14/08/2025
Run Report – Eight Beaches Run: 4-10 August 2025
By: Phil Henry
Photos by: Phil Henry, Jim Armstrong, Ralph Kelsey, Gordon Kelsey
At last the day dawned on the long awaited Eight Beaches run. For those not aware, the Capricorn Chapter organises a longer run every two years. These have gone in all directions from Rockhampton, except to New Zealand. The Eight Beaches were: Rainbow; Tin Can Bay; Hervey Bay/Urangan; Woodgate; Bargara; Elliott Heads; Agnes Water; and 1770. Because of adverse weather and some mechanical/electrical incursions, only a select few managed all eight.
Seventeen people in nine cars departed from Rockhampton on Monday 4 August. No major incidents on the run down to the first overnight in Gayndah but some interesting notes. A bloke in Rocky pulled me up just as I was leaving Fantastic Furniture to tell me he had some MG trim bits for sale. I’ll try to get his details. As we passed through Thangool, we picked up four more travellers. After lunch in Monto we went to the RM Williams Centre in Eidsvold, where we got talking to a couple of RV drivers. The coincidence of two E-type Jags travelling in convoy, and two blokes whose RVs were equipped with composting toilets, was worth a conversation - apparently!
After that it was just a quick tootle down to Gayndah where twelve more members, from both “down south” and home, joined us. The obligatory happy hour soon got under way as those who didn’t know each other did so, while some renewed old acquaintances. Dinner was at the Grand Hotel, where the proprietor ran an exceptionally well-organised ship, and the first of a series of fantastic pub meals.
Day two of the run was from Gayndah to Tin Can Bay. A last-minute suggestion saw the group head to Goomeri for excellent coffee and local bakery delights. Managing to navigate through Gympie, we were met with an expansive, sumptuous BBQ lunch at Wayne Kirwan and Megan Perrett's property. So much food! A big thank you to both of them and their helpers for the immense effort it would have taken to cater for us all. Naturally, there was a display of members’ MGs and other models, not to mention the contents of Wayne’s workshop. Eventually we had to head off to Rainbow Beach and the Carlo Sand Blow (for some!). Then to Tin Can Bay's Sleepy Lagoon Motel for happy hour and shortly afterwards to the pub next door for dinner.
Wednesday was a slightly easier day with less driving. The day started early so we could see the dolphin feeding, a local highlight. Gary Whight and Beth Heraghty braved the winter waters to participate in the feeding and were so enthused they accepted the offer to do it a second time! Onward to Maryborough where most of the group took the opportunity to look around before another great feed, this time at the Carriers Arms.
The group then travelled on to Hervey Bay where Martin and Narelle Adamson had a major issue arise with their accommodation - they couldn’t get into their room. It took a few hours and much finagling before it got sorted.
For the Wednesday - second day - in Hervey Bay, we were guests of the MG Car Club of Qld - Wide Bay Chapter under the guidance of its coordinators Lyn Hayward and David Hall, ably supported by Chapter members. We had a very pleasant drive around the area including a visit to Bambooland, a restful and calming oasis.
Then to David and Lyn's place for a big Bunnings style sausage sizzle and a look at their extraordinary (there is no other word) MG museum. We were certainly privileged to have time here before it opens officially, as the range and curation are beyond commercial quality. As coordinators, David and Lyn suffer the same issues as with Capricorn, and probably all Chapters, in wrangling members to pay attention when being given instructions, so Capricorn bequeathed one of its bicycle style horns to them. Good luck! The only downer was the eventual complete failure of Martin Adamson's clutch, which had been losing fluid faster than he could top it up. After his and Narelle's massive hassles getting into their room in Hervey Bay, their equanimity in braving the new situation was exemplary. The car was RACQ’ed to us and, long story short, Martin and David subsequently sorted the problem after it turned out to be a split in the feeder pipe rather than the slave cylinder itself. Martin and Narelle’s costs were covered, and they made their own way home successfully. That said, five points have been allocated.
Happy hours were conducted on both days, first at the park over the road from one accommodation and then on the verandah of Ross and Shez Letten’s room. We also had two night’s most satisfactory meals at the Hervey Bay Boat
Friday’s run was from Urangan to Bargara. We had a pleasant if cool breakfast on the water’s edge at Toogum, then the group stopped at Woodgate on the way to Bundaberg where we had lunch at the Bundy Social club. More enormous meals, then on to the Bundaberg soft drink factory and outlet to taste a great variety of their flavours and get a six pack of samples to take home.
On the way to Bargara the run sheet had us stopping at the Hummock and then Elliott Heads. However, we had at last encountered the rain that the radar had been showing coming our way, so only four cars were at the Hummock – which is not a beach – and two cars at Elliott Heads, which is. In all the long runs that Capricorn has organised since 2016, this was the most rain we have ever encountered, so we’ve been doing pretty well.
After checking in at Bargara the group split up, having chosen a few different places for dinner. There was nowhere big enough and dry for happy hour, thus trashing another tradition.
Saturday’s departure to Agnes Water was delayed by Ross and Shez Letten discovering that their car – the global traveller Blue B – would not start, including through pushing and towing. Eventually Ross decided that RACQ was needed. They turned up but Ross decided to get it returned to Brisbane and hire a car to take them to Agnes Water.
The original run sheet had included a tour of another classic car display as well a visit to Tinaberries strawberry farm and lunch at Macadamias Australia. With the road to Tinaberries likely to be a red mud experience and the car display cancelled owing to serious health issues in the proprietor’s family, the planned lunch at Macadamias Australia was brought forward.
We were joined by David and Jenny Cook, coordinators, and Graeme Leacock and Marilyn Kerrigan from the Bundaberg Chapter for coffee and morning tea after they’d been able to rearrange their schedules. I overheard much useful technical information being shared, which is a big part of the value of club membership.
Once our Bundaberg compatriots had been farewelled, the afternoon run to Agnes Water was OK although through very wet conditions. Thanks to Brian Russell for confirming the shorter route was open.
Happy Hour was able to be reinstated for the last night in Agnes Water. Although the participant list totals 35, our numbers had dwindled to 13, after having risen and fallen continuously throughout the run. As some compensation, the final celebratory dinner at Sandcastles resort was nothing short of sensational. The necessary reflections and acknowledgements were made.
Sunday dawned bright and clear – of course. With formalities having been dispensed with the evening before, the group made their own arrangements for breakfast before hitting the highways for home.
So another Capricorn Chapter long run had concluded, probably more successfully than any such adventure has any right. Only two breakdowns, both of which could be sorted.
These adventures are great fun, I know we all had a good time. Thank you one and all.
Participants (some not all stages)
Gordon and Ralph Kelsey Jaguar E-type
Paul and Joanne Davey MGB
Lyle and Pat Fielding Audi TT
Martin and Narelle Adamson MGB
Rae and Jack Cowie Toyota Rav4
John and Gail Newton Jaguar E-type
Kev and Yvonne Carr BMW Z3
Gary Whight and Doris Lisle Triumph 2500TC
Clem and Jean Hill Mazda MX5
Brian and Glenis Russell MGB
Bill and Beth Heraghty MGA
Jim and Sandra Armstrong MGA
Marilyn and Michael Keating MGBGT
Ross and Shez Letten MGB
Barry Lutwyche MGB
Jan Burke MGB
Ray Edwards and Susanne Sommer MGB
Jennifer Adams Triumph Stag
Kev Whight Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Phil Henry MGTF (late model)
