Gold Coast |
Monday, 16 June 2014 |
Gold Coast to Warwick via Esk |
A fine and sunny day - warm, though cooler once we got to Toowoomba.
We took the M1 north towards Brisbane, and then the M2 west past Ipswich. We turned off past Ipswich to head north-west for a substantial lunch in Fernvale at the Old Fernvale Bakery Country Cafe. We then continued on to the Wivenhoe Dam where we drove around the parklands at either end of the dam wall, and drove down to the spillway. After Lake Wivenhoe, we went to Esk and the Nash Gallery and Cafe . It was more cafe than gallery, but Mum bought jams and I bought a scrunchy doll for Isabella.
After Esk we headed south-west to Toowoomba via Hampton. In Toowoomba, we searched for the Visitor Information Centre where the lady gave me some excellent advice on which gardens to visit in winter. We went to the excellent State Rose Garden in Newtown Park, Laurel Bank Park where there were galahs feeding and lots of topiary, and finally to Queens Park Gardens.
At dusk we drove south through the rich Darling Downs country to Warwick. On the way we passed a Sister Kenny Street in Nobby - she went to school there and yes, she pioneered polio nursing. We stayed at the Warwick Motor Inn - it was a cool night.