I wake up at 5:10, I at least rest if not sleep until the alarm goes off at 6. Quick showers and …coffee…. and collect the last of our belongings. Finally we hitch up and we pull away at 6:50, not a bad run at all. Through Hervey bay and a quick stop to empty the dunny. There are three vans pulled up behind the visitors centre, it’s designated as an overnight freecamp, but for god’s sake it right next to the dump station. Gee you’d have to be desperate.
Ready to leave
On through Maryborough, we think about finding a place for breakfast, but there is nowhere to pull up in the van, 20 or so Km down the road at Tiaro. Same, we think we see a spot only to be thwarted. Finally 30 or 40 km later we need fuel and stop in a service centre, we fuel up and some average servo sausage rolls and B&E rolls, not the best we’ve had.
The M1 motorway seems to have been extended and we get on it not very far south of Gympie (apparently Famous for gold, according to the signs). Progressively the traffic gets heavier and heavier. We drive over the Gateway Bridge and catch glimpse of Brisbane proper. Sunshine Coast done, now for the Gold Coast. I’m damn glad we’re not doing this during peak hour.
Gateway Bridge
Not far out of Coolangatta, there is these massive roadworks that hold us up in about 10km of slow bumper to bumper traffic. Finally over the border and we need to fill up with fuel again, at least we’re in NSW now and can dispense with the masks. Fuelled up, we decide to have some takeaway for lunch. The carpark is packed, there are 4 spots dedicated for caravans, One Juicy van, Must be a foreigner and can’t spell (cara van/jucy van), a guy in a ute with a railway sleeper hanging out the back, not quite what they meant. At least the last guy has a box trailer. Fortunately there is one last spot for us to pull into. Is it OK to let their tyres down???
I’ve driven till now today, Justine wasn’t keen on driving through the Sunshine and Gold Coast and while she was happy to drive now, I’ve had a break and rest so will continue on.
We continue on past Ballina, we thought we may stop in this area, but it’s only about 1pm and there nothing here that is grabbing us. Justine spots the MacLean showground. It is meant to be right on the river and only $10, we kinda know the area from many years ago, so we’ll have a look. There are plenty of basic caravan parks around if we luck out.
We pull in to the show grounds after about 7 hours on the road. They point us to an area up above the show ground, and while there are only about 5 other vans, it is a bit cosy and difficult to find a level spot, but we do our best. After setting up, we take a walk and realise that normally you’d be able to camp lower, right by the river. They’ve obviously blocked this off due to the recent floods, that and their annual show will be here in a couple of week. While where we are is OK, it would be sensational down by the river.
Overview of the spots by the river 
Next to the River 
Up the top of the campground, river below
While prepped to cook dinner tonight, we see a sign for the local Bowlo, and they are taking the NSW dine in vouchers, So what the hell, let’s spend a bit of $$$ and help ourselves and the town. So dinner at the local Chinese at the Bowlo. While basic, Liam and my meal were Yum, Justine struck out a bit (she says she should have known, ordering a seafood meal at a Bowlo on a Tuesday night). Oh and we forgot to use the voucher!
We’ve done about 560km today, tomorrow should only be about 360km, so hopefully we can have a relaxed start to the morning.
Yes, let their tyres down.