A Quandary: Go North or South?

Sounds like a great dilemma to have to face! :)

It might depend what you've seen previously and what you want to see... Personally, I'd probably probably head south for the cooler climate since I don't really like the heat and the mozzies come after me like a bunch of footy fans chasing free beer Having said that, I'd be interested to see one of those tropical places in the Rainy Season (we don't get serious rain where I come from).

Damn what a dilemma, wish I was there to help you toss the coin and carry your bags north or south :-)

Hi GB

Glad you have your new van at last, and hope you are well pleased with it.

It depens how you cope with the heat. The Atherton tablelands are mild for much of the year. We were too hot in Qld, but it turned cold as soon as we crossed into NSW. We had some rainy days as well. It was very cold on the Barrington Tops but lovely and well worth it. I hoped it would snow, as the Old Rooster has never touched snow, but it didn't. We left the van at Copeland Reserve, a lovely spot to stay for a few days not far out of Barrington.

Now we have reached Dubbo, it is quite hot - first time i have felt hot since we left Qld. Forecast is for 34 most days this week - that's like summer for us at home.

The New England area was wonderful. We stayed at Dumaresk Dam for a few days and did day trips to the waterfalls. We then stayed at a lovely tiny caravan park at Walcha. The countryside around there the lushest we have seen. Climate cool, and more waterfalls and gorges to tour.

Happy travels

Motherhen

Hi Gone Bush,
I live in Hervey Bay and i'm visiting my daughter who lives in the New England between Inverell and Armidale. The days are beautiful at the moment but the nights have been a little cool around the 1 degree, but by 9 o'clock just perfect.
Regards Kay

Gone Bush,

We visited the New England (Glen Innes/ Armidale) area a couple of xmas' ago and it was freezing. Got down to around 5-6 at night (love it) and the day time temps were just right at around the mid 20's. We thought we would swelter but that didn't happen until we got to Dubbo where we stayed in a cabin/tent inside the Western Plains Zoo. It was our daughters birthday so it was a special treat, but it got to 42 deg that day and the night was not much cooler.

So how long are you in Hervey Bay for.

Cheers

Greg

Mr Bush,

Rockhampton is a little warm in places and not very good if you are Asthmatic ;)

That doesn't mean don't visit as the daily temps are only in the low 30's, you are right though it is beginning to get warmer and hopefully some of the increasing humidity will turn into wide spread rain as it is very very dry up here.

Maybe just pass through Rockhampton and stay where the air isn't as smoky or do the reverse and do the inland trip north and come down the coast for the return trip. As the fires may be out by then.

The new England is also a great area to explore but a small word of warning about the area (It is in COCKROACH territory;) )


Cheers Kev

Thanks everyone,

we are leaving Hervey Bay on Thur morning. I think we'll go to Woodgate for a couple of days and then Bundaberg and assess things then.

Wayne, in Cairns, if you're reading this I haven't forgotten about that package for Corregin. I'll ring you if our plans change.

I've just spent four weeks around the Rocky area and North up to Port Douglas. Just about the whole area is affected by smoke haze. Very obvious from the sea looking back to the coast.
Rocky was OK for temperature but once we hit Cairns the stickiness had started and Port Douglas was a sweat fest!
Ten minutes after a swim you needed another one!
If you do go North, stop at the Rollingstone Big4 and ask for a beachfront site. Worth it just to wake up to the view.

G/Day GB

If you are heading to the New England area, stop off in Stanthorpe for a couple of days, and check out the Wineries, I know you have plenty over in WA, but they have some good wines over here as well, I recommend staying at the Top Of The Town C/Park, it's a good quality park, with several drive through sites for your size van, anyway what ever you do have a safe trip.


Cheers

Go North :-)

Nothing wrong with the temperature, the new van must have a fan :-)

Most fires have run their course so smoke haze is on its way out - Some showers the last couple of days and still cool enough...will not stay that way though :-)

Best to camp up on the Tablelands and do day trips to the coast - that way you get the nice cool nights to have a good sleep, Cairns is a bit humid to sleep in November.

Cheers Tony

Hi Gone Bush
We lived in New England for 15 years & are moving back there early next year.
A hot day in Armidale is 32, BUT, just down the road at Tamworth the same day would be 42.
Armidale, Glen Innes, Guyra & Uralla are all over 1000 metres and a lot cooler that the area around.
Which ever way you go, Enjoy the trip Home
Vince

Just left Rowes Bay CP IN Townsville where we spent 2 weeks.
Currently at the Big 4 at Rollingstone on a beachfront site ,wind is a bit blowy but expected to abate tonight view and park are terrific
Here till Friday then up to Mission Beach --Beachcomber Coconut Village for a week then into Cairns to visit rellys. Weather is good warm days and mild nights.
Nothing wrong with heading North.

Hi Bushy, Firstly if your after some where cooler in Qld then try the Bunya Mts, the climb up is a bit steep but you would not have any problems, all Nat Park.
Next....we have just travelled down from Nanango to Newcastle, last week end, and went Stanthrope Armidale, Uralla and then to Walcha and down Thunderbolts Way and as Motherhen posted the country is just lush I could not believe how green it was, especially where the rest of the north is nearly like a desert. There is two free camps, the first at Bretti, love fresh water stream flowing and you are still around 1000 meters. Great place to be when every where is hot and worried about fires, as that won't be a problem there.
Hope this helps