We are hoping that this year will be another good one for us.

We have a family camping trip organised for Easter so far and I are working on an around the country trip to kick off not long after that.

Might try and organise a COG before then.

Image is first draft of the map

---

How long will you do it over?

Don’t have a plan on time.

Derek wrote on Jan 14^th, 2025 at 6:24pm:

Don’t have a plan on time.

That's how I want to do it in 2026.
Too much pressure to be back on time last trip.
Lauren and Kris are heading off sometime this year for a year or two.

Well with the COG a no goer Maggie and I didn’t really want to go straight home.

Monday and Tuesday nights we stayed at the MacLean Showgrounds.  We came close to moving there when we retired.  I even bought a boat for fishing down this way.  ;D

Alas it wasn’t to happen though.

Yesterday had a good look around Yamba and that part of the coast.

Left there this morning and are now at the Reflections Caravan Park at Lennox Head.  The northern beaches of NSW are amazing and well worth a visit.

It has been showering with occasional heavy scuds but we are going ok.

Sat on the waterfront and had fish and chips for dinner.

Here are some photos from around here.  The surf is up.

Going for a drive up to Byron tomorrow.

---

Looks a bit bleak out to sea.

Hi Derek
I hope you and Maggie are having a good break away
Thank you very much for the photographs
regards  Kev ;)

Probably enjoy it more if I was a duck Kevvie.  Rained here all night and still showery.

Hi Derek
enjoy where you are at least you can see a beach. You don't have that at home ;D ;D
Kev

Byron Bay between the showers certainly hasn’t changed that much.  Still has lovely beach’s and the lighthouse views are amazing.

$10 to park up the lighthouse but I am too old to climb that hill these days.   ;D

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Stopped in Bangalow for lunch at a little cafe.

I love that quintessential old architecture.  The old red telephone box is well preserved and even had a working telephone.

---

Hi Derek
Hope you had a great day.
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev ;)

Lovely town.
Great when the market is on.

Lovely town.
Great when the market is on.

Been watching the flood cameras around home and wondering how long we should stay away.

Not much we could do about it anyway at home.

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Well a week of rain and the day we are going home have woken to clear skies and the sun shining.   :)

Hi Derek
I can not understand how all that water stays up there and we have no where for the water to go and get stored. It is a shame.
Have a safe trip home
regards Kev

Home again.  Just for a few weeks here then off to Hervey Bay with family for Easter.

On the road again. 

Have pulled into a roadside free camp at Wooroolin near Kingaroy.  Stayed here before about 10 years ago.

On our way to Hervey Bay for Easter.  Staying 6 mights up there.

It has just started to rain.   ::)

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Doesn't look real busy there.

Sign of the times but quite a few permanent/homeless folks here.  It is a big area.

When the grey nomad tribes start migrating north I believe it can get quite busy as an overnighter.

Hi Derek
That looks like a good spot you have there Thanks for photos
Happy easter
Have a great time with the family.
regards Kev

Kevvie wrote on Apr 15^th, 2025 at 3:28pm:

Hi Derek That looks like a good spot you have there Thanks for photos Happy easter Have a great time with the family. regards Kev

Thanks Kev.  Looking forward to some fresh Hervey Bay seafood.

Hi Derek
I agree with that YUM :D ;D
safe travels
Kev

Have settled into the Windmill Caravan Park at Hervey Bay.  Been on this same site six for three times now.  All sites are pretty small here so we just.

Surprising that school holidays and Easter it is only half full.  Maybe fill up on the weekend.

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Hi Derek.
Looks a great spot to put every thing.
Also
Don't fear they are will come :o :o :D ;D ;D
Lookout I bet tomorrow night  bang, bang tents etc :o  :'( :D
;D
Regards Kev.

This morning threw a couple of loaves of crusty bread in the Weber.  New way of cooking these.  Mixed the ingredients the night before and let it sit on the bench overnight.

Some very big king prawns and whammo, lunch was delicious.

I have mixed up another batch of bread dough tonight.

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Hi Derek
That bread looks very nice. Hope you got some nice prawns
Kev

Do like a nice curry, even when camping.  This is a Chicken Korma finished with fresh real cream.  Home made of course.

Delicious.  [smiley=chef.gif]

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Seeing scenes like this often have me wanting my boat back.  😊

Urangun Jetty in the background and behind that K’Gari or Fraser Island as it used to be known as.

---

Bit the bullet as we were both feeling pretty good and did the run home in one day today.

Motorhome is unpacked.  Now for a good clean and off for a service before we hit the road again late in May for the big trip north and across the top.

Hi Derek
It would have been  a long day of travel for you.
but I bet it is nice to be home.
Thanks for the photos and story of your time away.
regards Kev

Glad you both are home safe cheers Robert.

Truck booked in for a service next week ready for the upcoming big trip. 

Hi Derek
Yes the time is going pretty. nearly time for lift off and putting
travel plans into action
regards Kevvie :D

Maggie bought a new lightweight doona for the bed.

It’s a bit fancy.   ;D

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Derek wrote on May 5^th, 2025 at 10:44am:

Maggie bought a new lightweight doona for the bed. It’s a bit fancy.   ;D

That doona is loud enough to keep me awake at night.  ;D ;D

Hi Derek
that looks very nice. Good shopping Maggie
Kev

I managed to move the motorhome out of its boggy hole in the yard to down beside the house for easy packing.  The big heavy thing doesn’t like wet ground.   ::)

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Everything is packed for a tomorrow getaway.   :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Ggp3TJjuE

Hello Derek
Thankyou for the great song. :D :D ;D ;D
Good luck to you and Maggie enjoy your trip.  looking forward to seeing any photos and hearing any stories you might put up on the forum with regard to your trip.
So Hitch them up move them out
Take care
regards Kev. ;)

Finally away on our northern trip.  Only two and a half hour drive today.  Always a good distance/time on the first day to get everything settled.

We are at the free camp in Wooroolin near Kingaroy.

Just made a pot of coffee and soon heading for a walk around the Wooroolin Wetlands.

---

Couldn’t get to the wetlands as all overgrown but spied a koala on our walk and of all shops to find in this little one horse town it had to be this one.  But it is closed.

---

The view from our bedroom window overlooking the wetlands.

There is now a caravan on that nice grassed spot.  :-?

---

Hi  Derek
Thankyou for the photographs. Another great place  to camp.
Take care
Kev.

Was 4.1 degrees outside at 6.00 am so threw the diesel heater on for an hour before getting up.   :D

Who needs to go to McDonalds for a sausage and egg muffin when you can cook your own?

I made the sausage patty when I was making breakfast sausages last week.

---

We have pulled in for a night at the rest area at Gin Gin.  Quite a large area and has a dump point, toilets and potable water if you need it.  Got the awning out to give the western side some shade as the afternoon sun has quite a bite in it.

Today we wandered around the Burnett Districts to places we have never seen before.  It is a very interesting region.  I was impressed with the signage going into Ban Ban Springs.

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Hi Derek
Another great camp site. The caravan looks like it is  parked a little close to you   ;D ;D
Your breakfast looked spot on.
Have nice night.  Thanks for the photographs.
regards Kev ;)

Caravan was here when I came in.  Photo is a little deceptive, he is actually a good distance from us.  Since I took the photo they have been lining up like little soldiers everywhere.  Busy place tonight.

We have arrived at Boynedale Bush Camp on the shores of Lake Awonga west of Gladstone.  A place i have heard so much about and often thought of visiting.

Lake you say, what lake?  There is currently no water to be seen which is a bit disapointing.  All that valley you can see in the last photo used to be water.

However, it is a lovely free camp that is all grassed over with of course the usual country prickles.  Heaps of room.  A good longdrop toilet and a dump point.  There is no water but we have enough for a few days. And surprise, surprise pretty good internet.

We are planning on stopping several days here.

---

Hi Derek
Looks a nice place to settle for a few days.
It is a shame no water. It must have been there before
take care
Kev ;)

I expect this sign wouldn’t have looked so out of place when the dam was full.   ;D

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Amazed at the bird life here this morning.  It’s an amazing place.

Interesting the amount of Victron electronics we are seeing in RV’s.

Ours at the top and a few others I am picking up in the App from around the camp.  Our solar is doing what it should.  Partly overcast morning but now fully charged.  It was down to 82% when I first looked this morning.

Good internet here.  We were able to stream BritBox on the TV last night.  Currently watching the Poldark Series set in old Cornwall.

---

The waste land in front of us where the dam used to be is full of wild pigs. You can hear them at times and have been told they often wander through the camp.

Managed to grab this when it poked its head out from under a shrub

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Hello Derek
It would be great to have all the birds being around.
No don't fancy the wild pigs. :o
regards Kev ;)

Camp is a bit quiet today as a mass exodus late yesterday and this morning so I took a video to show what it is like.

We are staying an extra night and moving off tomorrow.

You can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO904IIsK5w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO904IIsK5w

Hi Derek
Hope you had a great day. Thanks for the video
It looks a great space with plenty of  room for every one.
regards Kev.

Well we went to Gladstone this morning fully intending to stay at the Showgrounds for a couple of nights however unbeknown to us a Caravan Club had booked the place out.

Maggie lived in Gladstone around 40 years ago and it was to be a memory lane trip for her.

So a quick executive decision and we swung by the harbour and refilled our water tanks, called into a shopping centre and stocked up on essentials and are now back at Boynedale Bush Camp about 30 cm from where we were the last few days. 

Will drop the the car off trailer tomorrow and do a day trip into Gladstone to have a look around.

The photo was taken from a lookout about 2 kilometres from here and shows the back end of Awonga Dam.

---

Hi Derek
Sorry you missed our camping in the show grounds but at least the camp ground is a nice place to stay. It great you have the car to get around in
regards Kev ;)

We camped at Boyendale a few years back.
Huge area for hundreds of vans.
We had water in the lake.
Hard to imagine where the water went.

Safe travels

A drive into Gladstone yesterday.  Found the two houses Maggie lived in when she was in her 20’s.

Had a look around the harbour and the Alumina Works then down to Tannum Sands for a walk on the beach.

---

Main Beach at Tannum Sands.

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TBF wrote on May 27^th, 2025 at 7:21pm:

We camped at Boyendale a few years back. Huge area for hundreds of vans. We had water in the lake. Hard to imagine where the water went. Safe travels

Aart, the signage now says only 20 sites but as you say could get a lot in here.  In our 5 days here have never seen a Ranger so not sure if the come around.

Would be a good spot for an off grid COG.

Well, here we are at Emu Park.  All set up and taking advantage of their pay for three and stay four nights.  Lovely big site that fits the car and trailer.

This caravan park has special meaning for me.  It is where my journey to camp oven cooking began 50 years ago.

Was camping here and came across a woman cooking in what I thought was a big tin with a lid that turned out to be a Bedourie Spun Steel camp oven. She was roasting a chicken using coals from the wood fired barbecue.

Got talking to her and she lent me her copy of Jack Absalom’s book, Outback Cooking in a Camp Oven.  I sat and read it from cover to cover and was absolutely amazed that you could cook anything in a camp oven using coals from the fire.

On our return I bought a Bedourie Camp Oven as well as Jack’s book.  I started cooking just about everything and our meals while camping changed. 

My collecting of camp ovens of all types started, I wrote articles for magazines on camp oven cooking, started a website as there wasn’t anything on the internet back then.  I got involved in camp oven cooking cooking demonstrations and even featured in 13 episodes of a TV program cooking in my camp ovens.

I started this online forum that has literally thousands of recipes for outdoor cooking and I believe we have all proved on here that what I thought back 50 years ago is that yes, you can cook anything in a camp oven.

Now today I am back where it all started and am feeling quite nostalgic.

---

What a journey Derek.
Thanks to that lady that set the wheels in motion.

HI Derek
Thanks you for the great  photos and also the story about your beginning.
regards Kev

Yes Camp Oven Cooking and the forum have come a long way.
But I feel they are taking a back-seat to the Weber.  :(

I think Brian, and can only really speak for me, is that as I have gotten older the energy has waned quite a bit and the effort to light a fire, wait for the coals and then cook in a camp oven is getting a bit taxing.

The ease of having the Weber and being able to just flick the switch and be cooking has a lot going for it.

Sadly Facebook has taken over from this type of forum as well and we no longer are getting the younger people interested in joining here anymore.

Unfortunately we have been down to just a small group of regulars for a long time and not many of them are regularly posting either.

I have tried to maintain some interest to keep the forum alive but at times I wonder if I am just posting for nothing.

Been pouring with rain here since about 8.00 last night and currently only 12 degrees so not a very inviting day outside.  More rain expected so might have to write this day off.

Funny though I received a text from the park here offering ann extra nights stay for $38.  Another executive decision made and now stopping five nights instead of four.

A wet drive to have a look around Yeppoon this morning.  These pics are from the Wreck Point Lookout at Cooee Bay with the Keppel Islands in the background.

I lived here for 6 months while on a work assignment in Rockhampton back in 2000.  Saw the change of the Millenia here.

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Hi Derek
It was very kind of you to brave the elements and take the photographs
being a cold day did you find you and Maggie some  nice fish and chips or maybe a hot pie  :)
regards Kev ;)

Kevvie wrote on May 30^th, 2025 at 5:41pm:

Hi Derek It was very kind of you to brave the elements and take the photographs being a cold day did you find you and Maggie some  nice fish and chips or maybe a hot pie  :) regards Kev ;)

Cooked up a big hearty beef stew full of vegetables Kev.  Enough for two meals as well as some to go in the freezer for a later time.   :)

you bet that is the way to go  YUM
Kev

In camp day today.  Washing on the go and motorhome cleaning.  It is amazing how much dust you pick up camping.   :)

A walk out on the beach here at the park then up onto the old stone jetty.  Lovely big wide sandy beach.

The weather is still close though.

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Kevvie wrote on May 30^th, 2025 at 7:15pm:

you bet that is the way to go  YUM Kev

Kev, turned some of the leftovers into pies for dinner last night.   [smiley=chef.gif]

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Looks like you have had a good trip so far, certainly the food is excellent. Cheers Robert

good day Derek
The pies look great something to enjoy.
Thanks for the photos of the beach.
The first time for a while seeing a beach that has no foot prints :o
regards Kev ;)

Woke this morning to an awful screeching. At first thought it was corellas however a mob of flying foxes had moved into the trees beside the park.

They are the black flying foxes unlike the red ones around home.

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The singing ship here at Emu Park in all its glory.  No wind today so she wasn’t singing. 

Also went for a look around the little sleepy village of Kepple Sands.  This far north we are in crocodile country now.

---

We are packing up in preparation to hit the road again tomorrow.  Will only travel around 200 klm I reckon.

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. It looks like you had a nice day.
We had a couple of showers here today.
Take care
regards Kev ;)

Have moved a bit further up the coast to the BarraCrab Caravan Park at Clairview.

Have heard quite a bit about it over the years and always thought it would be worth a look.

Quite an old park here with bore water only.  Lucky I filled our tanks up at Emu Park this morning. Amenities look clean. Big laundry available.  Unfortunately no dump point.  Have to drive half an hour to find one.

I have the trailer chained and padlocked to the bullbar as it is all open to the road.  :)

The waterfront is quite inviting and the photos do not really do justice to the water colours.

Staying here three nights.

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photographs. I see they must have you camping in the motor home section.
I hope you have a nice few days there.
take care
Kev ;)

Seems to be more motorhomes in the whole park than caravans today.

Stopped there on our way to the Cape.
Top spot with lovely sunrises.

Have you ever stopped at Cape Palmerston?
On the coast just south of Sarina.

Stopped there on our way to the Cape.
Top spot with lovely sunrises.

Have you ever stopped at Cape Palmerston?
On the coast just south of Sarina.

Many, many years ago Aart went out there.

Kevvie wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:23pm:

Hi Derek Thanks for the photographs. I see they must have you camping in the motor home section. I hope you have a nice few days there. take care Kev ;)

Kev. And just like that they have all gone this morning. 

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We carry both Optus and Telstra dongles for internet as well as Maggie’s iPhone is Optus and mine Telstra.

Here at BarraCrab Telstra is very, very weak so switched over to Optus and it is good enough for streaming the TV.

It is good to have options.

Interesting thing.

This trip so far, diesel is averaging 50 cents a litre less than it did when we traveled to West Aussie and back in 2023. 

Hi Derek
That is unreal   not surprising with the amount of RVs I have been seeing going north and south on the M1 while I have been traveling to and from the doctor at Southport the last few weeks,
Also that many leaving in the morning I bet a bit noisy  :o ;D
enjoy the today
Kev

I worked out if I can get the front of the trailer near the front of the truck I can wind the jockey wheel up and use the chain wrapped around the bull bar to lock it on.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

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Went for a drive down to St Lawrence.  What an amazing old town.  The architecture is so old world. 

First image shows the type of house structure.  The floor bearers looked like they had been hand hewn with an adze.  This place would have had verandahs at some stage.

The butcher looked like it had been closed for a long time. 

The shop is still open with one fuel bowser.  Diesel one side 91 petrol the other.  Stock in the shop very limited

The cop shop is ancient and still in use.

More surprising you can catch the Sunlander train at the station

---

Still at St Lawrence and this was the turnoff down to the wetlands.  All planted in bougainvillea and trimmed to a hedge.

Absolutely beautiful.

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Hi Derek
Looks like you had a great day looking around.
I liked see the old police station.
Thankyou for the photographs.
Have a great day tomorrow
Kev :)

Do you know how much flour for the two loaves Derek.

I have never been into St Lawrence, always say i should when going south.

jclures wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:19am:

I have never been into St Lawrence, always say i should when going south.

Like a lot of small places John, it is dying.  Used to be a meat works there years ago.  Still worth a drive though.

jclures wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:13am:

Do you know how much flour for the two loaves Derek.

John, that is the basic two cup recipe that I regularly use.

Does St Lawrence still have the salt works mate. Can rember in the early ‘70 you would get booked for sleeping in your car or a van. Most certainly not welcome in those days. Cheers

Bear wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:55am:

Does St Lawrence still have the salt works mate. Can rember in the early ‘70 you would get booked for sleeping in your car or a van. Most certainly not welcome in those days. Cheers

Didn’t see any sign of it. You can now camp at the Recreation Ground but plenty of signs around saying no camping in the public spaces.

Drive up to Carmilla Beach campground to have a look around today.  No water here when the tides go out.

Amazing creek that looked very fishy.

Last photo is of a typical campground along the waterfront.

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Maggie was very impressed with the height of the sugar cane and wanted to hide in it, Ugg boots and all.  That shows how cool it has been here.

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We have moved today and now sitting at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds.  Will be here for five nights.

Going to be exploring all that Eungella and the National Parks here have to offer.  One of our goals is to photograph the platypus that abound hereabouts.

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Hello Derek
It looks like you and maggie have a great looking spot
to camp at. The grounds there look very well looked after.
Thanks for the photographs.
take care
Kev ;)

I heard they close Finch Hatton.
Top spot, but noisy during the cane train season.

Closed what Aart????

Went for a drive up to the Finch Hatton Gorge this morning.  Unfortunately the walk to the main Gorge waterfalls is closed.  Not that us oldies may of got there anyway.

We did see a smaller waterfall and have a pleasant walk through the rainforest though. 

The drive in over lots of creek crossings was quite spectacular.

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We went to the old Eungella Chalet that was built in 1934 and overlooks the Pioneer Valley.  Maggie has an old memory of being there over 40 years ago.

In one photo you can see a ramp where hang gliders used to jump off the top although looks like it is no longer used.

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The road up and down to Eungella from the Pioneer Valley is quite amazing.

You can see it snaking up and down in these photos

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Hi Derek
That brave little Suzuki  ;D ;D ;D
Thank you for the great Photos
Kev ;)

Kevvie, it’s wheels got a wash in the creek crossings.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Derek
We have a 2010 Suzuki Swift.  They are a Great little car.
Take care
Kev

Went there when Molly was working at Glendon. Great view but the smell in the creeks from the dairy farms effluent was disgusting. Cheers

Kevvie wrote on Jun 7^th, 2025 at 8:46pm:

Derek We have a 2010 Suzuki Swift.  They are a Great little car. Take care Kev

Ours is it’s little brother, the Suzuki Ignis.   :)

Just before we started this trip I put up a post saying I had updated my iPhone to the new 16 Pro version as the newer ones had access to satellite texting in the event of an emergency where no mobile service is available.

Yesterday when we were walking through the Finch Hatton rainforest I was taking photos with it and a message popped up saying satellite was available, or something like that and on the screen where you would normally see your bars of service was a little satellite image.

I took this screen shot of it.

Quite comforting to know it is there and working considering there was no clear view of the sky in the forest.

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When we were at Eungella yesterday there were signs advertising the monthly local markets so decided this morning to go have a look.

Bit if a record for me, only 7 minutes to walk through it.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

Maggie took a little longer as there was some crochet bits and pieces.

We didn’t buy anything and was disappointed as no fresh local fruits, veggies or eggs.

Is this cheating or am I smart for wanting to keep the Weber a little bit clean.  This box is unopened and been in the motorhome for near on 8 years. :)

Sunday roast lamb shoulder coming up for dinner. :D

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Well we were quite impressed with the lamb in the oven bag.  Sunday roast dinner of lamb, spuds, peas and gravy was extremely nice.

---

Hi Derek
Your meal looks great. I love lamb. thanks for the photos
Yes the old oven bags are great value. I remember years ago buying a marinated chicken at the super market in the oven bag and taking it home and cooking it.
Regards Kev ;)  PS where did you buy the lamb

I've used them in a CO as well.
Saves a lengthy clean up.

If I had a bucket list, which I don’t, I guess this evening would have been a tick off.

We did want to see the Eungella Platypus in the wild and were not disapointed.

I put together the best of the videos and here they are.  You will hear me chuckling I was so excited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMh0jveeUK8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMh0jveeUK8

Hello Derek
How lucky are both of you.
Thanks for the video.
Kev

Well this wasn’t on our itinerary, not that we have a strict one.  We are at Halliday Bay Resort that also has an RV Park just north of Mackay and near the Cape Hillsborough National Park.

I was looking at places along the coast and it on WikiCamps it showed photo of a site right on the water and I thought, wow if we can get that one.

Well we did and here we are.  Prime position 50 metres from the beach and the swimming enclosure.  We have power and water connected.  Not a budget site though.  Surprised it isn’t busier.

Here for seven nights.  I might even throw in a fishing line off the beach.  I see some down there fishing now.

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Looks good.
What was the price?
I'll put that on my list for next northerly jaunt.

TBF wrote on Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:22pm:

Looks good. What was the price? I'll put that on my list for next northerly jaunt.

$55 Waterfront Power & Water
$40 non Waterfront Power & Water
$30 unpowered site.

No amenities but has a Dump Point

This is at Smalleys Beach Camp Ground which is part of the Cape Hillsborough National Park.  We camped at this site (site 11) around 40 years ago and it has hardly changed.  There are 11 sites that run along just behind that lovely bay.

I couldn’t get a booking in there this trip.

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Lot’s of lovely quiet bays around here where you could just lose yourself.  First two are at Seaforth and second two at Cape Hillsborough

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Hi Derek
You have a nice camp site. enjoy the time there.
Great photos thanks for sharing
regards Kev ;)

Couple of Raja Shelducks wandering around our camp.  Very pretty bird.

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These just walked right up to me sitting under the awning.  Took photo with the camera on the iPad.

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Hi Derek
Hope everything is going OK. Those ducks are unusual colour.
Getting cold down here they say 1 for us in the morning
I am feeling the cold with puffy hands and fingers from having arthritis.
Might have to buy a motor home and head north for winter. :o ;D ;D
have a great day tomorrow
regards Kev ;)

A Bush Stone-curlew decided to visit last night.

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Good day Derek
I have just came inside been sitting out the front with the dog in the sun. 
They are funny acting birds. It looks like that bird had a leg ring on the left leg
Thanks for the photo
Kev

I never noticed that mark on its leg.  Will check it out of it comes back.

Made another batch of ‘muffins’ this morning.  I am still experimenting with yeast quantity but keeping the same 2 and 1/2 cups of flour.  Can see in first photo the rise of the dough overnight.

These ones today came out like bread rolls and the fact they only take 9 minutes to cook on the gas cooker (6 minutes first side and 3 minutes second) is amazing.

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This was my brunch - butter and rosella jam.

Texture so light Maggie said we should have them with jam and cream as they are as good as scones.   ;)

---

Following on from yesterdays bread cooking here is last nights dinner burger using one of the muffins.  Meat pattie, egg, tomato, beetroot and lettuce

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Looks good mate cheers

HI Derek
Great work there YUM
Kev ;)

There is something nice and tropical about a bunch of coconut palms.  Just don’t camp under them.   :D

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Walked the boardwalk track in Cape Hillsborough National Park this morning.  Great variety of landscape.

See if you can find the Brush Turkey in one of the photos.  ;)

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On our walk this morning we passed an old Aboriginal Shell Midden.  Aboriginal folk for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, would have collected shelfish from the local tidal flats and brought them up onto this ridge to eat them thus creating this huge mound of old shell around this rock.

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Hi Derek
The photos were great thank you very much.
As for the scrub turkey he would not move making him very hard to see ;D ;D ;D
Kev

I am sure that they think if they keep still you won’t see tham.

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Last night roasted up a chunk of pumpkin in the Weber and made pumpkin soup.  Even gave it a whizz with the beater on the electric drill.

Was very nice with some chicken stock, potato, cumin, salt and pepper and cream.

Oh, and one of those yummy muffin/bread rolls and butter.

Enough for a couple of meals.

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
It is good to see you have some multi purpose tools in the tool box ;D ;D
The soup look good
regards Kev ;)

Reading/relaxing day today in the rain.  Campground emptied this morning.  We have booked an extra night and now leaving Thursday.

Maggie is not as much a connoisseur of the finer foods in life as I am so I said, “It’s ok, I’ll eat them outside”.   ;)

The only way, straight from the tin.   :D

---

A wet dull day

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Evening Derek where did you buy the Sardines from mate, cheers Robert

They are hard to find. I find them exceptional. Got these at IGA at Gin Gin here in Qld. Last I got them was at a Foodland at Edithburgh down your way in SA.

Thank you cheers

Hi Derek

At least you had nice ground underfoot and you did not have to put up walking around in mud. We had a dull day no sun
all day
Take care
regards Kev ;)

Our last day here today.  Sitting here in the warm sun with a light breeze listening to the sound of waves softly rolling onto the beach has made this a very magical place for us.

I know there are many more places like this along the coast but this one sure has been memorable.

A day/night in a free camp along a road somewhere tomorrow then a few days with family in Mackay before venturing further north.

A small flock of Plumed Whistling Ducks wandered through our camp. 

---

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
safe travelling for tomorrow.
regards Kev ;)

Well this is something you don’t see that often.  Maggie & Derek at a pub.   :D

Camped for the night at the Kuttabul Pub free camp just north of Mackay.

Great free camp on the grassed area out the front of the pub with nice cold beer.  No facilities although can use pub toilets when open.

Couple of schooners went down well.  Unfortunately they are having issues with the kitchen and it’s closed.

---

Hi Derek
Another nice camping spot . reminds he of a song
" a little further north each year" by Graeme Connors
enjoy your self 
regards  Kev :)

Motorhome is parked up for the next week in Mackay as we visit family here.

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Hi Derek
Have a great time with family
take care
regards Kev ;)

Maggie’s cousin Norm, paddled up the creek in his canoe yesterday and dropped some crab pots. Picked them up this morning for three nice bucks. 

Yummmmmm!!!

---

Hi Derek
That looks like a lovely meal coming up Good on you Norm
and a bit of local knowledge. ;D ;D
Have a great time Derek
regards Kev ;)

Bit of a look around Mackay Harbour.  The weather was not kind to us.   :(

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev ;)

About 20 or so years ago the company I worked for flew me up to Mackay to help steam the Tug they purchased back to SA. Wasn't a bad trip with a stopover in Sydney. From memory trip took about two and a half weeks.The tug was called the Lucinda. I never got to see Mackay that much as we were getting the tug ready for the trip home. (But the pubs I visited there were nice.)

About the best days fishing I have had for many years.

Out today with Maggie’s cousin Norm.  We had a 6 hour window between tides to get in and out of the creek where the boat ramp is.

Went 25 klm out to around Brampton Island.  Fished for possibly 4 1/2 hours as Norm showed me the old Brampton Island resort.

A mix of coral trout, sweet lip, cod, Moses perch and a few others.

---

Some of the small ones that we threw back.  I got tired of pulling the camera out.

---

This was a ribbon fish, initially twice that size that we hung out the back under a balloon. Has three 12/0 hooks in it

Got a huge fast hit from what we expect was a big Spanish mackerel but failed to hook up.  Big excitement for about 15 seconds.  :D

---

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
I glad you and norm had a good fishing trip
regards Kev ;D

Here we are all set up at Proserpine, gateway to the Whitsundays.

Have booked in for four nights and will be checking out Airlie Beach and surrounds as well as the dam west of us.

Nice park and they gave us a site that fitted the trailer and the little car and if I turn around the amenities block is the other side of the road.   :)

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs.
It good when everything are able to fit in one place.
Have a wonderful time there looking around
Are you having fish for dinner tonight.
Kev ;)

Kevvie wrote on Jun 26^th, 2025 at 3:47pm:

Are you having fish for dinner tonight.

Sure am.  We have five meals of fish in the freezer.  One thawing out now.   8-)

Went for a drive out to Peter Faust Dam (Lake Proserpine) this afternoon.

Won’t be fishing there but it is alleged to be the impoundment home of the most metre plus barramundi in the country.

Quite an impressive dam wall.  She is quite full at present.

---

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos of the dam. Would be great to catch and release a good size barra.
Enjoy the fish meal. Nothing like knowing where the fish you eat comes from enjoy
take care
Kev

After all the lovely seafood we have had I was given this brochure at the office before.

I think I am in trouble.   8-)  ::)  :D

---

and where do you start   YUM YUM ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Kev ;)

Kevvie wrote on Jun 26^th, 2025 at 8:11pm:

and where do you start   YUM YUM ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Kev ;)

Kev, as Maggies says though, “Don’t always trust the photo advertising”.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

Another batch of fresh bread rolls straight out of the pan.  Easy cooking in the motorhome.  8-)

---

Brunch with a view at Airlie Beach but at tourist prices   :o :o :o :o

Nice to be here  but it’s too touristy for me.  Very crowded.

---

Shute Harbour has always been a pretty place.

---

Rory, told us about this place.  Cedar Creek Falls is an oasis is in the rainforest on the way to Conway beach.

I was fascinated at the patterns of the exposed roots.

---

Hi Derek
Thanks you for the photos. It looks like you both had a great day
regards Kev.

Swam there many years ago.
During the early 80s.

Went for a drive up to Bowen today.  First time seeing the big mango.  Larger than I thought. The views from Flagstaff Hill are amazing

---

This is Horseshoe Bay at Bowen.  There are quite a few nice little beaches like this around Bowen.

---

Of course one must sample the local produce for lunch and the red spot king prawns are always at the top of the list

---

These were taken at Dingo Beach.  A place I have always wanted to visit but never got there.  In the 50’s and 60’s my mate Pete and his family camped on the foreshore here every year.  Was nothing there then with a dirt road in and out.  Very peaceful quiet place.

That is Gloucester Island in the background of the first photo.

---

Have always been fascinated by cane trains so pulled over and snapped this video.

I still recall when they were steam engines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lMhvxD_NAc

Hi Derek
  a big thank you for the photos of Bowen. In the mid 70"s I was stationed at Bowen for a few months and we stayed in the caravan  park at Horseshoe Bay.
Glad you had a good day.
I also like watching can trains enjoyed the video.
Kev

Very happy with my $2 roadside stall find of paw paw.   8-)

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Hi Derek
It looks like you can make some tropical fruit salad ;D ;D
regards Kev

I had heard about it but what a place to stop.  It’s called the Home Hill Comfort Stop.  Just a street behind the main shopping centre set aside where you can pull over for two nights.

There are facilities in the Information Centre if needed - timed 5 minute hot showers, toilets, a large camp kitchen and a dump point.  Also a water tap to fill up.

Home Hill really welcomes travellers.  Bit concerned about the slideout out being on the street, because that is where my head is, but it is what it is.

Might stay two nights as we are full of water.

---

Just walked over the road and grabbed these two.  The big camp kitchen that has sinks and BBQ plates and the gents shower.  Pretty good for nothing.

---

Hi Derek
I glad you found a nice spot   good to see the changes
We use to live and work there in 1975 to 1978 We were kept busy work wise in those days,
Thanks for the photographs.
re bed  put your head the other end  ;D ;D
regards Kev ;)

Kevvie wrote on Jun 30^th, 2025 at 2:30pm:

re bed  put your head the other end  ;D ;D

If I do that will wake up and not know where I am.   ;D ;D

Do you need to have the slideout out to use the bed?

Hi Derek
Yes I guess you are right. But I think you will be safe enough
unless the door of the motor home unlocked. but then it is
only a short walk to the police station.
Have a good night. Take care
regards Kev

shackles wrote on Jun 30^th, 2025 at 6:20pm:

Do you need to have the slideout out to use the bed?

Bed is about a foot to short if we don’t.  :)

Arrived in Townsville and settled into a caravan park for three nights.  We are paying school holiday premiums though.   :(

Nice big open park with lovely big grassed sites.  We got the end site against the bush so not looking at neighbours. Also one of the few sites with shade.  As Con the Fruiterer would say, “I no complain”.

Quite a few empty sites around.

Telstra wireless internet is twice as fast as my NBN at home.

---

The red is our progress so far on this trip.

The truck has done 1500 kilometres and the little car, 1700 kilometres so far. 

Tomorrow we will have been going six weeks but it feels like months.

Really, really enjoying ourselves.

---

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. Seems like a nice big caravan park.
Enjoy your time in Townsville
Must be great having your little car.
regards Kev

A nostalgic afternoon.  I lived in Townsville back in 1973 for just over 6 months and have this old photo of me taken on Castle Hill 52 years ago somewhere around my 21st birthday.

Maggie and I went back to recreate it and this is the results of then and now.  We didn’t do too bad.

No, I wouldn’t be able to fit into those body shirts we all wore back then.

---

Now that’s a camp dinner.  Home made hamburger and chips.   8-)

---

Hi Derek
Pretty good photos don't you wish you could have that life over again ;D ;D
That hamburger looks pretty good
regards Kev ;)

This morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed for Little Crystal Creek just north of Townsville.  Unfortunately due to recent weather events the road into the hills was closed so we ended up at Big Crystal Creek.

This place has a National Parks campground that has fresh water, cold showers and toilets and day use area.  A short walk takes you to the amazing creek where the water flows crystal clear.

My first pic got photo bombed by a scrub turkey.

---

Because it is inside the Great Barrier Reef North Queensland has all these amazing beaches without surf.  This one is Saunders Beach north of Townsville.

Island in the background of the second photo is Palm Island group.

Maggie wanted to play in the cubby house on the beach.  🤣

---

Hi Derek
I am glad you both had a lovely day to look around
thanks for the photos
There was a lot of firewood around on the beach.
Enjoy tomorrow.
regards Kev ;)

A little further north today and we are at the CMCA RV Park at Ingham.  Booked for three nights.

As members of the CMCA we get to stay here for $7 a night so pretty good.

No power or amenities but there are water taps to fill the tanks and a dump point.  No waste water is allowed on the ground.

Times like this I am grateful for being self contained and with a good solar system.

---

Derek have you booked in at Karumba yet. So if you are planning on staying there you need to book as it is very popular this time of year. We used to stay at the Karumba Point Tourist Park.

shackles wrote on Jul 5^th, 2025 at 12:04pm:

Derek have you booked in at Karumba yet. So if you are planning on staying there you need to book as it is very popular this time of year. We used to stay at the Karumba Point Tourist Park.

Have thought about that and I expect when we head to Darwin and further west will be the same.

Problem is we don’t plan too well and don’t stick to a schedule and at this stage don’t even know when we will be in Cairns.  Lance up there keeps asking me when our ETA will be but we just don’t know.

Will have to wing it and see how we go.

Derek Herberton is a nice place. With some nice people.  :)

Hello Derek
Thanks for the photos. Looks like a nice place to stay
enjoy the time there.
regards Kev ;)

Bit slack with my posting yesterday.

Went for a drive out to Lucinda where Maggie eventually got her feet wet.  That was before she saw the crocodiles sign.  🤣

The sugar loading jetty is the longest in the southern hemisphere at 5.67 klm long.

The background hills when we were on the jetty is Hinchinbrook Island.

---

Standing looking out at Hinchinbrook Island and Maggie said, “Reminds me of Jurassic Park.”

It does.   :o :o :o :o

---

The original song Pub With No Beer by Slim Dusty. 

Adapted from a poem written by Dan Sheahan a local cane farmer and poet about the time he arrived at the Day Dawn Pub that had run out of beer up here in Ingham.

The original pub was demolished in the 1940’s and this is a photo of the Lees Hotel that now sits in its place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aodZbG8nCZY

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs I appreciate them very much
That jetty would make a great walk. there is a fellow here in the village that goes to Lucinda each year apparently a good
fishing spot So he said.
Kev ;)

Cardwell By The Sea.  One of the places where the highway runs along the waterfront.

The town was damaged significantly by a cyclone some years back but appears to have come back from that.

Being a Sunday most everything was shut though.

---

Couple of good feeds of oysters down there if you could figure a way of getting them.  ;D

---

We had a wander through Keith Williams old Hinchinbrook Harbour.  The marina was significantly damaged by cyclone Yasi in 2011.

The marina itself was completely destroyed though there are still pylons sitting in the mud and the whole harbour completely silted up.

The resort is completely abandoned and now rotting away.

It was quite sad to see it actually

---

Four, maybe five times, I have stood on this lookout since 1969.  Today Hinchinbrook Island and the channels look as magnificent as ever.

That’s Maggie’s Jurassic Park.  🤣 :D

---

There are some big lizards in there two. :)

shackles wrote on Jul 5^th, 2025 at 6:18pm:

Derek Herberton is a nice place. With some nice people.  :)

Brian, plan on calling in there on the way back down from Cooktown.  😊

Doing our bit to support International Chocolate Day today.  :D :D

---

Christmas in July is fast approaching.   8-)

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Hi Derek
Will have a look tomorrow they might have gluten free like they did at christmas.
Good her support the chocolate makers. I like the dark chocolate from aldi.
Have a good night
Kev ;)

No Aldi in north Qld Kev :-/

Hi Derek
WE are a little spoiled in this neck of the woods
regards Kev

Have arrived in Tully, supposedly the wettest town in Australia and as you can see by the clouds and the already wet road in the park the threat of rain is looming.

On a positive we have a good drive through site and I haven’t needed to remove the trailer.  Have power and water so can run the coffee machine.  The sites are rather narrow though.

Here for three nights as we have a good look around the place.

Hopefully doing a tour of the Sugar Mill while we are here.

---

Enjoy the mill. Worked in one in ‘71 do not want to go in another. Cheers

Hi Derek
Have a great stay in Tully.  A mill tour sounds interesting hope you can. Yes looks like rain your neighbour might get his A Van
washed  ;D ;D ;D  Thank you for the photos always great to see. Take care
Kev

No Aldi, but we do have a good IGA in Atherton though. they had the Atherton IGA on landline ABC a couple of weeks ago.

There was a good fish and chip shop in Tully, in the main street, I don’t know if it is still there though.

We have done a high proportion of our grocery shopping this trip at IGA.

Maggie atop the Golden Gumboot at Tully.  It’s a big Welli.

In 1950 Tully’s rainfall for the year was 7.92 metres which is the height of the boot.

Note they measure the rainfall in metres here.

---

Some photos from the top if the Golden Gumboot looking at the Main Street and over the sugar mill.  The cane cutting is well underway.

Have booked our tickets for the mill tour in the morning.

---

Kevvie wrote on Jul 8^th, 2025 at 2:01pm:

your neighbour might get his A Van washed

Haven’t seen them yet but curios as to where he got all that mud.   ;D

Derek
I think he has been outback on  dusty road. I bet he has dust inside too
he has heard about all the rain  that Tully has and decides
it the place for a auto car and caravan wash ;D ;D ;D
Kev

The Tully Sugar Mill is going full bore today.  Quite an impressive sight from the caravan park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2ighG8CIWs

Every now and then Maggie convinces me I should make a pizza.

I have Doris, Maggie’s cousin, who we stayed with in Mackay to thank for the idea of these Toscano prebaked pizza bases.  Just fitted on my pizza tray as well.

Lots of pepperoni, olives and anchovies on this one.

---

Derek
Good choice in pizza bases I buy the same at Coles
Kev

I took quite a few short videos while we were at the sugar mill and managed to cobble them together.  Was an interesting experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2lp6YGDpV8

All Maggie wanted from the mill was to borrow half a cup of sugar however they gave us half a cup each. 🤣

Note the name COFCO on the little bag.

It is a Chinese company that fully owns Tully Sugar Mill.  The mill produces raw sugar at the rate of 50 tonnes an hour and all of it goes out of Australia through the Mourilyan Harbour to Asia.

---

When I was reliving on the bunker barge at Port Adelaide we bunkered a ship unloading sugar. I thought the smell of the raw sugar is very strong. Didnt like it much.

shackles wrote on Jul 9^th, 2025 at 10:23pm:

When I was reliving on the bunker barge at Port Adelaide we bunkered a ship unloading sugar. I thought the smell of the raw sugar is very strong. Didnt like it much.

We are close enough to the mill to pretty well smell that all the time.  It is a peculiar aroma but for us not a horrible one.

I recall over the years chewing on sugar cane stalks and it tastes nothing like the refined white sugar but just like that smell from the mill.

We actually don’t eat a lot of sugar ourselves apart from that is in food.

This photo of the blue cane cart is a special one and our tour guide at the mill got ever so excited at it being here she even took photos herself. It was the first time she had seen it in the yard on a tour.

There is only one of these carts in existence and it was made specially for the 100 year anniversary of the mill which is this year.  It is naturally called Bluey.  😊

Different from all others in that it is painted blue and has the 100 year anniversary plaque on it.  Bluey even has its own Facebook page - {"Bluey" - Tully Sugars Centenary Bin} - where people are encouraged to post their photos.

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Mourilan Harbour was my favourite place to go fishing for mud crabs, I never came home empty handed.

The beautiful Mission Beach and surrounds.  That is Dunk Island hiding under the cloud

---

jclures wrote on Jul 10^th, 2025 at 12:02pm:

Mourilan Harbour was my favourite place to go fishing for mud crabs, I never came home empty handed.

Will be out there for a look in the next few days John.

Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs
enjoy your self
Kev ;)

Moved further north to Innisfail.  Here at the CMCA RV Park for the next three nights.

Having a day without rain.   [smiley=sun_smiley.gif] [smiley=sun_smiley.gif] [smiley=sun_smiley.gif]

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hello Derek
Looks like another nice park. Looks like you have a nice lot of happy campers to share with.
Thank you for the photos.
regards Kev

The grass is certainly green up here Kev.

Although my mower man sent me some photos today after his mow and it is still nice and green at home as well.

Hi Derek
Just think if we got the same amount of rain Tully gets
then plenty of green grass.
Kev

Brisbane will still be flooded :).

Hi Derek
I hope you had a great day in the north
regards Kev

Mourilyan Harbour yesterday.  This is where all of the raw sugar made at the Tully Sugar Mill is exported overseas.

Some old abandoned cattle yards there so must have shipped out cattle at some stage.

---

Etty Bay is another beautiful beach side town.  Love how the jungle runs right down to the waters.

---

Flying Fish Point is another beachside town.  It had this kids playground had a play servo complete with a pretend electric car charger.  :)

---

The Catholic Church stands atop the highest spot in the town and is at the end of the older Main Street in town in Innisfail.

The church was open and we had a look inside.  The old architecture here is captivating for sure.

Everything else was closed for the local show holiday.

---

Now to today.

We walked the Mama Tropical Skywalk today.  It is about half way between here and Milla Milla.  Boy are my legs going to ache tomorrow.

---

I was quite taken by the vines up and down these trees trees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbP-GqtZtRM

Due to my fear of heights I really did struggle with it but there is a tower you can climb at the end of the skywalk.

I got to the top and had to sit down with shaky legs but pushed myself to take a few photos and the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndcfhM2wbqI

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Following the skywalk and tower climb we found a dairy and cafe at Mungalli and had a Devonshire tea to build up energy.

Sadly I forgot to take a photo before we ate the scones with jam and cream.

I might have got some funny looks when after I drank the tea I drank the milk straight from the jug.   :D

---

Late afternoon we reached Milla Milla where Maggie posed with a sculpture of Millaa Moo, the reluctant cow.

Was 16 degrees in Milla Milla and freezing today.

---

Had a look at the Milla Milla falls and was surprised to see this fish in the water.  Only had my phone for the photo but looks like an albino eel tailed catfish.

---

Pulled up at the Nucifora Tea Plantation. Was interesting to see the rows of tea plants.  The roadside stall had no tea though

---

Mourilyan Harbour has a long history, during the war it was used as a port, with submarine nets across the mouth.
A few years ago, the blasted the inlet to get larger ships into the port, and for awhile they were shipping live cattle out as well.
The last time I was at the Milla Milla falls I think I saw the cat fish there as well.
Are you going to Paronella park? They have camping there as well.

Spent last night just north of Cairns with friends from Old Junee in NSW.  It is amazing who you can catch up with on the road.

Heading down to Edmonton shortly to spend a few days with Crazy Dog and his lovely wife Jan.

Had a look around Yorkey’s Knob on the north side of Cairns.  Another beautiful tropical beach.

Had our monthly teleconference with our doctor this morning.

---

Well, we are grounded.  Had the truck serviced before we left and the mechanic said the front brakes would need new pads before too long.  Told him about our trip and he reckoned we would be good to go.

Around Home Hill noticed a rough sound coming from the right front brake which only got worse as we kept going.

To cut a long story short have found a brake specialist here in Cairns who is happy to work on the Fiat and after a look at it and some measurements has booked it in for next Monday.

So here we are at Edmonton a suburb of Cairns with Crazy Dog and Jan until we can get it all sorted. 

Still a week in Cairns is nothing to sneeze at.   :)

I hope the rotors have not been damages.
Any feedback on how much brake pad was left.

TBF wrote on Jul 16^th, 2025 at 11:14am:

I hope the rotors have not been damages. Any feedback on how much brake pad was left.

Aart, he took measurements and believes he can grind them and save the rotors however yes, the left has started to scrape back to metal so basically no pad left.  He does have new rotors in stock if needed though.

You know the truck only has 83 thousand klm on it and I have already replaced the front rotors at about 35 thousand klm.  At the time I thought it a bit weird but the Fiat mob told me it was normal.

I asked asked the guy here why and he said that a lot of European vehicles are coming out with rotors made of very soft metal.

He smiled and said it’s good for him work wise but not for the owners.   :)

He will replace the Fiat pads with heavy duty ones and if he uses the new rotors then they will be a better steel.

If it was me, I would replace the rotors, grinding removes more material.

jclures wrote on Jul 17^th, 2025 at 10:18am:

If it was me, I would replace the rotors, grinding removes more material.

Agreed.
Thinner rotors may tend to warp.

Derek,
Are there electric brakes on your car trailer?
The added weight might have something to do with it brake failure. Just a thought.
Muzz

Cactus wrote on Jul 18^th, 2025 at 10:52am:

Derek, Are there electric brakes on your car trailer? The added weight might have something to do with it brake failure. Just a thought. Muzz

They are mechanical override brakes on the trailer.  We looked at that but they seemed to be ok and working and the first set of pads was pretty well before we got the car trailer.

Yesterday we visited The Boulders.  First for Maggie but I was last there in 1973.  Rode my Honda 100 up from Townsville.

It is an amazing place of beauty and for most the water actually runs under the large rocks forming downward spirals and cavers under the water.  Sadly too many people have died there in recent history.

---

Some amazing plants in the rainforest.

---

Having a home day today.  Maggie has the washing machine going.

Tomorrow Lance is taking us to a few places up on the Tableland.

Dangerous indeed, yet people still try their luck.

We had a play with the no knead bread baking in Lance’s Webers today.  Lance cooked plain baguettes and I did the wholegrain ones.

I think we did all right overall.

---

Hi Derek
Glad you had a good day. Thank you for all the photographs
to you and Lance well done with the cooking.
Enjoy your day tomorrow travelling around
regards Kev ;)

Derek wrote on Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:35am:

Some amazing plants in the rainforest.

I think its a native begonia.

We are going to Cairns today, only to the Airport though to put our son on a flight to Tasmania for work.

Yesterday Lance and Jan took us on a tour of the Tablelands.  We went up the Kurand Range to Kuranda itself, then to Mareeba, then across to Tonga, Atherton and Yungaburra then down the Gillies Highway back to Cairns.  We had dinner at the Mountain View Hotel at the bottom of the Gillies Highway.

Some photos from Kuranda and the Barron Gorge.  Not a lot of water going over the falls

---

The Mareeba bulls are big buggers.   :D

Nah, it’s not real.

---

A walk around the Mareeba Heritage Museum.  Quite impressed by the tobacco farming and manufacturing display.

Of course Lance and I ended up in the lockup.

---

The curtain fig at Yungaburra was massive.

---

Hi Derek
Looks like you all had a great day travelling around.
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev ;)

We have new brakes on the truck.  They ended up replacing the rotors.

Had a wander around Cairns Botanical Gardens this morning which was pretty interesting.

Will be leaving Cairns in the morning for Cooktown.

That is good to hear, ignore my question in my hearing aids thread cheers.

Hi Derek
I glad the truck is now all better and all ready to hit the road.
Safe travelling.
regards Kev ;)

We have arrived at Cooktown.

This is actually the first major leg of our trip and we couldn’t be happier.  Was nice to put my foot on the brakes without the squealing.

Have a lovely site at the Peninsular Caravan Park.  There is  a creek beside us and no one the other side and the trailer has it’s own little site across the road.  Lovely staff here.

Drove up a long way round as we had a look at Port Douglas and Mossman then drove across the range from Mossman to Mount Molloy. Unfortunately it rained most of the way across the range and there was low cloud so no photos.

---

hello Derek
I hope you enjoy your time in Cooktown. Thanks for the
photographs Glad the truck is all OK.
regards Kev ;)

Long time since I was at that caravan park.

Sitting out under the motorhome awning enjoying my first coffee of the day.   Watching the activity as some folk pack up and head off to their next destination. This is life. :)

---

In 1969 I worked for a while at what was then called Lakeland Downs.  Now just called Lakeland.  It is about 80 klm south of Cooktown and where the road turns off to go up to the cape.  This was after we realised we weren’t going to make money catching and selling snakes and other reptiles.

I was amazed to find that all the buildings are still intact. The second photo is one side of the building where workers lived.

I have circled the door that was where my mate Pete and myself lived when we were there.  Later my Dad joined us for a while.

Reliving some of my history up here.

Last photo is from a lookout to the south and overlooking Lakeland

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A pic of the Palmer River Roadhouse.  It seemed a bit odd as I remembered it as a tiny little place back in the 60’s and also on the other side of the road.  My memory is really off on it. 

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I was left with a very odd, sad and unusual feeling this morning.

In 1969 when I was only 16 my mate Pete and I left home and headed for Cooktown.  Pete was a couple of years older than me with a licence and an old Holden.  Our aim was to capture snakes and other reptiles for a place called Marbuk Park at Port Macquarie in NSW.  Lizards we were paid so much each and snakes so much a foot or for exceptional specimens so much each.

We did that for three months sending all sorts of snakes and lizards down to the park by air freight.  It was an amazing time of my life.

We took very little with us. Basically an old open front lean-to-tent a couple of sleeping bags and some very basic cooking gear.  We both had rifles as did most people back then.  I remember my rifle was a 30-30 Winchester which was great for shooting pigs.  For three months we camped on the banks of the Annan River just south of Cooktown beisde the old wooden Annan River Bridge.

In the photos from today I am standing where I believe our little lean to tent stood during that time.  It is more overgrown these days.

We basically lived off the land eating a lot of fish from the river and game we managed to shoot.  I can tell you that little wild pigs are absolutely delicious when you are hungry.

After three months and with no real money to show we ended up at Lakeland Downs as labourers.  After a short time I was promoted to tractor driver.  I remember being paid $1 an hour when I was labouring and $1.10 for tractor driving.

Lakeland in those days was growing a huge crop of sorghum that was moved by truck to Archer Point where they had built a wharf and loaded straight onto small coastal steamers.

Sadly my mate Peter was killed by a horse in his mid 20’s while competing in a rodeo at Williamstown in NSW.

So as you can see, many fond and sometimes not so fond memories up here for me.  Quite amazing though sharing them all with Maggie as we move around up here.

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Remember  the good times mate they are the best cheers Robert

What is left of the old wooden topped Annan River bridge.  It looks like a little more of it goes with every wet season.

Caught many a fish off here both by line and spear back in 1969.  Were many crocs there and I understand someone was taken from the boat ramp you can see in the first photo last year.

Maggie managed to salvage a piece of timber off it as a memento.

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Finch Bay, just down behind the caravan park

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOIWpj5GLCg

Quarantine Bay, just south of Cooktown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMTZDxZxaYg

Maggie desperately wants to see a crocodile in the wild.  We could be getting close as the sign says one was seen in the last 7 days.   :D

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I've driven the old timber bridge a few times. It's a wild ride.

Went out to Black Mountain today.

There are many legends about the mountain.  It is as though a giant tip truck upended a huge pile of rocks.  Some of them are as big as houses.  This has created a labyrinth of openings and tunnels.

The legends are along the lines of people and horses disappearing if they went to close and in one instance a whole herd of cattle disappearing into it but I expect that was started by cattle rustlers.   ;D

It is also home to the mighty Amethystine Python or more commonly known as the scrub python.  The largest ever found being 32 feet long.

Those legends to a couple of young blokes like Pete and myself who back then had no fear of pretty well anything was a challenge so we decided to climb it.

We soon found out it was pretty well hopeless but we did get up about a third of the way.

The bonus was us catching a python that was 23 feet long just nearby.  That’s around 7 metres.  The dumb things we did.   :D

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the great stories and photographs
regards Kev ;)

I took the video standing on top of what Captain Cook named Grassy Hill, albeit the grass has gone and the trees and shrubs are thriving, and most likely about where he stood.

From here he surveyed the horizon looking for a safe passage out of the Barrier Reef that he hit on the way in.  He decided to go north.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3lEHn1gkIg

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A short walk around the Cooktown waterfront.  Cook’s monument is near where it is believed he beached the Endeavour for repairs after hitting the reek.

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We wondered if the lil Jaffa car would get us out to Archer Point but here it is parked up amongst all the four wheel drives and again alongside the lighthouse.   :D

The creek crossings and corrugations weren’t all that bad.  ::)

Took this video from beside the lighthouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyDo7f3Jv_g

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They say that it is not a trip to Cooktown unless you go to the Lions Den Hotel at Rossville.

Was a little disappointed as it wasn’t a lot like I remember and while I know things change it should have been expected was a bit sad.  Not only that it was devastated by a flood some years back.

From memory the mango trees either side of that entry were only about as high as the entry is now.  It was far, far smaller.  The large python skin that was nailed to the wall behind the bas is gone.

The back verandah where we used to sit and shoot wild pigs after mangoes isn’t even there.

They had a small museum and in it was a newspaper clipping.  Not sure how old it is but was about the oldest living person in the area.  Bloke by the name of Ritchie Hatfield. 

Met Ritchie and his two brothers, George and Charlie back in 1969.  They were local tin miners.  Ritchie had a brand new Mini Moke that Pete talked him into lending us.  We rocked around in it for several weeks.

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Some photos of Annan Gorge.  This is the upper area of the Annan River at Cooktown and also runs in behind the Lions Den Pub

One thing I like seeing as we get around, particularly places I have been before, is where the old dirt roads used to go.  In the last photo Maggie standing on a slab of concrete that is most likely where the old road crossed just above the Gorge before the concrete bridge was built.

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Further random photos from Archer Point.  Second one shows the campgrounds.  Fourth one is the remains of the old jetty that Lakeland Downs used for sorghum.

Archer Point is one of the few places along the coast where the Barrier Reef actually touches the mainland.

All of those humps you can see along the shore are old coral.

Back when Pete and I were here on the very southern part on the zero low tides we used to walk out on the coral collecting the most beautiful cowrie, cone and spider shells.  Of course it was legal to do so back then.

Maggie and I didn’t see any but someone was taken by a croc from here several years ago.

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good evening Derek
Look like you and Maggie are having a good look around
thank you for the great photographs.
Take care
Regards Kev.

What an afternoon it turned out to be.

When I was up here years ago Pete and I were tasked with finding some long necked turtles.  Through talking to some locals we were told of a lagoon north over the other side of the Endeavour River on the way to Hopevale.

We headed out there and with nothing other than our snorkels and goggles went diving in this lagoon.  We certainly did find and capture a number of long necked turtles.

However back in Cooktown we were told we were mad as the lagoon was full of crocodiles. 

Today Maggie went for a drive with no intention of even looking for a lagoon and accidentally came across it.  It is exactly how I remember it.

Amazing birdlife on and around it.

Going around telling Maggie what we got up to here she keeps saying it is a wonder I am still alive.  😂😂😂

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Heard there was now a hanging footbridge across the Endeavor River heading north where the old road bridge used to be.

After a few dead end roads we found it.  Amazing old thing.

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After four trips 😳 up and down to Grassy Hill we eventually found the old Kangaroo statue. 

Unfortunately locals have taken a little bit of license over the wording as Cook in 1770 wasn’t the first European to sight a Kangaroo.  The first was in 1629 by Dutch navigator François Pelsaert.

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Fish and chips on the waterfront and a Cooktown sunset To finish off a great day

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Kevvie wrote on Jul 27^th, 2025 at 4:58pm:

good evening Derek Look like you and Maggie are having a good look around thank you for the great photographs. Take care Regards Kev.

Thanks Kev.  Been just about a life long dream of mine to revisit all of this up here the way we have just done.  That is why we ended up booking a whole week here.  Cheers.

Hi Derek
That is a great view to finish off your busy time in Cooktown
hope you enjoy the meal YUM
regards Kev ;)

We were going to visit the Cooktown Museum for our last day here.  Drove up before and a sign up saying closed due to staff illness.

Disappointed!!!

Bought a new stubby holder, although in my case a soft drink holder.

If you have a look things are different here in the north.

It’s all about beef steak, guns, ammo and beer.  ;D ;D ;D ;D

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The awning is up and all packed away ready for departure from Cooktown tomorrow morning.

As I have said before this was a lifetime dream to get back here and revisit places from my past.

We do believe we will be back here one day though.

Heading down through the Tablelands tomorrow and then across up to the Gulf. Will be catching up with John and Bonnie along the way.

Hi Derek
Some interesting things you did in Cooktown
Have fun with your trip tomorrow and enjoy visiting John and Bonnie
regards Kev ;)

Derek said "Will be catching up with John and Bonnie along the way"
When Sharron and I called in there a few years ago John was welding up the frame for his new camper.

No Internet last night but stopped at Archer Creek Rest Area on the Kennedy Highway.

Nice free camp. Has a toilet block and rubbish bins.

Caught up with John and Bonnie for lunch.  Our timing clashed with appointments they had in Cairns so just a short stop.

Did a shop at the big IGA at Atherton

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A big couple of days really. 

Tonight we are at the Freedom Camp at Croydon.  Our progress so far on the map.  More kilometres today than usual but 30 degrees so we just kept driving in the aircon.

Very dry out this way.

This is a big open donation park.  Give what you think it’s worth but you get a receipt for your donation.

There is a tap for water if you need it to fill up.  There are amenities in the Rodeo Ground next door with showers and toilets.  Dump Point in town.  Lots here and a constant stream coming in

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Hi Derek
Getting a move along now. Thanks for the photos and the map It looks fairly dry
Regards Kev

This is the Gilbert River.  One of the many amazing rivers and creeks we crossed today.

As dry as it is up here, many still have a reasonable flow of water.

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Pulled in to have a look at the Cumberland Mine site.  Also a great off grid camping ground there.  The mine closed in 1897 but the chimney from the old smelter is still standing.

Nice lagoon beside it that I didn’t get a photo of.

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We have arrived at Normanton and have set up camp in the RV Camp on the banks of the Norman River.  Last two pics from our awning.

Yes, this is a crocodile infested river so we will be careful.  😃

This is a free camp however you have to apply for a permit online.  It is a self contained camp with no waste water allowed to be let go.  We have two nights permit.

Will be off to tour the town area later.

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hi Derek
Thanks for the photos  No Skinny Dipping ;D ;D :o :o ;D
regards Kev ;)

Cumberland chimney is a top spot for bird watching.
I heard a new toilet block was built there.