This is our expense report January 2024. As our expense report for June to December 2023 was so popular, we will continue with a monthly report for 2024.
After catching up with friends and family over the Christmas and New Year break, it was time to hit the road again.
Camps
To avoid the school holiday crowds and the high camping costs on the Sunshine Coast, we headed inland to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
We’ve stayed in Imbil, Maleny, and Montville over the years but haven’t stayed in Kenilworth. We weren’t disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed staying in the area.
Kenilworth Showgrounds
We were camped backing onto the main road, which wasn’t that busy. I’m unsure why we were given that spot, as plenty of sites exist throughout the showground. We met friends there so maybe they only had that area for two spots next to each other.
If you book there, ask for a site away from the main road if you don’t like road noise.
Cost: $30 per night for a site with power and water.
Bluff Creek Camping
This is a ‘camp wherever you like’ type of campground. Some sites surround a small dam, some are secluded, and sites on the hill overlook the property.
You must be fully self-contained to camp at Bluff Creek. However, there are coin-operated showers and toilets. Plus, there are porta-loos dotted around the property.
The Mary River runs through the property so that you can swim there. It was hot and humid when we stayed, so it was a great plus for us. The river has a sandy bottom, and although it had a slight current due to the rain, we found it safe to swim.
Cost – $30 per night unpowered and no water.
Extra Info – the flies were next level when we stayed in Kenilworth. I’m not sure if this is the norm for the area or if they were particularly bad when we visited.
It wouldn’t stop us going there again, I am merely informing you that you will need repellent and a good fly swot!
Hidden Valley Yandina
We had a week to fill in before we headed to Teewah Beach. So, we chose to stay inland at Hidden Valley. As it turns out, we didn’t camp on Teewah as the weather reports had cyclone Kirrily crossing the coast and the rain depression moving quickly down the Queensland coast.
That’s the beauty of winging it: you can quickly change plans. Instead, we stayed at a friend’s place for six nights as she worked in the mines and was away for the week.
Back to Hidden Valley…
You’ll share your site with the crazy resident emu, Norbert, who thinks he owns the place! He’s harmless and will visit several times a day looking for food.
The sites at Hidden Valley are HUGE. It is lovely and grassy, with a well-established garden bed on either side for privacy.
Kangaroos will also visit in the morning and late afternoon. We had several hang around munching on the lovely green grass shoots each day.
There are (timed 3-minute) showers and toilets available and powered and unpowered sites.
Campfires are allowed, and fire pits are supplied. There is also a communal firepit. However, the rain stopped any communal fires during our visit.
Before your stay, you must fill up with water as the property is on tank water.
While camping on a Macadamia orchard, you can eat as many dropped macadamias as you like. Sadly, harvesting the nuts wasn’t cost-effective when we visited, as the cost per tonne was lower than the wages of the fruit pickers.
Cost – 7 x $45 per night powered and $40 per night powered low-season
Food
We ate out more than usual throughout January. This is due to passing through southeast Queensland and catching up with friends along the way.
Groceries: $520
Eating out: $1145
Experiences
The Ginger Factory in Yandina was the only experience we had in January. We did the factory tour and learned how ginger is grown and processed.
Cost: $34
Total costs
Campsites – $1210 (we had 6 free nights accommodation as we stayed with a friend)
Food – groceries, $520 and eating out $1145
Fuel – $533 – 21.67/100kms
Comment below if there are any other expenses you’d like to see us include in future expense reports.
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With years of experience travelling Australia in a caravan, I’m passionate about helping others embark on their own unforgettable adventures. From off-grid camping tips to expert advice on planning the ultimate big lap of Australia, I share stories, practical hacks, and inspiration to make your journey stress-free and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting out, join me as I explore the beauty of Australia, one road at a time!
