Hi all...after last years GTG which sadly I missed, I decided I had to go to Jimna and check out some of the sites and tracks. So I packed the grande the trailer and the kidlets up and set off.
This trip was more of a relax and let the kids run a bit ferral, but threw in some nice drives too.
Day 1. Started the day at a leisurely 7:30 with the trailer having been loaded the night before. Unfortunately didn't leave until close to 10:30...getting 6 kids organised unfortunately doesn't always go as planned. However we had a pleasant drive with 6 pairs of eyes glued to 3 different movies on the headrest dvd's with the sound pleasantly contained in their headphones...
First pitstop (and change of the 3rd row guard...) was Curra about 20min north of gympie where we had a quick bite to eat and stretch of the legs.
A few hours and many windy ascents later and we stopped in the connondale ranges overlooking a beautiful property.
http://postimage.org/image/5rkerumwt/
http://postimage.org/image/ep54p7fct/
After 4 1/2 hours of scenic route, I was quite pleased to stretch the legs and get those last minute essentials at kilcoy. Such a beautiful town and lunch at the Kilcoy Exchange Hotel was fantastic. For $8.50 the kids meals incl. drinks and icecream were fantastic value.
http://postimage.org/image/krcrfp3st/
Finally by about 4.30 we were set up and ready for a night by the fire. Peach trees has got to be one of the best campsites I have stayed at. The grounds are just gorgeous, not to mention the abundant bird and wildlife, with possums cows and roos regular visitors around the campsite.
http://postimage.org/image/9t1hxif7h/
3 30second tents make camping with 6kids a breeze...1 tent for the girls, 1 for the boys and 1 for the parents...works a treat
http://postimage.org/image/l6o18ppq5/
Days,nights,mornings....all were cold.With temps like zero at 8am you have to like winter camping...fortunately I love it, and have an
http://postimage.org/image/8oc15vi4d/ awesome wife who makes the most of it even though she detests cold
http://postimage.org/image/dlplqzk3h/
Yep that's frost in the background! My 10 yo son brought me a leaf edged in ice crystals and said look Dad....I think it must be snowing ...(whose the Queenslander?)
http://postimage.org/image/o3b28zvjx/
Two remedies proved to be effective in overcoming the cold
http://postimage.org/image/ek5yt9xfh/
Cuddles......
http://postimage.org/image/pxsi4h7y5/
and campfires!
Day 2 we set off after a leisurely rise and breakfast to stony creek, over mount Mary smokes and back through Belthorpe range to Jimna. Nice drive. Tracks are well signed as to their difficulty level as you would know from the GTG report. the track we chose was an easy one with a few interesting bits of track including rocking ascents, muddy decents...necesitating some controlled sliding (much to the kids amusement). Some deep thick mud looked challenging but ended up being a breeze. the track was well maintained (even the lantana was kept of the panels). There are many beautiful creek crossings and sections of track though beautiful rainforest. I had to laugh at the bellbirds though...they had me think my suspension or brakes were making some strange noises...they just seemed to be everywhere I went!!
http://postimage.org/image//uc0zgbiil/
http://postimage.org/image/uc0zgbiil/
http://postimage.org/image/uc0zgbiil/
stony creek
TBC........day 3 and 4 yet to come....
This trip was more of a relax and let the kids run a bit ferral, but threw in some nice drives too.
Day 1. Started the day at a leisurely 7:30 with the trailer having been loaded the night before. Unfortunately didn't leave until close to 10:30...getting 6 kids organised unfortunately doesn't always go as planned. However we had a pleasant drive with 6 pairs of eyes glued to 3 different movies on the headrest dvd's with the sound pleasantly contained in their headphones...
First pitstop (and change of the 3rd row guard...) was Curra about 20min north of gympie where we had a quick bite to eat and stretch of the legs.
A few hours and many windy ascents later and we stopped in the connondale ranges overlooking a beautiful property.
http://postimage.org/image/5rkerumwt/
http://postimage.org/image/ep54p7fct/
After 4 1/2 hours of scenic route, I was quite pleased to stretch the legs and get those last minute essentials at kilcoy. Such a beautiful town and lunch at the Kilcoy Exchange Hotel was fantastic. For $8.50 the kids meals incl. drinks and icecream were fantastic value.
http://postimage.org/image/krcrfp3st/
Finally by about 4.30 we were set up and ready for a night by the fire. Peach trees has got to be one of the best campsites I have stayed at. The grounds are just gorgeous, not to mention the abundant bird and wildlife, with possums cows and roos regular visitors around the campsite.
http://postimage.org/image/9t1hxif7h/
3 30second tents make camping with 6kids a breeze...1 tent for the girls, 1 for the boys and 1 for the parents...works a treat
http://postimage.org/image/l6o18ppq5/
Days,nights,mornings....all were cold.With temps like zero at 8am you have to like winter camping...fortunately I love it, and have an
http://postimage.org/image/8oc15vi4d/ awesome wife who makes the most of it even though she detests cold
http://postimage.org/image/dlplqzk3h/
Yep that's frost in the background! My 10 yo son brought me a leaf edged in ice crystals and said look Dad....I think it must be snowing ...(whose the Queenslander?)
http://postimage.org/image/o3b28zvjx/
Two remedies proved to be effective in overcoming the cold
http://postimage.org/image/ek5yt9xfh/
Cuddles......
http://postimage.org/image/pxsi4h7y5/
and campfires!
Day 2 we set off after a leisurely rise and breakfast to stony creek, over mount Mary smokes and back through Belthorpe range to Jimna. Nice drive. Tracks are well signed as to their difficulty level as you would know from the GTG report. the track we chose was an easy one with a few interesting bits of track including rocking ascents, muddy decents...necesitating some controlled sliding (much to the kids amusement). Some deep thick mud looked challenging but ended up being a breeze. the track was well maintained (even the lantana was kept of the panels). There are many beautiful creek crossings and sections of track though beautiful rainforest. I had to laugh at the bellbirds though...they had me think my suspension or brakes were making some strange noises...they just seemed to be everywhere I went!!
http://postimage.org/image//uc0zgbiil/
http://postimage.org/image/uc0zgbiil/
http://postimage.org/image/uc0zgbiil/
stony creek
TBC........day 3 and 4 yet to come....
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