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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to edition #57 of B ME Bites! This week marks the final chapter of the Epic Aussie Van Life Road Trip – Gold Coast to Uluru and Back. From offbeat pubs to a milestone birthday bash at Outback Spectacular, this edition is full of laughter, gratitude, and the kind of moments that stay with you long after the road ends.

Epic Aussie Van Life Road Trip - Gold Coast to Uluru and Back – Part 8

Spectacular Endings and Sweet Goodbyes – From the Sunshine Coast to the Skies

The final leg of our whirlwind road trip was all about celebrating milestones, squeezing in last-minute experiences, and soaking up the last rays of the adventure—because even epic journeys have to end… eventually.

Sunshine and Slight Disappointments

After another sunrise on the road (always a sign we were heading in the right direction), we made it to the Sunshine Coast by evening and headed to The Banana Bender Pub for dinner. This spot used to be one of Australia’s most iconic Ettamogah Pubs, complete with its cartoonish lean and quirky charm. But… it’s been straightened. Literally. It’s now just a nice pub, and while the meal was fine, it’s no longer the Aussie icon it once was. Still, it was good to check it off the list.

That night, we stayed in what was advertised as a “Tiny Home,” which had me excited. Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of a standard cabin—lovely, yes, but not what I had in mind. That’s on me though. My trusty assistant Taasjia made the booking while I was driving, and if I’d looked at the pictures, I would’ve realised it wasn’t what I was expecting. The only real letdown of the trip, but not enough to dull our joy!

Ginger Fun and Koala Cuddles

Next morning, we bypassed the Big Pineapple (just a glance was enough!) and headed straight to The Ginger Factory. We had so much fun—laughing our way through the exhibits, enjoying a delicious lunch, and leaving with a haul of ginger goodies for the road. Yum!

Afterwards, I dropped Krista and Taasjia off at Paradise Country while I headed home to unpack and check in on Princess Lulu. The girls made the most of the visit—Krista caught a boomerang throwing demo, watched a Billy Tea and Damper show, and got to cuddle a koala! She absolutely loved it.

Outback Spectacular – A Birthday Bash for the Books

That night was something truly special. Our beautiful friend Kathy joined us to celebrate our trio of 50th milestone birthdays—Krista in April 2024, Kathy in December 2024, and mine in June 2025. We were also celebrating Taasjia’s 30th, which is coming up in July 2025. So this wasn’t just any farewell—it was a full-blown milestone party!

We had planned a surprise for Kathy: Outback Spectacular’s Top Rail Experience.

We arrived early, had our photos taken without the queues, and got a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue—something even we locals had never done before. I clearly missed the memo on footwear (oops!), but the experience was so worth it.

We were then shown to the Top Rail, a gorgeous section at the very top of the arena with the best views and personalised service. With incredible food, drinks flowing freely, and an unforgettable show below, it was the perfect way to wrap up our road trip in style. I don’t think I could ever go to Outback Spectacular the “normal” way again!

Time to Say Goodbye

The next morning, we were up early to get Krista to the airport. She said her goodbyes to Kathy, we stopped by Princess Panda to collect her things, and then it was time for those inevitable farewell tears. The trip had been everything we hoped for and more.

People told us we were mad to do this in the heat of summer. They said it was the wrong time of year. But here’s the truth: when it matters enough, you make it work. This wasn’t just a road trip—it was a once-in-a-lifetime journey with people we love, packed with laughter, chaos, heart, and unforgettable memories.

And we wouldn’t change a single kilometre.

🧠 Road Trip Lessons So Far

• Not everything has to be perfect to be magical. Even a not-so-tiny Tiny Home can still give you a soft landing.

• Spoiling yourself is worth it. Especially when it involves behind-the-scenes tours, koala cuddles, and Top Rail indulgence.

• The best time to do something is when it works for you. Forget the rules—make your own epic happen.

💬 What’s a goal you’ve been told wasn’t the “right time” to pursue… but did it anyway?

Next up: A return to regularly scheduled B ME content—but first, a toast to completing the road trip of a lifetime 🥂

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

Podcast Highlight – Episode 42
Simple Ways to Refresh Your Space and Energy for a New Beginning
The latest episode of the B ME Podcast focused on clearing both physical and mental clutter to create a space that supports wellbeing. From ancient cultural traditions to personal rituals, the episode offered small, intentional ways to refresh your energy—starting with the environment around you. Bonus tips included simple Feng Shui tricks (like adding red or gold accents!) and the introduction of “Sparky Sparky Joy Joy” – a joyful twist on decluttering from Shari and her daughter.

🎧 Listen to the episode on your preferred podcast platform.

🎥 Watch the video on YouTube:

☀️ B ME Sunrise Bites – Week 4 Highlights:

This week’s sunrise moments were soft, soulful, and sprinkled with magic. From Molly the cat’s surprise cameo to misty stillness and meaningful reflections, the mornings invited calm, curiosity, and connection. With gentle reminders like winding down with magnesium and evening light, and the simple power of pausing in nature, each day offered a reason to slow down and simply BE—especially fitting for Mother’s Day.

🎥 Watch the Week 4 Highlight Reel here:

📺 Or explore the full journey on the B ME Sunrise Bites YouTube Playlist
(Remember to hit subscribe while you’re there!)

🎯Weekly Challenge

Your mission for this week, if you choose to accept it, is to do the following:

You’ve followed the road this far—detours, dusty corners, unexpected surprises and all. So for your final challenge in this series:

🎯 Take a moment this week to reflect on a journey—big or small—that you’ve completed. What did you learn? What would you do differently next time? And what are you proudest of?

If you’re inspired, jot it down, share it, or raise a glass to it. Because every journey deserves to be honoured—even the ones you never thought you’d take.

If you need some help, feel free to hit reply - let’s help you get started if you’re stuck!

B ME Bites is deliberately sent on a Friday morning (Aussie time) so that where ever you are in the world, you have the weekend to give yourself the gift of implementing a small change towards a better you. What will that small change be? Is there a change that you have been trying to make and haven’t yet succeeded? Give it another go, applying the above - you can do it!

Resource Roundup

Below is a resource list that has been created with you in mind. Whenever something new that could be helpful is discovered or created, it’s added to the list, so check it out from time to time. If you’re strapped for time, once you open the page below, click on Resource List in the top menu, then click on the “Health Tools” link for a list of items that could be helpful on your path to a better you.

The answer to this week’s trivia question is:

Thanks for reading and the hope is that you found something helpful inside this issue. If you did, remember to share it with others whom could also find it helpful, using this link: https://bmebites.beehiiv.com

How did you like the content in this newsletter?

Hit reply and answer either 1,2 or 3, and, if the answer is 2 or 3, give the deets on what would make it a 1 for you!:

1. Loved it!

2. It was OK

3. Meh!

If you have an inspiring story, or a helpful tip or strategy to share, or if there is something specific you would like covered, please fill out the form below so that it can be shared with the community. Please note that this is a subscriber survey, so you may have to subscribe first (hint, hint…… 😉) : https://bmebites.beehiiv.com/forms/8d0dfdd1-4290-4e40-bff9-1f61b812c661

(Or you could also hit reply and give the details that way if it’s easier for you 😄)

Until next week, keep taking one S.T.E.P.S step at a time! (If you missed the issue explaining The S.T.E.P.S Formula, you can check that out here)

Warm regards,

Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

P.S. Since this is the final instalment of our epic road trip series, this week’s Friday Funny is proudly brought to you by Tattersalls Hotel, Winton — delivering outback laughs one sign at a time. Because let’s be honest… who doesn’t want a big glass of wine? 🍷😄 #OutbackWisdom

PPS - B ME Bites is created using the platform Beehiiv. Beehiiv was built by the creators of Morning Brew, so it’s a newsletter platform built by successful newsletter creators and as such, is so easy to use! If you are looking to create your own newsletter and are looking for a great platform, you can check Beehiiv out here. They have a great free plan as well as paid plans when you’re ready to scale.