Carooweal Hotel Caravan Park Qld

Our unexpected camping spot. This is on our RACV tab at $42.42 per night (grrr on card surcharge). Choose our own campsite, we like No. 14, further down the back (from road noise) and has nice shady trees. Set up caravan - though must confess we had trouble unhitching with unfamiliar vehicle and our 'McHitch' set up (got there eventually, me driving the vehicle off and Rog making height adjustments, and neighbouring camper coming to assist 'scaring' it apart lol). Happy with facilities here, amenities block is dated but kept nice and clean, small pool, laundry $4 a load, dump point and great to have power and water. Get into our bathers, Roger over into the pool to cool down. I organise 2 loads of washing put on, while waiting, I get chatting with 2 other camping sites that are 'stranded' similar to us - they're waiting on their parts to arrive and will fit them themselves. 1st one is a young fella, 25yr old Kalelem, by himself in his own ute, nicely set up Nissan Patrol, was travelling back to Katherine for his work (Government contract work - builder) when he broke down near here, David RACQ got him to this Caravan Park Tuesday (week ago). He's waiting for an injector part to arrive that he'll fit himself. Going fairly 'stir crazy' waiting especially as his latest news is that the part is missing in transit (after he's paid extra to get it quicker). 2nd is a young family, Hayden and Sarah Obome with their children Tayla (her 12th birthday today!) and 4yr old son Atlas. They 'broke down' coming opposite direction from us, turbo 'shat itself' in their 100series Landcruiser - it's towing their neat 18ft caravan. David RACQ collected their setup by truck and delivered them here as well, last Wednesday (day after Kalelem). They've just received their last part required today (other piece arrived yesterday) and as Hayden is a truck mechanic by trade he's busy getting their vehicle sorted. Hopes to get most of it done today, finish it off and check tomorrow so they get back underway Thursday. They are on a year 'look about' and are on the 'tail end' with just 4 weeks until they need to be home (house they've renovated themselves on 25 acres near Bundaberg) to return to work (Sara a hairdresser). Sara and Hayden very welcoming and social, giving us good tips about places they've been that we're heading towards. Roger and I get our washing drying on clothesline Roger sets up around our van. Lunch, our usual, cold meat salad sandwich for Roger, open savoury toasties for me. We now spend the afternoon, alternating between reading, relaxing, chatting with our fellow 'stranded's' and cooling off in the swimming pool. Tea tonight I make a Thermomix pasta again (use up remaining chorizo from previous batch) and Roger makes up Golden Syrup dumplings and cooks them in the airfryer, works a treat. Use thermomix to make custard to have with the dessert dumplings. Sarah has invited Kalelem and us for after dinner BYO drinks at their campsite - we'll help eat Tayla's birthday cake, after singing Happy birthday to her. Lovely company, chatting happily together until we call it a night around 9.30pm. Back at our van, Roger heads off for a shower, I tidy up. Reading and bedtime.
Wednesday sees us have a leisurely start, I go have shower before I have breakfast. Roger has his breakie while I'm out. Kalelem's part turned up early this morning, he"s working flat out to get himself underway as quick as he can. Which he does. mid morning we look about from our caravan and he's gone. All going well with Hayden's vehicle too - he's test driving his about, shortly after lunch. Again our standard lunch today. This morning Roger checked in with David about our ute, have decided it's an electrical fault probably caused by a rat/s chewing wiring. This makes sense to us - good to know that problem is being found. While Roger off doing this, I'm making Anzac biscuits (thermomix) and trying out cooking them in the airfryer. This works well when I turn the biscuits over after 1st cook, to brown up the bottoms.
Afternoon is filled in by reading and checking emails, and more swimming to stay cool. I also call over to Sara, take the Anzac biscuits, to catch up on and take notes on some recommendations on places they have been that we are heading towards. Anzac biscuits all eaten up, Obome family, especially kids Tayla and Atlas, enjoyed them. Another swim, then back to the caravan for easy tea - reheat (microwave) last night's pasta and follow with cold golden syrup dumplings and custard. Roger and I go for a sunset swim in the pool, Obome family too and meet another young couple, backpackers, who are waiting on parts to get their campervan fixed as well. They have been waiting coming on close to 2 weeks! Their latest required parts haven't arrived yet. After this swim we shower, then grab a bottle of wine to have drinks with Hayden and Sara - as they're leaving in the morning. Lovely family, enjoy the evening with them - then back to our van after 9pm for our bedtime.
Thursday morning, we're wondering if we'll get the opportunity to leave today if the ute can be fixed in time...I get up before 7am and go for a shuffle, by the time I get back Rog has breakfasted and is heading off to see what David's up to with our ute. I get changed, have my breakfast then relax, contemplating on making another batch of Anzac biscuits, Rog gets back, unsure when ute will be worked on as David doing other jobs. Say our goodbyes to Sara, Hayden, Tayla and Atlas - they're happily heading for Corella Dam today. Swap details to keep in contact via facebook. We're relaxing when Roger gets the call from David that our ute is fixed and ready to pay for and collect. Yay, we spring into gear now, forget about biscuit making! I get on with inside van tidy up and pack away while Roger goes for the ute. $350 bill paid and back with our ute sounding and running like it should. Team work and we're underway leaving Camooweal 11.30am.Læs mere