We found ourselves doing a bit of off-road caravanning on our way from Townsville to Brisbane this week. I found Notch Point using the WikiCamps App on my Iphone. The sun was getting low as we left the Bruce Highway at Illbilbie navigating using the maps.me App.
Maps.me showed the dirt road petering out before Notch Point, but I had faith. The trees thinned to a sandy beach just on sunset after a few hairy moments on the track involving trees, rocks and holes. Every time I opened my mouth it was to ask “Do you think we can fit through there?”
Thankfully it all seemed a lot less scary on the way out.
I like the way the setting sun coloured the dry cane leaves red.
Close the Gate. This is cattle grazing land so if you don’t want the farmer to call you out, you should close the gate properly. This is not the way!
The proper way.
A kangaroo watched us arrive and although this photo is too grainy to tell for sure, it looks like a kookaburra, or possibly a white cockatoo sitting in the tree above!
We pulled up at the first likely spot and it was perfect.
Sunset at Notch Point.
Instead of doing helpful things like stabilising the van, I took a million sunset photos. I know – he’s one lucky guy 🙂
I looked into this reflected sunset and was teleported to Africa.
Morning coffee at the log.
The neighbour on the other side of us had a story about catching a big flathead the day before just past the trees in the photo below.
Before leaving we walked along the beach where we spotted some kangaroo trails.
[pinit]
Swimming. Beneath the Crocodile Warning Sign and beside the Shark Sighting sign, is a memorial to a person who went missing at this site.
Our camp site was in a sheltered mini-bay, but around the corner past the rough looking boat ramp and warning signs was a hill with more camp spots. The views were great up there and down on the ocean front were even more campers. It was a bit exposed down there so not so good in strong winds. About half way down the hill was an old level concrete slab, just crying out to be used as a campsite with a view.
I have no idea what type of bird this handsome fellow was. Notch Point is 460km south of Townsville which I guess is far enough for there to be different bird species!
Brolgas. They are the symbol of Townsville and can be found in large numbers on the town common, but these were fossicking in a newly harvested cane field near Notch Point.
Having just arrived home from 10 Weeks in Europe I have gone through the usual readjustments and this timely journey reminded me just how beautiful Australia is.
We were impressed with Notch Point.
It made me fall in love with Australia all over again.
There was even talk about coming back for a longer visit.
Budget Travel Tips
Seven Day Stays are allowed
Monday to Friday would be good if you’re time flexible and crowd wary.
This is a free camp site.
Fully self contained camping/caravanning only. This means bring your own everything and leave nothing behind 🙂
Arrive in daylight especially if you are towing.
Click on GBRMPA then Zoning Permits and Plans, search for Mackay Region to find out about where fishing is permitted. Dark Blue is OK to fish, but Green is a No Fish zone.*
*Check the site before you go.
I am a Co-Host of Travel Photo Thursday over at Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox. Add your link and join in the travel blogging fun.
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There is something so beautiful about the cane region. The sunset shots are beautiful too….Enjoy!
Thanks Lydia, getting off the Bruce Highway and finding such a beautiful place was amazing.
What a lovely place! But it seems like it is an entire adventure to get there. Oh wow! I love your trailer and would like to get one like that (or something like a teardrop will do it for us). We dream a lot every time we pass by a trailer dealer. Hope you guys didn’t get in the water!
Beautiful..
What an amazing camping trip! When I read the first paragraph about going off-road I imagined a truck- but not the camper! I was surprised to see the photo with the trailer. I’ve always thought I’d love to visit Australia one day and your photos reiterated that thought.
Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous place! Thank you!
Thanks for visiting earlier – your blog looks amazing. We visited Australia once and would love to go back.
What a great FREE camping spot Jan. Your photos are excellent. Are you sure you didn’t do the photography course at Problogger? I have a thing for Brolgas. I love how they are always in pairs and so elegant.
Thanks Kathy – I wish I had done the Basics and Food photography Olympus courses – I heard great things about both. Brolgas are very elegant birds. I’d love to see flamingoes – have you seen them?
When your partnered with a blogger you have to expect them to stop and take a lot of photos. Great photo of the brolgas. I do love those birds. They really ARE Townsville aren’t they?
Marty is used to me taking a million squillion photos – he is pretty patient 🙂 They’re beautiful birds for sure. It would be nice if they walked around the burbs instead of Ibis!
Oh my, what a beautiful area! I loved the photo you captured of the reflection in the window – it did make me think of Africa!
I’m glad you thought so too Jackie!
What a great, unexpected find. WikiCamps sounds like it’s a very useful app to have. The area is so pretty, especially at sunset with all those layers of color in the sky. This is the first time I’ve heard the term “fossicking”, so I had to look it up.
It is funny when words we take for granted seem alien to people from another country. I wasn’t aware that fossicking was not a universal word!
Hi Jan,
Yes, you DO like to travel very much like me and Conrad. I enjoyed this post very much. We have traveled on the Bruce Highway and have such fond memories of that time. The spot you found at Notch Point is divine! Love it.
While in your lovely country in 2008, one of my first stops was to purchase a bird guide, since I’m a total goofball about my feathered friends. So I have just gotten it out, dusted it off and looked up the handsome fellow you pictured. I believe it is a pied butcherbird.
In addition, brolgas there are almost identical to sand hill cranes which live in abundance near us here in Michigan. (they go south for the winter to warmer climates.) Our cranes pick around just like your brolgas — in a fresh-cut corn field.
Perhaps one day Conrad and I will get back to your neck of the woods so we can meet up!
Regards,
Josie
Thanks for finding out about the pied butcherbird, he was certainly handsome. It is odd to think of brolgas parading around Michigan as cranes – isn’t nature grand. We would certainly love to meet you and Conrad on Aussie soil. 🙂
I can see why it “made (you) fall in love with Australia all over again”. So beautiful. What a great adventure you’re having. It was so great to meet you at Problogger…and I look forward to reading more about all your great adventures.
It was lovely meeting you at Problogger. When I think of you I remember the photo on facebook of your blue shoes in the airport lineup on your way to problogger and your wearing a summer party dress on what was by my standards a very (shining) but cold night, lol. Thanks for your comments 🙂
Beautiful shots, Jan. I’m glad you have your priorities straight. Sunset photos first! 🙂
Always Nancie!
Have never heard of Notch Point . Very nice part of Australia
Neither had I before we went there Paula 🙂
Really, really love this, Jan. Such an open, wild, and beautiful place. 🙂
Me too Krista, it really felt like Australia to me 🙂
What a lovely little spot. I keep telling my husband we need to learn to camp if we want to visit Australia and New Zealand!
It is cheaper to camp in Australia of course and you can see more out of the way places, but a lot of people travel here without camping. 🙂
Beautiful! I love all your sunset photos here. I’m not much of a camping person but if I had your trailer and those views I might be persuaded to stay for a few days.
That looks a lovely spot Jan and I like the new rig and the hubbys looking very patient there posed with the sunset 😉 Your black and white bird is a pied butcherbird but I’m so excited about the brolgas, I’ve never got a good photo in the wild, they’re always too far away, suns in the wrong place or I’ve got the wrong lens on. Definitely one to add to the list, do you add your photos and content to wikicamps?
I have not added any photos or comments yet. Can I add a link to my posts?
Jan, the spot looks perfect for a couple of days relaxing and taking in the beautiful views.
It was an awesome reminder of Australia Jenny. Thanks for having a bit of a read around the blog. 🙂
What an awesome looking spot…I will have to put it on our ever-growing list of places to visit.
A lovely little piece of Australia Melissa. 🙂
Jan thank you for sharing! What a lovely article and the photos are amazing too! I love how you put together these information on “FALL IN LOVE WITH AUSTRALIA AT NOTCH POINT”. Easy to read, very relatable and great tips! Can’t wait to read more!