Next Southern Qld/Northern NSW get together

[JBJ]

OK All you vintage vanners up this end of the world, we've sat around long enough not doing anything.

Last discussion some of us had at Ipswich Rod run ( & vintage van show) was that maybe we could try to get together somewhere like Pottsville or Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast.

I dont mind where we go. If we come down south of Ballina,you only have coastal access until around Yamba, then pretty well nothing close to the coast until Coffs Harbour. Sure there's lots off nice spots on the coast in between, but I think one of us should have some knowledge of where we are going before we get there.

I also have no problems with going north.

Does anyone want to organise something, or will Boots & I go ahead & make a democratic decision???

We should be able to do something in February with no great clashes of other events.

Whats everyone think??

Jailbarjuice

[sutcac]

Hi there Dennis and Sue. What a terrific idea!We'd be up for a get together in February , or any other time that suits ,for that matter!!!

Would be happy to travel south, but having said that have found a great spot just north of here with a terrific c'van park at Rainbow Beach. Pub 20 meters , Surf club 40 Meters. Shops, cafes 50 meters. Rainforest drive to beautiful Double Island Point, Noosa north shore beaches. Day trips from nearby Inskip Point across to Fraser Island, 90 mile beach, coloured sands, lakes etc etc etc.

Would you envisage a weekend or longer?

Don't mind organising this end if thats what people want.

Tried to ph your mobile but got switched off message. My ph 0402539647. Cheers Clyde.

[JBJ]

Hi Sutcac & Barb,

For me Rainbow Bay is a fair bit further than I'd want to go for a weekend. Its about 6 1/2 hours each way, about as far as Newcastle is from here.

I'd be happy to go as far as Bribie Island maybe, Thats about 4 & a bit hours from here.

I think Friday arvo thru to Sunday after lunch is a pretty good time to be away, then we all can travel in daylight.

I generally only turn my mobile on when I want to use it, its not the best way to try to contact me.

Whatever happens, with you at the northern end of the mob, & us at the southern end, one of us is going to be driving the longest distance each time. Thats why I reckon we should stay around 4 hours max. driving for anyone attending.

Keep the ideas flowing. Jailbarjuice

[sutcac]

Hi JBJ, Point taken re distances. In hindsight Rainbow Beach is too far to be practical for our needs. We really just need a suitable Park/ Location with reasonable facilities so that we can get together and 'chew the fat' and socialize with other V Vanners.

We'll be happy to participate wherever it's decided to meet.

Maybe some other S E Qlders may jump in with some suggestions/ideas ?




Cheers Sutcac.

[Roehm3108]

Hi JBJ. Sounds like a good idea. How about one of those farmstay type places around the border somewhere? I seem to remember Paul who was quite a regular went to one and they even allowed dogs. Had shower facilities and all. Does anyone remember where that was? Another place I remember from years ago is Killarney. It has a park at the entrance to the National park going to Queen Mary Falls.
Ray

[JBJ]

Hi Ray,

Sue & I did a couple of trips up to Warwick recently getting a gearbox fitted to my hotrod. We decided we are not really inland people, after seeing how hot & dry it is out there. Our experiences with the dry country side on Reddo's Tour didn't do anything to change our minds.


We both would prefer something closer to civilisation, &/or the coastal area. At least having some antique shops, a pub, service stations etc.

The other problem with the inland SE Qld for us, is that the road from Woodenbong to Legume, on the way to Killarney, is strictly in the bad goat track category, & we wouldn't consider towing our van along it. Funnily enough, when Greg & Noelene ( Tucky) called in on us on their way home to WA, they came down that road in their Sunliner & hotrod. Apparently almost everything came out of the cupboards & fell on the floor. They said its the worst road they've travelled on, & after driving it 4 times recently, I agree with them.

The alternate way for us to the Warwick area is up to the Gold Coast, then out the Logan Motorway thru Ipswich. That makes it a fairly long trip for us.

If the majority want to go inland thats great, but I think we'd be giving it a miss out there.

Lets see what the majority decide.

Jailbarjuice

[Suzann and Matt (Schultzy)]

Gday dennis and sue ,

suzann and i are keen to go anywhere seeing as we now have a ;)mopar tow vehicle, one suggestion could be to go to bribie island for a weekend? i dont know what the parks are like there but as i said we are easy, when it comes to where we go even fingal would be nice again looking forward to catching up with everyone again. ;D

TTFN matt & suzy

[Roehm3108]

That's fine by me JBJ I am not too savvy with the road conditions out there. Twas just a suggestion. Aren't there some nice places around your way Dennis. Nothing wrong with someone in the group only having a short distance to travel (like I did at Esk) as long as the destination is nice. Personally, I am like Schultzy - easy to please. Nothing wrong with Fingal as far as I'm concerned either.
Cheers
Ray

[earlee]

Well Fingal would be good, but a change is also good.

so I will take a drive and have a look at the Bribie van parks soon and report back. February is a good time for a run as long as it doesnt clash with the toowoomba swap on the 2nd or 3rd.

;D

earlee

[JBJ]

Hi All,


I'm with you earlee, Fingals OK but not a real high standard park. They seem to be going the way of many coastal parks, & thats towards cabins, with the worst sites kept for vans.


Bribie Island looks good on their website, & they've got a pool.

Maybe you and/or sutcac have a look, & if the park is OK we can place a booking. If theres money required upfront, we should be able to each pay our own deposits this time, rateher than one or two people paying out up front.

We aren't available at this stage until around the third weekend. Our grand daughter Izzie is having tonsils & adenoids removed on 10th Feb (or thereabouts)in Kurri Kurri, & Sue is going to stay in Newcastle for a week or so to look after her, in our van that we'll leave there on our way back from Motorfest.

So all things being equal, I'll have to drive down to Newcastle around the third weekend to pick up Sue &the van.

We have no options, but should be right after around the 23rd
for our get together.


Jailbarjuice

[earlee]

Well how about the last weekend of February or the first weekend of March at Bribie Island.

It looks good on their website..

www.bongareecaravanpark.com.au/about_caravan_park.html

[groovy]

Have you had a look at Badgers website to see if there are any user reports of the park your looking at.
home.vicnet.net.au/~badger04

[JBJ]

Hi Groovy,


Just had a look at the site you mentioned. One park come up OK, & the other sounds a bit ratty.

The difficulty I have with these type of opinion sites, is that you really dont know if the problems have been resolved, or the parks changed hands, etc. Staff rudeness is quite common at times, but doesnt neccessarily give reasons to condemn a park in my eyes. They could have just suffered from a bunch of rude caravanners, or might genuinely be the wrong people doing their job badly. Who knows?


I personally think that if one of us sizes up the park, & it seems OK, we have to take the park on face value. I cant see any other way it can be done.
On Reddo's tour, the quality of the parks we stayed at varied considerably, but the company overode the inconveniences ( which were only minor)



Lets hope Will & Lyn can fit the tour in while they are here.

Jailbarjuice

[groovy]

JB
Yes, they are dependant on the honesty of the vanner's submitting reports.

Where they do shine is for those travelling on a constant basis, it gives them an idea of where to go and if they find something not right about the report, to send in their own report about the park.
He is always after park reports, whether they be for parks already listed or parks that are new to his site.

May I suggest to all vintage vanners that they send in reports to him, that way it increases the knowledge base and reduces the chance of dodgy reports getting through, although he contacts the park management when there is a dodgy report to see if management has changed or to get their response to the bad report, to that end he has a section devoted to park's replies.

Of course, nothing beats going there and checking a place out for yourself, nut when that option is not available, it is far better than just trying a pig in the poke.

Greg

[dosse]

G'Day all
My wife and i have stayed at the Bribie island caravan park on the surf side about three
times, this park is agreat place to go for a weekend. The amenitys are great with a large
camp kitchen,pool,minigolf,gamesroom.This park is very clean and is a very short walk to
pub,shops and beach.The managers are good people and loved our old van.I am with
earlee on the date for late feb
Regards Dosse,
David

[JBJ]

Hi All,


Why dont we make a date & book into that park david suggested. The first weekend in March would probably suit us better, but the last in February I think we can manage.

Jailbarjuice

[earlee]

okay - decision made - the first weekend in March it is ! ;D ;D

I will ring and book my spot tomorrow - Ph 1800 649 831 for the freeloaders who want a freecall or otherwise 07-34081134. Bribie Island caravan park.

Maybe we might even get some southerners turn up.... eh reddo? geoffnjude? tickos?

Any changes to the date then please contact Jailbarjuice... for confirmation.

[Deleted]

hi Earlee.

Reddo is scaling back in 2007.
2006 was a big year. Motorfest, Esk, Munmorah, Morgan, all holden day/weekend, the tour and coledale. not to mention about 15 bike club runs and weekends away.
With the missus being at 6s and 7s i dont wanna stray too far from home next year. definitely planning on making wintersun the big trip for 2007. cant wait to hook up with you, jbj and others from up north.
Also gunna try and make myself save for Mt Gambier v.v. getogether in 2008. I still have to finish off the TD as well. even though i have the reputation of steptoe, projects still take money to complete.

Saving of any sort is a tall new years resolution but at least if i start with a bit of restraint and determination i might get into the habit of stuffing a few coins in the piggy bank.

I will also try and aim for a week or so at Will and Lyns new ranch at Hervey bay when its up and available for rent . ideally head there after wintersun and sneak a few days on fraser island.... did i say i am trying to save???

Any way you guys have a great time on straddie.

Cheers
reddo

[Geoff & Jude]

Hi Earlee, sounds good, but I don't think we will be able to make it - that dreaded word "WORK" !!!!

Did you say some time ago that you left the Franklin down south as you and the family were heading this way over xmas? Maybe we could catch up for a quick drink then.

We are going to Kendalls Beach (Kiama) from the 14th - 21st Jan.

Geoff & Jude

[santa28a]

Count us in if it is the first weekend in March. Sharyn is off to Parabadoo in WA for a couple of weeks in late Febuary for the birth of our sixth granchild and should be back just in time
She is not looking foward to the trip over to WA. Flies out of Brissy early in the morning and then has a four hour stopover in Perth then another flight to Parabadoo then a 45 min bus ride out to Tom Price will make for one loooong day
But a new grandchild followed by a weekend "overseas" at Bribie Island will make it all worthwhile ;D ;D ;D ;D

[JBJ]

Hi All,


We've just booked, they have 65 sites all available. Weekend is Friday 2nd March & saturday 3rd .

its all go now.


Jailbarjuice

[dosse]

G'Day all
We have booked also,looking forward to a top weekend.
Regards dosse
David

[sutcac]

Yep , Clyde and Barb have booked. See ya all there!!!!!! Cheers . Sutcacs

[Deleted]

Hey Clyde.. spelt... "Collide"

I know an EH will be towing the sunliner to straddie. Question still remains will it be a sedan or a veryyyyyyyyyy cooooolll Panel van



he,he,he
Reddo

[jan]

Hi etal,

Hubby and I (Jan & Naum) would like to say hi, we are the loving owners of a little vintage van fondly named "The Bitch Box" namely as I often travel with our pup which is why we bought our little van. We would be very interested in attending a get-together in Feb in Southern Qld/Northern NSW to meet everyone and chatter. Looking forward to following this thread.