We are back in Brisbane after having a few nights in the rain at Yandina. A wet end to the test run in the new van. After leaving Gayndah we headed off to Yandina via Biggenden, where we stopped for lunch. Not a lot happening in Biggenden. Along the way we stopped off at Chowey Bridge on the old railway line. Built in 1905 this was the first concrete arch bridge built in Queensland. Just outside Biggenden is Mt Walsh National Park, this is a particularly rugged park with no camping facilities but a pretty day use area in the shadow of the mountain. It is a steep walk to the top, plenty of warnings about a poor track, rock faces and steep drops. Homealone wasn’t interested and Allthego didn’t want to go anyway. So we went on to Yandina instead.

Chowey Bridge

Rail bridge on the abandoned Monto to Mundubbera line

Our camp site at Yandina was in a great setting down by the upper reach of the South Maroochy River. It would be good on a sunny winter’s day, very hot in summer! There are 10 sites down by the creek. As the rain fell it started to fill and run faster over the rocky base, well below the bank thankfully. I suspect that in flood time this area is swamped. We were under some big figs and our site got muddy and unpleasant in the rain. The rest of this caravan park is a bit dismal, it is given over to lots of full-time residents in very cramped areas.  A good test for the van in the rain, no leaks!

Set up beside South Maroochy River

There are supposed to be fish in here

Should have moved the bins before taking this!

We are now planning a longer trip out west to the Desert Racing Carnival in mid August, this includes the iconic Birdsville races. Other races are held at Betoota and Bedourie with the same horses I suspect going around. Back home we have unpacked and settled in. Allthego even watched the Eels go down (again) in the last minutes against St George in the NRL. Enough said!