South to Rockhampton

A sunny day to leave Airlie Beach heading further south towards, back through Proserpine and then down the Bruce Hwy. Due to the school holidays, there were many vans, trailers and cars heading north and this made the south drivers even more impatient than ever. We even had B Doubles overtaking and forcing their way in; now we know why they are called cowboys. At least we are not in a hurry and prepared to let them go.
We by passed Mackay as we had been warned that once in, it is a difficult place to find you way out. There is a type of ring road that will take you west and you come out at Sarina, via Marian. We took a break at Sarina and spent a very informative couple of hours at the Sugar Shed, a mini display of a working sugar mill. The guide knew his stuff and was full of facts, figures and anecdotes about the sugar industry from growing to producing.

St. Lawrence pub - old or quaint?

Following the highway down the coast, the road didn't improve much, the traffic was heavier and we were glad to stop at a little place called St. Lawrence, about 7k off the highway. The local council had upgraded facilities for travelers with showers, toilets and a flat place to park, all for the princely sum of $0. There was a donation box if you felt so inclined, the locals occasionally have a sausage sizzle for the travelers and the pub and bowling club put on meals if needed. Great facility that encouraged passing traffic to stop and possibly spend a dollar. Met some nice people from Seattle who were heading north to the Daintree area and then south to Melbourne later in the year.

Next day was driving through the "badlands" area, called such due to a large number of murders over the years on this stretch of highway between Rockhampton and Townsville. Interesting to read a little history in articles written over the years. Well, nothing happened to us and we then limped in to the little hamlet of Kinka Beach, between Yeppoon and Emu Park, about 50k from Rockhampton. Car trouble with the front end/brakes making an un-wholly noise. Not driving any further so a tow arranged for Monday morning to get it fixed. Such a nice spot to stop, 50m from the beach, even if you need to take a cut lunch and a water bottle to get anywhere near swimming depth. The tide goes out for nearly 500m.

The water is there somewhere!

Monday and the tow arrived as planned, into the dealership at Rockhampton and then off to pick up a hire car. A walk along to Fitzroy river which runs through the centre of town, and floods on a regular basis. Also, there are, of course, crocodiles in the river - that would make fishing from the banks interesting. A local said to us that no way would he go near the river so there might be something to the stories.

Into the Rockhampton Art Gallery, it was free, interesting but a small collection so it didn't take long so we headed off to the other end of town to the Botanic Gardens (don't know why they aren't botanical) which also house the Rockhampton Zoo, once again all free. The zoo holds the largest collection of southern hairy nose wombats in the world, apparently as a study group to try and preserve the norther hairy nose wombats which are listed a the 7th most endangered mammal in the world - who would have guessed?

Good news received, the car is fixed and ready to go - we thought it may have taken up to a couple of days so the gods must have been looking at us favorably. We dropped the hire car back and headed back to camp. It just goes to show the benefits of Total Care when traveling as all the arrangements were made by them, tow, accommodation and hire car cost. Good on RACV, could not recommend them highly enough.
Tuesday and a trip up the coast to Yeppoon via Keppel Bay. We were warned not to bother going out to Great Keppel Island - expensive to get to and nothing there when you do. Instead of the old saying "get wrecked on Great Keppel", apparently IT is wrecked - bad management over the years.
When one of the top things to do in Yeppoon is to have a coffee, you realize there is not much there. Lots of shops, a beach community, sun and wind and a $2 hot dog from Wendy's and we were on our way back to kinka beach. A quick look at Emu Park where the singing ship memorial to Captain James Cook who named Keppel Bay - the wind in the wires activates the organ pipes. The only problem is that the tune really sucks.

Wednesday and off to Agnes Waters and then Hervey Bay to see Fraser Island.