As I detailed in my previous, Woodgate Beach lies on the shore of the northern section of Hervey Bay, where the long beach which is a real feature of this seaside town of about 1,500 permanent souls stretches unbroken for miles between Theodolite Creek in the north and the Burrum River to the south.
I also spoke of, and rather poorly demonstrated pictorially, the ever shifting sands of the mouth of Theodolite Creek. Hopefully this most excellent shot, courtesy of 'pinstake' provides a much better picture than my mere words.
Understandably, given its location, the Esplanade is a real feature of this town. In another 'borrowed' shot (thanks 'gabriellebydon') you can see how the 'old town' spreads along the shore, only three or four streets wide, but about six kilometres long. Expansion further to west in this section is stymied by the presence of the excellent Banksia Park (more of this later).
The group of homes we passed en route to Theodolite Creek can be seen in the bottom left hand corner of the photo whilst the mouth of the Burrum River cuts through the green mass of the land at the top of the shot. New development in the town is progressing at some pace in the section appearing at the bottom mid-shot. Got it? Good.
Here at Woodgate Beach two options are available for those needing to stretch their legs along the foreshore....the beach or the Esplanade walkway, which snakes its way for almost the entire length of the town between the sands of the beach and the roadway.
Let's take a stroll along 'the front' and have a closer look, starting at what was for us, the far or northern end, a distance of about 3.5 kilometres from the caravan park.
On the beach itself at this end of town the somewhat battered boat ramp extends out to the water. As we understand it the effects of the tidal surge following Cyclone Debbie delivered an almost knockout blow to what was already a rather decrepit ramp.
It is currently closed for repairs with the result that those with tractors are now taking matters into their own hands and making use of the sandy access tracks down to the beach to launch.
The northern end of the town is also home to its one and only pub, a somewhat ramshackle affair
where patrons can down their drinks on an upper outdoors deck, or below it if that is their choice. The interior of the hotel seemed just a tad tired to us,
as did the adjacent motel units. We had read somewhere that caravan parking is available at the rear of the establishment, but in all the time we were here we did not seen any evidence of it. We did wander down for a couple of drinks shortly after our arrival (as you do), but beyond that made the much more appealing Woodgate Club our watering hole.
For us a real feature of the Esplanade was the variety of the homes built along it. The range of sizes, ages and features never failed to provide interest. Some were clearly a 'renovaters delight',
whilst others of a similar vintage had clearly been the subject of much more affection and attention.
Brightly painted cottages (this and some of the surrounding land could be yours for the bargain price of $650,000!)
rub shoulders with others which can barely be seen behind a screen of trees and shrubs.
We reckon the folk who own this simple but neat shack have the right idea.
Apart from the challenge of the entrance stairway, this just about sums it up!
What was also very evident is the fact that as many of these older seafront homes are reluctantly (we suspect) put on the market, most do not last long in their current state. This was but one of several new, large homes rising up on the cleared block which once held a much more modest dwelling.
Whilst pockets of the originals still remain in many spots along the shore,
the mansions of the affluent are now clearly in the ascendancy.
These are as varied in design and colours as their predecessors, but they do all have one thing in common......
they are anything but small.
Ultra modern design
and the more traditional all allow their lucky occupants a great view across the water, safe in the knowledge that the coastal reserve ensures that this can never be built out.
And along the Esplanade, the MacMansion prize goes to this three storey edifice, home we believe to a local builder, but not for much longer according to the sign.
This imposing lair can be found at the southern end of the Esplanade walkway,
and along this section of the beachfront, formal
and informal beach access points allow the locals to make the most of their surrounds.
This mix of structured
and makeshift also applies to the many seating arrangements to be found here overlooking the water.
One of the lucky folk who live here has nailed it!
This southern end of the Esplanade ends at the parking area servicing Banksia Park,
a delightful spot where public BBQ's and other amenities encourage visitors and locals alike to enjoy the great outdoors.
And not only the human inhabitants make the most of what is on offer here. The local lorikeets of the rainbow variety
perform all sorts of acrobatics in their quest for the tasty nectar in the large, spiky banksia flowers....none of it quietly. These are really raucous little birds, not up to corella standard, but close.
The public amenities at Banksia Park are not the only ones to be found on the Esplanade. About midway long its length is one of the most elegant and stylish block of public conveniences we have seen anywhere.
Those wishing to wash off the salt of the briny after a refreshing dip can do so in the most modern surroundings,
a theme which is carried through to the wash basins and those sections of the facility which are normally visited beforehand (not the subject of a photograph!)
The nearby public BBQ is equally impressive.
A little further along the shore, those who prefer to have someone else prepare their lunch or evening repast can avail themselves of the services rendered by the good folk of the local take-away. Here their purchases can be munched under the shelter of the attached dining area
or across the road at yet another seafront picnic area. Woodgate is very well set up to welcome day trippers from nearby Childers and Bundaberg, and on the weekends they do trip!
And finally, whilst on the subject of the Esplanade, it is home to one more feature of which we made more than good use. Less than 500 metres south of the caravan park, the flagpoles rise over the Woodgate War Memorial, with the community hall in the background,
and immediately next door is our favourite watering hole.....the imposing, well run and inviting Woodgate Club.
This is home to the local bowling community, and typically, the number of those trundling their biased black orbs back and forth across the manicured (artificial) turf swells considerably during the winter months as the long-termers from the south arrive in their droves.
We could not believe that many from the park actually drive to the Club. Even when it was raining, a decent brolly was all that was needed to make an anticipatory amble along the walkway a pleasure. Sadly, the general physique of many who feel obliged to eschew the use of their legs is testament to their sloth.
But enough of this sniping.......'trim Lizzy' is about to make her entrance.
We had heard much about this social centre of Woodgate Beach, and were delighted to discover that all the positive comments were well founded. As we lined up at the front desk for the first time to sign in (I later became a member) we were welcomed effusively by the staff member on duty.
This standard of service extended to those serving behind the bar and meals counters, and to the waiting staff, many of whom were obviously local youngsters employed on a part time basis. This really is an impressive place. We darkened these doors on more than one occasion,
particularly on raffles evenings. For those merely wishing to sip and socialise, there are both lounge settings and high bar tables, whilst the remainder of the brightly carpeted club houses a plethora of dining tables for patrons wishing to make a dent in the extensive menu.
It was not only the staff who exuded a warmth of welcome. On each occasion we visited, obviously visitors, nearby residents engaged us in conversation, and on our last visit we had another of those 'only on the road' experiences.
A foursome drinking at an adjoining table to that which Liz and I were occupying, insisted that we should not drink alone and should join them. We did so with relish. As the conversation proceeded, we mentioned that we had come to Woodgate on the recommendation of a couple we had met at Blackall all those years ago.
Whilst we could not remember both their names, we were able to recall that 'he' was Ken, and that they were both former school teachers who had retired here. Imagine our surprise when one of the couples with whom we were drinking started smiling......"you have just missed them. They have just sold up and moved out." "Oh?"
I was too polite to pointedly ask how on earth they would know that, despite the fact that the permanent community of Woodgate is not large. The answer was as rapid in coming as it was convincing....."we bought their house." As I have often commented, we are beyond surprise.
It was also at this gathering I learnt about the fishing spot, the sand island and channel to the south of the town. There seems to be little of the normal close guarding of fishing secrets here.
Is it any wonder that we felt quite at home here in the Club in no time at all? We did spend more than The Treasurer's entertainment allowance whilst here, but it was well worth it, even if our raffle numbers did not come up!
In my next, and the last about this delightful seaside spot, we bash about the back-blocks, perambulate through a park and have a close encounter or two with the ubiquitous and notorious 'Woodgate Rats'.
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