Friday 20th July 2012

The Travellers Rest Carvan Park at Midge Point is beautiful even in the rain and it is so peaceful, we are having a very relaxing stay here and will be sad to leave on Monday. Yesterday the sun was out when we visited Airlie Beach and Cedar Creek Falls and today the forecast is for more sun. We were walking along the beach at 7am this morning although it was a little chilly we enjoyed it tremendously. All this walking and I'm still not losing weight (must be eating too much or having too many happy hours).

This is Stephen feeding wild Lorikeets who were sheltering under our awning from the torrential rain we had at Clairview.

This is a Black Cockatoo (I hadn't seen one this close before) who was gate crashing a "Big Morning Tea" we were at on Weds in Midge Point. We had a great time and Stephen won the Botchee (not sure if that is the correct spelling as never heard of the game before) game and we received a Bottle of Muscat Liquer, three glasses a jar of Olives and a box of crackers - we only need the cheese and we have a Gourmet's delight. We won a couple of other small items too.

The entrance to the Travellers Rest Caravan Park - as you can see it had been raining on this day.

Sign welcoming you to Proserpine

Proserpine Museum on the road into the town

Proserpine is a beautiful little town and has a small Woolworths and a large Supa IGA owned by the Faust family. This is a gorgeous store, very clean and tidy and all the assistants were extremely friendly and helpful. Lots of other stores on the main street through town plus several Pubs.

Airlie Beach

Yachts and boats moored off the beach at Airlie

Cedar Creek Falls in between Proserpine and Airlie Beach

We went for a drive yesterday to Airlie Beach - the sun was out and the sky was blue. We played spot the older person for most of the morning as Airlie seemed to be all young backpackers everywhere. We walked along the front for approx 2 metres and heard four languages none of which was English. Seemed to be plenty of tourists about like us but these were a lot younger. We had morning tea on the beach and then went for a drive to Cedar Creek Falls. These are stunning and some people were swimming in the pool at the bottom but Stephen dipped his toe in and said it was freezing. We had lunch there then on the way back we popped in to Proserpine for a large Mozzie Candle as there seems to be quite a lot at the Camp site.By the time we arrived back at Midge Point it had rained and all my washing was wet. Never mind have just put it out again today.

Monday 16th July 2012

We stayed at the Clairview Caravan Park on our next leg of the journey, just passed St Lawrence as it was a muddy paddock when we passed. We booked in for 3 nights (fri, sat,sun) and it was $35 per night. What a rip off. no extra facilities , old amenities block (but clean) had a bar and a small restaurant which made one meal every night and you had to order by 5pm. there were a lot of permanents on this site and the locals frequented the bar and restaurant. Although saying all that we did have a very relaxing time there and we  went in to Sarina on the Saturday. What a very cute place that is and you have to pass the Sugar Mill on the way into town.

We only found out on the Sunday afternoon that crocodiles were in the area of the camp and we, like every one else , had been walking on the beach and along the creeks.

We left there this morning in brilliant sunshine, the first we have seen for a while, and went to a caravan park in Mackay but it was full, then we went to a camp site on the beach at Seaforth but they wanted $21 a night- no showers and no power and you couldn't use your generators so we carried on to The Travellers Rest Caravan Park at Midge Point - we could not believe our eyes - it is set in a tropical parkland and is not too big but has beautiful amenities , a small camp kitchen and fire pit area which I am led to believe is lit every night for people to sit around and chat. Our site is next to the walkway to the beach which is only 200meteres away, so it looks like we are going to enjoy it here. By the way we booked in this site for a week so that we can explore the area and drive in to Proserpine etc.

Friday 13th July 2012

Calliope River Rest Area

Calliope River - where Stephen caught fish

Woodgate Beach on a cold and windy day

Annette  on Woodgate beach


Whilst we were at Bargara we visited Woodgate beach, it's a beautiful sandy white beach but the day was cold and blustery and we still managed to enjoy our picnic.

We left Bargara on Monday and travelled to Calliiope River rest Area No 106 in the Camp Five Book. We didn't get there until just after 1pm so most sited were taken and we had to go into the valley. but the next day when lots moved on we moved to the top overlooking the river and stayed another 2 nights. It'd just a beautiful place and Stephen went fishing and was the only person to catch  anything. He caught a mullet and a catfish.

We were going to Gracemere caravan park but they were fully booked and I booked us in to Yeppoon but they have had heaps of rain so I cancelled that and booked into Southside Village Tourist Park in Rockhampton. We thought we were here for four nights but thankfully they only had a one night vacancy. It is a good site with clean facilities but the noise is horrendous . Trains all night and its next to the track and traffic all night in and out of Rockhampton. We are glad we are leaving this morning. We managed to get all our business done in Rockhampton in the one day and also three loads of washing and drying and food shipping. The only thing I need is a pair of wellies (galoshes) but they are so expensive, so still looking for a cheap pair.

Wednesday July 4th

This is the view from our caravan - every morning we sit out and have a cuppa before deciding what we are doing for the day.

This is the entrance to "the Absolute Ocean Front Caravan Park" it is only a small park but always friendly and full of interesting people from all over Australia.


We went for a drive today to vist "The Fred Haig Dam" at Lake Monduran and it was a beautiful day. This Dam is located approximately 20klms out of Gin Gin - which is another cute town with a great Historical Village.


This is the centre of Mount Perry -

For years the Leopard AS1 main battle tank has played an important role in the Australian Defence Forces' work around the world. But now the time has come for the Leopards to retire, with the ADF introducing the M1-A1 Abrams main battle tank as its replacement in the field.

But the decommissioned Leopards haven't just been sent to the junkyard - rather, they've been given a fresh lick of paint and gifted to RSLs around the country, to go on display.
Mount Perry is one of only six Queensland towns to be granted a Leopard tank, and it can now be seen sitting proudly over the road from the town's existing war memorial.
The local Dingle family provided the money for the concrete slab for the tank to be placed on.


This is the lookout at Mt Perry which is approx half an hour out of Gin Gin.

On the way back to Bargara we called at a friends daughter's house for a cuppa as she lives in Gin Gin and she made us very welcome.

Not planning anything for tomorrow as we are going to relax all day.

We're off again

Hi everyone
We set off again, on our travels yesterday (Tuesday 26th June) after spending approx 3 weeks at our Daughters and with our grandsons and all our family. Sad to go but loving the fact that we can.
We stopped the first night at the Matilda Roadhouse just south of Gympie (no 159 in the camp 5 book) - this is a free park at the back of the roadhouse. It's a very secluded spot next to three small lakes and there is lighting and BBQ facilities there. You have to go to the roadhouse for toilets and you can use their showers for a fee and there is a laundrette, newsagents small corner store, cafes and a large eating place plus a tourist information shop - lots of greyhound buses stop there.
We thought it was going to be very noisy with the trucks passing by but we really didn't notice them it was the rain that kept us awake.
It poured down all day on Tuesday so we decided to have a movie day - so we watched two Harry Potter movies and then had dinner that we cooked in our new DreamPot. It was gorgeous. We have travelled to my favourite caravan park today at Bargara and we are staying here for a week so will let you all know how we get on later.The weather unfortunately is still wet but we are hoping for sun tomorrow.

Back Home at Ormeau

My Grandson Owen's Birthday Card
Card made whilst at Cania Gorge
Card made whilst at Cania Gorge
Queens's Park on the Burnett River
James Blundell


I was very lazy last week and kept forgetting to post anything about Bundaberg or Bargara, I didn't even take a picture of the camp, but you can always look at it on the net just type in "Absolute Ocean Front Tourist Park" and it will come up. I have managed to make four cards while I have been travelling but only remembered to take a picture of three of them. I have enjoyed this week at Bargara as a very dear friend of mine lives at this park and I got the chance to spend a week with her. Stephen and I walked every morning for three quarters of an hour then had breakfast ( that woke me up). We visited the Shalom markets in Bundaberg they are ususally teeming with all sorts of craft and produce but this week because of the rain there weren't that many stalls , but I did manage to find some purple carrots (been wanting to try them for ages) so brought them home with me - we are having them with dinner tonight. We also visited a small park in Bundaberg on the Burnett river down by the Mater Hospital - great for fishing and having BBQ's. On Sunday afternoon we went to a free James Blundell concert for over 50's given by Palm Lakes Resort in Bargara - he was awesome.
Monday we packed up and decided to try a free camp at Tiaro (back of the hotel) it was a mess - the council had the roads up and half the park cordoned off so the rest had about 5 caravans in and the ground was full of ruts and it was a hike to the toilets.
So we thought we'd try the free camp at Bauple - that was clean neat and tidy but in the middle of the village next to the main road with no shade or toilet acces you had to walk to the nearby communtiy hall complex and the toilets were at the back of the scout hall - not good when you need to go quickly.
So we ended up travelling through to get to Victoria's by 4pm. I think the boys were glad to see us as Victoria said when she came round the corner they both screamed at the top of their voices Nanna and Pop are back and nearly jumped out of the car whilst it was still going.
We have spent today getting sorted out and are going to the Caravan and Camping Show in Brisbane tomorrow.
That's it for now

Bargara

Hi
Didn't do much for the last few days at Rocky just shopped and met some really nice people. We are now at Bargara ( the absolute Oceanfront Caravan Park). It is only a small park and often from the road looks quite full but they always make you welcome and find a spot for you. the amenities are clean and they keep the grounds tidy. I went to Aldi yesterday (first time for weeks) it was heaven. Haven't taken any pictures yet but will later in the week, we are hoping to go and see James Blundell on Sunday in a free concert here, just trying to get tickets today.Think maybe Stephen will go fishing today on the river or there is the Bundaberg show starting today too.