Xmas 2012–Poona–Bundaberg

One of the reasons for travelling so far up the Queensland coast, besides visiting the Dolphins at Tin Can Bay, was so we could visit the Bundaberg Rum Factory. We needed more of the Royal Liquor you can only buy at the cellar door.
The other reason we were to leave Poona was to head into town to purchase a new spare wheel and replace the last old tyre on the van. We had done a few K’s on these tyres and in hindsight i probably should of got new ones before the trip. We were lucky and lesson learned here. We managed to get both in Maryborough so that was some relief. We also found that Maryborough runs a weekday (Thursday) Mall in the main street. We purchased some fruit and homemade hot Sausage whilst there, as well as having a bite to eat.

After that t was on to Bundaberg. We had hope that we could have a look around after the Rum factory as well but after doing the factory tour and the taste testing at the end we did not have much time before we needed to e heading back to Poona.
One disappointing part of the factory tour was that no photography was allowed so the only photos we have are below.


The next, and last day in Poona was planned to be another “Relax by the pool” day but when we woke it turned out to be a nice, mild for the morning, day with the bay looking very calm. We therefore decided, along with everyone else in the park it seems, to get the Kayak out again and go for a paddle. I took off first for a look around the bay. When i returned, Caitlyn was waiting for her turn and the “beach” was loaded with swimmers and water craft of all sorts. Bianca also got in on the act as can be seen.



Lastly, just a quick pick of our setup here at Poona, before we started packing up. We would love to visit again.

Xmas 2012–Poona Palms, Queensland

We picked Poona Palms out of the Badgers website. When we were looking for a place to stay, near Bundaberg, Tin Can bay was first on our list due to the Dolphins. Caitlyn has a passion for Dolphins at the moment, wanting to be a Marine Biologist when she grows up so as to work with them Nothing at Tin Can bay took our fancy, and Rainbow Beach appeared to expensive.
When we saw Poona Beach, its cost and its location, it seemed a safe bet and fortunately, unlike many of the other things we have had happen to us so far this trip, luck was with us. Poona Palms caravan park is a quiet oasis, away from civilisation, even the internet/phone reception is sketchy.
We have a vast tidal inlet to play in, but no real sandy beaches. so far we have spent many an hour in the pool, taken the kayak out for a paddle, gone fishing, catching nothing as per normal. The kids even love using the yabby pump to catch bait.
On boxing day we got up early and drove around to Tin Can bay to watch the dolphins. The first hour there was a meet and greet and it seems we were lucky. Over the past few days only a single dolphin had come in, where as on the day we went we had 5 plus a 9 month old calf with its mother. we also didn't have the crowds that normally accompany feeding, up to 300 in a session. We probably only had 50-100 people there. Caitlyn was front and center for the meet and greet but the dolphins, pink estuarine dolphins, don't really like contact and did not come close enough for a pat. After meet and greet, Caitlyn was able to purchase a single fish for feeding.
After feeding time we ad breakfast at Barnacles, the cafe attached to the Dolphin center before we continued around to Rainbow Beach. We are glad we did not stay there, heaps of people were around, i suspect on their way over to Fraser Island. We could see heaps of people on the beach with their vehicles too. I would of loved to join them but with no experience beach driving, i did not want to be that person, the one who needed help getting back out

Heading home we did much of the same, sleeping and pool.
Update to Follow
The 27th will see us travel north to Marybourgh and Bundaberg. Our main destination being the Rum Distillery

Xmas 2012–Melbourne to Poona, Queensland

Day 1 Melbourne to Forbes
Finally our latest holiday is upon us. The last few weeks dragged on whilst we prepared the van and car.
After an early get away, 7 am, we travelled through diggers rest to the donnybrook road to try and buy pass some of the road works currently under way on the western ring road. This was actually an interesting route, made all the more interesting due to some of the valley roads.
From there it was McDonald's for breakfast, a bit of a tradition, and a final inspection of the car and kayak. Back on the road it was an uneventful trip through to Calcairn where we had lunch at the Jubilee Park. It was a great little stop where the kids had a play, I introduced Caitlyn to cicada casings and we found the remains (they probably were not lost) of the towns old swimming hole. With much of the form work still evident it must of been something in its day and its a shame many of these sorts of things end up "lost"


From here it was through Wagga Wagga to West Wyalong. So far this would have to be the worst stretch of road we have encountered on many of our travels and I suspect many would prefer corrugations to this surface.
Pulling into the Apex River Park we were welcomed to a nice little park on a river bend. It's out of town and very quiet, with only a few people staying here at the moment.
The river is flowing quite heavily and I am told cod and yellow belly can be caught in it. This particular spot was also the towns local swimming hole in the 1930s with the remnant of the bath house forming a feature of the park.
The weather for the day slowly climbed in to the high 30's but once the sun went down it was very comfortable.
Day 2 Forbes to Bellata
After a good nights sleep it was up again at 6am for another big day. We had planned on going to Bellata today. By the time everyone woke up, had breakfast and helped pack the van it was 8am before we left the park but that was not a problem.
First stop for the morning was at "The Dish". The radio telescope just outside of Parkes. As only Caitlyn was interested, I took her in and we had a good look around, Caitlyn spending most of her time at a model of a black hole, which sucked in a ball when you spun it around. We also played with some "whispering walls", a pair of parabolic dishes.

Back on the road, my pet problem for the day was the drivers side mirror being blown in every time a truck, or car in some cases, drove past. I tried to investigate tightening it on the road side but it does not have any adjustment I can find.
All fixed now with some rope, and well timed as the road from Dubbo to Moree is very poor. The road surface was even worse than yesterday, not a good example of a national highway. We also found that with the start of the holidays the traffic had increased, with many learners on the road.
In NSW it seems learners can not exceed 80km/hr which is, in my opinion, an accident waiting to happen in a 110km/hr zone, when you add in the road traffic levels and surface conditions. Needless to say it was an interesting few hours on the road.
When we arrived at Bellata we found out, to my disappointment, that there was no caravan park anymore and the guy at the petrol station could not direct me towards any agate fossicking locations. We therefore decided to travel on to Moree.
We chose to stay at the Gwydir caravan park, with its hot artesian bore fed pools. Wow, even though it was a hot day, the 34deg pool was great. The 39deg pool was a bit on the hot side, with its warning of only 15min soakings at a time. We also spent some time in the normal pool :)
Later in the evening we had some more fun when it turns out we were taking up more than our allotted space. The sites were actually quite small and a permanent resident came over to inform us that we were not suppose to have our awning out and that if the owner came out we would have some trouble on our hands. Well, after the second van they sent down to park next to us found alternative sites we thought we should probably pack up. When we had finished the third van arrived, parked next to us and we had our very own door to door neighbour.

Day three – Moree to Nanango
Based on distance and reports on the badgers site we made Nanango our next destination. What fun we had. I really need to stop talking about roads but today really took the cake. I won't be surprised if find damage to the van or car when we get home based on how we were thrown about by the extremely poor roads we drove. That said it was great country side, much of it cane fields. The town of Nanango is modest and surprisingly busy. The park we chose, the Twin Gum Caravan Park, is quiet with only a couple of vans in besides the permanents. We got a great site and set up taking all the space we wanted. Unfortunately, due to the roads, we again struck some problems with the larger if my two drawers under the bunk bed breaking. The facia came off and the drawer then came out all the way. The exposed screws then punctured some cans of coke we had on the floor so we had a great mess to clean up again.

After we cleaned up and had lunch I thought it best we tried out our new washing machine, one we got for the van from here. We set it up and it worked well right up to the spin drying of the clothes. We then hung them out to dry whilst I fixed the drawer...... That was when it rained :). All the chairs and the just washed clothes got wet. I only just got the washing machine back into the car, along with everything else I had out, in time for it to not get wet as well.
As quick as it started the rain stopped so we all took a walk before cooking tea for the night.
Day four - Nanango to Poona
Well, they say bad things come in three's. if that's true then we have had ours. You would not believe it but the drivers side caravan tyre blew out today and we did not notice until we were driving on the rim. We were very lucky.
Now I have to find a new spare, hopefully in Bundaberg when we visit during the week.
Other than that the day was great, we had a short trip from Nanango to Tin Can bay, which we had a quick look at before heading on to Poona.
The caravan park here at Poona seems great. The layout is spacious and even though the park is almost full, there is plenty of room to move and the people we have spoken to are all friendly. The beach is actually a large tidal flat and the tide was out when we arrived. Plenty of people were out gathering yabbies for the afternoon fishing session.

Between setting up, lunch and a park walk we missed the boat on the yabbies so we tried soft plastic yabbies :)
Caitlyn lasted about 15min, with Bianca fast following her. I was left talking to another park resident whilst he reeled in a sting ray. That got Caitlyn's attention. Although I was using plastics, something gave it a good go and my bait came back up with chunks missing.
We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing before dinner and a music show at the camp kitchen. The park has a singer in for the evening and plenty of good songs were sung.
Lets see if Santa Claus can find us in the morning :)