Ballina to Port Macquarie

Distance travelled today 363kms
Distance travelled so far 7,352kms

Woke to a beautiful day! Grabbed a quick coffee at the shop at Tasman Discovery Park and headed towards Coffs Harbour and the Big BananaThe Big Banana Fun Park | Coffs Harbour Attractions & Activities.

Once there we did the Theatre experience and Plantation Tour. We learned that bananas are actually herbs and they are not trees as their 'trunks' are actually leaves! They also move about 25cm a year as the parent tree dies and the new sucker is the one going up the hill. That was really good. We did get a bite to eat at the cafe however the prices are costly and in our opinion, not good value for money. 

We then headed over to Reptile World Reptile World - a small display but the staff are lovely, and we got to meet

Bluey the blue tongue and Stella the bearded dragon. Also got a good look at the Lace Monitor and then we headed off to Port Macquarie and The Waters Edge Motel Waters Edge | Port Macquarie Accommodation | Waters Edge Port Macquarie offers a relaxing environment on the picturesque waters edge of the Hastings River.. Lovely room, had a meal in the restaurant and enjoyed our last night away from home.

Byron Bay to Ballina

Distance travelled today 251kms
Distance travelled so far 6,989kms

Today was always a slow moving day to allow us time to look at both Byron Bay and Ballina. We started by parking at the new underground carpark at Woolworths. The issue with Byron Bay is parking, lack of and the fact that you have to pay for it everywhere near the main shopping precinct! But underground parking at least gave us an hour free - it ended up costing us $5 as we were there just under 2 hours. We headed back to Apex Park, walked along the beach - again a beautifully clean beach with clear water, not many shells and then headed back.

Visited the Rainbow Shack a wonderful shop with tie dye clothes and an array of bags; purses; anklets; bracelets etc we popped into the souvenir shop and then grabbed a coffee on the way back to the car.

We then drove up to the lighthouse to see if we could spot some whale activity, as the reception staff had said that they had been spotted daily. Well word of warning, the road to the lighthouse is narrow and winding, once at the top where the two small carparks are - there are not many opportunities to park. So unfortunately, we did not get the chance to stay and watch for whales, but if we visited again, we would probably park down the bottom and walk to the top (taking water and not much else as it is appears a hard slog). So we said farewell to Byron Bay and headed to Ballina.

We stayed at the Tasman Big 4 Holiday Park, a lovely one-bedroom unit that has single bunk beds in the lounge area and a well-equipped kitchen. As we arrived early, we unpacked and headed downtown to I Naii as K needed her infills done prior to next week and had a look around the shops. Visited the Book Warehouse Facebook and got a few bargains and the lovely toy shop where they have a lovely assortment of toys My Toy Kingdom Lismore, Ballina and Byron Bay – My Toykingdom. We headed back, had a spa and then got ready to go out for dinner at Hungry Jacks followed by the cinema to see Barbie for us while Simon went to the gym. Great cinema! Palace Cinemas | Australian Movie Theatre & Cinemas Got back and chilled...

Bribie Island to Byron Bay

Distance travelled today 226kms
Distance travelled so far 6,964kms

Today we started at Bribie Island Butterfly House, what an amazing experience!Bribie Island Butterfly House If in the area, you must do this! Butterflies are bred here and then they live their lives in an enclosed garden area, where you can go and spend time with them. As there are no predators, they get to grow old!

Then we were off to Byron Bay! Crossed the border to NSW - Goodbye QLD!        We are staying at the Discovery Park here and it is great!Byron Bay, North Coast, New South Wales | Discovery Parks (discoveryholidayparks.com.au) There is a heated pool and an unheated pool, kids water play area, tennis court, jumping pillow. The studio unit we are in is compact but comfortable, the amenities block is nice and the laundry has both coin and card machines!

We went for dinner in town and went to Bay Kebabs, they are so yummy! Bay Kebabs – Byron Bay KebabsWe then went to Apex ParkApex Park - Byron Shire Council (nsw.gov.au) to eat them and listen to live music before heading back down the street to Bella Gelato for some gelato to finish off our dinner! BELLAROSA (bellarosabyronbay.com.au) 

Noosa Heads to Bribie Island

Distance travelled today 108kms
Distance travelled so far 6,738kms

Today we began with a 2.2km walk around near where the Villa Noosa was.

There is a shopping centre across the carpark, and we then walked down towards the water and then back again. Hoping into the car we headed to Hastings Street. Apparently this is where you will find "stars" sitting having coffee at times! Parking is limited but there is a carpark with a 3-hour time limit that we happened to snag a park in! We did not see any "stars", but after having a drink at Noosa Social Espresso & Wine (8) Facebook very good milkshake and cappuccino!

We walked across the road to the alley that leads to the Main Beach! What a lovely expanse of clean sand and clear water, it was a shame about the overcast weather but it was still an enjoyable walk! On the way back to the car we stopped at Jojo's Jojo Noosa – JOJONoosa to have a look and purchased a couple of dresses! Then it was time to head to KFC for lunch and then onwards to Bribie Island. We had looked at the map and decided to take Route 70 The Sunshine Way instead of the Pacific Coast Way (PCW) for the majority of the trip, only turning onto PCW when we had to! We turned off at Pumicestone Way and headed to Bribie Island. Travelling over the bridge that connects it to the mainland we had to turn immediately after it ended and to our accommodation The Bribie Island Hotel Bribie Island Hotel | An Iconic Bistro & Beer Garden Newly Renovated 

What a pleasant surprise our accommodation was and an added bonus of a breakfast box each! Lovely well appointed room with a lovely size bathroom all very well styled and access to an outdoor area with seating just for us!

After settling in and relaxing we headed to the hotel for dinner - fantastic food and service and then a gelato treat to finish! 

Hervey Bay to Noosa Heads

Distance travelled today 191kms
Distance travelled so far 6,630kms

A lovely slow start today as we took time to walk along the beach at Hervey Bay! Lovely sand to walk on, shells, rocks and dead coral to collect!
The water was lovely and cool and clear! We had coffee and hot chocolate at FX Coffee Facebook - highly recommend! Then we headed into town and went to Stockland shopping centre Hervey Bay Shopping Centre | Stockland to pick up a few things from Kmart & QBD Books and had lunch at Nodaji Sushi Nodaji Sushi (stockland.com.au) would gladly eat from here again - delicious! Finishing off at Boost Juice Boost Juice (stockland.com.au) wonderful service and delicious juice!

On we travelled to Noosa Heads, choosing to go the scenic route versus the Bruce Highway (Pacific Coast Way) for a change of scenery! Arrived at Villa Noosa Villa Noosa Hotel, Noosaville, QLD and have a lovely room with a Queen Bed, Single Bed, fridge, kettle, roomy bathroom, balcony. Sadly, the weather turned overcast, cool and then rained.

We went down to the Villa Noosa Steakhouse for dinner and enjoyed a lamb shank and chicken schnitzels and a sticky date pudding before heading back to the room to watch The Voice & The Matilda's play Denmark!

Rockhampton to Hervey Bay

Distance travelled today 438kms
Distance travelled so far 6,439kms

The Q Motel put on breakfast at the dining room this morning - a lovely selection of cereals, pancakes, toast, English muffins, fruit, yogurt, juices, tea and coffee. After eating and packing up the car we headed to the Information Centre where they have a spire for the Tropic of Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn Spire (queensland.com) 

We then headed for Miriam Vale and lunch at the Imperial Vale Station Facebook which is closed, however it is owned by a distant cousin who had invited us to lunch.

After spending a couple of hours here we then headed to Hervey Bay, arriving in the dark - we will explore in the morning! 

We are staying at the Beach Motel Book Now | The Beach Motel Hervey Bay We have a lovely room with a big Queen bed and single bed, 3 seater lounge, coffee table very comfortable! 

Mackay to Rockhampton

Distance travelled today 339kms
Distance travelled so far 6,001kms

We left Mackay and headed to Rockhampton. We saw a sign that said there were Sugar Factory Tours at Sarina so we headed there. Unfortunately the 11am tour was full, but we paid to do a tasting of the products - bonus was we got fairy floss to taste! The products were full of flavour and the liqueurs they have there (I have on good authority) were good too!

We then proceeded to Malborough where we had decided to have a rest stop. The town is about a 5 minute trip from the Bruce Highway. We stopped in at the Convenience Store, so pleased we did - they made a very nice ham and salad roll! We also learned there that tennis legend, Rod Laver was born in Rockhampton but then was bought home to Malborough where his parents owned a cattle property! Onwards to Rockhampton, we located our hotel The Q Motel, which is quite well situated. The room was nice and the beds are comfy and it has the basic requirements!Home | Accommodation in Rockhampton | The Q Motel  We then headed to the Allenstown Hotel for dinner, where we got to meet a distant cousin (our common ancestors are our Great Great Grandmother/Grandfather). It was great to finally meet face to face.Allenstown Hotel, Rockhampton, QLD . Very nice food and atmosphere! Then back to the hotel to plan tomorrow and have a rest!

Townsville to Mackay

Distance travelled today 429kms
Distance travelled so far 5,662kms

Queensland should be renamed "State of Coastal Roadworks"!! For the entire day we seemed to be travelling from 110km, to 80km to 60km then 40km back to 100km and within 2km back to 60km then 40km. This seriously impacted our travelling time today!

We started our day with breakfast at Juliettes Gelatario Juliettes – Artisan Gelato 

because some days you need to start off with desert! You only live once!! It was as good as it has been!! Then back to the car and off we went! 

We are now travelling on the Pacific Coast Way Drive Queensland's Pacific Coast Way (visitcapricorn.com.au). 

First stop was Ayr where we took a quick break for morning tea - note if travelling through from Townsville you need to righ turn down Little Drysdale Street at the roundabout on the Bruce Highway - it is a very 'cluttered' street and we initially missed the turnoff as it is not well signposted and there are no giant golden arches visible. They do a great toastie here (actually toasted and cut in half) also lovely service. 

It was then off to Airlie Beach - the one thing you will see a lot of on this route is Sugar Cane Fields! We saw them in all stages of growth today during the drive! We were unaware there was so many fields! The processing facilities were also busy on the way as you could see the chimney smoking!!

The road to Airlie Beach was rural to begin with but all of a sudden you hit a main shopping precinct then continuing to head to the beach it becomes very touristy and busy! We parked the car and went for a walk on the beach, even though it had rained on the way and was still overcast it was nice to see. I was surprised how small the beach actually was! There were plenty of shells on the beach but it did not have a wow factor for us.

Onward then to Mackay, we arrived early evening at The Shakespeare Motel Contact Us - Shakespeare Motel Mackay. We have a lovely family unit, very comfortable, with a balcony and full kitchenette, so we headed to Coles (one of many here) to grab some food to cook!

Hughenden to Townsville

Distance travelled today 139kms
Distance travelled so far 5,233kms

Back on to the Flinders Highway and off to the coast - destination Townsville! We had planned to stop at Torrens Creek, however there was not really much there so pressed on to Charters Towers which is a 248Km run (approx. 3 hours). Once there we headed for Burnzie's Bakery in Elizabeth Street. (9) Facebook  Due to the time we arrived and the local showing only finishing the day before (so alot of people in town) there were no pies left, however we tried an apricot danish and a mini M&M Donut these were both amazing! We then headed down the road for something more substantial for lunch and found a Red Rooster!
Then we left for Townsville still on the Flinders Highway and travelling the rest of the Overlanders Way!

We arrived at Shoredrive Motel Shoredrive Motel - Townsville, North Queensland, Australia - Shore Drive Motel which has onsite parking, comfortable rooms and is across the road from the beach in the late afternoon. We unpacked and then decided to go for a walk along the beach, note the sand here is VERY coarse not like sand in Newcastle or Sydney at all!

We did luck in though as the Townsville Ephemera Seaside Sculptures was on, this is an amazing display from different organisations and people of art along the Strand. Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures (townsville.qld.gov.au) We have been back since once it was dark and it is even better! Townsville along The Strand is very busy anytime we have been out there.

We visited Juliettes Gelatoria Juliettes – Artisan Gelato Highly recommend a visit here for a coffee; milkshake (with any of the gelato flavours!); or of course a gelato. Once you order what you want you can take it out the front of the building and sit at a table or sit in one of the "beach" chairs and watch the ocean! If looking for dinner our two choices while we stayed here were Fish n Chip Delights (9) Gail's Fish N Chip Delights | Facebook and Tony's Pizza Tony's Pizza & Gelati: Traditional Italian Pizza and Pasta (tonyspizzatownsville.com.au) both exceptional for taste and value for money.

The other good place for food is the Kiosk at The Strand (9) Facebook they have burgers, fish, chips and drinks.                  As Townsville was a bit of a rest stop for us we did not do a lot. We had planned on going to the Barrier Reef HQ Aquarium, but unfortunately it is closed for renovations and will not open until 2026!

But we did walk to the Queens Botanical Gardens Townsville Parks:: Queens Gardens ________________________________________ (soe-townsville.org) which was a nice oasis in the area and has two hedge mazes (not huge) and a nice rose garden.

We went and looked at the Rockpool at the end of The Strand, but it was a very windy day so did not go in!The Strand & Beaches - Townsville City Council Tomorrow we begin the trek down the coast and eventually home!

Hughenden

Today we spent the day in Hughenden as we knew it would be a full day here.

We headed off to Flinders Discovery Centre, for more dinosaur adventures! Flinders Discovery Centre - Visit Hughenden It is here that you will see a replica skeleton of the Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni Australian Age of Dinosaurs | Muttaburrasaurus langdoni 

There are also specimens of fossils from a variety of geographical locations such as Winton, Richmond and some overseas spots. They have a Pterasaur fossil and Ichthyosaur paddle & rib fossils too.

Within the museum they have a room dedicated to the Wool industry as it played an important role in the town's history and is quite interesting! Then you can watch a video about Porcupine Gorge and how it came to be over the past 500 million years. This is an excellent video and explains the layers of rocks and why they are what they are!

Having finished here we got information on getting to Porcupine Gorge and headed to Holden's Bakery for something to eat before heading on to the Gorge. (6) Facebook

On the way to the Gorge there are some points of interest, one being Eaglehawk Gorge lookout, this is worth the stop if only to see the large basalt rocks! Hughenden to Porcupine Gorge - Visit Hughenden The trip will take you about an hour if you stop along the way at the lookout and a couple of other quick spots.

Once turning off towards the Porcupine Gorge campsite make sure to stop at the Ebony & Ivory trees (nature is amazing) and watch along this section for kangaroos and cattle as there are no fences. You will need to turn right and head to the camp area and we headed to the day use section, applied sunscreen and headed off! 

First stop was the lookout, where you can view Pyramid Rock this is not far from the carpark and if it is all you can manage it is worth doing.The walk is noted as moderate and we agree that it is on the way down, but definitely the walk up is harder due to the incline! Is the walk worth it? Definitely!

When you reach the floor of the Gorge you can see how the water has shaped the rocks. Head towards Pyramid Rock and you will come across a swimming hole that you can go in! The water is cool and it has fish in it who are curious when you put your feet in. Once down on the Gorge floor, look around at the geology, sit on the rocks and look/listen to the birds and just enjoy the serenity!

It is easy to spend an hour or so here! Probably also needed before you begin your ascent back up!Outback Queensland Porcupine Gorge National Park - Outback Queensland 

When heading back from the Gorge, again beware of the wildlife and cattle that are around. 

There is a Foodworks FoodWorks online (myfoodworks.com.au) and a Spar in Hughenden for your shopping needs too.

Richmond to Hughenden

Distance travelled today  114kms
Distance travelled so far 4,691kms

We have the day here as Hughenden is only just over 1 hour drive away so, back to dinosaurs today as we visited Kronosaurus Korner at Richmond. Home (kronosauruskorner.com.au) 

There are so many fossils displayed here!

Kronosaurus Korner - Collections

When you go in the museum you are given an audio handheld device that you enter the number shown on displays and the story of the display is then played to you. They also had a video explaining what the area was like, about the Eromanga Sea Eromanga Sea covered inland Australia 110 mya (australianenvironmentaleducation.com.au) and where/what dinosaurs were discovered at first! Kronosaurus Queenslandicus, the largest pliosaurid  was discovered in Richmond and you can see the fossil on display at the museum Kronosaurus Korner - Kronosaurus

The cafe in the museum is worth a visit and the onsite pies are good! Whilst here you can get a Fossicking Permit and go to two sites that are about 12km out of town and find your own fossil. We went to Site 1 and found quite a few fossils of shells - these are 25million years old! Bonus is you get to keep them. We did purchase the Paleontologist kit (Geo hammer; small crowbar; bag; safety glasses; paleontology ruler; dustpan and brush) they had at the museum too. If you find anything significant or want to know what you have you can go back to the museum, and they will look at it and advise you!

We were then back on to the Flinders Highway and off to Hughenden.

If you go there check out Chengs Chinese Facebook they only do takeaway currently but celebrated 30years of business this year and the lady is lovely and the Chinese very nice!

Our accommodation at Hughenden is the Rest Easi Motel Comfortable Accommodation | Hughenden, QLD | Rest Easi Motel very comfortable place to stay and is about the first accommodation you come to when entering Hughenden.