Winter Pilgrimage to QLD, Australia – July 2024

29 Jul Winter Pilgrimage to QLD, Australia – July 2024

The months of June and July have become the time for our (almost) annual “Winter Pilgrimage” to Southern Queensland, Australia. However, each winter we’ve travelled there (Brisbane, the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast), it hasn’t been sunnier or warmer than at home, so why do we do it?

The desire to catch up with Maggie’s 3rd daughter and her family (who live in Brisbane), the “promise” that this year it will be warmer than at home and our restlessness for travel trigger us every time.

Having sold our cubby house on wheels earlier this year (also known as a Jayco caravan), and having spent nearly 6 months packing, moving and setting up again in Sydney, we decided to get away from it all and go on a road trip stopping overnight at friends’ places and at short term accommodation.

There is one more thing to tell you. In early March this year, at the time we were moving back to Sydney, I was hospitalised (4 days), diagnosed as having a partial seizure and told I couldn’t drive for six months. So all of the driving on this trip was done by Maggie, I promise. I haven’t even sat in the drivers seat since I was “banned” from driving.

Our first destination was Forster NSW, where we stayed for 2 nights in a motel.

Forster NSW

I have visited Forster many times, yet have not previously visited Main Beach.

Black Head NSW

At Black Head we stayed with our wonderful friends, Patrick and Heidi. Their hospitality is always AWESOME.

At first glance Black Head appears to be a small, sleepy village. Get to know some of the locals and you’ll be exposed to a vibrant community of gardeners, artists, swimmers, animal lovers, philosophers, cooks …. etc., etc.

Yamba NSW

We enjoyed a tasty French style brunch at the Sandbar Cafe – freshly backed baguette, butter and jam with nicely made Cappuccino. The cafe does not impress from a distance, but get closer and you hear the French background music. Approach the front door and you are greeted at a small, outside “welcome counter” by a friendly man with a French accent. Survey the small tables and the interesting decor inside and outside, to really get a sense of being in a French cafe.

Just south of Yamba is Angourie.

Angourie is home to a disused quarry, which now offers attractive rock formations plus freshwater and salt water pools.

Brisbane QLD

Views from South Brisbane

We stayed in South Brisbane, on the 16th floor of the same building as Maggie’s daughter, Kristy (and her family) lives.

Queen Street, Brisbane City

Visit to Trevena Glen Farm

King Island, Wellington Point, Brisbane QLD at low tide

After four nights and days in Brisbane we started the return journey with a one night stay with Maggie’s Cousin Kathy and her husband Peter in Robina (Gold Coast QLD). It is always great to catchup with them.

Another night was spent at Sawtell NSW in a caravan park cabin. Behind the park is Bonville Creek, which looks more like a coastal lagoon.

For us, it is always refreshing to get away and this two week “jaunt” was an enjoyable adventure, but there was one more stop-over on the way home. So a week after being at Black Head we stopped there again for a night with Patrick and Heidi, then headed off home to our cozy “new” unit in Sydney.