Like countless other towns in Australia, Bundaberg is famous for its Japanese Gardens. I am going to need to add a category to this blog called “Japanese Gardens” there are so many of them.
I think the dog was showing a bit of ennui as we walked around these. Fortunately, they were not too big – more of Bonsai Japanese Gardens!
A small Japanese Garden is a good Japanese Garden!A Chinese Pavilion by a creek
These gardens are part of the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, which also features Chinese Gardens. These were very small too, but made for a nice photo.
Entry to the Chinese Gardens in Bundaberg. I’ll need to get Janet at work to translate
The larger gardens feature a huge lake filled with ducks and turtles. On an island, the ducks look like a rockery.
A rockery of ducks at BundabergTurtle checks out the tourists
From Bjelkie Petersen Dam, we came to Bundaberg. This is an industrial town and the caravan park indicated that – practical but bare. Then we found that the 2013 floods had scraped the trees and facilities from the park – it was quite lush before.
Full Moon over the Burnett River, Bundaberg
Bundaberg is famous for its sugar, and is surrounded by sugar plantations and cane train lines. So, of course, the first thing you must do when visiting this town is to see the Ginger Beer Factory.
Alex leans on the famous Ginger Beer Barrel of Bundaberg, with the delivery truck and factory in the background
You also should see the sugar mills – briefly. It’ll wean you off sugar!
A Sugar Mill running. It smells dusty, sweet and a bit toffee. Half way between pleasant and unpleasant
One of the main waste products of sugar milling is molasses. This is sugar that does not crystallise. In 1880, there was so much molasses in Bundaberg, emergency measures were needed. The result was the Bundaberg Rum Factory, also worth visit. It is a bit pricey at $25 per adult, with two tasting nips at the end of the tour, but interesting.
Alex heads off to see what becomes of molasses
I have no photos of the inside of the distillery. This is not so much security as the need to avoid any sparking electronics near alcoholic vapours. In fact, they would not let us in the vat rooms for fear of static discharge from our clothes. There was talk of a naked tour. despite all this, the factory is surrounded by an electric fence to prevent unauthorised tours.
Carmel’s and Alex’s favourite
What was interesting is the difference between the distilled rum before and after being aged in a cask. Before, it is a clear liquid that smells like methylated spirits. After, it takes its colours and scent from the cask and the previous contents of the cask. So there are a range of different rums depending on the cask and the amount it is watered prior to bottling. We liked the Small Batch version, which was very like cognac. The Toffee and Banana blend was very nice with milk too.
After Toowoomba, we headed north in the vague direction of Rockhampton. After a few hours driving, we pulled off at a caravan park near Bjelke Petersen Dam. Given his impact on Australian Politics in my youth it seems appropriate to run into the name in Queensland.
Bjelke Petersen Dam is on the road to Goomeri
The spot it a favourite for fishermen – the urinal in the men’s toilet features a catch limit poster – but also has many family groups. It was a pleasant spot and the first camp where we did not run the heater at all.
Hungry visitors to our caravan
On the following morning, we had some visitors checking for food.
Margo’s family in Toowoomba heard about our visit to the Corwa Japanese Gardens and wanted to show us theirs.
It was part of the University of Southern Queensland, and was more an Australian Garden (Australian plants and picnic benches – no tea houses) in the Japanese style.
Ashleigh and the Goose
The gardens were well used with several groups having picnics and gatherings at the various locations. It struck me as an ideal place for a philosophy tutorial!
Nieces Clare (right) and Julia (left) – strangers in the background
I would say the Cowra gardens pip these, but it was an excellent morning mosey.
