Day 26 Friday 3/7/2026 Kenilworth, Qld, sunny warm
Picture this, it’s a warm sunny morning in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Our neighbours have moved out leaving us with a grassy site the size of a house block. Thanks to D. J. Trump there aren’t as many travellers on the road this year. A few puffy clouds scud across the sky. In the distance there’s a high range and being in the sub-tropical area there’ll be hoop pines and bunya pines up there. A smaller range is closer to us. The gum trees are huge and jacarandas spread their ferny leaves like a brolly. There’s a perfectly cone shaped bunya pine across the road in the dairy.
The Kenilworth Dairy is attracting the holidaying kids with its wide array of milk shakes, fruity yoghurts, and chockie mousse. There are two calves out front for petting. Up the hill the small village has pretty wooden shops lining the street to the pub at the top. It won’t be long before those kids find the donut shop with its artful sugary delights.
On our showgrounds camp there’s a large Queenslander-style house and a smaller office for the caretakers. Both of these have been trucked in from elsewhere in the past, and now look as though they’ve always been here. Queenslanders aren’t afraid to pick up their large wooden homes and pubs and move them elsewhere.
To the other side of our camp where I’m lounging, there are green lawns running down to a small soak, where ducks swim and splash. Beyond that a fence has been consumed by creepers and tangled lantana, bees are busy in the flowers. Below the fence the Mary River can be glimpsed making its way to Maryborough and the heads near K’gari (Fraser) Island. There’s small bridge over the soak leading to the showgrounds arena and equestrian area. Recrossing the bridge there’s a shaded laneway of deciduous trees and colourful bromeliads. Not a bad spot this is it?
We spend the afternoon enjoying the warmth. Woody buys more cheese. I wander over to the park and sketch the dairy. A young family from Brisbane wander over to have a look and I chat with the Mum whose shy daughter likes to draw.
We have a drink on the veranda of the pub in the afternoon sun.
There are a few more caravans in here tonight, though the travel figures are down 27%.
We have spinach and feta triangles for an easy dinner.
Accom: $30.00
So lovely and evocative, I could picture it all. There are loads of caravaners along the Fraser Coast at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I feel like they all left later to go north this year. It was so quiet on the way up and busy on the way down. Reckon you’ll know the whales by name now! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderfully peaceful day in Kenilworth! I loved the detail about Queenslanders moving entire wooden homes and pubs to new locations, making relocation almost an art form. The dairy, lush greenery, Mary River and afternoon drink on the pub veranda complete a wonderfully relaxed picture of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lookoom, it is a favourite place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fine description and drawing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Derrick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A grassy site the size of a house block, a dairy with milkshakes and two calves out front, and $30 for the night — that is a very good day’s caravanning. The bit that got me was sketching the dairy and the shy girl who likes to draw wandering over. Those small unplanned conversations are the ones our kids remember long after the big-ticket stops blur together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t that the truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a good reminder that the best caravan stops aren’t always the big-name destinations sometimes a relaxed overnight stop like Kenilworth is exactly what makes a longer trip enjoyable.
The tricky part is knowing where to break up the drive before you’re already tired or committed to the next destination. For travellers planning a similar Queensland caravan trip, GoTrip can help build the journey day by day around your preferred driving pace, find suitable overnight stops along the route, and check things like weather and estimated trip costs before you set off.
If Kenilworth or the Sunshine Coast hinterland is on your route, it could be worth putting the full trip into GoTrip.au first and seeing where the most comfortable overnight breaks fit naturally.
Looks like a great spot for a slow afternoon by the river.
LikeLiked by 1 person