With a few days of down time between Christmas and New Year we have been happily spending more time together enjoying the simpler things, like relaxing in our camp chairs, watching Jasper play with his Christmas presents, making bubbles and cooking outside on the Weber! We also took the time to try out one of our easy camping meals.
We found this delicious and simple slice recipe on the Weber Australia website and decided a sweet treat was the perfect addition to enjoy on these merry days!
Ingredients
250g butter, softened
4 eggs
2-3 large lemons & 1 lime (2 tbsp finely grated rind & 1/3 cup juice)
2 cups caster sugar (we halved this amount)
1.5 cups self raising flour
1 cup desiccated coconut, plus extra for sprinkling
Instructions
Prepare the Weber for indirect cooking over medium-low heat (170°C to 190°C – baking setting).
In a Weber frying pan, add the butter and place onto the BBQ to melt the butter. Once just melted, pour the butter into a large mixing bowl. Use a piece of paper towel to spread the leftover butter around the pan to grease. Line the pan with a sheet of baking paper (this will help to lift the slice out once cooked).
Add the sugar into the bowl with the butter and stir to combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each one. Add the flour, lemon & lime rind, lemon & lime juice and 1 cup of the coconut. Stir to form a cake batter.
Pour the batter into the frying pan. Sprinkle extra coconut over the top.
Bake the slice over indirect medium-low heat, with the lid closed, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool completely before slicing.
During our 15 months full time living and travelling on the road we have had the privilege of experiencing some amazing locations, attractions, people and places! However, there have been a few favourites we have missed from our hometown of the Gold Coast…the quieter, natural side that the locals love.
If you only have a few days to explore the best of the GC this itinerary is a perfect blend of free or great value for money, natural and immersive activities that will keep the entire family engaged and happy.
1. Charis Fish & Chips and Daily Pelican Feed
The local’s favourite fish and chippery, and not just because of the fresh seafood! Located on the water’s edge the views from the ample outdoor tables and well shaded seating areas overlook a natural swimming lagoon, with the stunning Broadwater and its many sand cays the perfect backdrop. A highlight is the daily pelican feed at 1:30pm, where up to 50+ resident birds awkwardly fly in and jostle for prime position on the beach, for up to 2 hours before the feed commences.
*tip – arrive at 12:30pm to enjoy a take away lunch and front row seat prior to the pelican feed.
2. G:Link & HOPO
The G:Link (light rail) covers a 20km route with 19 stops and provides transport for a staggering 10 million locals and tourists per annum. We enjoyed a short 20 minute walk from the Broadwater Tourist Park to catch the G:Link between Southport and Surfers Paradise, before hopping on the new HOPO ferry service that offers a circular link through 5 iconic locations on the GC waterways. If you love being on the water, this is by far the best way to take in the incredibly beautiful Broadwater and canals of the Gold Coast… we even spotted a pod of dolphins!
*tip – catch the light rail after 9am to avoid the daily business commuters.
3.Burleigh Headland Sunrise Walk
Burleigh Heads is world famous for its perfect waves, but the real hidden treasure is the world class walk around the headland that juts out from the Pacific Ocean’s edge. This popular sunrise start to the day is complimented with breathtaking scenery, turquoise swimming areas, natural Australian landscape and envious options for really good coffee from either side of the headland’s coffee nooks (a reward for all your effort)!
*tip – park your car on the Tallebudgera side of the headland for a less congested and calmer start (and finish) to this amazing natural and free experience.
4. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Hands down our favourite family fun experience on the GC! Known as the premier native wildlife sanctuary in Australia, there is perfect blend of entertainment and education on offer. Famous for their daily wild rainbow lorikeet feed, you can also have your photo taken with a wedge tailed eagle or giant python, marvel at the majestic Wild Skies Free Flight Bird Show or for the younger family members, sing and dance along with Blinky Bill and friends. A ride on the miniature train is a must for everyone to enjoy, and the real heartbeat of the Sanctuary is the incredible onsite Wildlife Hospital that rescues, rehabilitates and releases thousands of injured and orphaned wildlife back into the wild each year.
*tip – pre-register your entry ticket online as numbers are currently limited.
We chose to stay at the Broadwater Tourist Park located on the northern end of the Gold Coast. With 9 parks and campgrounds located across the GC there are accommodation options to suit every traveller! https://goldcoasttouristparks.com.au
~ Katie Guerin
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).
There’s nothing better than foraging for local ingredients, and creating a meal inspired by your current location! This week we were thrilled to spend a few days camping on South Stradbroke Island, one of the Gold Coast’s most pristine and secluded natural environments. We loved our time getting back to nature on the island, and took the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the simple things like getting up early (ahh, 4am!) to watch the sunrise, exploring the sand dunes on deserted beaches, and stand up paddle boarding in the calm Broadwater.
The boys had the opportunity to go pipiing with the campsite managers Lachlan and Emily, bringing back an awesome haul of these tasty little morsels. After a good discussion and some friendly coaching from Emily, we tried our hand at one of the island’s favourite dishes, a super easy and incredibly tasty, Pipi Pasta!
Ingredients
Pasta of choice – we used Linguini
Fresh pipis (purged, see tip below)
Diced red onion
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
Handful of grape tomatoes, chopped
Olive oil
Chilli flakes
Shallot, finely sliced to garnish
Salt & Pepper to season
Instructions
Cook pasta per the instructions to al dente.
Meanwhile, add a small amount of olive oil to a hot pan and fry off red onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes. Add the grape tomatoes and reduce heat.
Add a small amount of pasta water to the pan to create a sauce consistency, and carefully add your fresh pipis. Cover with a lid and let steam for approximately 3 minutes. Your pipis will be cooked and ready when the shells open.
Add your pasta into the pan and stir through to combine all ingredients. Serve immediately, seasoning with chilli flakes and salt, and garnish with fresh shallot.
TIP: You can easily clean your pipis prior to cooking by purging them in a solution of cool water and sea salt – 30g salt to each litre of water – for several hours or overnight, in a cool part of the house. Do not refrigerate them as they will close up and won’t “spit out” the sand.
If you love the idea of a good treasure hunt or fancy a spot of fossicking, the many hidden treasures to be found along the Dig the Tropic trail that connects the Outback to the Reef make a fantastic road trip the entire family will enjoy. The 15 points of interest spanning over 1200kms include gemstones, dinosaurs and volcanoes, and provide a wonderful opportunity to experience a living museum created by ancient events left behind.
We broke the trail up into a number of shorter road trips, and recently followed the Tropic of Capricorn between Yeppoon and Emerald to discover some of Mother Nature’s finest creations. Here’s our top 3 experiences from this section of the trail.
1. Capricorn Caves
At over 400 million years in the making, Capricorn Caves are an awe inspiring example of nature at its finest. Located an easy 30 minute drive north of Rockhampton, the caves boast the highest concentration of fossils found anywhere in the world. They offer a number of different tour experiences that cater for every member of the family including daily wheelchair-accessible guided cave tours, wild caving adventures that had our hearts racing, and abseiling down through the caves for the very brave! Onsite accommodation options include self-contained cabins, the Lodge, and a great bush camp with powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans and motorhomes.
Located 30 minutes west of Rockhampton, Mount Hay is an internationally known destination for thunderegg fossicking and the purchase of semi-precious Australian gemstone products, cut and polished in the Mount Hay factory. This is a great family friendly fossicking experience, and there are camping and caravan sites to stay overnight. Our 4 year old Jasper especially loved this experience and it is super safe for the kids to get dirty and have fun looking for their very own unique piece of treasure!
Located in Queensland’s Central Highlands, the Sapphire Gemfields are an easy 45 minute drive west of Emerald and cover almost 900 square kms. We visited Rubyvale Miners Heritage, Australia’s largest underground walk-in sapphire mine experience and had a fantastic time trying our hand at fossicking. There are plenty of accommodation options in the region including caravan parks and camping, and we stayed at the Lake Maraboon Holiday Village just south of Emerald on the Fairburn Dam. Be sure to stop into the Rubyvale Gem Gallery to meet the Brown family and view their range of bespoke jewellery featuring some of the world’s best gemstones mined direct from their Rubyvale family mine.
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Here in Australia the sun is shining, the temperature is rising, and the much needed 2020 Christmas Spirit can be felt everywhere! The only downside to Christmas when living full time in a caravan, is the lack of space to accumulate and store all the gifts and goodies in preparation for the big day. On the up side it allows you to get creative, and these DIY salt dough decorations and gift tags are a super easy, (inexpensive) and great fun way to gift a homemade present to the ones you love!
Watch our full episode below to see us in action making salt dough ornaments and gift tags!
Ingredients
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1 cup water
Essential Oil of choice
Decorations of choice – glitter, food colouring, stamps & ink pad etc
Instructions
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until a smooth dough forms (you may need to use your hands and we find this very therapeutic!).
We added 20-30 drops of a beautiful Christmas blend of essential oils to make the dough smell delicious!
Roll out the dough between 2 sheets of baking paper to approximately 1cm thick, then cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Make a small hole in the top of each ornament/gift tag using a drinking straw, and leave to air dry for 2-3 days, or bake in a low heat oven or Weber BBQ until dough hardens.
Once dry, thread twine or ribbon through the holes and hang on the Christmas tree or use as gift tags on presents.
* When cooking with essential oils we recommend using only the highest quality, purest oils available. We choose ,,dōTERRA Essential Oils for this reason.
We are Springing into Summer with some more easy camping meals. This super easy, super healthy, Super-Duper Summer Salad recipe is a great option as a side, or meal in itself. You can add or remove ingredients in this salad to taste, making it super versatile too.
Check out our latest Episode below for full details on how to make this delicious salad!
Ingredients
Mixed baby green leaves of choice (baby spinach, rocket, kale etc)
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 red capsicum, thinly sliced
1 firm but ripe white or yellow nectarine, pitted and cut into wedges
1 firm but ripe white or yellow peach, pitted and cut into wedges
1 firm but ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and cut into thin slices
1/2 cup cashews, lightly toasted
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1-2 limes
3 teaspoons of honey
3-4 drops Lemon essential oil*
Instructions
Layer all fresh ingredients on a large platter, starting with the baby mixed leaves. Sprinkle salad with toasted cashews.
In a jar, mix the olive oil, lime juice, honey and lemon essential oil (if using). Shake well. Pour over salad before serving, season and enjoy!
* When cooking with essential oils we recommend using only the highest quality, purest oils available. We choose ,,dōTERRA Essential Oils for this reason.
TIP: Try grilling the peach and nectarine wedges on the BBQ for a few minutes for an added boost of deliciousness!
The Feel Good Family has been named by YouTube as today’s “Creator On The Rise”.
The accolade, awarded by YouTube to help up and coming channels gain greater exposure, will see The Feel Good Family’s channel featured on YouTube’s Trending & Explore pages.
“We’re in disbelief! Being selected by YouTube as their Creator on the Rise is a huge accolade and a testament to the hard work that we have invested into our channel over the last 15 months of travelling full time on the road”, the Feel Good Family commented.
Following what has become a booming trend for young families like theirs, Paul and Katie Guerin from Queensland’s Gold Coast packed up their lives, put their careers on hold, and embarked on the Australian dream, travelling the country in their Windsor caravan with son Jasper, aged 4.
With backgrounds in entertainment and TV production, The Feel Good Family have been sharing their ‘full time RV traveling lifestyle’ through beautifully produced weekly videos on their YouTube channel. Every episode of their Family Travel Australia series covers the best Aussie destinations, ‘feel good’ experiences and inspiration to encourage other families to get outdoors, explore Australia, and make life long memories together.
The Feel Good Family live by the mantra “You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step!”
The family are proud brand ambassadors for Apollo Tourism & Leisure Ltd and OZtrail Australia.
To join The Feel Good Family’s journey around Australia, subscribe to their YouTube Channel, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).
The Outback had been calling us for some time, and with Queensland #GoodToGo we decided there was no time better than now to hit the road and head way out west. As a destination Outback Queensland is huge, and is divided into four regions. Having a 3 week window we decided it would be best to focus our exploration on only one region, so as not to rush our experience, and spent the majority of our time immersing ourselves at Winton in the Central West.
What we discovered was an incredibly epic landscape and dramatic contrast to the coastal regions of Australia we have previously spent so much time. We visited world class tourism attractions, quirky art installations and connected with the true blue Aussie characters that make Winton such a vibrant Outback town. Here’s our Top 3 Must Do experiences:-
1. Go on a Dinosaur Discovery
No matter what your age you will love discovering dinosaurs in Winton! Home to Australia’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils, and the world’s only known dinosaur stampede trackways, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum and Lark Quarry National Monument are not to be missed. With new attractions opening from 2021 including a Natural History Museum and Dark Sky Observatory, this amazing experience will be as epic as the dinosaurs who once roamed this very land.
Rich in history, Winton is famously known as the birthplace of Australia’s unofficial anthem, Waltzing Matilda. Penned by A.B (Banjo) Patterson in 1895 while visiting a cattle station near town, Winton now boasts the first museum in the world dedicated entirely to a song, the impressive and world-class Waltzing Matilda Centre. Interactive and immersive, the museum offers a fantastic experience for every age and tells the story of Waltzing Matilda, Winton and Queensland’s Outback region.
3.Take In The Vision Splendid Of An Outback Sunset
Epic landscapes mean big skies, and there’s nothing quite like watching the sun transform a rugged and ancient land through its ever changing dusk colours. Winton boasts a number of incredible vantage spots to enjoy a spectacular Outback sunset, including the Rangelands where natural erosion has created channels to explore through giant rock formations. Part of a private property and working cattle station, joining a tour is the only way to experience this fascinating mesa.
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).
With Queensland #GoodToGo we have recently enjoyed our second visit to the spectacular Capricorn Region. We have absolutely fallen in love with this part of Queensland, and we know that you will too, so we wanted to bring you our Top 10 must see, must visit experiences and destinations within the Capricorn Region.
1.Carnarvon Gorge
Hands down Carnarvon Gorge would have to be our number one destination in our first year full time on the road. This spectacular national park boasts over 298,000ha of Queensland’s central highlands. It is located about 720km by road north-west of Brisbane, and directly south west from Rockhampton on the coast. There are a number of short-walk options based around the main gorge track, with the full circuit Great Walk totalling 87km in length. Many of the short walks are very accessible and great for families. There is a rich Indigenous history, and that was one of the major highlights for us. The ochre stencils at Carnarvon are some of the finest examples of this type of Aboriginal imagery in Australia.
Other highlights include the towering sandstone cliffs of the Amphitheatre, the Indigenous Art Gallery showcasing rock wall art believed to be over 3500 years old, the Moss Garden with its waterfall and lush rainforest, and Wards Canyon was breathtakingly beautiful and a cool relief from the 38 degree day when we trekked in. Ancient king ferns grow beside
the crystal clear waters of the Carnarvon Creek, and the area is brimming with wildlife. We were lucky enough to even spot a platypus where we camped at Takarakka Bush Resort. Carnarvon Gorge is an absolute must and the number one destination to put on top of your bucket list.
2.Pumpkin Island
Pumpkin Island is located on the spectacular Southern Great Barrier Reef and is Australia’s best kept secret! The island is located 14km off the Yeppoon coast, with Yeppoon about 650km north of Brisbane and 1100km south of Cairns. The island is a tiny 6ha and you can literally walk around the entire island. The crystal clear turquoise waters and secluded relaxed atmosphere make for the ultimate get away from it all. There is an abundance of wildlife above and below the water, and the island is eco-friendly being recognised as Australasia’s Most Sustainable Hotel. There are 7 self-catering beach cottages scattered across the island, that are all powered by the wind and the sun. The island’s Sunset Lounge was a definite highlight, and whether you are a family, a couple or even a larger group, you can hire the entire island for a special occasion.
3.Capricorn Caves
At over 400 million years in the making, Capricorn Caves are an awe inspiring example of nature at its finest. Located an easy 30 minute drive north of Rockhampton, the caves boast the highest concentration of fossils found anywhere in the world. They offer a number of different tour experiences that cater for every member of the family including daily wheelchair-accessible guided cave tours, wild caving adventures that had our hearts racing and Paul’s knees a little jelly, and abseiling down through the caves for the very brave! Onsite accommodation options include self-contained cabins, the Lodge, and a great bush camp with powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans and motorhomes, and there is even a pool for those extra hot days.
4.Rubyvale Miners Heritage | Sapphire Gemfields
Located in Queensland’s Central Highlands, the Sapphire Gemfields are an easy 45 minute drive west of Emerald and cover almost 900 square kms. We visited Rubyvale Miners Heritage, Australia’s largest underground walk-in sapphire mine experience. We had a fantastic time trying our hand at fossicking for sapphires, and there are plenty of accommodation options including caravan parks and camping in Emerald and the surrounding areas. We stayed at a fantastic caravan park, the Lake Maraboon Holiday Village and Paul even tried his hand red clawing on the Fairburn Dam.
5.Mt Hay Gemstone Tourist Park
Located 30 minutes west of Rockhampton, Mount Hay is an internationally known destination for thunderegg fossicking and the purchase of semi-precious Australian gemstone products, cut and polished in the Mount Hay factory. This is a great family friendly fossicking experience, and there are camping and caravan sites to stay overnight. Jasper especially loved this experience and it super safe for kids to get dirty looking for their very own unique piece of treasure! Something very cool for Jasper, is that the actual gemstones within the thundereggs are referred to as Rainforest Jasper.
6.Yeppoon Foreshore
Yeppoon is the spectacular beachside accommodation hub for the region and is known as the Heart of the Capricorn Coast. If you are a travelling family Yeppoon is the perfect location to entertain the entire tribe. With a multitude of free activities including the Keppel Kracken water park and the stunning Yeppoon Lagoon, these fantastic foreshore play areas offer year round swimming with first class restaurants and cafes to keep you satisfied. You will need at least a week to relax, unwind and explore the best of this beautiful coastline.
7.Mt Archer National Park
Rockhampton’s highest peak is 604m above sea level and boasts incredible views of the entire city. It is the perfect vantage point to take in the surrounding ranges and is a wonderful location to enjoy a picnic, or take in a sunrise or sunset. The recently opened Nurim Circuit elevated boardwalk is world class, and is an easy 500m walk from the car park and showcases the best views from multiple lookouts. There is nature based playground for the kids and a number of other short bush walks. We enjoyed a toast with a glass of wine and cheese platter as a thanks and farewell for our incredible time in the region.
8.Rockhampton
Rockhampton is jammed packed with family friendly experiences! A few of our favourites include the Archer Park Rail Museum, a beautifully restored 1899 railway station and museum featuring the last remaining purrey steam tram in the world. Jasper absolutely loved this experience. We also loved visiting Kershaw Gardens, known as Rockhampton’s “big backyard”, every member of the family will love this space. There are spacious parklands, walking tracks, incredible play areas for kids, picnic areas and free BBQ’s. Another must visit is the free Zoo and adjoining Botanic Gardens. With more than 60 species of native and exotic animals the kids will love exploring the Zoo and catching some of the free keeper talks.
9.Byfield National Park
Byfield National Park is a beautiful blend of rugged mountain ranges, massive sand dunes, remote beaches and campgrounds, pine plantations and rainforest fringed creeks. Located 40km north of Yeppoon, Ferns Hideaway Wilderness Resort is a perfect base to set up camp and explore the 15,000 hectares and surrounding conservation park. Whether you want to four-wheel drive, hike, fish or walk for miles on a secluded beach, your choice of activities here are endless. We especially loved taking the Canadian canoes for a spectacular paddle down Waterpark Creek and best of all this is included free to all guests of Ferns.
10.Great Keppel Island
Great Keppel Island is a short 30-minute Fast Cat ferry ride from the Yeppoon marina and boasts 17 of Australia’s most outstanding secluded white sand beaches! With varying accommodation options on the island, The Holiday Village hosted by Geoffrey Mercer, offers self-catered ‘Budget Boutique’ accommodation for every style of traveller. From glamping tents to 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas, or you can even pitch your own tent. Activities range from island hiking trails, fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving, or lazing under palm trees in a hammock for the day! The sounds of the crystal clear turquoise water will lullaby you to sleep in this pristine island escape! It’s definitely not Ok Keppel Island, it’s Great Keppel Island!
So there it is, our Top 10 must see, must add to your bucket list destinations within the Capricorn Region. We have loved our time here and can’t wait to visit again!
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).
With its picture perfect beaches, pristine national parks and perfect island getaways that rival any south pacific destination, the Capricorn Coast will entice you to adjust your current bucket list and plan a visit to this spectacular coastal region of Central Queensland.
After towing our Coromal caravan through this region a number of times, we have whittled it down to our 4 must experience destinations that will suit every type of traveller and leave you booking your return visit as soon as you arrive.
Byfield National Park is a beautiful blend of rugged mountain ranges, massive sand dunes, remote beaches and campgrounds, pine plantations and rainforest fringed creeks. Located 40km north of Yeppoon, Ferns Hideaway Wilderness Resort is a perfect base to set up camp and explore the 15,000 hectares and surrounding conservation park. Whether you want to four-wheel drive, hike, fish or walk for miles on a secluded beach, your choice of activities here are endless. fernshideawayresort.com
Yeppoon is the spectacular beachside accommodation hub for the region and is known as the Heart of the Capricorn Coast. If you are a travelling family Yeppoon is the perfect location to entertain the entire tribe. With a multitude of free activities including the ‘Keppel Kracken’ water park and ‘Yeppoon Lagoon’, these fantastic foreshore play areas offer year round swimming with first class restaurants and cafes to keep you satisfied.
From the rainforest to the reef, the islands that are a short Fastcat away from the coast live up to their famous Southern Great Barrier Reef quote of “Where great begins!”
Pumpkin Island is Australia’s best kept secret! Powered completely by the sun and wind, this ultimate island getaway has been recognised and awarded the Best Sustainable Hotel in the southern hemisphere. Covering 6 hectares of natural environment, the 7 self-catering beach cottages nestled along the water’s edge, offer a complete unwind and relax for couples, families or larger groups who want to hire the entire island to celebrate a special occasion! pumpkinisland.com.au
Great Keppel Island is a short 30-minute ferry ride from the Yeppoon marina and boasts 17 of Australia’s most outstanding secluded white sand beaches! With varying accommodation options on the island, The Holiday Villagehosted by Geoffrey Mercer, offers self-catered ‘Budget Boutique’ glamping tents, and 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas. Activities range from island hiking trails, fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving, or lazing under palm trees in a hammock for the day! The sounds of the crystal clear turquoise water will lullaby you to sleep in this pristine island escape! gkiholidayvillage.com.au
New episodes of our Family Travel Australia series are released on YouTube every Sunday 6.30pm (AEST), with weekly Podcast episodes airing Friday’s at 8.30pm (AEST).