OUR LAST FEW DAYS IN QUEENSLAND

Friday 18^th November   Yesterday feeding the dolphins was just so amazing that I couldn’t wait to come back today to do it all over again.  This time there were 2 dolphins in the Bay – Mystique and his favourite girl Patch.  She was pale grey too with pink spots all over.  She’s 24.  There was a bigger crowd on the beach today.  A ferry comes from Fraser Island each day to join in the feeding session.  As there were 2 dolphins to feed today, we got 2 fish in our bucket.  It was still an amazing experience standing so close to these magnificent creatures and hand feeding them.  I think for me this has been the main highlight of our trip so far.

Saturday 19^th November     The Tin Can Bay markets were on and I just  had to look around.  They were bigger than most local markets we’ve visited along the way.  There was lots of local fruit and vegetables, home baked goodies and Christmas gifts.  There was even a hairdressing stall set up.

We went for a drive up to Rainbow Beach the famous beach opposite Fraser Island.  We haven’t been here for 8 years and the place has become very developed with resorts and shops.  The area was pretty bare when we last visited it.  The beach is beautiful and full of 4WDs.  It’s a very long, wide beach.  There is a caravan park that takes dogs but it’s quite small and you have to be valet parked by a tractor.   We had a quick look around the town and decided to drive to Inskip where the ferries leave to go across to Fraser Island.  What a beautiful place, flagged by an inlet on one side and sand and ocean on the other with a magnificent view across to Fraser Island.   You can camp on either side but need a permit from Queensland Parks and Wildlife which will cost you $5.50 per person per day.  It was packed with campers and caravans and with such a gorgeous view you can understand why.  Had we found this place sooner we would definitely have stayed here and it’s on our “to do” list whenever we happen to be back in Queensland.

We went for a walk on both sides and the water was so warm and crystal clear.  Everyone was out on boats or fishing at the water’s edge.  We walked across to the other side that faces Fraser Island.  It looked just like a picture postcard, absolutely stunning.  We’d brought a picnic lunch and decided to sit on the beach there to eat it.  As we were finishing lunch I jumped up very excitedly as there was a pod of dolphins jumping really high out of the water chasing squid.  It was all over so quickly and they went further out to sea. There wasn’t any time to grab the camera.  One of those “you just had to be there” moments.   We were so glad we’d gone there.

That night we went to the Tin Can Bay Hotel for their $12.50 2 course meal special with our friends Colin and Margaret.  There was a help yourself buffet of salads, whiting, baked vegetables and potatoes and a choice of roast beef or pork.  Good size helpings of everything.  Dessert was lemon meringue pie which was very nice.  A good value meal.  The entertainment was a man playing guitar who thought he looked and sounded like Willie Nelson (he maybe resembled him slightly).  Some of the more senior ladies were up dancing and enjoying themselves.   The dining area was fairly large.  At the back it was set up with big old wooden dining tables and looked like someone’s home.  It was a comfortable, homely atmosphere and we enjoyed the food, atmosphere and company.

Sunday 20^th November  We  said goodbye to Colin and Margaret and arranged to meet them at Harrington on 4^th December.  We left at 10am and were headed to Yelgun Rest Area where we’ve stayed before.  At 1pm we crossed back into New South Wales once more.  We didn’t want to get back to our overnight stop too early so we drove to Brunswick Heads and had a walk along the beach and through the town. It was really busy there as schoolies had just begun.  There was a very loud band at the pub and the place was rocking. It was a beautiful day and everyone was out enjoying themselves.  We bought a cooked chicken for dinner and headed back to the rest area.  It wasn’t so busy this time.   There were about 5 or 6 other caravans there all night.

Monday 21^st November  We left Yelgun Rest Area at 8am heading for South Grafton where we had to get a new element fitted in the water heater as we haven’t had hot water in the van for 4 days.  We expected to be at Grafton around 10.30.  As we got to Ballina there was a lot of traffic and we discovered the main road was closed indefinitely as a tanker had spilled its load of oil all over the road and the clean up would take most of the day. Everyone was parked by the roadside unsure what to do as that’s the only road into Grafton.  We decided to turn around and go back along the highway almost to Byron Bay and pick up the road for Lismore/Casino and into Grafton that way.  It was a very pretty drive but added a further 2 hours to our trip.

We arrived at the caravan repair place at 12.30 and were on our way by 1pm.  The guy there was very helpful and knowledgeable, cheap and efficient (what more could you ask for).  Jayco at Port Macquarie couldn’t look at it until 18^th December.  The water element isn’t covered by insurance in any case.  We just wanted it fixed asap.  So now we have fully working cold air and hot water – bliss!!!

We stayed at Glenwood Tourist Park South Grafton. It was a fairly old and run down park, situated right next to a sawmill which was noisy all day long from 7am – 4pm.  They had a good swimming pool and a grassed dogs off leash area.  The managers’ children had a horse at the back of the caravan park and they exercised her daily in the dog exercise area.

We drove around Grafton to see the jacarandas and flower displays.  They were dropping their blooms and weren’t quite as impressive as they would have been a few weeks ago when the festival was on.  They were still worth looking at.  The streets were filled with blue/white displays of agapanthus on either side and the blues complimented the jacaranda colours.

Wednesday 23^rd November   We left Grafton at 8am on our way further down south to Laurieton Gardens Resort to visit our friends Chris and Tony who live there.  We were going to stop off at Maelstom for 3-4 days on the way down but changed our minds.  When we left Grafton it was hot and humid and we were sweating.  By the time we reached Laurieton the weather had changed and we couldn’t believe how cold it had turned.  It was also sprinkling and turned into a heavy downpour for the following 4 days.  We were so cold we had to get out our ugg boots and track pants again!!!  We suffered through heavy rainfall for the next 3 days and it was a relief to see the sun again, despite the fact that rain was forecast soon again.  Laurieton is such a beautiful area and we always enjoy coming here.  The caravan park isn’t too busy at the moment.  Chris and I have been to bingo a few times and we always enjoy the Friday night meat raffles at North Haven Bowling Club.  We were all lucky to win a meat tray which we bbq’d the next day.

Sunday 27^th November  The first sunny, hot day since we arrived.  After a long walk on the beach we went to the local cinema for a $12 special double Sunday afternoon movie deal.   They were showing Drive with Ryan Gosling and Moneyball with Brad Pitt. We’ve been trying to see this for a while.  Drive was different, quite violent and gory but very good and Ryan Gosling played his role very well.  Moneyball was excellent.   I thought it was one of Brad Pitt’s best roles.  It was a true story about American baseball  and how one man revolutionised a scientific approach to picking players.  Well worth watching.  We came back to Chris and Tony’s for a scrumptious baked dinner and apple pie – yum, yum.

We’ll be staying here until Sunday 4^th December.  Then we’re going to  Harington 40 minutes south from Laurieton to meet our friends Colin and Margaret for 3 nights.  We’re looking forward to seeing them again.

Can’t believe it’s now December and the start of summer.  It’s pouring rain again, great start to summer.  Christmas is literally just around the corner.  Hope the Christmas shopping is going well and the shops aren’t too crowded.

Some typical Queenslanders 

Dolphin  Feeding Day 2

Cormorants trying to get in on the act

Inskip looking towards Fraser Island

 We’ve got 2 more stops before we’re back in Sydney.  We’ll be staying with Hayley and Karina at Holsworthy as they moved to a bigger 3 bedroom house there 2 weeks ago.  We’ve arranged to put the caravan into storage at Heathcote whilst we’re there.

Take care and happy Christmas shopping.  Don’t spend too much money (haha).  Love Marian, Richard and Sally