bay in its honour. Our captain had been living in the area for 40 years and is yet to see such a bird on the headland.
    The boat stopped off at a mid-bay sand bar where we were able to get off and witness the sun down.
    Prior to returning to the marina we trundled along the bay in amongst the fine yachts and motor launches as the skies turned yellow and red on the horizon. This trip coincided with an eclipse of the moon, and we were able to see the shadow of the earth passing over the moon surface too, quite unexpected.
    We stepped off the boat at 7pm and decided to have a quick refresher in the beach bar. There then followed a brilliant evening. We were soon accosted by a family of three who were eager to engage in conversation. Turns out they were Cambridge educated South Africans, who had travelled the world - their speciality was mining engineering. Trevor and Melody, a married but divorced and separated couple and their son Roark.
    We had a quite eccentric conversation over a 2 hour period and walked home along the footpath to our site by the light of the full moon. People stopped to ask if we needed a lift. It is clearly most unusual to see people out and about at this time.
    Saturday saw us drive to the Captain Cook memorial car park. From there we walked along the butterfly trail - no butterflies at this time of year. This took us up towards the top of the headland, where we took further short paths to a couple of lookouts, on Bustard Head, and a memorial to a sunken vessel which foundered off the headland after dropping its cargo of migrants into Queensland. The ships anchor was resurrected from the wreck - the memorial recognises the demise of the ship's captain and all five of the crew.
    After that we walked back past our car and along the beach to The Rusty Pelican cafe. We had heard great things about the cafe and its fish dishes. We were not disappointed. The cafe sits next to the beach adjacent to a busy camper ground and clearly does a great trade. Our lunch was so tasty - we shared a salt and pepper calamari salad and sweetlip fish and chips.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Town of 1770

    11–14 mars, Australie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Today was a travelling day. At last we felt confident enough that the roads to the north would be open.
    We hitched up at 7am and headed north out of the city on The Bruce Highway. The journey was completely uneventful. Turning off the highway near Bundaberg we travelled through lush farmland with macadamia nut groves and sugar cane plantations.
    We reversed onto our site at Captain Cook Bush Camp just before 2pm.
    The new tropical roof A made to replace the old one fitted nicely and by 4pm our set up was complete. We were both very hot and very sticky, so enjoyed a cold beer prior to a refreshing shower.
    Our neighbours on site were a couple from Melbourne who were awaiting the arrival of grand child number 1 nearby. In the early evening a big RV rental pitched up - the couple were from Lyme Regis. They too, had been delayed by the cyclone and were travelling with their daughter, who lives in Melbourne, up the coast to Cairns.
    Wednesday was a lazy day. We drove into Agnes Water to check out the Information Centre, enjoyed our first gelato from the spectacular gelato shop and wandered down to the beach. The sea was perfect temperature and the rollers invigorating.
    Thursday started with a couple of heavy rain showers. The locals were hoping for some rain as it had been quite dry. The showers were heavy but moved through quickly. We watched a team of three men fell a large gum tree on the site opposite ours. The heavy rain did not seem to deter their efforts at all. One guy shinned up a rope with a chainsaw lopping off large branches which were soon dragged into macerator. By 11am the skies began to clear, so we donned our walking boots and walked through the scrub to the beach. We walked along the beach back to Agnes Water where we could bathe in the sunshine and swim in the waters surveyed by the local Beach Patrol. Once again the rollers were invigorating.
    We walked back to site via the gelaterie and the footpath to 1770. A refreshing shower once back on site, followed by a chilled G and T.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Eatons Hill

    4–11 mars, Australie ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We decided to revisit the city centre, as we anticipate this will be our last chance this week. It is looking increasingly likely that cyclone Alfred will be hitting later this week. Again we parked up at New Farm and walked from there into the city. The city cats and ferries had all stopped running and had been removed from the water in order to keep them safe during the cyclone. The footpaths were so much quieter than last week, and most of the cafes and restaurants were busy clearing tables and chairs away and securing parasols and plant pots in anticipation of the cyclone hitting. They were still open for business but there were not many customers. We headed straight for the Botanic Gardens alongside the river, where we planned on joining the guided walk of the gardens. It turned out we were the only 2 people wishing to take part, but Katie our guide was enthusiastic as she led us around pointing out many trees, plants and birds of interest. A most interesting walk. We ate a snack lunch at the cafe in the gardens. Unfortunately as Alan finished his sandwich a huge ibis leapt up onto the table knocking over his coffee. The waitress immediately spotted what had happened and quickly wiped up the mess and refilled A's coffee.
    We then headed to the convict museum of Queensland. Again we benefited from a guided tour. The building we were in had housed the stores for the convict community. We were shown photos and models of the living quarters for the convicts. The conditions they lived in and the rations they survived on were quite alarming.
    We walked back to our car at New Farm, again weary by the time we reached it. Another 10 to 11 miles walked during the day.
    In the evening we celebrated Summer's 5th birthday around the dinner table.
    Wednesday the children went off to school, fully expecting this to be their last day this week. We went off to Apsley shopping for the ingredients for a curry meal which A planned on cooking. We were lucky to arrive in the supermarket as a new delivery of water was being unloaded. We purchased the permitted allowance of 2 lots of 10 litres. Bottled water is in short supply as people panic buy essentials such as toilet rolls, water, cereal, bread etc.
    The cyclone was not progressing as quickly as the forecasters had been predicting, however it was following the predicted route.
    Heavy winds and high sea surges on the south side of the cyclone were hammering the beaches of The Gold Coast.
    Sand bags were being filled in abundance at SES centres and the news channels went into 24 hour coverage, piling on the expected misery.
    The cyclone was hovering around the category 1 mark for some days then lifted to Category 2 with a potential to go to category 3 for a while.
    Expected landfall was on Thursday, Maroochydore being the centre point which is where we were planning to start our short road trip.
    As the cyclone edged ever nearer the winds grew stronger and the tides to the south of Brisbane even higher. The TV was full of news covering the misery of flooding and beach erosion along the seaside communities.
    Everyone was being advised to stay safe and stay indoors, evacuation orders were given to some communities and community halls were given over to house displaced home owners.
    Thursday came and went, the cyclone lingered off shore all through Friday at Category 1 before dropping to a Tropical Low and moved overland.
    Apparently it was quite windy in the night, we managed to sleep our way through it. Our morning was quite quiet, as we were near the centre of the storm but all to the south of us was being battered by the winds and torrential rain.
    Some communities were badly flooded, Lissmore in NSW was expecting its flood defences to burst once again and give them another major incident after the last one 3 years ago.
    the TV anchors all found themselves reporting in front of properties which had fallen trees smashed into them and the tales of woe south of the city were numerous.
    We took the girls out to the local mall for a bit of fresh air. Where we had walked the other day was flooded as expected, as it is part of the flood relief system, and many trees had lost branches and some trees had come down overnight.
    There then followed two days of torrential rain as the storm worked itself out.
    We were anxious to start our road trip as soon as possible, so spent the day revising our plans. Instead of meandering up to The Town of Seventeen Seventy we decided to start there and work south.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • K and A's road tripVoyageurBig Adventure

    Brisbane

    3 mars, Australie ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Another quiet day. We were going to start sorting our equipment out for our road trip up north once we had taken Summer to school. However the weather forecasters were now predicting that our proposed destination on Thursday may be a likely point for the cyclone to cross onto the land.
    It is a category 2 cyclone at present, and the authorities are preparing for the worst.
    Sand bags are being filled at stations along the coast. The Brisbane water taxis are being suspended from this evening and being hoisted onto dry land. Schools are being told they may have to close on Wednesday through to Friday.
    Forecasters are saying that the cyclone may bring up to 600mm of rainfall in the coming few days.
    Not great - cyclone, rain, full moon and spring tides. Covid did for our visit to Maroochydore last time. Cyclone Alfred is going to delay our visit this time.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction