Avan Touring in Australia: St Lawrence

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.