Have been at Boulder Creek for a week and set off this morning to drive to St Lawrence with the plan to stop there for a week. The drive from Boulder Creek on the way to Mirani winds through green hills and valleys with flat fields of sugar cane stretching across to the treed mountains. A beautiful experience driving through this part of Australia, I was struck by it's appeal when In I drove through in 2012 after my first visit.
The trip is around 200kms bypassing Mackay and driving through Serena, Carmilla and Clairview. The camp at St Lawrence is well maintained with a clean amenities block offering hot showers for $1. There are mainly 2 sections, generators and non generators, with the non generator area up at the top near the toilet block. There are clothes lines available and a potable water tap, it used to have a thread to attach hoses but that has been cut off so you have to fill containers and tip them into the caravan water tanks.
Sid was camped up in the top area next to friends with whom he had previously travelled and I camped nearby. Our friend Pat was also parked near so I have friends close by, always a plus for the solo traveller. I have set up fully because of the time I expect to be here and now have phone reception after a week of no availability also internet is fine here. Received a text from Dennise and have set up a meet at Kandanga for the 20th. We are both travelling freely but it seems to be hard to meet up, the last time was for a couple of hours at Cardwell, hopefully we may have a few days this time. John
PeterD said
12:21 AM Sep 2, 2014
Where is this Boulder Creek you are talking about? The only one that Google Maps comes up with is down near Mt Morgan Link
yeoeleven said
07:59 AM Sep 2, 2014
Peter,
this Boulder Creek is listed in Camps and is situated 18kms inland from Calen which is 40kms north of Mackay. If you have WikiCamps it is listed as Windyloo.
Can't speak too highly about Boulder Creek, its layout is small and encourages get togethers and great happy hours. The creek has drinkable fast moving water and good swimming holes. I have camped now 4 times over the last 3 years and there are links in my previous post about visits to Boulder Creek.
John
Dougwe said
08:25 AM Sep 2, 2014
I back up Johns words 100%. Great spot and so glad John suggested I go there or was that TOLD me to go there
Dougwe said
08:27 AM Sep 2, 2014
Forgot to say Peter, it is the same place that came up in you "Link"
jules47 said
09:23 AM Sep 2, 2014
Loved Boulder Creek when we were there last year - went for a night, stayed five!!!!
St Lawrence is anther great spot - last year the army were on the move to war games not far down the road, they camped overnight on the football oval, there could have been about 800 of them - the trucks just kept coming - next morning, they left very early - long before most campers were up, and only the guys who dismantled the gear left later. Met lots of great people there as well.
kandagal said
01:45 PM Sep 2, 2014
Good to hear your travels are going well John Cheers
PeterD said
02:12 PM Sep 2, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
Forgot to say Peter, it is the same place that came up in you "Link"
No it's not, here is a snip from the map my link brings up.
I had a look in the in CAW (but did not change from my computer glasses to reading ones.) I did not find it so I went to www.ga.gov.au/place-names/ and found a dozen entries, that's when I tried Google.
Sorry Peter for the bum steer. Not sure what I was looking at before then. I just checked again and your link is way south of The Boulder Creek being spoken about, sorry again.
GaryKelly said
05:39 PM Sep 2, 2014
I love reading about picturesque places and nice clean camps, John. Your posts are becoming a giant carrot in front of this old donkey.
yeoeleven said
03:09 PM Sep 3, 2014
Wednesday and Sid suggested going for a drive around St Lawrence so off we went and took the turn off before the crossing and after a few kms we found a track off to the right. We were amazed to find a circular camping area complete with rubbish bin, barbeque and shelter by the river. have no idea who uses it but it is a fine place to camp.
We moved on to the boat ramp and were surprised to see a boat ramp leading into mud, no water at all. It clearly was the wrong tide time and as well there was a pontoon track also leading down to the mud and this floats up as the tide comes in. There was a trickle of water slowly flowing and many fish with noses up moving upstream, never seen so many large fish just out of reach across the mud. Not the best fish picture but the zoom needed knees to steady and by the time I found the fish the screen moved and some imagination is needed to see them. John
Dougwe said
03:13 PM Sep 3, 2014
Going by that first pic John there must be public transport available, it looks like a "boat stop".
bill12 said
03:50 PM Sep 3, 2014
Give us a pic with the tide in.........Also, the mossies and sandflies canbe "bad". Bill
PeterD said
05:18 PM Sep 3, 2014
bill12 wrote:
Give us a pic with the tide in.....
John, was this the spot under the green arrow? If so you can zoom in and see the spot at half tide. Was the site of the old bully beef canning factory still there with its interpretative signs on the way out there?
yeoeleven said
06:41 PM Sep 3, 2014
I won't be able to go back for another look, can't remember the green arrow but there were signs of a previous construction possible the old cannery. John
halfpint said
05:18 PM Sep 4, 2014
John, you will find the cloths line beside male toilets liked camping there, loved the birds.
Dougwe said
05:25 PM Sep 4, 2014
Hi Patty, why were birds in the male toilets and why do you like camping beside the mail toilets
Hope all is well in your world and if still in Tassie it's not too cold for you.
yeoeleven said
06:08 PM Sep 4, 2014
halfpint wrote:
John, you will find the cloths line beside male toilets liked camping there, loved the birds.
Spot on Patty, just behind the toilet block and the wetlands attract many species of birds.
Is it busy there John. When I was there about a month ago those lines were chocker block full and where that van is over near the cattle sheds is where I set up and was busy busy busy.
yeoeleven said
11:26 PM Sep 4, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
Is it busy there John. When I was there about a month ago those lines were chocker block full and where that van is over near the cattle sheds is where I set up and was busy busy busy.
No not busy at all Doug, the Mexicans have mostly gone south by now.
Plenty of room all round John
halfpint said
09:53 AM Sep 5, 2014
Funny hahaha Doug. Yea still in Tassie, yep colder in Tassie, red you at greens
Dougwe said
11:26 AM Sep 5, 2014
Only for two days Patty. I must say though, it was a great two days and did think of staying longer but duties back at base camp were calling out loud. Those duties are under way now so who knows where I'll end up. Enjoy your time in Tassie and keep rugged up.
PeterD said
02:09 PM Sep 5, 2014
Doug, can you see if the old canning factory site is still there please.
Dougwe said
02:46 PM Sep 5, 2014
John (Yeoeleven) is at St Lawarence Peter not me sorry.
I was there a month ago though but way too far south now for you request
yeoeleven said
06:55 PM Sep 6, 2014
PeterD wrote:
Doug, can you see if the old canning factory site is still there please.
Sorry Peter have no transport to go back, was fortunate that Sid went for a drive and took me with him.
Tonight we had a community meal with Sid, Sandy and Lesley his wife. We all chipped in and my part was to cook up some pickled pork in the pressure cooker. During the cooking I had a visitor from the forum, Grevo (Gary) and his wife Cassie who knew about pressure cooking and advised me to take the pork out 10 minutes before I intended to. Good result the pork was very tender and may have become tough if I had left it for the 30 minutes. Sid produced apple crumble and ice cream whilst Lesley cooked up some special fried rice
Another case of posting on the forum with a descriptive avatar so others can find you. Gary was the member who helped Doug pull his caravan out from his daughter's place in Townsville. Very good of them to look me up and chat about travelling. Always good to meet new Grey Nomad forum members. John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Sunday 7th of September 2014 05:38:12 PM
SnowT said
07:16 PM Sep 6, 2014
Hey John..
I have a Pressure Cooker my self..
- It's great to get the Toughest Piece of meat and cook it up and have it Melt in your mouth...
Instead of the 4-6hrs that you would normally slow Cook...
http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/st-lawrence-recreational-reserve.html
Have been at Boulder Creek for a week and set off this morning to drive to St Lawrence with the plan to stop there for a week. The drive from Boulder Creek on the way to Mirani winds through green hills and valleys with flat fields of sugar cane stretching across to the treed mountains. A beautiful experience driving through this part of Australia, I was struck by it's appeal when In I drove through in 2012 after my first visit.
The trip is around 200kms bypassing Mackay and driving through Serena, Carmilla and Clairview. The camp at St Lawrence is well maintained with a clean amenities block offering hot showers for $1. There are mainly 2 sections, generators and non generators, with the non generator area up at the top near the toilet block. There are clothes lines available and a potable water tap, it used to have a thread to attach hoses but that has been cut off so you have to fill containers and tip them into the caravan water tanks.
Sid was camped up in the top area next to friends with whom he had previously travelled and I camped nearby. Our friend Pat was also parked near so I have friends close by, always a plus for the solo traveller. I have set up fully because of the time I expect to be here and now have phone reception after a week of no availability also internet is fine here. Received a text from Dennise and have set up a meet at Kandanga for the 20th. We are both travelling freely but it seems to be hard to meet up, the last time was for a couple of hours at Cardwell, hopefully we may have a few days this time. John
Where is this Boulder Creek you are talking about? The only one that Google Maps comes up with is down near Mt Morgan Link
Peter,
this Boulder Creek is listed in Camps and is situated 18kms inland from Calen which is 40kms north of Mackay. If you have WikiCamps it is listed as Windyloo.
Can't speak too highly about Boulder Creek, its layout is small and encourages get togethers and great happy hours. The creek has drinkable fast moving water and good swimming holes. I have camped now 4 times over the last 3 years and there are links in my previous post about visits to Boulder Creek.
John
I back up Johns words 100%. Great spot and so glad John suggested I go there or was that TOLD me to go there
St Lawrence is anther great spot - last year the army were on the move to war games not far down the road, they camped overnight on the football oval, there could have been about 800 of them - the trucks just kept coming - next morning, they left very early - long before most campers were up, and only the guys who dismantled the gear left later. Met lots of great people there as well.
No it's not, here is a snip from the map my link brings up.
I had a look in the in CAW (but did not change from my computer glasses to reading ones.) I did not find it so I went to www.ga.gov.au/place-names/ and found a dozen entries, that's when I tried Google.
Thanks for revealing the exact site.
Wednesday and Sid suggested going for a drive around St Lawrence so off we went and took the turn off before the crossing and after a few kms we found a track off to the right. We were amazed to find a circular camping area complete with rubbish bin, barbeque and shelter by the river. have no idea who uses it but it is a fine place to camp.
We moved on to the boat ramp and were surprised to see a boat ramp leading into mud, no water at all. It clearly was the wrong tide time and as well there was a pontoon track also leading down to the mud and this floats up as the tide comes in. There was a trickle of water slowly flowing and many fish with noses up moving upstream, never seen so many large fish just out of reach across the mud. Not the best fish picture but the zoom needed knees to steady and by the time I found the fish the screen moved and some imagination is needed to see them. John
John, was this the spot under the green arrow? If so you can zoom in and see the spot at half tide. Was the site of the old bully beef canning factory still there with its interpretative signs on the way out there?
I won't be able to go back for another look, can't remember the green arrow but there were signs of a previous construction possible the old cannery. John
John, you will find the cloths line beside male toilets
liked camping there, loved the birds.
Hi Patty, why were birds in the male toilets and why do you like camping beside the mail toilets
Hope all is well in your world and if still in Tassie it's not too cold for you.
Spot on Patty, just behind the toilet block and the wetlands attract many species of birds.
All up a great camping ground.
John
No not busy at all Doug, the Mexicans have mostly gone south by now.
Plenty of room all round John
Funny hahaha Doug. Yea still in Tassie, yep colder in Tassie, red you at greens
John (Yeoeleven) is at St Lawarence Peter not me sorry.
I was there a month ago though but way too far south now for you request
Sorry Peter have no transport to go back, was fortunate that Sid went for a drive and took me with him.
Tonight we had a community meal with Sid, Sandy and Lesley his wife. We all chipped in and my part was to cook up some pickled pork in the pressure cooker. During the cooking I had a visitor from the forum, Grevo (Gary) and his wife Cassie who knew about pressure cooking and advised me to take the pork out 10 minutes before I intended to. Good result the pork was very tender and may have become tough if I had left it for the 30 minutes. Sid produced apple crumble and ice cream whilst Lesley cooked up some special fried rice
Another case of posting on the forum with a descriptive avatar so others can find you. Gary was the member who helped Doug pull his caravan out from his daughter's place in Townsville. Very good of them to look me up and chat about travelling. Always good to meet new Grey Nomad forum members. John
-- Edited by yeoeleven on Sunday 7th of September 2014 05:38:12 PM
Hey John..
I have a Pressure Cooker my self..
- It's great to get the Toughest Piece of meat and cook it up and have it Melt in your mouth...
Instead of the 4-6hrs that you would normally slow Cook...
Juergen