Some Travel Statistics.

Many people like to know the statistics associated with travel. That is, for example, distance travelled and the costs involved.


As it turned out we actually travelled more kilometres in the time frame than we really would have liked, in other words we made a lot more short stays than we would have anticipated.


In total we were "on the road" for 188 days and in that time we actually camped at 59 different camps. Some of those camps were in the backyards of family and friends. The total expense for paid camps was $2,067.60.


We travelled a total of 16,214.2 kilometres and burned 2287.99 litres of premium fuel (petrol) at an average cost per litre of AUD $1.37. The average economy towing the van and with a fully laden vehicle equates to 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres. This calculates to a total expense of AUD $3,136.91. Considering the places and sites we have been fortunate enough to experience this is a cost that we would happily pay again.  I did not conduct a scientific study but we did not detect any difference in economy between 95 and 98 rohn fuel, so in future I will only use the 95 rohn fuel at less expense.


We maintain that these expenses are very modest for such a lengthy tour of the eastern states of Australia. Of course there are expenses for food and entertainment as well but we would have had those expenses even if we had of stayed home in Hervey Bay.


We have now moved into our townhouse in Hervey Bay but Lizzie, our 16 year old Shitzu- Maltese Terrier cross, is still a little confused. She thinks the caravan is home and this house is someplace that is only a stop-over. She still wants to be in the van.


We will eventually be back on the road again, and I will continue blogging when we do. So, look out for the e-mail notification some time in the future.

Bargara - 11th to 17th March

We had a bright sunny day for check-in and set-up at Bargara Beach CP. The following three days were windy and wet. This weather just happened to co-incide with a surf carnival on the beach directly across the road from the CP. As you would probably guess, it was almost a capacity house here in the park over the weekend. By Monday night we were the only ones camped in an area similar to a football oval. Sunday we decided to take a drive around the local area, taking in Burnett Heads, Bundaberg, Elliott Heads, Coral Cove and Innes Park, completing the circuit back here at Bargara. Monday and Tuesday the weather was mostly fine and sunny with the seas abating and only occasional rain showers. Wednesday the showers have increased, this seems to indicate a rather wet breaking of camp in the morning. We have a small green frog living in our annex. He/she seems quite happy residing with us. One of it's mates also took up residence in Jude's sun hat. Our week's stay here has been very pleasant with very few bitey bugs. The only downside, and this is not confined to only here, is Lizzie wanting to get out of the van to pee on the grass at 3:30am each morning. Lizzie would also like her brekky on coming back inside, but that doesn't happen!!

It's hard to believe, but we have been on the road/living in our little caravan for six months now. We have managed very well with our limited space, even during the rainy days, fortunately there weren't too many of those! We have found out that we are carrying too much baggage with us, so the next trip we will be better prepared. So, we are back to Hervey Bay tomorrow and that marks the end of this particular trip around the country. There will not be any further entries to this blog until we hit the bitumen again and we have no notion of when that will happen. Hope you have found our travel notes and photos entertaining.

I wanted to take photos in the morning when it was sunny and high tide but my camera battery was discharged. Now I can only offer you these shots, dull and low tide. This is Neilsen Park Beach which hosted the surf carnival.

This is Kelly's Beach, the most southern beach at Bargara. Looking north towards the town area.

Kelly's beach looking south from the town area. There is a lot of black rock along the beach front here, it is from a lava flow from a nearby volcano about one million years ago.

Bargara Village with accommodation, cafes, restaurants and gift shops. There is a shopping plaza about one km from here.

Across the Esplanade from the Village precinct is a picnic and kids play area. The structure the kids are playing on is actually a very large turtle.

Adjacent to the kids play area is this board walk and extension to the picnic area. There is usually people everywhere here but the inclement weather has sent them to the cafes. In the far distance is Kelly's Beach.

Calliope River, Boyne Island & Rosedale - 6th to 10th March

The Calliope River RA is always a great place to stay-over. On this occasion there was also a Sunday Market, and as we had already planned to stay Saturday and Sunday this was a welcome diversion. As an added bonus on Saturday night we were treated to an impromptu, and probably illegal, fire-works display. This display was the full-monty, mortars and all, it lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Sunday and full of brekky we headed to the market, only to find that dogs are not permitted. Jude went to the market and I went back to the van with Lizzie. I didn't take any photos as we had stayed here previously. Take this link to check back; Calliope River Rest Area - Wed 25th November.

Monday we packed early and headed for Boyne Island. We booked into the CP there and the tariff was a very reasonable $20 per night for a powered sight. Unfortunately the midges were offered free accommodation and brought all their mates with them. Jude made a special trip to Woolies to buy a 'robo-can' insect spray dispenser. The Tannum Sands/Boyne Island area is quite beautiful apart from those biting bugs. We had a look around Gladstone and found that we could not walk Lizzie anywhere in the parks etc., as dogs are not permitted under threat of a $375 fine. What is it with these councils in this area? Not 'dog friendly' anywhere.

Gladstone Marina and in the background is the coal terminal.

The entry channel to the marina with the coal loading wharf in the background. Three ships can be loaded simultaneously.

Centre photo, under those gantries, there is a train being unloaded. The terminal is so vast that the train looks like a model from this distance.

The gantry leading to the right takes the coal to the ship loaders.

The grain terminal.

The bauxite refinery in the background. Gladstone is an industrial city, not photographed, there is also a power station and the aluminium smelter at Boyne Island. Gladstone is not a pretty city but very busy.

Two nights at Boyne Island then pack up in the rain. We were heading for another free camp, but mostly they are overgrown with grass and wet because of all the rain we've had up here. We made a snap decision to head to Rosedale, a small town on the Agnes Waters to Bundaberg road. We camped behind the pub and paid a tariff of $20 for a powered site but no water. That makes Boyne Island CP with a pool sound really cheap. The Pub is up for auction this weekend if anyone is interested. You will be bidding for the pub, caravan park and the sports ground, all on the title. Only one night here at Rosedale and then onto Bargara. We have noticed, since leaving Mackay and travelling south on the Bruce Highway, that the northern migration of the southern 'mexicans' has commenced. Large vans that are piloted by unfriendly individuals that do not wave.

Our camp site behind the Rosedale Pub and beside the sports ground. The cream coloured cricket sheds serve as the amenities, clean but rustic!

The Rosedale Pub, up for Auction on the 13th March. The beer is cold and tastes good.

The Rosedale Memorial Hall and friday Bingo Centre.

The main street of Rosedale, General Store on the right and the Police Station at the top of the road. That's about it for Rosedale!

St Lawrence - 3rd to 5th March

As we leave Mackay, we are travelling with a weird sensation in our minds. We are heading south, towards home. It is only the second time in six months that we have experienced that sensation. We have been pointing the nose of the car to all points of the compass except the point that leads to Hervey Bay. This trip we have been taking the opportunity to explore some of the smaller towns. First stop today, for lunch, was Clareview, a town with one street that runs about 2km, the length of the town, between the beach and the rail line. We might have considered camping here for a night but the camp area was mostly mud and puddles after all the rain in this area.

It's a dull day in Clareview. That is the sea directly behind the picnic area, and the rail line is directly behind me as I took this shot and the Bruce Highway is directly beyond the rail line.

This is the entire picnic area.

Adjoining the picnic area is the free camp area. There is also a caravan park at the opposite end of town (southern end).

After lunch and back on the highway I was alarmed at our fuel consumption. I must have refuelled with a dodgy tank of fuel at Shell North Mackay. I topped up again at Marlborough with Caltex and the consumption immediately declined. This has happened on a couple of other occasions, notably at Choice fuel stops. Looks like Caltex fuel, if at all possible, from now on. We decided to make for St Lawrence. People have told us that St Lawrence is a midgey haven, we didn't find this but the mozzies after dusk were horrendous. One had to be  indoors with everything closed at the fall of dusk, but you could still here them screaming at the screens trying to gain entry. We thought we would stay one night only, but quite liked the camp and the people we met there. Stayed three nights in all. There was excitement in the camp on two occasions. There was power at the camp but not for campers, after all, it is a free camp. Anyway these cheapskate individuals in a caravan pulled in and after dark disconnected the power from the septic system and connected their van. Unfortunately for them, they didn't know the caretaker came in at first light and caught them in the act. With all the ruckus everyone in the camp new what was happening, those cheapskates pulled out with their tails between their legs. The camp is divided between 'generator and 'non-generator'. This single guy came in and set up in the correct zone but did not notice that there was also a 'generator curfew', all gennies off at 9 pm. 9:30 pm came around and his gennie is still running and barking each time his air-con cut in. A woman, and I think I know which one, went to his van and thumped on the wall and shouted: "All gennies are supposed to off at 9 pm". Cyril didn't get out of bed, but replied; "Well turn it off then!" She did.

Our camp site, alongside the  garden at the front fence.

The scene through the the main gate. A caravan parked in a similar fashion to us, alongside the garden to the left of the gate. Much to their surprise, they had a visit from a taipan.

Behind the camp area there is a walk path that leads you to a viewing platform alongside these wetlands.

Looking back towards camp from the viewing platform. The large pavilion is used quite often apparently, for functions such as, polo matches and camp drafts. During the 'Grey Nomad' season the locals put on Wednesday and Sunday night meals and drinks at very reasonable charges. I don't think I would like to be here with about 100 other camps though.

Jude, carrying Lizzie, heading for the Post Office. The council offices are just beyond the PO but most everything else is quite removed from here.

As the sign states, this is the General Store. The locals meet, sit and yarn along the verandah for hours.

The local pub, not very often open, the publican doesn't like tourists.

Home owners in small Queensland towns sure like bold colours!

A freight train slowly making it's way across the bridge over the wetlands. The train is probably travelling at less than 40 k/h at this point.

Wet Mackay - 25th February to 2nd March

We billeted with our long time great friends Ian and Sue at Beaconsfield, a northern suburb of Mackay. We couldn't do much for the first four days because of the continual rain. We had almost 200 mm in the four days, but that is not bad for here, they could have that much in one hour. We did a power of talking, about our families and about our travels. We even got into tending to the pug pups. Ian, Sue and daughter Joanne and son-in-law Phillip breed the gorgeous pug dogs. The kennel is named "Lyonberry".

Meet (from the left) 'Bert', 'Brook' and 'Bazil'. The pups are about 12 weeks old. They are either sleeping, eating or play wrestling with each other. What a great life! Brook is a lot smaller than the two boys but what she lacks in stature she makes up with toughness. Brook can send the boys running for cover if pushed too hard!