And some more
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
17th, 18th, 19th, November 2014 Tin Can Bay
17th, Reluctantly leaving Julie and Mike we make our way towards Tin Can Bay.
On our way we stop off and have a good look around Maryborough, there are some lovely old buildings, it is an older town and it is nice to see some of the old buildings still being used.
The town of Tin Can Bay is much larger than either of us expected and is situated on great waterways, the amount of boats here and right through Queensland is almost overwhelming, there are fancy house boats that can be hired I did ask the price but can't remember the price I think I went into shock when she said, though apparently the longer you hire the cheaper it is.
We explored the area and of course checked out the boat ramp, they do dolphin feeding each morning down near the ramp, we never went we did get a glimpse of the dolphins while we were in the boat, they are rare Pacific Humpback dolphins. They have a good golf course here we thought about a game but it was a bit warm, really come in to the build up.
18th, The boat gets a run today although we are not expecting anything great all anyone talks of is whiting or flathead but I would be more than happy with a good feed on either.
While we were out fishing the sandbars I thought it was great to be fishing without being thrown around.
Merv caught some small whiting, small blue lined emperor and other small fish as well as hooked onto a good shark on the big gear, never got to see it, I caught several fish that looked like leather jacket but weren't, the spine on their back was extremely long and they had a funny trumpet type mouth.
We were enjoying ourselves when a big storm moved in when the lightning started close we decided to go in, I didn't feel like being a target.
We waited for the storm to pass then went back out this time we went out further just off the beach of Fraser Island, as we fished we watched the barge that runs from Rainbow Beach to Fraser Island it only takes 10 minutes.
Fishing hadn't improved any but we did enjoy the day the water was lovely and clear and was a mass of sky blue jellyfish the size of large dinner plates, they were pretty and we were guaranteed they were harmless, a bit like the brown jellyfish that live in the swan river. As we made our way back the weather was building again.
19th, The weather looks nasty today so we decide to go out to Rainbow Beach, this town is even larger than Tin Can Bay and caters more for the holiday makers, the beach is beautiful great place for a swim, we didn't go in thunderstorm threatening, there was a young man killed just recently just walking down the path I didn't want to push my luck.
We drove done the road behind the beach in the national park, the park is full of areas that people can get a permit and camp there was one area in particular that we would love to camp and have a holiday there it was near the ocean beach a lot of them was around on the beach in the river.
We were going to walk up to a sand blow and a lake as well as along the beach to see the colours of the sand cliffs but the rain started so we headed back.
When we got back the storm really hit, the rain was so heavy and it just went on and on, I went out at one time and there was 6 inches of water lying everywhere, it kept up well after we went to bed, with the sounds of the rain and of course soon as the rain started out came the toads, even though it was stormy it was peaceful to put one to sleep.
25th, 26th, November 2014 Coloundra Sunshine Coast
When we got up this morning and had a coffee we decided to take the fishing gear down to the jetty and try our luck before breakfast, the tide was ripping in very strong so after trying for a while with out a bite it was time for breakfast.
After breakfast we set off for the Hinterlands, called in to the information centre and got as much information as possible, they gave us a map that took us on a circuit of the area.
When we were in the Atherton Tablelands we thought they were amazing but the Hinterlands pale them in comparison, the mountains, beautiful villages, all with such well looked after and colorful gardens and then we have the roads one of the roads had a sign that said no caravans or trucks over 10t, this was one way, thank god, narrow a bit windy to start with then went up and up steeper and steeper, at one time wasn't sure if I should get out and lighten the load, the road going down was gravel at least we had seal, when we got to the top it felt like we were looking down from heaven we were that high up. Most of the roads run along the ridges of the mountains with the houses down over the side, the towns and houses in the valleys were also nice, lots of lovely fat cattle.
We went out to Baroon Dam to see if it was any good for a paddle the road went out through one of the small towns when we turned a corner crested a rise we both said together, "holy shit" the road seemed to disappear staight dlwn at the bottom there was a sign that said 19% for almost 1km, talk about a rollercoaster. The dam was very dry way back from the dam wall I have never seen a big dam so empty they need rain in a big way, we never put the canoes in as the water level was so low it would have been too difficult.
We stopped into Mary Cairncross Park here they do conservation and research there is a quite a nice long walk through what they call sub tropical rainforest, it was as good as we had seen anywhere if not better as there were a lot more birds visable as well as the different types calling and we also came across one of their rare pademelons, lots of butterflies even the birdwing we found the whole place exceptional, lunch in the park with the birds and butterflies, a couple more walks on the way back to camp.
Yesterday was the hills today we are going up the coast, check out all the tourist spots.
The first stop was Mooloolaba this one turned out to have the nicest river to swim and fish in the water was crystal clear, while we were walking around a lady we passed had caught a nice big flathead, the beach here is only suitable for the very foolhardy, they do have a lifeguard but nobody was in, maybe the tough surfies some times.
Next was Maroochydore this was like another city right on the beach and river, there was a caravan park right on the beach that seemed to go on forever, I thought the park looked like a pigsty and the parks in town on their shopping strip were no better. We stopped off and looked at most of the beaches, in reality it is one huge beach that just keeps going but must change due to how the current flows, the best very nice beach was Coolum, nice safe surf, all of them are cities on the beach. When we got to Noosa I was very surprised I had often heard people talk of going to Noosa for holiday, it is the ugliest holiday spot I would think anyone would want to go to, the beach and swim areas, yuk, all the cafe's etc are miles from the beach it reminded us of Margaret River only yuppier shops, there is no way you could sit and enjoy a meal or coffee looking out over the water.
When we got back after dinner we went for a walk down along the foreshore we both agreed if anyone was coming to the sunshine coast for a holiday Caloundra is certainly the best place to go, great swimming, eating and drinking with a veiw.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd 24th, November Coloundra Sunshine Coast
Quite a nice drive down the highway a lot of roadworks going on expanding what is already a good motor way no doubt they are trying to keep up with the population.
After setting up we went for a walk to check out the ramp and the water ways, we were surprised at the size of Coloundra though we should be used to it now we are in Queensland, there is every type of shop, cafe or restaurant that anyone could want.
Next day we went for a walk along the that has a boardwalk and pathways that go for kms, the boardwalk passes great beaches and runs in front of continual highrise buildings when you walk along and observe these it is plain to see the down side of highrise, the buildings that are around 30yrs+ are getting very shabby, rusty railings, mold on the bricks and window frames, no doubt these things would be the cheap accommodation.
Following day we went to Bribane to visit our friend Warren in hospital then to visit Jason and Drue our friends thar used to be in Perth.
Next day Sunday Jason came up to us in the caravan park, we went for a walk down the walkway, sat had a beer and some chips for lunch, done some people watching. Jason left approx 5.30.
On Monday we took the boat out in the river, there is supposed to be a few big flathead and large whiting in there the wind was blowing pretty strong so we didn't want to go out, we had also been told there wasn't anything outside, we had seen nice bream, bluelined emperor and golden trevalley caught off the jetty but we didn't have any luck out in the boat. We landed on Brieby Island for our lunch at a picnic area but the mosquitoes were big enough to carry us away so we finished our lunch on the boat before heading in.
Monday, 17 November 2014
16th November 2014 Bundaberg
When we left 1770 today we were on our way to our friends Julie and Mike in Bundaberg we weren't expected till the afternoon so we stopped at Baffle Creek, this is really a large area of water ways that is perfect for the canoes and trying for a fish. We paddled around for quite a while then the wind came up too strong so we headed back in, had our picnic lunch then off to Bundaberg.
Julie and Mike were both home when we got there, after having a drink and some talk we went for a walk around their property, they have 32 acres on which they have put in an airstrip, they are just waiting for the first rain so they can seed it then they can bring their plane home.
It is a great property the flower gardens, fruit trees of every different type, grapes, passionfruit, very pretty chooks, goats and a water dam with pretty water lilies. There are some really big kangaroos
We had a great evening Julie made dinner that was like Christmas in November, wish we could have stayed longer.
13th, 14th, 15th, November 2014 1770-Agnus Waters
13th, we have arrived at 1770, this town was named 1770 as that is when Captain Cook landed there. The town is joined by Agnus Waters they are both great places to holiday a boat does snorkel and fishing trips out to Lady Musgrave Island which is supposed to be the best area for snorkeling on the reef as it is a small island with a very large sheltered lagoon, camping is permitted on the island as well with a parks permit.
We booked into our camp and as usual checked tne accessibility of the boat ramp, all good so we plan to go out tomorrow.
Agnus Waters has a surf beach so we dropped in and watched some young people having surfing lessons then went for a walk to the top of the lookout. Night time midges are HORRIFIC.
14TH, up early to go out fishing for the day there is a little wind about but doesn't seem too bad when we were leaving, we followed another larger boat out as the channel was a tricky one, there is a sandbar to cross at the mouth of the river and when we saw the other boat cross it we thought that he threw a lot of water and the waves must have been pretty big, we found out this to be the case when we got out across the bar we had travelled approx 2 kms when we decided to go back the big swell and the wind was not nice the waves were the biggest we had been in with the boat, catching a fish was not worth the risk we didn't like the idea of crossing the sandbar again.
When we got back into the river we fished different areas of that all day with no great luck.
15th when we lived at Tannam Sands we used to go down to 1770 and camp in the national park so we went out there to see if things had changed, we couldn't camp out there this time as the road isn't suitable for the boat or camper so it was a day trip only.
When we got out there the wind was howling there was a kite surfing business trying to teach people but they were didn't have a hope in that wind, we had thought of fishing in the river there with our canoes that would have bedn completely impossible so we had our picnic lunch headed back and went for a drive down fo the beach at 1770, this beach is in the river and a calm sheltered beach, this is definitely a great place to spend a holiday but stay in the park on the beach not so many midges,
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
11th,12th, November Tannam Sands
11th, it is rememberance day today as we leave Yeppoon and head for Tannam Sands, as we head down the road 11am is approaching so we find a safe place to pull over and listen to the ceremony on the radio for the minutes silence. We lived in Tannam Sands 12 years ago and we couldn't believe the changes since then, when we were there we went out one Sunday afternoon to sit and have a coffee, there wasn't anywhere in Tannam Sands or the adjoining Boyne Island, we went half an hour to Gladstone only to find the only place there was a Macdonald. Tannam Sands now has a Coles supermarket there are fancy high rise town houses going up that will have all the usual shops underneath, there is also a subway, Macdonald, Kentucky Fried, as well as other small shops, we checked the bakery that we both worked in, that was still the same.
We checked into the caravan park near the beach then went for a walk through town.
12th, after breakfast we took the throw net down to wild cattle creek which runs out onto the end of the beach, we were after some bait as we were going to try to catch a fish during the day a d in the evening when the tide was out. Merv did catch qauite a few mullet, I had a go and it was the first time I had caught anything with the throw net.
Catching bait was easier than catching fish we didn't catch anything during the day and late afternoon I caught a nice flathead and Merv a small bream.
Tannam Sands is another place I would go for a holiday in the right season, things are getting a little expensive there a lot of people are doing work with the gas mining as well as the smelter on Boyne Island and refinery in Gladstone, plenty of work available.
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th November 2014 Yeppoon
6th, Yeah for Yeppoon, this is one beautiful place for a holiday, I just wish it wasn't stinger season the beaches here are to die for but at the moment I just look along with everyone except the foolhardy.
7th, we had a bit of a rest today and just explored the town, and surrounding beaches, found an icecream shop, one of the nice places is Emu Park there is a monument there for Captain Cook that is a very cleverly design of a ship that makes music, it is called the singing ship, we also booked the car in for a service for Monday.
8th, fishing was on the agenda today but the wind had come up over night and the water was not a pretty site. The Byfield National Park is not very far from Yeppoon and we had visited it 12 years ago, it has great beaches for fishing from so we decided to take our lunch and go there for the day. One thing we never thought of was when we came here before it was just after the wet seasonal, the road goes up over a very big sand dune, it seems to wind on forever and is very steep, when we originally went there the wet season had packed the sand down and there was no one else there, this time time there was approx 100 cars some with trailers trying to do it, what a mess. We got stuck approx half way up so we got out and with the help of people in front and behind us we got going again, as we neared the top there was huge holes dug out and we kept bottoming out when we got stuck again we decided to turn around, get out of the way of people trying to get up, with 16 inch wheels we never had enough clearance. There was a young couple with a landcruiser trying to tow a small tinnie, he kept getting stuck so we helped them work there way to the top with digging and his maxtrax when we got close enough to the top another vehicle hooked on and pulled him over the top. We walked back to our car as more cars came racing up, one trying to pull a camper trailer, it got stuck, we looked at each other and said no, we took off pretty fast. When we got to the bottom and was pumping the tyres we were talking to a couple who go up there every weekend, there is a little township up there and her parents live there. The couple told us what makes it bad there is some young locals jack up there 4wds put large wheels on and try to see how far they can get in 2WD, hence they dig a lot of holes.
9th, took the boat out today the water didn't look too bad that is till we got out there, its frustrating we could see mackerel about and it was too rough to get over to Kepple Island to the fishing spot we wanted. We travelled approx 1/3 way to the island and decided to drift over a shoal, we hadn't long got our lines down and Merv had a spotted mackerel, undersized but at least it was a start. I had taken a quell but myself and Merv were both feeling off, it was impossible to stand up. We pulled our lines put on a lure and trolled in, I was thinking I was a woose but when we got in there where quite a few others that had beaten us and a couple of guys said it was much to rough for fishing. Two of the guys that where there told us to be careful when bringing the car back as they had a new ford ranger 2 days before, backed it back too far, got onto green slime and it just kept sliding down off the ramp into the marina, the coast Guard had already warned us. That night we tried off the beach as we had plenty of bait, didn't even get a bite.
10th, had the car in for the 40,000 service and a new tyre. We wandered around town waiting, 5 hours then back to the park for a swim in the pool
I have realized too late that I didn't take any photos of the beautiful beaches.
4th, 5th November 2014 Airlie Beach
When we arrived here we were both surprised at how big the place was, large shops and shopping centers everywhere as well as very fancy apartment blocks and big boats everywhere you looked. The only thing that isn't there is a beautiful beach there is a very small one but most is mud flats and mangroves with millions of biting sandflies.
We stayed at the big4 which was a very nice park great pool and spacious camp sites, there was a lot of plumed whistling ducks wandering about trying to beg food, very pretty I could have taken one for a pet.
First day we were there we drove to Shute Harbour and checked all the boat ramps, Shute Harbour is the place people leave from for the islands of the witsunday, we were going to go out but decided against it.
There is a really well built board walk that goes around the foreshore for approx 6km so on the second day we walked it.
The walk took us into town where there has been a swimming pool/lagoon built similar to the one in Cairns but smaller, this is free and is there so people can swim safely when the stingers are about, we never went in never had our togs. We walked into town for a lunch special, a meal and beer for $13, then headed back to the park and had a swim in their pool.
This is not a place I would recommend as a holiday destination only if you are going to Hamilton Island etc.
3rd November 2014 Aligator Creek National Park
After booking out of big4 we continue our way South, lots of sugar cane fields and banana plantations but nothing exciting.
It was a long day so I found a site on Wiki Camps that wasn't far off the road. The area had very small camp sites we had trouble getting the boat around, we ended up staying in a no camping area.
It was a quiet spot kangaroos in the toilets, next morning we walked down to the swimming hole, very nice but we didn't have a swim, a bit early in the day and it had rained quite a bit during the night. Headed for Airlie Beach.
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