We are now at Yeppoon on the coast about 40 km east of Rockhampton for 3 days. The van park is right on the beachfront and we are looking out over Keppel Bay towards Great Keppel Island. We are in about the centre of this stretch of coast, between Emu Park in the south and Byfield National Park in the north (about 30-35 km in each direction). Unlike Byfield National Park  Emu Park is not really a park, it’s another coastal community. We will go south to Emu Park one day, north to Byfield another day and plan to go out to Great Keppel on the other.

Looking out our back door in the van park

The weather has been kind to us so far,warm sunny days with a bit of cloud and gentle breezes. Wind got up tonight and blew us around a bit, but all held in place.

Down at Emu Park the local RSL sub Branch in conjunction with the Council has developed a quite original ANZAC Memorial Park. A boardwalk runs along the cliff line beside the sea-shore with various sign posts in the ground recognising the various theatres of war Australians fought in during WWI. At the end of this are memorial boards under cover highlighting the involvement of a number of local residents in these conflicts. Finally, there is a photograph in a hardened glass display that sits on the cliff edge. The soldiers in the photograph look as if they are climbing up the cliff line in front of us, a simulation if you like of the Gallipoli landings. Quite original idea and very effective!

ANZAC Court at Emu Park

ANZAC Memorial photograph

A bit further along is the singing ship, a memorial to Capt Cook who sailed through Keppel Bay on his way north. The wind whips through the shrouds and makes a sort of musical sound…………

Singing Ship, Homealone is gazing out from the bow.

Returning to Yeppoon, we stopped in at the Rosslyn Bay Marina for lunch. This is where the ferries leave to go out to Great Keppel Island. There is a nice little cafe here at the Marina that overlooks the yachts and amongst other things does Fish n Chips. These were actually I think the best we have had to date. The fish nice and firm, the batter crisp but not too thick, not a great pile of chips and just enough salad to give a nice fresh taste in the mouth……. 4.5/5 .

Fish N Chips at the Waterline Cafe

Nearby is Double Head, a short walk takes one to the top of the headland with great views up and down the coastline. There is also an unusual geological feature in the cliff face here, Fan Rock. It is a Trachyte plug, the remnants of a volcanic extrusion that has forced itself up through a pipe and then spread out in hexagonal columns, like a fan.

From Double Head looking south

Fan Rock

Next day it was off up to Byfield NP. Unfortunately, we had to abort our trip a bit over half way along the sand track out to the coast section of the park from the township of Byfield. Tyres had to be deflated and with the time getting on we decided this coupled with then having to reinflate them on the way back meant we would have little time at the destination. So turn around we did. Need to leave earlier next time to allow for this! Enjoyed the couple of shallow creek crossings and a  timber plank bridge for good measure.

Byfield track creek crossing

Byfield track log bridge

Back at the campground in Yeppoon a number of nomads gathered for the State of Origin on a big screen in the BBQ area. A number of Blues supporters seemed happy at the outcome!