Brisbane Airport, Brisbane, Glass House Mountains
On Saturday February 25, day 27, we got on a bus at 9:30 AM for the airport where we boarded a Qantas flight to Brisbane. Our flight left at 12:10 and landed at 2:25. A bus was waiting for us and took us to the JUCY terminal in Brisbane where we picked up our second rig. From there, we drove about 70 k to reach our campground at Landsborough Pines Caravan Park. We all had grocery shopping to do, to prepare for the next 9 days in another rig. Many people had overstocked in the last rigs so they were careful about what they purchased here. Dave and I were pretty cautious each time and never discarded anything except some butter and mayonnaise.
These second rigs proved to be more problematic than our first rigs. We had a couple of minor issues before we left JUCY, but those were quickly resolved. Other people had more serious issues from no AC in the living portion and/or the cab also. Refrigerators did not work. One couple had a horrible stench from the sewer. Rigs were replaced and repaired often, starting with day 2. The Sutherlands broke down towards the end of the Australian stay and had to get to the campground on a flat bed truck. In all, about half of the rigs had serious problems. Our only problem was a soft floor. We were lucky. Also, Dave said it was nicer to drive than the first one.
Landsborough, Beerwah
Sunday February 26, day 28 was spent at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, about 3 km from our campground.
The zoo arranged for shuttle buses to pick us up at the campground. Joan went to the group reservations booth. There were some difficulties with our tickets but that was soon resolved.
We were on our own all day at the zoo. There were so many animals to see. We got to pet more kangaroo and a koala. Dave and I enjoyed lunch and beer overlooking the alligator ponds and were entertained watching the grounds crew mow, keeping a close eye on the gators. Part of our lunch was chicken flavored potato chips. They were not too bad but I don’t think we will get them again!
We went to the bird and alligator demonstration sitting with Sallie and Sue. The birds are very colorful and well trained. The show ended with an crocodile feeding. The staff explained how fast the crocs can move in the water but move very sluggishly on land, after the initial lunge so they felt safe. They also talked about Steve Irwin’s mission to save all animals, which is why he created this zoo.
Note: We never did get a Bloody Mary, one of the first Sundays we have ever missed.
Gold Coast, Miami, Brisbane, Coral Sea, Miami Beach
February 27 day 29 was a travel day. We drove 169 km or 101 miles to Ocean Beach Tourist Park in Miami along the Pacific or Gold Coast.
Gold Coast, Miami Beach
Tuesday February 28 day 30
This is a slow day… Many people in the group went to the Carrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, starting with an opportunity to feed the lorikeets in the morning. Dave and I, as well as several other couples decided to pass because it seemed too much like the other zoos and preserves we had already visited.
Instead, we stayed at the campground. We walked around the area and spent time at the beach. That evening, we commented on what sounded like monkeys in the hills but we did not think monkeys lived in Australia. Later, we found out these were Kookaburra singing or laughing.
That evening, we were treated to a show and dinner at the Australian Outback Spectacular. This had not been on the agenda but Keith and Joan were able to get it added. The show was about ranching in Australia, showing the difficulties and how it evolved over the years. There was a little bit of a love story included. The tech work in this show was phenomenal.
Tweed Heads Gold Coast, Byron Bay
March 1, day 31. We drove 119 km or 78 miles to Lakeside Holiday Park in Ballina., Tweeds Head
We kept hearing a very melodic bird song and learned it was the Australian Magpie.
We made a stop in Byron Bay for lunch and to enjoy the quaint town. It was not so quaint when we returned to the truck and found we had a parking ticket. Although others in our group had parked in the same lot, they “escaped” before being caught. A hidden sign said vehicles of our length were prohibited and we also had to drive in forward, not back in. Oops! We were both glad we had not purchased T-shirts here!
We also drove to the Byron Bay Point lighthouse, the most easterly point on the Australian continent.
Arakoon, Maclean, South West Rocks, Coffs Harbor, East Ballina
Thursday March 2, day 32/ We drove 320 km or 201 miles to Southwest Rocks Holiday Park in Southwest Rocks.
Dave and I took a detour from the group onto TD (Tourist Drive) #22. This took us through the town of Maclean. There was a strong Scottish presence in this town and I loved it because I also have a Scottish heritage. There were banners with tartans that are labeled with clan names and often with their occupations.
We took a steep narrow road to a lookout over the Clarence River in Arakoon National Park where we learned about the myth of the Serpent. Where each branch of the river ends, the people settled.
We continued and the road narrowed to a single lane. It is a good thing we did not meet any traffic! Eventually, we got to a ferry, the only way to continue. It was a cable driven ferry that crossed in about 10 minutes time. There was no charge for the ferry.
We checked into our campground and met the kangaroo that lived there. It was fun to see the joey in it’s mama’s pouch. As soon as we got parked to know where we will be, we got back into the rig and drove to Lighthouse and Trial Bay Gaol (pronounced jail). Convicts were brought over from England to build a breakwater. The rough seas proved that was impossible and it was given up after 10 years. During WWII, this was home to people of German descent, similar to the US who incarcerated people of Japanese descent. This is now a tourist attraction and home to kangaroos.
We took a shuttle to a restaurant, with some of the group for supper. We shared a BBQ rib dinner and Dave was amazed that i could eat all of my share. He was hoping to get more or leftovers.
It was a good thing we had taken a shuttle instead of our rigs. We saw some police cars pulled over, as we were on the way to the restaurant. We learned later that the road was blocked off soon after we passed, to investigate a murder that had happened that evening!
Port Macquarie, Wootton, Lake Cathie, Mannering Park, Johns River
Friday March 3, day 33. We drove 357 km or 212 miles to Ingenia Holidays Lake MacQuairie in Mannering Park, Port MacQuaire, Wootton and Lake Cathie. There were a few interesting things to see but we basically drove straight to the park as it was a long day driving day.
We were starting to see litter along the way. All of New Zealand and most of Australia have been very clean and litter free.
We saw cars with matching license plates!
Sydney, Blue Mountains, Blackheath
Saturday March 4, day 34. We drove 200 km or 117 miles to Blackheath Glen Tourist Park in Blackheath. This was north of Sydney and took us to the Blue Mountains. They are called blue mountains because of all the Eucalyptus trees, giving a blue sheen to them.
I had gotten a little nervous that day as our fuel indicator kept dropping. I think Dave was also getting nervous but we were able to find a fuel station with diesel, with not much left in our tank. Whew!
Dave and I stopped in the town of Blackheath before the park. We had a beer in a small local bar in the Gardener’s Inn Hotel and wandered around the town for a while.
When we got to the campground, there was a kookaburra in the tree in our site. It flew to the ground and then flew across the park to a different tree. Apparently it is pretty unusual to actually see one.
There were also many cockatoos in the park. They are beautiful but have a loud unpleasant screech and apparently to do not like each other so they kept chasing each other away.
We went to supper again with more people from the campground. For this place, someone had to “join” and could bring the rest of us along as guests. No one could wear a hat except Rene who had joined for us. She has a medical condition that she covers with a hat. Hats are banned from all casinos in Australia.
Blue Mountains, Katoomba, Blackheath
Sunday March 5, day 35 was set aside to visit the Blue Mountains. First Dave and I drove to Katoomba where we walked to an overlook for our first stop. We were able to see the Three Sisters. Part of the overlook was closed and we saw workers in orange vests with climbing equipment. We were afraid there was a terrible accident but then we found out that March 5 is designated every year as Clean Up Australia Day. Volunteers of all ages across Australia work to hard to pick up any litter. The climbers were picking up litter below the cliffs.
Then we drove to the Scenic World Blue Mountains where we had unlimited passes to the railway, skyway and tramway. We used all three for different views of the Blue Mountains. The railway was a backwards ride up a VERY steep cliff.
We encountered a group of Chinese tourists and quickly got the impression that Chinese people are very rude. They had no thought of other people’s personal space and thought nothing of cutting in lines to get their advantage. We still had fun.
Part of the day was a walkway through the rain forest where we saw miner’s huts from the 1878 and more beautiful waterfalls. We enjoyed lunch with some members of our group in the visitor center.
After we left the mountains, we went back to Katoomba and found a bar were we could get our first and last Bloody Mary in Australia in The Bootlegger Bar. We enjoyed chatting with the bartender.
Monday March 6, day 36 was our last day with our RV. We drove 127 km or 76 miles, leaving our campground before 7 AM. We had to be at JUCY by 9:30 to turn in our rigs. Dave and I followed the RV GPS and it took us through the city streets. OH my, so crowded and so narrow. At one point, there was a merge and we heard a bang. We did not realize it then, but the truck next to us had hit our RV with his mirror and put a gash in the back side. Luckily, no one at JUCY noticed it so we did not have to deal with accident reports or insurance.