Home for Toy Run

Gregg and Val on the right

We finally made it home for the Toy Run and have caught up with family and friends

Nagam16/11/12bie

We have been a bit slack often with no coverage but have travelled through some amazing places.
Drove down through the Hunter (over 100 ks) Down Putty road (we did it by bike last year) and did an overnight stop about halfway.
Called in to Eve and Johns in Minchinbury and had lunch and a good catch up.
Stayed overnight at Geoff and Rachael Dyers in Jamberoo near Kiama.We had a good catch up which lasted into the early hours,just like old times.
Stayed in a lovely little town called Jugiong just off Hume Hwy met up with some other Avaners went out for dinner with them at local Motel and breakfast at local cafe with campfire session in between.What a great spot which is run by local council and donation box to help fund it.
Next in to John and Kayes holiday shack at Nagambie on the Goulburn River.Such a peaceful place.
We were lucky they were filming a travel show and they had entertainers including some great guitarists and singers including Frankie J Holden and an amazing comedian / magician called Matt Hollywood.

Met some like minded people in Jugiong shared some fun and experiences

View of camp from top of hill just before rejoining Hume Freeway

Frankie J Holden entertaining some kids 

View from john and Kayes place at Nagambie

Tenterfield Saddlery

Model B Allis just like mine at Armidale

Getting a bit scary we are getting very close to home !

Tenterfield 10/11/12

Headed south through everchanging scenery.Stayed at Wuruma Dam near Eidsvold a lovely spot with lots of birdlife good fishing and redclaw for the taking.
Moved further south to a spot near Dalby.It rained all night and almost didnt get out the next morning because of slippery track.
Lots of vinyards and fruit growing areas now and much cooler weather (thankfully)

Camping beside lake at Wuruma

A lovely little oasis in a free camp in Duringa

Found a plantation of these amazing bottle trees

And in the wild

Stopped in park beside river in Tenterfield and rain has almost stopped.

Longreach 6/11/12

Left Hughenden 2 days ago headed south along some shocking roads (might beef up the suspension when we get back)
Went to the Qantas Museum in Longreach ,a must to visit.
Just missed Charlie and Carmilla but shook hands with a guy who shook hands with Carmilla I will never wash that hand again!

Amazing ring around the sun at Longreach

Catalina flying boat used by Qantas during ww2 and afterwards  as passenger aircraft

Engine on 747

Car used by adventurous Qantas founders to cross country

Tree of knowledge in Barcaldine where the trade union movement began 200 years ago

Called in to Emerald for supplies and have stopped in lovely shady park in Duaringa for night.

Hughenden Charity Golf Day 2/11/12

Arrived back in Hughenden from Charters Towers 41 degrees again we had to stop in at Prairie pub for a beer but I swear it was hotter in the bar.Bought some fruit and veg off some old guys under some trees on the side of the road and had a laugh with them.We picked up a washing machine from Debs hairdresser to replace her broken one.
Teed of at 2.00 pm the hottest time of the day.Fortunately we had golf carts (I dont think we could do it without them)

The fairways were dust

The carts were fun

The greens were black

And so were my feet

We found some grass

The drinks cart was a lifesaver

We finally got into the groove but still came last!

What a great day.We ended up in the bar for a delicious bbq dinner and presentation.Needless to say we didnt get a prize.

Undara Lava Tubes 2/11/12

What an amazing place the Lava tubes are.And the whole Undara experience is memorable.
The tubes were formed 190,000 years ago and is regarded as the most rare and unusual volcanic phenomena on earth  www.undara.com.au
We wined,dined ,bushwalked and sat around a campfire sharing stories with travellers from all parts of the globe (even the guitar came out one night)
We also loved Bedrock Caravan Park in Mt Surprise with Jo and Joe and their lovely staff (who looked after Beck while we toured the lava tubes)
We experienced the true outback roads with the continual roadworks and roadtrains which leave no room for us on the road.

Chris and Deb on our walk around the rim of  Kalkani crater a short drive from  Undara.You can see one of the lava flows in the trees in the background.(the massive eruption caused the lava to flow 90 kms to the north and over 160 kms to the north east  and an estimated 23 cubic kilometers of lava at 1200 degrees c.

Dining out at Undara Good food and good company

The tubes are enormous, this section caved in to allow light and trees to grow within the cavern.

After heavy rain the tubes can flood this one did so last year and water covered th walkway.

Today we are enjoying Charters Towers sights once again looking forward to a yummy brecky before heading back to Hughenden for charity golf day tomorrow with Chris and Deb

More Photos

Val in her element at a treetop walk near Millaa Millaa

What can I say?

Oops miniature cameras in Museum

Herberton Historical Museum

Mount Surprise 29/10/12

We made it to Bedrock Caravan Park in Mt Surprise a lovely park built from scratch by an enterprising couple.Only a handful of guests so we almost have the place to ourselves.
We are going to check out camping at Undara lava tubes for tour with Chris and Deb tomorrow.

Car eating cows never drive alone!

Masterchef

We visited Herberton Historic Village yesterday and worthy of several hours with a beaut cafe,so we shared lunch with our english friends Sue and Roger and kids.

Herberton 27/10/12

After a lovely evening with Chris and Deb watching the sunset from Mt Walker overlooking Hughenden and enjoying a chicken/champagne dinner with homemade bread yum.
We headed off early for Paronella Park where we stayed for the night.
We did a tour of the property and then a night tour.
What an amazing place,built by a spanish guy (Jose''Paronella) in the 1930,s
Drove to Herberton and visited the Spy Camera Museum and were shown around by the owner ,a very interesting place.

The sun fell from the sky

Paronella Park at night

And day

Tomorrow we will visit another museum and a walk around the town

Hughenden 25/10/12

We have been in Hughenden for a few days.Very hot when we arrived but a cooler breeze yesterday and today.Wedrove yp to Porcupine Gorge yesterday but had to return quicker than planned because of bushfires close to our road.(they have closed the road today).
We are going up to Mt Walker this evening to watch the sunset with a chicken and champagne picnic.
Tomorrow we are heading to Paronella Park near Innisfail to stay the night.It is a 1930s mansion built in the jungle and looks amazing.

The F J Holden Cafe in Hughenden does good coffee

Dingo proof fence was built in the 1930s

Porcupine Gorge was spectacular but an approaching fire forced us to head back

The gorgeous old pub has closed but the dinosaur still hangs around

Grassfire next to road on way back from Gorge

35 ft Comet windmill greets you in Hughenden

Then off to the Lava Tubes at Undara and meet up with Chris and Deb again there.

Townesville 21/10/12

We spent 3 nights in Townesville at Lake View C.P. just off the main road 5 k from city centre.
We caught up with Carol and Trevor and went to a Thai restaurant in main st,and visited Trevors work the next day on bikes and got seriously lost for a little while.
Went to their place for dinner that night and delivered coffee to house new house site the next morning.
What a great job they are doing.3 stories of modern all steel architecture.
Had lunch with Chris and Deb overlooking beach on the Strand wonderful (thanks Chris and Deb)
Staying in Charters Towers tonight then off to Hughenden tomorrow

The snakes up here are huge

Ah the Strand

Chrome rocks on the Strand

Carol and Trevors house taking shape

Rear view

Trev leaves side door open for airAdd caption

Quite hot here so Val and I had a dip in the new pool.