WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL   TALLEBUDGERA TO TEWANTIN   245kms

Today was humid.

We left the park at 8.45. The packing and hitching up is becoming fairly routine – no longer get uptight about it.

Thought we might have missed the rush hour traffic, however, there was solid traffic all the way to well north of Brisbane itself. I had rather expected a bit of a rural run between the Gold Coast and Brisbane’s southern outskirts, but the urban sprawl is kind of all joined up. However, it was not really hard driving because it was on good, dual roads. The Gateway Motorway is great, skirting Brisbane, crossing the river east of the central city, then going to the northern outskirts  before turning back into “ordinary” road. The toll of $2 was worth it – totally. However, there was a moment of panic as we approached the toll booth, had to commit to a lane and I hunted for the money!

We pulled over into a parking area north of Nambour, for lunch. It was another place that required cool and careful planning to exit again. John was tense by now, because of all the trucks on the road, and got us a bit hemmed in, trying to go the way he was determined on. Then he lost patience and simply drove down a sort of embankment and through a rough garden area to the next level of road in the parking area! Well, I guess it is an offroad van……but suspected the cupboard contents would be rather jumbled up.

We reached Tewantin, via Cooroy, in the early afternoon. We were already booked into the Bougainvillea Top Tourist Caravan Park. This cost us $15.30 a night, after discount, with the seventh night free. But once we have accumulated $20 of discount, after twelve paid nights, the usual rate of $17 will cut in.

We had some difficulty backing the van onto our site, getting it the exact distance John wanted from the edge of the cement slab, and then getting the Truck and van unhitched, due to the site sloping down at its front. But we managed.

The park is away from the sea, but it is a very pleasant park – clean, modern, decent sized sites, concrete annexe pad. The surrounding grass is really thick and lush – not a variety I have seen down south.  Good looking pool and BBQ area. It is kind of behind a roadhouse, so there is a range of supplies available from that. There are no other shops nearby.

After doing set up for an extended stay, we drove on into Noosa, down the almost fabled Hastings Street, and onto the Spit, which is like a solid part bar at the mouth of the Noosa River. On its seaward side is the main Noosa beach, on its inland side is a marina of sorts. Walked on the beach, and along some of the Spit. It is all very attractive.

There were people fishing in the surf off the beach and in the river mouth. Could see 4WD vehicles on the sandy beach north of the river mouth, so there is obviously vehicle access to that side, somehow. Hmmmm……..

The Noosa area is not so easy to navigate around. Traffic is chaotic, despite the roundabouts every few metres!

Tea was mullet, fries and salad. There are nicer eating fish!

Phoned K and left message on machine, with our where abouts.

I am happy to be travelling totally new ground. John has never before been in Qld. I have visited Brisbane and the Gold Coast, on brief occasions, and once spent half an hour at Mt Isa airport. So the State is essentially a novelty.

The night was warm and humid enough for us only to need a sheet covering.