Caboolture

We went to leave Redland Bay and head to Caboolture but were way layed by an unexpected flat tire on the van, our first yet.  It was actually quite a convenient place for it to happen.  Lee was nice enough to help Mark and I stood back and watched!!!

We arrived in Caboolture and set up at the showgrounds under some gum trees.  Our friends the Ellis family from Victoria came and met us and we set up a lovely little camp.

Meg, Lee and the girls were staying in a hotel at Twin Waters so were went to visit them and have dinner.  We had some gorgeous cocktails, I think it was called an Aqua Sunset, very very yum.

The most important reason for going to Caboolture was that it is close to Australia Zoo and to catch up with our friends too!  Charlotte and Mark had been surfing the net checking out Australia Zoo and found out that we would be in the area right near Bindi's birthday (Yippee).  Charlotte annoyed us for weeks until we bought her tickets to go.  She was so excited.  She has worshipped Bindi for a long time and loves to read her books and watch her show. 
So we dragged the kids out of bed at some god forsaken hour to get there nice and early, so as not to miss out on anything.  We met Meg, Lee and the girls there and had a fabulous day.  First stop was getting to met Bindi and her family when she arrived.  They stopped and had a lovely chat to Charlotte, signed her book and open some home made craft that Charlotte wrapped up and a present for her.  They were all really nice.
We spent the rest of the day checking out the zoo and watching the show at the Crocoseum, which Bindi, Robert and Terri Irwin were all part of.  The animals were all pretty awesome.  A highlight of the day would have to have been when Mark and the kids fed the elephants, Mark loved it!

Crickey!

The Irwin family

Charlotte and Bindi

In the area we were staying there were quite a few strawberry farms.  Definitely had to take the kids to pick their own.  Was a lovely sunny day and the fruit was delicious.  Kids got so excited and just wanted to keep picking but we had to stop them, would have been very expensive!

Tasting the berries

We'd been told over the years that we had to see as many of the little islands around Queensland as possible.  First one done, Bribie Island.  We had such a wonderful day with the Ellis family.   We packed up early and set off.  First stop was the info centre, as it is in most towns.  We found out all the necessary information and set off to get our 4wd pass for the beach.  Kaz was elected as tour guide, and led us to the beach.  It was so pristine and beautiful.  A few other 4wd on the beach but pretty quiet.  The kids had a play in the sand and tried the water (freezing) while the dads let the air out of the tyres, to accomodate the sand.  We got about half way up the beach but then decided that we couldn't go all the way up the beach so headed back, only to realise then that yes we could go all the way along the beach.  So we turned back and got to go on the beach again, was great fun.  Probably not so much for the young couple canoodalling on the beach that we disturbed three times!!!  Ooopps.  Most people i think would just curse when they see us travelling together, Tasmanians and Victorians, what a team!!

We had a great look around the island, stopped for a picinic lunch and a few photos.  Then drove back through the middle of the island.  We were keen to have a fish, so we set the kids up at the play ground wiht Kaz and Dan.  Then Mark and I tried in vain to catch a fish but not luck, except for the sea weed kind.  We were lucky enough to stop and watch a glorious sunset.  I think I've seen more beautiful sunsets during this trip than I have at any other time in my life.  Somedays we just pinch ourselves that this is everyday life for us.  But only for a few more months then we have to find work.  Yuck!

Brrrrrrrrr

Sunset at Bribie Island

Mark had recently bought a winch for the front of our car in case we every got bogged, which is highly likely.  The men decided, much to Kaz's disgust that a flying fox was a fabulous idea, that the kids would love it.  And they sure did.  We attached a protective rope around the big gum and hooked on the winch.  We made the men have the first goes, just in case it snapped, all good and away the kids went.  On this trip our kids have spent so much time outside, just hanging out, climbing trees and exploring.  Its so great to see, better than TV!  We've been lucky to meet these guys, the adults get on well, mostly and the kids have hit it off!
Probably shouldn't mention this, its still a sore point, but away I go.  The winch broke that day, without having ever been used properly.  Much to Marks horror he couldn't wind it back in and had to wrap the metal rope to the bumper bar and cable tie it on.  We got it fix the next day thankgoodness.  Then we went 4wd with the Ellis family and tried to use it when their car got bogged but the winch once again wouldn't work. You can imagine what mark was like by this stage.  Very very unhappy.  It turned out to be a problem with the battery, winch not getting enough power.  We ended up staying an extra day in Caboolture to get it fix. Mark tested it on the Ellis' patrol in the car park and it worked so fingers crossed.

As you can see the kids all dislike each other, NOT!!!

Just north of Cabooluture is the Glass House Moutain National Park.  A truly beautiful area, named by Captain Cook back in 1770.  He named them after the glass house kilns in England, they are the steep sided volcanic plugs.  We went to the main look out and were treated to a panoramic view all the way from the hinterland to the coast.  You overlook forestry pine plantations towards Caloundra.  Its a great view now but won't be in 2020, the plantations are due to be logged then.  We also did a nice little walk there that took about 20mins.

Education time

We went for a short walk through the Jowarra Reserve north of Glass House Mountains.   Was a little overgrown and neglected but an okay spot for morning tea. 

Charlotte and Zaccy

Sam and Charlotte with their walking sticks

After we left Jowara we decided to go to an area called Wild Horse Mountain, apparently wild horses used to run here and the locals say they still do, but we didn't see any.  It was a disgusting walk straight up hill, but a wonderful view from the top and fun to walk back down.

Jakes little legs got tired

He seems pretty happy, probably because he got carried half the way!!!!

Dan, Kaz and the kids packed up and left us (sniff sniff), but we stayed to sort out the winch problem.  We are meeting up with them again in Maleny though.  We don't seem to be sick of each other yet.  Even though they are Victorians! It's great to be able to share these interesting places with another family.  Keeps the kids and the adults happy.   I'd been fighting of a chest cold so I ended up having a rest on the bed while Mark took the kids to the park.  It was so blissfully quiet!  Except for the trains which were very very noisy where we were staying at the showgrounds. 

Feeding the ducks.

We packed up that afternoon and drove to Maleny, only about an hour away, but supposed to be a beautiful little place.