It is going to be a slow trip to Rockhampton and just as slow coming back to Brisbane, all up about 5 weeks. We are setting off to see some of the towns to our near north, we just seem to skip past these on the more lengthy journeys. By sheer coincidence the timing of this trip coincides with several food festivals…….

In Noosa it’s the ‘Noosa Food and Wine Festival’, in Maryborough it’s the ‘Relish Festival’ and in Rockhampton it’s the ‘Wholy Cow Festival’. What luck!

Festival banner

So we have made Noosa our first stop to focus on the food. Now we have been to Noosa a fair bit over the years but not in a van. 30 odd years ago we tented in what is now known as Noosa Woods, out on the spit at the end of Hastings Street, near the river mouth. It’s been many years since camping was eliminated from this area and much of it has been reclaimed by the bush. So we are staying in the van park along the river at Noosaville, great little spot looking across the river with the sun sinking over the hinterland.

We have been here 3 days, the first was a wash out, rained all day Friday and most of the night. So our Friday ticket to the Noosa Woods was made good for Saturday when the sun came out. Usual festival sort of thing, lots of tents with wine sellers, a range of food vendors and music. Open all day, you could spend a fortune here without really trying. We didn’t. After not a bad pulled pork burger and a plate of cheese, washed down with a couple of glasses of red, we were heading back to the van. Some interesting characters wandering around the festival grounds made for interesting people watching….

Noosa Woods festivities

Some Woombye Cheese Company artisan cheeses

Back in Hastings Street the Long Table Lunch was in full swing down the middle of the road. Looked pretty good setup. Allthego had a chat with some patrons, confirmed it was good and offered him a seat at the table. Someone hadn’t shown up. Tempting. But, there was no seat for Homealone.  Allthego politely declined.

The Long Lunch table in Hastings Street

Some latin folk music on Hastings Street, bit of dancing going on too as the day drifted on!

That night it was off to El Capitano for what was billed as a night of Pizza and ‘natural wines’ (read that as organic). A well-known chef from a Melbourne  restaurant (400 Gradi) was up preparing the food. As well as a couple of fancy pizzas there was salamis to kick the night off, a plate of venison carpaccio, and braised octopus (twas very tender and tasty). A Nutella calzone for desert was a bit average Allthego thought, as were the wines. But it was a bit of fun and we had a good table of folk to share it with.

One of those pizzas

Braised octopus

Today has been ‘quiet time’ beside the river. After a quick visit to the Sunday Noosa Farmer’s Markets for supplies we had a  plate of fish n chips for lunch at the Noosa Marina overlooking the river. Rather good fish n chips, but will have to see how they compare with the competition further north.

Fish n Chips at Noosa Marina

Tomorrow we head off to Gladstone. Just got to see the old aluminium smelter, the new gas works and the coal loaders……………..