Shake Down Trip with our New Van: Main Range National Park, QLD.

Two days after becoming proud owners of our new Kimberley Karavan we set off on a shake down trip. We stopped for lunch at Fassifern Reserve. This is a free camping area on the side of the road with lots of open space dotted with trees. There are toilets, a covered picnic shelter and bins provided. 

Fassifern Reserve

Even though it was school holidays there was plenty of room but we decided to continue on to Manna Gum campground in the Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park because we really liked the idea of spending our first night in the new van at a national park. First we had to tow the van up through Cunninghams Gap over the Great Dividing Range, and of course it poured with rain just to make things interesting, but the Bt-50 didn't miss a beat and the van followed along nicely.

Cunninghams Gap

There are two national park campgrounds in Goomburra: Poplar Flat and Manna Gums. We have covered them in more detail in our very first blog. They are about 35 km from the highway but it is a beautiful country drive.

Countryside on the drive to the Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park.

Take it slow along Inverramsay Road as there is quite a bit of cattle about and children from the private campgrounds cycle along the road.This should give you a chance to see the interesting mail boxes along the way. The last 6 km is dirt but is suitable for most rigs when dry.

Interesting letter boxes on Inverramsay Road.

Entry to the Goomburra Section of Main Range National Park.

Just as we pulled into Manna Gum campground a storm went through. It was wonderful to just pop the van up and not have to put the tent up in the wet. As this was a one nighter we didn't unhitch and the set up literally took about two minutes; bliss.

First night in our new Kimberley Karavan.

We like to camp against the fence line where the Satin Bowerbirds sit in the trees and the Bell Miners tinkle all day. 

Satin Bowerbird, male

In the afternoon we walked the Dalrymple Circuit, around the campground and up the road past Poplar Gum campground to Kurrajong Picnic Area. Despite it being school holidays Manna Gum only had a few campers and one lucky camper had Poplar Flat all to themselves.

There were plenty of birds about.

Superb Fairy-wrens

Pied Currawong and Red Wattlebird

Rufous Fantail and Bell Miner

White-browed Scrubwren and Spotted Pardalote

Golden Whistler, male and female

Crimson Rosella and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

After our walk we broke out the champagne to celebrate our first night in our new van.

After breakfast and another walk around the Dalrymple Circuit, where we saw Wonga Pigeons strutting along the track, we were off to Girraween National Park for a few nights.