Our road trip continued up the east coast north of Sydney. On suggestion from my brother, Michael, we steered the van toward Hunter Valley Wine Region. Located just 2 hours north of Sydney, it is a popular place for Aussies to go to on their free time. We drove in on a Saturday morning and although there were crowds there were also some cool events going on too. We stopped at several vineyards for tastings.
My research pinpointed some that have received awards and such. Audrey Wilkinson vineyards has a beautiful cellar door (tasting room) 
with gorgeous views overlooking the valley. The tasting was not free but was waived with the purchase of a bottle to take home. With a few cellar door stops in between, we ended our day of tasting at McGuigan Wines. They are best known for their internationally award winning, Semillon. It is a white wine we had not tried before. It was light, crisp and refreshing. We had a chance to taste several other wines there as well. Their McGuigan Farms Shiraz was wonderful.
After a full day of wine tasting we picked a holiday park near Diamond Beach. The next day we spent all the daylight hours we had driving north along the coast. We stopped to rest in some awesome towns along the way including , Stuart Beach, Coffs Harbour and Emerald Beach.
Our final stop of the day was at a beachside campsite in Yuraygir National Park. It was the best of all the places we stayed so far because our spot was right on the beach. There were tons of kangaroos hopping around the area, as well as on the beach. Many different types of birds were singing in the trees. We made a campfire in the evening and roasted marshmallows. Breakfast overlooking the sunrise on the beach with kangaroos was a huge highlight for us. We even got to see a joey in the kangaroo pouch!
We had a leisurely morning and then continued driving north a second day until dusk, making it to the city of Tweed. This time we stayed at a caravan park, a completely different experience than the last place but we had flushing toilets and showers. With a refreshing night of sleep and a hot shower to get us started, we drove up to Mt. Tamborine (just west of Gold Coast). On top of the mountain there are many activities for travelers of all ages. My foot was giving me some trouble so I wasn’t able to do all I wanted. We visited the Cedar Creek Vineyard for a tasting. On their property they also offer caves tours to see glow worms as well as a frog hollow with local frog species. There are also several lookout points and picnic areas to enjoy as well.
In the early afternoon we continued north toward the small town of Yatala. Our friend Clo told us to make a stop there if we could. It is Queensland landmark making meat pies for over 130 years. When we arrived, the parking lot and the street parking all around the area was packed. It wasn’t hard to tell that people just love these meat pies. The lines were out the door and all the seats were full. We didn’t let the lines scare us away. The service is quick and their prices are very reasonable. We went for the full Aussie meal – meat pie, smashed peas, potatoes and gravy. It was so yummy!
Bellies full we drove farther north around the outskirts of Brisbane. The rain started again in the afternoon and kept on for almost 2 days. It didn’t allow us much of a chance to enjoy the outdoor activities around Brisbane or farther north at Noosa Heads. Along the drive we saw many surfers taking advantage of the heavy waves. When we arrived in Noosa Heads in was pouring down rain. We stopped for the night and hunkered down in our campervan to wait out the rain.
The next morning, we ventured into the town of Noosa Heads. It is a cute beach town with a lot to offer for people looking for a great place to enjoy the beach. The streets near the water offer cafes and shops. Noosa National Park is along the coast and has a chalk board display of which animals were spotted on the trails and where to find them. That is why were went there in search of Koalas. Unfortunately, they were all hiding due to the cold weather and the rain. We hope to have a chance to return and stay a while in Noosa Heads someday.
Having little to do in the pouring down rain we just continued driving north. We made a detour along the way to check out Hervey Bay. Another coastal town, this one is known for the whales that come to breed in the bay. The rain let up a little so we stopped a few times along the water and watched for whales. We weren’t able to see very far in the rain so we didn’t spot any. The height of the whale season in Hervey Bay is August when the locals say you can see them the whales from the shoreline.
We ended our day at a campground in Bundaberg. A small community on the Burnett River is known for two things… Rum and Ginger Beer.