Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

Day 256 – 30^th October 2011

Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

This morning Tim took us out fishing. We drove to Riverview to launch the boat in the Elliott River and off we went. We weren’t too lucky but in the end we caught a big stingray, a shovelnose shark, a flathead, a silver fish of which the name remains unknown and a stingray in one of the crab nets (unfortunately no crabs). We let them all go so they are happy fish in the sea again. Also one big fish got away with Andrew’s bait taking the hook with him as well. Thanks Tim for inviting us along and letting us stay at your place! In the afternoon we relaxed at the house with some nibbles and a Belgian beer. Tim put some bird seeds out so Nele was able to get a lot of good shots... taking photos of course :-)

Launching the boat

Is this Andrew or a chinaman?

Elliott River

Fishing rods are ready to catch some fish

Fisherman Andrew

Big stingray...

... broke the line and went swimming with the hook

Elliott Heads sandbank

Small stingray in crab net

Local kids snorkelling whilst dad is fishing

Who's the cutest?

Andrew and Tim

Tim caught a flathead

Isn't this paradise?

Gone fishing

Mouth of Elliott River

Elliott River

View of the sea in the distance from Tim's place

Rainbow Lorikeets

Rainbow Lorikeet

Colourful bird

Top notch pigeon

Galah

Magpie

Sunset

Sunset

Enjoying a Belgian beer

Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

Day 255 – 29^th October 2011

Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

This morning we started picking some more photos for the blog. While they were uploading we went for a drive to Bargara. We stopped at the Hummock, an extinct volcanic cone and highest point in the district, overlooking the coastline and surrounding farmlands with their red volcanic soil. Next we took the scenic coastal drive to Bauer Lookout offering views back to Bargara. We returned to Kelly’s beach in Bargara and had lunch. Afterwards Nele went for a snorkel in The Basin, created by the Kanaka settlers - who were brought to Bundaberg to work in the cattle fields in the 1880’s - to make a protected calm water beach for their families. There were a few fishies around but nothing spectacular. Next we drove to Mon Repos Beach, famous as the largest and most accessible turtle rookery in mainland Australia. Turtle nesting season starts in November when Loggerhead, Green and Flatback turtles come ashore to find a safe spot to dig a nest and lay their eggs. Some 6 to 8 weeks later the tiny hatchlings may be seen emerging from their sandy nests to head down to the sea. Unfortunately we are here a week to early to see this amazing sight as nightly guided tours don’t start till next Saturday and the beach is closed at night. We continued on to Burnett Heads where the Burnett River flows out to sea. Their yearly Lighthouse Festival was taking place but as the music wasn’t too flash and there wasn’t much to see and do we quickly moved on and drove back to Tim’s place via Port Bundaberg.

Another local resident

View from Hummock's Lookout

View from Hummock's Lookout

Bargara scenic drive

Bauer Lookout

Kelly's Beach

The Basin

Nele snorkelling

Strange big fish in the sea

Neilson Beach

Mon Repos Beach

Mon Repos Conservaation Reserve

Burnett Heads Lighthouse

Lighthouse Festival

Port Bundaberg

Storage shed at Port Bundaberg

Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

Day 254 – 28^th October 2011

Tim’s Place, Coral Cove, QLD

This morning we did our washing as Tim let us use his machine. Afterwards we drove to Elliott Heads, a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear blue water – it looked like paradise and reminded us of Cape LeGrand NP in WA. We went for a walk along the beach before driving into Bundaberg town. In town we had a look at the Burnett River and walked along the main street. We picked out a nice little café and treated ourselves to a yummy lunch. Afterwards we returned to Tim’s place via Innes Park where we went for a walk along the cliff to Barolin Rocks.

Elliott Heads

Elliott Heads

Elliott Heads

Burnett River

Bert Hinkler, born in Bundy, made the first solo
flight between England and Australia in 1928

Bundaberg

Bundaberg

Innes Park

Innes Park

Barolin Rocks

Rockpool

Barolin Rocks