Back to the Farm

Time got away from us a bit in the last couple of weeks, so we’re playing catch-up!
Better late than never tho eh…?!?

Moving right along from our last post, and we were in the process of heading back to the Farm in Far North QLD, as it was time to be back at work for a while, and to get the Farm in order.

On the rest of our way home we went to another few Parks – one of them being the one we spent two weeks at back in December.

Agnes Water

First up from where we last left off, we went to the NRMA Park at Agnes Water.
We didn’t get to look around the town at all, so can only comment on the caravan park for this one – and we weren’t wildly impressed.
We were jammed into a site behind the office, which we had to reverse into down an alleyway and were parked right up tight against the clotheslines.
The area next to us – which ‘should’ have been for our outdoor area – was a thoroughfare for other park patrons to make their way to the bathroom facilities. Not great…

The park was absolutely packed, and when two other vehicles came in late in the evening, they too were packed in behind the office.
One was a large motorhome like ours, which didn’t fit well into the spot it was allocated, and another was a 4WD with a roof-top tent, that had such a tight space to try and manoeuvre into (in the pitch black dark) that it ended up reversing into one of the sheds.
From the sound of it, we think they probably lost their tail-lights in the crash.

We did do laundry here, and at $5 per load for washer & dryer, that is the fairly standard rate.

Whilst the park is beachfront, which is easily accessible, very pretty and very well-utilised by families, surfers, paddle boarders, volley-ballers and bathers (which was great to see), we did find out the hard way however the part that is accessible from the Park does not allow dogs, and nor was there any pathway that was accessible to the ‘dogs allowed’ area, without having to leave the Park via the roadway.

We think that this would probably be a good Park for families, particularly with children, and those who don’t mind being in very close proximity to their neighbours.
For those with Pets, be mindful that unless you just want to do laps of the park, you will need to find an alternate route to be able to take them onto the beach.

There is a nice decent-sized green space on site on the way to the beach that can be used to walk pets.

The amenities are clean and functional, and have a nice airy feel.
We were given a key for the toilet block – however there was no lock to be found on the main door, so we didn’t need it.

The WiFi was patchy at best, and whilst suitable enough to scroll social media and the web, but not stable enough to stream tv, YouTube etc.

Rockhampton

The Discovery Park Rockhampton was our next port of call, and we enjoyed our over-nighter at this one, and would definitely stay again.

The sites are a good size and easy to reverse into.
We were very fortunate to be upgraded to an en-suite site, and this was well designed, beautifully clean, and obviously recently disinfected.

This Park has a great pool and water-play area for Families, and feels very secure to stay at with good fencing and secure gate access to the Park.
The amenities are clean and well-lit.
We didn’t investigate the laundry so can’t make comment to the number of machines available, nor the price.

At the top / back of the park there are half a dozen huge fire-pits for individual sites to utilise, and whilst no-one was in those sites while we were there, they look like a great place to gather with friends and family.

The camp kitchen was clean and well laid out with plenty of space for multiple people to use at the same time.

Sweet Sarina

Next overnight stop was Sarina, and we hadn’t stayed here before.
Fun fact though – it was the town with the cheapest fuel both down and back, of the entire trip.

We stayed at the Tropicana Caravan Park which was a really sweet quirky little park, out of the way of the hustle and bustle, run by a lovely couple of blokes.

Whilst the facilities are on the older side, they are immaculate and do the job perfectly, and newer / shinier facilities just wouldn’t suit the Park at all.
One lovely touch in the bathrooms, were hibiscus floating in one of the sinks.
Cute, quirky, pretty and made for a lovely surprise to see.

Walking around the park we noted that there was a good mix of permanent sites, cabins and short-term sites.
On our evening walk, we even got to meet a couple of the resident possums.

We’d like to spend more time at this park, and will definitely revisit.
It has such a lovely chill relaxing vibe and would be a great place for some extended down-time.

Roadside Cafe

On our way to the next overnight stop, we called in to Mount Ossa as we spotted a little road-side cafe that piqued our interest, and it was right around the time we were starting to think we wouldn’t mind stopping for some morning tea!

The Zarby Cafe is right along-side the Bruce Highway, and is a 1950s diner that is immaculately decked out in true-to-the-era decor.
The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food and coffee are some of the best we’ve had from road-side stops.
If you’re going by, do yourself a favour and call in – you wont be disappointed! (Unless its closed!)

Back in Bowen

Our next night was another night at one of our favorite parks in Bowen, the Tropical Beach Caravan Park.
We just love this place and can’t rate it highly enough.
Clean facilities, right on the beach, laundry, happy friendly hosts and a feeling of always being welcomed.

We were also incredibly lucky while we were there this time, to run into some folks whom had just caught a massive Spanish Mackerel out in their boat, and they gave us around 2kg of fresh fillets!
We got a lot of very tasty meals out of that incredibly generous gift!

On to the Towers

Our next drive was inland to Charters Towers to spend the evening at our eldest daughters home, where we got to spend the evening with her, three of our grandkids, and our daughter-in-law.
It was a lovely evening of catching-up, which was accompanied by delicious pizza.

We parked Henry outside the neighbours place as it was too big to fit into her driveway, and got a great nights sleep snuggled up inside.

Return to Rollingstone

The following evening we spent the night at Rollingstone Caravan Park, yet another of the Parks that we keep returning to because it’s just that good!
We did laundry here (nice big machines); and took a few wonderful long walks along the beach – which is always a favourite thing to do at this park.
Mabi even got some off-leach time on the beach, as no one else was around to be bothered by her, or us by them.

Last night of this trip

Our final overnight stop before arriving back to the Farm was to revisit Kurramine Beach, and the lovely simple van park to the side of the King Reef Resort.

We have no idea what the rooms or cabins are like here, (although the cabins are very pretty!) but have had word from friends that they’re really lovely and super-comfortable.

We love this park for its laid-back feel; and that it has direct access to a really lovely beach that is not only dog-friendly, but it also never crowded.

The meals at the Resort pub are delicious and reasonably priced, and are also available as take-away if you prefer.
Sadly, they had taken the steak sandwich off the menu when we were there this time around, which was a bit devastating… #FirstWorldProblems 😀 

Onward – Home to the Farm

The drive on the final leg home the next day was tinged with a bit of sadness at being at the end of this particular trip, but this was overcome by the nervous excitement we’re both feeling that in less than two months time, we will be back on the road – and this time it will be (spoiler-alert) long-term!!

Before finally making it back to the Farm, we stopped in at Millaa Milla to give Mabi a rest, and to have a cuppa and snack, and yes – maybe to stretch out the time before we had to be back to the work-world, for just a little bit longer…

We’re now both back into the busy days of what life back home at the Farm is for each of us, and we’ve also been working on getting some repairs and upgrades done on Mr Henry MoHo.

Henry has had a good clean inside and out, and in a couple of weeks he’ll be heading in the get the final repairs done to the compressor and other associated bits.

Goodbye Lil Man

Our littlest and eldest canine hero Hamish passed on a couple of weeks after our return, and he has joined our cats Dusk and Blaze, buried in a special grove on the Farm. He was 17½ years old.
Rest in peace lil fella – you are very missed.

Until next time – happy travels; and make the moments matter.

 

Fires in the ranges surrounding Bajool

 

Says it all!

 

Well-designed fire-pit areas at Rockhampton

 

Camp Kitchen – Rockhampton Discovery Park

Beautiful views driving through our Country (near Milman)

A sweet touch of beauty in the bathrooms at Sarina.

 

Relaxing at Sarina.

 

A couple of the Sarina Park residents.

 

Inside Zenbys 1950s Diner – Mt Ossa

 

Classic decor – Zenbys 1950s Diner – Mt Ossa

 

It’s been a big day and a lil black dog needs a snuggly nap.

 

Home Hill rest area at the train station.

 

Burdekin River between Home Hill and Ayr.

 

Next stop – Charters Towers.
Flinders Highway

 

Townsvilles Mt Stuart

 

Lavarack Army Barracks at Annandale.

 

Airfryer oven heating up for pizzas.

 

YUM!!

 

A beautiful Rollingstone evening…

 

And a crackin’ sunrise!

 

Heading north past the Tully sugarcane mill

 

Kurramine Beach

 

The beauty takes your breath away…

 

2 of the SSR Crew

 

Cane fields at Pin Gin Hill.

 

The beautiful green paddocks of Coorumba

 

Millaa Millaa rest area

 

Memorial: Graemes Garden – Millaa Millaa

 

Resting in the sunlight…

 

your smile will live in our hearts always