BUNDY, BEER AND BEYOND

I LOVE Bundaberg. And, no, not just because it makes the BEST Ginger Beer in the World  (though that is a major factor) However, I did feel obliged to visit ‘the Big Barrel’ to do a little sampling with a cheerful, bubbly little Bundyberger, and, of course buy a few. I Love Bundy because the people there genuinely try to help you, even if you are in a motorhome! Like the lovely ladies at the showgrounds, who assisted me to find drinking water and said it should be there for everyone.  

 I also love the easy feeling of the place. Its wide open spaces, even in the town itself.  I love its lovely eclectic, main town shopping which strangely but successfully blends old and new together. And even its modern shopping centre, Sugarland, which is just as you enter Bundy, past the airfield. I love the drive there, because once you pass Childers it’s as if the real Queensland shows itself. The earth becomes deep iron ore red, best seen where the road cuts through a hilly section exposing the layers of soil on either side and hiding, for a short time, the natural bushland trees behind it. And there’s long stretches of cane fields, standing tall and proud like real Aussies, waving “G’Day” to you as you pass. And macadamia nut trees! Mmmmmm.  Yep. I know I’m in Queensland when I’m in Bundy.

G'DAY!

Don’t get me wrong… other places are nice too. Childers is quite Beautiful! It has kept all its old historical buildings in wonderful condition, and has to be one of the most interesting, pretty places I have been to. Even the sidewalk is worth looking at, with mosaic artwork embedded along its pathway. I counted 52! But there’s probably more. These are superb and it’s worth a visit to Childers just to see them alone. But there’s much more arts and crafts here. This place is a craftsmans delight. 

One thing I found not so good here , was, it’s a tad on the expensive side and some people were not that friendly. OK getting ripped off for $3 for a small half a French stick in the local Bakery, and being told by the librarian they kept the tables away from the power points as they didn’t want backpackers and such (I think I was a ‘such’) to take advantage of the library, may have coloured my perspective.  

 However, if you keep going towards Bundy, there’s a great Rest stop at Appletree Creek, in a lovely huge park just off the highway right opposite the turn off for the Flying  High Bird Sanctuary.This has to be one of the best sanctuaries you could ever visit!!! It's the largest free flight bird sanctuary in Australia. The variety and color of the birds are stunning. And there’s Emus and Kangaroos and Cassawarries. Please go while you can, though. Like so many of the Sanctuaries now, it’s having to be sold. One of the owners is very ill. I hope they find a buyer who loves it and looks after it as much as they do. I wish there was a way to keep it going. It is so hard here in Australia, as Sanctuaries are not Govt funded but rely on donations and the hard work of the owners and volunteers to keep them going. And people are not made to last forever.

Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

Maryborough is nice too. Big shopping Centre, big parks, lovely River. And a great Aquatic Centre, which for $4.50 you can swim all day in and have a lovely hot shower after.  Plus it did have a lovely small Sanctuary called Frazer Coast Wildlife Sanctuary , on the western suburbs, which had a VERY small charge to it of $12. 

Bless them. It's the one thing that SHOULD charge more.! I particularly liked that the owner takes pride in the dingos and you can see it. He will also give talks on them.  I enjoyed my time there , especially with the sweet and gentle Roos. It was good to see all of the animals were obviously in good condition and well looked after, but I wish some of the bird cages had been bigger as I felt for the beautiful Cockatoos in there.

 

 

Rossendale

The drive to Maryborough also hoards some lovely little RV friendly rest stops! I recommend anyone to go on the Bauple Tourist Drive, just off the main Bruce Highway. The scenery is gorgeous, and both Rossendale and Bauple have little hidden gems of rest areas where you can stay for a night or two. But you do need to be self sufficient as neither has toilets on these stopovers, for that you need to travel a little further to pretty Tiaro. There, there is a huge rest area in a park with clean, modern toilets and little shops and cafes. A popular place with good reason

Another place I found  was beautiful Burnett Heads, North of Bundy. This is a small, laidback little beach area, more for the quiet peaceful holiday than a bustling one. Yes there’s a big hotel and a lighthouse, but neither are out of the ordinary. In fact the lighthouse can only be got to on foot and isn’t  in such good shape. But the Esplanade IS gorgeous. Small but perfectly formed, as the saying goes lol. The beach’s white sands sit snugly between two rocky outcrops, keeping it sheltered and safe. The pathway runs a fair distance along the esplanade, and houses here are obviously the wealthier ones! I had a lovely cold shower in the old toilet and shower facilities there, but kept my bathers ON as there are no doors!

I just have to say here. You do get what you pay for. If you are free camping just be grateful for any toilets at all, long drop or flushing and showers are a bonus. On a completely opposite scale I spent a night at a fabulous RV place on the way from Mayborough to Hervey Bay Called the Cheery Nomads RV Park. This has to be the best value I have found. It costs little more than a Showground does, but the facilities are awesome. These were the cleanest, newest toilets and showers I had seen since leaving Melbourne three months ago! They were spotless! God how I had missed them! The grounds are equally immaculate with power and water. And then, there’s the Happy Hour in the little Bar area there. Whoo Hoo. Deb and Mario are just the BEST. Such lovely people, very easy and friendly and always trying to help. I will be back!

Life isn't about waiting for the rain to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.

The Grey Chihuahua