Sharon Nature Reserve, Agnes Water, Seventeen Seventy

Sunday 25th August

We left Gin Gin on Thursday morning and headed towards Bundaberg. We were looking at staying at Granite Creek Rest Area which is 63kms from Gin Gin. We stopped in South Kolan to have a look at one of Australia’s most intriguing rock formations, the Mystery Craters. These were discovered by a local farmer in 1971 when he decided to extend his vegetable patch. He was clearing the vegetation and came across a large hole in the ground underneath the layers of silt and sand. Upon further investigation, with careful precision, 35 craters in various sizes in total were found. They are formed in sandstone, siltstone and red ochre and have baffled many teams of scientists and geologists from all around the world, and to this day they remain an unsolved mystery.  They are believed to be over 25 million years old. Some interesting facts are that three of the craters resemble large footprints, and some of the craters hold water, whilst others do not. None of the craters are linked together in any way. 

After our visit to the Mystery Craters, we drove a little further and ended up only 50kms from Gin Gin and staying at Sharon Nature Reserve Rest Area for the night. This was only small but had a separate area with very clean electric BBQ’s, picnic tables and toilets. There are pictures with photos that explain about the Sharon Gorge and how it and the Rest Area are maintained by local volunteers. Places like these are a very welcome stop for travellers and most certainly appreciated.

 We met a young couple in their late 20’s, Dane & Elody and their 20 month old daughter, Myah. They live on the Sunshine Coast and are also travelling around Australia. Mark had a look at Dane's generator as he couldn't get it going. We went for a pleasant 900m walk down to Sharon Gorge, which ends on a small deck overlooking the Burnett River. Despite the Rest Area being small, quite a few caravans, along with Hi-Ace type vans with backpackers had pulled in by the evening.  We were thinking about staying at either the Workman’s Beach Camp, a campsite with toilets and water, 1kms from Agnes Water for $6 per person or Bradley Wolfe Braveheart Retreat, a charitable trust, 23kms west of Agnes Water, which is set on acreage and offers camping, toilets and water for $11 per site.  Dane and Elody were heading to Workmen’s Beach the next morning, and after looking at it on his Wiki Camps on his phone, we decided to go to the Workman’s Beach also.

This was a good choice, as we later found out that the Braveheart Retreat has temporarily closed to due permit rules. Such a shame because we have heard it is really beautiful and we would have like to stay there after Workman's Beach.

Sharon Nature Reserve Rest Area

Mark, Dane, Elody & Myah

Agnes Water is a very pretty town along the point, along with the town Seventeen Seventy, or 1770 as the locals write it, just a few kms up the road. Agnes Water has quite a few shops as well as 2 small supermarkets, while Seventeen Seventy is smaller and has a marina, a couple of cafe's, a small pub that offers meals and has a fabulous deck where diners can watch the sun go down over the water and some lovely accommodation options.

Our campsite at Workman's Beach

The beach below the campsite is a large Cove which is very inviting and the water is just so delightful to swim in!

Coming out of the bushy walking track and looking to the right of the Cove.

The land in the distance is 'Seventeen Seventy' .The furthermost point to the right of it has a great short walking trail to 2 Lookouts. One is looking back this way and into the horizon which seems to go on forever and feels like you looking at the edge of the world. The other is on the opposite side where we stood and watched the sun go down over the water. 

Looking to the left of the Cove

Aaahhh...the Serenity...

Mark being a 'Mr Strongman' after his swim!

Seventeen Seventy is where Captain James Cook landed with his crew on The Endeavour, on Wednesday 24^th May 1770, about 3km off the part of this coast. Just looking out and imagining that magnificent ship coming into the bay gives you a shiver up your spine. It would have been a spectacular sight to sail into the bay and see the absolute beauty and the hills rising above it. 

Looking out to Bustard Bay from the picnic area

There are lovely board walks around part of the picnic area looking out to the bay with the 2 plaques about James Cook's landing back a little and to the right of Mark, with one plaque on each side of the stairs.

This is one of the plaques telling the facts of Captain James Cook's arrival in the bay.

I have typed up the info on each plaque as it's not easy to read in the photos:

The ship was 32 metres by 9 metres and weighed 374 tonnes. Provisions included 81 tonnes of water,  9.64 tonnes of bread in bags,  5460 litres of beer, 4000 pieces of beef and 1.13 tonnes of raisins. Cook went ashore near Round Hill Head with botanist Joseph Banks and his assistant Daniel Solander. Along the embankment some of their collected plants have been identified. The party landed within the South point of the bay where they found a channel leading into a large lagoon. Cook’s landing party noted many pelicans, and upon the shore, a species of Bustard, one of which was shot. They considered it the best bird they had eaten since leaving England and in honour of it they called the inlet Bustard Bay. Cook’s party did not see any Aborigine’s during their shore visit, but they did find campsites, fires and artifacts. From the ship however, members of the Endeavours Crew observed about 20 members of the Meerooni tribe on the beach. The Endeavour set sail at 4:30 the following morning.

‘In this place there is room for a few ships to lie in great security, and a small stream of fresh water’

It was here at Seventeen Seventy that Cook made his second landing on Australian soil. (His first had been at Botany Bay) and it was here that the first European set foot on Queensland soil. Town of Seventeen Seventy was appropriately named for Cook’s landing in 1770 becoming the birthplace of Queensland. This historic occasion is commemorated by the Captain Cook Memorial at nearby Round Hill Head.

Today this town is a small seaside resort which is noted for its pleasant beaches and good fishing. This spot is perfect to watch the sun set over Bustard Bay – one of the few places on the East Coast of Australia where the sun sets over the water. 

I sat here and pondered what it must have felt like to see this bay for the first time...

The water is so clear 

The walking trail up to the 2 Lookouts in Seventeen Seventy.

The sunset casts the most amazing and magical glow along the trail

The view feels like you are looking as far as the edge of the world

Mother Nature performs the most stunning sunset show for us!

Memorial at Round Hill Head commemorating the landing of Captain James Cook

"Just living is not enough...One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower"

Hans Christian Andersen

Gin Gin

Wednesday 21^st August

We left Wuruma Dam and travelled about 100kms to Gin Gin and arrived at 2pm on Monday. We went through Mt Perry on the way, a windy road, but easy to drive on. Mt Perry looked like a pretty town so we stopped for a look. Copper was discovered there in 1867. From 1873 the town produced a fortune in minerals that also included gold and silver. It is only small and has about 450 residents. There are several monuments in remembrance of the miners who lost their lives in the mines.

We also stopped at the Boolboonda Tunnel. This is a true feat of engineering and was carved through pure rock without the assistance of machinery, just hand picks, way back in 1883. Its length is 192 metres and it is the longest, unlined, unsupported tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere. It originally formed part of the railway line that ran from Mt Perry to Bundaberg. It has been recorded that the engineering skills of the workers was so precise, that when the two ends finally met, the tunnel was less than 2cm out of alignment! Since rail traffic was stopped, it has been National Heritage listed and has become home to hundreds of tiny Bent Wing Bats.

We pulled up to have a look and after reading on the sign that it was unsupported,  I was worried about it caving in on us…Bit imaginative, I know, but I kinda had this fear that we would be locked in there forever, never to be seen again! Anyway, Mark chose to get out and cockily walked up to it. As he got closer, all of a sudden he ducked and walked back to the car really fast with a terrified look on his face! I nearly wet myself laughing; it was a bat that swooped him!! So much for being brave! He said “Little c**t nearly took my head off”! Honestly, it was no bigger than a leaf! Scaredy cat! Mind you, I’m glad I chose not to go in there with him, coz I really would have wet my pants! I’m still laughing now.

Gin Gin is halfway between Brisbane and Rockhampton and 56kms south of Bundaberg. It is thought to be the 4^th oldest town in Qld, and was originally settled in 1847 when Gregory Blaxland and William Forster moved into the area with sheep and cattle.  There is a Cairn here at the Rest Area, with a memorial to Gregory Blaxland and it says he is buried in the vicinity of the Cairn. I went for a walk with Millie this morning and stood reading this and thought to myself “Oh my God, I hope I’m not standing on him”! Gave me a shiver up my spine!

Gin Gin has been home to some very famous people including Forster, Palmer and Mcllwraith who became Premiers. The famous explorers, The Landsborough Brothers made Gin Gin their home. It is the centre of some of the most diverse rural industry that encompasses some of the largest citrus orchards in Australia.

One of Qld’s few bushrangers, James McPherson, known as the ‘Wild Scotchman’, was captured nearby at Monduran Station 13kms north of the town.

There are many amazing murals on the buildings in town, depicting the history and way of life around pioneering times.

We are staying at the large free Rest Area on the Bruce Hwy which is very pleasant. The toilets are maintained and rubbish bins emptied each day and town water is available. It is a popular place to stop for travellers and there must have been at least 50 vans here on Monday night. The town itself is lovely, is an easy walk from the Rest Area and everyone is friendly. We went in today and had lunch at the Pub in the Beer Garden. We got talking to an old bloke who had clearly started drinking sometime early in the morning. It was his birthday and the Pub had already given him 8 free beers! His conversation was largely peppered with the f word, but he was a nice harmless bloke, so we weren’t bothered. As they say, it takes all sorts to make the world go round!

Colouring my hair....Too many greys!

Doing our laundry in the sunshine

Enjoying a Steak & Salad Burger in the Beer Garden at the Gin Gin Pub

Mark has been the maintenance man again. Today he spent time helping another caravanner with his solar panel and battery. I told him maybe he should put a sign on the back of the van and he could earn petrol money!

The weather has been glorious here, sunny days of around 25° -27 °and slightly cool nights of around 10°. We are becoming used to sleeping in different places and barely hear all the noises at night, especially the truckies who go past in their huge rigs.

Tomorrow we will move on, not sure where to yet. There are a few more Rest Areas within a wide area, so we will see where the road takes us!

                                                              

Waruma Dam

Sunday 18^th August.

We arrived at Wuruma Dam around 4pm on Friday and were surprised to find the camp area quite hilly and not much flat ground. After driving through a couple of the camp areas we came back to the 2^nd one and found a spot. Mark had to dig a bit of dirt away from the far side wheels so the van could sit evenly.  Even when the van is only a little bit uneven, you kind of feel like you’ve had one too many drinks! Not a nice feeling at all!

Check out all this info....Wow!

The whole camping area was totally flooded in the Jan floods. The Gazebos were completely underwater!

 

There are a lovely group of people here, about 8 vans or so, and as I sit here and type, more are pulling in. One bloke, Keith, is quite knowledgeable about things, and he came over and showed us a product called Alum. I had not long been reading about this. It takes all the muck, tannins and silt and rubbish out of the water so you can use it for washing either yourself or dishes. He put a little pinch into a bucket of water Mark had got from the dam, in which you couldn’t see any muck, just looked a little yellow/brown and within minutes the rubbish was separating. Unbelievable! Alum is used in pools and spas and is perfectly safe. 

Keith also catches Red Claw which is a type of Yabbie. He explained he uses dry dog food, packed into little bags he makes from Gutter Guard and puts this into Opera House crab pots. Mark went out with him this morning  in his little boat, to check the pots and they collected about 6 of them. He puts salt into the bucket so they purge for a couple of hours and to make them tastier. He came back over with them to show us how to peel them. He takes a pair of pliers and pulls back the middle fin to remove the innards completely and leaving them clean, this way you end up with a lot more meat than by pulling off their heads. He then cooks them in egg and breadcrumbs or a beer batter and says they are delicious! We love meeting fascinating meeting people like this who are so happy to pass own their knowledge to others!

Mark and Keith going off to check the Pots for Red Claw

Aaaaaagggghhhhh....Help...Someone...I'm not too sure about these things...

Nah, I'm not really scared...But just hurry up and take the damn photo!

See...This is how you hold em!!!

Here Lil, you have a go.  Ummmm, Lil? Has anyone see my wife? 

Keith showing us how to de-vein them.

Us girls havin a snoozy

Mark cooked delicious Roast Pork in the camp oven while I typed up stuff for the blog.

 

We had our first official ‘Happy Hour’ last night with everyone else here. It’s really interesting to meet people on the road. Some have been travelling for years, are on their second or third lap of Oz or just take off for months at a time.  We’ve met so many people who started off just like us, and are still out there years later!  They all have so much information to share, whether it is where to stay, where and what to visit, places NOT to go to, funny stories, and just general talk. We love it. Mark will talk to anyone and often disappears for ages only to come back and say ‘This bloke told me… said this or that….”. The best info is word of mouth and to just ask!

We will pack up tomorrow and head for Gin Gin. There are some nice free Rest Stops we’ve been told about, so we’ll check them out.