Ben Collins

Solid circuit start at Stanthorpe

Traditionally, our summer holidays are either spent basking by a beach or in the boat chasing spotted mackerel and a feed of crabs. This year, we decided to try something a little different and headed west – destination Stanthorpe. With windy weather forecasted, the boat wasn’t going to get too much use and a trip to Foxbar Falls, just out …

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Next gen intro to K’gari

K'gari

K’gari is a magical place and I’ve been very fortunate to have had the pleasure of visiting it since I was a kid. I still have fond memories of my first trip to Lake McKenzie as a young boy with my family, swimming in the crystal-clear water and watching turtles play. This year, I headed back on my annual camping …

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Stacer 589 Crossfire Centre Console hits the mark

Stacer

When it comes to fishing, I love it all. It doesn’t matter whether I’m surface popping for whiting in the shallows, chasing barramundi on lures in impoundments or bottom bashing for pearl perch in the deep – I want to be able to do it all. For that reason, I have a soft spot for dedicated sportfishing boats that are …

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Ocean Craft’s new multipurpose Camper Cruiser

Ocean Craft

ONE company that is always looking to develop unique multipurpose boats is Caloundra-based boat builder Ocean Craft. Its latest vessel is the 6000 Camper Cruiser and, as the name suggests, it can be used for camping, exploring, fishing and cruising. Based on the proven Beamy hull design with a Posi Lift bow, the new Camper Cruiser has plenty going for …

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Mini Qld lap – Following the coast home

After leaving the crystal blue waters of the Whitsundays, the plan was to spot-hop along the coast until we reached Gladstone, where my wife and daughters would fly home and I would spend a few days fishing with Team Cruise Craft. Exploring It’s moments such as these that having a very understanding wife is great… though my stay in Gladstone …

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Mini Queensland lap – Big Crystal Creek

Big Crystal Creek

Getting away from the rat race and exploring our amazing country is awesome. Big Crystal Creek You seem to put the stresses of normal day-to-day life in the background and focus on what each day holds. Big Crystal Creek Unfortunately, when you finally point the car and van in the direction of home, the realisation that the way of life …

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Mini Queensland lap – Atherton and Paronella

Atherton and Paronella

After three weeks of enjoying the bush, it was finally time to head east towards the coastline for our run home. Atherton and Paronella But before we made our way to the coast, there were a couple of places left on the itinerary that needed to be checked off… Atherton Tablelands and Paronella Park. Atherton and Paronella Atherton is a …

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Mini Queensland lap – Porcupine Gorge and Mt Surprise

Porcupine Gorge Surprise

Aafter getting our dinosaur fix, it was time to visit a few more gorges. Porcupine Gorge was the next destination on our mini lap, which fellow scribe Paul Graveson wrote about last month. I hadn’t heard of Porcupine Gorge before we planned our trip, but it was impressive and definitely worth a visit. The gorge was carved into the landscape …

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Mini Queensland lap – dinosaur trails

dinosaur trails

Western Queensland is known for many things including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, the Qantas Founders Museum, all in Longreach, and the Tree of Knowledge, sheep shearing and more recently the site of the discovery of several dinosaur bones. In fact, Queensland has one of the largest and best collections of dinosaur fossils in …

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Mini Queensland lap – Carnarvon Gorge

Carnarvon Gorge

The state of Queensland has many beautiful spots that are well worth visiting and Carnarvon Gorge is one of them – our next destination on the mini lap. Depending on what time of year you visit will determine where you can stay because more camping and caravan spots are opened over school holiday periods. On this trip we made Takarakka …

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