Week 2  May 20^th – 28^th

Tuesday 20^th “HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ian”.

We left Wuruma Dam around 9.00am, we had 86km to go to Monto.  We dumped, refuelled, restocked and strolled this great RV friendly town.  From there we travelled 26km to the Top Tourist Caravan Retreat at the entrance of Cania Gorge.  “Wow” manicured lawns, water and electricity.  The only downside was having someone right next to you, but then you all know us we are always up for a chat.

The afternoon was taken up using electricity, John cooked, (sauces, cakes, muffins and more Osso Bucco).  I caught up with the first week of the Blog.  No phone service or NBN here you have to go 10kms to Cania Lake for that.

Cania Gorge National Park is the closest park to the coast in which you can see the sandstone escarpments of Central Qld. There are seven walking tracks ranging in length from 300m to 22km.  Over the next two days we excelled ourselves by walking 14.3km.  “We saw nature at its best”. Stunning rock formations, sandstone colours and hidden beauty.

 The stubbornness of the fig vine to hang on to anything, the elks that grow in the smallest crevice and the flora that produced tiny flowers.

We woke Friday to rain, just when we wanted to pack up.  Heading about 240km today along the Burnett and Capricorn Hwy’s, stopping in at Biloela to restock, our destination was Duaringa a known bush camp.  There were about 30 camps, all very civilized. A lady came around to let everyone know that the local Lioness club in the town, were putting breakfast on the next morning 6am-9.00am.  Another one of those gems you get along the way.  So our Saturday started with an egg and bacon muffin with coffee for $4.00 to support the locals.  It was great talking to the ladies about the town of 200 and their fund raising ideas.

We arrived at Theresa Creek Dam around mid-afternoon and were shocked when we came over the hill.  There must have been 100 camps.  The dam is about 22km from Clermont in the Central Highlands, about 300km west of Mackay. We could not believe all the activity out in the bush.  We found a great camp on the edge of the water.

There is a lot of coal mining out in this area, and being a weekend all the miners bring their families for R-n-R.  Monday we were down to about 40 camps, so things were a lot calmer.

Over the next couple of days John was taught how to catch red claw by a fellow in camp.  By Wednesday “State of Origin” night we were having red claw mornay, salad and a wine by the campfire, listening to the game on the radio.  Another great night under the stars.

“Well done Ian and Max”

Week 1 May 13^th-19^th

We left Toowoomba midmorning. We were in for a big day (just joking) heading to Kinbombi Falls 213 km. Through Yarraman, Nanango and in to Goomeri.  The Falls were 12 km out of town and we were there around 2.00pm.  There were three other camps that joined us for the night.  The falls were not big but were impressive for their size.  It is 228 STEPS, down to the base of the falls to a crystal clear swimming hole “said to be bottomless”. For the return trip we caught the lift out of the gorge, (just kidding) it was another 228 STEPS.

Wednesday: we travelled the Burnett Hwy through Gayndah, Mundubbera, and Eidsvold heading for Wuruma Dam. The Dam was another free camp and it  was our plan to stay about seven days as this was supposed to be a good red claw and fishing spot.  “WRONG” we could not catch bait let a loan red claw or any species of fish.  But the spot was just amazing, where else but Australia can you get over 50 camps around the water’s edge in one spot and still not have anyone on top of you “it was great”.

The days were filled with breakfast’s that went on til 9.30am, the Joy Findlay homemade plum jam was perfect on hot toast.  Reading, canoeing (on fish), crocheting and a two km walk up to the main road to get mobile phone coverage and of course there was morning tea’s, lunch’s, afternoon tea’s and of course dinner, woops I forgot happy hour.  The nights were what bush camping is all about, campfires and watching the night sky. The 7.20pm virgin and Jetstar flights from Cairns and the 7.25 from Darwin.

We had an unforgettable Saturday night, the day had been warm, up in the high 20’s. It was dinner time around 6.00pm. The campfire had been lit, it was a balmy 23.6 c in the van, the USB stick had the Bee Gees playing and there was Osso Bucco  for dinner (one John had prepared earlier) with a glass of wine.  “What more could you ask for”?  Chocolates and port were taken at the campfire after the dishes. When the fire burnt down to coals, the clear night sky revealed a million stars.  The Southern Cross touched the tree tops and we spent the next hour looking for the space station and maybe a falling star, “but nothing”.

We stayed till the water tanks ran dry, the van toilets filled and the computer ran out of battery. After seven days it was time to move.

Cania Gorge near Monto is our next stop.

Home to Kinbombi Falls

                              Kinbombi Falls to Wuruma Dam