DICKY BEACH TO BRISBANE, Saturday 8th June, 2019

Today we handed the van in at Brisbane. Left Dicky Beach about 9am and had to decide what we would do on the way as we had arranged with the motel where we are staying for an early check in of 1.00pm. This was so we could unload the camper straight into the motel before we went to Apollo which was just along the road. We chose to go out to Redcliffe which is out on a peninsular. Didn't know what the area was like so took off to explore it. Thinking it would be a waste of time we were amazed what a great up and coming area it was. Lots of new development. Once probably would have been all old houses as you can see but they are all renovated as well as many big high rise apartments and lovely homes. It's an area out on its own so didn't seem touristy, just locals. Although we drove along the Northern Morton Bay Tourist Route so there must be tourists around but maybe they just drive through. Really enjoyed going out there stopping along the way. Up one side of the Peninsular around the top and down the other side. Continued driving down the coast to our destination in Nudgee Road, Northgate where  we dropped the camper off and now staying in the nearby Motel. We stayed at this motel on May 1 before we picked up the camper and it is very close to the airport. Very handy. Also as we hugged the coast coming down from Dicky Beach we didn't have to go anywhere near central Brisbane so made driving a lot easier.

As we were approaching Redciffe we turned north to do the loop around the coastal road around the peninsular. Our first stop was in the middle of many waterways and a marina in Newport. It looked like a newish area with nice homes built on all the many inlets and waterways  with their boats moored in front of their homes. Very nice. We stopped near the marina above and made a coffee.

After driving through Newport  waterways we continued to the top of the peninsular at Scarborough and stopped at their Marina. Above is the entrance to the marina.

Zoomed in on the above photo to see the pelicans out on the rocks and the mountains across the water are the Glasshouse Mountain range. A place I would love to drive through but not enough time on this trip.

Scarborough Marina. Another great area.



Pelican on this post wouldn't stretch his neck out for me.

Leaving the top and now coming down the other side, the eastern side of the peninsular. Out on the coast of Redcliffe is Queen Beach North.

Further down the coast is Sutton Beach Park. The road is higher than the coast in places and drops down to sea level in other places, changes all the time. Continuing down passing lots of little bays. Loved this area and so pleased we came to see it. Lots of apartment high rise blocks. 



Redcliffe pier walk ways all along the coast. Although it was a terrible day very overcast and cold I still enjoy this area.

Bicentennial Park looking over this very long bridge going over the Hays Inlet. It would have been a least 2kms long two lanes heading south on a higher bridge than the north going traffic was on a lower bridge at nearly water level. Interesting..



The big bridge crossing over the Hays Inlet.

Motel Novena Palms where we stayed when we first came over. Just along the road from Apollo very convenient. We feel we have so much space but miss our home away from home.

A last glimpse of the van before we handed her over all emptied out, linen folded on the bed.  😢

This is the end of a fantastic six week trip around Queensland. A few hiccups at the beginning but once that was sorted all good, although the East Coast didn't treat us too well with rain, wind and very low temperatures but we made the most of it and continued to have a good time. So much so, we are talking about doing another six week trip next year from Perth to Darwin. We have heard a lot about that coast line which sounds great.

All in all it was a great experience with so much contrast. Our first real motorhome experience. The Queensland circuit was amazing from Brisbane, Toowoomba to the outback through Roma, Tambo, Longreach, Cloncurry, up to the Carpentaria to Karumba on the northern coast. Down across west to east through Croydon, the amazing Lava Tubes experience, up through the Atherton Tablelands, loved it up there. Across to Cairns, missed out on Mossman Gorge and Port Douglas due to Cyclone Anne that went through. Back a little inland over some more of the highlands through Lake Barrine, Crater lake, Millaa Millaa out to the coast to Innisfail, down the East Coast to South Mission Beach. Continuing down through Cardwell, Ingham to Townsville. After that to Bowen, Airlie Beach and Cape Palmerston. Down the coast and out to the coast from Rockhampton to Emu Park. Back inland through Mt Morgan Biloela to Cania Gorge. Continued on to Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, through Maryborough to Noosa. By now we were doing short trips down the coast through Coolum Beach, Maroochydore through Mooloolaba then last two nights in the van at Dicky Beach. Now back in Brisbane for a night in a Motel before flying out tomorrow, Sunday. We hope we get out as a few flights were cancelled today due to bad weather in Brisbane, very low foggy cloud. We had so much contrast going through all these places everywhere was different in its own way. A great experience and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't believe we have been away for six weeks it all went far too quick but of course it's always nice to get home.

In all we have completed 6,000kms.

MAROOCHYDORE TO DICKY BEACH. Thursday, 7th June, 2019.

Yesterday we left Maroochydore in the cold wind to head down to Dicky Beach. You might have noticed I have spelt this Dickey Beach earlier which apparently it was always known as but it is one of these names for some reason got changed and down here it's definitely Dicky Beach. It was just a half hour trip today so as we  couldn't get into Dicky Beach Camp until 11.00am did a bit of side shoots on the way.

We are now out on the Alexandra Headlands looking back to the area we walked to last Monday for for coffee from Maroochydore with Anne and Graham.

Looking north from the end of the beach up to Maroochydore.

Took this picture for Dave and Jennie where we stayed all those years ago on one of our Aussie trips with the kids.

Now at Mooloolaba beach looking right up north to the Coolum hill. So thats looking north  from Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headlands, Maroochydore beach further north to Coolum Beach.

 Now we are at Mooloolaba ports out on the Spit. I will let PT explain these photos.

Yes these are all prawn trawler boats all about fifty feet long. They fish in water up to 100 fathoms (600 feet) and more often than not are two and three hundred kilometres off the Queensland coast. We were told by the captain of the boat below that the fisheries personnel will place markers on some of the prawns and he has caught several of these marked fish and has been told that some of the caught prawns have come north from far away as Victoria. The prawns are all spawned in rivers up and down the coast and when mature they swim out to sea living in always fairly deep waters. I must add that Jack has eaten a fair few of their product.

The chap below spent quite a bit if time talking with us while he was fixing up one of his nets. He may have looked at us about three times! Very friendly though and strangely his boat was named "David ........" and I always thought it traditional to have a boat named as if it was a she.

Now going up to the Lighthouse Peninsula which is parallel to the Spit with the waterways between them where the Marina Islands

All the ladies were doing their exercises right at the top just before the lighthouse. It was freezing as you can see what the girls are wearing.

Looking back over Mooloolaba from the point.

At the end this lighthouse. Not the most attractive lighthouse after all the old ones we have seen. Bit modern looking....

On the way back looking down the marina towards Mooloolaba between the Spit and the lighthouse point.



We have now arrived at Dicky Beach. Looking south along the beach. Where the life saving guards are, our camp is just in behind them.



Looking out from camp over the lagoon.

We counted five ships waiting out at sea today, we think that they are coming in and out of Brisbane.

Coming out on the beach from the Life Saving Club.

Now looking south over the lagoon.

Looking along Dicky Beach from the south end.

Moffat Beach just south of Dicky Beach. The Captain of SS Dicky beached his ship in 1893 at Dicky Beach to avoid getting shipwrecked on the rocks at Moffat Beach Point.  There were no lives lost. Hence this is where Dicky Beach got its name from and not often is a beach named after the wreck of a ship.

The above is a photo of the remains of the SS Dicky. At the moment it is covered with the wash of sand so unfortunately we can't see it. She was built in 1883 and was wrecked on Dicky beach in 1893 as the storey below. There was more of the wreck but they had to cut a lot of it away due to safety.

They need another storm to wash the sand away to expose her again. We were expecting to see it so a little disappointing.

SS Dickys propellers.

The story of SS Dicky.

Dicky Beach town. Nice area. The temperature has warmed up today and they are forecasting that the warm weather will be back on Monday. Next week all looking good back to normal temps. Just our luck...

One more blog tomorrow re countdown before we leave. Handing in the lorry (as my son keeps calling it) tomorrow. Staying in a Motel on Saturday night then home Sunday.

MAROOCHYDORE. Wednesday 5th June, 2019

Last day and night in Maroochydore. After tonight we will have had four nights here. Extremely cold weather with the south west winds blowing up along the river bank? Today was a little warmer but the locals all tell us that this is very unseasonal at this time of year. Everybody is wrapped up in thick winter clothing. Tomorrow we are off to Dickey Beach for two nights about an hours drive away from the airport. Handing the van in on Saturday and spending Saturday night in a motel six mins drive from the airport. Leaving Brisbane on the 12.30pm flight. I wouldn't think that we will get home until at least 8.00pm.

Yesterday walked further down the river looking back at the camping ground. Sandy beach in the far distance is where we are staying.

Just in front of us looking over to the other side of the river mouth. Ocean far right.

Yesterday went to lunch at Terry and Julie's house. Terry is an old friend of my brothers from when we all lived in the same street as kids. We visited them some thirty years ago when we had our kids with us. Always great to catch up with old aquaintences.

Today we went for a walk along to the Sunshine Plaza. A new, hugh shopping complex. You could have got lost in there. So spread out and fascinated how it was built on and over the waterways. The rest of the afternoon was relaxing beside the river in front of the van. 

Nothing like this when we were last here. Everywhere we have been coming down the coast has changed so much with all the new developments.

Not a lot happening today so not a lot to write. So thought that I would catch another sunset. They are always quite different.

NOOSA TO MAROOCHYDORE. Monday 3rd June, 2019

Before we left Noosa yesterday drove down the river further to find the Marina where Dave had to pick up a boat and drive it down to Tweed Heads. Thought he might like a photo of the Marina.

Arrived at the marina and as it was Sunday all the walkways were covered with tents as stalls for the market day so couldn't even get a good photo.   Sorry Dave this is the best I could do.

Now to go down memory lane when we took the kids to stay at the Coolum Caprice at Coolum beach in 1986. We were amazed how different the place looked. This photo was taken up the hill behind the Coolum  Caprice.



The Coolum Caprice.
We were amazed how  different Coolum is now today from when we were all up there in the mid 1980s. Traffic everywhere, traffic lights, took ages to cross the road and all the new shops and arcades. When we were there as a family there was only the high rise apartments of the Coolum Caprice and on the opposite corner a very old grocer store that looked like it was going to fall over. I hated the change as it was such a quiet place in those days but now it is way too busy. Wouldn't want to have a holiday there now.

This is the opposite corner with all the new shops, no old grocer building with its original wooden floors and smelt if blue vein cheese. 😒

More of the new shops. 

We arrived at Maroochydore  Cotton Tree caravan park  about mid-day yesterday so we could get a good spot. Met up with Anne and Graham Dorreen. We went to their beautiful Penhouse Apartment for dinner, on the sixth floor over looking the river opposite the caravan park we are staying in.

Well we were lucky got the last spot right on the river edge and we woke up today with this beautiful morning after a very wet afternoon yesterday and over night.

PT and Graham dragging behind trying to keep up with Anne and me.
Anne and Graham came over to us at 8.30am and we went for walk along to the main beach just around from the camp, and walked along the beach to Alexandra Heads for a coffee. Got back to camp after two hours, walking in total 6kms. Then met some ex bank friends for lunch for a couple of hours, then relax beside our camper.  Later we met up with Anne and Graham again for drinks beside our van, then along to the RSL club for a beaut roast beef dinner. Busy day. Tomorrow we have one other couple to met up with for lunch then that's  all.  Then back to enjoying the last few days in the sun, I hope.

When we arrived at our destination at Alexandra Heads,  where we also stayed with the kids all those years ago, we had a coffee before our return walk back.

This is our outlook where we are parked up for four nights at the mouth of the river. Lovely spot and the surf beach is just around to the right.

Standing in front of our site looking up the river and down the front of the caravan park.

Here's another one of my friends, such beautiful looking creatures. Just out in front of us and when I went up to him didn't even move so tame.

Now meeting up with Anne and Graham at sunset beside the van. A couple of wines before we went along for dinner.

Sun nearly gone down.

Not long now.

Above and below. Gone down, looking out from the van, on the right. Great camping spot.

Now time to go to dinner. Had a great meal and now back at the van writing this ready to post.  It's been a great day catching up with everyone.