Day 73 – Sunday 9 August - Mission Beach to Home Hill - 334 km
Despite the looks the train is heading from right to left.
Our fruit collections for the day, from left: a hybrid pineapple for $3, free tomatoes, $2.50 pineapple, $3 Black Sapote. We already had 6 bananas and 3 paw paws (plus mandarins and apples and passionfruit).
Not long after we set up camp the "Spirit of Queensland" went by going south. After a coffee we went for a walk around the showgrounds and took some bird photos. The following are new for this year's blog. There were plenty of Rainbow Lorikeets.
Our walk also uncovered statues of a Kanaka and a white man depicted as cane cutters. The term "Kanaka" historically refers to Pacific Island labourers who were brought to Queensland, between 1863 and 1904 to work in the sugar cane fields.
These statues, and a nearby early mechanical cutter, are featured in the annual cane festival. Shirley's head was about the same height as the elbow of the Kanaka.
Day 74 – Monday 10 August - Home Hill to St Helens Beach - 251 km
Again, we flashed passed a Jabiru feeding beside the road. Again NO chance for a photo.
sWe hoped for a road-side stall for tomatoes in Bowen, but we were out of luck. We passed The Big Mango.
It was on to Proserpine where we revisited the bakery for coffee and a vanilla slice. Shirley also checked out the quirky shop "Colour Me Crazy". No purchases.
As was our plan we stocked up on the cheapest diesel in town - just under $2.40 per litre.
We arrived at the St Helens Beach free camp just in time to get the last good caravan spot with solar access (for a limited time). Internet/phone access was more of a problem.
We are in the Mackay region where many of the coastal areas have flat beaches and low tides. The water must have been one km from shore and moving further away. I scored a few new birds for the trip as we walked along the shore. Zillions of very small crabs scurried all over the place. They were smaller than an Aussie 5 cent coin.
It was around 28 degrees as we settled down to relax.
I went for another walk to improve on my bird photos and found a Kookaburra with a lizard in its mouth. It's mate looked bemused.
Dinner was steak from the Silkwood butcher and accompanying vegies.
It was very peaceful.
Day 75 – Tuesday 11 August - St Helens Beach to Cape Hillsborough - 45 km
Although the Sunrise was 6.30 am the different beach landscape was too hard to resist, so I was there, as were many ducks and other birds. The tide was well out again.
It was a
draining day. A 6:30 am sunrise. A short drive (15 km) to get internet
reception in Calen (pop. 427). Two new birds (this trip) identified. A live streaming of the funeral of a close friend. Another short drive.
Another beach. Cape Hillsborough National Park. No dogs.
We headed back to the beach at sunset in case the local kangaroos decided to appear. Alas that did not happen. However birds 57 and 58 of my photographed and identified birds for this trip appeared.
Above: A Crow and a Silver Seagull
The last of my free chicken tray of meat became dinner.
Day 76 – Wednesday 12 August - Cape Hillsborough
Although we both had a well earned sleep-in we were fed and dressed by 8:45 am - ready to start the day. The main noises in the park came from kids in the pool.
Cape Hillsborough is known for its excellent walks and views and kangaroos on the beach at dawn and dusk.
Our first activity was a mangrove boardwalk with signs that explained the eco-system of that area.
We headed home for a coffee and were greeted by a (probably) Garden Skink around 50 cm long. It was happy to pose for a photo before disappearing into the fallen leaves.
After a fruit salad lunch (6 fresh fruits) we went for a drive. We visited a golf club that allegedly makes great mango smoothies. The bar was closed.
We came home and decided to walk the 1.5 km trek to Wedge Island across the causeway (refer arrow in photo below). The tide was that low that we were able to walk across the sand directly to the island.
We walked home via the shallows (LHS of above photo) and came across a number of coral-like-life-forms. They were very interesting. We did not touch.
Late afternoon drama came as I sat down with a drink at the Kelly happy hour. I noticed that the caravan tyre nearest the caravan step seemed flat. Well the bottom bit was.
I dialed the RACV and was connected to the RACQ and was soon advised that someone would be there within two hours. Soon after I received a phone call from the RACQ officer (Les) who asked if he could come tomorrow as tonight his son was having his 17th birthday party. I said that was fine.
Day 77 – Thursday 13 August - Mackay
The beach was very busy at 6:20 am with many tourists wanting to see the kangaroos on the beach. There were three kangaroos. Some looked at the sting ray with interest. Only a few seemed interested in the sunrise. I was one of them.
Les arrived at 7:16 am (after wanting to come at 6:30 am) and promptly changed the tyre. A decision was made to replace (not fix) the tyre, so off to Mackay we went after a few phone calls. I did not ask for the screw that caused the issue with the tyre.
We were back at camp before lunch and I replaced the spare (on the caravan) with the new tyre.
A few jobs were completed ready for our departure tomorrow. We had our final walk on the excellent beach - although the strong wind caused the walk to be shortened.
I then rested and reclined in my chair and saw a white spot in the trees in the far distance - maybe 250-300 metres away. Camera out. Tripod out. The two photos below show what I was looking at. By the time I took the second photo there were two dots.
Day 78 – Friday 14 August - Cape Hillsborough to Rockhampton - 380 km
Local kids were up early to see the kangaroos on the beach. They were excited - and loud. We were both in the shower by 7am and on the road by 8 am.
The first 280 km of the Bruce Highway was great, the last 100 km terrible. There is an enormous amount of roadwork happening. It cost us over 30 minutes for the day.
We saw a flock of red-tailed black cockatoos. No photo. Diesel was purchased in Sarina.
A break was had at a Caltex Roadhouse at Marlborough North and we found out that they baked goodies on-site. Shirley had a curry pie and I had a chilly sausage roll. It was lunch time. The stale bread was not needed.
A black kite circled overhead. A number of common sparrows flew around.
Camp was established in the free RV camp in Kershaw Gardens in Rockhampton by 2:30. A superb spot for a short break. A walk around the nearby shopping centre happened. So did milkshakes.
Day done. Stir-fry for dinner.
Day 79 – Saturday 15 August - Rockhampton to Gin Gin - 281 km
I am writing these words as I sit in my camping chair in the shade behind the caravan at a free RV camp at Gin Gin - about 116 km north west of Hervey Bay. It is about 24 degrees and our main problem is when to eat the vanilla slice. Shirley is knitting and sewing her trauma teddies. Maybe ask her what they are. Birds are tweeting and a kookaburra overlooks us - about 3 metres from my head.
Early to bed last night. I went for an early walk this morning to discover what birds were doing all of the tweeting and was immediately attacked by two Noisy Minors. I soon discovered that I was near their nest and a youngster was peering out at me. I took a few steps back.
The engine started around 8am today. First stop was to buy diesel. Second stop was to put three new tyres on the caravan - a job that should have happened some time ago.
The road to Gin Gin was mainly terrible, the head wind was the same. It was hard work. We broke the pressure with a fresh donut stop just south of Calliope. We have stopped there before - multiple times.
Yesterday and today we have been passed by maybe 20 'Variety Bash' cars heading north for the start of their bash tomorrow or Monday.
The left photo is poor, but we passed each other around 170 km per hour total
We had a couple of other breaks and arrived at Gin Gin just after 1 pm. Awarding winning pies became lunch. Vanilla slice was purchased for later.
Camp was prompty established at the RV camp just outside town. Birds were singing everywhere. A Pied Butcherbird and a Pied Currawong were added to my list of photographed and identified birds. The Noisy Minor was added this morning.
Late in the afternoon a smoke haze surrounded us. It provided an interesting sunset.
Apart from some minor edits (as there always are) this chapter is complete. Tomorrow we have a short drive to Hervey Bay and will have time to stop at an excellent market before we get there (just outside Hervey Bay).
Our stats after 79 days: 7055 km, 89 km/day, diesel $24 per day, accommodation $36 per day, time in car 1.8 hrs/day, Av fuel cost $2.10 per litre.
Footnote: The vanilla slice was consumed at 7.30 pm.
*** This chapter is (nearly) complete ***
Last updated at 4 pm on Saturday 15 August 2026
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