Kinka Beach (wikipedia) is a small coastal settlement on the Capricorn Coast in the Australian state of Queensland. It is situated on the banks of Kinka Creek, about six kilometres north of Emu Park and seventeen kilometres south of Yeppoon. It is within the local government area of Shire of Livingstone (between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Rockhampton Region). At the 2006 census, Kinka Beach had a population of 621. History Kinka Beach is the traditional land of the Darumbal Aboriginal tribe, as is all of the Capricornia region. The land including the settlement was originally part of a pastoral lease, but limited development took place after a coastal road linking Emu Park and Yeppoon was made during the 1930s. It was not until the 1960s, however, that substantial residential development took place. Prior to Local Government Amalgamations in 2008, the Capricorn Coast was administered by Livingstone Shire Council. From 2008 to 2013, it became part of Rockhampton Region. From 2014, the Shire of Livingstone was re-established and now administers Kinka Beach. Community Today, Kinka Beach consists of about half a dozen streets lined mainly with modern homes wedged between the Scenic Highway and the beach. Most Kinka Beach residents enjoy pristine and unimpeded views of the world renowned Great Keppel Island. Their unspoilt beach is just metres from their modern homes. The area is entirely residential except for one small shop. There is also a caravan park and three motels (Kinka Palms Beachfront Apartments / Motel, Sunlover Lodge, and Kinka Kippa). Many of the residents are retired, whilst others commute to work in Emu Park, Yeppoon or Rockhampton. Kinka Beach is linked to all three centres by a bus service which runs on weekdays. 30^th August, Saturday We finally left Sapphire. We were starting to become part of the scenery as the Wallabies would come and visit at 3.30 for their carrots and apple, we will miss them but it was time to move on.  We are staying over at a 48 hour stop but will only stay overnight as we are booked into the Coolwaters caravan park in Kinka beach.  We drove through Blackwater which is quite a bit coal mining town, then through Dingo which is a wheat town which obviously is the home of Dingo flour.  Many of you will know the Dingo Flour sign painted on a silo in Fremantle – just a bit of useless trivia. Our stopover in Duaringa was amazing.  It is a free camp and we found a shaded spot, not on top of anyone, some grass and a pond and waterfall in front of us. There is a toilet block with showers and hot waters.  We don’t get this in WA and I will be writing an email when we get back as we really need to have these facilities to attract the tourists.

31^st August, Sunday A bit chills this morning. We didn’t have much to do as we didn’t unhitch.  I just made a flask of coffee and some sandwiches for the road and we left quite early. We stopped at a truck layby for awhile for stretch legs, coffee and breakfast. We don’t have many kms to do today so we are taking our time as we can’t really book into the caravan park too early. The road to Kinka beach took us through Rockhampton. Rockhampton is quite a big city and it took us ages to navigate our way through there there (thank heavens for Claude – our GPS). We arrived at Kinka beach at about 10.30. Kinka beach is between Emu Park and Yeppoon, all very close.  The caravan park is huge and the bays are small and real close to each other.  Thankfully the park is more than half empty as the Victorians and the NSWelshmen are all heading home for the summer so we have the place around us to ourselves – Thank you people for going home.  They come up here for about 2 months in the winter and then head back home for the Spring so our timing is fantastic.  This park has a huge water park with slides and all sorts.  This would normally put us off because it means a lot of screaming kids but it’s not in season and it’s not school holidays.  I can hear you all say “You, old buggers, you” (HA, HA), not really getting old and cranky (or maybe we are) but it’s nice to have a quite place and the kids do come over to the camp sites and tease the dogs and when people ask them not to do that their parents get all huffy because they think that it’s their childrens right to annoy people.  We took a drive along the coast (no photos yet) and it’s so beautiful.  Lots and lots of Islands.  Great Keppel Island is just off the coast from here, just a small boat ride.  There is a doggy day care in the park so we will leave Hugo there and go over to the Island for the day.  Hugo finally got to have his swim in the sea today, the poor puppy has been so deprived, what with us camping in the bush for so long and him having no grass. He is as happy as Larry after he got to have his swim, a roll in the sand and a lay down on the grass when we got back to the campsite. We have booked in here for 3 days but there is so much to see and do and I think that we will extend our stay as it is a stunning place.  There are so many beaches and Islands to explore and not many people around. We are so spoiled. 1^st September, Monday Today is the first day of Spring, not that it bothers us much because we are in Queensland and totally missed Winter this year (ha, ha) and haven’t been cold much since we left Perth. We went for a drive to a pottery place (about 45kms), in a little place called Byfield.  They do some nice pottery but a lot of their stuff is from overseas, glasswear like perfume bottles etc.  very nice and only the pottery is local so didn’t buy anything because I have enough junk in my kitchen at home. We found an awesome beach, no-one around and we could take the car on there as it is hard and smooth and we didn’t need to let the tyres down and do all the 4×4 stuff (which, we are totally over).  The beach stretches for miles and so few people, it’s awesome and it’s not the only beach like that around here.  Hugo had a wonderful time swimming and rolling in the sand.  I have some lovely photos of that but I can’t download them because they are on my phone (Samsung Galaxy 3), so if anyone can explain to me how to download these to the computer (in simple terms, PLEASE), I would be most grateful. Xxx  I have been on the net to find out how to do this but it’s all Greek to me, too technical.  After we went to the beach we went fishing in the fish shack on the docks and came back with some prawns and some fish and we had a fish feast for dinner (life is tough) 🙂  Tomorrow we are booked on the boat to go to Great Keppel Island and we don’t even need to put Hugo into Doggie day care because he is allowed on the boat – how awesome is that?  His first cruise.  :)Night all. Xxxxxxxxxx

2^nd September, Tuesday What a beautiful day it was today.  We went on the boat to Great Keppel Island.  It was most of the day with lunch included.  We left early to have a look at the Marina at Rosyln Bay (the boat leaves from there).  We walked around, had a milk shake and took some photos while we were waiting.  The trip to Great Keppel Island is 30 minutes.  We stopped there to let some people off and then they served morning tea and then we all transferred to a glass bottom boat and had a tour of the coral reef.  Keppel Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef.  We saw heaps of corral and fish and even had some Dolphins swim along beside us.  We were taken back to the boat where lunch was served and the boat cruised around while we did that.  The boat then came back to Keppel Island and we could get off to have a wander around.  There is a resort here but it looks a bit tired and in need of some TLC.  The Island is gorgeous, sweeping beaches, turquoise calm water and so clear, beautiful swimming.  Hugo was the only one that did.  Hugo was the belle of the boat especially with some young French backpackers who fell in love with him.  He was so well behaved but the only problem with the boat was the stairs as it was a bit of a battle so we probably won’t do that again with him.  He did enjoy it though although the noise of the engines scared him a bit as we had to sit at the back of the boat.  Back to camp, tired and will make dinner and have an early night.  It was really such an awesome day.  He have decided not to stay longer and will leave on Thursday morning.  Tomorrow we will do a smidge more sightseeing and possibly some fishing.

3^rd September, Wednesday

Another perfect day in paradise. We took a drive to Emu park to have a look.  There is an interesting monument type thingie to Captain Cook who named the Keppel Bay.  It is a singing ship.  There are tubes and pipes on it and as the wind blows it plays music.  It sounds really good and melodic.  We popped into Yeppoon to get some bits and pieces and then took Hugo to the beach for a swim.  Back to camp and a slow pack up as are heading off tomorrow for Rosedale which is slightly inland and not that far to the beach.  The caravan parks along the coast there seem to be booked up at the mo but where we are staying is really not far.  The place sounds quite interesting.  It is a 110 year old hotel with a caravan park at the back and the owner sounds like a bit of a redneck, apparently is quite a character and we are looking forward to staying there because it sounds different and an experience.  We shall wait and see.