A quick trip - only 3800km..oops 5500km trip report

[mbr37746]

Starting to plan a trip for Easter next year. 5 weeks, with Easter Long weekend being booked somewhere around Rockhampton/Yepoon area. What's the general thoughts on the below route. Things to do, places to see etc.
A couple of things we want to do are included. Carnarvon Gorge, Gold Coast for the theme parks for kids (and me!!)

Open to all and any suggestions, pictures would be excellent too.

 

[Ben Stanford]

Did a similar trip to that earlier this year, left Melbourne and drove up to Cairns, then back to Gold Cast before heading back to Melbourne! You will find the inland part of your trip the faster easier going part, and following the coast will have more traffic. If your on the Bruce Highway when you leave Rockhampton, we encountered lots of road works which slowed the trip down quite considerably. But there is lots of beautiful country out there to have a look at! The Big 4 Treasure Island caravan park on the Gold Coast is worth a visit, close to Theme Parks, and plenty for the kids to do, but book before you go!

 

[NickM87]

Hi @mbr37746 would you please tell me where or what you used to route the trip out? Doing a 6 week trip in feb and would be great to do the same.

Nick

 

[The Goodwins]

without being a squeezer check some of my reports I have been to a few of these spots and completed reports. And I am a Tamworth boy...LOL

Actually 10 on your list!

 

[mbr37746]

@NickM87
I just plug it into Google maps and keep adding destinations. It can be a bit temperamental on occasion, but have a play and see what you come up with. Looking forward to hearing about your planning and trip.

Cheers.

 

[Drover]

D seems to be a bit off course, Carnarvon Gorge you head up from Roma, Injune then turn left to the Gorge, back to the main roadturn left and head north to Rollestone and turn right, no need to back track like your plot shows, also refuel at Injune and maybe just throw an extra jerry of fuel in, fuel at Injune then next fuel is at Rollestone.
Nindigully is a great stop, BP depot at St George on edge of town has excellant fuel prices and RiverSands Wines at St George is worth a visit. Lightning Ridge should not be missed, need a couple of days and smoko at Hebel, even O/N is worth it.
North coast of NSW check out the North Coast Holiday Parks they are good value and don't rip you off like a lot of places on the coast, my favs are Red Rock, Corindi Beach and Jimmys Beach, they stretch from Byron to Hawks Nest.
Hervey Bay is a big retirement Village, I think very boring, better to go to Rainbow Beach just a great place, I prefer Rainbow Waters Holiday park, from the North go via Maryborough then from Rainbow head to Gympie to join the Bruce Hwy again.
I try to keep away from main highways and wander the back roads myself.

 

[mbr37746]

Awesome @Drover that's the feedback I'm after.
The route isn't exact, just a rough guide to invoke the must do list from as many as possible. Thanks for the tip about the winery, that's definitely suits our style. Also like you, I'm a big fan of driving the back roads for the peaceful slower pace it affords.

 

[Drover]

and of course refer to WikiCamps app I find it very useful, if you just bring up the map without anything in the search bar, then zoom into the area you want savers a lot of ginning around.

 

[mbr37746]

It's getting real now. Although still 5 months out.
Takarakka Bush Resort Carnarvon Gorge is booked.
Coolwaters Holiday Park Yepoon is booked.
Happy Wanderer Village Hervey Bay is booked.

 

[Ren77]

It's getting real now. Although still 5 months out.
Takarakka Bush Resort Carnarvon Gorge is booked.
Coolwaters Holiday Park Yepoon is booked.
Happy Wanderer Village Hervey Bay is booked.

We loved Coolwaters!

 

[mbr37746]

56 days to go............not counting though :biggrin-26:. Excellent thing is that work is absolutely hectic so time will fly, and we just have to make sure the van gets used at least 3 0r 4 times before then.

 

[mbr37746]

Oh the countdown is killing me!
Nearly there now, this time in 2 weeks we'll be finished work and ready to go for it. We did finally finish planning the first few nights before Carnarvon Gorge, with Mendooran rest area, Nindigully Pub and Neil Turners Weir making the final cut for a night each, this should be a good distance each day without the kids becoming too bored and also leaving enough time to explore as we go.
Question is - has anyone been to these in the last few weeks and what were they like?
Been busy on the van, fitting a new stone guard, some underfloor protection to the pipework, cleaning out water tanks, stocking the pantry and taking a heap of other stuff out we were just not using, I'll post some pics up of some of the additions and mods in a separate thread shortly when I get on my other PC with the photos on.

 

[Kenshi123]

Enjoy. We loved Carnarvorn Gorge. Absolutely stunning walks.

 

[mbr37746]

Yay, last sleep!!:whoo::whoo:

 

[dagree]

Enjoy the trip and Safe Travels

 

[chartrock]

Have a wonderful safe trip mate, keep us posted with pictures of your trip.

 

[DRW]

@mbr37746 don't take too much notice of @Drover when he says Hervey Bay is no good, we stayed at the happy wanderer over New Years theres heaps to do up there, what ever way you go stay safe and enjoy it, cheers.

 

[Drover]

Have a great time@mbr37746, keep us all posted on your travels and may even run across each other. Come on @DRW I didn't say Hervey Bay was no good, just that it's a big retirement village but it is just a bit crowded.............

 

[17triton]

Hope you're having a blast Matt! when do we get our first update?

 

[mbr37746]

Just came back into service today. It was excellent having limited contact with the outside world, a special mention to work emails and phone calls there! Although Mrs mbr was keen to keep some special family members updated of our safety when we came across the elusive signal from the Telstra gods.
Set up at coolwaters at Yeppoon today, once I get my stuff together I'll put some quick update pictures and stuff up. All in all we've had blast so far!!