Annual Rollers trip – STUCK in Mission Beach FNQ.

Posted on by joansjottingscom

Another amazing Roller event. This one was special because it was the last of this type of gathering due to the growing numbers and logistics of organising such an event yearly it had morphed into a huge task.

I was happy that it was in Queensland as I have now travelled to every State for the event.

Because it was on the East coast and because I had travelled many of the places before with Chris I decided to travel at my own pace and didn’t join a tagalong. Many were doing the same and I met some fellow Rollers on the way.

This year’s venue was a challenge as it was on a private property bordering on the rainforest which meant  no powered sites. We needed to be self sufficient for the week. Not everyone has solar so this didn’t suit everyone. Portable toilets and showers were brought on site.

Ballina NSW CP
Bowan QLD
Overnight stops in Ayr and Maryborough QLD
Mission Beach QLD
Many of us arrived a couple of days earlier and met at the CP in Mission Beach. It was across the road from the main beach.
First glimpse of our site.

There were many activities on offer so plenty to do. Craft, yoga, line dancing and art work.

Trivia night and Bingo night are usually a hoot.

Food vans came in so those interested could pre- order.

Visits to a banana plantation and barramundi farm where you can catch and release. For the record I caught 6, the record for the day.

The owner of the property made his catamaran available for us to experience the joy of moving under sail around the nearby islands with a stop over at Dunk Island. It has recently been restored/repaired after the last cyclone that went through causing a lot of damage. He  happened to be one of the new owners of the Island. We were among the first to visit the restaurant. The weather was ideal, an amazing experience. I always wondered what a catamaran was like inside, now I know.

We also could do a Unimog tour of the beaches and rainforest. Both off the beaten track and away from tourists. We walked along the beaches and did a 2 K rainforest walk along and over a babbling creek. Then returned to town to a restaurant on  Mission Beachfront which surprisingly the owner had ownership in.

Wild weather on our return to Mission Beach.
Another highlight was our trip to Paronella Park. It has an interesting history from its creation in the 1930’s by the eccentric owner. The architecture is unique on a small acreage featuring various trees and tropical flora. He was ahead of the times having his own source of hydro electricity still working today. Well worth a visit.

Time went quickly and after fond farewells and future plans to catch up we all departed and went our separate ways.

My trip home was shorter in time as I was keen to get back.

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Published by joansjottingscom

Retired in April 2017 after a long career in cardiac nursing which I loved, I find my life has totally changed. After almost loosing my husband last August to a dissecting aortic aneurysm complicated by a massive watershed stroke post cardiothoracic surgery, we are adapting to a very different life together. This is our now story. Update, November 2025. Chris continued to do well until he had a stroke in August 2018. This time after 2 weeks on life support with no sign of improvement he passed away peacefully with the family present. RIP Chris, much loved and missed.

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