Town of 1770

The Town of 1770 was named as Captain Cook landed here in May 1770, hence the festival for the weekend celebrated the first Queensland landing of Captain Cook.

 This bush turkey came into our camp for a feed, but he certainly wasn't going to share with this seagull

Sunset at 1770

Sunsets were amazing. These shots were taken on the same night.

Amazing spot, we are camping right on the beach, but the weather is the worst weather we have had on the trip, rain, wind and freezing. We have resident tawny frog mouths near our bus and the fruit bats are out at night.

Our campsite, right on the beach

Fireworks

On the Saturday night we had fireworks right out the front of the bus. Sunday bought out some sun so we went for a long walk along the beach.

Bundaberg

The Mystery Craters

After leaving behind Gin Gin, we stopped at "The Mystery Craters". The craters were discovered by a local farmer back in 1971, they are believed to be over 25 million years old.

(Ella & Landon - this photo is for you both)
Look what Markie found at the Mystery Craters

We went into Bundaberg to do the Bundaberg Rum Tour, which was great. I had my sample drinks and found Bundaberg Red is a nice drop, considering I'm not a Bundy person.

Bundaberg Distilling Company

Lorelle, The Bundy Bear & Mark

We then moved onto the Town of 1770 were we booked into for four nights as they are having a festival here for the weekend.

Eidsvold -Gin Gin

Tuesday 22nd May - Wednesday 23rd May
Stopped the night 7km's out of Eidsvold beside the Burnett River. The following morning we went to the RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre. The centre is only 18 months old, it was interesting but we were disappointed that no RM Williams clothing, boots etc or the Outback Magazine were on sale. Apparently the family have sold off that side of the business and there is some dispute over the naming rights.
We then travelled over the Gin Gin, the road was very hilly and hard going on the bus. We pulled into a caravan park at Gin Gin, which was very interesting. The park was full of either bogan's or hippies. A police car followed us into the park and pulled up at two of the permanent residence caravans and were talking to them for quite some time.

Biggenden - Paradise Dam

 Tuesday 15th May - Tuesday 22nd May
We left Tin Can Bay on the 15th, there are road signs to watch out for kangaroo's and horses, as we were heading towards Marybourgh we saw a dead horse on the side of the road.
We arrived at Biggenden and spent the next couple of days catching up with Fay & Stan.

On the Friday we took off to Paradise Dam, Sue, Gavin, Mitchell & Jess came over to join us. It is a beautiful spot, we had the boat and kayaks in the water for the weekend. Only fish that were getting caught were catfish.

Sunset over Paradise Dam

                                                         

Gavin checking on dinner in the rain

Sue & Gavin cooked up a beautiful roast pork in the camp oven, during the time tea was cooking the skies opened up and the rain came down. It didn't put out the fire, so tea was saved.

Said our good byes to Sue, Gavin, Mitchell & Jess, with talk of maybe catching up further down the track. We stayed another night before heading back to Biggenden. Left Biggenden on the Tuesday and stayed at Eidsvold to night.

Tin Can Bay

Tuesday 8th May - Tuesday 15th May

                                         

Gavin & Sue Moseley with Mark & Lorelle

We've spent the last week at Tin Can Bay with Sue & Gavin. We arrived had a look around the town, had a bite to eat then took off the kayaks and went for a paddle down Snapper Creek. The following day took the bikes off the trailer and cycled around town. 

Thursday, Sue & Gavin both had the day off work, so before breaky Gavin took Mark & myself off to collet some shrimps and then the four of us went out fishing in Gavin & Sue's boat. Before we started fishing we stopped at an island to collect more shrimps.
Between us, 37 whiting were caught and then we went over to Fraser Island for lunch, which was fantastic as we had the whole beach to ourselves. During the day had problems with the throttle so mark was our throttle man while Gavin steered us in the right direction. Sue & Gavin reckon their boat had never gone so fast.
Friday was a bit of a chill out day, doing domestic choirs, washing clothes, bus ect. Kegan arrived from Brisbane for the weekend, we had a massive feed of whiting and chips.

Mark at Rainbow Beach

Saturday Sue & Gavin took us out to Rainbow Beach, where the coloured sands are. We got out and walked along the beach before heading off to Inskip Point, which overlooks the southern point of Fraser Island, driving along the beach.

Lorelle & Mark at Inskip Point

Beautiful spot, we spent the day on the beach, fishing, had a dip in the water and had lunch on the beach. Danielle, Ben & Annabell arrived and stayed the night

The Moseley Family

Dolpin feeding at Tin Can Bay

Prior to leaving Tin Can Bay, we went down and had breakfast, as the dolphins came in for a feed.

Lake Broadwater National Park

Sunday 6th May 2012 we set off from St George, heading for Lake Broadwater National Park with me driving again. The roads today were long and straight. Most of the way the roads were good but near Moonie the bus just rocked and rolled all the way into town.

During our travels today, we stopped at our favourite Queensland town (NOT) Moonie.

Mark, myself with Sheree (2) and Tara (6 months) got stuck in Moonie 25 years ago for three days. due to floods The weather was so humid, we were lucky to get the last room in the motel, as we had kids, otherwise we would have spent out time there sleeping in the Hilux.

Anyhow stopped and had lunch at Moonie and pulled up at the Lake Broadwater National Park for the night. When we arrived at Lake Broadwater Mark & I noticed a bus that we had seen 5 years ago.

Ken and our bus at Lake Broadwater NP

We met Ken when we did our Ayers Rock trip, 5 years ago, at The Olga's and then a couple of days later on the road out to Kings Cannon. Back then we got photos of the two busses together and so we pulled our bus up to Kens and got another photo. Ken has been travelling Australia now for 10 years.

Sunset over Lake Broadwater

Monday7th May - went for a walk down to the bird hide and got some great shots of kangaroo's, then after saying our farewells to Ken took off heading towards Gympie via Kingaroy. Beautiful countryside, hilly. Once we arrived at Gympie found one caravan park and reversed straight out again, looks pretty ordinary, found a second caravan park but that was closed, so headed towards Tin Can Bay, but pulled into Standdown Caravan Park about 5pm.

St George

On Thursday, after finding out the knocking noise in the front end was okay to drive with, and getting the stone reflector welded back together, we set off for St George. The free camp near town was closed due to the recent floods. This town has had three floods in the last eighteen months.
Found a great spot, Kapunda Fishing Park, on private property, right on the Balonne River, not doing any good with the fishing, getting more snags than a Bunning's BBQ.

Beautiful Balonne River

Finally got the kayak's in the water, the river here is about three times the width of the Murray River. There was no firewood in the park, so during the day, Mark & myself would kayak across the other side of the river gathering firewood. we have both the front & back of the kayak's loaded with wood. I felt like Hiawatha, going out to gather firewood, to keep my man warm.

Mark keeping warm by the fire

What a fire!!!! Needless to say we had the best fire in the park.

I think I'd better book in for those photography lesson. god now's how I got that shot. 

Anyhow stayed here for three nights, during that time we saw three water snakes, swimming?? don't think so. A great spot, very quite and right on the water. Saturday afternoon packed up as we are heading off on  Sunday.

Lightning Ridge

We have spent the last three nights at the Opal Caravan Park, at Lightning Ridge. During our stay here we have been on a mine tour where we saw the mine as well as all of these underground sculptures which the artist has been working on for the last 14 years. It was amazing.

Hot Artesian Baths

The artesian bore baths are nearly opposite the caravan park, it is open 24/7 expect for two hours during the day and it's free. Went down there each day for a soak.