After the few hours walking around Great Keppel Island we were pleased to get back to Yeppoon for an evening of rest before packing for the lengthy drive back down the coast to Maryborough the next day. Originally we had planned to go out and stay at Hervey Bay and travel into Maryborough for the Relish Festival and a general look around this old regional Queensland city. But no! We decided to stop in Maryborough and stay close to the next days action. We found a neat little stop over spot down by the river at the Marina. The Marina had about 8 large powered sites over looking the river. We had use of the Marina’s facilities, on site cafe and it is only a blocks walk from the Festival and the city centre. Recommend this as a great spot for a few days in Maryborough. Probably best though in the cooler months of the year so as to avoid the dreaded midges!

Our site at the Marina

View from our back door at the Marina

The Relish Festival was well done. We kicked off by having some ‘Tipples and Tales’ in the old Bond Store. It was an interesting experience down  in the original cellar of the Bond Store hearing tales from Maryborough’s early years. Followed this by a ride on the replica of ‘Mary Ann’, Queensland’s first locally built steam engine.

Listening to some tales at the Bond Store

The Mary Ann engine

After this it was off up into Queen’s Park for the Long Lunch. There were 100 guests at this. Allthego and one other male entertained 8 ladies at our table. There seemed to be a preponderance of ladies present at the whole event. The food was excellent (particularly the slow cooked short rib steak), complemented by wines from local producers from the Burnett Valley. A couple of them were quite OK, the others a little nondescript. This took us through to mid afternoon and after a little stroll around the usual festival stalls and pop up eateries we headed back to the Marina. Had to indulge in a rum n raisins (it was claimed the raisins had been marinated in Bundaberg Rum) ice cream on the way back.

Hervey Bay scallops

The Meat Industry Councils tasters were out for the regional finals looking for the best sausages.

The next day saw us off on a morning walk around a heritage/street art self guiding walk taking in some of the city’s historical sites and old buildings. This was a pleasant stroll. Even bumped into Mary Poppins’ on the way back. P. L. Travers the author of the Mary Poppins’ books was born in Maryborough in 1899.  After taking in all this culture we made it back to the Marina for lunch and an easy afternoon.

Town Hall

Mary Poppins was in town

We are now at Hervey Bay having made the 35 km trek out to the coast. Staying at the Beachside Caravan Park at Torquay.