Eungella

October 11, 2018October 3, 2018 Itching for Hitching

July 2018, Eungella, Qld I had originally planned that we’d stay at the Broken River Bush Camp at Eungella National Park. Fortunately our mates ‘The Sugars’ in Mackay recommended the Finch Hatton showgrounds as the best option for touring the area and I now know why. Finch Hatton is central and the road up to Eungella is steep with a gradient in places exceeding 15%. If you’ve travelled the Waterfall Way in NSW it is reminiscent but steeper. Lined with palms, tiny waterfalls spurt from the rock face and halfway up a road crew are working to repair the edge. … Continue reading Eungella

Places, Vic15 Comments

Capel Sound

October 9, 2018October 7, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Oct 2018, Mornington Peninsula, Vic There’s warmth in the air and a spring in every step. Melbourne has turned on one of those days when Port Phillip Bay is perfectly flat and a soft powdery blue. Families are drawn to … Continue reading Capel Sound

National Park, Qld12 Comments

Finch Hatton Gorge

October 9, 2018October 1, 2018 Itching for Hitching

A cool entry to the park July 2018 Based at Finch Hatton showgrounds we drive up to Finch Hatton Gorge, through sugar farms and small acreages studded with fruit trees and banana palms. What a heavenly place this would be … Continue reading Finch Hatton Gorge

Qld, The Pubs7 Comments

Criterion Hotel, Finch Hatton

October 8, 2018October 1, 2018 Itching for Hitching

July 2018, Finch Hatton, Qld It’s a deliriously warm afternoon and from our showgrounds campsite we walk a few metres to the pub on the main street for lunch. By the photos on the walls The Criterion Hotel was once … Continue reading Criterion Hotel, Finch Hatton

Places, Qld, Showgrounds8 Comments

Finch Hatton

October 7, 2018September 30, 2018 Itching for Hitching

July 2018, Finch Hatton, Qld Inland from Mackay the Pioneer Valley is positively bucolic. Small sugar towns, old Queenslanders surrounded by palms and cane, acres of cane. Sugar mills belching steam high into the air. Marian, the town where Dame Nellie Melba once lived as a young bride in an unsuccessful marriage. Towns like Mirani, Gargett where we stop to walk through the market and then we arrive at Finch Hatton. The Main Street of Finch Hatton, where a railway line once ran is lined with palms and big old mango trees. There’s a pub, a general store, a real … Continue reading Finch Hatton

Point of Interest, Qld6 Comments

Paradise Lagoons

October 6, 2018September 28, 2018 Itching for Hitching

July 2018 After hearing on the radio yesterday of a Campdraft at a property called Paradise Lagoons near Gracemere we got a little excited. After all we’ve been driving around this fair land for nearly six years hoping to chance … Continue reading Paradise Lagoons

Qld, The Pubs8 Comments

You Can’t Take Him Anywhere

October 5, 2018September 28, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Winter 2018 and we’re have a quiet dinner in a pub somewhere when Woody suddenly says, “You don’t really want to see the waitress pulling her undies out of her arse, do you?” On second thoughts perhaps it’s the places … Continue reading You Can’t Take Him Anywhere

Caravan Parks, Qld11 Comments

Ilfracombe Olympics

October 4, 2018September 28, 2018 Itching for Hitching

Every Winter the caravan park in Ilfracombe hosts the Ilfracombe Olympics. What? You haven’t heard of this prestigious event? If you’d wondered why so many caravans head to Western Queensland in the Winter time this is the reason. It’s got … Continue reading Ilfracombe Olympics

Why Caravanning14 Comments

A Moveable Feast

October 3, 2018September 26, 2018 Itching for Hitching

This winters’ (2018) trip has been a fabulous trip for food. Starting with the winter warming curry pies from Grist Bakery at Kyneton only a few hours from home. The cumquats that we added brandy to at Cunnamulla and are now enjoying 4 months later. In Cairns it was fresh prawns, coral trout and Spanish mackerel from several seafood wholesalers. Along with red paw paw, juicy thin skinned mandarines and sweet giant passionfruit from Rusty’s Market. In Ingham it was Italian smallgoods, imported cheeses and an array of olives from Lou’s Food Emporium and bacon chops from the butcher next … Continue reading A Moveable Feast

Caravan Parks, Places, Qld, The Pubs, When Things Just Go Wrong5 Comments

A Hasty Visit to Cooper Creek

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 Itching for Hitching

June 2018, Western Queensland After about 250kms (from Quilpie) we come to masses of greenery and a sign declaring 10kms of Cooper Creek channels. This is it. In water terms it’s the aorta of Australia’s central river systems. I’m excited, this is what I have wanted to see for so long. Before making camp we drive into Windorah for fuel. There is a sign announcing “No shooting on town common.” Either the locals here are a colourful bunch or this sign is directed at us. We return to Cooper Creek and find ourselves a perfect campsite only to discover that … Continue reading A Hasty Visit to Cooper Creek