(9/8/2017-10/8/2017)
After leaving Hervey Bay we drove around 1 ½ hours north west to Childers. We decided to stay at Brierley Wines Estate as it was free camping and we arrived in the afternoon.
Childers – part of the Bundaberg Regional Council. There are alot of historical buildings, historical homes, wineries, museums and annual festivals here.
There is also the Palace Backpackers Memorial Building which is in the main street of Childers. The former Palace Backpackers Hostel was destroyed by fire on 23 June 2000. A total of 84 backpackers were staying in the hostel that night. Tragically 15 died in the fire which was later found to be deliberately lit. This building contains the tourist information centre but also a memorial to the 15 backpackers who died in that fire.
Brierley Wines Estate – a beautiful and quiet spot to free camp. We met the owner, Tony Brierley when we arrived and we were straight into the wine tasting (from about 6 bottles). And of course we bought a couple of bottles of wine. We had the whole area to ourselves on the first night!! So peaceful!!! Hmmm, Andrew is becoming bit of a red wine drinker now!!!!
The next day we visited Snakes Down Under Reptile Park and Zoo. It was quite an interesting and informative day as there were numerous talk shows and guided tours throughout the day. There were only about 8 people there! What I am finding at the moment is that there are no crowds when we have been visiting places which is great (no queues!!!!), of course that will change when it comes to school holidays!!!!
There was a talk show on snakes featuring Australia’s largest species of python. We had photos taken with us holding a python. There was a koala talk followed by another snake show with venomous snakes. There was also a crocodile feeding show too. There was an emu and kangaroo reserve where we got to feed and pat the kangaroos which Mitchell enjoyed. Interacting with the animals is such a great experience for him!!!!
We left there in the afternoon and took a drive to Woodgate Beach. It was a beautiful white sandy beach with calm waters (too cold to swim though!!!). It looked like a very peaceful lifestyle for those that lived there. Woodgate Beach is framed by two National Parks, Woodgate and Kinkuna which form part of the Burrum Coast National Park.
That night another family turned up at Brierley Wines with their caravan. They were a lovely family of 6 travelling around for 3 months. What was so funny is this was the first travelling family we had met and they lived in Newport which is only 5 minutes from where we live!!!!!
The owner, Tony, came round with more firewood for everyone. We also bought a couple of more bottles of wine from him. Tony was a lovely man, very down to earth with that good old fashioned hospitality.
We had some drinks around the campfire and toasted marshmallows. Ahhh, this is what camping life is all about – wine, fire and marshmallows!!!! I think Andrew polished off a bottle of red that night!!
(9/8/2017-10/8/2017)
Laughtons Living Life 