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.