Agnes Waters & Town of 1770

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Another sleepy day at Agnes Waters.  The kids took off pretty early and we didn't see a lot of them between the playground and other kids caravans until lunch time.  A bit of socialising this morning for Rick and I as we farewelled our friends from Campbelltown and welcomed a lovely couple from Melbourne and their friends (next to them) that happened to live in Leeton back in the late 70's for 10 years.  One of the guys is a Max and they have many Max's in their family, so our Max was most impressed, although not as conversational as usual as his friends proved much distraction.  I cooked a nice breakie for us, as it is our 10 year anniversary today.  Little did I know 10 years ago that I'd be shacked up in some caravan with three kids in tow and a bearded mountain man. This beard caper is proving very unattractive.  I also managed to do four loads of washing in my little machine before midday and everything was dry by mid afternoon. Domestic goddess that I am.  Got to love the wind for that reason, but it wasn't fun otherwise.  So on to lunch because eating is what I do best. We finished cooking the fish cakes from last night and then headed down to the beach for a walk and play.  Again, it was stunning, but too breezy to settle in.  We walked and drew in the sand for about half an hour but our darling Zachie was quite miserable so we had to turn back.  I think his ears were bothering him and he just needed to get out of the wind.   A quiet afternoon and I even managed to sneak in a snooze.  Rick took Zach to the chemist for something for his eczema behind his ears that we discovered at lunch and ended up needing to see a doctor as it was infected.  Poor little mite, Rick said he was exhausted and slept from the chemist through the doctors appointment and then in the car until we reached the restaurant for dinner.  So on to more food, dinner beckoned and we headed to "The Tree" at 1770. Right on the point and with a fabulous vantage point, it was renovated in 2009 and is quite snazzy now. Locals refer to it as the "tree of knowledge" and rumour has it they solved the problems of the world over a few quiet ones under the shade of the tree.  Its was formerly the only general store in the area for decades and has much history and nostalgia. We had a lovely meal to celebrate our anniversary and the kids were incredible.  They coloured-in and said very little which gave Rick and I a chance to speak and spend time together.  Got to love that.  A beautiful night and I couldn't have asked for a nicer dinner or day just hanging out with our little family.

Agnes Waters & Town of 1770

It rained all night so we woke to a pretty windy and bleak morning.  The kids were eager to go to the toilet this morning, but I realised it was to survey the caravan park and check out who was up and ready for a play.  I had to stop Maxie going into his little mates caravan and we ran into Bella's mum in the bathroom so thankfully she stressed that her girls were still snoozing.  Banana smoothies and cereal for breakfast, the kids were cheering.  Then a video so Rick could fix the leaking washing machine and I could work out how to get this blog going.  The beach here is lovely, or would be if it could stop blowing a gale.  But it hasn't stopped the holiday makers from hanging out on the sand. And some poor souls even braved the surf.  Its a great surfing spot and I believe the house next to the caravan park overlooking the beach is owned by the guy who started Billabong.  One of his many apparently and he paid $3M for it, which I think its outrageous given there's not a lot here.  Rick checked out the Real Estate Agents the other day and said a nice house on the water is around $2M.  Unbelievable given its a fair drive from Brisbane and again, there's not much here other than the beach. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, which was just perfect.  We haven't had a nothing day and today was it.  The kids played ALL day, on the swings, in caravans, on bikes, on the beach, climbing rocks, building sandcastles.  Maxie and Scarlett also climbed a big tree for the first time, and Max got stuck which wasn't a problem until he needed a pit stop so he sent his little mate down to get me. I managed to get up to date with my chores and Rick attempted some paperwork being the end of financial year.  A highlight of the day was the fruit and veg van that came loaded with lots of fresh goodies straight from the farm.  I bought nashi pears, beans, sugar snap peas, apples, strawberries, purple carrots (a new super food), lettuce, a mixed bag of herbs like coriander, parsley, rocket, mandarins, avocados and potatoes.  Delicious. We finished the day with some fab fish cakes, salad, vegies and some strawberries and ice-cream with strawberry  sauce that we got at the strawberry farm back in Eumundi.  The fish cake recipe was compliments of my trusty bible, Feasting by Karen Martini.  Well worth making them (although I omitted the oregano with the kids). Go the panko breadcrumbs. A few vino's later and we were rocked to sleep by the sounds of the crashing waves 100 metres away.

Agnes Waters & Town of 1770

View from the point at 1770

A good start to the morning.  Washing done and a grand send off from the owners of the park, we were on the road early headed for the much anticipated Agnes Waters and Town of 1770.  We popped into a strawberry farm on the way and bought 1kg of the most delicious enormous strawberries. We arrived at Agnes Waters just before lunch but had to wait while the previous caravaners exited our site.  Management were hopeless (how different to Bundaberg) but it gave the kids a chance to make friends in the playground while we were waiting.  There are kids everywhere here, as QLD is on school holidays.  Straight away Maxie was chasing some boy called Alex and Miss Scarlett befriended a little girl called Bella (4) and her sister Angelina (6).  They have been inseparable since. Their parents were no where to be seen.  In fact that seems to be quite common here.  The kids just congregate at the playground and I guess everyone looks out for each others kids. They took off into the girls tent and then as soon as we set up, were outside our caravan with colouring books and toys in hand comparing their collections.  We’ve met the neighbours, from Port Augusta SA on one side traveling with their friends, and Campbelltown on the other side.  All good and friendly to chat too.  The beach is lovely, although today was incredibly windy so the waves were huge and unwelcoming.  We headed out to 1770 for a look and its lovely too.  Spectacular blue waters and endless sand, dotted with beach houses and one café with beautiful views.  We’ll be sampling that one tomorrow I hope.  The town has been touted as the next Noosa, with much money spent in the area on housing, but I think things have stagnated because there’s a lot up for sale and a few unfinished houses and complexes just left as is.  There’s not a lot here and it would do my head in for longer than a few days, but I can appreciate why people would bring the kids here for a holiday.  We took a walk out to the point.  Again stunning views but a little hair-raising with kids as there are no rails but lots of signs telling you to watch them closely.  Obviously we didn’t let Zachie down.  We stopped at the butchers and a small IGA on the way home and they were packed.  There’s no competition, so prices are outrageous.  Green beans were $9.90 kg.  Needless to say, we didn’t eat beans for dinner.  Rissoles tonight, homemade from the butcher and the kids loved them.  All in all, a relaxed day and a happy day for the kids in particular.

Bundaberg

We awoke to rain today.  Rick headed off early with Maxie to collect the camera so it gave Scarlett and I a chance to have a cuddle in bed as Zachie slept in until 8AM.  Go Zach!  First stop, the local Jayco dealer to buy some parts for running repairs on the van.  We’ve had a few minor hiccups along the way, but nothing “Mr Fix It” can’t handle, and boy has he let me know about it.  Then on to what made this place famous, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery.  Rick was pleased, but the kids weren’t, so we left him and headed to the Botanical Gardens for a scooter in search of turtles and eels.  We did find one lovely little fellow slowly plodding across the grass but sadly no eels.  The kids were eager to feed the ducks but we got so harassed by some scary Geese with red bubbly faces that we ran for our lives.  Scarlett was screaming, Maxie was in tears and I went running up the path with Zach under my arm and the other two in tow looking for reinforcement.  We found it in a lovely “elderly” couple happily sitting on the bench who had witnessed it all. They lived in the retirement village next door and were regulars at the park.  They even had names for some of their feathered friends. Anyway, that was short lived thankfully and it was time to collect Rick.  We headed out to a lovely sea side village about 10kms east of Bundaberg called Begara.  We had lunch on the beach and found a great kids park with slides and streams in a giant turtle and other sea creatures. The beach wasn’t great though as there are volcanic rocks everywhere along this part of the coast as a result of a volcano erupting a gazillion years ago.  Anyway there is considerable building going along the waterfront and its pretty snazzy for a country town.  After lunch we headed up to check out the port and marina. Boring. Then back into town for a walk through the main street.  I can’t say the shops were anything worth mentioning.  Home to cook lasagna while Rick did those repairs to the caravan.  The pace has slowed a little and we are feeling more like we are on holidays.  I forgot to mention the kangaroos we saw on the way home from town.  We turned off the main road out of town onto a street behind it to do a U-turn and there were 5 kanagroos bounding around in an empty paddock at back of these major shops, ie spotlight and the cinemas. Woolworths was across the road.  Unbelievable.  The kids were excited. So were the parents.

Bundaberg

A pretty ordinary day today.  We left early en route to Childers but missed the turnoff and ended up back in Maryborough.  Crazy given we have sat-nav on board but apparently its not so easy to pull the caravan up in a hurry, nor do a U turn.  Anyway we made it to Childers an hour later and stopped off at the local ice-creamery for an absolute treat.  Real ice-cream made the old fashioned way.  It was delicious and the kids were in heaven.  We walked the main street and loved the old buildings and charm of the place although, I’m guessing not much has changed in 50 years.  Pubs and butchers seem to dominate the landscape.  Sadly on the way back to the caravan Scarlett tripped and fell on her elbow.  The whole street knew about it.  A few band aids later and some TLC, we were on our way to Cordalba, a one pub town off the beaten track, for lunch.  Sounded dodgy to me, and that’s what it was, but Ricky boy was keen to sample the beer so we stopped for oh, 2 hours, waiting for fish and chips and a steak sandwich.  No big deal, except that there was only one other couple in the pub, other than the regular perched at then end of the bar and a guy chain smoking on the deck playing chess in the sun with the publican. I guess they were on Cordalba time and everything moved at a snails pace.  The drawl was pretty thick but the clincher was the cook (I’m guessing the publicans wife) who appeared with the food wearing some ensemble from the 50’s.  She looked like Sally Field back in her hay days complete with hanky on her head and A lined frock. On to Bundaberg, but not before loosing the camera.  Thankfully we called the publican and he discovered it in the gutter across the road.  Thank god for one pub towns with no patrons.  Bundaberg was bigger than I remember.  The riverfront caravan park Rick had his sights on was not as majestic as he had envisaged. So after an hour of stressful discussion and researching, we settled on one out of town as it seemed to be the cleanest and safest.  A lovely park, with very friendly management and mum was happy. Playground outside our door and the kids were busy.  Taco’s for dinner, too easy. Thank god the day was over.

Hervey Bay

We liked it so much we decided to stay, but sadly the forecast was rain and that’s what we woke up to.  So it was another late start which wasn’t so bad as the kids had time to do some puzzles and colouring in.  Its amazing how easily they seem to occupy themselves without TV and endless toys. Let’s hope it lasts.  Anyway we set off to the “Paddle for the Whale” festival in Torquay.  I was expecting something big given this town is famous for whale watching. But sadly it was not meant to be.  It was dismal and consisted of half a dozen stalls selling terrible wares.  But we did manage to pick up some Indian spices for vindaloo, korma and butter chicken.  Apparently they were holding some ceremony in honour of all those whales past, but we missed it and I couldn’t see any remnants on the beach.  The sausage sizzle was a hit particularly with the kids as they were giving out free soft footballs that Zachie wouldn’t put down.  Bored after all of 10 minutes, we headed off down the esplanade and came across another “Family Fun Day” with rides and more dodgy stalls. This one had a cover charge as they were raising money for the children’s ward at the local hospital….how could we say no.  The kids had a ball on the jumping castle and some pillow fighting thing. Kevie Harris had suggested we try the local go cart track, so Rick took the kids for some serious thrill seeking driving.  Again Miss Scarlett was in her element.  Rick was flooring it down the home straight and she was screaming at him to go faster.  Maxie wasn’t as eager but loved sliding around the corners by the end of it.  Apparently they were fighting about who was doing the biggest slides over dinner. As soon as we got in the car they badgered us to take them to the water park “Wet Side”, so despite the breeze and overcast weather, they stripped down and went water sliding.  Again Scarlett was first in.  It was pretty fresh and they were the only kids stupid enough to get in.  They had a ball.  It was fantastic.  It’s a free park with a few slides and loads of water jets that shoot up at different times.  There’s also a park for the littlies so Zachie got into it as well.  People walking by kept asking us if “they were ours” and we were “from the south” because they were crazy enough to get in. Ah yes we said, and yes we are from Sydney and this is balmy to us.  I guess kids just don’t seem to feel the cold like adults do.   Anyway we dried them off and whisked them back to the caravan for some hot showers and early pizzas.  I tried the oven tonight for the first time and am already thinking of my next creation.  It was great, as good as my oven at home. Gourmet prawn pizzas to die for.  Then we dashed off to the water park light show at Wet Side tonight which the kids loved.  It’s a half hour show set to music with lights and water sprays.  All in all a splendid day made even better by the snores coming from Maxie within 10 minutes of hitting the pillow.  Gotta love that.  One final thing, the grey nomads are partying tonight.  A lady, who looks Pilipino, is belting out some ABBA tunes in the BBQ area about four caravans down.  Its BYO your own sausages, booze and chairs and they are going off.  A few were up dancing and everyone’s socialising. Except us as Ricky boy was too cool for Celine Dions, “The Power of Love”.