Date: 29-30th April 2021
Travelled: 50 kilometres from Clairview to Cape Hillsborough
Visited: Mackay (briefly) and Cape Hillsborough, Queensland.
Stayed: Cape Hillsborough Nature Park, all services. S20.92571, E149.04909
Budget:
Pam has gone for a walk dodging crocodiles along the beach in Clairview whilst I get the Jayco ready to roll. By 9 am we are on the Bruce Highway once again.
Eighty kilometres later as we approach Sarina the country has changed. General farming has given way to sugar cane and more sugar cane. Sarina has a huge cane processing mill, later in the day we find Mackay has one that is even bigger. We stop in Sarina hit the bakery and have breakfast.
We arrive in Mackay to find a large regional city. Anyway we make our way to a huge shopping complex appropriately named Canecity and luckily enough jag a parking spot out the front. We do a quick supermarket shop, the Bakerโs Delight bread shop an additional bonus.
I had noticed a Jayco dealer as we were coming into town, so I give them a call to find out if they can check the dinette slide-out for us. It has been getting a bit noisier each day for the last week. Surprisingly the service manager says pop around and theyโll have a listen. A technician cleans the tracks and lubricates the rollers and itโs better than its ever been. It was a good opportunity to watch him do it, so Iโll do it myself next time.
We have lost a couple of hours so we take the Mackay by-pass and continue north once again. Taking the turn for Cape Hillsborough National Park, the road is rough in sections and narrow so the 40 kms taking almost an hour. John and Heather whom we meet in 1770 highly recommended Hillsborough and the walks in the National Park. Our guide gives it a tick so here we go.
Map of Cape Hillsborough National Park, the icon on our overnight stop.
As soon as weโve checked in and set up which is only 10 minutes we walk the 20 metres to the beach. The weather has been constantly changing since we left Mackay. As we have caught the low tide we take the beach walk across the causeway to Wedge Island.
We return from Wedge Island at last light. Itโs left overs tonight and we enjoy a quiet evening other than a heavy shower just on lights out.
Cape Hillsborough has some excellent walks so we decide to stay on another night particularly to do the Andrewโs Point walk. The walk is less than 5 kms long but as tide doesnโt allow return via the beach we must walk it both ways. It proves to be a steep walk, lots of steps but lots of rewarding views as well.
Looking down on Wedge Island as we climb the headland.
Cape Hillsborough in the distance.
From the viewing point overlooking Turtle Bay. Yes, we did see turtles basking away below us.
Panorama across Turtle Bay, just slide the image to view.
The display of butterflies was amazing. As we climbed the headland the colour/type of butterflies changed.
Made the walk up and down the headland twice without straining the achilles, mind you I took my time and watched my step.
The campsite has an excellent pool, so we swim and relaxed the remainder of the day away. The campsite fills rapidly in the late afternoon. Itโs another long weekend in Queensland believe it or not, Labor Day.
Sarina pies warming in the oven. Cannot say for sure but we think this may be the first time anyone has used the oven in this Jayco. We order a serving of chips from the campsite restaurant so itโs pie, chips and veggies tonight. 5 star pies for sure.
We get a couple of torrential rain storms during the evening which makes the Jayco look even better amongst all the tents and trailer campers around us.
Michael + Pam
One thought on “Cape Hillsborough, Queensland ๐ฆ๐บ 2021”
Great to see you eating in style,canโt beat a 5 star pie and a beer ,now which motorhome do you prefer jayco or hymer?
Cheers from Mark and Mireille.