Day 5 - Monday 3/04/2017

Today was an easy day in the scheme of things we even had a sleep in until around 8am.

We checked out of the Caravan Park in Noosa just before 10am after packing everything up and letting the kids go for their last swim in the pool. It only took us an hour to pack up this morning and that is from scratch as we had everything unpacked due to the fact we were camping for 2 nights! (we are getting better at this)

We headed along the highway and back tracked a little to the Big Pineapple as Roo was not with us when we visited yesterday and most of the photos that Sean took hadn't saved.

From the Big Pineapple we headed along the Bruce Highway on our way to Hervey Bay, we drove through to Gympie where we stopped for some lunch and were going to have a very quick look through the Gold Mining Museum but decided $30 for a quick look was a bit steep.

Back oon the road and our next stop was to collect a Puzzle Cache down in Bidwell-Magnolia. We turned of the highway and headed down a small road only to find a waning sign that there was water on the road, or hearts sank but we decided to take a look (we can turn around if needed). We were pleasantly surprised when we came to a bridge that had no water and continued along the dirt section of the Bidwell Road through a beautiful forest, and past multiple Sugar Cane fields.

We grabbed the puzzle cache (took 5 of us to block holes and pour water) and nabbed a nearby traditional and were then back on the road to Hervey Bay and Roos family.

We crossed over the Mary River and passed through Maryborough (we are going back there tomorrow for another look apparently there is a Mary Poppins statue). I loved this town and cant wait to get back there and use the proper camera to get some photos and not just the mobile phone.

We came into Hervey Bay around 4pm and quickly arrived a Brian and Jill house (Roos Aunty and Uncle) and all I can say is WOW this place is STUNNING. We are very lucky that they have let us set up camp on their property.

We set up camp and had a cuppa and were taken to the garage where we found the "baby" sitting in front of us was an original 61 E Type Jaguar (I'm trying to get the keys). 

I was finally pried away and we jumped on their little tour bus (they own the first Whale Watching Tour Group here) and went to the Boat Club for dinner! WINNER!!!! Kids eat free here on a Monday and Tuesday Night so we had a delicious meal and for once it didn't cost a fortune. After dinner we went around to the Marina to see the whale watching boat and tour office,Charlotte loved the purple lighthouse (shame I couldn't get her a proper photo)

Tomorrow after we do Maryborough again we head into Bundaberg (only a very short drive) and we are going on a tour of the Bundaberg Rum Distillery (that's if we don't get blown away in the terrible winds that are howling around the tent as I type)

From Bundaberg we were supposed to go to Rockhampton and the across but due to the flooding we are making a detour and missing Rockhampton completely and heading for Gemfields a different way. This sadly means that we are going to have 2 veeerrryyy loooooong driving days but at least we will be safe.

Catch you all tomorrow night