End of year trip 2017, Day 4

We were up nice and early after a good nights sleep and after coffee and a quick pack up we headed of to have a look at the other two campgrounds in the park. We eventually found them but neither was as good as the one we had stayed at the previous night. While the road was rough and gutted in a few places it wasn't really challenging to drive and there were no real sights to be seen, so we decided to head back out of the park.
Shane had realized that he hadn't tied his shovel on properly and it had escaped and run away, so on the way back we had had to keep an eye out for it. We eventually found it about 100 metres from the previous nights camp. Then it was back out through the park and the farm roads to the main Capricorn Highway where we had a quick drinks stop to decide what we would do for the rest of today. We decided to head a bit further inland to have a look at Blacksland Tableland National Park. Unfortunately the parks web site showed no camp sites for the evening but we went for a look anyway.
The tableland is a couple of hundred metres above the surrounding plain and the road was twisty and steep but still a relatively easy drive. We stopped at the first lookout (Horseshoe lookout) for a quick look and had some lunch as well. 

Then it was off into the park for a look at the main campsite, where unsurprisingly, there were quite a few empty sites, although the web site said that it was full. We had a quick look at some nearby rock pools and Shane had a quick swim to cool off, even though it must have been 5 or 6 degrees cooler on the tablelands than Down below.

We continued out to the Rainbow Waters walk were Shane went for a couple of km walk and I stayed in the shade at the car park writing up the day's activities and reading a book. Then it was off for a drive around the 4wd loop which took us to another spectacular lookout. 

As it was getting late we needed to find a camp site, so Wikicamps to the rescue. We found one about 50 Kms away, so headed back down from the Tablelands and drove to the back of Comet and a spot on the MacKensie River. It was a km or two off the road down a pretty rough track but it is not too bad. We set up quickly and had some dinner before sitting around and chatting for awhile and going to bed early when the mozzies arrived.

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End of year trip 2017, Day 3

Up early, had a quick bite to eat and coffee and then packed up and left to go to Yeppoon. Found a nice coffee shop and had an iced coffee before heading off Capricorn Caves (near Mt Etna Caves). We got there just before 9 am and booked on a Geo Tour at 10:15, This gave us heaps of time to refuel with tea and scones and get cameras and walking gear sorted out. It was ok but too much fossils and not enough Caves. 

Then we drove out to Mt Etna Caves and walked around the circuit but you couldn't actually get to the cave part.
We headed south back into Rockhampton to find a tyre Store and a Repco for Shane. Unfortunately, they couldn't fix Shane's tyre so we ended up with KFC for lunch. Shane then headed off to do some shopping while I sat in a park in the shade and worked out where we were going to head for the evening.
After Shane had refueled and done some shopping, we decided to head out along the Capricorn highway and have a look at Goodedulla National Park. It was pretty slow going getting there as a lot of it was over farm roads that were not meant for high speed travel. Then when we got into the park the roads got worse and it was obvious from the branches and trees over the road that the ranger hadn't been in for awhile. The Hema maps didn't show all the roads or campsites while the pdf I downloaded from the parks web page was sorely lacking. Lots of intersections with a small number on a fence post and no signs meant it was a maze. The camp site we had been aiming for didn't seem to exist, so we kept on driving until we came across an old shed which looked like it was still occasionally used when they mustered the cattle that were around. 

It was getting close to sunset and it was near the river which had a little bit of water in it, so we decided to set up camp. Of course we couldn't set up on the nice flat area around the shed we had to bush bash the cars down to a nice little spot closer to the river. 

Shane went for a quick swim in the river and then we lit the fire. We cooked diner and sat around the fire before heading off to bed.

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End of year trip 2017, Day 2

Up relatively early, around 6'ish, had coffee and breakfast. We packed up and left camp a bit after 7 and headed off to explore the Byfield National Park as low tide was around 10:30 am for beach driving. Bit of a rough road into the park and then got to the point where we had to air down, I went to 18 psi at back and 16 psi at the front.
There is quite a long steepish hill of soft sand to get over on the way in and I thought I was going fine until a deep bump took away all my momentum and I couldn't go any further. This was with the stability control turned off but still high range. I had to back up quite a bit and tried a few things , like low range, rear diff lock, but I couldn't get any further. So I let the tyres down to 14 rear 12 front and after a few tries got a couple of metres further but I still couldn't get up the hill. So then it was down to 10 psi rear and 9 psi front and I was able to get enough momentum up to get me past the big bump and I could continue up the hill. Shane of course came up without getting stuck with his tyres at 18 psi, he was in first gear low range however.
We continued out to Stockyard Point for a look and there is quite a few fishermen's shacks there. There was a spectacular view from the point both north and south.

Then it was a quick drive to Five Rock Beach where we had to walk 500 metres or so down lots of steps but it was worth it. The beach is spectacular and there was a little fresh water stream running down the hill. We walked up to the Five Rocks at the north end and then Shane went exploring while I headed back to find some shade and write up this diary. Then started the painful walk back up the hill. We had a quick look at the camp ground and at least half the sites were vacant even though they showed as booked on the web site.

We headed over to the main beach and had a look at a little waterfall before driving down to the south end of the beach and going across to the inland side to have a look at the Corio Bay day use area. Nice spot but a bit swampy. 

Then back up the beach calling in to have a look at some of the camp grounds, they also were not as full as they were supposed to be. We took another narrow soft sandy track back to the main entrance road near the top of Big Sandy and headed down it. Much easier than coming up. We had to wait a bit near the bottom as a couple of cars had got them selves bogged. We found a shady spot on the road and put some air back into the tyres.
We stopped in at WaterPark Creek day use area and had some lunch before going on a loop walk around the area. We thought it was going to lead us to the swimming hole but it was a false promise. So, we ended up walking back along the road and over the causeway and simply jumping in. Very pleasant way to spend 30 or so minutes. Then it was back to camp for a lazy afternoon before dinner another early night in bed.

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End of year trip 2017, Day 1

I was up early and breakfasted at mum and dad's place, before heading north at around 6:45 am. It was a pretty easy drive with not much traffic and very few trucks. Stopped off for an early lunch at Miriamvale a bit after 11 am and continued on into Rockhampton where I refuelled.
Shane was still a while away so I continued onto Yeppoon where I was able to check the bookings for the national park. The only available space for two nights was at Red Rock camp site, so after checking with Shane I booked a spot (trailer or tent) over the internet and then headed out to the camp site. Yeppoon is a nice little town but it was very busy with holiday makers. 

I followed the signs out to Byfield and found the camp site pretty easy. On the way in, there was a beware of crocodiles sign on one of the creeks, so I'm not sure about swimming.
The camp site is nice and big with a table and fire pit also shady and well grassed. You can get to this site with a 2wd no problems. I've got a nice spot down the back and Shane can pick where ever he wants. 

After getting set up I relaxed for awhile and cooled off. Shane arrived just after 4:30 pm with all four wheels still attached.
We sat around and chatted for awhile, had some dinner and a drink but ended up going to bed early as the mossies were vicious.

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Weekend trip to Lamington National Park

Slept in a little on Saturday morning but was up, packed and driving out around 8:30 am. I headed north to Nerang and turned off the highway towards Canungra. A quick stop at the pie shop in Canungra for a sausage roll and iced coffee and then it was off towards Lamington national park and O'Reillys.

There was lots of damage to the road in the aftermath of the latest heavy rain from the remnants of cyclone Debbie. The road is normally pretty narrow and windy but it became even narrower as land slips had taken away bits from each side of the road. No real dramas just a slower than normal trip. Just before O'Reillys I turned off onto Duck Creek road and followed it until the John Shepard Lookout where it was closed, also due to damage from the cyclone. 

However, there is a smallish flat spot to the right just above the lookout and this was where Shane had set up camp. I parked the car and joined Shane around the camp fire which was struggling a bit because the wood was quite wet from rain a couple of days earlier, however a little diesel fixed this. 🔥🔥🔥. After a bit of lunch I got Blute setup on a nice flat spot and we spent the afternoon chatting around the fire. 

Just before sunset Shane got his camera out and got some nice photos as the sun quickly went down behind the hills, although the colour in the sky lasted a almost an hour.

Then it was dinner time followed by more chatting around the fire before finally heading off to bed as the temperature got down below 10 degrees. Although chilly overnight I don't think it got below 5 or 6 degrees. We slept in a bit in the morning before Shane kick started the fire again and we had some coffee to wake up a bit. After breakfast we had a lazy morning around the fire before packing up and heading up to O'Reillys for a quick lunch. The parking up there was crazy. The trip down the hill was a bit more tricky as there was a lot more traffic heading up the hill but I eventually made it back to Canungra and then had a pretty good run back to Nerang and then home at around 2:30.

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Weekend trip away, May 27-28.

Went shopping and did the chores first thing on Saturday morning. Packed some clothes and fresh food into Blute and the camper and headed off a bit after 11 am. Refuelled and headed north on the motorway, turned off at Mudgeeraba and headed for the Hinze Dam. Had a look at the water coming over the spillway and then had some lunch in the picnic area. Nice little spot.

Took the back roads up towards Beechmont and stopped for awhile to watch the hang gliders taking off from the side of the road. Continued onto Canungra stopping off to have a look at a nice little camping spot - Sharp Park, green grass and a toilet block, about $8 per night. Then into Beaudesert before heading south to Rathdowney. Tuned off to the Lions Road, lots of signs saying "Bridge Out" no through road into NSW but I had checked the map before hand and it looks like you can take a dirt road detour through the Border Ranges national park.
Continued onto Andrew Drynan camping area and arrived a bit after 3 pm. Found a nice spot at the back of the grassy area and setup for the evening. There is flushing toilets but no showers and the man came round to collect the $8 at around 4:30 pm. I got the fire going in the little fire pit which looks like an old tyre rim.

There are around 20 to 25 camping groups but all are pretty well spread out. Internet access is good via the phone with 4-5 dots of Telstra 3G access.
Cooked and ate dinner before relaxing around the fire reading a book. The temperature had started to plummet around 4 pm once the sun had disappeared behind the hills and probably got down to around 10 deg C over night. Went to bed around 8'ish and read for awhile before turning in for a nice peaceful sleep.
I was out of bed around 7 am and it was about 10 deg C so I got the hot water boiling for a cup of coffee. This warmed me up as I checked up on what had happened in the world overnight and watched the rest of the campers slowly start to stir. After a leisurely breakfast and more coffee I got things packed up and headed off southwards.
I stopped in at the loop lookout but couldn't see any trains, so continued on and had a look through the Border Ranges national park.

When I got to the Pinnacles lookout the road was closed, so I had to retrace my steps and head back towards Kyogle. In Kyogle I stopped for a quick look at the Sunday morning markets and found a very tasty sausage roll for brunch. Then it was off east towards Murwillumbah however I stopped in at Crams Farm on the banks of the Clarrie Hall dam and had the rest of my lunch sitting peacefully by the lake.

From here it was back onto the main road before turning off towards Tyalgum and following a twisty narrow road. I stopped in at Byrrill Creek campground in the Mebbin national park, nice little spot.
Then it was off towards home via Chillingham and Tomewin and down into Currumbin. All up about 370 Kms and a very pleasant way to spend the weekend.

Vic High Country Trip, Day 7 and 8

We slept in a bit and had brekkie before going for a drive at around 9 am. After driving across the Murray river at a shallow crossing we found our original target, the Davies Plain track closed, so we went exploring a couple of other tracks.
After driving the Tom Groggin Track and Paddy Joy track, among others we had a bit of lunch and stopped off for a look at Wheelers Creek hut. 

In the afternoon we found a few other nice tracks and then ended up on the mount Pinnibar track which led to the top of Mt Pinnibar and a spectacular view. 

Today's tracks all had some very steep sections so there was a lot of low range driving, but the track surface was pretty good so while slow it wasn't that hard.
Then it was back to camp for a swim in the creek to cool off but as there was a fire ban we didn't have a camp fire to sit around after dinner so we headed off to bed relatively early.

Today the others were going to do the walk to the top of Mt Kosciuszko but as my knees were playing up I would amuse myself around Thredbo. So we had a sleep in and a lazy breakfast before driving off to Thredbo where we couldn't find a park down near the chair lift station so Phil and I ended up parking up the top car park and walking down to the village.
We got Day tickets to the chair lift and headed up with all the mountain bikers. 

After coffee and morning tea at the restaurant at the top of the chair lift the others started walking to the top of Kosciusko while headed back down to the village.
I wandered around having a look and had lunch from the bakery down by the stream. 

There was a bit of rain but I found a spot under cover and wrote up some blog entries for posting while I had a reasonable signal. When the others came back from the walk we headed back to camp for a swim in the creek to cool off. No campfire as we still had a fire ban, do it ended up being an early night in bed.

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