Crow's Nest Caravan Park Update

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Crow's Nest Caravan Park Update

SE Queensland

We last visited this park in February 2001with the Queensland A'van Club and were very pleasantly surprised at the improvements made since our previous visit. First up we got a few things wrong last time round as the park was very full and things were a bit hectic coping with over 100 A'vanners. There is actually a wealth of tourist information put out by the Crows Nest Progress and Tourist Association - we looked in all the wrong places! The New Look Crow Call is a black and white booklet just overflowing with touristy information. Look for it at reception. Those into walking and bike riding should get a free copy of Fitch's Feats. This large coloured brochure has an excellent map covering Cabarlah to Crows Nest. About a dozen rides are listed in good detail and all are graded. Fitch was a famous local bike rider and the rides have been named in his honour. You can of course walk most of these routes and joining some together you can easily make a full day car trip out of them. If linking be careful with start and end points as some of these are very vague - best to ask at reception. There is indeed enough things to do in this area to warrant a three day stay. On this visit we originally intended staying two nights, but ended up staying a very enjoyable week. Evan and Gayle have come up with some local drives of their own and these are fantastic and also good for full day bike rides for the fitter amongst us! We failed to tell you that the free muffins provided on arrival are actually Gayle's trade mark and not just a one off for the A'van Club! Fresh home baked bread can also be delivered to your van ready for breakfast for just $2.00. We tried the freshly baked croissants served on a silver tray - just look at the presentation - lovely stuff Gail!

Tranquil campsite by the dam

Complimentary muffins

There are several wood burning BBQ's in the grounds - we somehow missed this! The laundry is open 7:30am till 8:30pm daily and washing and drying costs $2.00 per load using $1.00 coins. Both dryers are large Primus gas types and machines are Maytag's. Evan and Gail have been very busy and have added more cabins and twenty more powered sites. These are great for camper trailers as they are on open grass and great for winter camping when you are chasing the sun. The campsite above shows just how blue the sky gets almost every day in winter. Evan has created a totally new overflow area at the rear of the creek. This is great for those who enjoy not camping right on top of others, but still like having the basics such as hot showers, not too far away. This area has been extensively planted with Melaleucas and Evan is about to install tables and even more BBQ's and open fire pits as well.

Real flowers in the loos!

Working on A-Crafty Corner in idyllic surroundings

During our stay Evan was beavering away making a Porta-Pottie waste disposal point with a difference! With his version you get to do the emptying deed behind closed doors - surely this is an industry first? Gail and Evan are now on the internet and have email. Evan is about to add four ensuite sites. As this park is very club orientated these will be used as a second amenities block during club meetings - a great idea. All will be a massive 2.4 metres square - specially for disabled people there will be one 2.4 m x 3.4 m - plenty of room to swing a wheelchair! All will be wheelchair accessible - with ramps - and wheelchair sized doors.

The Porta-Pottie "house" underway!

Part of Crows Nest village

Things have been happening up in the village as well. You can now access the Internet for free on four computers, during business hours at the local library - next to the Art Gallery. You do need to book your one hour slot in holiday times as it is a popular activity. The connection is made via the local forward looking council and is quite fast for a country town. The local supermarket has added a Xerox copy shop if you need photocopies etc. Being here on our own gave us a chance to get to know the locals - we had no idea what a friendly place this is! A walk in to town can last half a day as you tend to chat to so many locals! Watch out on Sundays though if you need supplies as sadly the town goes "out to lunch" just about all day with the supermarket shutting after lunch and the newsagent shuts at 9.00AM!

Bullocky's Rest area now has toilets

The charming Post Office at Crows Nest village

We had a lot more time this visit so we spent it exploring the surrounding area. Apple Gum Walk has had extensive work done on the surrounding countryside. Acres of lantana have been pulled out and the prickly pear menace is almost under control - a fantastic effort by Land Care and others. On reaching Hartmann Park at the end of the walk we tried all the walking tracks leading off up the hill. These were great and in a lovely unspoilt forest with a profusion of Grass Boys. The walk is a wee bit hilly at the start and not suitable for mountain bikes or those with dickie hips. You can take your dog, but horses aren't allowed. The council have shown a lot of vision in proceeding with this project started way back in 1992. Even though this is in bush, we met women and young children walking on their own. Most reassuring. Bullocky's Rest picnic area has had another undercover table added plus a brand new toilet block. Unlike our last visit the council have done a great job on the grounds.

The immaculate showers at Crows Nest

Crows Nest has its own soft drinks

Don't let winter put you off staying at Crow's Nest. It's true that the morning temperatures can be around the zero mark and sometimes a smidgen below even, but it soon warms up to 20 plus degrees with clear blue skies - a winter paradise! As you can see by the photos we camped right at the back of the park overlooking the small dam and creek. Dusks heralds the start of the night noises. Little creatures hidden by day feel free to serenade us in the safety of the darkness. We hope you enjoy the short recording we made of this as it gives a new dimension to this particular site.

If you choose to stay near the back of this 7 1/2 acre park it is almost like bush camping it is so serene and peaceful. The dam even has a good supply of delicious yabbies.

There is a resident small flock of the delightful Apostle birds with their fascinating fantails. They jabber away just like budgies. We missed these last time as they seem to congregate around the creek and dam. If you like the sound of this park there is a lot more detail in our original story on Crows Nest in the June A-Newsletter.

The delightful path into the village

The village green at Crows Nest

For those visiting from Brisbane for the weekend a big attraction is the late checkout available at no extra cost. Cost per double for a powered site in July 2001 was an extremely reasonable $14.85 - this hasn't changed since our last visit - Chrissy's memory got it wrong!. The price drops to $13.20 for non powered. Extra people are only $3.30 which is well below the industry average. Special discounts apply from time to time for longer stays - best to ring (07) 4698 1269 fax (07) 4698 1900 or write to Crows Nest Caravan Park, New England Highway, Crows Nest, Qld, 4355 or drop them an email on crowsnestvanpark@cnnet.com.au. We still absolutely recommend this park - our impressions during two A'van Club visits were totally reinforced during an unannounced visit.

Bob Chrissy Eustace

Click on the compass for a map of the local area

Ian and Therese Visit Crows Nest

G'day Bob & Chrissy

We have just come home after a few days away at Crows Nest. Evan & Gayle mentioned that you had only just left. It was good of you both though to keep the camping spot warm for us. I have just sent some photographs off to some of our overseas friends telling them of our trip to Crows Nest. Rather than re-typing the entire email again, I have just cut and pasted the contents of our email. The Satellite TV worked well once Ian managed to get it going. A lot of fiddling but definitely worth it. We have been away in the camper the past few days. Left early on Tuesday morning and returned this afternoon.

We went to Crows Nest Caravan Park which is just out of Toowoomba and about 2.5 hour drive. Ian just about had a heart attack when I first mentioned to him where I wanted to go, because he knew it was going to be REAL cold. We had a great time.

It was very cold at night. We even had a slight coating of ice on the car on Wednesday morning. Only slight but it was still ice. BRRRRR......that is the coldest I have ever seen.

I do not know what the ground temperature would have been but it would have had to be around the Zero Degree Celsius or a few under. You can get an idea of how cold it is out that way at the moment because all the grass is browning off. In actual fact one morning we awoke to the smell of smoke. Really heavy in the air it was. Driving home today we know why. Heaps of bushfires around.

The owners Evan & Gayle of the Crows Nest Caravan Park are typical "country folk". Upon our arrival, after we had made camp, Gayle came down with a couple of home made hot muffins for us. Heavens, you could have knocked us over with a feather from the surprise.

We have not had real "country hospitality" since we were living in Rockhampton some 15 years ago now. You tend to forget just how nice country people really are. We will be going back there camping again for sure. It was just so relaxing.

Bo Bo eyeing the horse across the fields

Love at first sight!

Bo Bo had his first contact with a horse. We went for a long walk into the small township of Crows Nest. Anyway, a light bay horse came running over to the barbed wire fence. Ian is petrified of horses, but I talked Ian into letting out the lead to allow Bo Bo to make contact with the horse. The photo of them both touching nose to nose does not really do it justice. But I can tell you, it was priceless to watch. At one stage, Bo Bo crawled under the barbed wire fence to get closer. I just about died. Anyway, I got a photo of the moment.

We finished the walk and later that afternoon we saw the same horses including the light bay in the far paddock behind the caravan park. There is no way to get over there because of barbed wire fences and a small creek etc etc. etc. We knew they were the same horses because of the light coloured one and the dark bay and the light bay.

Bo Bo realized it was the same horse he saw earlier that day. He sat FIXED and watched. The light bay horse must have seen Bo Bo too. Because we could see him staring over our way. I took a photo of Bo Bo and also a telephoto close-up of the horse. As you can see for yourself both of them were definitely looking at each other. This is one place Bo Bo will remember for a long, long time.

Fellow A'vanners from Canberra and Tassie

Our campsite at Crows Nest

There were also two other A'liners there. One couple from Tasmania of all places. Tasmania is the little island right at the very bottom of Australia. They were a long way from home. The other couple in an A'liner were from Canberra, ACT, (Australian Capital Territory), also a long way from home. I took a photograph of the group with Ian and Bo Bo outside one of their A'liners. Amazing to think we caught up with two other A'liner owners who just happened to be there. None of us knew each other beforehand.

I have the washing machine going at the moment. Have a heap of clothes to wash. I will clean out the A'liner tomorrow.

Anyway, here are a few photos taken at Crows Nest.

Bye for now.

Regards

Ian & Therese