February, 2012
Well there has been lots of talk about getting a motor home and seeing Australia - it is finally a reality! - all signed, sealed and delivered! We are excited owners of a home on wheels - a Kea Dreamtime Motorhome! We love it!
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| Think we are now officially "Grey Nomads"! :) |
We have just returned from a five day test run to familiarise ourselves with our new home and how everything works and functions before we set off to enjoy our Aussie adventure!
Have to admit there were a few frantic calls to Kea to check how to operate a few things lol - instruction overload kicked in once we were out on the road and our minds drew a blank when it came to doing everything we were told. Provided a few laughs for some of the experienced caravaners when we tried to put our shade awning down! They didn't let us flounder for long and a knight in shining armour (with a bird on his shoulder) came to our rescue! Give us a couple of weeks and we'll have it altogether! Practise makes perfect they say!!!!
Our test run took us on a lovely scenic round trip from Brisbane - we headed up the Bruce Highway, then through Kilcoy and Nanango on the D'Aguilar Highway; next Kingaroy and Tingoora on the Bunya Highway; then back through Gympie and Noosa and home to Brisbane back down the Bruce Highway . Very picturesque! - everything was so lush and green from all the rain we have had recently.
Kilroy was in flood last week!
The timber industry, which is prominent in this part of the world, made its presence felt as we left the Bruce Highway and headed north west. Grain, crops - Kingaroy is famous for its peanuts of course, beef, dairy, horse studs and vineyards - a growing industry! were also prominent.
We visited our friends Bruce and Jenny at their hotel in Tingoora and enjoyed a great couple of days catching up with them. We had a great time! Pete and Bruce enjoyed a round of golf at the Wondai course (the next little town); Jenny took us for a tour around Kingaroy; and we enjoyed some socialising in the bar with some of the locals. What a small world! - Pete met up with a childhood neighbour who wandered in for a refreshment after a hard morning's work on a property - much chatting was done!
We headed on to the Sunshine Coast and set up beside the beautiful Noosa River at Noosaville where we enjoyed a few days lapping up the peace and tranquility, as well as enjoying some time with Luke and Amanda (always good to see our lovely kids!) who were our first visitors to our new motor home, and our friends Nev and Carol - we got our exercise in with a beaut 6km walk and rewarded ourselves with brunch at Tewantin.
Off to the lush South Burnett District of Queensland!
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| Snack stop for Pete! |
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| Interesting name for a discount Store! |
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We were impressed with this great little town with its lovely gardens and well maintained
shops and buildings - lots of character, like so many of our little country towns. |
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| Nanango and its surrounding forests |
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| More lovely old shops and buildings capturing the character of the town from times gone by! |
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Wooden sculptures were scattered throughout the town reflecting the close link the town
and area have to the timber industry |
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| Healthy crops of corn (above) and peanuts (below) |
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| Nice properties in the Kingaroy area |
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| There's the Tinny - as it is affectionately known! |
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| The Tingoora Hotel, established in 1900, was reportedly the first public building in the town |
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The cafe in the converted 1908 Queensland National Bank building in Wondai is
aptly named the "National Treasure Cafe" |
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| The charming old Wondai Hotel, 1905 |
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| The Wondai Information Centre and Museum |
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The Old Commercial Bank building is now home to the local radio station
Crow 90.7 |
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The Woodcrafters Workshop, Wondai
Nice alliteration! |
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| There was and are some big trees in the area! |
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| Lovely views of the beautiful countryside from the top of the hill in Tingoora |
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| The old Sawmill in Tingoora |
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| The old Public Hall, 1933 |
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| Parked behind the Tinny Pub |
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Pete catching up with Trevor - they were next door neighbours when they were 16 years old!
And yes! - they recognised each other! |
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Touring the Kingaroy township and surrounds with Jenny.
Again good to see so much pride taken in the town by the locals - everything was immaculate.
One of the five lovely old pubs in town, plus the peanut factory again! |
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The park and the old railway station.
The rail line doesn't operate anymore and the closing of it caused a lot of the once thriving little towns, including Tingoora, to take on a more peaceful existence. |
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The hawk watches for its prey! |
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| More nice properties! |
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| Wineries in the area are on the increase - a popular and growing industry |
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Booie's Bello Vista Restaurant , Distillery and Art Gallery
A very popular function venue for the people of Kingaroy |
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| The amazing view from the back verandah - you can see for miles! |
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| Interesting wood sculptures are effectively silhouetted against the sky |
Off to the peaceful Sunshine Coast!
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Ah! - the serenity!
Pete enjoying a relax and a read! |
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| Our view and backyard! Very nice! |
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| Muna Point, Noosa |
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| Brunch with Nev and Carol overlooking the river at Cafe VinCino, Tewantin Wharf |
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Lovely shops, cafes and restaurants on the wharf
Couldn't resist "The White Shop"! - very nice! |
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We enjoyed a chat and a few afternoon wines and ales to
christen the MH! |
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Some afternoon visitors!
Two of many that screeched their way through the park just before sunset |
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Di's gift for our MH taking pride of place!
Thanks Di! |
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| Happy Hour on the river bank! |
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Watching the antics of the dog on the sand spit in the river - it was having a ball!
Wonder how it got there? Swam? |
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The "grey nomads" converge and congregate for Happy Hour -
just a few!!!! Surprised at how many Baby Boomers + are
out there travelling!!! |
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The dog didn't swim - it rode the stand up paddle board!
Does it better than me!!!! |
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| A silver sunset! |
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| The dog wants another paddle board ride! |
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| A lovely time of day as the sun sets - so peaceful and beautiful |
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I'm enjoying this!!!!
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