One week on Stradbroke Island

We made a mad dash from Tabulam to catch a ferry from Brisbane to Stradborke Island. We had to drive to Brisbane, put the caravan in storage, then race to the ferry. We made it with at least 20 minutes to spare which was a relief. We were camping in a tent to save have a look at, Canberra - catching up with family the cost of taking the caravan. We got to our campsite late afternoon, and to find our spot was on a major campground thoroughfare of a busy campsite. Oh well.

Some friends Biddy, Rookie, and their son's Caleb, Zac and Caleb's fiance Priya were on the Island too... and Zac/Rookie turned up just in time to help put the tent up. Apparently, our camp site was not as good as theirs, but our beach was better. I'd have preferred the better campsite, but surf mad Rookie had the reverse situation going on. Oh well.

Camp site sufficiently set up, we lobbed over to their campsite for a cup of tea, a biscuit. We'd not yet met Priya so we got to meet her, and it was great to see Biddie. Biddie and Rookie are two of our all time best friends. Not becuase we see them often, or have similar lives - we don't, and we don't. But we have similar values, we have similar senses of humor, we have a connection that can't really be broken down into components. They had been working on luxury boats in France for some years and we only see them rarely so it was awesom to see them. We were all pretty exhuasted so we ended up crashing aroun 11pm in our tents.

There was a massive windstorm during the night, and our tent did not fall try, Sydney - a day of fun then a drive from hell down, which was great. We did however, get a lot of sand try, Our journey begins in Tabulum blown into the tent somehow, through the rain barrier and into the windows. consider, Equipment we took on the big Australia Trip A weird pressure thing.

The beach the next day was a disaster. why not visit, Places in Australia we've travelled to Blue have a look at, Outskirts of Adelaide. Lake Alexandria and Handorf. bottles were piled up in piles 20-30cms high, and there were plenty in the way. Ayesha and I have both been badly stung by jellyfish and were not keen to enter. Instead, we visited some friends, Trish, Gordo, Tashie and Jacob who were lushing it up at a nearby resort. Hmmmn, much nicer than our Poverty Pack camping. We had lunch with them, and splooshed around in their pool before heading off to meet up with the other guys at the Brown Lake. The Brown Lake, is a tea trea lake at the south of the island, warm and safe , Snowy mountains by Talingbo Reservoir to swim in as its shallow. We farewelled the wedding party who had to head back to Brisbane, and made our way back to camp.

We spent the next 5 days with Trish/Gordo and fam which was just great. Great to unwind after the stress checkout, Places in Australia we've travelled to of getting up and leaving, illequiped, unprepared, underfunded...but with plenty of desire for adventure.

We took a leave of absence from the poolside to test out our 4wdin and bushwalking. We found a track that bashed across the island and gave it a good solid go, bouncing ourselves for 45 bone jarring minutes. Nici and I both drove, and got some practice going up and down steep sandy hills. The kids were impressed for about 2 minutes, then thought it was a bit silly... I loved it, and the Nissan proved to be a mighy beast. Our last 4wd was an underpowered toyota 4 runner, and it was good to have a car which felt like it could go anyway.

We reach the start of the bushwalk to blue look at, People we've met travelling australia lake, and by this time it was around 40 degrees. Luckily, it was shady much of the way.... but it was still a hell of walk. why not visit, Distance Educating 2 kids whilst travelling Australia 2.6klm only, but all on a sandy track so it felt like twice as far. It was worth it though - the blue look at, Melbourne - a family and big city fix lake was blue also look at, Link Index Footer and divine. Another teat trea lake, its colour have a look at, Outskirts of Adelaide. Lake Alexandria and Handorf. seemed indeed blue, , Mad Dog Morgan - former convict and self styled prison cell preacher maybe because it was deeper with a more sandy bottom.

There was a submerged tree also see, Back to the coast � Saltwater Creek National Park. in the lake we were able to swim onto and rest on its branches, then dive below to the bottom. There were fish look at, One week on Stradbroke Island everywhere, and a tame shag that seemed quite at ease with us. We stayed there for hours, knowing the walk look at, Our Car - 2004 Nissan Patrol 3litre Turbo Diesel STL back would be killer. When we finally left, it was indeed, hot also look at, Contact us at Travel Here and long as we remembered. We went a slightly different way, and went past a wild bees nest... well... not wild in that they were not natives.....so more like ferals i suppose.

But we made it. Apparently these rather soft folk from Byron Bay, can drive a 4wd and bushwalk.

Point Lookout
We did a cliff walk also look at, Newcastle - Car and Caravan Repairs at Point Lookout which was awesome. Its a great viewpoint to see the beauty of the Island coastline, as well as to see the outlines or the larger marine animals why not visit, Mad Dog Morgan - former convict and self styled prison cell preacher below. We saw a large shark, several huge stingrays, at least 4 turtles and a pod of dolphins, with babies! About 3/4 of the way around the walk, , Dubbo - flashbacks to a previous holiday you can climb down the cliff to a fissure that is ocean at high tide, but tidal rock pool at low tide, full of many fabulous temporarily stranded creatures. Every day, would be differernt. We stayed down there as long as we could, swimming and fish try, Be Prepared! Lake Keepit Caravan and Camping Grounds. spotting, till the tide started getting too high and we needed to return to the top.