1st Day trip with Go Pro Hero 11

Even though I am categorised as a "baby boomer' I do love technology. When I have recorded videos of my trips in the past, I have always used my iPhone or in early days travelling in Europe I also used a small digital camera. In the last few years, I became hooked on YouTube, and I decided, as a hobby, instead of keeping my trips and experiences to myself why not share them with the world! So, with my iPhone and my MacBook Pro Computer, I taught myself how to make and edit videos for YouTube! Never too late to learn something new! Right?

Many YouTubers that I was following were using expensive cameras and gear to make their vlogs, but there are some that make great vlogs, with limited equipment; an iPhone, GoPro, Computer and themselves. Now that sounds more like what I could afford. I already had 3 out if 4things... When my next tax return came in... I treated myself for the 4th item... a Go Pro!

I was so excited when it arrived! This technology will better my video content! However, those emotions were soon shattered when I realised that when you buy a GoPro, they do not come with instructions!!!! I had no idea how to use it! You need technology to find out how to use technology? Thank goodness for YouTube 😂! Initially my son came around and he had a play with the basics which was helpful. Luckily there are hundreds of YouTube Videos on How to Use a GoPro! I watched a few about how to set it up and how to use the Volta which I had also purchased.

So, we had a break between viruses, flareups and there was a break in the weather, so I decided that Kahra and myself would go on a day trip to try out the new GoPro and test it against the reliable iPhone.

Criteria for day trip?

• Somewhere I have never been to before

• Within 3 hours of home

• Needed to have 'Points of Interest'

• Pet friendly

I initially looked around the South East Queensland Coast, most places I had been to before.

So, I then looked interstate at New South Wales. Located on the Tweed Coast was a small coastal town of Fingal Head, and it fitted all four aspects of the criteria.

Distance: 174km

Hours: Approximately 2 hours

Points of Interest: Fingal Head Lighthouse and Fingal Head Giants Causeway

Pet Friendly: Pet friendly beaches, parks, and points of interest.

Plus, there was also the Tweed River and a 'Pet friendly' Caravan Park.

So, we packed an esky and an overnight bag (just in case we found an amazing spot and wanted to stay), I made sure all the electronics were charged and off we went.

While sitting in the car I attached the GoPro to the dashboard mat because I couldn't find a spot to attach it to the dash. While driving down the Warrego, it was too unstable, so I stopped and used a different clip and attached it to the pulled down visor. I put the clip on the bottom of the visor and the only way to attach the Go Pro was upside down. I believed this would be ok because the GoPro had horizon stability. Attaching the GoPro to the visor seemed to work and I could switch it on and off remotely using the Volta as a remote.

# Mistake 1 - not testing the camera

I attempted to film snippets of the journey. It worked twice then I lost he Bluetooth connection between the GoPro and the Volta.

# Mistake 2 - not checking the Bluetooth connection

We had a long tedious drive in the notorious Gold Coast highway traffic. but as soon as I could, I pulled over safely and reconnected the GoPro and Volta. I then filmed entering the area, driving alongside the Tweed River, I drove up past the caravan park (which was packed), we drove up to all the points of interest, filming our journey. We found a nice spot next to the river and we stopped for lunch. I unclipped the GoPro from the Visor and reattached it to the Volta.

# Mistake 3 - Not checking the footage.

Next to the Tweed

I was very used to filming with my iPhone but having the new toy I wanted to film with both the GoPro and the iPhone to compare the video quality and ease of use. So, while we were at the park I filmed both myself and Kahra. I realised that I had left my selfie stick for the phone at home which made videoing hard. I had the GoPro set to Full Frame, because that looked like the best setting for Travel Vlogs.

# Mistake 4 - not testing the different settings for video or pictures on the Go Pro.

Track to the Lighthouse

After a lovely hour or so at the river. we decided to pack up and head to the beach and Light House. Not having the selfie stick for the iPhone, I decided to film the whole experience of the beach and the walk to the Light house on the GoPro using the Volta.

The car park for the lighthouse was very small and my 4x4 only just fitted in without blocking the road. There was a bit of an initial incline, but after that it was a pleasant walk through a rainforest area. I wasn't really prepared for walking or I just did not think, but I walked in thongs! for someone who has mobility issues... Thongs are a BAD IDEA. The GoPro was easy to handle and use, it was also less noticeable to others on the track while using it and filming was very easy using the Volta. Having the Lanyard, made it easy when I needed to use my left hand as I had a tight grip on Kahra's lead with my right.

We came across the entrance walkway to the Dreamtime Beach; however, the ocean was so rough and I had read that the beach was a very dangerous beach at the best of times because of its unpredictable shifting sands. I decided it was no worth it to put myself and Kahra in danger, so we passed it by. A few metres down the track, we found another unmarked, fenced, short pathway that led down to the head and beach. So off we went. The wind was so strong it was almost pushing us backwards and the sand, mixed with the sea spray was blowing straight in our faces. We strived forward, stood on the top of the sandbank, and took a few photos and retreated back to the safety of the track.

Steps!!!!!

We kept walking even though the both knees were hurting. Then, my worst fear was realised, to keep going and to get to the lighthouse we had to climb lots of steps! Me and steps do not get on, going up or down. It made me realise that there was no disability access to the lighthouse, which is a shame.

Kahra was excellent and seemed to know that I was struggling up the steps. She kept enough tightness in the lead to help me up the steps and then waited for me on every landing. She was such a good girl. By having the GoPro and Volta I was able to keep the filming going which was sort of good 😂. Once at the top the walkway levelled out which was great. The relief was short lived...

Walking along this section of the walkway there was information about the Lighthouse and about the original Lighthouse keeper's cottage, which only the foundations remain. I was so puffed out after walking up the steps I quickly glanced at the information and kept going. I just wanted to get to the lighthouse.

At the top

Once at the top the view was amazing 🤩. We came to an T junction giving you two ways to access viewpoints. Even here you were quite protected from the wind and the force of the wind was quite deceiving. This image taken from one of the video and it shows the distortion in the video due to wrong settings on the GoPro. The image below, the lighthouse was taken with the iPhone. All the images and video taken by the GoPro also had this bendy effect because I had the wrong settings. The lighthouse on the videos looked like every wall was curved!

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse itself was smaller than I was expecting for such a dangerous section of the coastline. It was literally one room and the light. It would be interesting to see what it looks like at night from the ocean.

From the protection of the inner pathway the view of the ocean from the Head was impressive. There was only one seat at the top on this protected part of the pathway, which was also a shame. I could imagine it would be an excellent spot to watch the migration of the Humpback Whales. The vegetation was roped off for regeneration purposes. What I didn't notice until I was walking back was there was signs saying that there were King Brown snakes in the area. 😫

To get to the head and to follow the circular track around the head to the Lighthouse and there was more steps down. As soon as we started to walk down the steps the wind gusts were so strong, they nearly knocked me off my feet! Again, Kahra was amazing and waited for me to work my way down these steps without being blown over.

Fingal Head & the Giants Causeway

Now, I knew I was a little scared of heights and quite honestly, I never put myself in high places, but when we came down the steps to the head, I was surprisingly very scared. Kahra was so good, she wanted to go further, but, as you will hear on the video, I say stop, stop to her and she stopped. She wanted to say hello to everyone there like she had done all the way along the track, but she stayed still as I think she could sense my fear. My knees went to jelly, and I started to shake so we quickly turned around and headed for the bench.

I really wanted to see the Giants Causeway but I wasn't sure where it was until later when I looked it up, there was no way I was going to go any closer to look over the edge. The wind was so strong, and the ocean was so wild that even walking the track around the head and back up to the lighthouse was dangerous. There were many people old and young doing the lap but they were being blown sideways attempting to do so. From where we were standing, the Giants Causeway or the Fingal Head Causeway was just below us. On a beautiful calm day and if you are not afraid of heights, I truly believe that walking the Fingal Head track would be a very rewarding experience, especially with a drone. The footage would be amazing. A drone is on next year's wish list.

Snakes and bush turkeys

Just to add to my already shattered nervous system, on the way back we noticed all the signs saying to watch out for King Brown Snakes. I hate snakes with a passion and walking with a retriever dog, who likes to retrieve everything, heightened my fear. On our way back, Kahra was very interested in the Bush Turkey’s, and I kept an eye out for all he tell, tell signs and smells of snakes, hoping, like chickens, the Bush Turkey’s presence may keep the snakes away. It was a nice calm and shady walk back once I managed to get down all those steps. mind you both Kahra and I were glad to see the car and grab a cold drink.

Which was better?

So, which was better the GoPro or the iPhone? To tell you the truth, I think if I had the settings on the GoPro correct it would been great, I deleted so much footage because of my stuff up. If I had my selfie stick the iPhone could film the some of the same footage as the GoPro.

Safety: The difference really came when I was walking down the stairs and needed one hand to hold onto Kahra and the other one to hold onto the rail. I was able to let the GoPro hang from the lanyard around my wrist and being so strong, when it banged against the rail it was fine, whereas the iPhone may not have been. Also, when we were in the sea spray, it was safer to use the GoPro than the iPhone because the GoPro is sealed and waterproof. When walking the GoPro is smaller and less noticeable to the public than an iPhone on a selfie stick. Because the Volta is quite heavy, even though the GoPro is smaller, the weight was about the same as carrying the phone on the stick.

Car: No brainer here. Definitely the GoPro when mounted and the settings are correct. Inconspicuous. I did not have to take my hands off the wheel to operate and my phone can be locked away and still get great footage.

File sharing: Anything on the iPhone can easily be transferred to the Mac vis air drop. Anything on the GoPro needs to be downloaded via the App and then transferred to photos before being able to share with the Mac. The files themselves from the GoPro are larger than the files on the iPhone, but that could be because of the settings I had it on.

In conclusion

I once heard someone say on YouTube, A GoPro is a GoPro and it should be used for what it was designed for, Action. With the setting correct I feel that when walking or travelling the GoPro is the safer option than using your iPhone because it is less likely to get damaged or lost whereas we store so much on our phones these days it would be a disaster if anything happened to the phone. For me I found that when stationary and I was talking in my vlog, I found the iPhone was better, especially if I remembered the selfie stick/ tripod. As an older overweight person, the iPhone was kinder than the GoPro.

Thank you

Kahra and myself would like to thank you for reading my blog right to the end. It is really appreciated. This blog was different to others as I am trying to make my blogs and YouTube videos more in front of the camera instead of behind. I hope you liked it. I am busily editing a YouTube video of our day trip to Fingal Head.

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This blog is intended as an information guide only and it is not a comprehensive list of places. Any opinions given are not meant to upset or insult anyone. Information given is correct at the time of publishing but may change at any time. Travel Adventures Australia or the author in no way accepts responsibility and/or liability for the facilities, actions and services of individual operators mentioned in this blog. In no way does Travel Adventures Australia or the Author endorse any specific venue.