After staying in Bargara for 10 days, and finally getting the vehicle fixed, we were very ready to get on the road again to continue this great adventure.
We headed north to Boyne Island, about 20 min from Gladstone. We stayed at Boyne Island Caravan Park. The staff were really friendly and the facilities were very clean and tidy. It was at this caravan park that I spotted my dream bus.
After walking past the bus several times, (kind of stalking I know) I could make out a young family were the occupants. I spotted the family a couple of days later and pounced on them when I had the chance. They had 2 children the same age as our boys and had been tripping around for 12 months. We got chatting about our adventures and THEN.......they asked me if I would like to have a look inside the bus. My thongs flipped off real quick as I hot footed through the bus door. OH MY GOODNESS, I was in heaven. The bus was so beautifully fitted out with suede lounges, a full kitchen and surround sound for the flat screen TV. They even had a BEDROOM DOOR. It was like walking through a fully furnished modern unit. The father had bought the coach bus and taken 2 years to fit the bus out. He estimated it cost around $200000. To drive the bus cost around $5.00 every km. The family stayed put in towns where they found work which was usually at least 3 months at a time.
As much as I loved this bus it would not always be practical for the sort of travelling we are doing. BUT one day I will get my bus.
From Boyne Island we did a day trip to 1770 and Agnes Waters. Words can not explain how beautiful this place is. Beaches and crystal clear water as far as you can see.
While at the beach the kids spotted some people catching bait fish by dragging a net about knee deep in the ocean then slowing walking the net to sure. We were not sure how legal it was but they caught hundreds of little herring. The boys took no time at all to offer their services to help them get the fish out of the net. They kept the fish the others didn't want although the poor fish did not survive very long.
We had a fantastic day at 1770 and will definately be on our list of places to return.
Boyne Island has beautiful warm beaches and lovely park areas for the kids.
While staying at Boyne Island the Gladstone Harbour festival show was on. We took the kids on the night of the fireworks and they had a ball.
The week-long celebration is to greet the winners of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.
Fun on the Ferris Wheel at the Gladstone show.
Port of Gladstone is Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port, housing the world’s fourth largest coal export terminal. Having this Port means there is soooo much work available in Gladstone. We were told the average wage is $2000 per week take home. For this reason many of the local businesses struggle to find workers. We weren't expecting Gladstone to be as big a place as it is with a population of around 50000.
We found 4 nights was enough time to look around the area so we packed up and headed to Yeppoon.
Peter and I had travelled to Yeppoon over 10 years ago. The tourism has well and truly expanded and taken over the sleepy coastal town it once was.
We stayed at the Causeway Caravan Park about 10 km from Yeppoon. The Park had a great position straight across the road from the water and parklands. The park itself was a bit run down and in need of some extra attention. So many times Peter and I see these caravan parks that, with a little bit of love,attention and enthusiam could be made so much more appealing than they are.
Down the road from the park was a boat hire hut. We thought we would try our luck at catching dinner. Once again we were unsuccessful but had a whole lot of fun trying.
My enthusiasm for hand washing has died down a little so we have a new rule in the camp. If it does not stink or look dirty it does not get washed. Levi has embraced to rule to the extreme while Zac has been a bit hesitant.
While staying at Yeppoon we made a phone call to Janine and Robert who live on a remote cattle station 160km north west from Charters Towers with their 5 yr old son Mack. They were advertising on the grey nomad site for anyone interested in helping around the property in exchange for board and food. They agreed to us coming so we headed inland towards Charters Towers. We had no idea what adventure was before us.
Much more to follow :)
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