Mataranka, Banka Banka, Avon Downs Freecamp, Mount Isa, Winton, Jericho, Rockhampton, Cania Gorge, Biggenden, Paradise Dam, Hervey Bay

Hi once again from us here in the warm north, as you can see we are well and truly on our way East Car is running fine once again with the temp staying where it is supposed to be.

We did have a scare just prior to Tennent Creek as the temp rose this turned out to be the Radiator cap which cost us $281 remember in Halls Creek WA, Tennent Creek $15 sorry it just peeves me that I was taken for a ride like that again in WA outback, never mind lets get of the subject, everything is fine now .

We are heading for Brisbane to see Max and Judy, with a few stops in between, as you can see I start this blog in Mataranka NT traveled on to Banaka Banka station, although we did drive into Daly Waters pub but moved on nobody there, Tennent Creek, AvonDowns, Mount Isa, Winton, Jericho, Rockhampton, Cania Gorge, Biggendon, Paradise Dam and finished in Hervey Bay, all of these places we stopped at from 1 to 7days over the past month and a half or more.

Photo's from places with attractions and interest, we removed another  "must do from our bucket list" by going whale watching in Platypus Bay, Fraser Island from Hervey Bay, boy it was fantastic, being so close to such a massive animal.

Mataranka.

This came into Mataranka National park and the van unloaded this boat from the rear van is only 21ft long.

Sleeping quarters above the boat storage kitchen up front with table fridge etc.

On the road 

This is for Josh a big rig at Daly Waters NT

This is another for Josh a big rig somewhere in the NT

Crocodile Dundee country

 Winton

Believe me or not but this is what tows the caravan next to it. (for charity)

 Saphire

Sapphire QLD looking for our fortune I am doing the hardyard

To find our fortune we must first wash the saphires

Someone has to find them and here is the expert

 Duaringa

Bats and more bats

Bats hang like pears in trees

Rockhampton

The happy family husband and wife.

Give me food I need to get bigger

Speaks for itself

 Mount Morgan QLD

Railway Station a grand old building

Mount Morgan Gold Mine

Hotel at Mount Morgan a grand old building (1898 one of 22 pubs)

Gladstone

The old HMAS Gladstone

 Cania Gorge Qld

Bianka Holding a small boulder from breaking away?

Crawling around Caves at Cania Gorge

Cania Gorge Camp ground reminded us of The Grampions

Magic in flowers at Cania Lake

Alien Rock or so I call it

The over hang at Cania Gorge

We walked allof these except for Castle Mnt lookout

Colored Rock formation

Colored Rock formation

A nice swing using a tree root

 Brigenden Qld

Chasuers bridge first ever in Australia using only concrte early 1900

Paradise Dam Qld

Right next to the water at Paradise Dam great spot

Sunset at Paradise Dam

Fishing at sunset no Luck as usual

Where is the lake through this thick fog

Sunrise and fog at Paradise Dam

Magic spot not to be missed if in this erea

Paradise Dam

Paradise dam Temp 30 degrees

 Hervey Bay

Whale slapping the water

Whale slapping and rolling  to attract a female

Mother and Calf

Tail Slapping

Breaching whale only one we saw even though we were racing towards the spot we got there to late

These are enormous up close approx 15-17 ton

A large pod hargy barging over a female

There where approx 10 that we could see

So Close

So close

Tail slapping before a dive

Video below see comments at bottom

Above is a video click on the arrow and enjoy, these whales are the hargy bargying once female is in front

Hervey Bay Boat Harboure  "Which one would you like"

Hope you enjoyed these pictures till next time.

Sig & Bianka

Kunnunura, Darwin Adelaide River

 

Kunnunura, Darwin, Adelaide River

(A short blog remember click on the photo for enlargement)


Hi All

  28 days later and many a dollar spend on repairs, so just to update you all it was a Cracked head (it wasn't my head), it had cracked in three places how it happened just like that who knows, anyway it is now repaired and we are once again on the road..
Kunnunura
 

Argyle lake from the lookout this lake is 25 times larger than Sydney Harbour

Argyle lake spilway into the Ord River

Lake Argyle from the Dam you are able to drive on this lake.

Ivenhoe crossing unable to drive over anymore due to damage on the spillway

Sunset over Ivenhoe Crossing

Kunnunura's mini Bungle bungles

Walking in the Mini Bungle Bungles

Sunset from atop the mini Bungles looking over Kunnunura

This on the doorsteps of Kunnunura

 Darwin

While in Darwin we revisited a view places and washed the car and generally did nothing but we did take some photos you may be interested in seeing so enjoy.

Just as well it is not alive foreshore at Cullen bay

Mindle market Darwin waiting for the Sun to go down

And there she goes

this is a big event at Mindle market Darwin

The Japanese and Australian Nave prior to exercises ( Ido miss it)

The tide is out in Darwin so some ships go hi and dry

Took a drive to Wangi Falls for a quick swimm

Wangi Falls

Just a little bit of info re the servicing up here. in the out back of WA, it seems they make money by way of not being quiet honest as to problems that interstate travellers have ie. Halles Creek we where told it was a radiator cap after a tests? $285, Kunnunura radiator test, thermostat and lose hose was the problem $412 and still no fix?, to me it was a case they see you coming and make $.
Darwin luckily after struggling 950 km and being towed into Darwin once again, we found some one who was honest and did the repairs.

I would like to say if you are thinking of traveling anywhere long or short distance, you cannot go without RACV Total Care road side service, for $180 per year money well spend, each lay up we had ie Halls Creek, Kunnunura and Darwin, RACV paid for the CV park and a Hire Car, for the period our car was in the work shop a total of  28 days so we did not have that expence, so I say it is a must .have.

After all that stress we travelled a whole 100km to Adelaide River where I am writing this from, we will be here for two nights before moving on.

Adelaide River

The only War Cemetry in Australia

Our fallen Soldiers and Darwin's Attack victims

 

Adelaide river has a history in Rail during the war and after  this is a relic of a Flaming Fury Dunnie from that time

The Railway station

In the Pub is the Bullock from the Dundee Movie he stares at you so you won't drink to much

this is a fitting picture to end this blog with Bianka eating the biggest Buffolo burger ever

Till next time.

Sig & Bianka