Tamworth to Coffs via Sunshine Coast

to see our photos of this part of our trip, click on the link below

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049593&id=1112916442&l=44903e6f08

Day 8 - We left tamworth after the parade on Saturday morning. Estimated max of 43, so headed north into the higher country. Stopped for Lamb at Potato pies at the lamb and potato festival in Guyra) and ended up at Mulligans Hut in the Gibraltar Range National Park, east of Glen Innes. Mulligan wanted to build a hydro scheme, but fortunately was stopped by World War 1. His hut is at a nice waterhole by a river. This camping area was almost full. lots of moderate walks, so will come back some time, but not in winter when the locals say it can get down to -10.

Day 9 - ambled north via Mann river and Clarence river. A great canoeing spot on the Mann river became the morning tea spot. simple rapids, and fast flowing river. we did not go in. Followed the Clarence river up to Tabulam and spent the night at Urbenville (not far from Woodenbong which sounds like a great place to live), in a forest park. Fantastic scenery, odd shaped volcanic peaks, and glorious grassland.

Day 10 - headed into Brisbane on Mt Lindesay highway, once again glorious country until you hit Beaudesert where it is very dry. Stayed with Jos and Mike in Brisbane . It was great to see them.

Day 11 - Australia Day at Jos and Mike's. Had a lazy day catching up with our friends, finished the day in good Aussie style with T-bones on the barby.

Day 12 - headed up to the Sunshine Coast, staying at Yandina Caravan park. Vey dry up here. Drove to Coolum, looked at the ocean, then started touring the district. Car gave a cough and went into crawl mode, with a warning light on. Fortunately when we restarted it, it went ok. These computerised cars can make you very nervous. At least it did it on the Sunshine Coast.

Day 13 - went to inspect our house today. We have good tenants who are looking after the place well, but it is very dry. The ponds are lower than we have ever seen. But, the mango tree was fruiting (we've never seen that before). Apparently they only fruit when stressed, and they are stressed this year because of lack of water. Took one ripe mango with us, which we enjoyed that night. Apparently all the mango trees in the district are fruiting, and there is a glut of mangos. will have to do something about that. After the inspection, visited the neighbours who have their house on the market, prices are down on the Sunshine Coast and properties are not moving, so they keep on dropping the price they are asking.
We then took the car to the Mitsubishi dealer, to have the problem checked out. After about 2 hours they came up with 2 possible options, and reset the computer. They advised us that we will get the problem again, but now when it happens they will be able to identify exactly waht part is needed. We have a story to take to the dealer in the next place we have problems. They also said they did not have the parts required, and they would have to get them sent in, so it could take several days organisation to get it fixed. But at least it is OK to drive.

Day 14 - went to our favourite coffee shop in Coolum for breakfast (eggs benedict for Peter, blueberry pancakes for Pam). Then we headed up to tewantin, and went kayaking near the ferry to the North Shore. Paddled around Richard Bransons island, and checked out the mangroves. Lots of fish!!
On way home, stopped at the Fruits of Noosa (our favourite fruit shop) and bought pineapple, bananas and avocado. They taste magnificent, along with the mangos. Nothing like fruit with the same names in Adelaide taste. Came home for a swim. This afternoon we had a storm, but missed the brunt of it. It was like old times, tracking the storm on the weather radar. No problems at all with the van.

Day 15 - has it been 2 weeks since we left Adelaide. Just started to get into the holiday groove. Westarted the day at the Yandina markets, brought back lots of old memories. Didn't buy any plants, but bought more pineapples, mangos and bananas, also bought passionfruit, and some cinnamon flavoured honey. Very hot and steamy today. Dripping wet as soon as you try and do something, it seemed a good excuse not to do too much. Packed up the van and moved it to Cotton tree, on the mouth of the Maroochydore river at Maroochydore. we can see the river and hear the ocean from our site. went for a walk to the ocean, dodging the showers. It may be wet, but it is not cold, though a bit cooler than it was before the rain. Slept to the sounds of the ocean, seems like home.

Day 16 - started the day watching the nippers do their training, too rough at the beach, so they were training in the river. We estimate we saw about 200 of them practising their skills. From our site at Cotton tree, we look over at the northern side of the Maroochy river, but have never been over there, so headed off to Twin Waters. Lots of very flash houses in a canal suburb. Then went to the beach, and walked down to the North Head of the Maroochy river. Saw lots of dead bluebottles and jellyfish on the beach, even a tiny fish that had been stranded. Very windy - north easterly, but temps 23-27, with humidity 75% or higher. Really nice wild stretch of beach, and rough, since we are having king tides with our full moon. At the mouth of the river about 15 kite surfers were out, skating across the water, even flying. Looked like fun. we then headed up to Coolum Surf Lifesaving club for lunch. We had planned to meet friends there, but they were not well, so we went anyway. Lovely setting, but very busy, should probably have gone on a weekday.

Day 17 - a day for the umbrellas. We started the day with breakfast at Cotton tree, then drove down the coast past Alexandra Headland to Mooloolaba. Dodged the showers, and looked at the beach, the inlets, the yachts. Then off to the movies - Avatar 3D. We had heard it was good, and were amazed by the visuals of the movie. Bought a new large umbrella.

Day 18 - packed up and headed south. Destination, Green Mountain section of Lamington National Park (next to O'Reilly's). We paid $10 for our camp site, the O'reilly guests paid a lot more. The last 40 km from Canungra was an interesting drive, with many parts of the road being single-lane. Most had passing places, but a few didn't. It wasn't busy, so we had no problems with oncoming traffic. Set up our camp, The sites were very organised and more suitable for tents and motorhomes, but we found a fairly flat spot for us. Then walked the tree-top walk, only damp at this stage.

Day 19 - packed up again, did the tree-top walk again, and had coffee and scones in the coffee shop. there is a huge car park, and apparently it is often overflowing, so we were glad to be there when it was quiet. Mainly fairly serious walks from here. Headed down, and into NSW via the Lions road into Kyogle. Stopped for lunch at a camping spot by a river, then checked out the border loop, where the Syd-Bris train does a complete loop through tunnels to climb the necessary height. You can see the track at 2 different levels. Had planned to camp in the Border Ranges Nat Park, but the access road was being repaired, and it was very slushy. Still raining. Decided to stay in Kyogle instead.

Day 20 - abandoned plans for Border Ranges, and drove down to Wooli, a very old holiday village nestled between a river and the beach. Lovely drive through forests, small villages, old bridges. Went via Maclean, and a ferry across the Clarence river. Lovely part of the world. Nice walk on the headland.

Day 21 - had hoped to kayak, but the rain had set in again, so ambled down to Coffs harbour. Checked out Woolgoolga, a lovely spot, with 2 beaches separated by a headland. Had driven past lots of times,but don't remember ever going in. Arrived at Korora Bay resort, our home for the next few days, a 1-bed apartment with all mod cons. Had a swim, and caught up with the news, and watched the TV.

Adelaide to Tamworth

to see our photos of the trip so far, please click on the link below

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2049284&id=1112916442&l=5494e73fc8

Day 1 - headed out about 7.0 am. Went to Wentworth via Murray Bridge, the mallee, Loxton. Country still looked good, not too dry. On the way saw the first big thing the big Sheep/ram at Karoonda. At Wentworth, we wondered where all the people were, after all, it was mid-January, and we had a waterfront site at the caravan park. Took the kayaks for a spin, but very windy, so didn't go far. This has turned out to be the only night so far that we have had a powered site.

Day 2 - via Balranald, nice Riverbend park there on the Murrumbidgee, then to Lake Cargelligo via Hay. Little water in the lake, but went out to the weir, and camped on the sides of the Lachlan river, magic. No boating allowed. Only people camping there.

Day 3 - via Parkes, Dubbo, Gilgandra to Warrumbungles National Park (near Coonabarabran and Siding Spring Observatory). Another magic place, excellent camp grounds with gas barbys and HOT showers for $5 each. Got cold at night 5 degrees, but we were warm and cosy in our van. we will definitely come back to this park.

Day 4 - Tamworth, camped at Riverside Park, the main camping area for the festival. No power, but showers available at the sporting clubs for $2 each. An easy walk into Peel street, the main drag for the festival. Went into town, checked out the buskers, went to the Diggers club for a free concert. Pam crashed that night, while Peter checked out the night life in Peel street. Pubs and venues with free entertainment, just buy yourself a drink. the festival is great fun, so many choices for shows, it is hard to choose where to go.

Day 5 - visited the shopping centre, coffee and donuts wihile watching the free entertainment, including Smoking Joe dawson. Afternoon concert at the diggers, then off to the TREC (Tamworth Regional Entertanment Centre) for the big concert, Guy sebastian, with Gina Jeffries, Wendy Mathews and James BLundell, plus a heap of guest appearances including Adam Brandt, Casey Chambers and Beccy Cole. found out there was a lot of controversy over Guy being there, because he was not a "Country" singer, but the venue was full, so lots of people were happy to be there. It ws an excellent concert. turns out the locals are concerned that the festival may turn into a music festival, not a country music festival.

Day 6 - took the car out, headed up to the lookout, then to the golf club for lunch (with entertainment supplied) , then off to another concert $10 at door, then to the rodeo, in the new equestrian centre, a very modern, purpose built rodeo and dressage stadium, fully roofed. Amazing building, wih a capacity of 5000 in fully tiered seating.

Day 7 - getting hot by now, temps increased over the week, and forecast was for 39. Took refuge in the shopping centre for the morning, more coffee and free concerts, then went to another big concert, James Blundell with an assortment of other artists. He seems to be the father figure of up and coming stars he is promoting. Excellent show, although people walked out when the 3 hours was up (show went for an extra 30 mins). One even complained that the headline act was not on first. After that, ambled down the street, back to the diggers for a bit of bluegrass, before heading home.

Day 8 - packed up this morning, then went to the Big Parade - down Peel street, about 8 floats, ranging from cops on pushbikes, mini cars, utes, trucks to semi trailers. the thing to have was the semi's trailer decked out with bands and dancers, and often the odd bale of hay.
We had a great time at Tamworth, can recommend it to everyone!!