Yeppoon

In comparison to Mackay, Yeppoon is far more quaint and has a real seaside vibe about it. In fact, not long after we arrived we called a Board Meeting and agreed to extend our stay by a day, being able to keep to same schedule by dropping another one night mid journey break and accepting a longer drive from Yeppoon to Hervey Bay. Bundaberg is the place that ends up being skipped, but we will pass through it anyway so can always stop for an hour.

Of course the moment we changed, and paid, for our new plan, the rain started and judging by the weather apps, it’s not going to stop until we leave. Oh well, it is what it is, and we are really getting used to it now.

We booked a table for our first night at Ofishal (get it?) for 7.30, and pitched up slightly early. Having chosen our dishes, unusually these days we decide to share a Calamari starter. Server arrives to take our order, which we place and then he says that he will bring starter and main course at same time as kitchen is closing. At 7.40. Bonkers, so we cancelled the starter (their loss) and proceeded to eat our food, which was very nice, while the staff cleared everything away around us. Not the most ambient meal we have had. As Steve paid the bill he asked why they took bookings at 7.30 if they know they are going to close, and was met by blank faces. As Andrew told us in Townsville, you definitely have to speak slower in these parts.

We joined the yacht club! Steve said that if he still had a CV he would have added it on there. Although it sounds grand, it actually cost A$2 to become a member for the year and you get member rates in their bars and restaurant. As we were eating in the Yacht Club Friday, we actually made money on the deal.

We bet that someone saying they are eating at the Yacht Club restaurant conjures up a certain vision of grace and refinement, as it did for us, but in reality the club is like a massive working men’s club in the UK. You have to queue at one till to place your food order (10 minutes), then you have to move to the bar area to place your drinks order (15 minutes), then as one of us has ordered a Negroni (you know who), have to wait another 20 minutes for it to be brought to the table. 45 minutes and one of us hasn’t had a sip of a drink. Still it was very buzzy and the food was better than expected after we saw what we had walked into. There must have been 500 people eating and drinking when we arrived, but by 9pm tumble weed rolled through and we swear that there was a dong on a bell somewhere.

Saturday, we had booked a trip to Capricorn Caves (see post), and after it with near persistent rain we decided to drive the scenic tour, only getting out of the car if somewhere truly worthwhile demanded it. As a result we got out once – the Singing Ship in Emu Park. This is a memorial to Captain Cook, and although there was a dedication to the Acoustics designer, it didn’t make a peep – either due to a lack of wind, or perhaps it doesn’t work when underwater 😎. The spot has also been used as a dedication to Australias First World War dead, and we have to say it was very well done. GB asked Australia for help, and they responded with a promise to raise a 50,000 man army, and they did. The memorial has many personal stories and it is difficult not to be drawn into it all. Very humbling.

We eat Saturday in an almost street food style Thai restaurant, which was really good and very cheap – BYO really does keep the price of a meal down. After a couple of bars, we were again well back to our room before 10.

Sunday has now become our extra day and a trip to a crocodile farm booked. We have seen but a single croc in the wildlife park on Hamilton, so hoping this will scratch that itch – see our post.

For our final evening in this delightful spot we return to our yacht club for a final drink where the commodore wishes us well on our travels, then we eat in the restaurant below the hotel. At last, after nearly 6 weeks in Australia Steve gets to indulge in a seafood platter, and very good it was too!