Bramston Beach

Here at last is the promised Bramston Beach post.  We (being my sister Beth and her family, my mum & dad and our Fealy Family – as well as a few ring-ins, the Kendalls, Tom and Worrell families, who stayed a night or two throughout our visit) spent a week at the end of January staying in a very old beach house at Bramston Beach.  We had a really good time, but it was very, very, very hot and we didn’t have air-conditioning.  Oh, and all the kids ended up with school sores (thanks Lexi!).  So, that’s just a bit of the reality before I show you some photos.  Here’s a few taken by my very clever cousin Sarah, from Sarah Kendall Photography, to set the scene of our week.

Bramston Beach is located 60km’s south of Cairns and about 20km’s north of Innisfail.  It is 17km’s in off the Bruce Highway and the little village pops out of the rainforest which is home to Cassowary (I did get to spot one as I was driving down the road – but it was too quick for a photo unfortunately!).  It is a tiny little place with just a motel, some beach houses and a cafe – oh, and two campgrounds.  Here’s a couple of pic’s of the lovely council run campground right on the beach.  The other campground is very run down, but still operating.  There is also some basic beach/bush camping located down the end of a dirt road behind the motel at North Bramston Beach, in the Russell River National Park.  We would definitely come back to Bramston to camp.

Campsites right on the beachfront

Lovely playground located at the front of the campground near the road – beware of the mozzies though!

This trip we stayed at a privately rented beach house right across the road from the beach and just next door to the Fish and Chip shop – perfect!  Even better was the price of $90 per night for our whole family of 6 adults and 8 kids – who all fitted comfortably in beds in the house no problems!  The Beach House comes with 2 bedrooms, 6 bunk beds, 4 double beds (2 double beds in one bedroom, one double bed in the lounge room and one double bed in a little area just off the kitchen), there is also fully equipped kitchen and washing machine available for use, with a bathroom and shower located off the kitchen at the back of the house.  However – the house was very old, very basic, a little in need of some repairs and had no air-conditioning (there were fans) – but it was hot!  The house can be booked by calling the Bramston Beach Cafe and speaking to Steve or Gillie.  The house wasn’t really clean when we arrived (not filthy – just not clean) but it was nothing that a quick vacuum, sweep and put all our own bed linen on couldn’t fix.  Bramston Beach did not have great phone reception so I must admit that I enjoyed a break from all of the technology for the week and was a bit lax on my photo taking.  Here’s a few that I got of the house and all the family relaxing in it it, or sweating in it – did I mention it was HOT?

UNO in action in the ‘bunk house’ 6 beds in this room and plenty of room for mattresses on the floor too.

Another board game in action in the ‘Bunk House’

Grammy in the kitchen with the beads

Aunty Beth having a wee rest on the double bed in the lounge room

Some quiet afternoon rest time – Grunda reading Uncle David’s latest book to the grandies – giving them a bit of Maori culture!  Yes – that is the youngest grandson paying lots of attention to his Grunda and playing with a doll 🙂

Despite the whinging about the very basic state of the house and how stinking hot it was (not mentioning any names, Grunda!) – I think we all had a good week!  It was nice to be all together in a place where nobody had to go to work and a week away meant we had enough time to read, play games and explore the area a little.  We escaped the heat at Bramston most days by heading to the nearby Josephine Falls and Babinda Boulders, which were all only a short drive away from the beach.  We also got a good look at Mt Bartle Frere, QLD’s highest mountain, while we were visiting, as Bramston Beach is not far from the base of the mountain.  The afternoons we spent at the beach, like this …………..

Heading through the park to the beach

Kipp and I chilling out on the sand

Only a few little waves for the boards

The gang at the beach

Grammy is on a one woman mission to bring skipping back – the boys loved it!

Coop and Dee

Cooper, Toby and Olivia

Sarah, Jayden and Kipp

As I had the baby who was teething during this week – I was up early most mornings, so took the early bird boys out a few times to see what we could see, at the beach before it got to hot.  Check out what we found!

Look what the tide washed up!

The boys spent ages checking this smelly fish out!

Toby with his fish

Dylan with his fish

Cooper with his ‘king prawn’

We loved being able to pop next door to the shop for coffee and icecreams, as well as having a night off cooking with Fish and Chips for tea one night.  It was also great that Bramston Beach was quiet enough that we could let the kids walk down the road to the playground by themselves (our eldest child was 9) and they were safe to do so.  There was lots around about Bramston to see.  As well as the freshwater swimming holes mentioned above, Dad and I had a nice little drive one morning in the air-conditioned car while Kipp had a sleep, checking out the Eubenangee Swamp and Flying Fish Point, and coming home via Innisfail which looked like a great town for a spot of shopping or lunch out!  We also went past a great old pub in the middle of nowhere really which I would love to go back and have a meal at – the Garradunga Hotel.

It was another great family trip and definitely one to keep in the memory bank.  It wasn’t perfect (school sores/stinking hot), but we were all together, it was affordable and we got a holiday!  Plus, there was no fighting – woot, woot!  Here’s the photo album shots!

“There is nothing like a Grandchild in your arms to put a smile on your face, a lump in your throat, and a warm feeling in your heart”

Kipp – 9mths and note the first tooth that popped up during our week!

Grammy & Grunda with the grandies – Bramston Beach January 2015

Do you holiday with your extended family?  Love it or hate it?