burrum heads to noosa heads



such is life at burrum heads



catch of the day, at least some fire wood

rainbow beach

Sat. 13th Nov. In Burrum Heads and the first port of call was to ring my Dad for his birthday especially as he is recuperating from a major operation. We both love it in Burrum Heads. A fairly quiet spot in a council campsite so very laid back caught up with cleaning the car and the caravan. Most places won't let you do anything like that. For the most part the week was spent fishing, Lot's of walks along the beach. Didn't have that much success in the fishing department Ian caught around 4 moses perch which are nice eating fish. On the Monday we did venture into Hervey Bay to have a look around catch up on some shopping all the boring stuff. Hervey Bay does have beautiful beaches and a nice esplanade but neither Ian or myself didn't like the place,just another city and was glad to get back to our quiet place . Wednesday at Burrum Heads bowl's club they do a Chinese meal there for $10ea so we decided to partake and support the local club and Ian signed up to play a social game that same evening and lost by 1 at the last end. A good evening, good to talk to new people. It was very much like night owls, players of all ages and a warm balmy evening. Weather has been so kind every day 30degrees and not a lot of humidity certainly can't complain and nobody would listen anyway!!! Anyway after a great week  we moved on to Inskip Point which is a park not far from Rainbow Beach. Once again a magnificent location we managed to set up in the last place that was vacant  right on the beach front. This place is like a national park very popular and only $10.30 a night to stay. So many move in here for weekend camping coming up from the city to chill out. We have realised though to keep doing the off road stuff we must invest in some more equipment to make life a bit easier and keep everything running. Trying to keep the car and caravan charged up, whilst in Brisbane Ian will have a look at a few things. He's been talking to plenty of people on the road to get ideas definitely solar panel's of some sort and there's a few other bit's that we will sort out once in Brisbane. This park overlooks Fraser Is. beautiful scenery and the barge leave's just along the beach a little way. To catch the barge it's a mere $100 for a car only and then you need a permit to drive on the beach which was $15.50 for the day or $40 per.month. We decided to pass this time and Ian wasn't keen on getting the car all covered in sand underneath. Whilst here we toured around Rainbow Beach took the walk along Rainbow Beach for a couple of hours to see the coloured sands in the sand dunes. That was great, also went into Tin Can Bay but didn't stay that long there just another fishing village and the tied was along way out so not a great deal happening. Another piece of scenery that was so worthwhile to visit was a place called Carlos Sandblow. This is a bit like a big dip in a huge sand dune. The wind has eroded this area away but this place has great thermals and is high up so quite a few enthusiasts jump of the edge the do hang gliding, paragliding etc. Left Inskip Point this morning and have settled in a caravan park in Noosa/Tewantin. Tomorrow setting of for the Eumundi markets then who know's. There's plenty to see around here had a look at the Noosa River as it was on the way to Woolworth's!!! See what tomorrow brings. The blog's will wind down over Xmas as we will be in Brisbane house sitting my sister's house whilst her family head's to Bali for a holiday. That will give us a chance to catch up with some repairs to the caravan, Ian needs some repairs to his leg. There's other bit's and pieces that need to be done. Jason arrives on the 20th Dec. to call in for a visit at Karen and Scott's. Be good to see him before Xmas. Hope this finds all our friends and family well and happy and is everyone ready for the festive season hurray!!! We have cancelled facebook now never used it much Love to all Sue and Ian xxoo

Boyne Is to Burrum Heads

the town of 1770

bundy b bear's birthday

a few headaches here

burrum heads

Thurs.10th Nov.Had planned to stay around Boyne Is but had a change of plan's as caravan park fees are very steep in this part of the country  ($30 per night) also no weekly rates. Not a lot of freebies either. Anyway decided to get the trusty camps 5 book out which certainly has come in very useful and found a place called The Bradley Wolfe Braeve Heart park which run as a charity set on 20acres of land in the Hinterland near The Town of 1770 and Agnes Water's. Here we only had to pay $11 non power or $15 with power with toilet's and showers. A beautiful spot. Spent the afternoon walking along the beach at Agnes Waters and going for a swim-weather has been perfect. This is a great place to visit.
Friday 11th Nov. set of early for the township of Bundaberg and did a rum tour. The distillery was first started in 1888 with an abundance of molasses left over from the production of sugar cane. This was a very interesting tour and we finished of the morning in their bar sampling some of the wares. right up ians alley. A really good morning and the tour is worth doing if you are ever up this way. From there had lunch in another top spot Bargara, visited Coral Cove and surrounding beaches. Went into Bundaberg and had a look around before making our way back as this was a fairly long trip 150kms both way's.
Sat 12th Nov. Woke up this morning at 4.55am as no daylight saving here and the birds are tweeting,looked at the map and decided to head for Burrum Heads. Arriving at about 2pm ,and set up camp,went for a wonder, great place and have booked for the week,will keep you posted on progress, love ian

photo album Winton-Longreach



arno's wall-winton




winton truck museum




musical fence-winton




road train-53mts plus




qantas founder's museum



747 cockpit



first qantas 707 jet plane




how times have changed!!!



stockman's hall of fame-Longreach



original building-Longreach




train station-Longreach



Mt Isa to Boyne Is

Set up camp and headed into the township. For those that have never visited the mine it is literally right on the back door step!!! Not sure i fancy that on a permanent basis. Booked our mine tour for the next day which also included the Riversleigh Fossil Museum and the Isa Experiance and Outback park. Both of which were very interesting.Bill our tour guide showed us through and was very passionate about being a miner. He took a payout at the age of 54yrs. and was a miner for 33yrs. Loved his job, and told us he wishes he was younger as he would like to go back. Now does the tours works for 6months has the rest of the year of.  Left the Isa and made our way along the Barkley Highway and for our overnight spot at Corella Dam and Clem Walton Park. Once again recommended (no power) a great spot alongside a river very peaceful.Sat. 5th Nov. onto Winton which Grant Denyer had spoken a lot about on Sunrise.Well known area for fossils and Dinosaurs. Not a sole around it was a bit like a ghost town. Had a swim at the local pool as weather was hot we just parked out the back of an old pub. Was actually going to have a pub meal there to support the hotel but it was also strange. They didn,t have a cook,  Ian and i offered our services but i don't think they thought we were serious. Found out later pub had been sold and the new owners were just waiting on their liquour license. Two Phillipine ladies owned the pub and ran it to the ground. Everything we wanted to do was closed from the 27th Oct. and not opening until April next year.The major attraction of dinosaurers was closed due to rennovations. Sun 6th Nov. Ian wanted to have a look at truck museum and the musical fence in the morning and onto Longreach.This place is known for the Qantas founders museum.If anyone is up this way really worth a visit. Stockman's Hall of Fame  you can visit as well which we decided not to do, that maybe if we ever go back that way again. Had plenty of museum's for a while but the Qantas one brlliant. Also these things are not cheap the Qantas tour was $90 a couple and Stockman's $52 a couple. We had a full guided tour of a 747 jumbo and the 707 first jet plane bought for Australia from America and after that Australia bought another 11of the 707 planes and John Travolta has number 13( 707 plane). for his own private use he also has his own runway. Found it so interesting took a pass out and went back to finish the museum the next morning. Mon. 7th Nov. Spent morning at Qantas and decided to leave Longreach after lunch. Our campsite was a dust bowl not a lot of shade it was hot we decided to leave. Travelled 200kms down the road to a place called Jerico just the other side of Barcaldine great spot along side a creek (much better). Ian was able to do some fishing before tea and caught a big one just before it got to dark. Ian said this morning right let's go and so we did travelling towards the coast i think we were both fed up with the outback for a bit. Now after a fairly big haul we are south of Gladstone at a place called Boyne Is. There is lot's of work here as well. Hope to be here in this general area for about 1 week see what happens. That's all for now to let all our friends know especially in NZ we have booked our trip back to Auckland leaving Brisbane on the 29th Dec. for 3 weeks.No point going up to Jason to early it will still be the wet season.

king's canyon to mt isa



KINGS CANYON




GARDEN OF EDEN , KINGS CANYON




KINGS CANYON




OUR FREE CAMPS SPOT NEXT TO THE BILLABONG




DO I NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ???




THE GREAT WHITE HUNTER



king's canyon to mt isa



a tourist and alec , who is who ??

 Wed Oct 26th made our way to King's Creek Station.Once again had a major storm half hour after we had set up. Never seen a black sky quite like it so much so that Ian tried to take a photo but i don't think you can picture it unless you see it for yourselves.It just meant we had a siesta that afternoon as we really couldn't do anything else.It bucketed down with rain and during the night as well. So we left early the next day to get an early start before it got to hot for King's Canyon. What can i say if you are ever up that way don't miss it absolutely spectacular views. We did the 6kms circuit walk of the canyon and plateau. Scenery just magic. Had lunch at Kathleen Springs just down the road but i certainly wouldn't be swimming in them!! Another storm during the night and it rained. Made our way onto Alice Springs arriving in the afternoon and it was certainly time to get supplies and catch up a bit. Nice caravan park with a swimming pool just as well as it was plenty warm enough.Ian did the honours. Ian took me around Alice Springs as he has been here before a few years back but still remembers it like yesterday. He was here approx. 32 yrs ago with Geoff Pine. He purchased a you bute Akubra hat - sales lady fabulous!!!.Wandered around the town and mall then onto Alice Springs School of the Air. Would you believe a family that was on the film that was being shown attended St. Peter's Boy's. I recognized him straight away.School of the Air was the first of it's kind in the world and established on the 8th June 1951.They have the largest classroom in the world 1,300,000sq kms or 521,000sq miles.10 times the size of England.Children are enroled in pre-school at 4 1/2 yrs old they offer school until the kids turn 14 yrs old and then they have to go to boarding school or school by correnspondence. Most years the enrolement is 120 students and that usually remains constant. The students get together 4 times a year to meet each other with their families. The school provides all of the satellite and computer equipment needed for each family which can be anywhere betweent $10,000 to $15,000 fully installed. All equipment must be returned when finished with and there is always technicians available to assist with problems. So interesting to visit. Next we visited the first overland telegraph station established in 1871 which is next to the Todd River.  It was Sir Charles Todd that esablished the overland telegraph station connecting Adelaide to Darwin (north and south of Australia) and it took him just 2 yrs to do so. His wife Alice had Alice Springs named after her also. Came across a tour guide named Alec who was a half cast aboriginal who i could of listened to all afternoon. He was so interesting and part of the "stolen generation". What a nice man, he was very grateful that someone had taken him and gave him a life. His mother was 14 yrs old at the time and couldn't take care of him, in the aboriginal community, his father was from Scotland and 120 kids were taken and raised some of the time at the telegraph station with the help of missioneries. Back then nobody wanted half cast children. The men were working on the telegraph line. From there onto Anzac Hill.
Sun Oct 30th made our way to west MacDonnell Ranges. Set up camp at Orminston Gorge. Visited the gorge and waterhole. Then did the lookout as well. Once again weather came in during the afternoon so bad it settled in and did the same all night, cold as well. We got worried that we wouldn't be able to get out of the ranges so we were up early and Ian said let's head north fed up with the weather.The storms seem to be following us around. So away we went Alice Springs and 1230kms later stopping on the way at Devil's Marbles overnight and Camooweel for 2 nights, now at Mt Isa  .As anyone who has been up this way before there just isn't much in between and we did travel through a few fires started by probably lightening. We enjoyed our stop there along side the Georgina River( recommended to us by somebody)a billabong full of wild life birds etc and Ian did some fishing. Caught 8 fish we did google them to make sure of what they were. A Barcoo Grunter also known as jade perch. Really nice eating fish a freshwater fish. Still have some in the freezer, Ian just used bacon rind for bait, he was excited, had a good day good to break up the travelling. Now from here there is plenty to see along the Barkley Highway. Tomorrow we booked a mine tour of Mt.Isa mines then move on from here there is not much else here but plenty of work.