At last we are on our way.   The first pic was taken as we left the cattle yards on James’ property at Cooroy.  (Pic 1) We travelled approx 750km (11hrs & lots of roadworks) up the Bruce Highway to a free o/night rest area at Waverley north of Rockhampton (the beef capital of Queensland).    There were several other campervans and caravans overnighting there including lots of young backpackers from Europe.  It is always great to exchange info about various sites, vans, towing vehicles etc.  – (Pic 2)

Leaving Cooroy

Waverley Rest Area O/night

Moving on Sunday morning we had a short trip up to Mackay’s northern beaches (150km) and booked into the caravan park at Blacks Beach where we stayed earlier this year with Steve & Jacqui.  It is beautiful – right on the beach front – pic 3.  We had just set up and were enjoying a cuppa when a caravan pulled in next to us –it was our new friends from the night before – Inge & Ken from Sydney.  We had told them about Blacks Beach and they had decided to give it a go. 

Blacks Beach - Mackay



 Today we visited Hay Point & Dalrymple Coal Terminals.  Together they are one of the largest coal export terminals in the world.  It was very impressive.    No doubt Robert Complicado will remember visiting Mackay Harbour on the other side of the bay.  Mackay used to be a small sugar town and still has large sugar cane farms around it but now it is growing at a terrific rate with new estates popping up everywhere to cater for the fly-in/fly-out miners – all due to the mining boom in Queensland. 

 

Hay Point & Dalrymple Coal Terminals

 



Information about the Coal Terminals

 

A Local Store

Tomorrow we are on the move again to Horseshoe Bay at Bowen. We are hoping that the weather will be better there – it is very windy here.   Bowen is the town where they filmed the “Darwin” scenes during the Japanese attack on Australia in the movie “Australia” with Nicole Kidman & Hugh Jackman.