Bundaberg/Burnett Heads Stay

 After our stay at Maryborough we hooked up and headed a little further north to set up at a lovely little hamlet of Burnett Heads, a little NE of Bundaberg. Burnett Heads is at the mouth of the Burnett River which is also where the large sugar bulk carriers berth to take processed sugar on board.

The weather was again against us, but it didn't really stop us from doing what we set out to achieve.

To begin with I checked out a patchwork shop in Bundaberg that I had found online, and oh my, it was wonderful. Just the sort of activity to do on a cold, wet and miserable day!

Doesn't this store sound wonderful - 'Teacup, Quilts & Niceties'?  I also visited 'The Quilters Shack'. Although it was extremely hard (?) I curtailed my desire to purchase a lot of fabric bits and pieces. Below is what I purchased between the two shops, including a lovely Christmas caravan piece.

After finding the food court in a local shopping centre, we ventured into the centre of Bundaberg, and whilst hubby tried to find the local eye wear shop, I headed off down the main street to find a shop that I really should not have been seeking out.

Yes, I headed for a chocolate shop, and as some of you may know, after admitting I was a serious chocoholic, I can no longer have anything with dairy in it. However, this shop advertised that it stocked allergy free delectables! This is what greeted me inside.

I walked out of there having only purchased my dairy free chocolates, including some buttons to make some hot chocolate with Almond milk.

By the following day, the rain had cleared away, and we decided to take a river cruise on the 'Bundy Belle', a small vessel that does 2 1/2 hr cruises up and back on the Burnett River.

Although it was still quite 'cool', it was lovely on the little boat and the morning tea that was surplied was really delicious. The commentary was very informative about the history of Bundaberg and the river.

This photo shows the river looking towards the city and to just let you know, the bridge ahead was way under water during the recent floods.

We then turned and headed back up the river towards the mouth of the river passing the wharf where the bulk carriers tie up.

Our final place to discover was the Macadamia Australia farm and visitors centre. Here we had tastings of various flavoured macadamia nuts - oh yumm!

There are quite a few 'totem poles' that tell the story of this property where macadamia nuts were first planted back in 1958.

Now the best part - well one of the best parts - about stopping off here, was the morning tea. For one of the first places I felt I could relax when ordering my morning tea. I had my coffee with macadamia milk (very nice) and some gluten free/dairy  cake. Although in the photo it shows a big blob of cream beside the cake, I did not eat it - hubby had that with his piece of cake.

Once back at the caravan park, we began the task of packing away the awning, and other things we would need on our last night there. However, whilst doing this, I could not resist taking a photo of the beautiful sunset that seemed fitting to end our visit to the area. To be honest the photo realy does not do it justice - it was a very rich red colour.

Well time, to head to bed and think of the drive home tomorrow.

'Til next time,

June

Day Trip to Howard

 Thankfully it was a fairly fine day when friends joined us as we headed about 30 kms north of Maryborough to a little township called Howard. It is here that a most incredible fabric/drapery store has existed at Howard for over 40 years and run by the same people. It apparently has over 6,000bolts of patchwork fabric along with all needlework accessories, dress fabrics and furnishing fabrics etc.

Hubby, did the ultimate parking trick for me by parking just outside the front door.

You know, it is the sort of place that one day is not long enough to look around. I purchased a few pieces of fabric, along with a thimble that is actually small enough for me and doesn't fall off my finger.

Then it was time to head to the 'Naughty Coffee' shop for some morning tea.

As well as being the Naughty Coffee shop, they have a 'Naughty Corner' in the shop as well. Guess who got to sit in the 'Naughty Corner'?

Hmm ..... doesn't look very happy does he?

Anyway, a lovely morning tea was had by all and on the way out I noticed a poinsettia bush with rain drops on it - I have only even see artificial ones with plastic drops on the petals before - here was the real thing. So, so pretty. They sparkled in the sun.

I so wish we had more time to go back into Van Cootens, but alas it was time to head back to Maryborough where we will go off to the RSL for dinner with our friends. They head off to Hervey Bay tomorrow and we head north up to Burnett Heads, just north of Bundaberg.

'Til next time,

June

On The Road Again

 Goodness I didn't realise just how long it has been since I last posted on my blog. Don't get me wrong I have been busy with stitching, however a lot of what I have been doing is mending - oh I dislike that. First you have to unpick the problem, then redo. First it was replacing the elastic in my winter pyjama pants and then hubby's pyjama top split down the back. All good though and I managed to get it all done before we to get away for a mini break of around 10 days.

Last Wednesday, we set off for Maryborough which is about 250 kms north of Brisbane. In setting ourselves up in the caravan park, we realised just how much we had not brought with us - ah well, stuff happens and it has been over 8 months since we have been away with the van.  We had a restful night before taking in the markets in the centre of Maryborough on Thursday. Because the Mary Poppins Festival is to be held this coming weekend, there were plenty of Mary Poppin look-a-likes parading through the markets. 

I managed to get a photo of the Town Crier though who was holding games for young children.

We then headed off to the Information Centre who had a wonderful display of all things Mary Poppins.

Then it was a case of checking out the public toilets attached to the Town Hall. I have taken several photos of these as you need to see them to believe what has been done to them. It is a case of Michael Angelo eat your heart out! I believe a local painter did all the work on them.

This is the two doors to the ladies toilets.

Now for the chandelier:

The 'piece de resistance' is the gold throne:

Yes, it is actually a gold toilet.

A very busy place with ladies going into the toilets just to get photos, however I myself did have a need to use this - never before and I guess never again will I be in the position to sit on a gold throne.

Our next bit of exploring will be to a tiny locality called Howard about 30kms north of Maryborough that has a well known old fashioned drapery - I have heard so much about it, I am so looking forward to visiting it.

'Til next time,

June