Roma to Rainbow Beach via Bunya Mountains

Hello all
It's been a while since I updated, so I thought I had better bring everyone up to speed.
Since leaving Roma I haven't found the countryside overly appealing and subsequently haven't been giving the camera much work.

I headed to Dalby before turning North towards Kingaroy. While spending 2 nights camped up in the showgrounds at Kingaroy, I made a few phone calls as the ute was due for a major service. The Dealer in Dalby was over $300 cheaper than what I was quoted by Gympie, so around I turned and headed back via the Bunya Mountains. I froze in the Bunya Mountains, so didn't stay around long. After 23 years in the Motor Industry, in the Parts and Service Departments, I am continually astounded by the bad service dished out.
Get vehicle in by 8.00am and we will have it back to you by 2.30pm I was told. OK, so I arrive at 8.00am sharp and then head to the shops for breakfast. All good so far................at 10.45am I walk past and guess what? My vehicle is still parked out the front untouched, so in I go and ask. "we will start it straight away" I arrive back at Dealership at 2.30pm, it will be another hour and a half I am told. GGGGRRRRRR. 
OK, so 4.00pm comes and goes.................In the rush to complete the service they stripped the wheel studs on one wheel and then tried too blame it on the weight of the Camper. 
After 23 years in this industry I know all the tricks, excuses and lies, so after putting the service manager straight I finally got my vehicle back at 5.20pm and $743 poorer.
Only 1 more Dealer service until my Warranty period is over and I will tell you one thing for free......it won't be going anywhere near Great Wall service after that.
I am happy with the product but the Service from MOST Dealers is well below satisfactory and acceptable levels. Lift your game Great Wall.

This brings me to Rainbow Beach, I have parked up for a couple of days on Inskip Point, North of Rainbow Beach and the Barge access site to Fraser Island. 

Inskip Point

 School holidays start tomorrow so I have been racking my brain as to what to do, and where to hide from the maddening crowds and I think I have found a cheap spot in Cooran, about 20 minutes from Noosa.

Inskip Point

 Tomorrow I head to Tin Can Bay, for a look around and maybe an overnight stop before heading to Cooran. I plan to take the camper off there and prop for at least a week, maybe two hiding from the School Holidays, using the ute to explore the area around Noosa.
Bye for now.

Hervey Bay to Roma via Carnarvon Gorge

Hello all 
as promised here are a few video's from the whale watching trip at Hervey Bay

Credits to Kev and Rob from PalominoRVAustralia for their contribution of photos and video's and also for the amazing day out on the Bay. Thanks heaps all, much appreciated.

swimming under the boat

the whales came in pretty close

 After a week in Hervey Bay it was time to continue on, so I made my way towards 1770 and Agnes Water.
 

  I have found that anywhere near the Coast, and some places inland are VERY expensive. This tends to limit the amount of time I spend somewhere. There are numerous places I would have liked to stay longer, but with ridiculous prices being charged by Campgrounds and Caravan Parks I tend to move on pretty quickly. 1770 is a classic example........Workman's Beach Campsite at Agnes Water $6.00/night...............jam packed and no more room, so off to the Caravan Park $37/night. this gives me no incentive to stay longer and enjoy the town. 

Another example is Carnarvon Gorge............there is a massive QNPS campground there for $6.00/night BUT it is only open during school holidays, leaving no option but to stay at Takalakka Resort at $37/night UNPOWERED!!!!!!!!
Once away from the Coast most caravan Parks are not much more than Mining Camps charging Mining Camp prices....I resent paying $30-40/night to be woken at 6.00am by 40 miners leaving for work..............fair go people!

While it was lovely there it does nothing to make me want to stay longer at that price........not everyone wants or needs a resort to stay at.

 

I have woken up the last 3 or 4 mornings with a sore throat. I think these cold nights are giving me a dose of the flu. I would have loved to do some of the walks I did 30 odd years ago at Carnarvon Gorge, but with the shortest one being 7.5km, feeling a bit off colour and paying $37/night unpowered...............I moved on sadly. 

For some reason the program is not letting me caption my photo's but hopefully it will right itself next post.

So Carnarvon Gorge and Carnarvon Creek are the ones above.

A big EMPTY QNPS campground where I could have stayed for $6.00/night but closed............ahhh our taxes at work!!

The photo's above are of the Rock Pool on Carnarvon Creek. I headed towards Roma after a very windy night at the Showgrounds, I headed off towards Chinchilla.

So there I am, tootling along and heading under threatening skies towards Chinchilla, when all of a sudden, about 60k out of Roma it dawned on me that today was Sunday and I am getting mail sent to Roma..........DURRRR. So here I am back at Roma Showgrounds, it has been light rain all day and cool. Looking at the radar I am surrounded by thunderstorms waiting for the Post Office tomorrow.

The plan is to collect my mail and head towards Gympie and Rainbow Beach and hopefully get a couple of days Beach camping there, before the school holidays hit.

Bye for now.......