We have finished our assignment at Mena Creek and have started making our way down the Bruce Hwy today. We are currently parked up at Home Hill with another 12/15 free campers. Started the day with brilliant blue skies, temps 24/25 and back drop of acres and acres of sugar cane and bananas. After a week of 170/180 ml of rain the cane farmers are getting back to work, the mills are working and those little cane trains are filling up.The banana crop around Innisfail and Silkwood is just magnificent site and a splendid back drop to the cane. You can pick up quality banaanas at farm gates/stalls etc for $1.50 kilo.
You can tell the North Queensland "Grey Nomad" season is coming to a close by the numbers on he road and also the numbers in camps particularly hear at Home Hill.We will make our way further down the Bruce to Mackay/Sarina tomorrow and if some one has a name of free/low cost camp in the area I would appreciate the name -many thanks.
JohnR
Fringe Dweller said
07:20 AM Aug 27, 2016
When you leave Hervey Bay I would head west toward Gayndah , then down to Kingaroy , Dalby , Goondiwindi , Narrabri.
The Sept school hols will start soon , and as you said th GN southbound migration that's why I would head away from the Bruce straight away.
Then where you want to go in the Pilliga from Narrabri.
nb. Ya don't have to worry about "Th Pilliga Princess" anymore , but Watch out for th Yowie.
I'd also have a Good GPS to take you in where you are going , have known folks to get a bit lost in th Pilliga.
JohnR said
06:28 PM Aug 27, 2016
(Day 2)
Home Hill Qld to Waverley Creek Rest Area Qld. (445klm)
A few more klms than we normally do in a day but the free camp at Waverley Creek is something special and nice overnight stay with exception of the highway noise.But then again we are traveling the Bruce Hwy.The traffic on the Bruce is light and yes the RV fraternity are some where else???
Another spectacular day in North Queensland (Cowboy Country), however 300+klms further down the highway is some 2/3 degrees cooler and calling for jersey. The big blue cloudless sky was a feature of the day and again the cane farmers are hard at it.Tomorrow to Rockhampton and the camp at Kershaw Gardens. (water and dump point just North of Bunnings on your way in to Rocky)
JohnR
JohnR said
09:28 PM Aug 28, 2016
(Day 3)
Waverley Creek to Rockhampton (Central Queensland)
Well the temps have come off and the gas heater was called for this morning. Then being "Sunday", we wake about 7am after peewinkle, flick the gas heater on, turn on the sat tv and go back to bed for another hour. Gee you have gotta love this lifestyle. After breaky and chat with a few other Nomads then head off to "Rocky" Central Queensland. Temps of 21/22 with big blue skies. Plenty of traffic and plenty of RV's all in a hurry???.
Parked up at Kershaw Gardens in central Rockhampton close proximity to Stocklands with plenty of shopping on offer. As previously mentioned water and dump point just North of Rocky.
We will make our way to Calliope River Camping Grounds tomorrow.
JohnR
JohnR said
05:58 PM Aug 29, 2016
Day 4
Rockhampton to Calliope River Crossing. (120+klm)
Parked up with a good few "Nomads" who are slowly making their way back south. Some what slowly as it is still far too cold across the boarders and the temps up here are still around 21/22.
Tomorrow is Hervey Bay to the Council Caravan Parks for a few nights before heading inland to Murgon, Kingaroy mking our way eventually to St George and then the Pilliga.
JohnR
JohnR said
04:58 PM Aug 30, 2016
Day 5
Calliope River Camp to Gin Gin Rest Area (150klm give or take)
Changed our minds and decided to stay at the very popular Gin Gin Rest Area that has toilets, water, dump point and plenty of space. Has to be 100+ vans parked up. An added bonus today is that a young couple (English) traveling the country are hear with sign out (Ladies $15/Mens $10 haircuts) so I have taken the opportunity right at my back door.
Will make Hervey Bay tomorrow for 3 days in Caravan Park.
Weather is starting to get a tad cool with temps of only 21/22??
JohnR
Gaylehere said
05:18 PM Aug 30, 2016
Interesting read about where you camped. Thanks. The weather is still a bit fresh in the mornings.
JohnR said
08:15 PM Aug 30, 2016
Gaylehere
We are virtually traveling Cairns to Brisbane and we are posting the "Free Camps" available, where to find water and dump points. This is the Bruce Hwy and should help other members when negotiating this very popular and high traffic highway particular the Winter months. After 3 days at Hervey Bay we will free camp to Lightning Ridge via St George and then to Dubbo. We will show in 3000klm that you can free camp all the way and choose only Caravan Parks when you so desire.
JohnR
JohnR said
07:00 PM Sep 3, 2016
Hervey Bay (3 days)
We have stayed in CP being Council Caravan Park at Pialba being the Esplanade Hervey Bay. $41- per night. Excellent CP full of "Grey Nomads" and central to everything.
While we now leave the Bruce Hwy and head in the direction of St George, I have listed some options for travelers looking for free camps/low cost accommodation on the Bruce to Brisbane. Maryborough Showground @ $18- per night, then to Gympie with several options. The best we found was Matilda Roadhouse that offers toilets/showers at road house is a free camp. Next low cost is Cooroy RV park that has dump point and water $10per night.Toilets in town (walking distance. In Brisbane stay at the Watson Park Conference Centre (Seventh Day Adventist Centre) $22- powered site and all facilities.
In summary Cairns to Brisbane free camping with only accommodation when we have opted to stay at CP's and minimal costs when staying in Capital City such as Brisbane.
We have finished our assignment at Mena Creek and have started making our way down the Bruce Hwy today. We are currently parked up at Home Hill with another 12/15 free campers. Started the day with brilliant blue skies, temps 24/25 and back drop of acres and acres of sugar cane and bananas. After a week of 170/180 ml of rain the cane farmers are getting back to work, the mills are working and those little cane trains are filling up.The banana crop around Innisfail and Silkwood is just magnificent site and a splendid back drop to the cane. You can pick up quality banaanas at farm gates/stalls etc for $1.50 kilo.
You can tell the North Queensland "Grey Nomad" season is coming to a close by the numbers on he road and also the numbers in camps particularly hear at Home Hill.We will make our way further down the Bruce to Mackay/Sarina tomorrow and if some one has a name of free/low cost camp in the area I would appreciate the name -many thanks.
JohnR
When you leave Hervey Bay I would head west toward Gayndah , then down to Kingaroy , Dalby , Goondiwindi , Narrabri.
The Sept school hols will start soon , and as you said th GN southbound migration that's why I would head away from the Bruce straight away.
Then where you want to go in the Pilliga from Narrabri.
nb. Ya don't have to worry about "Th Pilliga Princess" anymore , but Watch out for th Yowie.
I'd also have a Good GPS to take you in where you are going , have known folks to get a bit lost in th Pilliga.
(Day 2)
Home Hill Qld to Waverley Creek Rest Area Qld. (445klm)
A few more klms than we normally do in a day but the free camp at Waverley Creek is something special and nice overnight stay with exception of the highway noise.But then again we are traveling the Bruce Hwy.The traffic on the Bruce is light and yes the RV fraternity are some where else???
Another spectacular day in North Queensland (Cowboy Country), however 300+klms further down the highway is some 2/3 degrees cooler and calling for jersey. The big blue cloudless sky was a feature of the day and again the cane farmers are hard at it.Tomorrow to Rockhampton and the camp at Kershaw Gardens. (water and dump point just North of Bunnings on your way in to Rocky)
JohnR
(Day 3)
Waverley Creek to Rockhampton (Central Queensland)
Well the temps have come off and the gas heater was called for this morning. Then being "Sunday", we wake about 7am after peewinkle, flick the gas heater on, turn on the sat tv and go back to bed for another hour. Gee you have gotta love this lifestyle. After breaky and chat with a few other Nomads then head off to "Rocky" Central Queensland. Temps of 21/22 with big blue skies. Plenty of traffic and plenty of RV's all in a hurry???.
Parked up at Kershaw Gardens in central Rockhampton close proximity to Stocklands with plenty of shopping on offer. As previously mentioned water and dump point just North of Rocky.
We will make our way to Calliope River Camping Grounds tomorrow.
JohnR
Day 4
Rockhampton to Calliope River Crossing. (120+klm)
Parked up with a good few "Nomads" who are slowly making their way back south. Some what slowly as it is still far too cold across the boarders and the temps up here are still around 21/22.
Tomorrow is Hervey Bay to the Council Caravan Parks for a few nights before heading inland to Murgon, Kingaroy mking our way eventually to St George and then the Pilliga.
JohnR
Day 5
Calliope River Camp to Gin Gin Rest Area (150klm give or take)
Changed our minds and decided to stay at the very popular Gin Gin Rest Area that has toilets, water, dump point and plenty of space. Has to be 100+ vans parked up. An added bonus today is that a young couple (English) traveling the country are hear with sign out (Ladies $15/Mens $10 haircuts) so I have taken the opportunity right at my back door.
Will make Hervey Bay tomorrow for 3 days in Caravan Park.
Weather is starting to get a tad cool with temps of only 21/22??
JohnR
Gaylehere
We are virtually traveling Cairns to Brisbane and we are posting the "Free Camps" available, where to find water and dump points. This is the Bruce Hwy and should help other members when negotiating this very popular and high traffic highway particular the Winter months. After 3 days at Hervey Bay we will free camp to Lightning Ridge via St George and then to Dubbo. We will show in 3000klm that you can free camp all the way and choose only Caravan Parks when you so desire.
JohnR
Hervey Bay (3 days)
We have stayed in CP being Council Caravan Park at Pialba being the Esplanade Hervey Bay. $41- per night. Excellent CP full of "Grey Nomads" and central to everything.
While we now leave the Bruce Hwy and head in the direction of St George, I have listed some options for travelers looking for free camps/low cost accommodation on the Bruce to Brisbane. Maryborough Showground @ $18- per night, then to Gympie with several options. The best we found was Matilda Roadhouse that offers toilets/showers at road house is a free camp. Next low cost is Cooroy RV park that has dump point and water $10per night.Toilets in town (walking distance. In Brisbane stay at the Watson Park Conference Centre (Seventh Day Adventist Centre) $22- powered site and all facilities.
In summary Cairns to Brisbane free camping with only accommodation when we have opted to stay at CP's and minimal costs when staying in Capital City such as Brisbane.
JohnR