Yepoon and Hervey Bay

After 500 kms of sugar cane and savannah and 5 kms of palm tree lined driveway, we arrive at the Rydges Capricorn Resort near the tiny town of Yepoon. It turns out to be not that fancy after all – a bit of a glorified Butlins. We do enjoy a monster swimming pool complete with ferocious manmade waterfall, as well as a gargantuan breakfast, before heading off to Hervey Bay. Unfortunately WG temporarily takes over as chief packer and leaves the camera behind. Thanks to the stork-filled driveway we realise soon enough. Hervey Bay is still another 450kms away and I decide to put my foot down a bit.10 minutes later I get flashed by a police car coming the other way. Sh*t, not again – before I have time to think I’ve turned off at breakneck speed down a pot-holed unmade road desperate to avoid another hefty fine. Soon sanity returns and I realise the Ford Fairlane 1996 is no Landrover. I head back to the main road with mercifully no attendant sirens blazing.

We soon pass Fig Tree Creek with literally millions of hanging fruit bats crammed into the trees. After sampling the screeching and noxious smells for a while we continue to Hervey Bay. Here the main tourist attraction is the sandy offshore 4WD heaven off Fraser Island. Everyone wants to go and tours are expensive so not having a 4WD anyway we decide to give it a miss. HB itself is quite pretty and we enjoy the beach and low water level where even Harley can wade out for ages. We also land on our feet again with a great deal on an excellent apartment on the beachfront with two-sided balcony, pool, sauna, two double bedrooms and spacious living area all tastefully furnished. Too good to be true so we stay for an extra day. We hire two tandem bikes and enjoy a bit of exercise for a change. Interestingly Harley cycles like the clappers on the back of Karen’s bike whilst Ruby sits there like Cleopatra pedalling only when I look back to check. We have a great day cycling up the pier to get a good look at Fraser Island + back for a well-earned sauna. I reckon I must have lost a few pounds with the sweaty cycling + sauna @ 93 degrees.