THE RETRO ROAMERS: 31 - Kingaroy to Wrenbrook

We arrived back from Cairns on the 23rd of October, staying overnight with our great friends Peter & Geraldine at Bribie Island. Many a cool ale was consumed, a hot spa, a great dinner and some fantastic stories about their 3 month adventure of OZ. The photos were magnificent as well.

Of course our contract at Kingaroy was finished by mutual agreement earlier than our 27th of November date; hence we motored back to Kingaroy from Bribie Island on Saturday 24th of October. We picked up the van, headed back to the motel, cleaned out the resident manager’s quarters, and spent the next two days in the caravan park at Kingaroy, condensing a million bits of clothing and unnecessary items. The local Vinnies did very well out of us.

Although one can be very bitter and twisted about our so called management, more the role of caretaking of a motel at Kingaroy, it is best left where it is. However we have been for quite some time considering our chosen pathway in the relief / contract management of motels, and this latest “tour of duty,” definitely closed the book on all the chapters of this well written book. Time to move on.

The two days in Kingaroy at the tourist park, was hot and dusty, and was time to move on and start our adventure. We have a loose itinerary, initially heading for a place called Wrenbrook, which is near Tabulam on the far north Coast Rivers of NSW, about two hours from Byron.

We arrived in Stanthorpe from Kingaroy on Monday 26th October and of course this place lived up to its name of the coldest place in Queensland. Geeeeeeeezus after leaving Kingaroy 35 degrees plus, and about 4 hours later being greeted with temperatures in the late teens, was about all a KOALA COULD BEAR.

Our intensions were to stay the night, however in came the mother of all storms and upon waking the next day, it was decided to stay another night as the weather there and our destination, was not conducive to move on.

Stanthorpe is not the place I can get my rocks off. Apart from being cold it has that drab look about it, basically a town lost in time. Maybe I just can’t handle the cold.

Departing Stanthorpe, with the weather a little better not much, we moved onward toward Tenterfield. Another cold and miserable place. Stocking up with some goodies we headed down the Bruxner Highway, towards Casino and our destination of Wrenbrook. Unfortunately the weather didn’t get any better on our arrival, with cold blustery winds, cloud and rain. Yes the weather did improve dramatically the next day.

Our intension was to stay a week, and get the 6 for 7 deals at our camp site, but at the time of writing this, we are now into our second week. However will leave here on Wednesday 11th and looks like we are going to head straight to Coffs Harbour.

Our camp site at Wrenbrook

Wrenbrook is one of our special places, nestled into the hills between Tabulam & Bonalbo. A private property that caters for travelers, heading north or south on the east coast of OZ. It is a great place to unhook the van, and enjoy fellow travelers company, while enjoying the views, tranquility and solitude.