Aussie Wendy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2008
- Messages
- 2,298
Sounds a good plan but perhaps overly ambitious. NRMA Hol Parks rate well and its near the Broadwater so that sounds fine. You can choose what you decide to do or not do among the GC parks while there - really you will only have 2 full days by the time you land Wed, get through customs, get hire van, get down coast, catch up with mum, settle in to campsite - depending on flight arrival time- you want something easy that first pm like chilling at the hol park and maybe a sightseeing walk along the beach or broadwater-no real time for one of the theme parks.
I also do not think you have time to drive up to Bundaberg and visit the zoo. From the Gold Coast its a 5-6 hour drive to Bundaberg at least (we used to visit regularly heading from northern suburbs to visit an elderly aunt) subject to the inevitable road works and you really need to allow a day at the Australian zoo or a substantial part of a day not just a couple of hours.
While it means heading out of town the campsite on the beach at Bargara in Bundaberg is very nice (Bargara Beach caravan park) rather than in town (about another 30 mins - there is a short cut from the highway south of Childers but I am hesitant to suggest it - is a bit complicated). Just north of Bargara is Mon Repos Turtle Hatchery but in June you are not in season for egg laying or hatching which is a pity as its great (hint to any others reading if you are visiting between November and March). In Bundaberg itself it is worth visiting the Bert Hinkler Hall of Aviation in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens. Alexandra Park and Zoo on the riverfront (so not next to Hinkler Park) has a good free mini zoo with Aus animals and monkeys. The townscape has several classic Australian architecture buildings worth a look. I would head to the campsite and unwind with a walk along the beach in the late afternoon - the pub meals are OK (kids are fine) at the Bargara Tavern or there are a couple of cafes or have a BBQ in the caravan park. Next morning sightsee in town for a couple of hours before continuing north. Oops this might be pushing it timewise as its 768km = a day to get from Bundy to Airlie. So instead maybe visit Bundy attractions late afternoon on arrival in Bundy if you get away from the Goldie early. The drive north from Bundy to Airlie is exceedingly tedious and not a lot to entertain you especially from Benaraby (outskirts of Gladstone) to Rocky. Be prepared on this road trip for lots of roadworks, mostly all single lane highway after the Sunshine Coast and caravans travelling north very slowly and having to wait for an overtaking lane. In Airlie Reefworld tour will be a good day trip and the snorkelling is good up there.
Wed to Rockhampton at 481km is a nice half day drive. Any plans for the afternoon? Something different is Koorana crocodile farm (closes a bit early some days like 3pm) or Capricorn Caves. From Rocky its around a 7 (sometimes 8) hrs drive back to Brisbane so will take the full day which leaves Friday as a day for a trip up to the Aus zoo - you can also do a train and bus combo to get there. Sat after returning the van are you at a Brisbane hotel in which case easy to spend Sat and Sun in Brisbane sightseeing at a slower pace - wheel, Southbank, maybe Lone Pine if you want more animals, seeing Grandma one last time.
So essentially yes plan is doable but zoo won't fit in en route unless you changed one night eg Thurs Rocky to sunshine coast/glasshouse (and go to zoo Friday) then down to Brissie later Fri arvo to accommodation as planned Fri night. If you really want to do Aus Zoo I'd think about that though you will have luggage left in van (and getting hot) while parked at zoo. I also think you need to choose 2 of Seaworld/Dreamworld/Movieworld/WetnWild - one each of the 2 full days ou have at the coast if you really want to spend all the time at theme parks.
Cheers!
I also do not think you have time to drive up to Bundaberg and visit the zoo. From the Gold Coast its a 5-6 hour drive to Bundaberg at least (we used to visit regularly heading from northern suburbs to visit an elderly aunt) subject to the inevitable road works and you really need to allow a day at the Australian zoo or a substantial part of a day not just a couple of hours.
While it means heading out of town the campsite on the beach at Bargara in Bundaberg is very nice (Bargara Beach caravan park) rather than in town (about another 30 mins - there is a short cut from the highway south of Childers but I am hesitant to suggest it - is a bit complicated). Just north of Bargara is Mon Repos Turtle Hatchery but in June you are not in season for egg laying or hatching which is a pity as its great (hint to any others reading if you are visiting between November and March). In Bundaberg itself it is worth visiting the Bert Hinkler Hall of Aviation in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens. Alexandra Park and Zoo on the riverfront (so not next to Hinkler Park) has a good free mini zoo with Aus animals and monkeys. The townscape has several classic Australian architecture buildings worth a look. I would head to the campsite and unwind with a walk along the beach in the late afternoon - the pub meals are OK (kids are fine) at the Bargara Tavern or there are a couple of cafes or have a BBQ in the caravan park. Next morning sightsee in town for a couple of hours before continuing north. Oops this might be pushing it timewise as its 768km = a day to get from Bundy to Airlie. So instead maybe visit Bundy attractions late afternoon on arrival in Bundy if you get away from the Goldie early. The drive north from Bundy to Airlie is exceedingly tedious and not a lot to entertain you especially from Benaraby (outskirts of Gladstone) to Rocky. Be prepared on this road trip for lots of roadworks, mostly all single lane highway after the Sunshine Coast and caravans travelling north very slowly and having to wait for an overtaking lane. In Airlie Reefworld tour will be a good day trip and the snorkelling is good up there.
Wed to Rockhampton at 481km is a nice half day drive. Any plans for the afternoon? Something different is Koorana crocodile farm (closes a bit early some days like 3pm) or Capricorn Caves. From Rocky its around a 7 (sometimes 8) hrs drive back to Brisbane so will take the full day which leaves Friday as a day for a trip up to the Aus zoo - you can also do a train and bus combo to get there. Sat after returning the van are you at a Brisbane hotel in which case easy to spend Sat and Sun in Brisbane sightseeing at a slower pace - wheel, Southbank, maybe Lone Pine if you want more animals, seeing Grandma one last time.
So essentially yes plan is doable but zoo won't fit in en route unless you changed one night eg Thurs Rocky to sunshine coast/glasshouse (and go to zoo Friday) then down to Brissie later Fri arvo to accommodation as planned Fri night. If you really want to do Aus Zoo I'd think about that though you will have luggage left in van (and getting hot) while parked at zoo. I also think you need to choose 2 of Seaworld/Dreamworld/Movieworld/WetnWild - one each of the 2 full days ou have at the coast if you really want to spend all the time at theme parks.
Cheers!
