We arrived back home yesterday (23/9). It is clear that we have to do a lot of gardening to get the  place tip-top again.

All in all we have had a great 10 weeks.

They even have a Dragon Boat club

Coast Guard

FFF – Fresh Flathead Fillets

After lunch a walk along the coast at Tin Can

Bay

Wherever you look the views are stunning.

Low tide up the creek

A cove filled with boats

Billie the Schnauzer

Our ‘Smiley Face’  Caravan Park

Tin Can Bay Marina

The restaurant at the marina serves a great hot coffee and the locals are very friendly. The food is good as well.

After spending a good many days here at this remote Queensland location, (Tin Can Bay), we decided to a look around and explore some of the smaller places on the mainland just opposite Fraser Island. I am amazed at the number of little dwellings scattered along the inlets, creeks and sand peninsulas. Little villages have sprung up amongst the bays. The beaches are speckled with mangrove coves which change into sub-tropical vegetation. Paper bark trees give  way to Blue Gums and large Palms. Houses range from older shacks to some large and modern constructs. Tinnies are to be seen at many places. It is clear that many people come here to do some serious fishing.

Local vegetation

Clumps of palms growing around paper bark trees and gums.

Local vegetation.

Hervey Bay

This town has grown extensively in the last 10 or so years, but once you get past the new development the beach-side is fantastic. The Foreshore is stunning with beautiful views across the bay to Fraser island. The beach has numerous jetties to walk on and there is a big Marina development at the southern end of the bay.

Jetty at Hervey Bay

Tree Bottom growing out of the ground; Gum tree or Bum tree?

The best by far is the foreshore and esplanade itself. It looks like a botanical garden. The natural vegetation has been preserved and the debris has been cleaned up. The pathways are paved and very wide. There are many picnic areas with benches and playgrounds for the children as well as public amenities.

The sitting tree

Esplanade

Esplanade

Strolling down th stairs onto the beach at Hervey bay

Tin Can Bay is a tranquil village with plenty to do. Located at the southern end of the southern tip of the World Heritage listed Fraser Island. The town adjoins the great Sandy Strait and offers a sheltered paradise for birdwatching, sailing, cruising on a houseboat or fishing.

20/7 We have slowly set up camp bit by bit. We are planning to stay here for a good few weeks and need to be organised. Part of that organisation is exercise. On This trip I have taken along one of my bikes and have taken my first ride in a long time. I did only 20km, but that is better than nothing. I explored the inlets and the point of Tin Can Bay where all the boats are moored. There is even a Marina here with Chandlers and boat repair facilities.

There are some great restaurants serving good fresh seafood….

Looks and feels tropical

Our home for a while/

Camp with caravan, on-suit, and annex (yet to be deployed)

Finally some cycling

Mangroves everywhere

boats stranded on the mudbanks

During the low tide boats are resting on the mudflats. During high tide everything floats.

Irish Boat

They even have a Dragon Boat club

Coast Guard

The caravan park for boats

Locals call this town Rocky. As has been said earlier, Rocky has a population around 85,000.  It is a nice size town, but surprises in how neat it is being kept by the local council. It has a lot of ‘old world’ charm. The town center has a large shady main street that is wide and has many well maintained British colonial buildings. The old Post Office building looks almost new, but has been converted and sports a lovely coffee shop serving great coffee and good cakes. The town is about 40 kilometers from the coast

The ‘Oxford pub in the main street offers great pub meals and has all the local beers on offer. We had the Curry and rice meal. This was beautifully spicy and was a substantial meal. It cost only $8.00. Cannot believe how they can do it so cheaply.