We were so happy to leave Alice on 26th July, 22 days after we broke down, that we didn’t even think about stopping when we noticed a 12 inch crack in the windscreen two hours out of Alice. It was a hectic departure; picking up the Lestervan at 10am, going back to the cabin at the Big 4 CP (caravan park) packing up the van (including washing out a smelly fridge), dumping the toilet cassette, filling the water, getting LPG and diesel. A five hour drive north got us to Devils Marbles just on dusk. We camped at the pub and enjoyed a pub dinner to celebrate our escape from Alice and Toyota!
Flexibility is our new mantra and in keeping with that we changed our previous plans and decided to head for the coast and relax in some warm weather before returning to Sydney. Alice was near freezing every night. We also decided to give the Lestervan and one of its passengers a break by driving home on paved roads. Passing through Tennant Creek we met another Explorer motor home so stopped, chatted and went for a 3 hour lunch. They had just come the way we were heading so got lots of tips on places to stay/visit. Enjoyed a free camp along the Barkly Hwy before we got to Mt Isa. At Julia Creek we chose to stay in the CP with artesian baths nicely set up for their guests. An interesting stop along our route was Porcupine Gorge NP, where we arrived in time to do the hike down to the gorge and have a swim in the gorge. It was a lovely gorge and a nice campground.
Townsville did not disappoint in terms of sun and relaxation. We stayed in a nice CP with tropical gardens around a heated pool and very warm spa (hot tub), which we enjoyed most nights. Explored around town, socialized with two other couples who have Explorer motor homes, enjoyed fresh seafood and spent a full day on Magnetic Island. Neither of us knew much about the WWII history on Magnetic Island, but we learned a lot about it as we did the Fort walk. We also saw three koalas during that walk. I got in a quick swim there at Horseshoe Bay. The island was pretty and it was a nice change having such pleasant warm weather.
Next stop was Bowen and it was even better – beautiful beaches across the road from our CP, a fabulous cliff walk along the coast, a pleasant swim and a whole day to relax without driving anywhere! Then the drive home began in earnest and we did almost an 8 hour drive to Mt Morgan south of Rockhampton. Picked a friendly sounding caravan park with generous hosts who gave us four eggs on check-in and supplied lots of free nibbles at the happy hour campfire. Interesting how the hosts can make such a difference to the success of a place.
Then we pushed on south and made it the 564 kms to Bunya Mountains NP just at dusk, via a series of back roads found by Google Maps. The attraction is the Bunya Pines and the Hoop Pines, not true pines at all but members of the Araucariaceae family. These were dominant at the time of dinosaurs (about 200 million years ago). Today they grow naturally in only a few places and the largest stand on earth is in the Bunya Mtns. Signs warn to beware of the ‘drop zone’ – where the soccer-ball sized bunya cones drop and would cause injury. Each cone contains 50-100 nuts surrounded by a thick outer casing. The nuts are edible and we bought some bunya nut fudge. The park used to be a ceremonial/gathering place for aboriginal people from many places, every three years when there is a large bunya crop. We did a 2 hour/6km walk through the rainforest admiring the bunya pines, hoop pines, strangler figs and lots of large buttressed roots.
Next stop was Bald Rock NP in NSW. Getting colder each day. Bald Rock is the largest granite dome in the southern hemisphere and we walked part way up the rock face before leaving the park in the morning. Lots of good walks here for another visit. We met a nice couple during our walk, and again a bit later. About 10 minutes after we left the park we had a flat tyre, seemingly for no reason. Dick started changing it and our new friends drove up, stopped and helped change the tyre. We drove to Tenterfield to check on a tyre repair, but the tyre was ripped all around just above the bead. The Cooper dealer gave us a good explanation and then sold us a $50 spare to get us back to Sydney. Decided that was a sign and we should go straight home, so we drove to Tamworth arriving just as it got dark. Selected a nice CP as part of our reconaissance for the Music Festival in January 2019 and also collected more festival information from the Tourist Info Centre. Drove home to Sydney via Stroud and a lunch with our friends, Jenny and Kevin.
Finishing up the photos with a map of our actual trip which turned out to be quite different from the original plan. Not surprisingly as this trip was full of unexpected mechanical issues, but again all part of the experience. Thanks to all for your comments and your interest, as you travelled vicariously with us for the past three months.
Love and best wishes to all,
Pat and Dick
