Chapter 15 - Bundaberg Region - Part 2

Day 89 – Saturday 19 August 2023 – Bargara

Around 25 minutes after leaving Elliot Heads we were cruising through Bargara. It was our shortest moving day of the trip to date. It was too early to check-in so we had a coffee, made a phone call, and checked out the local beach.

By 11:05 am we were moving through the boom gate. By 11:50 we were relaxing in our outside chairs.

After lunch we went for a drive to 'get our bearings'. We stopped at 'Bargara Berries' and bought an ice-cream and some sweet potatoes. An interesting mix. We checked out beaches that will be good for a walk, and took a couple of photos of two mosaic walls at Archies Beach.

Above & Below: Mosaic Walls at Archies Beach

We had a happy hour session with Kay & Darryl, then ended the day with a magnificent steak dinner that had a story to tell:

1. The scotch fillet steak was bought from the butcher who supplied the meat trays for the Urangan Bowls club raffle (of which we won one).
2. The spuds, tomatoes & avocado came from the 'road side' green grocer near Elliot Heads. Only the spud reached the BBQ.
3. The lettuce came from the communal garden at the Elliot Heads caravan park.
4. The mushrooms and beetroot came from Woolworths.
5. The red wine came from a bottle shop in Hervey Bay.

Life is OK.

Day 90 – Sunday 20 August 2023 – Bargara

Being the Sabbath we were OK with a sleep in, mine being 8 am, Shirley's being 8:45 am. We had time to do a few housekeeping jobs and have a coffee before picking up Kay and Darryl and heading to 'Amandine Lavender'. It was very interesting. We learned that there are currently around 400 different types of lavender plants, most suitable to a particular climate, such as hot, cold, wet dry, etc. We also learned that the plants are split into two generic groups, 'culinary' for cooking & eating purposes, and 'closet' for sweet smelling purposes.

We bought a selection of both, one in the form of chocolate, and one in the form of 'hang it in the cupboard' sweet smelling stuff. I hope we get them right.

Shirley & Darryl getting a free sample

We stopped at Woolworths on the way back and did some minor shopping (two bread rolls for us). Lunch was a corned beef roll, then a beach walk was in order.

Bargara Beach opposite the caravan park

Although the beach was excellent, it was short so we strolled along the beach-top path.

After some R & R I went for a bush walk behind the caravan, and spotted a grey kangaroo who was nearly as tall as me (not that it means much).

Nearby bush and resident

Another pleasant happy hour then another superb scotch fillet for dinner. We tried the lavender chocolate and I was not impressed. Shirley will do further research (read, eat more).

Day 91 – Monday 21 August 2023 – Bargara

Another day, another beach, more cloud, another sunrise. I was on the beach a few minutes before the scheduled 6:12 am sunrise. Josh Turner was singing a country ballad on my phone as the coffee shop in the surf life-saving club (about 15 metres behind me) opened. I resisted the temptation of a coffee and a bacon n egg roll, to concentrate on the job in hand. It was round 13 degrees.

Three paddle boarders had completed their warm-ups and were in the water as the sun poked its head over the horizon. One paddle-boarder stayed around to get into the photo.

One paddle boarder, one seagull and another sunrise - at Bargara

I dropped off the camera and phone in the caravan and headed to the shower - with soap and towel. By 7am I was back in bed with the laptop. Shirley slept on.

Just after 8am I decided to get breakfast and eat outdoors. Shirley appeared around 8:30 am. As she headed to the shower my favourite bird decided to join me for breakfast. He (or she) hunted for grubs and worms while I ate my egg n toast. I was able to get within three metres to take the photo below.

Laughing Kookaburra

Once we got our act together we went for a drive. Just like Kookaburras are a regular feature of my blogs - so is the harvesting of sugar cane when in the sugar cane region of Queensland.

Above: Harvesting of sugar cane
Below: Loading the train 

We drove on to Burnett Heads - where the Burnett River meets the sea. There is a huge sugar terminal nearby at the 'Port of Bundaberg'. Except for one small area most of the coast was rocky.

We bought a coffee at "Kelly's By The Sea". Continuing the Kelly theme we headed back to Bargara and stopped to stroll along Kelly's Beach.

Kelly's Beach

As Shirley and I were on our beach walks around Bargara we quickly noted many rocks that had small mosaics on them - maybe around the size of a dinner plate - some a bit smaller. They all came from a local art initiative called "Milbi Magic". A selection of these mosaics are included below.

Above & Below: A selection of the Milbi Magic Mosaics

The large mosaics in the blog a few days ago are part of the same program. More information on "Milbi Magic" can be read here. It is a fascinating story.

Lunch was a bowl of salad before I did my initial 'Milbi Magic' research. The afternoon was a mixture of R&R and more "Milbi Magic" research.

The evening was some quality time with Kay and Darryl and a dinner of some great sausages (from Hervey Bay) and mash.

Day 92 – Tuesday 22 August 2023 – Bargara

The morning of the first day of our 14th week was probably the most relaxed of the trip. Sleep in, late breakfast. Shirley changed the beds and I put on a load of washing. That was it for the morning.

After lunch we (again) went for a walk and a paddle along 'Kelly's Beach'. No wind. Sunny. Around 24 degrees. We found more mini mosaics and added a few to the above images.  It was about our 30th beach walk for the trip.

Shirley declared that it was time for an ice-cream, so we had to find the 'ice creamery'. And we did, and we ate it overlooking the ocean.

More R&R. Around 5pm we took our chairs to Kay & Darryl's caravan and had pumpkin, chick pea thai curry with rice, followed by berries and ice-cream for dessert. It was a superb meal.

Day 93 – Wednesday 23 August 2023 – Bargara

Another magic day. No wind, no cloud, 23 degrees at 9 am. Another casual start - as there are not many of them left - for this trip. Three more sleeps before we head south - at a pace that is yet to be discussed or agreed. The route is close to finalisation.

I filled the caravan water tanks in readiness for the trip south.

Our walk today was to the Bargara shopping strip, that consists of a few eateries, a few dress/ladies shops, Post Office, and a couple of others. It is a good distance for a stroll and a coffee. I parted company with Shirley for 20 minutes so that we could both focus on shops of our interest. I bought two postcards.

We met at a coffee shop and waited 25 minutes for two coffees that were less than OK. It is so hard to get a decent coffee, in a coffee shop, in Queensland.

However, it was great to be alive and enjoying the warmth. Our return trip was around 4.2 km.

Our walk included an additional nine mosaic turtles (that we found). The focus on turtles in this region is because of the conservation work that is being done to assist marine turtles who nest along these beaches. Home owners are even encouraged to close their curtains at night to reduce the artificial light that upsets the turtles. Drivers are encouraged to have their headlights on low beam (as they should in a built up area).

Even the play equipment had a turtle 'flavour'.

Turtle Inspired Play Equipment

On the way back to camp I achieved another 'first photo' - a White-naped Honeyeater.

White-naped Honeyeater

We had a sandwich for lunch, and relaxed for a while. At 1:30 Shirley, Kay and Sue (a friend of Kay's) joined me in the Prado and I chauffeured them to Kalki Moon, a gin distillery in Bundaberg. I went for a look around Bundaberg and did a bit of shopping, inclusive of 142 litres of diesel.

Around 3:15 pm I returned and chauffeured them back to camp. I think they enjoyed themselves.

Kalki Moon Tasting Palette and Preferred Choice

It was a casual evening with a plate of spaghetti for dinner, magically produced by Shirley.

Day 94 – Thursday 24 August 2023 – Bargara

It took two attempts to get out of bed. The realisation that maybe my 'last beach sunrise' of this trip was 15 minutes away did the trick. The town hall clock chimed 'six bells' as I crossed to the beach - or it would of if they had a town hall clock with bells - that rang on the hour.

I reached the beach at 6:01 am. My phone said that it was 14 degrees. There was no wind. The coffee shop was open. The board paddlers were either on their boards or warming up. The sole swimmer was swimming. There was no music today. There was a heavy overnight dew everywhere. I sat and waited for the following.

Probably my last beach sunrise photo of the trip

I waited some more then headed back to camp, grabbed towel and soap and headed for the shower. Shirley pressed on with her slumbers. Around 7:45 I ended her slumbers, as a big morning awaited.

Around 9am we headed into Bundaberg to do a 2.5 hour cruise on the Burnett River, on the 'Bundy Belle'. Belle was built in 1967 and has been doing local tours for a fair while. It was a big effort getting Shirley on a boat. However, as the photo shows, the water was flat.

The 'Bundy Belle'

We headed up stream for a short while then headed around 15 km to the mouth of the Burnett River. The ongoing commentary on local history was fascinating.

First we heard about the local slave trading history, where South Sea Islanders were forced or duped into a form of slavery on Australian plantations. This was called "Blackbirding" and happened around 160 years ago. From the second half of the 19th century until 1904 South Sea Islander slaves helped enrich the fledgling Queensland region and its sugar cane barons. The mayor of Bundaberg provided a formal apology in July 2021. Click here to read more.

The South Sea Islander slaves were the main human resource in the building of many km of rock walls to help manage and control water flows in the Burnett River. One example is shown in the photo below. All rocks were moved by hand.

Photo Courtesy of a Queensland Govt website

We saw many birds who were clustered around areas populated by fisherman who seemed to be doing well with their nets and rods. According to our guide this part of the Burnett River has a large population of sea snakes - and swimming is advised against.

The trip was enjoyable and informative, and at times humorous.

We did a bit of shopping to complete the ingredients for the communal dinner that we were preparing for the six of us - baked sweet potato. We had two different types of sweet potato and a number of toppings. Overall the meal was a communal effort.

Sweet potato topped with many things

Day 95 – Friday 25 August 2023 – Bargara

The start of our last full day by the beach for this trip started the same as the last few days - no wind, no cloud, mild temperature (17 at 7 am). Birds were chirping. Shirley slept on as our last full wash of the trip (maybe) chugged around and around. I chose bed over a sunrise photo.

The washing was hung out, Shirley was up and breakfast was enjoyed. I washed the caravan awning, although it was mainly only dusty.

Around 10:45 I donned bathers (for the first time this trip) and we headed to 'Kelly's Beach'. The cool breeze prevented me from fully entering the water (my story anyway) but I did get the bathers wet. It was a lovely stroll, enhanced by seeing the many fish that were trapped inside a large pool - encased by rocks. A local youngster assured me that they were snapper (although I would not put money on it). Some were maybe 300 mm long. They were happy to swim near us in knee deep water.

We were warned about a large python that (a few minutes before) was on the beach tracking some sea-gulls. We could track its movements across the sand. Shirley was relieved that we did not see it.

Passionfruit & Boysenberry

Lunch was an excellent salad made up of left-over toppings from the 'baked sweet potato' meal last night.

Some R&R, then Shirley decided that she was ready for one more (last) beach walk and then would need an ice-cream. I met her at the ice-creamery after doing a couple of caravan pack-up jobs. The 2-scoop ice-cream was good.

More R&R, then it was time to head out to dinner. We departed early to get a sunset photo at "The Hummock Lookout", the only hill for many km in all directions. On the right day it is a great place for sunrise and sunset photos.

It was a hazy evening.

Above: Looking east just before sunset (ocean in the background)
Below: Looking west at sunset

We joined Kay & Darryl and Sue & Ian (friends of the former) for dinner at the Bargara Golf Club. The food was excellent. 

This chapter is now complete. Tomorrow we head south, destination home. The time to get home will be determined by the number of roses that we stop to smell. Shirley is continuing her research.

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Last updated at 8:45 pm on Friday 25th August 2023.

Chapter 14 - Bundaberg Region - Part 1

Day 84 – Monday 14 August 2023 – Hervey Bay to Elliot Heads

Another beautiful start to the day. Clear skies, no wind, and 15 degrees at 7 am. I was already showered and dressed, but Shirley slumbered on (a kind word for snoring).

 

We broke camp around 8:30 am and headed towards Bundaberg. There were significant road works for the first 50 km so progress was a bit slow - but it was a short day of travel. 

Coffee was had at Childers and not long after we stopped at the Bundaberg Tourist Information Centre. The 'Kelly Events Manager' stocked up on brochures and had a broad smile on her face as we headed out to Elliot Heads - a mere 20 km.

Just short of our destination we made a slight detour to the place we stocked up on mandarins three weeks ago. This time we stocked up on mandarins, avocados and zucchinis - all very fresh and very cheap.

Camp was established before lunch. Lunch happened, then a 3 km walk on the beach - a very scenic location - as per the photo below.

Elliot Heads Beach

During our walk we met up with Julie and Al, friends from home, who we had drinks with last week in Hervey Bay. Small world. They are staying in Bundaberg.

It was time for afternoon coffee and brochure research....

Around 4:30 we had drinks with Kay & Darryl, then moved indoors just before 6pm for sausages n mash.

Day 85 – Tuesday 15 August 2023 – Elliot Heads

We both slept in and celebrated with a cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs around 9:15 am.

Around mid-morning we went for an exploratory drive, starting with Riverview - so called because it sits on the mouth of the Elliot River. 

Mouth of Elliot River at Riverview

Not far from where the above photo was taken is The Cochrane - an artificial Reef in the Woongarra Marine Park. Just a short boat trip from shore, is the 50-metre ‘Ceratodus II’ and the 40-metre long 'Porteur' surrounded by two Mohawk aircraft and a Kingair aircraft, two lightships, and a criss-cross of concrete modules, pipes and other structures all taken over by coral and sea life. Schools of fish cruise this underwater playground, dotted with friendly estuary cod, a family of groper, stingrays, turtles, wobbegong sharks, and many other unique coral reef species. A great place for a dive.

We were in the middle of zucchini and macadamia country with plenty of both on view. There were acres of zucchini being picked by workers with wide straw hats.

Flower on Macadamia Tree

We headed north and visited Innes Park and Coral Cove. Both sit on a very rocky coast line, but the ocean views were excellent. As usual murals dotted the landscape.

Mural at Innes Park

We drove in and out of Coral Cove Golf Club which has an address of "1 Pebble Beach Drive", quite a famous name in golf terms. Most of the fairways, that we could see, had water nearby - some had canals on both sides.  Not good for my game.

Back at camp it was time to relax, so Shirley got the brochures out and planned the next week or so. I just took it all in.

A short happy hour then a BBQ pork medallion for dinner.

Day 86 – Wednesday 16 August 2023 – Elliot Heads

There were two sunrises this morning.

I slipped on my tracksuit, walked 250 metres, and was on the beach just before the 6:11 am sunrise time as a red ball rose about the horizon. It was around 14 degrees.

I barely had time to snap a couple of photos when the sun disappeared behind a wide bank of thick clouds. Ten minutes later the sun rose again - this time above the bank of clouds - and it was here to stay.

Above: Red ball at 6:11 am
Below: Second appearance at 6:21 am

I wandered along the beach for a while then headed back to the caravan, grabbed my soap and towel and headed to the shower.

My day was underway.

Shirley was up, washed, hair dried, fed and ready to go for a walk by 9:15 am. That could be a record.

There is a 4+ km walk heading north from the caravan park along the top of the beach cliffs. The views were rocky but well worth the 4.5 km return walk that we completed.

We stopped to admire the ANZAC Memorial, the site of an observation spotting team during WWII. It was manned by the volunteer Defence Corps, who were on the lookout for movement by sea, air or land. It would be a great place to attend an ANZAC Day service.

ANZAC Memorial on the Site of a WWII Observation Post

Our Local Beach from the Walking Path

We had lunch and drove into Bundaberg. While there we visited Bunnings and Grunskes - the fish restaurant and market. We will be back.

On the way home we stopped at 'Tinaberries' and bought ice-creams. Shirley had strawberry and I had macadamia with ginger. It was a great place to relax. The ice-creams were superb.

Shirley had strawberry.
Chris had Macadamia with Ginger.

We smiled at the covered-machines that the pickers used to help with the picking.

The 'Strawberry Picking' process

We headed home, chilled out, then had hamburgers and veggies for dinner.

Day 87 – Thursday 17 August 2023 – Elliot Heads

The day started with sun, clear skies and no wind. Perfect holiday weather.

Our first adventure for the day was 'Macadamias Australia' - a farm/orchard that has over 200,000 macadamia trees. We did a 90 minute tour.

The matriarch and patriarch started the farm with tobacco in 1958. Since then they have migrated through sugar cane and vegetables (such as tomato & zucchini). Now their focus is macadamia nuts, and what a great job they do. We learned how the husks of the nuts are used to fire furnaces that dry the nuts. Then the ash from the furnace is added to compost that is used to add nutrients to the trees. The whole cycle is fascinating and healthy for the planet.

We dined on different macadamia nuts (plain, sea-salt, baked honey, lemon-myrtle, milk chocolate and dark chocolate). We drank a hot chocolate that was made from macadamia milk.

We learned all about the various facets of the business.

Stages of macadamia growth, from left.
Early flower buds, flowering, pea-sized fruit, full sized nuts in kernel.

Masked Lapwing Plover - Enjoying the sprinkler

We did the right thing and invested in some dark chocolate macadamias, to add to our samples from the tour. We also bought some macadamia oil, which is apparently healthier than olive oil.

After feasting on macadamias we headed to 'Vera Scarth-Johnson Wild Flower Reserve' - for some exercise. The 2 km stroll took us passed a zillion banksia plants and many other wildflowers. The reserve is quite large and borders on mangrove wet lands.

The following is a selection of photos.

I could do great things with this banksia, with eyes and a mouth.

We then headed further south and ended up at Coonarr Beach, where there is a magnificent beach, a number of homes, and nothing else.

Coonarr Beach

It was time to head back to camp and a late lunch. I did a couple of jobs in the caravan (namely a switch on the diesel heater) then it was time for a beach walk. The strong wind did not help.

Shirley admiring some drift wood (for her garden?)
[Who can see the dog?]

A cup of coffee, a relax and it was happy hour time. Snags and salad for dinner.

Day 88 – Friday 18 August 2023 – Elliot Heads

Another dawn, another sunrise. I was on the beach and comfortable at 6 am. Although it was very windy - and had been all night - my phone indicated that it was round 19 degrees.

I was on my own on a section of beach that had no foot-prints, other than seagulls. Again there was cloud, and again it added to the photo. I listened to country music as I watched the sunrise. Josh Turner.

The following gives an indication of what I saw. It was my 4000th photo of the trip.

Sunrise on Elliot Heads Beach

Eventually I returned to camp, loaded the washing machine and had a shower.

I played with the photos, then hung out the washing. While I was doing that Shirley sneaked past me, off to the shower. We had an early breakfast together. By 8:30 we were ready to see what the day held for us..............

It was considered too windy for a beach walk so we went for a drive into Bundaberg to check our the wall murals and generally look around. The art work is not up to the standard of other Queensland towns, but the following were worth including here.........

We are not sure what any of them are supposed to represent.

We bought a coffee and a few other essentials, then headed home to camp. We did not need lunch as Bunnings had a sausage sizzle and we supported the local Men's Shed.

Around mid afternoon we went for a walk along the cliff-top path that we had started a few days ago. It is a rocky coast and the water and clouds seemed angry.

Happy hour occurred, then a chicken stir fry for dinner.

Day 89 – Saturday 19 August 2023 – Elliot Heads to Bargara

It was a short trip today so a sleep-in was Ok. I emerged around 7:45 am and Shirley about 8:15 am. We casually had breakfast and set about packing up. 

We were ready to go around 9:30 - so we did.

This chapter is NOW Complete.

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Last updated at 3:25 pm on Saturday 19th August 2023.