Cairns – Brisbane

Posted on 27. June 2016 by Markus

Von Cairns aus fuhren wir am 07.06. in Richtung Süden und machten eine Wasserfalltour. Nach Besuch des Lake Eacham (einem Kratersee / Maar) fuhren wir nach zu den Malanda Falls.

Im Visitorcenter versuchten wir den Campingplatz im Wooroonooran National Park zu buchen, da das Online-Buchungssystem während 3 Tagen ausgewechselt wurde. Leider konnten uns die netten Damen (die nichts davon wussten) trotz Anruf beim Regionaloffice, uns nur soweit helfen, dass wir eine Bescheinigung zum erfolglosen Versuch einer Buchung kriegten. So fuhren wir nachdem wir im Park die Milla Milla Falls, die Zillie Falls und die Elinjaa Falls angeschaut hatten zum Camping am Henrietta Creek und trafen viele Camper die das gleiche Problem wie wir hatten. Wir machten uns nichts draus und suchten uns den schönsten Platz aus und genossen die Gratis-Nacht.

Auch am nächsten Tag logierten wir kostenlos an den schönen Wallaman Falls. Hier wanderten wir am nächsten Morgen die 275m Fallhöhe runter zum untern Pool und nachher….wieder….die….1000m…scheinenden….Höhenmeter…. rauf!!

Auf dem Weg zum Paluma National Park trafen wir bei der Big Mango (Eisdiele) per Zufall nochmal die Buchmanns und die Kinder hatten sich natürlich viel zu erzählen. Wir bogen kurz danach ab und machten einen Spaziergang zu einem Aussichtspunkt bei Paluma und übernachteten am Big Crystal Creek, wo man im Bach auch schwimmen konnte.

Am Freitag gönnten wir uns wieder mal eine Nacht zum duschen (und Kinder zum Plantschen mit Höhlen-Rutsche) auf dem Big4 Camping in Toowoomba bevor wir am Samstag via Burdekin Dam und Falls in Richtung Collinsville zum Bowen River Rodeo fuhren. Kurz vor Joes Gap platzte plötzlich ein Reifen und wir mussten das Reserverad montieren. Wir gelangten kurz darauf beim Bowen River Hotel an, wo das Rodeo schon 2 Tage im Gang war. Mit Interesse schauten wir die verschiedenen Disziplinen an und fanden, dass die Tiere sicher nicht so ihren Spass daran haben.

Fotos vom Rodeo gibt’s unter: https://www.facebook.com/BowenRiver/

Am Sonntag vor Aufbruch in Richtung Küste merkten wir, dass der Bremsflüssigkeitsstand zu tief ist, und beim genaueren Suchen unter dem Auto fand Markus eine leckende Schraubverbindung eines Bremsleitungsrohrs. Mit Hilfe von Campingnachbarn wurde die defekte Leitung ausgebaut und mit Lötzinn und Flamme das entdeckte Loch gestopft. Nach 2 Stunden war die Leitung wieder dicht und montiert und das Auto somit (provisorisch) wieder fahrtüchtig um die 200km bis zur Küste nach Airlie Beach zu schaffen (180km davon Asphalt).

Am späten Nachmittag kamen wir glücklich im Whitsunday Resort in Cannonvale (bei Airlie Beach) an und beschlossen neben einer neuen Bremsleitung auch neue Reifen dem Auto zu verschaffen. Am Montagmorgen gingen wir also direkt neben dem Campingplatz zu Goodyear und bestellten 3 Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure (ein nicht in Europa erhältlicher 50% Gelände / 50%Strasse Reifen). Der Ersatz war dringend notwendig, denn neben dem geplatzten waren 2 andere auch in einem sehr schlechten Zustand. Den 4. Reifen besorgen wir uns später in der Nähe von Brisbane, da er hier nicht so schnell verfügbar war. Nachher brachte Markus die Bremsleitung zu Autotune, damit sie eine Ersatzleitung anfertigen konnten. Die wurde dann am Nachmittag eingebaut und die Bremse war wieder 100% repariert. Wir lernten Oliver, Katja und Erik Kullik eine deutsche Familie aus Dubai kennen. In den regenfreien Zeitfenstern wurden die Attraktionen des Campingplatzes wie Hüpfkissen, Spielplatz oder der riesige Pool mit 2 Wasserutschen ausgenutzt, ansonsten sassen wir unter dem Dach und die Kinder malten. Am 14. wurden die Reifen montiert und wir durchstöberten noch das nahe Einkaufszentrum und so konnten wir am Mittwoch bei langsam sich besserndem Wetter durch den Eungella- und den Homevale National Park in Richtung Cape Palmerston fahren. Zur Übernachtung reichte es nicht mehr in den Park und so stellten wir uns am Yardawonga Creek hin. Am Morgen fuhren wir dann zum Cape Palmerston im gleichnamigen Park, wobei die Strecke ein Teil über den Strand führte. Nach diesem sehr schönen Park fuhren wir in den Byfield National Park zum Five Rocks Beach. Wir hatten die Strecke leicht unterschätzt und kamen erst nach Anbruch der Dämmerung an. Wir konnten die schöne Küste erst am nächsten Morgen anschauen.

Zum Entspannen fuhren wir ins nahe Yeppoon auf den Big4 (wieder Pool mit Wasserrutsche!) und am Samstag besuchten wir mit der Fähre die Great Keppel Island um noch einmal am Great Barrier Reef schnorcheln zu können. Fiona hat nämlich in den letzten Pools viel trainiert und dieses Mal getraute sie sich wirklich. Am Shelwin-Beach konnten wir direkt vom Strand aus mit Flossen und Brille ins Wasser und alle konnten einen paar Stunden die Wasserwelt bestaunen. Nora entdeckte sogar auf ihrem letzten Erkundungstrip noch einen der bekannten kleinen Clownfische (Nemo!). Fiona paddelte wie ein grosser Taucher mit ihrer Brille durchs Wasser und sah auch viele Fische, unter anderem humbugs (schwarzweisse Brüder von Nemo).

In der nächsten Nacht begann es wieder zu regnen und es war ein Tag mit Sturm und Unwetter angesagt. Und wirklich, wir fuhren bei strömendem Regen in Richtung Eurimbula National Park in der Nähe von 1770, dem Landepunkt von James Cook am 24.05.1770. Der Campingplatz hatte zum Glück, ungewöhnlich für einen Nationalparkcamping, ein grosses Dach mit Tischen darunter, was uns natürlich bei der Sturzflut vom Himmel willkommen war. Im Verlaufe der nächsten Nacht liess der Regen nach und am Morgen genossen wir bei schönem Wetter den Ausblick vom Platz im Wald aufs Meer.

Am 20. Juni fuhren wir der Küste entlang über Bundaberg nach Hervey Bay und mit der Fähre zur Fraser Island (Kingfisher Bay). Dort mussten wir uns etwas beeilen um vor Dunkelheit zum Übernachtungsplatz an der Central Station zu gelangen. Am nächsten Tag fuhren wir auf dieser Sandinsel (die grösste der Welt) zum Schwimmen an den Lake Mckenzie und zu einem Spaziergang zum Loookout auf den Lake Wabby (der Weg zum See war wegen zu vieler Dingos geschlossen). An der Ostküste konnten wir auf dem Strand in Richtung Norden am Mahena-Wrack vorbei bis zum Dundubarra Camping fahren, wo wir die Nacht verbrachten (wir hörten viele Dingos jaulen). Am nächsten Morgen flogen wir der Küste (Strand) entlang südwärts und versuchten von Eurong zum Lake Birrabeen zu kommen. Leider gestaltete sich das schwieriger als angenommen, da auf unserer geplanten Route ein grosser Baum lag und wir auf den nicht ganz klar beschilderten Pisten (Einbahn oder nicht!?!) einen beträchtlichen Umweg fahren mussten. Wir erreichten doch noch den See und gingen baden. Nach Kurzbesuch beim Lake Boomanjin ging es zur Küste zurück und auf dem Strand zur Fähre nach Rainbow Beach.

Dort fuhren wir nur für 15km auf nichtsandiger Fahrbahn durchs Dorf um gleich hinterher wieder auf Sandpiste zum Freshwater Camping im Great Sandy National Park zu gelangen. Nach einer kühlen Nacht ging es dem Strand entlang in Richtung der Sunshinecoast-Touristenstadt Noosa, wobei vor Tewantin der Noosariver mit einer Fähre überquert werden musste. Jetzt befanden wir uns in den Menschenmassen. Wir merkten es, als wir versuchten im Noosa National Park nach Koalas Ausschau halten zu wollen. Als man auf dem Parkplatz kaum freie Plätze sah, entschieden wir uns weiterzufahren.

In Forest Glen fanden wir nochmal einen grossen Campingplatz (mit geheiztem Schwimmbad, Wasserrutsche und Whirlpool). Am nächsten Tag hatten wir uns viel vorgenommen: es begann mit der Montage des 4. Reifens in Maroochydore, anschliessend besuchten wir noch einmal die Underwater World in Mooloolaba. Nachdem wir nun viele der Fische in der Wildnis gesehen hatten, war dieser Besuch für alle etwas Besonderes.

Als dritten Punkt statteten wir dem Geschäft Tentworld einen Besuch ab, um uns über die Möglichkeiten für ein neues Familienzelt zu informieren. Zuletzt fuhren wir durchs Inland am Lake Somerset und Lake Miwenhoe vorbei wieder nach Marburg (unserer 1. Station der Reise) um den europäischen Gaskocher und bestellte Einkäufe bei Katja Schneiders Haus abzuholen. Wir übernachteten auch wieder bei einer Affenkälte auf dem Showground in Marburg. Die Kinder schauten am Samstagmorgen noch dem Pferderennen an, bevor wir die letzte Etappe nach Brisbane fuhren. Da besorgten wir uns noch die letzten Andenken und ein neues Zelt für europäische Camping-Ferien (wir wissen, dass wir in Zukunft nicht mehr so lange „Ferien“ machen können). Die letzten 2 Nächte logierten wir wieder im Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park. Am Sonntag war grosses Packen und Putzen angesagt. Aussen hatten wir das Auto schon nach den Sand- und Strandfahrten gewaschen, innen aber war noch Einiges zu tun. Wir beseitigten den Dreck nicht aus der letzten Ritze, da Europa zum Glück keine Quarantänebestimmungen wie Australien hat, anders gesagt: es kümmert die keinen Deut, wie dreckig die Karre ist. Nun ging es ans Sortieren und Packen, damit wir (und auch der Zoll) wissen, was wir an welchem Platz im Auto nach Europa zurückschicken. Wir brauchten dafür den ganzen Tag (Daniela ging mit den Kindern am Nachmittag noch in die Stadt zum Spielen und Shoppen). Am Abend fuhr Daniela ziemlich nervös noch zum Singapore Airline Schalter am Flughafen: Ihr Pass war nur noch 3 statt der geforderten 6 Monate gültig und die Airline könnte die Beförderung verweigern, doch zum Glück kam sie mit einem Lachen im Gesicht zurück (der Pass wird akzeptiert). Für die letzte Nacht haben wir uns ein Häuschen gemietet, die Wettervorhersage meldete Regen für die Nacht und wir wollten am Montag das Dachzelt nicht nass zusammenfalten. Die Zusatzkosten waren nicht umsonst,es regnete. Wir schliefen nach 285 Nächten im Zelt (2 Nächte an Weihnachten waren wir ja eingeladen in Thredbo) die erste Nacht in einem normalen Bett. Aus organisatorischen Gründen besetzten schlussendlich die Kinder das bequeme Doppelbett und wir Eltern mussten mit dem harten, unbezogenen Doppelstockbett vorlieb nehmen. Am Montagmorgen brachten wir das Auto zum Hafendepot bringen. Auf dem Parkplatz vor dem Depot haben wir die Schrauben vom Dachzelt entfernt damit es wie auf der Hinfahrt neben dem Auto im Container verstaut werden kann. Im Depot erinnerten sie sich gleich an unser Auto, ein linksgesteuertes Auto mit Krokodilen fällt auf. Wir riefen ein Taxi und liessen uns mit unserem Gepäck zum Flughafen bringen wo wir um 14:30 pünktlich mit dem Flugzeug in Richtung Heimat abhoben…

Mataranka – Cairns

Posted on 10. June 2016 by Markus

From Mataranka we drove along the Savannah Way on an unsealed but good track to Limmen National Park. The campgrounds in the northern part of the Park along Roper River are occupied by people doing fishing – but we found a nice Spot at Butterfly Springs, a permanent waterhole. Before wie had organized the key for the gate to the 4WD-track to the Western Lost City, we drove this bumpy, but otherway easy track the next morning. “Lost City” refer to sandstone formations of lots of free-standing towers.

In the afternoon, we continued to the “Southern Lost City” (also sandstone towers), where we went hiking and spent the next night on the campground.

Via Tawallah and Jangurrie wie headed first to Borroloola to refuel, we spent the next night at the shore of the Calvert River. Luckily, the little creek – an inflow of the Calvert River – was guaranteed free of crocodiles (a crocodile simply would not fit in!) – that we could get water for showering and washing dishes. The next day we continued eastwards, ate lunch at Domadgee Roadhouse and then made a side-trip to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park.
The track along Elizabeth Creek/Hill Creek resembled temporarily an overgrown kangoroo-path, but the HEMA-map repassured us again and again to be on the right track and we arrived at our destination.
We already new in advance, the the campsite in the national park was booked out for the next few days, but we found a nice free spot at the shore of Smithys Grove. The next morning we walked despite upcoming rain through the beautiful park to a lookout and then down to the river. It would have been possible to canoe and to swim – but we found it too scary having to share the waterwith freshwater crocodiles..

From there, we went back to the main track and spent the night at the Leichhardt-falls. On both sides of the river there were sand tracks leading to inofficiel camp spots and there were lots of other campers. In the night, it started raining, the next day it was cloudy and we had to pay attention because there were lots of kangoroos hopping over the road (which normally spend the day lazing under a tree and only become active at dusk). After filling up all our jerry cans and stocking up food supplies in Normanton, we had initially planned to drive for 300 – 400 km on the Burke Developmental Road and then cross to the Peninsula Developmental Road towards Cape York. But the weather upset our plans: with the rain becoming more and more intense, the officially still open Burke Developmental Road transformed into a mixture of a swimming-pool and a mud-bath in front of our eyes (and beneath our tyres!). Facing the several hundred kilometers of unsealed road with lots of river crossings we decided reluctantly to turn around – before it was too late.

The detour on the tarred road (Kennedy Highway via Atherton and Mareeba) was immense, but was the only feasible solution. We spent the following night on a (tarred!) rest area with a shelterd table at the town entrance of Georgetown. In the course of the next day, it finally stopped raining – via the internet wie found out that the Burke Developmental Road Wagone closed.
To get a shower and compensate the kids for the additional driving, we went to Granite Gorge northwest of Mareeba. There, they could feed lots of cute Rock-wallabies (Mini-kangoroos). The nett morning, we had to fetch again some wallaby food for the next day and also did the short but difficult hike (involving some rock scrambling) through the gorge.

Via the Mulligan Highway and Lakeland we finally reached the Peninsula Developmental Road, where we saw lots of vehicles coming down from Cape York which were covered in red-brown mud. We spent the night – again in the rain – at Musgrave Roadhouse. The unsealed road was despite the considerable amounts of rain in a relatively good condition. Normally, at least Markus would have loved to drive the famous and difficult “Old Telegraph Track” gefahren. But the track included several river crossings. After we were told several times – including at the Bramwell Roadhouse – that a winch is urgently recommended (to pull out the car in any case out of the Palm Creek and possibly out of other rivers due to the extremely steep and slippery river banks), we cancelled the idea. We did not have a winch, were without a second vehicle and did not want to drown our car in the river.
We drove the Bypass-road, with a side-trip to the “Gunshot” – obviously the crossing with the steepest and most dangerous river banks. We camped there but unfortunately, wie did not see any car passing…

We swam at the Fruitbat-falls and Twin-falls before crossing the Jardine River by ferry and heading on to the north.

We spent the night at Sommerset-beach and the next day, we went to the northernmost point Australiens, Cape York. The last few hundred Meters to the cape you have to walk, we went there along the beach by low-tide and came back over the rocks. By now, we had frightened the kids so much about crocodiles that Nora was to scared to have a photo tanken with her and the “Cape York” sign next to the water…

Despite the complicated booking system of the Queensland National Parks, we had managed to reserve a site at the beautiful Twinfalls. On the access Track to the campground, we also got our deep water crossing: it was so deep that the car got into the engine lid and water entered through the side doors into the cabin. Luckily, everything else went fine (thanks to the snorkel).

On the way back to the south, we spending night closed to Coen next to the river. Hence the Lakefield National Park was still closed due to flooding after the heavy rainfalls we went to Cooktown for two days. There, after a long time, we had again a hot shower, a pool and a descent supermarkt.
The Bloomfield 4WD-track south of Cooktown along the coast turned out to be a well maintained road.
But we had to cross a relatively large and fast-flowing river- the Crocomobile was used as a test object for the delight of everyone waiting (including the local fire brigade) and Managed the crossings without problems.
We went to Cape Tribulation, walked on the (unfortunately only partially open) walkways through the rainforest and spent the night at Daintree National Park. Fitting in the car and setting up our tent on the narrow site (reserved blindly by interne) had to be done millimeter by millimeter!

We folowed the now very touristic coastal road further south, the Daintree River had to be crossed on a little ferry. Close to Miallo, we visited a smalltalk cocoa-farm with their own chocolate production and afterwards went hiking in the Mossman-Gorge.

With the promise of nice waterslides at Glengarry Holiday Park close to Port Douglas the Kids walked faster than ever before.
After an afternoon of playing and splashing and a night on the pretty, but mosquito-infested campsite wie went to the tourist village of Kuranda. There was a little animal Park with unfortunately very well-fed kangoroos (the kids wanted to feed them) and wie got a family photo with Koala Charly. On the market we bought an own mini-didgeridoo and some souvenirs.

Since we were again close to Mareeba, we spent again a night at Granite Gorge where the really hungry wallabies swallowed 2 full food bags in 15 minutes!! The next morning, we visited a coffee- and tea factory with unlimited Degustation and bought again some souvenirs.

From there wie drove directly to the Coconut Resort in Cairns, a Giant campground with all imaginable Kidds’ amusements: waterslides and water playground, dry playground, indoor-playground, 2 jumping pillows, minigolf, a ride with the “Fire Car” on the campground…and for the adelst, there were at least to big swimming-Pool, a warm whirlpool, an oven for pizza and cake – wie have never Seen a similar campground in Europe.

In Cairns we visited the Night Market and booked a tour to the Great Barrier Reef. The reef was really impressive: first we 90min by ship to a permanent pontoon, from the we could snorkel with stinger suits (jellyfish proof suits covering the whole body), do tours with a glass bottom boat and semi-submersible boat and watch the fish feeding. When Nora – equipped with snorkel and swimming vest – only went a few meters away from the pontoon, she had the great luck that Wallee (“pet fish” of the pontoon, a Giant wrasse) and the underwater photographer were prevent at the same time- so we got a wonderful photo. Unfortunately, Fiona did mit dare to leave the pontoon, but Even from there and from the boats she saw a lot of fishes and corals.

Through the desert

Posted on 22. October 2015 by Markus

The first stop-over with our Crocomobile was Marburg, a village 100 km West of Brisbane, where we visited Katja on her farm. Katja is a distant relative of Markus – we already visited her parents and her sister in South Africa.

From there we continued to the last city of importance – Toowoomba – further and further into the outback. It got drier, the landscape got scraggy and the country was only sparsely populated. Unfortunately, there were lots of overrun kangoroos on the road -(Fiona: oh, my my dear cute kangoroos…) – luckily, there were also a few alive ones sitting under the trees in the shade. In Charleville we left the A2 and continued on smaller, still good and tarred roads towards Quilpie (opal mines) and Windorah.
Shortly afterwards the gravel road started. The campgrounds consisted often only of one single rubbish bin (but were for free then). A surprise was Bedourie: the village with 100 inhabitants has a free swimming pool with thermal whirlpool for itself directly beside the beautiful campsite – in the middle of the desert!

Boulia was the last “city” with 600 inhabitants before the Plenty Highway, it offered a multimedia show and a well-equipped shop which also sells camping gear, do-it-yourself articles, car parts, spare wheels and concrete mixers.
In contrast to many reports we read, the Plenty Highway was pretty good gravel on the Queensland side (Donohue Highway), on the Northern Territory side it was badly corrugated.

The road was that boring that we made only a one night stop-over at Jervois Station (again a campsite with only rubbish bins and a pick-nick table). Close to Gem Tree we went fossicking for gemstone on our own (and we found a few pieces) and spent the night at Ross River Resort in the Estern Mac Donnell Ranges (Lodge and Camping with swimming pool and very expensive petrol). With a stop-over at the N’dhala Gorge National Park with a short break we travelled to Alice Springs.

The long waiting

Posted on 30. September 2015 by Markus

Now (26.9.) we are already for 3 weeks in Australia, are still sitting in our little tent and travelling by bus…Normally we should have received our car one week after arrival of the ship, that means the 18th of September.
Responsable are the officers of customs and quarantine – they feel overworked and underpaid and therefore went into strike just right now. At least, the papers have been checked and stamped, only the inspection of the car by customs and quarantine has to be done. Hopefully somebody stoops to admire our car soon – if possible without additional cleaning!

In the meantime, we got to know all attractions (all which can be imposed to children…) of Brisbane and surroundings. After the obligatory visits to the beach and Southbank (see the blog at the beginning) with our two mermaids, the “UnderWaterWorld”, playgrounds, parks and forests and hills close to the city we went to the “Australia Zoo”. The main attractions of this zoo are certainly the Australian animals (including shows with parrots, birds of prey, snakes and crocodile), but there are also animals from Asia, Africa and America.

They demonstrated the reaction of a crocodile if someone steps into water: they have vibration sensors wich enable them to feel the movements and they move fast and smart and it is hardly possible to see them from outside the water.
The good side-effect was that we learned some rules concerning the green giants:
– suppose the presence of crocodiles till proven otherwise by locals
– never swim
– do not approach to water more than 5 meters
– do not lean over water (they jump!)
– camping only more than 200m away from water

Another trip lead us to some children attractions in Surfers Paradise (School holidays in Queensland). Now we as parents are updated about the newest hits like “Bananas in pyjamas” and the “Minions”.

On September 26th, we watched the “Riverfire” as closure of they Brisbane Festival (when we read about that date some weeks ago, we were hoping to already be deep in the outback…now we “had” to see it). It was a 30-minute extraordinary firework including the scenery of the city. The skyscrapers threw out the most colorful sparks and the bridges were blazing in a rain of thousands of lights.

The whale-watching tour on the 27.9. at the sunshine coast (Mooloolaba) was a highlight of these first weeks. For our children, it was the first time on a ship on the sea. Especially Nora did not like the rocking on the waves and panicked. Thanks to animations with play dough, a plastic whale and the first steps to the railing, she could also enjoy the trip and look for whales. Fiona tolerated the rocking better and calmed down faster despite the contagious crying of her sister.
Wir saw several water giants even with their “babies” (who already weigh 1-2 tons and drink 600 liters of milk per day). Once a whale jumped out and splashed back into water with a high fountain. The photos are not ours but those of the crew of the ship (www.whaleone.com.au).

We watched the recently released movie “Blinky Bill” with our children (Blinky Bill is an old story about a little Koala, Fiona had so much compassion with him that she started crying during the movie). In the “Curumbin Wildlife Sanctuary” (home of Blinky Bill) we saw again some shows and animal feedings (pelicans, eels, birds).

On the 28th our car was released from the container, inspected by customs and quarantine and considered as too dirty. After recleaning the car was finally released from quarantine on September 30th.
After paying the steep bill for cleaning, storage (we finance the officers’ strike) and lots of charges we can finally pick up the car on October 1st.
We will straight away head into the desert (planed is the plenty highway towards Alice Springs), there will soon be summer here and then it is getting too hot!

Arrival and Start in Brisbane

Posted on 13. September 2015 by M. Bertschi

After our last appartement in Switzerland was finally emptied, the walls painted (thanks to our litte pigs who have messed them up!) und the cleaning was finished in the last second, our flight legt from Frankfurt the 31.08.2015.
Among the 70kg luggage in total, there was a small tent, inflatable matresses, sleeping bags – and the forgotten sandplates (weighing alone 14 kg). Nora and Fiona were proud of drawing their own little suitcases – and we had less to carry!
The transfer in Singapore was quite relaxing thanks to a big indoor-playfround (for the children) and free internet (for us) and with the electronic visum, the formalities at the airport in Australia were quick. Only Noras backpack had to be inspected: the do galt the customs detected the smell of waffles and sausage of grand-mothers foodpack.

Because of the amount of luggage, we paid for the luxury of a taxi to the camping site. After putting up our tent, we made a short trip to the city centre before we fell asleep due to our jetlag and the 30 hrs (in total, including the train to the airport in Germany) of travelling.
The following days we spent by exploring the city and the surroundings as far as possible with public transport (fortunately, Brisbane has a good net of Busses, trains and ferry boats in the city).

One of the first trips was to the “Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary” where our princesses could watching the Koalas climbing and eating, feed kangoroos and they could pat a koala sitting on Noras lap while a photo was taken.

Another day, we Sent to the “UndsrWaterWorld” in Mooloolaba where we were admiring colourfulfish and other creatures living in the sea.

Close to the office of the shipping compagny who organized the transport of our car, we could put our feet for the first time into the ocean and children loved playing in the waves on the beach. They also loved the artificial beach at “South Bank” in the centre of Brisbane where we went several times.

We also used the waiting time for the car for some paper work and the preparation of insurances, also the papers of the car had to be translated and accepted by the Traffic departement.

Some day, we moved to antobet campsite which was nicer and more quite, the Most Importanz thing for our children : it had a playground! Because we had neither chairs nor tables and only minimal kitchen equipment, we were happy the the campgroungs had a fully equippped kitchen with chairs and tables as well as a gas stove, a microwave and a fridge!

On september 11th at 1.40pm “our” shipping entered the harbourof Brisbane (we were following it online). Two hours later, we were also in the harbour and we could really see it and observe how some containers were offloaded. Unfortunately only from far away due to the security restrictions…

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Category Archives: Queensland

Cairns – Brisbane

Mataranka – Cairns

Through the desert

The long waiting

Arrival and Start in Brisbane