15/7/22 Hervey Bay

 

 Heading into Hervey Bay , we went for a ride along the esplanade . The wind had backed off a little , so wasn't quite as cold . The track was busy and there were many people out & about , the cafe areas were very busy . People were sitting on the rocks in the sun beside the bay , others walking in the sun .

     There are several small piers people can use for fishing or just looking out at the ocean .

    Then at the far end is Urangan Pier - a long walk on a windy day , very popular for fishing - you'll find people there all the time .

    We rode back to the ute and did some shopping , before heading back to the van . Only a short one today , here's a map link : - https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DjQnQCcpcxoma4cWu5eompSIRPqUsbg&usp=sharing

14/7/22 Kingfisher Resort Fraser Island

 

   Another day we head over to Kingfisher Resort on Fraser Island on the 9am barge . It was a windy day , so our other reason for going - a cruise up the western side of the island was cancelled . The other reason was to catch up with Heather - Lyn's sister . This is part of the entry foyer , looking down to the pool area . 

This is one of the restaurants off to the side of the entry foyer .

This is an undercover outdoor area next to the pool area .

And this is one of the 2 pools and a spa pool as well .

     Before lunch we headed out for a walk up to the lookout on the northern side of the resort , here's some of the wetland are in front of the resort .

    Here's the barge that goes between River Heads and the resort several times a day - it's about a 45min trip across . The vehicle deck can take many cars and other vehicles , then there's the passenger deck above it , then the all important Bridge , where they operate the barge from .

   Another view of it and River Heads in the distance . Last time we were here , there weren't any where near the amount of houses at River Heads that are there now !

    Unfortunately , like many lookouts , the trees are now blocking the views over the Great Sandy Straight.

   Not far from the lookout I was looking at a stag horn on a fallen branch , when I found this tiny orchid - each flower not much bigger than a 5 cent piece .

    Found some colourful fungi .

    We caught up with Heather and had lunch with her , chatting for a while , it was great to cacth up !!

    This is sunset beach , some of the debris from the floods still on the beach .

    Here's some of the houses near the resort .

    One of the locals .

   Sunset beach again .

  This is the resorts foyer area , very well hidden from view .

   That's our day at Kingfisher , here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1rEvJ0daHEOs3jrMtcDnda9K8eFIjPag&usp=sharing

13/7/22 Bambooland

   And here we are on the other side of Burrum River at a little place called Bambooland . It's a nursery where you can buy your own variety of bamboo , and a lot of other plants as well . As we drove in we were amazed at the size and amount of bamboo - some well over 20m tall !!

    Here's a small part of the nursery .

    As well as a nursery , you can wander around the 20 acres or so of established gardens and some others in progress . Paths lead in all different directions , but mostly will loop back to the entrance .

    There's a covered walkway - made of bamboo of course !!

    Wherever you look there's plants , ferns , heliconias , bamboo and more !

    This is the riverbank , with a few more local species .

   There's some enormous ferns here , all the lines & angles got my interest .

    Every now & then you can find some orchids .

    Heliconia's in a variety of colours .

  Crucifix Orchids 

    And lots of amazing colours .

   There was thick bamboo , thin bamboo , dwarf , tall , soft , and more and more bamboo . There's thick groves of bamboo , almost shutting out the sunlight .

   Here's my lovely wife , just to give some scale to the photo .

    If you are ever at Howard and need something to do , I can fully recommend Bambooland - even if it's just for a walk around and have a look at what can be created . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Br0CMz0v8V2IMIY8erkOFGWuZImz6g0&usp=sharing

 

11/7/22 Burrum River , Burrum Heads & Howard

   Leaving Brisbane we head north , through the Sunshine Coast and then Gympie , before Maryborough and finally arriving at Burrum River Caravan Park . As the name suggests , it is beside the Burrum River , and here it is from the parks private pontoon - not the nicest colour water , but they've had so much rain up here .

  The park is colourful , plants providing all the colour , here's some of it .

  While down at the pontoon we noticed a White Heron in the shallows , so we watched it for a while . It was hunting , and it's method was clever - it would stand on  one leg and stir the mud up with the other , and see what appears - this time is was a prawn !!

   It was good to watch it go about it's hunting .

   Back in the gardens of the park and there were plenty of Crucifix Orchids in varying colours .

    A large hibiscus as well .

   We headed out to the coast and Burrum Heads , tide was going out and it's quite shallow here apart from the river channel so I was keen to get some aerial shots of the sand banks - it didn't disappoint .

      This is part of the township and the estuary , plenty of boats at anchor .

    This is looking north across the river to Burrum Point then north to Woodgate Beach .

   Back to the park and some lunch before going for a short drive around Howard - only a few kilometres away . Here's a popular style of housing here - The Queenslander - house up off the ground and verandahs to help keep the house cool .

  Another place we came across was Brooklyn House , a huge sprawling Queemslander that can be booked for functions , weddings etc . It is surrounded with expansive gardens - this was the clearest spot for a photo .

    This business was established in 1884 .

    This is the freshwater section of Burrum River - there is a weir about 500 m behind where this photo was taken . 

     The property on the bottom left is subject of the next blog . Here's a map link :- https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ik2KKnTKcYlTaHeJrC8fpL0-eVefRvg&usp=sharing