These are 2 short trips in Qld., to Yeppoon in Jan-24 followed by Hayman Island in Feb-24.

Trip 1, Yeppoon via Hervey Bay, Woodgate, Kinka Bch

We wanted to stretch our legs again after the Xmas break and RAINS and Power outages, so wanted to go to our favourite motel, the BAYVIEW, in Yeppoon. This was un-available, so settled for Kinka Beach, 10 to 15 km Sth. We decided to split the trip of 800+ km and overnite at Hervey Bay, Urangan Motor Inn, highly recommended. This is right on the beach, beside the Pub for drinks & food and convenient travel motel. The weather was VERY unsettled, with heavy showers often. The Next day we headed North to Yeppoon, on the hwy, avoiding the Coastal track via Wreck Rock, having done this often.

Now let the photos tell the tale :

Trip 1, Yeppoon, Jan-24

Urangan Beach, Hervey Bay area

Urangan Beach Hotel, GOOD meals

Next day, was an un-eventful drive to Emu Park then Kinka Beach, after a CRAB sandwich at Miriam Vale. We stayed on the Main Roads as we had done the Coastal tracks via Wreck Rock, Agnes Water often. The Emu Park to Yeppoon road, via coast, is a delight. Our motel was quite good and good meals.

Had to re-visit Emu Park singing sails.

Good Motel, Kinka Bch…good food nearby.

Roslyn Bay harbour, trips to Reef available.

Forgot tripod, but plenty of willing helpers, Eh ?

Nice restaurant in Roslyn Bay, but NO Aircon. So, Lady Pamela had food delivered to Motel !

Peacock and brood in Motel Grounds.

After Swanning around Emu Park Yeppoon area, we headed for Byfield National Park and its Sandhills. We were impressed from previous visits how easily the PRADO handled these STEEP sand tracks. This time, we left the tyres at 23 psi in the sandhills (instead of 18 psi or less) so as to be able to drive to Byfield Garage, 30-40 km away, without having to inflate tyres to road rate, say 40 psi.

View of Bayview Tower, Yeppoon, our favourite motel, but booked out this trip.

On way to Byfield Nat. Park, having brekky at Byfield Café, near Park entry…GOOD place.

Tyre let down BAY, well into Byfield Nat. Park

Takes about 1 to 1.5 minutes to let down from 40 psi to 23 psi. Internal gauge is useful tool,

Now for the Sand dunes and BIG Sandy. Big Sandy is every bitt as difficult as Big Red, in Birdsville.

Going up Big Sandy, hoping NOT to meet downhill traffic. UHF is useful here to advise others.

Pamela had to take her hands of the "sissy" bars to take these photos, bouncing around !

Having done the MAJOR dunes, we headed towards the ocean at Stockyard. Good view of 5 Rocks.

View of 5 Rocks from Stockyard…WOW !

Heading down to Ocean Beach, was hard to turn around at high tide..good old PRADO Eh !

This causeway was running over about 300mm last trip. Dry today despite heavy showers

Have to keep the beloved PRADO clean and get rid of any salt water underneath.

After Byfield and a good nites sleep, we headed home via Woodgate on the Ocean front. This used to be a shanty town but has blossomed after wealthy home buyers discovered it. It has a GREAT hotel and reasonable attached motel. Excellent food, drinks, views, and new access roads. (used to be tracks)

Woodgate beach, in front of hotel. Quite long.

Excellent Woodgate Hotel.Motel, great food.

Motel, attached to PUB, very convenient.arrow_upward

 

2 happy customers of Woodgatearrow_forward

Because this was only a short, 5 day trip, we will combine the Hayman Island trip into this report. We are running out of SPACE for the INDEX to our Website reports. The Hayman trip will follow soon,

Hayman Island trip, Feb-24

Pam had accumulated sufficient Frequent Flyer points for us to fly to Hayman for a few days. The Plane went from Brisbane to Hamilton Island, and we caught the luxurious ferry to Hayman Island, with lots of champers and beer to ease the pain. The Hayman resort had been MUCH upgraded since previous visits and was well organized and managed. The staff were well trained and helpful, as one would expect from a 5 star resort.

Now let the photos tell the tale :

Map, Hamilton & Hayman Islands

We drove from home, Gold Coast, to Brisbane airport, and used the "covered Airpark", with shuttle bus to Domestic Terminals. Had a small scare as another Cyclone was brewing off the Coast, but it did not affect our flying or stay at Hayman. The Airpark is OK for up to a week, otherwise use public transport.

AirPark covered area, OK for 2-7 days, otherwise use Public transport.

Shuttle bus to terminals, every 10 minutes.

Brisbane airport, plane to Hamilton Island. Was late, so caused us a "cyclone scare".

Luxury ferry, Hamilton Island to Hayman, free champers and Beer in Whitsunday Passage.

Doing it Tough near Parj's old home base, Airlie Beach. Parj lived and boated here for 7 odd years, hard Eh ?

 

Complimentary Champers and Beers, on Ferryarrow_forward

The room was HUGE, even Lady Pamela was impressed !!

Very comfortable, everything worked, good VIEWS and location.

Lady Pamela actually got her toes wet arrow_upward

arrow_backView out of our Balcony, Lagoon Pools.

We had to spend an hour or two here, waiting for the Bar Service to begin, after 11 am !! 5 star resort ??

This faces the "older rooms" near Hayman Pools, VERY large.

Model of Hayman Island. We didn't climb the hills to rear of resort. (getting old ?)

Lady Pamela patting a whale. This looks back South, in Whitsunday Passage.

Pacific Restaurant, Hayman Island, good Breakfasts and dinners.

On Ferry , back to Hamilton Island to catch the plane home. VERY pleasant stay.

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Launch/Ferry to Hamilton Island Airport.

 

 

arrow_backJust Look at these two, doing it TOUGH !

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Ferry heading from Hayman to Hamilton Isld. VERY scenic views of Whitsunday Islands, Eh ?

 

 

Back at Airpark after flight home, ALL Goodarrow_forward

Extremely enjoyable ESCAPE for a few days, in the wonderful Whitsunday area. Everything went smoothly, car to Airport, Flights to Hamilton Island and back, and stay at Hayman Island. Parj used to visit here when living in Airlie Beach 40 odd years ago, but it is MUCH improved. Lady Pamela was glad to do an EASY trip, in comfort, NOT rocking around in a 4wd on ROUGH tracks. Still, its good to have some variety. Thoroughly recommend a visit to Hayman, any time of year. Most prefer winter.