About Us

The Wide Bay Wanderers are an enthusiastic group of “grey nomads” and some not so grey. We hale from the Wide Bay area with the majority of our membership coming from the Gympie, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Bundaberg areas and all points in between.

The “Wanderers” as we are affectionately known are a Chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia and are part of the social arm of this national body. We welcome visiting CMCA members and have hosted members from all States of Australia and many overseas visitors, particularly our Kiwi cousins who seem to frequent this beautiful part of the country and often join us on our monthly excursions.

Camp site in the bush at Aldershot

Many of our members have undertaken extensive travel around Australia in their beloved campervan or motorhomes and may not be seen at regular gatherings for months at a time.

The Chapter has thrived during the past sixteen years becoming one of the largest in the CMCA with regular attendances of 40 to 60 motorhomes. Our growth caused problems obtaining suitable sites, and our Sister Chapter the Rum City Ramblers, based in Bundaberg, was formed by some of our members and others to relieve the pressure of numbers. Currently our numbers are usually between 25 and 40 motorhomes at regular monthly meetings.

Our campsites vary from isolated bush settings to country hall grounds, showgrounds to caravan parks, scout camps to country clubs, football fields to river side retreats. Wherever you find peace and quiet and the great style of life that motorhoming afford, you are likely to find the “Wanderers”. Many of our members also take part in National Rallies and willingly volunteer their time to make these major events a success.

What does it cost to be a member of the Wanderers, absolutely NOTHING as long as you are a member of the CMCA for insurance purposes.

We invite you to come and check us out at one of our gatherings, see Coming Events.

A Typical Theme Song For All Motorhomers

We are often asked if the community benefits from our activities and the answer is a most definite YES!

There is an ever increasing number of "Grey Nomads" travelling this vast country and the needs of these people are being met by wise communities all around the nation. The travelling public are rapidly becoming an important tourist sector.

The map below shows many of the camp sites used by the Wide Bay Wanderers over the past 15 years. The benefit to local communities and community groups has been enormous during that time. We actively encourage our memebrs to support local groups and organisations while camping in their areas.

It is conservatively estimated that we have paid in excess of $140,000 in camping fees to various organisations during monthly trips and it is estimated over $600,000 has been injected into the local communities with support of local businesses, schools, clubs , festivals etc.

Some of the organisations which have benefited by our Chapter attendance are

Schools, Country Hall Associations, Bush Fire Brigades, Football Clubs, Scout groups, Show Societies, Festivals, Shire Councils, Rowing Clubs, Country Race Meetings, Sporting Groups, St John's Ambulance, Service Clubs, and many , many more.

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Coming Events

March 11th - 14th 2010

Bucca Rowing Complex

Showers, Toilets, No Power, Dogs on Leads, $7.70 per person per night

GPS Co-ords -24.860020° 152.074282°

April 8th - 11th 2010

Goodnight Scrub Hall

Travelling south from Gin Gin on Bruce H'way turn right into Goodnight Scrub/Morganville Rd. Hall approx. 10km on right. From south turn left at Booyal into Biggenden Rd and then right into Causeway Rd.

Cold Showers, toilets, No Power, Dogs on Leads, $5 per van per night

May 6th - 9th 2010

Glenwood Park

Turn off Bruce H'way at Arborten Rd, Glenwood, approx. 40km north of Gympie. Continue for approx. 1.7km - hall on right

Toilets, No Showers, No Power, Dogs on Leads, $5 per van per night

GPS co-ords. -25.935625°, 152.616308°

June 11th-14th 2010

Boolboonda Hall Grounds.

Approx. 30km along Gin Gin/Mt.Perry Rd. from Gin Gin.

Shwrs, tlts, no pwr. Dogs on leads. $7pvpn.

GPS co-ords. -25.066349°, 151.693404°

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

July 8th - 11th 2010

Brooweena State School

46km west of Maryborough along Biggenden Rd

Toilets only, Dogs on leads. $5 per van per night.

GPS Co-ords. -25.598882°, 152.261771°

August 12th - 15th 2010

Mungar - Fielding Bi-centennial Park (next to school)

Turn off Maryborough-Biggenden Rd, continue for approx. 13km. Grounds on left.

Toilets only, Dogs on leads. $5 per van per night. Wide Bay Wanderers disc bowls competition.

GPS Co-ords. -25.601467°, 152.591337°

SEPTEMBER 9-12 2010

KILKIVAN BUSH CAMPING

ROSSMORE PARK

ROSSMORE RD, KILKIVAN

Pwr,shwrs,tlts, dogs on leads. Pwr. $16 for 2ppn, $13 for 1ppn, unpwrd $12 for 2ppn,$10 for 1ppn. Weekly rates avail.

GPS Co-ords. -26.070168°, 152.172328°

OCTOBER 7-10 2010

ALDERSHOT SCOUT CAMP

5-6km north of Maryborough on western side of Bruce H'way.

Tlts, shwrs, dogs on leads, $5pppn

Camp oven cooking (depending on fire risk)

GPS Co-ords. -25.463606°, 152.647882°

NOVEMBER 11-14 2010

TEEBAR SPORTS GROUNDS

Approx. 54km from Maryborough (30km from Biggenden) along Maryborough-Biggenden Rd.

Shwrs, tlts, no pwr. dogs on leads (fee to be advised) Christmas dinner and AGM

GPS Co-ords. -25.619913°, 152.233384°

DECEMBER 9-12 2010

STANDOWN CARAVAN PARK

91 RADTKE ROAD, KIA ORA

Turn off Tin Can Bay Rd. approx. half way between Gympie and Tin Can Bay

Pwr, shwrs, tlts, dogs on leads. Powered sites $15pvpn, Unpowered $12pvpn

GPS Co-ords. -26.027536°, 152.792609°

Contact

President

Adele See

Phone 07 41526376

Secretary

Joan Gosley

Phone 07 41214342

Our History

In a time, in the now long distant past, members of the CMCA in the Wide Bay area often travelled south to partake in the activities of the Brisbane Sunshine Wanderers, one of the earliest formed Chapters in the CMCA.

As time went by, and the numbers of interested people in the Wide Bay grew, it was decided a Chapter should be formed in the Wide Bay. In May 1992 a small group gathered at the Wongi State Forest, just north of Maryborough, where discussions were held about forming a Chapter. Even in those early days interest was shown from a widely diverse area with attendees from Gympie, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Gladstone being at this first gathering.

Various names were suggested for the Chapter with Rum City Rebels, Coral Isles Wanderers, Wide Bay Wanderers and Curtis Coast Wanderers all being suggested. It was felt that Wide Bay Wanderers truly represented the area the Chapter would cover and the name was therefore adopted.

Four months later on August 8^th the Chapter was officially launched with another meeting at the same site with strong support from the Brisbane Sunshine Wanderers’ members who attended in strength to launch the new Chapter. The Wide Bay Wanderers became the 11th Chapter of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia which at the present time has in excess of ninety Chapters Australia wide.

Ivan Wieland, one of the instigators of the new Chapter was elected as the first President, David Roach Vice President, John Dixon Secretary and Linda Roach Treasurer. Under this committee and a string of subsequent committees over the years the Chapter has prospered until today it is a vibrant ever changing group of enthusiastic motorhomers upholding the CMCA ideal of Laughing More and Living longer.

The CMCA

Erica and Don Whitworth founded the Club in Tweed Heads NSW in April 1986. They had travelled many thousands of kilometres throughout Australia in a Volkswagen Combi Camp-mobile with their three children and later toured Europe and USA in larger recreational vehicles.

The Whitworths believed there were many other motorised-living enthusiasts in Australia who would enjoy sharing their enthusiasm with like-minded people in a national club.

So, in April 1986, The Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia was formed with the Whitworths being the driving force.

Less than twelve months later, membership of the club had passed the 500 mark (about 1000 people). At the first Anniversary rally held at Swansea on Lake Macquarie NSW in May 1987, member number 600 was welcomed into The Club. Membership finally reached the 1,000 mark in July 1988, with the membership scattered throughout every state and territory of Australia.

Today, the Club, which was incorporated in April 1988, and later became a not for profit Company has prospered and has approximately 55,000 active members in over 25,000 motorhomes. Membership includes enthusiasts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, America, Europe, and other countries.

Applications continue to grow with over 700 new members each month, so the future of The Club is assured allowing it to develop new areas of activity for the benefit of its members.

If you would like to join this great Club application can be made here

Our Photo Album

The Wide Bay Wanderers have since the early days of the Chapter maintained a photo album, firstly in hard copy and then with the coming of the digital age on the web at at webshot.com, to view a slide show of our vast collection click on our Photo Album here.

Our photos are sometimes humourous, sometimes serious, sometimes scenic - something for everyone.

Over 48.500 people have now viewed our albums

Click on Photos below to see album

by wbwanderers

On this page we have links to various other web sites which can be of assistance to the travelling public, whether they be businesses, tourist attactions, caravan parks, regional councils or information centres, etc. If you would like your business linked to our site or know of any site which would be of interest to the RV travelling public please contact the web master

The CMCA

Click Logo to go to CMCA Web Site

We welcome new members to the club and are currently growing by around 700 new members each month,

If you would like to join the CMCA click here

Motorhome Sales, Fit-outs, Parts and Service

Casey's' RV (Motorhome conversions, spares and repairs)

Coastline Caravans(Caravans, Motorhomes Sales and Spares)

Highway RV Storage(RV Storage)

Searle's A'Van and RV Centre (Caravan and Motorhome sales and service)

Warburton Caravans (Caravan Sales, spares and repairs)

Caravan Parks in the Wide Bay/Burnett

Bargara

Biggenden

Bundaberg

Childers

Eidsvold

Elliott Heads

Gayndah

Gin Gin

Gympie

Hervey Bay

Imbil

Miara

Maryborough

Mon-Repos Beach

Monto

Moore Park Beach

Mt Perry

Poona

Rainbow Beach

Torbanlea

Tin Can Bay

Woodgate

Tourist Attractions (including major events)

Biggenden

More information on Biggenden

Google map of Biggenden

Biggenden Annual Auto Spectacular

Biggenden Annual Show 16/17th May 2009

Biggenden Historical Museum

Coulston Lakes National Park

Mt Walsh National Park

Send an E-Postcard from Biggenden

Bundaberg

More information on Bundaberg

Bundaberg Rum Distillery

Bundy Thunder Boat Race

Hinkler Hall of Aviation

Hinkler House Memorial Museum

Things to see and do in Bundaberg

National Parks in the Bundaberg district

Wide Bay Australia International Airshow

Send an E-Postcard from Bundaberg

Childers

More information on Childers

Google Map of Childers

Bakers Military Memorabilia Museum

Childers Art Gallery & Pharmaceutical Museum

Childers Festival of Cultures

Flying High Bird Habitat

Snakes Downunder

Send an E-Postcard from Childers

Eidsvold

More information about Eidsvold

Google Map of Eidsvold

Eidsvold Musicians Muster

Eidsvold Polocrosse Carnival 15/16 Aug 2009 (date to be confirmed)

Wuruma Dam Family Fishing Competition

Send an E-Postcard from Eidsvold

Gayndah

More information about Gayndah

Google map of Gayndah

Gayndah Historical Museum

Gayndah Orange Festival

Send an E-Postcard from Gayndah

Gin Gin

More information on Gin Gin

Google map of Gin Gin

Gin Gin Camp Oven Cook Out August 2009

Jazz and Shiraz At Wonbah Winery August 2009

Send an E-Postcard from Gin Gin

Gympie

More information on Gympie

Toyota Country Music Muster

The Valley Rattler

Gympie Gold Rush Festival

Gympie Gold Mining & Historical Museum

Heart of Gold International Film Festival

Send an E=Postcard from Gympie

Hervey Bay

More information on Hervey Bay

Whale Watching Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay Whale Festival

Hervey Bay Seafood Festival

Hervey Bay Tourist Information Centre

Send an E-Postcard from Hervey Bay

Maryborough

More information on Maryborough

Maryborough City Whistle Stop Incorporated

Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum

Maryborough Riverboat Tours

Maryborough Walking Tours

Mary Poppins Festival

McMillan Light Horse and Military Museum

Send an E-Postcard from Maryborough

Mt Perry

More information on Mt Perry

Google map of Mt Perry

Mt Perry Annual Camel Races 12/9/2009

Mount Perry Axemen And Sawyers Annual Woodchop 10/10/2009

Mount Perry Dump Truck Pull

Send an E-Postcard from Mt Perry

Monto

More information on Monto

Google Map of Monto

Monto Garden And Craft Expo

Monto Division Saint John Street Party Stretcher Race Day

Send an E-Postcard from Monto

Mundubbera

More information about Mundubbera

Google map of Mundubbera

Send an E-Postcard from Mundubbera

Rainbow Beach

More about Rainbow Beach

Google Map of Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach Paragliding

Send an E-Postcard from Rainbow Beach

Tiaro

More information on Tiaro

Google Map of Tiaro

Tiaro Craft Cottage and Tourist Information Centre

Mayne Street on the Park, Tiaro, Queensland 4650

Send an E-Postcard from Tiaro

Tin Can Bay

More information on Tin Can Bay

Google map of Tin Can Bay

Send and E-Postcard from Tin Can Bay

Check the weather out in your location, just type in the town or postcade

The weather is alwasy perfect in the Wide Bay/Burnett

Information Centres

Bundaberg Tourist Information Centre

Fraser Coast Tourism Board

Rainbow Beach Tourist information Centre

Regional Councils in the Wide Bay/Burnett

Fraser Coast Regional Council

Bundaberg Regional Council

Gympie Regional Council

Links to other CMCA Chapters

Bushwackers

Central Coast Wanderers

Dalrymple Drifters

Highway Wanderers

Island Wanderers

Murry Darlings

Sydney Wanderers

Tropical Coast Wanderers

Other sites talking about The Wide Bay Wanderers

Tiaro Community Website

Links to CMCA Members Personal Sites

Al and Mel's__(Coaster Conversion)

Julian Lawrence ( Converting a Coaster)

Lawrie Beales

Ian Lock (Cuppa) (Converting a Nissan Civilian)

Peter and Margaret--(OKA Conversion)

Barry Powell__(Lots of LEDS)

Collyn Rivers__(Books)

Frosty's Auzzie Advantures

Geoff Crocker (The Sauce Man)

John & Elaine

Jim and Elle

John and Shirley

Annie's Blog

Blue Snoopy

Val and Sue Rigoli__(Fridges and Solar)

Peter Manins

Evon Anderson's Travel Page

Peter Anderson's Astronomy Page

Allan

Other useful Links

Align your Satelite Dish

Safe towing information from the Qld Government

Welcome to the Wide Bay Wanderers Web Site

The geographic area in Queensland known as 'Wide Bay' extends from just south of Gympie, north to Bundaberg and includes Maryborough and Hervey Bay. It is a rapidly growing area with many tourist attractions, Fraser Island, whale watching, turtle rookeries, national parks, etc, etc, and is steeped in history. Travellers could spend weeks or months in the area and not see all the attractions.

The Wide Bay Wanderers are a group of enthusiastic motorhome and campervan owners who gather regularly, usually monthly, to enjoy travel in our region and "Laugh More and Live Longer"

It is intended over a period of time that this site will become a valuable resource centre for fellow club members travelling in our area with information and links to our tourist attractions, history and culture in the Wide Bay

Click on the links to the left of this page to find out more about us.

Use the map below to explore our area.

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