ROADTRIP ON THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA. STAGE 3: FROM BRISBANE TO MAGNETIC ISLAND

The third stage of our roadtrip along the east coast of Australia it passed between the cities from Brisbane and Townsville, from where we catch a boat to Magnetic Island. There we took a two-day mini vacation that we enjoyed as two gentlemen.

At the moment these are the main data:

Day 11Brisbane - Noosa Heads

We say goodbye to our friend Felipe to continue along the most populous coast in Australia. But by God, we don't want to visit such huge cities, we almost prefer a simple place. The surprise of this day was the poster announcing the Glass House Mountains... Without knowing what they were, we took the detour and ... we freaked out!

The Glass House Mountains It is a very curious National Park, with mountains of rare forms that rose millions of years ago for all the volcanic activity in the area. To visit them it is best to go to the Visitor Center and ask for information. They recommended one loop-shaped route to visit the most interesting viewpoints, so this was our itinerary:

• From the Visitor Center we take Pikes Road, which transits pineapple Crops fields!
• On the detour, we take Old Gympie Road On the left, it is the panoramic road that runs through the National Park.
• We reach the Glass House Mountains Lookout, a high point with views over the entire magnificent park. There is an informative map that tells you each of the most important mountains.
• We return on our steps on Old Gympie Rd, we pass by Landsborough and we continue until splice again with the HW.

In total, the detour is about 50 km that is fast, on roads in good condition and worth it. It is next to the main road and is a place, at least, interesting and different. You have more info on their official website.

We follow direction and pass Sunshine Coast, to reach Noosa Heads and enjoy a quiet afternoon.

Noosa Heads It is a small coastal town, similar to Byron Bay, but with a more holiday atmosphere and less alternative. Although we liked it a lot. Has a Beach cool and quite big, the Noosa National Park where to walk for all levels, a couple of lookouts like Laguna Lookout or Mount Tinbeerwah and several restaurants and cafes Fashion.

We stayed at the YHA Halse Lodge, which was possibly what we really liked most about Noosa! It is an old house of 1880 enabled as a hostel. But it also has a super cool bar, with special offers for dinner and drink. Prices range from $ 30 per bunk.

Day 12Noosa Heads - Apple Tree Creek

Taking advantage of it was Saturday, we stopped at Eumundi Markets, held two days a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and where craft and art stalls meet, although in reality there is everything, including food in abundance. Arrive early because it gets up to the ball!

In the middle of the day we stop to eat at Urangan and here we met some very peculiar friends: soldier crabs. Although of friends they really didn't have much. We saw them from a distance, groups of blue balls that moved in unison on the deserted beaches ... So we came to see what the hell they were ... And that's how we met these weirdos. They look like precious stones! By the way, the beach, although not of much interest, has a huge wooden pier.

We slept a little later, in the Apple Tree Creek rest area.

Day 13Apple Tree Creek - Gladstone

In the morning we walked around (without going inside) through the distilleries Bundaberg, which make rum since 1888 and, apparently, is one of the best in the world! And it is that for a few kilometers we have realized that here what is not lacking are sugarcane crops.

On the route today, we have a place marked in red, the color to indicate the places where important events occurred in history (or the only color we had ... well, it is actually a phrase made). It is none other than the second point where landed James Cook in Australia, in the year 1770 (and the first in Queensland). The place, how could it be otherwise, is called Seventeen Seventy. By the way, the first landing was in Botany Bay, near Sydney.

There is a parking lot from where a couple of roads run along this outgoing coast. As beauty is nothing remarkable, however to think that with the arrival of Captain Cook began the transformation without turning back from Australia, it is considered a place of forced visit.

Although it is not on its way, it is worth the detour and learn more about the history of Australia. We continue north, through beautiful landscapes and fields, until we reach the rest area of ​​Calliope River(near Gladstone), in what was a historical settlement of the 1850s. Today it still retains some buildings that show this, an authentic open-air museum. More info.

Day 14Gladstone - Waverley Creek

Day 14, this was not marked in any color, rather we could remove it from the calendar. We needed a shower, a few hours of library, eating between 4 walls, going to the supermarket ... And all this we did in Rockhampton.

The showers are found in the pool complex of the Aquatic Center, which by the way is a pass! For $ 2 you have access to the pools and changing rooms. The library had unlimited wifi and was very cool.

What didn't work out so well was the purchase at Woolworths. When we had everything on the box and we were about to pass it, there was a computer error that, to the parrot, blocked about 500 Woolworths supermarkets throughout Australia! It was the only day I decided to buy sausages (well ... "sausages"), and see how the play came out!

At night we arrive at the rest area ofWaverley creek, our accommodation.

Day 15Waverley Creek - Broken River

After a good breakfast (we have hooked up to eat my goreng envelope), we set course for Eungella National Park with only one reason: see platypus in its natural habitat.

To get there you have to take the detour to Highway 64, which, although it is in good condition, there is a point where it gets very very steep and with many curves. But you will see that everything you climb at the end turns in your favor, above the weather is cooler and the landscapes change a lot. And you'll see that, even if you think so, you won't be alone!

Did we see platypus? Of course! Although it is not guaranteed, here there is a colony of platypus quite large (large ... pse ... maybe there are 20?). We arrive around 3 in the afternoon and park in the “Broken River bush camp” campsite (There is another one across the river a little further on, the “Fern Flat camping area”). The price is $ 12.70 for two people and it is necessary to make the reservation online. The environment is very cool, right next to the river where the platypus live, although the bathrooms are quite painful.

On the other side of the road is the Visitor Center, where they can inform you about the place and give you advice. But for that we are also. Let's see…

www.npsr.qld.gov.au

Let's put as a point of reference the bridge (Be careful because Google Maps is upside down). On the right is the information office, from there if you continue along the road next to the river, you will reach some pools where you can see the platypus sticking their dives. The road will be about 15 minutes on foot and has no difficulty.

There is another area to see them, the bridge is passed to the left. Another path accompanies the river and you reach a wooden viewpoint, about 400 meters. We saw in both places, we also stopped for a while on the same bridge and in the distance we saw another.

The better hours to see the platypus swim through these murky waters is in the morning from 4 to 8, and in the afternoon from 15 to 19. Luck!

On its official website you have more information about the site.

Day 16Broken River - Guthalungra (Airlie Beach)

We get up early today to arrive on time for our scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef. We have told you our experience in this article, super recommended!

To take it, you have to go to Whitsunday Airport, very close to Airlie Beach. We do not explore this town too much, just in a park to eat and little else. But from what we saw in glancing, it is a great place if you come with a desire to march and do activities in Queensland.

Where if we spent a while before the flight went to the area of Shute harbor. We walked around with the van through the Lion's Lookout viewpoint and an urbanization with spectacular views. It would be a small (very small) advance of what we would see later from the sky.

But nothing compared to what we would find before arriving at the Guthalungra rest area: neither more nor less than the Big Bowen Handle (with big ant included) !! This really is a final girito, huh?

Day 17Guthalungra - Townsville (Magnetic Island)

This is the last day of roadtrip, before making a break in Magnetic Island, which is already good for us! And overall it was a quiet day. First we go up to the viewpoint of Mount Inkerman Lookout (by car, of course), from where there are 360 ​​degree views (many views, but nothing remarkable on the horizon). There we found a huge snake, which would be at least 10 meters long! Well, this particular snake was drawn on very cool informative murals.

Ts, did you think there were no real snakes in this story? Check out the next photo ↓

A disgusting, yes, but total, this article will read 4 cats, juas juas!

Before arriving in Townsville, from where our ferry leaves to Magnetic Island, there is the Billabong Sanctuary (which you will have seen announced a thousand times on the road). Eye, we stopped only for the piece of crocodile that welcomes you, being in the land of crocodiles, we were funny. But you know, it is best to see animals in freedom, no zoos, sanctuaries, or pseudoprotectors ...

That said, on Magnetic Island we spent two nights of luxury. Little pool, cheap beer, pizza for dinner ... Of course, no bathrooms, we have already entered killer beaches!

This was ours third stage of the roadtrip along the east coast of Australia. We leave from Brisbane and after 7 days of road we arrive at Townsville, to take a ferry to Magnetic Island. Almost 2,000 km, in which we saw almost everything!

Video: ROADTRIP STEP 8 - EAST COAST AUSTRALIA #TRAVELVLOG (April 2024).