We are currently in Mackay. We have been on road for just over two weeks now and so far we have travelled an amazing 3991 kilometres.
Our journey so far has taken us up along the NSW coast where we visited family and friends.
We spent a couple of days in Bundaberg where some Canberra friends are holidaying and we caught up with them. Bundaberg is much larger than we expected and has some beautiful beaches. We did tours of the Bundaberg Rum factory and the Bundaberg Ginger Beer factory, both of which we found very interesting.
We also visited the Bert Hinkler Museum. Bert Hinkler grew up in Bundaberg at Mon Repos Beach and went on to become a famous aviator, breaking many world records for solo flights. The museum houses a vast collection of memorabilia and aeroplanes, some interactive displays and in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens stands his home, Mon Repos, that he built in Southampton England. It was moved to Australia brick by brick and rebuilt in Bundaberg.
We also visited the Bert Hinkler Museum. Bert Hinkler grew up in Bundaberg at Mon Repos Beach and went on to become a famous aviator, breaking many world records for solo flights. The museum houses a vast collection of memorabilia and aeroplanes, some interactive displays and in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens stands his home, Mon Repos, that he built in Southampton England. It was moved to Australia brick by brick and rebuilt in Bundaberg.
We also visited the Mystery Craters. Believed to be over 25 million years old these craters are of limestone and red ochre and have giant holes, some with water and some are dry. No one knows what they are, or how they got there. Some of craters are so deep sonar equipment has not been able to find the bottom of them. Some geologists think it may be a large meteorite.
We visited Schmeiders cooperage where the bundy kegs, the gigantic barrels that hold all the bundy rum, are made by hand. The complex has art and crafts, glass blowing and demonstrations of coopering. Unfortunately there were no demos when we were there, we were a bit too early.
We visited all of the beaches in Bundaberg, Burnett Heads, Mon Repos, Bargara, Innes Park, Coral Cove and Elliott Heads. My favourite was Burnett Heads. From about November to May there are turtles nesting at Mon Repos.
After leaving Bundaberg our next stop was Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy. Seventeen Seventy is of course where Captain Cook landed and there is a memorial erected to commemorate the exact spot where he landed.
From there we travelled to Gladstone and spent the night there. I’d have to say that Gladstone wasn’t the most exciting place. It has a large aluminium smelter on the bay at the edge of town which looks very impressive from the lookout in town. We visited the Tondoon Botanic Gardens and drove about 20kms out of town to the beachside towns of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands which is a long stretch of gorgeous white sand with views to the nearby islands.
Our next stop was Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia and the spot where you cross the Tropic of Capricorn. We were very impressed with Rocky. The very large and impressive Fitroy River meanders through town. There is a lovely Riverside Park and boardwalk alongside of the river with these balconies overhanging the river with picnic tables and electric bbq’s where we had a picnic lunch. We also wandered along Quay Street alongside of the river which is lined with elegant historic sandstone buildings dating back to the 1800’s.
Instead of spending the night in Rocky we drove to nearby Yeppoon and explored the beaches that make up the Capricorn Coast driving along the scenic coastal loop.
We visited Emu Park, home to the famous Singing Ship Sculpture which “sings” when the wind blows around and through its pipes. Set against a spectacular coastal view the monument commemorates Captain Cook. We visited several of the idyllic seaside villages, Zilzie, Keppel Sands and the man made harbour of Rosslyn Bay, Lammermoor and Kemp beaches. Great Keppel Island and some smaller Keppel islands are visible from all these beaches.
We decided to spend the night in Yeppoon, but it was a hard choice as all of the beaches and villages are equally stunningly beautiful. Our motel in Yeppoon was right opposite the beach and at sunset we witnessed the black and little red flying foxes rise spectacularly and extremely noisily as one to head off to their feeding grounds, awesome sight.
For dinner that night we decided that as we were in the beef capital of Australia we should have beef so we had rib eye fillet steak, probably the best steak we’ve ever eaten, so Rocky certainly lived up to it’s beef reputation in our estimation.
Next morning as we headed out of Rocky we stopped to visit Cathedral Caves located about 20kms from Rocky. The caves are a dry limestone cave system. We explored a labyrinth of large caves and saw some tiny rare bats, amazing fig tree roots and the awesome Cathedral Cave which has near perfect acoustics and is home to many concerts and weddings throughout the year. In December & January you can witness the Summer Solstice light spectacle where a beam of dazzling sunlight penetrates through a 14 metre vertical shaft into the darkened cavern below.
We were also offered to opportunity to try the aptly named laundry shute, a 30metre vertical shute that a few very adventurous people attempt by using nothing but their arms and legs against the sides as they go down. Colin went in the zig zag passage and crossed the swinging bridge to end the tour. I chose to walk out along the path.
From Rockhampton we drove on to Mackay where we are currently with Sarah and Paul at their house in Blacks Beach.
We visited all of the beaches in Bundaberg, Burnett Heads, Mon Repos, Bargara, Innes Park, Coral Cove and Elliott Heads. My favourite was Burnett Heads. From about November to May there are turtles nesting at Mon Repos.
After leaving Bundaberg our next stop was Agnes Water and Seventeen Seventy. Seventeen Seventy is of course where Captain Cook landed and there is a memorial erected to commemorate the exact spot where he landed.
From there we travelled to Gladstone and spent the night there. I’d have to say that Gladstone wasn’t the most exciting place. It has a large aluminium smelter on the bay at the edge of town which looks very impressive from the lookout in town. We visited the Tondoon Botanic Gardens and drove about 20kms out of town to the beachside towns of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands which is a long stretch of gorgeous white sand with views to the nearby islands.
Our next stop was Rockhampton, the beef capital of Australia and the spot where you cross the Tropic of Capricorn. We were very impressed with Rocky. The very large and impressive Fitroy River meanders through town. There is a lovely Riverside Park and boardwalk alongside of the river with these balconies overhanging the river with picnic tables and electric bbq’s where we had a picnic lunch. We also wandered along Quay Street alongside of the river which is lined with elegant historic sandstone buildings dating back to the 1800’s.
Instead of spending the night in Rocky we drove to nearby Yeppoon and explored the beaches that make up the Capricorn Coast driving along the scenic coastal loop.
We visited Emu Park, home to the famous Singing Ship Sculpture which “sings” when the wind blows around and through its pipes. Set against a spectacular coastal view the monument commemorates Captain Cook. We visited several of the idyllic seaside villages, Zilzie, Keppel Sands and the man made harbour of Rosslyn Bay, Lammermoor and Kemp beaches. Great Keppel Island and some smaller Keppel islands are visible from all these beaches.
We decided to spend the night in Yeppoon, but it was a hard choice as all of the beaches and villages are equally stunningly beautiful. Our motel in Yeppoon was right opposite the beach and at sunset we witnessed the black and little red flying foxes rise spectacularly and extremely noisily as one to head off to their feeding grounds, awesome sight.
For dinner that night we decided that as we were in the beef capital of Australia we should have beef so we had rib eye fillet steak, probably the best steak we’ve ever eaten, so Rocky certainly lived up to it’s beef reputation in our estimation.
Next morning as we headed out of Rocky we stopped to visit Cathedral Caves located about 20kms from Rocky. The caves are a dry limestone cave system. We explored a labyrinth of large caves and saw some tiny rare bats, amazing fig tree roots and the awesome Cathedral Cave which has near perfect acoustics and is home to many concerts and weddings throughout the year. In December & January you can witness the Summer Solstice light spectacle where a beam of dazzling sunlight penetrates through a 14 metre vertical shaft into the darkened cavern below.
We were also offered to opportunity to try the aptly named laundry shute, a 30metre vertical shute that a few very adventurous people attempt by using nothing but their arms and legs against the sides as they go down. Colin went in the zig zag passage and crossed the swinging bridge to end the tour. I chose to walk out along the path.
From Rockhampton we drove on to Mackay where we are currently with Sarah and Paul at their house in Blacks Beach.
No comments:
Post a Comment