Thurs, 29th Jan, 2026 Jenny & Paul’s place, Stafford Heights, Qld (Downfall Creek walk)

22 degree min. Nice quiet neighbourhood so we slept in.

Sent Andrea a message for her birthday. Will ring her later.

Jenny had mentioned there is a nice walkway down the end of the street following the drain/creek so we put on our shoes and headed off. Lovely shaded path to start.

Met the busy road and crossed over to enter the reserve where the walkway continues alongside the actual creek. There is a Bushland Centre here with walks throughout the bush - Mountains to Mangroves Corridor. Good map in case we get lost!

Lovely tiled mural on the side of the building.

A few information boards about animals and plants.

There is a fabulous playground with carvings on the poles. Even the slide looks like an old log.

A butcher bird flew down and grabbed a dragon fly in front of us. Breakfast!

Headed off on the path. The one to the left goes around in a circle and is a sensory walk for sight-impaired etc with braille on information boards about what is about. We went to the right then down the path to a lookout platform by the creek. A reserve lady was there so we chatted for a bit about the reserve. Nice eel and lizard.

Spotted a Brush Turkey up in the tree - the lady laughed when we called them ‘Bush Chook’.

There is a big nest further along the track and lots of turkeys around scratching.

Continued up the hill then down through an area full of flying foxes - kept walking quickly so we didn’t get pooped on!

Reached the end of one track as it neared houses - info board.

Went another way through lots of grass trees.

Back to the centre then back across the road and back to the house. Very nice walk.

Received an email with confirmation of our trip booking for the 5^th Aug to 6 Sept.

Rang Rick as Kaylene didn’t answer her phone. They have had a couple of offers for the house and one is very good so they have signed. In the process of a building inspection now so hopefully by the end of the February it will be sold and they can finish building their new home in Yungaburra. 

Rang Jon to see how they are and he is sitting in Brisbane airport on his way to Adelaide. He has been moved across to the Gas drilling section as they don’t have any water boring jobs yet. He will be working near Innamincka. Will ring Annalise later to see how they all are as Jon said Beau and Cooper had head colds.

Up to the house. Jenny was in the pool so I joined her. Steve went with Paul to the recycling centre.

Rang Andrea - having a nice day. Just had lunch with Kaylene and Wendy. Told her about my new holiday news then rang Wendy to fill her in too.

Got onto Kaylene - very disappointed that she can’t come on the trip too.

Lovely dinner and chat with Jenny and Paul before heading back into the camper to bed.

Wed, 28th Jan, 2026 Leanne & Rick’s place, Wivenhoe Pocket to Jenny & Paul’s place, Stafford Heights, Qld

21 degree min, mostly clear sky.

Packed up and thanks Leanne & Rick for a lovely time and the opportunity to travel with her to UK etc. Lots still to plan which will be exciting too.

Into Fernvale for a couple of groceries. I had recorded the history here on a previous visit.

Continued along the Brisbane Valley Way then eastward on the Warrego Highway. Had hoped to see the Beavers and the Munces but didn’t hear back from them so they must be away enjoying themselves somewhere.

Programmed Google Maps to take us to Jenny & Paul’s place in Stafford Heights. Not using Hema Girlie as she hasn’t been updated for so long and probably doesn’t know the road changes around here.

Across Centenary Bridge over the Brisbane River.

Wound our way through the streets and eventually arrived at Jenny and Paul’s house. Paul has come down from Woodgate to do some work around this home. He keeps very busy.

Chatted over a cuppa - the boys set up the camper out the front. Didn’t realise how much of a slope their land was.

Told Jenny my news of going to UK & Europe and she had lots of helpful advice and things I can borrow. She also offered to have us stay so she can take us to the airport which will save transport issues. I will be in Cairns then so will come down a day or two before.

Nice day chatting and watching a short TV series. The boys retired to the downstairs TV room and had a wonderful time looking up You-tube things like cars, detecting etc.

 

25-27 Jan, 2026 Leanne & Rick’s place, Wivenhoe Pocket, Qld

Sun, 25^th

22 degree min with forecast of 38 max today!

Headed into the house for a cuppa in the air con with the others. Leanne was looking at coach trips to the UK and found one on Early Bird sale with HolidayMax (based in Perth). It is 33 days coach trip around England, Ireland & Scotland (where all my ancestors came from) then across to Europe - Paris, Burgundy, Lucerne & Swiss Alps, Tuscany, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Venice, Munich, Bavaria, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Bruges and back to London. Rick isn’t going so Steve said I should go with her. We looked at other sites and they did UK separate to Europe. This will be full on but it covers everything we want to see and we can extend at the end to explore some more. Sounds very exciting and Leanne has done some overseas travel by herself so at least she has had some experience. Our niece, Ella is still in London so I could catch up with her.

Made lunch in the camper, 40.6 degrees in here so back to the air con.

The younger ones headed down to the Brisbane River for a swim.

Drinks outside while we watched a big storm build. Lots of thunder then after dinner the storm hit. Heavy rain and wind for an hour but no hail thank goodness. At least that cooled things down.

 

Mon, 26^th

Australia Day - we are very proud to be Australian and to be able to explore our country freely.

The kids were up at 5am heading to Somerset Dam to get a spot when the area opens at 6am. They have jet skis and hopefully lots of sunscreen and drinking water.

Min of 21 degrees with a forecast of 39 today!! Leanne is a volunteer at the Information Centre in Fernvale so she headed in for her shift today.

The coolness from the rain last night didn’t last - it is just more humid now.

Steve helped Rick fix the fence where a big tree branch had fallen on it. I worked on my blog.

Got up to 40.9 degrees in the camper today. The younger ones came back after lunch as they wanted to get home to get their kids ready and rested for start of school tomorrow. It was nice meeting them all.

Back to the 4 of us for drinks so we watched the news of the Australia Day celebrations and sadly all the protests about calling it Invasion Day when it is a day for celebrating those who wish to become Australian citizens.

Still 34 degrees in the camper at 7pm but our fans make it comfortable. Looks a bit stormy outside but nothing forecast for here.

The forecast was wrong - the storm arrived with wind and lightning but no rain on us. It moved quickly across leaving it still hot and humid.

 

Tues, 27^th

24 degree min and cloudy. Lovely bird song to wake to out here.

More discussions about the trip then we made the decision and booked it online paying the deposit to leave Australia on the 5^th August - wow-wee.

Now to decide how much longer we want to stay and what else we want to see. Will decide all that in May once I get back from NZ - what a year this is going to be.

Celebrated with a lovely roast pork dinner with Leanne and Rick.

Sat, 24th Jan, 2026 Gavin & Donna’s place, Korralgin to Leanne & Rick’s place, Wivenhoe Pocket, Qld (exploring Yarraman & Toogoolawah)

Min of 22 degrees and overcast again.

Packed up and said thanks to Donna and Gavin. Messaged Leanne to say we are heading their way - she said good timing as the family are coming over for dinner so it will be party time.

Headed back out the way we came in. Slowed down when we saw cattle on the road then crawled along as the lady on horseback guided them down to the intersection. Guys in a 4-wheeler blocked the other road so the cattle turned left to go to a new paddock.

We turned right then left at the old Korralgin Hall. Got a photo this time. Nice view too.

Into Yarraman (480m elevation). Sky is clearing. Stopped at the first park to check the information board.

Drove along a bit and parked opposite the hotel - interesting sculptures outside.

Wandered up and down the main street. At the top end we found the Wild Horse.

Back to the truck and along to Station Park where the start of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is at the old railway station site. Some people were heading off on their bikes.

Had a cuppa as we read all the information boards in the shelter. Great information.

Lovely old Station Master’s home.

Walked along to the old tanker.

Continued on towards Weir Park - spotted some more older history signs along the way.

Free camping spot and picnic area here by the creek. Not sure where the weir is. No info.

Back out then we turned onto the D’Aguilar Highway heading southward. The rail trail is off too our left. Spotted the chaps we saw before having a rest at the next stop - should have pulled in to read the history info.

Into Blackbutt (430m elevation) and around to the railway station site to check out the history info there. A tennis star, Roy Emerson, had come from here. There is a museum in his name in one of the old railway buildings.

We walked over to the other building - full of railway history info.

Some old machinery in the park from the sawmill days.

Interesting flowers on the tree near where we parked.

Walked across to ‘town’ and found a few murals.

Back to the truck and continued on. Passed the turn off to Benarkin which was mentioned in the history info at Blackbutt.

Down a steep winding descending road to 200m elevation. Through grazing farms then through a little town, Moore.

Nice views as we continue on. Across Emu Creek - that was mentioned as a gold area in the history info.

Right turn onto Brisbane Valley Road to head to Wivenhoe Pocket. Stopped at Toogoolawah for lunch. A chap is painting nice murals on the old toilet block.

There is a free camp up the side street. We drove around the block to the main road - cute little church.

Parked near the old railway station and went for a wander. Will have to come back and follow the history trails of these little towns.

Back to the truck and along the road passing St Andrews Anglican Church (erected 1911-12 by local builder, Donald Menzies). A different style of building.

Back onto the main road. Through Esk which we explored before with Leanne & Rick. Lots of Aussie flags flying for Australia Day on Monday.

Passed the turn off to Somerset Dam - a small part comes into view.

Across the dam wall of Wivenhoe Dam.

Across the Brisbane River as we continue on to Fernvale first to get some groceries from town.

Back out to Wivenhoe Pocket and around to Leanne & Rick’s place. Our ‘slab’ by the shed is free for us to park up.

Into the house for a cuppa - quite hot outside but nice and cool in the air conditioning. They have a new puppy, Sebastian, who is a big dog (can’t remember the breed) and will get bigger. Unfortunately he had to have an op on his eye so had the big head cone on so bumps into everything and everyone. Their son, Travis, has it’s sister so should be interesting when they get together.

Later on Travis and family with extended family arrived so we moved to the open carport area to party on. Great night chatting.