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4X4 HEAVEN

After spending three nights with Terry and Marion, we jumped in our little camper and headed an hour or so up the highway to the Fraser Coast. We only had the intention of staying at Rainbow Beach for a night or two but we’ve become very chilled in this little town so have decided to stay for a week. Terry and Marion have kindly offered to let us return for the weekend and they will then drive us to Brisbane airport on Monday ready for our flight to New Zealand.

Rainbow Beach is a prime example of a quiet holiday village with big ideas. Right behind our campsite a huge complex of luxury apartments are being built as well as a hotel round the corner. With a crystal ball and a large some of money, this would have been a good place to make an investment. Our campsite is close enough to the beach so every night we drift off to sleep to the sound of the ocean.

We took a walk up the beach the other day and were surprised by the amount of vehicles driving up it. Some of the best spots to visit are only accessible by 4×4. For example, we took a lane up to a picnic site which was the furthest a 2 wheel vehicle can go. From there we had to walk 2.2kms to a secluded lake through the woods.

We also noticed on the map there is another freshwater lake also walking distance from this location however this is 7kms (one way) so we were lucky enough to have a couple from our site offer us a lift in there 4×4. Unfortunately due to the drought, the lake was completely bone dry, we failed to notice the sign telling us so, just up the lane! Due to the depth of the sand on this track, the vehicle stalled and we subsequently found out the battery was flat. So here we were causing a traffic jam in the middle of the bush! But luckily enough, with all the 4×4’s queuing up, there were people on hand with their jump leads to help us out.

Yesterday we went on a organized coach trip around Fraser Island. This was only a 15minute ferry ride from Rainbow beach which gave us more time on the island. Fraser Island was created by thousands of years of longshore drift making it the World’s biggest sand Island.

We were reminded a few times of the resident dingo’s vulnerability due to the increase in human contact. Our tour operator seemed to think this has been on the increase since they culled the Brumbies (wild horses) on the island which was their main food source, so they are now turning to humans to scavenge their food. Unfortunately due to a mass shooting of the dingo’s following a death of a 9 year old boy a number of years ago, there are believed to be only about 150-200 of these pure bread animals left which isn‘t many. We didn’t see any on our journey around the island.

There are many lakes on Fraser Island and our tour took us to the second largest called Lake Mckenzie. Not being a water baby myself Lee took a tip on his own in the clear fresh water. Our day also included a walk through part of a rainforest where we saw giant ferns which only grow 2cm per year. Other than steaming round the outside of the island in our coach at fast and furious kilometres per hour, we also stopped off to view the wreck of a passenger liner called Maheno which came to shore during a cyclone in 1935. There’s not much of it left anymore as most of it is under the sand bed and the back half is very nearly corroded away as it was used by the Australian Army as bombing practice during the second World War.

We also stopped for a while at Eli Creek which is a crystal clear waterway which Lee gladly took a dip in and let the current carry him back to the beach.

 

 

We love Noosashire

Terry and Marions house is b-e-a-utiful!  Terry, a retired builder, built the bungalow himself on a lovely spot in the town of Cooroy which is based up in the hinterlands.  They have a huge garden which is their pride and joy plus a swimming pool.  The properties on their road were built within a wooded hillside so nature is abundant around their house.  He also has a creek running through the bottom of the garden. They moved to Australia 11 years ago to be with their only son Matthew and his family.  We’ve been made to feel very welcome and are being fed exceptionally well.  Steak for tea tonight whoo-hoo!  Mum you’ll be pleased to hear we’re eating our portions of vegetables.

Noosa is really nice with very expensive properties being built in and around the area.  We could easily live here if we had the money!

Tomorrow we’ll be leaving the area for a while and heading up the coast for 6 days to visit Hervey Bay, Fraser Island and other areas.  Then we’ll come back to Cooroy and leave our van with Terry and Marion whilst we fly to New Zealand for 8 days to be with Catty.  We can’t wait!

Sunshine Coast via Brisbane

Surfers paradise is the main hub on the Gold Coast but we didn’t particularly like it. I’m glad we only stopped for a quick view of the beach. This beach was apparently voted the best beach in the world. By how I wonder? So on we drove through the very busy streets and found a top campsite in Brisbane, just a 12km bus journey to the city centre.

We were just sitting out for the evening, under our annexe & trying out our new outside light when a family arrived on the pitch next to us.  It was evident by his colourful language that dad was pretty stressed out.  We had to endure shouting, stressing, swearing and banging for the entire evening.  This unfortunately went on for their whole stay (holiday!).  It was quite a relief to leave the campsite in the end as I was starting to feel quite saddened by the unhappy life the poor kids have to endure on a daily basis.  Phew!

Nexty day we got a bus from smack bang outside our campsite, into the city centre via an express route.  Not really being city people, we did the usual Botanical Gardens (very dry due to drought), riverside walk, browse round the shops and stopping for lunch.  We were intending on spending more days in Brisbane but managed to move on the next day. 

We’re now spending one night at Coloundra which is on the Sunshine Coast.  We’ve found a site next to Dicky Beach which we’ll be paying a visit to once the sun has cooled down a bit. 

Tomorrow we’re driving Cooroy nr Noosa Heads to stay with Uncle Terry and Auntie Marion for just under two weeks.  They’ve very kindly offered for us to stay in their house with them.  We’re looking forward to seeing them and to have a proper bed for a while.  Lol!  

 Bye for now, beach is calling us…

Gold Coast – Queensland

After two days at Broken Head/Byron Bay, we were sorry to leave today but we needed to make progress to get to Lee’s great uncles who is expecting us next week. I must say that Byron Bay really grew on us in the end. There’s a great little café culture where you can buy just about anything, particularly if your into he following: gluten free, free-range, organic, low-fat, low-carbs, no-carbs, oriental, Italian, Indian and the list goes on. With plenty of clothes shops and boutiques we easily could have done some damage to our bank account but we withheld any major spending until we’re earning some dollars. Just about everyone here seems to be young, trendy and up for a good time. Yay!

Now a bit for the ladies. I took a nice long walk up Broken Bay beach on a few occasions in an attempt to keep fit. With the beautiful soft white sandy beaches and the sun beaming down our faces, it makes exercising so much more pleasurable. Just about every man and his dog were out enjoying the hot weather. The men here seem to be very fit and they’ve got great bodies to prove it. Today being a Saturday the beach was full of local surfers, men and women of course. I tried very hard to keep my eyes from diverting but you have to see for yourself ladies, these men are FIT and they display their gorgeous tanned bodies all the time. Now there’s a reason to come to Australia if ever I’ve heard one. Lee would also like to mention that where there’s good looking blokes there’s also good looking women and he did his share of perving too.

So after my morning stomp we packed up the van and moved on and have just crossed the border into the Gold Coast in Queensland which is very exciting. The Gold Coast consists of a 42km stretch of gorgeous beaches and there‘s a shed load of stuff to do especially if you‘re an adrenalin junkie. There’s Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Sea World, Dream World, White Water World and Steve Urwin’s Australia Zoo. There’s also skydiving, bungee jumping and ballooning. We can’t manage all them but will definitely be going to Australia Zoo and Wet ‘n’ Wild which is a water based theme park. First impressions of the Gold Coast is real good, the beaches look pristine.

We’re staying the night just outside of a place called Coolangatta which is busy but nice. We parked up the van just by the seafront and could see many tall sky scrapers in the far distance, being Surfers Paradise. It’s a real hot day today and I’ve been constantly chasing the shade. As tempting as it is to have a beautiful Australian tan, the sun is so hot and dangerous. I foolishly walked for 50 minutes in the full sun this morning without a sunhat or any water and I won’t be doing that again. Whereas Lee loves baking in the sun and has a beautiful tan to prove it, I’m constantly slapping on the factor 30 to every exposed piece of skin.

Tomorrow we’re driving to Brisbane and staying for 3-4 days to explore the city which will be our fifth city in Australia. Looking forward to it, just a shame we don’t have longer.

Check out the new pictures, Lee is getting real good at the body boarding don’t you think? Hmm….

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Hey Hey Byron Bay

Lee-

Hi all with regards to last post “Lee is itching to try his body-board out”, well Iluka has been the first place we have looked out at the ocean and said “They are big waves”.  I mean there have been lots of places that have had good surf but these are noticeably big waves.   Iwent out in the already crashed waves i.e. the white stuff which was fun but not the real bodyboarding.  All in good time I think.

The next day after observing the locals (or pro’s), I sussed that they were hugging the break-wall were the wave’s break in one spot and roll out thus giving the ideal wave to surf.  Trying really hard not to look like, well British, I geared up for some waves.  After very nearly catching a few I pulled out because I hate to say it but the nerves got the better of me.  I mean it was plan crazy to attempt these wave’s first time out.  

Liz-

After a stop off in Ballina for one night, we’ve parked up for a few nights at Broken Head which is just a few mintues drive from Byron Bay.   Due to the Easter school holidays and the Blues and Roots Festival held here last weekend, the town is very busy which is why we couldn’t get accommodation in Bryon Bay itself. 

Byron Bay is well know for it’s hippie vibe which was evident as soon as we drove into the town.   We’ve never seen so many camper-vans in one place, we had the best example I reckon!   There’s tons of clothes shops, lazy cafes and nice beaches.  After a mooch round the shops trying on clothes, we spent a few hours on the Main Beach soaking up some rays. 

Broken Bay, where our campsite is situated is real nice.  We think this is the best beach here too.  The manager of the campsite told us that the campsite is council owned but the local Aboriginal people have recently had it handed back to them as it was an original Aboriginal settlement so they’ll be given the land back to them later in the year.   

Tomorrow we’re spending a good day on the beach again.  No doubt Lee will be competing for some good waves.

Bye for now

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Whats wrong with just a tax disc?

After spending three days of the bank holiday at Moonee Beach, we’ve moved on to a little village called Iluka which is an extremely sleepy seaside town with it would appear great fishing spots around as were are right on the river.  There’s also a surfing beach here too and Lee is itching to get in the water to try out his new boogie board.  

We suddenly realised on the Good Friday that our ‘Rego’ would be running out on bank holiday Monday at midnight. With it being a long weekend, we just had to sit it out till Tuesday before we could do anything. Rego is the Australian version of road tax and incorporates third party insurance on the vehicle but not the person driving it.  We are currently driving a registered South Australian camper in New South Wales requiring new rego (tax disc).  You would think this could be easy however New South Wales require us to have a complete vehicle safety inspection (blue slip), bit like an MOT, then removal of the number plates and completely re-registering of the vehicle as if it were brand new.  Total expected cost about $700-$900.   

The RTA office here in the town of Maclean didn’t offer much help as she’d apparently never come accross this before.  So off we trunddled to the local mechanics in the town to see when they could book us in for the inspection.  Thursday and Friday were the answers we received.  It turns out that one of the mechanics were able to offer us better advise than the local RTA office and the SA Transport office put together.  The answer?  Re-register with South Australia for 6 months thus avoiding all this NSW red tape.  Oh and aparantley NSW is the most expensive state in Australia to do your vehicle registeration. 

Hey ho at least we’ve had some cream teas in the town during our visit.  Time to get back to our road trip

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