Bush camping

Friday 11 August

We took a chance on finding somewhere we could stop near the beach for a night of busy camping.  I looked on Google earth and thought I could see a sort of lay by in scrubland at Lake Cathie …. We got there before dark but decided to pull into a car park on the beach to cook our tea and look at the view and the wildlife. After eating and clearing up we drove, in the dark, along the beach road and found the ideal spot (shown on Google Earth), we were sheltered from the road by scrub and the beach was just a few metres from the Campervan, down a slope.  We could hear the waves pounding on the beach and it was so peaceful.  It was cold in the night because Mandy wanted to sleep with the window open so she could hear the waves!  We got up at 6am and took a cuppa down to the beach to watch the sun rise. 

Later we drove to our campsite to book in, explore the rock pools for a while, have a shower etc.  Mandy again drove and we got to Jill’s at about 3:30 (just half an hour from the campsite).  Aaron took us on a tour of Terrigal and Jill cooked us a lovely meal.  We got back to the van at Shelley Beach at about 9:30 pm.

Byron

BByron Bay

When We finally got to our campsite after a long detour because of road works across the entrance to the campsite, we booked in but did not stay as we wanted to see if we could get surf lessons for the kids. After parking the van we went into the first shop we found which advertised lessons and they had space on a lesson starting in 10 minutes!!  We grabbed some sandwiches and went off in the bus with the kids to a nearby beach where the breakers were great for beginners.  They both got into wetsuits and headed off into the surf.  It was clear from the start that they could both stay upright on the boards and looked great.  Amber got tired after a little while and had to give up but Axel managed the whole lesson and loved it!!

Returning to the centre of Byron Bay where we had left the van, we saw lots of signs saying that we were on Suffolk Beach!! Also, on the way here we passed Ipswich!!

Back at the campsite, the kids were pleased to find we had ensuite facilities next to our van, for our sole use! A spacious, quiet campsite, unlike some we have stayed in!!! 

When we left the campsite this morning (Thursday) we had to call in at a garage to get a headlight bulb replaced before setting off for Lake Cathie and a night of bush camping.

We have found the distances I had planned for this trip to be a challenge…… partly because the van rattles and is very noisy if you go above 100kph and partly because there are so many roadworks which cut the speed down to 60kph with lots of stops for one-way flows etc.  So we have not been able to do quite as much sight-seeing as we had hoped, but we are seeing some amazing countryside, rivers, mountains, wildlife, beaches etc.

Fraser island

We left Gladstone just before 8 and arrived in Hervey Bay at 12 noon.  We found our campsite and Mandy managed to get all the wet clothes into a washing machine, AND fall into raptures about the birds flying around our van (cockatoos, tree creepers etc) before we were picked up for our whale watching trip at 1pm.

The trip exceeded our expectations with humpback whales 25m off the side of the boat, breaching, tail and fluke splashing and one mother with a newborn calf!! On the way home we had dolphins now-riding the boat. The trip culminated with a spectacular sunset. 

Whitsunday Island

MManaged to get a campsite in Airlie Beach but had to get up early as we had to be at the Port of Airlie by 7:30 to book in for our day trip around the Whitsunday islands.  We were advised to get there by 7am as the car park was likely to get full early due to the reef festival….. we did so but there were loads of places.  We decided not to take our own snorkel equipment but to make use of the ones provided so, once on board I went to confirm that this equipment was available…… only to be told that snorkelling was no longer available on that trip since cyclone Debbie 4 months ago…… I was devastated as I had built up that part of the trip to the kids so much….. what we would see on the reef, the dozens of different fish, turtles, plants etc.  However, the day turned out to be excellent, despite the disappointment. The weather was perfect, blue sky, light cloud, fair winds. The catamaran crew managed to get the main and genoa sails to fill (though I noted we still had the engines going). We stopped off for a short trek to view Whitehaven beach from above and behind….. stunning to see and Axel identified some rays in the sea below us.  We had 2 hours to relax, swim, play games etc on Whitehaven beach before returning to the cat. For a BBQ lunch (which the gulls tried to steal from us) then a lazy sail back with deck games on the way!

As we had paid for 24 hour parking at the port (and because there were toilets available) we de died to stay put for the night and walked into the marina for an Italian meal overlooking the expensive yachts!

Pics

Sugar

Magnetic Island

At Cool Waters Campsite, some Australians told us we must visit Crystal Creek and swim in the pools and rock slides there, so we decided to cut short our trip to Townsville and I booked us into the Crystal Creek Caravan site.  Having to detour t sort out a duff purchase Amber had made plus lots of roadworks meant we did not arrive until 4. We drove to Big Crystal creek but there were some noisy youngsters there so we decided to walk to the rock slides but the dusk descended too quickly so we had to abandon that and return to the van.  We set off at 7.40 to drive to Townsville for a trip to Magnetic Island to see wild koalas.  Again Road works held us up and we only just caught the 9am tug ferry as foot passengers.  We waited for the bus but it was full before we got to the front of the queue, so we ordered a taxi and went to Horseshoe Bay – well named and beautiful! From there we decided we did not have enough time to walk up to the forts to (hopefully and with lots of luck) to see wild koalas….. so we went into the koala sanctuary and got to handle a red-tailed black parakeet, blue-tongued lizard, baby crocodile and tickle a koala!! Then it was a dash back to the ferry for the onward drive to Airlie Beach.  I had not booked a campsite for tonight as we thought we might bush camp, but as it was getting late and we did not expect to arrive before 5-6pm I de died to phone up to book a campsite.  This proved quite difficult due to the reef festival taking place here this weekend!! I managed to get what, I think, was the last place in town and it is crowed and we are right next to the toilets and dump point!!!  I have not yet booked any campsites for the rest of the trip as we are hoping to find one or two bush, or free, sites near or next to beaches on the way south.

We have just had supper and are now ready to turn in.