Category: Queensland (QLD)

State or region

Christmas in Rockhampton.

Ange BowmanLeave a comment

Christmas in Rockhampton

After a couple of great days in Longreach it was time to head east for a couple nights on the coast at

Yeppoon before checking in to our apartment in Rockhampton for Christmas day.
We set out before daylight as it is about 750 Kms and 8 hours

driving to from Longreach to Yeppoon, our first stop was a the bakery in Barcaldine for a toasted Cheese and tomato Sandwich for breakfast. Our next planned stop was in emerald for lunch. The country was certainly greener as we headed eastwards and evidence of decent storms was everywhere.  All though we kept moving we enjoyed seeing the countryside and the little places dotted along the way, Alice , Jericho, Alpha and Willows looked like great little QLD communities. 

On arrival in Emerald we found a great little hamburger place for a quick lunch and a bit of a break before hitting the road again for the last leg to Yeppoon.

Before we hit the road again we stopped by the world”s biggest Van Gogh sunflower painting is situated in Morton Park, Emerald. The superstructure is 25 metres high with approximately 13.6 tonnes of steel involved in its construction. It is part of a concept by Cameron Cross to erect seven Sunflower sculptures in seven different countries, reproducing Van Gogh”s seven different Sunflower paintings. Emerald”s Sunflower Painting was finished on 8 November 1999.

The painting celebrates the Central Highland”s reputation as a major sunflower producer.

The rest of the trip was uneventful and were skirted around the outskirts of Rocky and headed up to Yeppoon. Aahh the coast again, love inland but love the coast more I think.

We booked accommodation based on good reviews on trip advisor and can I say the Surfside Motel could be one of the best little motels we have ever stayed in.

Fantastic beachfront location just a short stroll from shops, restaurants, clubs and all services Yeppoon has to offer. All rooms are air conditioned and have cooking facilities, Foxtel TV and wireless internet access. There is a great pool area if you don’t want to walk across the road to the beach and laundry facilities are onsite.

We had two very relaxing days just wandering around and generally resting up, this was very welcome after what has been a very busy year work, travel and family wise. Again the pictures will tell the story or our stay.

On Christmas eve we reluctantly checked out and headed to the fish co-op to purchase our Christmas lunch feast of seafood. Our expectation was that this would take a long time with crowds doing the same thing, the co-op was so well set up for dealing with the volume of people we were in and out in under half an hour. So there was nothing left to do but head south to our next stop Rockhampton. 

In no time at all we had driven the 80kms back to Rockhampton and had booked in to the very beautiful Edge Apartments right on the Fitzroy river, we couldn’t believe our luck another perfect place to stay for our Christmas day.

We decided to have our Christmas eve dinner in the Edge restaurant onsite but before heading down to dinner we sat on the balcony and watched the shadows coming across the river. Located on footsteps of Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, The Edge Restaurant and Bar is Rockhampton’s newest most exciting venue. Offering modern Australian cuisine, friendly professional staff and an atmosphere that is both casual and chic! The staff were friendly and attentive and certainly go out of their way to make sure your experience is a memorable one.

We had one of the most enjoyable Christmases ever, over indulged in our seafood spread (I had a huge mud crab in honour of my dad who always talked about the muddy he used to catch when growing up in Rocky) and a couple very nice bottles of wine. If you can’t be surrounded all the family then this was the next best thing to a perfect Christmas day for us.

On boxing day we checked out and headed further south, planned on overnighting at Hervey Bay before heading on to Sunshine coast for a few days with our friends ‘The Cooks’

One quick stop off in Bundaberg, to visit the factory and store of Bundaberg Rum. While there we picked up some rather nice glasses for ourselves and a set for number one son Mark who is a lover of the product.

After a few days lazing around the Sunshine Coast with the cooks with lots of food, drink and merriment we started the last leg home from our quick summer road trip with a slight detour to meet our newest niece Ember and have lunch with our Beaudesert family.

After another great seafood lunch (purchased at the Mooloolaba fish market) and good catch up with Matt Tish Eli and Ember we hit the road at 2pm and drove through the night arriving home at 2am. A short dinner stop in Coffs Harbour at a very good Chinese just off the highway

All in all we had a great trip and managed to see a lot of the country that we have always wanted to to see as well as the bonus of catching up with friends and family

Check out YouTube video for all photos for this trip

The Stockman’s Hall of Frame Longreach QLD

Ange BowmanLeave a comment

Longreach Hall of Fame and Qantas Museum

We had a bit of a lie in before heading down to the Eagles Nest cafe for breakfast, this was a real find as we had great meal and lingered over our tea until it was time to check out the Hall of Fame.


The Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame is a museum located Longreach, Queensland, Australia, which pays tribute to pioneers of the Australian outback. The centre is also dedicated to Australian stockmen and Aborigines who have shown bravery and courage.

The founder of the Hall of Fame was artist Hugh Sawrey, a well known painter and former stockman, who
had the name registered in 1974, put up the initial funding, and enlisted supporters. His vision was to create a memorial to the explorers, overlanders, pioneers and settlers of outback Australia. This dream was shared by other outstanding Australians, including the legendary R. M. Williams.

Longreach was chosen as the location because of its historical role as a stock route junction and because of its current transport links.

The original information centre, a sandstone cottage built by R. M. Williams, complete with hand adzed timber and black marble floors, was restored to its original character and now houses the Hall of Fame’s growing library collection.

Growing up in the bush meant that I spent a lot of time reminiscing over the various items that were a big part of my early years, it was quite surreal take a photo of the telephone exchange box that connected our party lines with my iPhone 6+.


Seeing the wooden calf cradle (used for marking and branding calves) like the ones my dad used to build in the 60’s before he switch to steel. I remember well when he swapped away one of early cradles for a liver chestnut mare called Rosie, she was well loved part of family for many years.

There is so much to see and read about, as I more visual I will say it with photos rather than words.

Check out my YouTube video of all photos from trip
Sample below

Zipping around outback Qld for Christmas – Getting there…

Ange BowmanLeave a comment


Our Christmas Road Trip

We decided this year we would visit a couple places on our ‘must see’ places during the Christmas
break. Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas museum in Longreach in South Western Queensland.

We set off with a detour we not really more a slight deviation to Brewarrina to attended the annual Macdonald Rural Christmas party, this was an opportunity to catch up with clients and friends as well have a Christmas drink with other members of the MacWool team.

We stayed at the fabulous and highly recommended Beds on the Barwon, this place get better and better each time we stay. If you are ever in Brewarrina this is the place to stay, an opportunity to soak up the far west in top notch accommodations, The hospitality of Grant and Melissa Vlatch certainly makes one feel extra welcome.

Next morning we crept out of our cabin and hit the road early as we were planning the next night to be in Charleville 550km and about 6 hours driving north of Brewarrina. Couldn’t pass through Bourke NSW without a quick coffee at Morrall’s bakery, with a quick drive around Cunnamulla to re aquatint ourselves with this once familiar little town before heading on up the road to Charleville in time for a late lunch.

We checked into the very welcoming Charleville Motel  where we cranked up the aircon and took a pleasant afternoon nap. Dinner was in house the Menzies Steakhouse it was an enjoyable meal, we both chose steak which was cooked to perfection. Up and at ’em early next morning we decided to get to Blackall for breakfast and get some miles under our belt before it got too hot.  We aimed to be in Longreach another 500kms up the road by bit after lunch.

This section was uneventful apart from the best morning tea break at Tambo at a ‘do not drive by without stopping’ place where we had a sensational latte and coffee for Sharpy. Fannie Mae’s is certainly like an oasis in Tambo.

After checking out the ‘Tree of Knowledge’  which is said to be where the Labour Party started in Barcaldine. It is amazing that two icons from our history and life today began within 60 odd miles of one another and are now supported by the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. So much Australian history in one small corner of this vast country, a great place for visitors to get a snapshot of our early history.

After a sandwich in the park while looking at the original Qantas ticketing office in the main street of Longreach.

We decided to visit the Qantas museum today as it was very hot and it was indoors and air-conditioned. The next few hours were spent wandering around this very interesting and well laid out museum, to think a business that started out giving joy rides to local graziers to drum up business has become one of the most recognised brands and a successful world class airlines.

After checking in to the Albert Park Motor Inn, this is an older style motel which very comfortable

and the staff offer a very high standard of service and go out of their way to make you feel very welcome and get the best out of your visit to Longreach. The kangaroos even welcomed us back to our room each day, while they were taking advantage of the verandah shade that ran the length of all the rooms. Dinner was at the local rissole (RSL) excellent inexpensive meal in this quaint little club.

Check out my YouTube video of all photos from trip

Gold Coast – Theme Parks with the Boys

Ange BowmanLeave a comment

We set off for a few days on the Gold Coast on Saturday 18th September, the weather report was for five days solid rain, not a good start. As it turned out we dodged most of the rain and the weather was warm. Our first night was at Foster and the boys got an opportunity to try out their fishing rods, unfortunately, as usual, the fish weren’t cooperating but the enjoyed it all the same. The excitement of staying in a motel was enough for the boys and they were worried about the fish. Didn’t stop us having fish and chips for dinner before everyone turned in. Blake was asleep by 7pm and the other two weren’t far behind. Next leg was from Foster to Ballina with a stop at Coffs Harbour for breakfast and a quick visit to the Big Banana.