Townsville to Calliope       October 2025

Finally after two month packing and cleaning we are ready to explore Australia again. We lived in the bus which was parked in the vacant block next door for a month. The car is sold and our only transport now is the motorhome. The last week we could not enter the house because the place was cleaned and ready for rental we parked at the Townsville esplanade. Beautiful to wake up with the ocean in front of you. 30 September on our way. First night a roadside stop but early awake and off to Bowen. Horseshoe bay is the best beach in Australia. Magnificent views and great walking tracks.

the Strand Esplanade Townsville

                        Bowen Horseshoe Bay                    This is the place to relax Bowen

 Three nights in Bowen. The band the Billy Goats were playing in the cafe next door and kept us entertained the last night. This place we could stay forever but there is more to see. One overnight stop in Proserpine and early to Cape Hillsborough. Apart from the stunning scenery it is famous for the kangaroos that visit every morning. Vaska had a few unwelcome visitors, she got al least 20 itchy sand fly bites. We got up very early to watch the roos and there was a group of people around one roo.

                                                    Cape Hillsborough

The walk we did should have been better planned because part of the track is over the beach and not accessible during high tide and of course it was high. During the afternoon we could walk to an island just off the coast

                                                  Cape Hilsboroug

7 October.  Mackay was only 50 KM south and first stop  to Harbor beach for a walk. Shopping at Aldi and off to Luke and Nikaela. It just happened to be Luke's birthday. We had seen them two weeks ago when we brought some furniture over. It looked like Vaska didn't mind to be an acting  grandma. Isla loves Opa and Vaska. Next day everybody had to go to work and we took off to the hospital to get the stitches out and some physio.  Next  Camilla beach, known for kms low tide. Another favourite spot. Three nights at Camila and long walks on the beach.

            Nikaela, Flynne, Isla, Jed, Luke, Vaska                                         Grandma Vaska

                      Carmilla beach                    Toilet art Yeppoon         The two lovely birds

The Marlborough stretch from Sarina to Rockhampton is always the most monotonous part of the journey south. 250 KM of the same landscape. We made a detour to visit the coastal towns of Yeppoon and Emue Park arriving in Rockhampton late afternoon. Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia it also has a beautiful free camp next to a large shopping centre.  We left a day early because the temperature was 43 degrees and at the next stop Calliope river there would be nice cool water to swim in. The photo shows why this is a very popular free camp.

                                          Calliope River free camp normally very busy

15 October.  While we were in Calliope we decided to return to Mackay because the bus had an oil leak already for a long time but it got worse. Instead of waiting for it to get too bad we drove to Luke. He is a mechanic by trade. Two days to drive back and two days to remove the cylinder head. Parts are ordered. Not everything went to plan. We lived in the bus in Luke and Nikaela’s house. Apart from working on the bus I painted a newly added bedroom while Vaska kept our household running. After two weeks we are on the road again. Fingers crossed everything works out OK.

   Vaska and Flynn.                The joys of being opa.        Cylinder head removed by Luke.
enjoying a meal of crab.   Isla applying mascara and nail polish.                                 

31 October. We are going over the same road we took to get the bus repaired. Rockhampton, and Calliope camping. The temperature is 33 degrees and the river is like bath water.
What an exiting October month we had !!

Vaska.     Isla.     Albert.     Flynne.     Nikaela.      Luke