So … caravan packed … goodbyes said … security cameras on … unit locked. But one small hitch – caravan tyres are over 5 years old and just to be sure as we are planning to drive over 15,000 Kms we take the safe option and give the caravan a new set of shoes.
First day we take it easy and stop after 200 Kms (only 14,800 to go) at one of our regular free camps – Tiaro.
The Sunshine Coast is beginning to cool down for Autumn and Winter which means … it is time to be heading up north again to chase the sun. But this time we are not going to stop until next year.
The plan is to head north to Darwin, then west across the top of Western Australia, then south through WA, east to South Australia, then across the Bass Strait to Tasmania for the Australian Veterans National Golf Championships and back home in January 2020.
So we are busy getting our home ready for the big trip. First stop will be Bargara to visit our friends Jeff and Faye and to play one of our favourite golf courses.
And here’s the (not so planned yet) route :
What a great way to spend the ‘winter’ – up north with travelling friends and playing lots of golf. It is always good to be back home – this time for just 6 weeks then it is off on a relatively short trip south into New South Wales for two of our favourite golf weeks at Kew and Young. Back in early December.
Even though we never left our home state of Queensland, we still managed to clock up :
Days Away : 122
Car distance traveled : 8,500 kms
Caravan distance traveled : 5,972 kms
Off to Bargara for our final golf competition – The Wide Bay Spring Carnival with rounds at Bargara, Coral Cove, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough. We are able to free camp at both Hervey Bay and Maryborough which helps reduce the costs of staying at caravan parks. More and more golf courses are now encouraging us ‘grey nomads’ to park at their premises as it encourages us to spend money there – a win-win for all.
Again the golf was ordinary – we are both looking forward to heading home.
We head to Rockhampton for the Tropic of Capricorn Golf Carnival. This consists of 9 separate rounds of golf at Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Emu Park, North Rockhampton and the Capricorn Resort. No winning performances to report.
During this carnival we base ourselves at Yeppoon for a week and manage to fit in a spot of fishing.
Sorry about the three separate maps but Google Maps has a limit to the number of destinations that can be shown on one map. If anyone has a solution please get in touch.
With a couple of days to travel from Mackay to Rockhampton, we free camp for a night at Flaggy Rock and then for two more nights of r and r (and some fishing) at St Lawrence. It is quite good to have a rest from all the golf.
Mackay is the second stop for the major 4 day Wintersun golf competition. The two rounds here are added to the two at Proserpine for the overall champion.
Siobhan had an excellent result finishing 2nd overall in the Ladies Division 1. Bob faded after his two good rounds at Proserpine and could only manage a two round runner up at Proserpine.
There were two additional one day comps at Pioneer Valley and Sarina. Siobhan was runner up at Pioneer Valley and Bob managed a 3rd place at Sarina.
Proserpine is the first of 2 towns (Mackay is the other)that together form the major ‘Wintersun’ golf tournament which comprises 2 rounds at Proserpine and 2 further rounds at Mackay. After the first 2 rounds at Proserpine, Siobhan is leading the ladies Div 1 and Bob is leading the Mens B Grade. (See the excerpt from the Wintersun web page below.)
Whilst at Proserpine we take a day trip to Airlie Beach and Hydeaway Bay.
After a one night stay at the Home Hill golf course and a social game of golf there, we head the 12 Kms down the road to one of our most favourite places to visit – Groper Creek. This is probably our seventh visit here and we spend the time relaxing for 4 days before the next golf commitments. We catch prawns, fish and catch up with old friends who we see there every time we visit.
BOB AND SIOBHÁN'S CARAVAN ADVENTURES 