We decided to spend an extra day at Hervey Bay as the sun is shining and it is a lovely caravan park. We attended the free (gold coin donation) BBQ at the caravan park - it was put on by the local Masonic Lodge to raise funds for the local meals on wheels program. It was VERY well attended. In the afternoon Jeff and Kaidan went fishing off the pier and Josh and I went for a walk to the shops.

Today was Fantastic. We got up early and caught the 0830hr Barge from River Heads to Wanggoolba Creek on Fraser Island. The drive from the west coast of the island to the Eastern Beach is beautiful, a sandy track winding through subtropical rainforest with large gum trees. We went to Lake McKenzie, an inland freshwater lake; Jeff and the boys went for a swim and snorkel there. We then drove to the Lake Wabby lookout before hitting the seventy-five mile beach hi...

We left Rockhampton this morning and drove down to Hervey Bay. We stopped briefly at Gladstone, a massively industrialized port town, with a power station and refinery right in the town. We are staying at a caravan park in Hervey Bay, close to the beautiful beach (photo) and opted to pay the extra for an ensuite site. Tomorrow we are going to explore Fraser Island (just for a daytrip) It has been 21 years since I last went there and I'm really looking forward to...

This morning we drove up Mt. Archer which has amazing views over Rockhampton and Yeppoon. In the afternoon, Chad and Nora's son and his partner came over with their gorgeous 16 month old boy, Tamehana (Maori for Thomas). We had a wonderful meal and sat around the campfire. My boys enjoyed playing in the hammock.

This morning after packing up we went for a short drive to Cape Hillsborough NP where we did a walk along a mangrove boardwalk and explored the rocks off the beautiful beaches (photo). We then went into Mackay and met Joy (WPPS crossing lady) for lunch. It was lovely for all of us to see her. This evening we are staying with Jeffs cousin, Mark(Chad) and his wife Nora . They are caretakers of the Alton Downs Polo grounds, just outside Rockhampton.