After rain comes a lot of sun!!!
Where did we end last time…oh yes Coffs Harbour. Here we had our first few days of sun! We decided to hang around this place to enjoy it. We met a lovely couple from Germany and together with them we set our first steps on a surfboard (well…they taught us the tricks)! Great experience, especially when a curious dolphin hangs around you.
Martijn wanted to get a fishing rod, for fun but also to get some free meals out of it, so after purchasing one, he caught a couple of Bream on the first day! They were yummy on the Barbie!
The next 4WD trip was in Yuragir National Park. We drove some awesome tracks through gorgeous rainforest and woodlands. Some bits where challenging because of the rainfall but our Troopy made it through, really happy about those tyres from Cooper! Our first ‘river’ crossing was a fact (was a creek actually) as well! Joehoe!
And then there was Byron Bay…Super laid-back but tourist overloaded. But we didn’t want to miss out on the hype. Here we met the German couple again and went out for a few beers, we all know how that can end up and it did! Great night + headache in the morning!
Via hippie town Nimbin we took off to a nature reserve where a colony of Koalas supposed to live. Unfortunately we didn’t saw them but on our way on a small trail we came across a farmer who had a banana plantation further on. He asked us if we wanted to have some…of course. And he gave us a whole branch! Not one bunch, a whole branch! We had bananas for breakfast, lunch and dinner for several days! Too kind those Aussies!
Crossing states means nothing much but every state in Australia has its own rules, like in the US. For example in New South Wales (NSW) you got to have a fishing permit, in Queensland (QLD) you don’t (only for fresh water fishing) in NSW you can’t told or pet a captive koala, in QLD you can. In NSW speeding cameras are announced well before the camera, in QLD they aren’t (Damn!)
After crossing the border from NSW to QLD we took a fast drive passed the Gold Coast. We already heard that it was only full with high-raised buildings, amusement parks, beaches that didn’t had any sun anymore at 2pm because the buildings where blocking it. So after a 10 minute drive we headed to Lamington National Park. The winding road took us through all sorts of vegetation and ended in thick rainforest at the Green Mountains. We camped and hiked here for 2 days. Had grassing wallabies in front of our camping spot in the afternoon and early mornings and the place was loaded with the most cheeky and beautiful birds. A must see for everyone who comes to Australia! From here on the weather couldn’t be better! 25+ degrees!
Brisbane…we were a bit skeptic going to another big city, crowed, people in a rush. But we love Brisbane. It has a nice atmosphere, laid-back friendly people and a freshwater beach in the middle of the city, next to the river. Brilliant!
After a few days of exploring the city and beach fun, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo was next. A beautiful zoo and although Steve is in croc heaven he was fully present here. Everything was in name of him and they tried to honor his passion for wild life, education is the key in Aussie Zoo. The thing that amazed Jess the most was the hands-on approach. You could go and feed the elephants (they were just standing behind the tiniest fence), have your photo taken with a koala, snake, baby croc, cockatoo or even a cheetah! The tiger talk, the keepers just went into the enclosure with the tigers!
After some nice beach time and hiking in Noosa + national park it was time for the biggest sand island… Frasier island (123x25km), did you know that a whole rainforest is growing here on white sand, that it has 43 big sandblows, many freshwater lakes there and it inhabits amazing wildlife, pretty special island huh. And the only way to see the island is by 4WD…what a coincidence that we happen to have one! 4,5 days of sun, white beaches, 4WD-ing on the beach and through the rainforest, swimming in crystal clear lakes, rooming Dingos (once a little too close), a true paradise! On the 15th it was Jess her birthday. She got a great present…a notebook! Not only Martijn gave it, but also a lot of family and friends back home where a part of it! Special thanks to Ton, Rosa, Frans and Diana, Tjeerd, Sander, Wiske, Niels, Manfred and Rebecca! And we got another Jerrycan Sponsor! Tjeerd thanks for that!
Until next time, keep the shiny side up!
Finally…on the road!
After fixing the cutter of our Troopy we had the roof rack installed and Martijn had the last week off, so he could finish all the work on the car. While Jessica’s last week was different than normal, she went working in Taronga zoo for one more week. This time at the Australian Fauna department. In this week she learned so much from the dedicated keepers. Within the department there are smaller sections like: The Nocturnal house, the Macropot yard, Koala’s, Tasmanian devils and Platypus section. She got to work at all of them, thanks Taronga!
On the Saturday before we left Sydney we had a goodbye BBQ in our backyard with all the people that where around us in our time in Sydney.
That Monday it finally was going to happen, the car was (fully) packed and some of our neighbours waved us goodbye as we took off.
First stop: The Blue Mountains
First stop: Glenbrook Info centre to get a map of the area. The most crazy thing happened here. Back in The Netherlands we where gathering information for our trip and looked for websites from people who are doing the same thing as us, over-landing. TwoDutchies.nl is a website from 2 dutch people (Duh…) who are doing this aswell but with a Dutch car, a Troopy as well. And here, at the info centre, we came across them! such a coincidence!
After chatting for a while we took of further into the Blue Mountains. After some gorgeous lookouts, short hikes and some jaw dropping moments we headed of to a family that we met at our 4WD course. Together with them we joined 2 other wonderful TLCC members and their family for a BBQ. We got some great tips about the area and whee to go 4WDing in the Blue Mountains.
Our first day, our first night sleeping in the car, our first in the middle of nowhere camping spot (surrounded by Roo’s!), our first 4WD track alone, our first cooked meal out of the back of our car, our first week of exploring OZ!!! And we are loving it!
Our first 4WD track was kinda scary…Well the end part. We went to the Glowworm Tunnel which is just on an easy gravel road, but we decided to explore the other tracks shown on our GPS. In the end we followed the Blackfellow hand trail and some parts, for us beginners, where really exiting! We whee so focused on driving, guiding and navigating that we took any photos. To bad because there was some good action going on!
After a couple of days we made our way to NewCastle via some small towns. We had a warm welcome from a group of dolphins in the harbour! After enjoying the beach and exploring the town we decided to get some info about leave springs. They suppose to b curved underneath your car, and they where..till we packed our car and now they are flat. So in NewCastle we found a good address to get new springs fitted and we met some lovely people at this place!
When we say Stockton, all 4WDer know where we are talking about. One of the biggest moving sand dunes and you can DRIVE on them! We spent 1,5 day on them, in the rain, but we where sitting inside anyway! Gradually we felt more and more confident driving in the sand. Of course on 15psi (tyre pressure) our car smoothly tackled the dunes.
After a couple of days we arrived at Tamworth, country music capital of Australia, a must see is the big golden guitar and so is a pub where they play live music!
Via Armidale we took a very scenic route to Coffs Harbour whee we are now. Planning our next 4WD adventure…
Till next time…keep the shiny side up!
