Blogs from Mackay, Queensland, Australia, Oceania
March 7th 2012
Tue 6 Mar ---------- Off to Riverside Caravan Park in Rockhampton. Don't know if you remember but this time last year this caravan park and, indeed, most of Rockhampton, were flooded out. So you may imagine after recent problems with the wet stuff we were a little edgy about it. On top of this our site was right next to the river. A little disconcerting, then, when at about 10pm it started to rain & thunder etc. Along with the rain and a little inoput by very loud kookaburras and squawking ravens, we didn't sleep much that night. Rockhampton is not really a touristy place, it's a working town so there wasn't much to see there. It's right on the Tropic of Capricorn. Just a stopping off point for us really. Wed 7 Mar ----------- Our ... read more
December 26th 2011
Wednesday 21 Dec 2011 - John's last day working for Grants painting - He spent a couple of weeks painting at the Dolphin Head's Resort then he did a couple of days painting at the Flagship Resort on the Mackay Marina - a very nice Marina with lots of shops and resturants facing the water and a lovely walking path along the edge. Xmas Day 2011 - Both John and I came down with different flu's just before Xmas so we were not very good company for the family on Xmas day but we still had a very nice day. We spent the day with Dawn, Ric, Tania and Ray at their lovely home at Shoal Point. Huge breakfast, lovely prawn salad for lunch then a beautiful traditional cooked turkey and plum pudding evening meal before ... read more
December 11th 2011
Sunday 11th December Had Tania and Ray over to the caravan for a BBQ and of course we had to have the biggest downfall of rain since we have been here. It rained non stop for a couple of hours and when it stopped the road in front of us was flooded (the 1 drain at the end of the road could not cope). We were sloshing around in it like a couple of kids - if it had kept on raining any longer I think we would have had the water running under the caravan and right through the annexe - as it was just the rain water was running through the annexe while we were having tea. To get in the Xmas spirit we put up our couple of strands of Xmas lights around ... read more
December 4th 2011
25th November 2011 Our last night at Airlie Beach Cove caravan park - John has been called back to Mackay to start a new job painting a resort at the Mackay Marina. We have had a great time here in Airlie Beach. John's last week working was at Daydream Island catching the ferry each day to work. He said it looked like a lovely place to stay and we were thinking about staying one weekend but we ran out of time. While we were in Airlie Beach we saw quite a range of wildlife as well as the wonderful bird life. Spotted a Sand Monitor Lizard wandering through the caravan park. The last night we were there we saw a bandicoot trying to scrounge some food from our family of Thick Knees (Curlews). 4th December 2011 ... read more
September 16th 2011
Friday 16th Sept Decided to go for a walk along the Komma Teorea walk trail at Slade Point - all the walks we go on seem to be that little bit different - loved all the paper bark trees on this little walk - also the interesting piece of metal still stuck up a tree after a storm in 1991 Saturday 17th Sept We had a lovely BBQ on Tania's balcony to say farewell to Tania and Ray as they were heading west for the pending birth of their new granddaughter and also to help celebrate Ray's birthday - we also had to feed the possum's that came to visit after we had finished eating and had to quickly take all the leftover food into the house before the possums raided the table - but they ... read more
September 7th 2011
Wednesday 7th September Moved into the Andergrove Caravan Park and settled in well, a very nice park and of course we have our own ensuite. Colin and Louise arrived on Tuesday after travelling from Broome, Darwin, Cairns and now Mackay. It is great to see them and spend some time touring around Mackay. We visited the Eimeo historic hotel on top of the hill and had lunch. On Wednesday we took Colin and Louise for a drive in the Landcruiser to Seaforth and Hillsborough National Park. What great places these are to visit. The walk around the top of the National Park was just brilliant with fantastic views over the ocean.... read more
August 21st 2011
Saturday 20th August Left Rockhampton and headed to St Lawrence (free camping site 88) for a free overnighter - we were told that this campsite was very good and it was. It was at the St Lawrence show grounds and there must have been about 60 campers by the time night fell. We pulled into the parking lot which has a little bit of grass, most of the grounds were dirt. There was a short walk to a wetland lake which had lots of bird life on it - black swans, magpie geese and plenting of different types of ducks etc. Just a short walk into town for any essentials - it was a great spot, and the best toilets for a free site, better than a lot of caravan park toilets. We set ourselves up ... read more
July 30th 2011
This has been at trip that we have both been looking forward to for ages. On the bucket list of camping expeditions this is definately one that must be done - the other being the Bungle Bungles. We have been busy researching exactly how to execute this trip. Thinking that the route will be Mackay - Longreach Longreach - Birdsville Birdsville - Marree (SA). Just realised three interesting facts 1 - Lake Eyre is in SA, just outside the Qld border, and the rain that falls to the west of Mackay will evenutally make it's way all the way down to the Channel Country and eventually into Lake Eyre 2 - The Dig Tree is in NSW and it's possible to make a dog leg enroute to actually visit Cooper Creek and see the Dig Tree ... read more
July 24th 2011
Saturday 16th July 2011 Rags awoke at 4.30am with rain beating steadily on the roof of the van. He dozed a little between then and sunrise, but Judy was also restless. By 7am he was up and about, soon followed by Judy. After a quick breakfast and shower we soon had the van packed and ready to go, leaving by 8.30am. John and Marilyn intended leaving shortly after, so we agreed to meet for lunch. The GPS told us a different route to what we were expecting to take, by-passing Rockhampton altogether. This was a pleasant drive and about 15kms shorter. By 11am we were near the town of Marlborough, so we detoured off the Bruce Highway and entered the town. This consisted of a few houses, a Post Office and a service station/deli and little ... read more
July 6th 2011
Hi guys, we are now 8 days into the trip. Have been to some beautiful places along the way & met some lovely people. Stayed at Iluka, Maroochydore (stayed in an awesome resort right on the Maroochy River), Bundaberg (yum, rum!!!!!), Yeppoon (gorgeous place) & now Mackay. Our neighbours here at Mackay are also almost neighbours back home, they are from Barrack Heights. We have eaten way too much junk food. 2 must mentions are the pies at Gin Gin & also the pies at Flaggy Rock. We are off to Bowen this morning & then onto Townsville where we will be when the V8 supercars are on although I certainly didn't organise it that way, just a coincidence. Anyway we will catch up with you all soon. Take care! xxx... read more
