Night 11 - Boyne Island

After Craigs fishing adventure on saturday we relaxed in the arvo and checked out Gladstone.



After arriving back at our camp we decided to stay another night on Boyne Island. They didnt have any powered sites available so we moved to an un-powered site. It was peaceful, serene and secluded and we were excited!! Ahhh the dream of letting the kids run free with no one in sight! We set up right next to the river and head out to Tannum Sands Beach for the morning. What a gorgeous little beach, the kids swam and surfed for the first time on our trip.



Kai heading to the beach.....



Bailey surfing.....huge waves!!!



We had some lunch then headed back to camp....



We get back to camp and there are 2 vans now camped either side of us. Our seculded little spot was no more. Huge disappointment. Anyway Craig and the kids played some cricket while I cooked dinner. Afterwards the generators (which sounded like lawn mowers) started....geez when can we get some quiet!! We toasted marshmallows which was really fun, the kids couldnt get enough.



Kids in bed and generators off we sat under the stars and watched the fire, bliss.....

Next stop tomorrow is Rockhampton

Night 10 - Boyne Island

FISHIN'......woo hoo!!
Got up at 'sparrows' to get to Nathan's (a mate I used to work with at the ferries) house 20k's away in Gladston and was met with an absolute 'pea-soup' amount of fog.
Nathan being the local with plenty of years experience on the water, was happy to scream out of the harbour at 20kts taking all the shortcuts and going past one boat who had gone up on the bank in the fog to cover the 20miles out to his secret spot on the reef.


That`s not clouds but a short break in the fog!!

It was glassy conditions out there and plenty of fish. We stopped at one spot to get some bait then to the nearby reef for the action.
We caught plenty of fish including snapper, red hussa, morwong, parrot fish, sweetlip, remora (sucker fish that are pests!), plenty of different cod and red emporer. We threw back some 'reds' that I thought were massive but he said they were undersize......I am used to small Sydney fish I guess!!



Sweetlip


Mother-in-Law fish!!

Night 9 - Boyne Island, Gladstone

Off we went from Gympie (and the Gympie skatepark) and followed the Bruce Hwy north to Boyne Island just to the south of Gladstone. On the way past the farms of mango, avocado, lychee, macadamia trees and the like, we had to pull in to a fruit stall and bought a bag of avocado's ($2), bananna's ($1.50kg), pineapple ($2) and dried mango....sensational!!
Just waiting (pumped!!) for a days fishing on the reef with a mate tomorrow.

Night 8 - Gympie

We left Brissy headed north for a free camp north of Gympie. Glad to be out of Brisbane and the over crowded caravan parks!



We stopped the the Big Pineapple for lunch. It sure doesnt look as big as it does when your not a kid!



The kids were getting pretty restless as we approached Gympie so we stopped at the nearest caravan park. We woke this morning to a pretty impressive fog and Craig took the boys to the skate park.



We are having the most amazing time so far, we are all happy and enjoying being away. We are meeting the Grey Nomads and retiree's and Craig is loving having a chat to them all. They always have something to say!

Our aim so far is to get through NSW and QLD as quick as we can to allow more time in NT and WA. So onward we go to Gladstone where Craig is going fishing with a mate.......

Night 7- Brisbane

Get me out of this joint!!!

The car is getting a transmission flush which has meant a little longer stay in Brisvegas...little did we know it is "EKKA" time which has filled this caravan to the brim. Every single space is booked and people are almost camping on top of eachother.

Night 6 - Brisbane

Another night in Brissy with Nat, another fun night of cooking, drinking and playing cards!! The car is in having a service so we got the bus into town and explored Southbank yesterday which was nice. It was a bit cold but the kids still wanted to swim.






It absolutely poured last night......our lil Windsor Rapid doesnt leak thank god! The carnies have shown up at the caravan park......the language is lovely and the kids in tow are pretty awful! They are all in town for the annual Ekka Show. OMG where do these people come from??? We went to bed last night with everything locked up and packed away! Looking forward to hitting the open road again and finding somewhere quiet and peaceful.

Night 5- Brisbane

We are staying at a caravan park really close to the centre of Brisbane (Newmarket Gardens). Ive never seen a caravan park so packed! Every van is about 2m from the next one. I hate camping like this, especially with our crazy noisy kids! Great showers though.

Nat came for a bbq last night which was fun. She gave Bailey a lovely new haircut! He is nearly bald! Half way through he decided he hated it and had a bit of a meltdown but we convinced him he looks just like Craig so he is happy now!

The kids schoolwork arrives tomorrow which is going to be interesting.

We are off to Southbank for a swim.....and to explore the city. Its gorgeous today and we are back to wearing shorts.....Yah!

Night 4- Gold Coast

The Gold Coast has been fun as always! My ears are sore after staying with my nan for 2 nights, the tv volume is on 100 so its no wonder she cant hear a word we say. Bless her!! She was very excited to meet her great grand-daughter for the first time. It was nice to have a propper thong-free shower and a warm bed to sleep in.

Off to Bris-Vegas for some fun with my sis!!

Night 3- Gold Coast

You`ve got to love the oldies retiring gracefully on the Goldie.........Porsche 911`s (mid 80`s), fake tans and gold jewellery!!!

I`m looking for Warrick Capper, what a photo oportunity that would be. This place is just as busy with so much "look at me" going on.

We are celebrating Lisa`s nan`s 90th birthday at Broadbeach and catching up with Howdy and Shannon up here. Staying at Trish`s place is great 8 floors up at "Broadie" with ocean views.

I think this is the start for boardies and thongs for me....it`s warming up!

Night 2 - Yamba

We left Harrington quite early and headed for Coffs. The kids were so excited to get to the Big Banana and eat a banana split. After a few hours driving we made it and ordered our banana splits. Kai was enjoying his when all of a sudden a bird comes over and pecks him in the eye. He was hysterical, not only everyone at the Big Banana the but the whole of Coffs could hear him screaming!! Poor kid, if anything is going to happen it will happen to Kai!!! Took him quite a while to get over.





We left for Yamba and got there at about 4pm. Just managed to set up and it started to rain so we bunked down for the night. In the morning we explored beautiful Yamba. What a gorgeous little town, I can really see myself living in a beachy town like that. Just lovely. Spent the morning in the sunshine enjoying coffee and watching tht kids at another skate park. The kids couldnt be happier!!



We headed north again through a town called Woodburn (which actually smelt like wood burning!!). Of course Craig sees another friend in a tiny little town in the middle of no where!!

On to the Gold Coast.....

Night 1 - Harrington

So......after 2 years of planning we finally left Sydney and headed north for Harrington. We didnt get there until 4pm and left at 10am so we didnt see too much. Craig still managed to bump into a guy from Sydney Ferries.....lets just see if there is a town we can get through where Craig doesnt know someone!!! They had a great skate park and a huge breakwall. The kids were great in the car but they have new dvd players so they should be happy!! Really looking forward to checking out Yamba next stop.


Ellie at the skate park


Kids were pretty tired after a long day

The Rig !!!