An Australian blog The big lap

03/09/2026

Arriving at Big4 Maroochydore – Sunshine Coast
We've arrived at Big4 Maroochydore, and I have to say, this is one of the better caravan parks we've stayed at on the Sunshine Coast. 🚐🌴
Before getting here, I had to find somewhere to stay for two nights, so we spent a couple of nights at Cotton Beach Tourist Park.
We paid $87 a night for our site, but getting the van into the spot was quite a challenge. As you drive into the park, they have half of the road roped off, which makes manoeuvring a caravan in quite difficult.
Thankfully, a very nice Irish gentleman named Patty came to my rescue and helped me get the van parked. A big thank you to Patty—you certainly made a difficult job a lot easier! 🇮🇪👍
Patty mentioned that they normally come out and help campers park, so perhaps we were just unlucky on the day. That's my whinge for the day! 😆
Apart from that, our two days at Cotton Beach were quite pleasant.
Now that we've arrived at Big4 Maroochydore, the difference is noticeable. You're welcomed when you arrive, and they even send a tractor out to help you get your caravan into position. That's the sort of service that makes life a lot easier when you're towing a van.
The amenities are clean and tidy, and our campsite was extremely well prepared.
So we're all settled in now and looking forward to exploring more of the Sunshine Coast. Another stop, another caravan park, and another chapter in our journey around Australia. 🇦🇺🚐☕

30/08/2026

Farewell Regency Downs – Next Stop, Maroochydore
Well, we've come to the end of our time visiting family here in Regency Downs.
Danen, Natasha, Caleb, Kaden and Tylor have made us feel right at home, and we've really enjoyed spending time with everyone. It's been a great chance to slow down, rest up, catch up with family, and recharge before getting back on the road.
While we've been here, we've also managed to get out and explore some of the surrounding country towns, including Laidley, Gatton, Lowood and Toowoomba.
We've really enjoyed these little towns. They have a relaxed country feel, and we've met plenty of friendly people along the way. It's another reason we love travelling through regional Australia—there's something special about the smaller communities and the people who live there.
While in Gatton, we stopped for breakfast and enjoyed an egg and bacon roll with a hash brown for just $10. It was a great value breakfast and the perfect way to start the day. 😋
But now it's time to hitch up the caravan and start the next chapter of our journey.
Next stop: Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast! 🌴🚐☀️
We're looking forward to seeing what the Sunshine Coast has in store for us and, of course, finding a good coffee along the way. 😆☕
Another goodbye, another adventure, and another road waiting to be travelled.

13/08/2026

The Journey Hasn't Always Been Easy
The journey over the last few years hasn't always been an easy one. While travelling around Australia, we've experienced some incredible places, met wonderful people and made memories that we'll carry with us forever. But along the way, life has also reminded us just how precious every moment really is.
First, we lost my brother Glenn — the one person in the family we all thought would outlive the rest of us. Losing him was a shock that none of us were prepared for. He was someone we expected to be around for many more years, and his absence is still felt deeply.
Then, within twelve months, we lost Big Bob, my brother-in-law and a genuinely good bloke. Two losses so close together left a hole in our family that words can't really describe.
And it wasn't only family members we lost. We also lost our two dogs, and anyone who has loved a dog knows they become part of the family. One was taken by cancer, and not long afterwards we lost his mate to old age. Losing them both so close together left another empty space in our lives. They had been there through the good days, the bad days and all the ordinary days in between. Their paw prints may no longer be around the house, but they will always be part of our story.
We thought we'd had more than our share of heartache. Then, completely out of the blue, came another devastating blow. My brother Terry was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer.
It's hard to put into words what that news does to a family. One minute you're going about your everyday life, making plans and looking forward to what's ahead, and the next you're reminded that none of us knows what tomorrow will bring.
These moments have changed the way I look at our travels. It's not just about the places we visit or the kilometres we travel. It's about the people we love, the memories we make and making the most of the time we have together.
Life doesn't always give us the journey we planned. Sometimes the road takes an unexpected turn, and all we can do is keep moving forward, holding our loved ones close and appreciating every sunrise, every laugh, every cup of coffee and every kilometre along the way.
Life can chuck us some pretty big curve balls, but all we can do is keep moving forward.
For Glenn, for Big Bob, for our two beautiful dogs, and now for Terry — this journey is a reminder to never take another day for granted.
Because in the end, it's not the kilometres travelled or the places we've seen that matter most. It's the people — and the four-legged friends — who shared the journey with us.

10/08/2026

Regency Downs Storm

We had quite a storm come through Regency Downs.

You could hear the wind building in the distance. It sounded like a train coming up the valley, getting louder and louder. Then, out of nowhere, a mighty gust hit.

Everything that was sitting on the deck went flying. It was amazing how quickly the weather changed.

Nearby, trees were blown over close to the house on the corner, and two of their garage doors were blown in by the force of the wind. There was also a tree hanging dangerously over the power lines, which certainly wasn't something you wanted to see during a storm.

Then came the rain, along with a sharp drop in temperature. One minute we were sitting there enjoying the day, and the next we were watching the weather turn wild.

It's another reminder that when you're travelling around Australia, you can experience some pretty impressive weather.

Thankfully, we were safe and able to sit it out, but it certainly gave us something to talk about!

🌬️🌧️🌳 Stay safe everyone.

06/08/2026

Our Home for the Next Few Weeks – Regency Downs

This is where we'll be staying for the next few weeks—Regency Downs.

It's a lovely, peaceful place to settle in for a while and enjoy a slower pace before our next adventure. The property has everything we need, and the swimming pool certainly looks inviting.

The only problem is the weather! 🥶 While the days have been pleasant, the nights are still quite cold, with temperatures dropping to around 10°C and sometimes even lower. So, for now, the pool will have to wait until it warms up a little.

In the meantime, we're looking forward to exploring the local area, catching up with family, and spending some quality time with the grandchildren.

Sometimes it's nice to stop, relax, and enjoy where you are before hitting the road again. 🚐😊

04/08/2026

Our First Day in Regency Downs

Today we spent our first day exploring the charming country town of Laidley.

It's an interesting little place to visit, with many of the older buildings giving the town a real last-century feel and plenty of country character. It's easy to imagine what life would have been like here many years ago.

Laidley is also only a short drive from Lake Dyer, making it a great base for exploring the local area.

Of course, no day out would be complete without stopping for a coffee. We found a lovely little café on the main street where the coffee was excellent, the toasted sandwich was delicious, and the cheesecake... well, it was simply to die for!

It's little country towns like Laidley that remind us why we enjoy travelling Australia so much. Friendly people, great food, and a relaxed pace of life make every stop a pleasure.

Another great day, another country town, and another memory added to our journey. 🚐🇦🇺

04/08/2026

02/08/2026

A Hidden Gem – The Outpost Bakery

While staying in Mundoolun, we found a small bakery about an hour away called The Outpost.

It was well worth the drive. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and we felt at home straight away.

I couldn’t resist a pie—the steak and kidney pie was excellent and one of the best we’ve had on our travels. Add a good coffee and it’s a perfect lunch stop.

We love finding places like this while travelling Australia—small country bakeries with great food and friendly faces often leave the biggest impression. If you’re passing through, The Outpost is well worth a visit.

Farewell, Mundoolun

We’ve now left Mundoolun after a wonderful month there.We loved the peace and quiet, fresh country air, beautiful scenery, and kangaroos grazing nearby. It was the perfect place to slow down, recharge, and enjoy country life.We also explored the surrounding area and made some great memories.Now we’re off to Regency Downs to catch up with family and enjoy the next part of our journey.Leaving is never easy, but every new stop brings new experiences.Thanks for the memories, Mundoolun—we’ll certainly miss Jamie and Littles who made us feel welcome.

27/07/2026

trip into Beaudesert today to enjoy our regular coffee and toasted sandwich. It's always nice to support local businesses and take a little break.We also took some time to visit the Carrara Markets, which was a great way to spend part of the day. Later, we called into the Sharks Club for a bit of fun. We lost a little, but that's all part of the experience!
All in all, it was a couple of great days out. Good coffee, good food, a few new places to explore, and plenty of reasons to keep smiling. That's what this journey is all about. 😊🚐☕
I try to keep my posts positive and focus on the good things we see and experience while travelling. I don't believe in spreading negativity. Unfortunately, some people choose to hide behind anonymous comments and make false remarks, but I won't let that take away from enjoying the journey.