Judy & Brian Tour Oz: Airlie Beach Qld, Week 1 July 24-31 2016

Airlie Beach Week 1

Leaving Townsville at a respectable hour, we drove out of town and onto the very lamentable Bruce Highway for 3 1/2 hours of bashing and crashing our way down the goat track to Airlie Beach. We finally made it to Bowen, and as we were still stuck behind something or other travelling at 85, we considered taking luncheon, but then at the critical moment, they all turned into town, so we kept on going. Apart from a rogue ratbag truck driver who attempted to run us and another van off the road, it was ‘uneventful’.

Finally we are here The Big 4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort at Cannonvale. As Cannonvale and Airlie Beach are almost the same place, we'll just call it Airlie Beach. Judy is finally in her favourite caravan park and we have been for a swim and been to the food shops and had a wine and all is right with the world.

But what to do? There are the magnificent Whitsunday Islands of course, and Whitehaven Beach, but we've been to them all and frankly, are a bit reluctant to stump up the serious amounts of money to go out on any of the cruises.

Apart from swimming in the pool and lolling about doing not much, we have managed to:

Wander around Airlie Beach itself, checking out all the tourist tack that is available, drinking coffee and eating an excellent open ham sandwich at one of the cafes. Outside one shop is a birdcage with Gouldian finches in it, which I am told are quite rare. The shop-lady said that they were all set free by a do-gooder last year, and only one returned. If they had asked, they would have found out that they are indeed rare and these ones are part of a captive breeding program, not just locked up for the owners pleasure.

Gouldian Finch. Airlie Beach Qld

High up on the ridge overlooking Airlie Beach is one lone house. It belongs to the fellow who started the Hogs Breath Restaurant chain in 1989, right here in Airlie Beach.

Hogs Breath House. Airlie Beach Qld

Further around from Airlie is Shute Harbour, a once bustling port teeming with tourists and holiday makers heading for any of the many Whitsunday Islands. Now its as dead as a dodo due the opening of the brand new Port of Airlie right back in town. On the way there you cross a creek and Eagle-eye spotted this Jabiru. Jabiru is so much nicer than black-necked stork, don't you think?

Jabiru or black-necked stork. Shute Harbour Qld

Another day we took ourselves up to Proserpine via Brandy Creek, where I checked out the bush walks in the National Park. One is 850m return, which I think means 1700m, but its not obvious, except that they claim 1 1/2 hours for the trip. That might have something to do with the very steep long set of stairs at the start that drop down into the valley. I'll save it for another day. The other walks are 8km and 30km, these I might pass on. As we then arrived in Proserpine quite late, we missed out on finding lunch or coffee or anything much. But the next day we went out the 45km or so to Dingo Beach, Hydeaway Bay and Cape Gloucester. We had a nice lunch at Cape Gloucester resort and wandered round the beach for a bit. This resort and the one next door, Montes, are supposed to be where all the local come to have fun, and given the number of people around, they are probably right.

Cape Gloucester resort.

Brian doing the big chill. Cape Gloucester resort.

Judy studying the menu. Cape Gloucester resort.

Cape Gloucester resort.

Unknown bug. Cape Gloucester resort.

We drove back, had a quick look at Montes and then returned to Cannonvale.

One evening we decided to go to Banjos, the bistro down the road, where they have a 2-for-1 night. Two chicken schnitzels for $15, thats not so bad. Don't ask how much the drinks cost! We rang up to book and they said they were full. Undaunted we turned up at 7 or something and found a seat outside in the dark. As you can imagine the place was indeed packed and as I waited in the line to order, I kept my eye on an old couple who looked like they were finished and just hanging around. I was getting closer and closer to the till. The lady got up and went top the loo. I was 3 away from the register. Finally she came back and I was next in line. Damn. They stood up. I ran out the door, slammed a phone on the table, ran around to where Judy was in the dark, grabbed her bag off the table and bolted back to 'my' table. I dumped the bag and rejoined the line as if nothing had just happened. One just has to be decisive and quick to act sometimes. And sometimes it pays off, we bagged the best table on the place!

Our next site neighbour is a permanent van/house thing and the old fellow has this bright and shiny trike-bike. I was taking the rubbish out when I spied this bird hanging upside down on the tow-bar looking at itself in the chrome. By the time I got back and grabbed a camera, the bird had moved, but I took some snaps anyhow.

Indian ring-necked parakeet. Cannonball Qld

After I finished the Airlie Beach Parkrun, which is two laps around the boardwalk next to the marina, we went into town to check out the markets, which are smaller than I remember but as predictable as usual.