Inskip (Rainbow Beach)/Town of 1770/Yeppoon/Cania Gorge

 

Inskip Point

We start this 3 weeks trip at Rainbow Beach and make camp at Inskip Point where we stay for three days - about a three hour drive from Brisbane. There are five campgrounds at Inskip all named after ships. Some are 4WD only sites but a couple are okay for 2WD, we pick MV Sarawak which seemed to be the more popular of the two, lots of shady trees and sand and we can see Fraser Island across the water. We find a spot and set up. We took in the main tourist attractions at Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay. One morning we walked through the national park, a shady walk, quite hilly in places which led us to Carlo Sand Blow – a huge sand mass which has built up over many years. Fabulous views to Double Island Point and over to Tin Can Bay from here. We also saw a few people hang gliding. We walked back on the coastal path which brought us back into Rainbow Beach where we had a swim. The surf was a bit boisterous so really just a cool off, I'm passed the days of being dumped in the surf.

Carlo Sand Blow

A rest at the sand blow before the walk back

 

One morning we drove to Tin Can Bay to watch the dolphin feeding which happens every day at 7.30 a.m. You can paddle in the water right next to the dolphins who are waiting for their breakfast, up to five dolphins appear on a daily basis. The day we went there were two. We paddled alongside them and watched their breathing hole opening and shutting – beautiful gentle creatures. The feeding starts at 8 a.m, you can give them a fish which is supplied in a little bucket that an operator takes from the bucket, places it in the palm of a human feeding hand, with one gulp it's gone in an instant. At the end of the public feeding the operators give them more fish and then they know that breakfast is over and off they swim until the next day. A good opportunity to see dolphins up close. We had breakfast at a picnic table adjacent to the ocean.

The Dolphins

Waiting for Breakfast

 

We took the bush walk through Bymien Rainforest, it was deserted, only us, the sound of birdsong, chirping inserts, very peaceful until the sound of machine gun fire disturbed the peace. There is an Army training centre in the vicinity and obviously there was a training operation in progress. We continued our walk arriving at Poona Lake, a very pretty bush walk, about 4 km return.

Picnic Area at Bymien Rainforest

  

Inskip Point Camp Site Rating – Out of 10 Stars – 3 (but expected in a bush non powered site). Also an apx 10 km drive from Inskip to Rainbow Beach so a bit of a drive each day to go somewhere. Wouldn't return here.

 

Town of Seventeen Seventy

And then it was on to Agnes Water which became Town of Seventeen Seventy after we rejected the van park at Agnes.

The Town of Seventeen Seventy is only a five minute drive on from Agnes and we booked into the Captain Cook Caravan Park, a lovely peaceful spot in a bush setting. Good amenities here, a powered site, a shop, a restaurant or take away and a swimming pool, a 700 metre walk on track that leads to the beach. Things we've done here:

Our camp site

 

The Town of 1770 holds a unique place in Australia’s history. A monument marks the spot near Round Hill Head where Lieutenant James Cook first anchored in Bustard Bay and came ashore on Wednesday the 24th of May, in 1770. We cycled to this monument and lookout. We secured our bikes and took the little walk down to the headland where there is a lookout and a light for shipping erected high on the point. Then we walked along to the Bustard headland so named because Captain Cook and his crew killed a turkey (or a bustard) and cooked it for dinner – or so the story goes. It was a nice cycle route along the coastline for part of the route. We did encounter a few hills which made us work a bit harder – not all flat terrain like Bribie!!

Monument to Lt James Cook

We visited the Museum where there is, of course, heaps of history of Captain Cook's discovery of 1770, this was his second voyage after discovering Botany Bay. We were able to view log sheets and journals of life on board the Endeavour, some graphic details of medical procedures and the tools used for amputations and other gruesome treatments, maps, general information of the area and heaps of relics from yesteryear. Quite an interesting hour or so spent here.

We walked the local beach a couple of times, surf here is quite boisterous so just paddled along the edge of the water, nice breezes blowing so a pleasant walk.

We drove along to the calm water area, took the chairs and had a nice view in front of the water, lots of boats bobbing, good spot for relaxing with our books. I walked along the walking track and back for about half an hour.

We visited the Sunday Morning Markets, had a wander through, just bought some fruit and vegetables and a book.

We initially booked in for three nights but extended for another two before moving on. We are enjoying the peace and relaxation.

The only annoyance here were the sand flies. We got lots of bites and itchies so we had to remember to use the repellent. The pharmacy does a good trade in anti-itch ointment!!

Kinka Beach (Near Yeppoon)

We're hitting the road again and Kinka Beach is our destination. All packed up and ready to go by 9.30 a.m. We're getting better at dismantling the annexe (and erecting). We stop at a big shopping centre in Rockhampton and stock up at Woolies, hopefully will last us till we get home apart from top ups. Gosh, it's hot here at about 36/37 degrees. The temperature dropped considerably once we left Rockhampton behind. About another 40 k's and we arrive at our destination – another Top Tourist Van Park where we get a discount now we are members. It's really nice, very large, sites well spaced, a swimming pool, good facilities and right opposite the beach. Warm sunny days with a cool breeze blowing which builds up to a more boisterous blow in late afternoon and that makes the palm trees bend and sway in the wind – a very tropical setting. Things we've done here:

Yeppoon

Drove into Yeppoon (20 minutes drive away), had a look around, we walked the foreshore track. Stopped and looked at Rosslyn Bay, apparently a good fishing spot, we had a general look around. We walked around the bay and marina admiring all the yachts and boats (some huge vessels). We drove out to the old Iwasaki Resort which is now called the Mercure Capricorn Resort. Very large but it is telling its age and looks rather dated, I'm sure there would be more exciting places to stay. 

The Marina at Rosslyn Bay

 

Saturday Morning Market at Yeppoon

It's basically a fruit and vegetable market that trades for three hours. We stocked up on some local produce at very good prices e.g. 10 cents for baby corn cobs, bag of zucchinis $1, bag of squash $1. We also bought fish twice from the fish van at Yeppoon, beautiful local fresh fish. Bought enough to freeze some too. Richard did throw a line in early one morning but he came home empty handed.

Emu Park

Is a ten minute drive in the opposite direction where we sighted the remarkable Singing Ship, it is dedicated to James Cook who named Keppel Bay in 1770. The sculpture is aptly named as it sings almost constantly due to on-shore breezes. 

The Singing Ship

 

 

Beach Walk at Kinka Beach

Just across the road and down the beach track leads to a long stretch of beach. Did an exercise walk along the beach each day.

Byfield

About 30 minute drive north from Yeppoon are the lush forests of Byfield and surrounding nature reserves The Byfield National Park and State Forest abound with wonderful scenery amid rainforest-edged creeks and rugged forests. We did a lovely bush walk through the rain forest. There is a picnic area adjacent to the car park where we enjoyed a picnic lunch. There was just us, a bird watcher and a couple of scrub turkeys looking for some crumbs. The male turkey had been very busy making a huge nest to encase the eggs. We watched him uncover the eggs, check they were safe and then bury them again underneath piles of leaves and twigs he painstakingly collected. Mummy Turkey just kept her eye on him while she walked around. Guess she'd done her job. Now it was up to him to do the rest. 

Bush Walking at Byfield

 

Lunch at the picnic area at Byfield

We also visited the wonderful Nob Creek Pottery which is set in the rainforest of Byfield and is a studio pottery producing a huge variety of traditional style pottery. It is a family business and we talked to the young potter there who let us watch him decorate some bowls he had just made. His parents who own the pottery were away so that just left him in charge. There is an art gallery there too and some very interesting pieces to view or buy. A great place to visit.

 

Cooey Bay

Sits on a point in Yeppoon and overlooks the site in the ocean of a wreck (although the wreck is long gone) but it is a good spot to look along Lammermoor Beach and take a photo or two.

Cooey Bay and Lammermoor Beach

 We enjoyed our five days stay here. We left at 9.30 a.m on November 3^rd and hit the road via Yeppoon where there is a Woolworths supermarket so we topped up before we got on our way – destination Cania Gorge.

Cania Gorge National Park

We travelled to Cania Gorge via Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Mount Morgan, Biloela (our lunch stop) and then Cania Gorge. The landscape is brown and dry en route to the gorge, very obviously this area is desperate for rain. Cania Gorge is one of Queensland's best kept secrets and is home to our destination of Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park, another Top Tourist park. The camp site here at the gorge is delightful and in a natural bush setting. Good facilities, swimming pool etc. We stayed here for four nights and each day we did one of the many bush walks in the area. Cania Gorge National Park boasts 3000 hectares of spectacular landscape, prominent sandstone cliffs, caves, eucalypt forest and dry rain forest with mosses, orchids, figs and vines growing in moist sheltered areas. This secluded area is home to a variety of native flora and fauna including kangaroos, rock wallabies and many birds. (We were woken at dawn each morning with very loud bird song). Richard reported that the night sky is beautiful with illuminating bright stars that he noticed on nocturnal walks during the 'wee' hours. During our stay here we walked to Fern Tree Pool and Giants Chair circuit. This was quite a steep climb in places but well worth the effort when we reached the picturesque fern tree pool. We also walked Dragon Cave and Bloodwood Cave and the two storey cave circuit. The overhanging rocks and giant monoliths were quite spectacular. In the main we walked without encountering another human soul.

At Fern Tree Pool

Walking alongside many black boys

 

Richard Resting on a Rock

Traversing a rocky decline (thank goodness for walking poles)

 

On Melbourne Cup Day we drove into Monto (25 km away) to watch the race at the local pub and place a bet. I'd saved the Sunday paper racing supplement and studied form on the drive and made some selections. However, on arrival to the pub (the top pub) - there are two pubs in Monto and the top pub as opposed to the bottom pub is apparently the more salubrious of the two – on arrival we discovered that there were no betting outlets in town. I've heard of a pub with no beer but not a town with no TAB. Oh, well, we'll probably save our money. We settled in along with three others to watch the race – the crowd swelled to 10 (including us) before the horses jumped. And wouldn't you believe it, I picked the winner!!! We may as well have stayed put and watched the race on the TV in the camp kitchen. But then we would not have discovered the town of Monto!!!! And the Top Pub!

We drove out to the dam one day, saw some rock wallabies on the side of the road, there is a pretty picnic area here alongside the dam. 

Wallaby and Baby Wally

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our four day stay here, the bush walks, swimming in the pool, relaxing, reading, a game of scrabble here and there, a lovely area and our fellow campers very pleasant folks too.

We left Cania Gorge and made our way homewards, destination Kingaroy for an overnighter to break the drive. We passed through the little townships of Monto (the town with no TAB), Eidsvold, Gayndah (our lunch stop) and the oldest town in Queensland. We had a coffee at the Big Orange, thought we'd buy some oranges there but it's not orange season. The proprietors did show us the orchard with the tiny oranges and mandarins just showing and the machinery that grades them into sizes after they're picked. We continued our drive into Kingaroy and arrived mid afternoon. We didn't even unhook here as it is just an overnight stop. We went to the RSL for dinner. Before leaving the next day we had a look around the information centre which houses an interesting museum of the history of Kingaroy and relics from yesteryear. We then got on the road home and arrived at lunch time. 

The Big Orange at Gayndah

 

A very relaxing and interesting three week trip during which we discovered new places and environments - and drove approximately 2,000 kilometres.

 

IMBIL

2nd October 2013

And so we're off to Imbil. It's school holidays, Gabby and Emma are eager to check out the caravan and spend a couple of days camping. All packed up, hooked up and we hit the road at 9 a.m. It's about a two hour drive to Imbil, we travel via Bribie Island Road and onto the Bruce Highway until we hit the little country town of Imbil which isn't far from Gympie and arrive at Island Reach Resort. There's plenty of folks here but camping grounds are large enough for us to be able to select wherever we want to make camp. We find a quiet-ish shady spot, erect the van and the annexe and settle in. Imbil is perched on the banks of Yabba Creek which is a tributary of the Mary River. It's a milling town and investment in sawmills, forestry and trucking assures the town's employment.

We have lunch and me and the girls go along to check out the creek and have a look around. Before long they are joining lots of youngsters who are enjoying the water, climbing the mini clay mountain and jumping in from various heights and making slippery slides into the water. I find a shady spot to sit and read a book while keeping an eye on what's going on in the water.

Fun on the Clay Mountain (Clayfield)

A Snippet written by Emma

My favourite bit when we went to Imbil is when Grandpa, Nanny and I went down to the rock pools. We had to walk through the bush and carefully duck under an electric fence on our way to the pools. Grandpa was fishing and Nanny and I went for a swim in the pools, there was a little waterfall there too. We had to climb onto some rough rocks to get to the other side, when we were on the rocks there was some loose gravel and it hurt our feet. So when we came back we went for a cool off in the creek. Later that afternoon when we were having some nibbles and drinks outside I tripped over an insect stick burner and burnt my foot. So I had to put my foot in a bucket with ice and cold water until the bucket got a crack in it and then I had to put my foot in a saucepan filled with ice.

At the rock pools by the waterfall

Gabby's Snippet

On the second day we went into Imbil town, it was very small, it only had 10 shops in the town, there was a butcher, post office, hardware store, salvos, little clothes shop, bowls club, news agent, small supermarket and a real estate agent. Once we got back from town, Emma and I hired a canoe, we rowed up the creek and back, when we got back Nanny and Grandpa had a paddle in the canoe while Emma and I had a swim in the creek. In the middle of the creek there is a big clay mountain, it was pretty big. I decided to call the clay mountain Clayfield. On Clayfield I went up to the top and jumped from the top of Clayfield, it was really fun. Emma jumped from the lower area because she was a little bit scared.

Gab and Emma Canoeing

It's Our Turn

Back to Nanny's Report

We enjoyed our mini adventure here, the place was buzzing with lots of campers in tents and vans being school holidays. As well as the van we took our little tent with us, as the van only sleeps three so Richard slept in the tent. Gabby made good friends with Lilly who is also 11 and they spent a lot of time together. All too soon it was time to pack up and return home. I think we all enjoyed our little holiday.

Time for Bed

The Girls Bedroom

The Boy's Room

Anyone for Pancakes

Breakfast Time

CROWS NEST

11th September

The first trip away in the newly purchased A-Van is to be Crows Nest.  We spent the first post-purchase week of preparing and stocking the van with essentials before embarking on our first short trip.  Although the A-Van is quite compact it is laid out very well and good usage of space has been employed.  It comprises a two burner cooktop, microwave oven and sink, a table with seating each side that collapses into a single bed and a settee that collapses into a double bed, plenty of storage space and we bought an annexe for extra room.  The van collapses down to a fairly small trailer and the Mazda tows it with no problems.  Collapsing and erecting takes literally less than a minute.
 

16^th September

We're off to Crows Nest for the Inaugural Trip with the AVan. After several weeks of blue skies and sunshine we wake to a cloudy rainy day. However, forecast says rain will clear today. Van packed up, fridge on and filled and we're off at 9 a.m. It's about 150 kms to Crows Nest and we travel through Caboolture, Woodford, Kilcoy following the D'Aguilar Highway and then climbed the range to Crows Nest stopping for a morning tea break en route. It's just a quick operation to erect the van, kettle's on and we're enjoying a cuppa in next to no time.

In another half an hour or so we reach our destination of Crows Nest. We've pre booked a site but we can take our pick – we are the only ones here! We set up camp, erect the van and the annexe, have some lunch and Richard got the new TV working. The sites here are unpowered but with the aid of the generator TV is operating – but only for a short while until it runs out of petrol. We have a 12 volt connection on order for future occasions.  Never mind, we don't really need TV. We take a short walk to see what's here, there are some walking tracks that we will explore tomorrow. So the rest of the day is spent relaxing, reading, a game of scrabble and dinner. During the evening, a storm blows in with thunder, lighting and heavy rain which continues for most of the night. At least we now know that the roof doesn't leak! And we were told the next day that 19 milimetres fell. Yes, we heard it!

Camp's Set Up

Cuppa Tea Time

 

17^th September

The rain has cleared and sun is peeping through the clouds here and there. After breakfast we decide to explore the Crows Nest Walking Tracks. We walk through the picnic area and firstly we take the track to the Cascades. There's not a lot of water running as it has been so dry. The area is surrounded by huge boulders. Crows Nest is known for its rugged landscape, waterfalls, and a sparkling gorge named The Valley of Diamonds and is so-called because of the mineral felspar deposits on the rocks and boulders which glint in the sunlight. It's so peaceful, lots of birdsong, insects chirping and our footsteps crunching. We are keeping a lookout for rock wallabies that inhabit the area but none are sighted. The only wildlife encountered so far are scrub turkeys who appear regularly to see what they can scavenge and we're seen a couple of goannas basking in the sunshine. The Kayoo Pool is close to the Cascades and would be a good place for a cool off in summer. We walk on to the Crows Nest Falls, there's a waterhole below the falls and then it's on to the Koonin Lookout, again there are great views across the area. We eventually wound our way back to the camp site. This was a very pleasant 5 km walk.

Having a wee rest on a wee seat

Having a wee rest on a wee rock

At the Crows Nest Lookout

 

We decided to drive through Hampdon where there is an information centre in order that we can pick up some brochures of more walks in the area. Toowoomba is not far away so we drive into town as there are a couple of camping essentials we want to buy so Bunnings and BCF are on the agenda. Toowoomba's Festival of Flowers is on this weekend and the town is looking lovely with lots of blooming floral display in evidence. We have our picnic lunch in the lovely Laurel Bank Park where there are many large beds of beautiful displays and the stunning wisteria walk where trellises support the vines which forms an arched bower beneath a canopy of colour. Quite delightful. We'll spend some more time in Toowoomba on Thursday en route home. After a wander through the gardens we drive back to Crows Nest. Two more campers have arrived during our absence.

  

One of neighbours comes over for a chat and asks if we want to have a shower as he has chopped wood for the boiler and water is heating, it will provide hot water to the shower. This is bush camping in the true sense of the word with bush toilets and showers. The showers were interesting and this is Richard's account of their operation and Sandra's photographs:

The photographs below shows the system to obtain hot water for the shower. A large fire is lit underneath the black boiler and cold water poured in through the funnel on the left. As the water boils it rises through a system of baffles in the tank and as water is poured into the funnel the hot water exits through the pipe on the right into a strategically placed bucket. This bucket is then carried into the showers and the canvas bag (see photograph) is lowered by a pulley system and filled with the hot water. The bag is then raised using the same pulley system to an appropriate height for that of the person about to be showered. One then stands underneath the bag, turn the shower rose, suds up and shower very quickly before the bag empties. If all the suds have not been washed away then you must return to the boiler and start again.

The above was all to difficult for me (Sandra) so I just had a good wash!!!

The Boiler

The shower

18^th September

This morning we drive to Ravensbourne National Park to explore the bush walking areas and tracks here. A large portion of the track comprises rain forest which at times merges into eucalypt forest as you walk down into the shady Buaraba Creek. We discovered towering trees, palm groves, trickling streams and an abundance of birdlife, in the main heard but not seen. The track underfoot is heavy with leaf fall and so very soft to walk upon.  We also walked past the sandstone overhanging rocks that tower over the 'caves' beneath. We walked the complete circuit of around 8 kms stopping for morning tea and at the furthest point beside Buaraba Creek before returning to the car parking area. We spent a lazy afternoon back at camp after lunch of reading, snoozing, relaxing, cooking dinner, playing scrabble before bed time. It was a cool night of around 6 degrees, we needed to snuggle into those sleeping bags.

Richard beside the Giant Sydney Blue Gum

Sandra trying not to get her feet wet

19^th September

We are going home today so we pack up and after breakfast leave Crows Nest. We are driving home via Toowoomba as we want to have a look at the flowers in Queens Park. Firstly though we do the local walk in Applelgum Park which is situated in the little town of Crows Nest. We park at Bullockys Rest which is the entrance to Applegum Walk and home of the site where bullocks carrying timber from Blackbutt to Toowomba would camp overnight back in the 1800s.. It is a very pretty walk alongside a creek that passes the pump hole and interesting rock outcrops. It's a circular walk that ends up in the little town of Crows Nest.. The village green displays a statue of Jimmy Crow. It is claimed by some that the town was named after an Aboriginal, Jimmy Crow, who gave directions to early European settlers. He lived in a hollow tree known as Crows Nest. A statue of Crow stands in the centre of the village green. However, it is also claimed that the name of the town means "the home of crows".

From the lookout at Applegum Park

Bullockys Rest

 

Statue of Jimmy Crow at the Village Green

Sandra visits Jimmy Crow's Gayndah

 The plaque on this tree reads:  'In the early days when teamsters visited this area, Jimmy Crow, an Aboriginal, named by early settlers used a large hollow tree as his gayndah and was relied on for information and directions.  This place was used as a camping place by teamsters and travellers and became known as 'Jimmy Crow's Nest' - hence the name Crows Nest.

And then it was on to Toowoomba. We parked close to Queens Park and then wandered through the beautiful displays of colourful manicured flower beds that provided stunning displays of a mix of blooms and bulbs in readiness for the Carnival of Flowers that takes place this weekend. We had a picnic lunch amidst the beauty of the flowers and then finished wandering through the rest of the park before going back to the car and driving home – a two hour drive.

Queens Park

A Selection of the Floral Displays

 

And Another

Lovely Colourful Beds

 

We thoroughly enjoyed this new experience of exploring by caravan and look forward to our next trip.