I try to outsmart the virus.

[Major]

The Sea Power Centre | Serving Australia with Pride

Royal Australian Navy

www.navy.gov.au

 

[drron]

That night dinner was in Bam Bam their Asian fusion restaurant.It was the low point of our stay.We ordered about 20 minutes after we arrived.A bottle of wine,Hibachi grilled reef fish with teriyaki glaze,crispy fried whole reef fish with a papaya salad and a side of vegetable fried rice.We did ask on a few occasions where our wine was.About 40 minutes after ordering this arrived -well not this one as the original dish was sent back as it was another 45 minutes before our mains arrived followed shortly by our bottle of wine.
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Whilst waiting for our meals we began talking to the couple at the next table.They had a 5 month old boy.He was a delight and didn't utter a soundduring the time we were there.They had arrived about a half hour before us.When our meals arrived they left.They had been there 2.5 hours without any food.
These were our meals.I had the whole fish and it was very nice.Mrsdrron's fish was way overcooked.The fried rice was worse than you would get in a Chinese restaurant in Macksville.
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Naturally we complained and had our meal comped.Mrsdrron insisted that she speak with the F&B manager which we did the next morning.At dinner the staff told us that all F&B staff then had a meeting with their manager and changes were made.Hopefully we helped future guests.

Once again we were graced with a couple of visitors.
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[drron]

Breakfasts were in the main restaurant.It was buffet style and very good.It was always accompanied with visits by several birds.The annoying ones were the seagulls and crows who would land on the table even before you left.
The curlews ruled the floor.
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The coughatoos were a bit smarter.They kept watch.
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The had learnt humans often wrapped food in their napkins.So after people left they came down and any folded napkin was picked up and shaken.This guy has just done this and the napkin is now on the chair.
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[Jacques Vert]

The fried rice was worse than you would get in a Chinese restaurant in Macksville.

Actually, the Chinese restaurant in Macksville does a pretty good fried rice IME.

 

[MARTINE]

Love following this thread…...You could name the chapter in the memoirs about memorable meals ’..Mrsdrron insisted she speak with the F and B Manager…’

 

[drron]

Actually, the Chinese restaurant in Macksville does a pretty good fried rice IME.

Mackcville named to see who has read the travels of Paul Theroux in Australia.Macksville gets a mention.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Actually, the Chinese restaurant in Macksville does a pretty good fried rice IME.

drron said:
The fried rice was worse than you would get in a Chinese restaurant in Macksville.

Macksville was a one horse town when we used to drive up the coast from the Hunter Valley to Brunswick Heads / Gold Coast in the 70's/80's !!!

 

[drron]

The next day was a walk to the other end of the island.
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Someone arrived in style.
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[drron]

A hotel school.
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And a State school.
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Whilst we were there some large mackeral cruised in and sliced up some bait fish before a quick exit.

 

[drron]

Good views of the Hayman residences.
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Not the most beautiful part of the Island.
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[drron]

After lunch it was decision time.Would I walk to the top of the Island for the views or would I take advantage of our room and have a swim.A swim it was.I had a little rest between swims and a coughatoo joined us..
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He slowly walked up the sun lounge whilst above another coughatoo acted as his...well coughatoo.
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he got to the top of the lounge.
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And then it dawned on me that he was heading towards the open door.All that trouble for no result so they left.
A welcome swallow then joined us.
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[drron]

So the last night and it was at their main restaurant Pacific.Everything was good.I started with local reef fish cerviche which was very good .
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For mains I had -Banana leaf baked local snapper, wild rice, eggplant pickle, coconut relish, black sambal.
Mrsdrron had -Grilled prawns, tarragon and saffron butter.It came with a side and she decided on the smoked potato mash.
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As usual the curlews made an entrance but a possum turned up as well.
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[drron]

We had to leave early the next morning as at the moment only 1 service a day to Airlie Beach.So no breakfast but some snacks on board.
Picked up our car and had a leisurely drive to Rockhampton.Mrsdrron did some window shopping at the old Department store in the CBD.Amazing range of stuff but no purchases.
Then checked in to the Mercure.Being renovated at the moment and their restaurant is closed.

The room.
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And views of the Fitzroy river.
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Dinner at Ribs and Rumps.We enjoy this for a bit of nostalgia for American ribs.Hasn't done well in the pandemic with just 2 outlets remaining.here and 1 in Brisbane.

 

[drron]

Friday and time to go home.A Macca's brekkie in Rockhampton and off we went.A driver change a little south of Gin Gin.I wanted to get pictures of something I was involved in in the late 70s.A citrus property on the Burnett River.
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An idea of my accountant of the time.They had tax schemes but unlike many the first 3 actually made a profit and then they went into agriculture.Fortunately on this deal the appointed manager was bright and had morals.Arranged a solution between the "investors" and owner of the land which left both sides better off.Taught me a lesson.
Looking at Google maps the orchard is at least 3 times as large as it was then.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

You forgot to mention the excitement for the day - I got breathalysed about 100kms south of Sarina - in the middle of nowhere ! Came over a rise and in the middle of the road were two policemen waving me over to stop !!

 

[MARTINE]

You forgot to mention the excitement for the day - I got breathalysed about 100kms south of Sarina - in the middle of nowhere ! Came over a rise and in the middle of the road were two policemen waving me over to stop !!

I’m sure Janastacia has read this and now they have been rounded up and put on border patrol! I am assuming this post is not being written behind bars

 

[drron]

Quite a few canefields between Gin gin and Childers.In Childers a memorial to those that made it possible.
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Not a proud moment in Queensland history the blackbirders and the Kanakas.

Next stop home and a meal at Nyguyen brothers Birtinya.Good cheap Vietnamese.Mrsdrron always has lemongrass beef vermicelli salad and I had the ordinary lemongrass beef salad with a local beer.
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[drron]

So all there is to do is my thoughts on Hayman Island.It certainly has been somewhere I wanted to stay especially after becoming an IC Ambassador member.Certainly the arrival experience was excellent and a good upgrade.The surrounds are very nice and the place is in good repair.
A lot of the problems we encountered where as a result of lockdowns with occupancy ~ 20%.What surprised me was that a majority of the guests were young couples or young women who paraded around having their photos taken.But lots of space to be alone.
The major problem came with the evening meal.Only 1 restaurant open each night.This was conveyed to us by email before arrival with the suggestion we should book early.On the first and last nights anyone who hadn't booked was given a time to come back which was as it should be.But on the second night walk ins were seated straight away and the place was full when we arrived at our booked time.The result was disater.

Even without that though the place fell short.Our stays a Saffire and the Great Southern lodges were much better and normally would be about the same in cost.I was very pleased we were able to stay on points and at the lowest rate I have seen.I would not have enjoyed paying the normal rates for the stay.

So a place I am glad I have stayed but wouldn't go back.I just don't see the value at normal rates.