Round Australia Trek

[Tiger37]

I left Canberra on 3 Jun with my PL buggy attached to the back of my A Van. Weather has been terrible but on arrival in Bonny Hills this afternoon there was a 9 knot south easterly giving me an opportunity to get out on the hard sand of Rainbow beach with my 8m Access. Not brilliant but nice to actually get mobile. I will try and post some photos of locations as I travel over the next 3 months.

[BobM]

Keep posting reviews of your spots - they might even make it to the locations database

[sherwinelioreg21]

looking forward for that mate, would love to see and read you posts..

[jdhot]

Hope you have a good and safe trip Trev

JD

[andy666]

Well when you get up around evans head/ballina area, if the weather is good, give me a shout and we'll meet up for a kite

[Tiger37]

Thanks for all your replies. Andy, will give you a shout when in Evans head/Ballina area. Heading to Sawtell tomorrow.

Have not had good winds here at Bonny Hills but rainbow beach has good beach access and at low tide there is a 30m wide north/south beach of hard sand. Not many people around even over this long weekend, just a few walkers.

I must remember to take my camera with me in future to post photos of likely locations! More reports to follow.

[andy666]

Check out Air Force beach (4wd access) at Evans head, that's my usual haunt.

[Tiger37]

Well there has been no kiting for 4 days due to bad thunderstorms!

Andy, thanks for the offer to meet up but we drove on past you up to Tweed Heads to get away from the rain. Now taking time to dry out.

Here is the method I am using to transport the buggy. As soon as I get the opportunity to get out again, I will post a report!

[Tiger37]

After a number of days of either rain, no wind or no suitable location, we arrived in Woodgate, north of Harvey Bay. This is the beach with easy access. Winds were SE about 8 knots but at least I managed to get out in the buggy! Good expanse of sand at low tide.

[Clive]

Must be tough driving past beach after beach, and not being able to have a buggy.

Good to see you finally got one.

[Tiger37]

Staying at 1770. Access to this beach is down a 150 m track from the surf club. I would grade it as ok at low tide. Not brilliant but it got me out. The sand was a bit soft for my barrows but with 10 knots from the SE, I managed to get a reasonable run with my 3.5m flexifoil Blur.

[andy666]

oh my god, look at that beautiful blue sky and bright sun. oh how I miss it

[Tiger37]

I have just had the most frustrating 2 days of the trip so far! Here I am paying homage to the wonderful beach at Yeppoon which for a land locked Canberran looks like heaven! Willy weather predicted 11 knots at 7am so i got up early, the tide was out but no wind! There has been next to no wind for both days and sadly I have to move on northwards tomorrow. I am very envious of you guys that live close by and can certainly see that you must have had great fun at the Easter meeting. Well, none of us can control the weather but hopefully I will return to Yeppoon in the not too distant future. Photo at 7 this morning.

[Goz]

Pity the wind is a bit of a no show at the moment, you could have got to see just how long that beach is. Odd sensation getting to the northern end looking South and just seeing where you came from on the horizon.

Too bad that you don't have time to stay and enjoy it.

You will have to come and visit at Easter

[Tiger37]

Thanks Goz. A truly great location and is on my bucket list to visit at Easter sometime!

[Tiger37]

After taking over a month to cross over from the North Queensland coast to WA via Darwin, I have finally taken the buggy off the back of the caravan once more. Hosing it off to get rid of weeks of red dust, I took it out on the mud flats at Derby. The caravan site backs onto this huge area which is very easily accessed and is only a short walk. Today winds were SE and 8 knots gusting to 10. I started with the 3.5m Blurr and then changed to my 8m Ozone Access. Had a great 90 minutes out there at 32 degrees. The surface is cracked hardened mud with some 4WD tracks making it quite bumpy but had a good time. Tomorrow winds are predicted to be 12 knots so could be out again before heading to Broome.

[gum-nuts]

Looks good , have fun on cable beach in Broome. When do you think you will get to Perth? Hopefully lake Walyungup will have dried out a bit!

[jhn.holgate]

Hope you get your 12 knots today. It's good having a large area like that - don't matter which way the wind blows....providing it blows

[Clive]

32 degrees and having a fly and buggy, sounds good.

[Tiger37]

Winds were not 12 knots, they reached 15! Had a good second go out on the mud flats in Derby, but at increased speed, the uneven surface shook both me and the buggy about a fair bit. Made a cock up on one turn and managed to bow tie my Blurr but sorted it out and must remember to turn quickly and sharply not letting the kite luft. Looking forward to the sand beach at Broome.

[Tiger37]

Broome has been pretty good. Winds around 10 knots. Wide open beach at low tide. Sun every day with no sign of rain. Have kept well south if the patrolled swimming area. Camels and 4WD are to the north. This is a reasonable walk with the buggy from my caravan park.

[jhn.holgate]

Looks awesome! Weather is freakin miserable down south at the moment.

[buggy boy]

Beats working and Amaroo oval hands down try and not think about work

[Bones]

Broome has been pretty good. Winds around 10 knots. Wide open beach at low tide. Sun every day with no sign of rain. Have kept well south if the patrolled swimming area. Camels and 4WD are to the north. This is a reasonable walk with the buggy from my caravan park.

Looks like a great buggying spot. A road trip may be on the cards in the future.

If you are heading down to Perth, I would recommend waiting a couple of months before you do (or taking your time). There are no decent spots south of Exmouth until you get to Perth, and the conditions here aren't usually good until the Fremantle Doctor kicks in around October.

[Tiger37]

Thanks Bones. I am sadly unable to delay my trip as I have to be back in Canberra mid Sep. i will have to leave Margaret River till another trip and plan to cut across to Kalgoorlie from north of Perth, then down to the Nulabor. I leave Broome 11 Aug and will spend a few days at 80 Mile Beach, so hoping to get out buggying there.