Rockhampton, Queensland 🇦🇺 2021 – Michael and Pam's Travels

Date: 25th April 2021

Travelled: 240 kilometres from Seventeen Seventy to Rockhampton

Visited: Miriam Vale (briefly) and Rockhampton, Queensland.

Stayed: Kershaw Gardens, free just a bin. S23.35846, E150.51895

Budget:

Rolling out of 1770 we stop at the service point doing what needs to be done. We plan a free stop tonight in Rocky. Turning north for the Bruce Highway we stop for breakfast opposite the railway at Miriam Vale. We are somewhat surprised to note there is about 30 people with their luggage waiting at the station.

Despite the crowd I get the BBQ going and get some bacon and eggs, then start the generator for some toast. No one in Miriam Vale seems to mind.

Whilst we have breakfast the train arrives, but it sits at the station for 20 minutes. The adjoining level crossing remains closed as the traffic backs up for a couple of hundred metres. Eventually the train goes and the gate lifts for a few minute then close again as a freight train passes. This goes on a couple more times, the queue slowly dissipates and we decide to get across whilst we can. Then the bells ring and lights flash once again.

We finally turn north onto Bruce Hwy. The drive to Rocky is slowed by numerous roadworks more so than traffic as we cruise along about 95 kph. Anyway we arrive to find a fibre glass Brahma Bull on the first round-a-bout welcoming us to Rocky.

Map of Rockhampton, the icon on our overnight stop.

The Kershaw Gardens parking area doesn’t look too exciting, but the gardens are nice. It’s less than 2 kms back into central Rocky and there‘s a cycle path through the gardens. We will have several neighbours for the night, so we settle in, have lunch and some down time.

Come 3pm we unload the bikes and head off through the gardens into town…

Whilst tempted to have a drink at the heritage, we continue on back to the Jayco for drinks and dinner. Several more caravans had joined us at Kershaw Gardens by bed time. It was a quiet night other some couple in a car who drove in at 4am, talked loudly on the phone for 15 minutes before leaving.

Next morning we pack up and get ready early. Rocky has a botanic garden and zoo (free), as it‘s on the other side of town we thought we would drive over and do our morning walk from there.

Our favourite was the Japanese Garden, but it was a nice walk around all the gardens.

Clicking this Panorama should allow you to control the image.

The gardens are the home of a huge flying fox colony, the noise is quite amazing as they seem to argue about whose hanging next to who. The lyssavirus warning signs made sure we kept our distance.

The garden done, we have breakfast whilst waiting for the zoo to open at 10am. Entering into the zoo reminds me they still allow QR code check-ins via independent websites here in Queensland. I have tried using the Queensland Gov Covid check-in app several times only to be rejected and told to use their local app.

Just through the gates the Meerkats are the stars as they run around, jump and generally do, what Meerkats do I suppose.