Rockhampton to Agnes Water Qld 27 Aug 2107

Finally, we had to leave the Big4 Adventure Airlie Beach and head down to Rockhampton. We weren't looking forward to this drive as apart from Mackay, about 140 km from Airlie Beach, there’s not much else on this 480km run down the coast. First there is Sarina, which is 20km south of Mackay, but its too soon to stop and we don't need fuel yet. So we push on through a raft of places that are not on the map and barely exist in the flesh; they are mostly off the road toward the coast. 

Last year we stopped at Camila for fuel and a cuppa, but forwent it this time and pushed on. After 300km I was starting to get a bit weary and hungry, so the signs for an up coming roadhouse looked enticing, but, it was closed and has been replaced with two self-help pumps attached to a container which I suppose holds the tanks. We didn't stop and headed for St Lawrence 20km further on, except it’s 6km off the road and once you get there its not a much to look at. It had a campground on the outskirts, which was surprising full, and a tired and mostly dead-looking swimming pool and toilets on the other side of town. We parked under a tree and had a drink and rest. We did one lap of the one street and were impressed by just how run down building could be and still be used, such as the pub, which might have once been a shearing shed or some other farm type building.

Back on the road we headed for Marlborough which itself is off the road somewhere, but did have a fuel stop, so we did just that, stopped and fuelled, the car, not us, we could wait until Rockhampton rolled around.

Which it did in due course, just 6 hours or so after we left Airlie Beach. I have to say, having reread previous things I’ve said about this trip that today was fairly pleasant by comparison; not one roadwork to be seen almost no traffic, probably because it’s Sunday.

I had another look at our dodgy van brakes, and finally found the broken wire that just had to be there; right in the exact middle of the van and hidden behind the chassis member. I tossed the connector away and soldered the three wires together, let’s hope that helps things in the braking department.

A park on the south side of Rockhampton, right near the van park. Rockhampton Qld

No rush to get going this morning, but soon enough we are back out on the Bruce and right into roadworks! The traffic was heavy as can be and we crawled along. We resigned ourselves to a long day to cover the 200 odd kilometres and just drove with the flow. Surprisingly, the roadworks only went for about 20km, but the traffic got worse if anything. The problem turned out to be this pair of clowns taking a load of new caravans from the recent show in Rockhampton back to wherever they had come from. One was a truck with van on the tray and another hooked on the back, the second vehicle was another smaller truck towing a medium sized van, but they were doing 80kph flat out except up the hills, and they left exactly no space between them. Needless to say, the string of six other caravanners behind them had no chance to overtake and the few cars showed no inclination either.

Finally I let it rip up one of the overtaking lanes, no more Mr Nice Guy and letting cars passed - we finally got clear of these two idiots and frankly they should be ashamed of themselves. Later on even their mates from the show were talking about them on the radio...

Anyhow, we turned off and stopped for a cuppa at Miriamvale as does everyone, before heading down to Agnes Water proper. We were a bit nervous about what to expect, even though you book, you never know. But or fears were unfounded and here we are settled in. *Sigh* It's tough, but someone has to do it.

Our spot. Agnes Water, Qld

Airlie Beach Qld 20th August 2017

First I have to say that the state of the road, the dreaded Bruce, from Townsville to Airlie Beach, is much improved on previous years and made for a pleasant enough drive down the coast.

We were a bit apprehensive about going to Airlie Beach, it having copped a belting from Cyclone Debbie at Easter this year. We shouldn't have worried, the debris has largely been cleared away, the most substantial damage having been done to the vegetation, and some of the older, non-cyclone proof buildings.

The first surprise to us was that our caravan park, The Big4 Whitsunday Adventure at Cannonvale, just up the road from Airlie Beach, seemed a lot lighter and brighter than in previous years. They tell us that they carted away 300 trucks's worth of mulched vegetation.

Having been here heaps of times, we haven't been doing much in particular, and once again have resisted temptation to spend vast amounts of money to visit Whitehaven Beach and other sites.

Even though the pool is partially blocked off while they continue building a huge, massive waterslide park, its still a damn nice pool. It's heated, which is nice, and at 730 in the morning I have it mostly to myself so I'm getting some laps in and maybe getting a bit fitter. After a swim, it's time to go for a walk, and down by the marina is a pretty good start.

Old ocean buoy made to look like a martian / thing from the deep. Airlie Beach Qld

 Boardwalk from Abel point marina to Cannonvale Beach. Airlie Beach Qld

One day, out of idle curiosity we took a drive down to Mackay, mostly to check out the caravan park at Black's Beach, which we have heard people go on about. Personally I didn't think it was up to much, but if you could get in, would be OK for a day or two. The beach itself is about the norm for up here, its basically a tidal mud flat.

Blacks Beach. Mackay Qld

We took a detour on the way down via Midge Point, where the beach show all the signs of the cyclone damage.

Midge Point Beach. Midge Point Qld

Race (yachts) week is on here in town and the sailors have taken over all the coffee shops etc. so we ended up at the next marina, the Port of Airlie, where we had a very pleasant lunch at the Coffee Club with a pretty fair view

Port of Airlie marina. Airlie Beach Qld

The Seaview apartments, where we stayed in 1994. They are right across the road from the marina, which was just a mud-flat and mangrove swamp back then. Airlie Beach Qld

The weather continues to be hot and dry, so we usually find ourselves a spot at the pool in our park and veg out for most of the day

JB testing the water at the Big4 pool. Note the waterslide park being built behind. Cannonvale Qld

Me doing 'not much'. Cannonvale Qld

Today the wind has picked up and pool-veging isn't really on. We decided to drive up the coast and check out Bowen, about which we have heard plenty, but seen little. It's actually a bit of an eye opener and we may well stay there next time we come down this way.

Horseshoe Bay. Bowen Qld

Had to grab a snap of this full size combivan painted on the back of a motor-home. Horseshoe Bay. Bowen Qld

Site of the WWII Catalina flying base. Bowen Qld

Ruins of the cafe on top of Flagstaff Hill. Bowen Qld

Mont St Bowen? At low tide the thing to do is to walk out to North Head island and look at the old lighthouse. Bowen Qld

Townsville Qld 12 August 2017

Up at six again this morning to catch the 7 o'clock start of Parkrun on Riverway. last year I did the one called Northside, where I managed to get lost and where there were a handful of people. The one they call Riverway is, oddly enough, right next to the river. It starts in front of the stadium, does a bit of a circle out past the tennis courts then back to the river. First we go upstream and across a bridge and then way down the river to the next bridge, back across and back to the start. Rather a pleasant setting I must say and I managed to squeak under 40 minutes, so it's all good, as they say.

This area seems to be new and boast a stadium, arts centre and this humungous pool. At least twice as long as an olympic pool and an illusion finish at the end. Oh, and then theres another huge pool past that as well. And it's all open to the public all the time, acres of water and facilities and not a fence or a gate in sight.

New pool at the Arts Centre Riverways. Townsville Qld

Back at the van park, I had a nice long swim to round off my exercise for the day.

But what to do with the day? First we tried the wetlands, which due to the unseasonal lack of rain are almost dry, where we took some snaps of the wild life.

Red-backed wren. The Common. Townsville Qld

Great Egret. The Common.  Townsville Qld

Blue-winged kookaburra. The Common. Townsville Qld

Brolga coming into land. The Common.  Townsville Qld

The not-so-wet wetlands. The Common.  Townsville Qld

Next was lunch, and really there is no question about it: it has to be at the Longboard Restaurant, sitting out over the water's edge at the Strand. Yes, we know; it's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld 

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

Longboard Restaurant. The Strand.  Townsville Qld

After lunch we went to get fuel and ended up back at the pool from this morning, where apart from the pools there is a rather nice boardwalk along the river's edge. We stopped to stare out and were surprised to see a whole pile of turtles swimming about at our feet.

Turtles in the river. Townsville Qld

We had planned a swim back at the sea-baths back at the end of the Strand but the on-shore breeze was belting in so we had to settle for ice-creams at Juliettes, a bit further along from the pool.

Eat your hearts out! B&J in Townsville, Qld

Port Douglas Qld 10 August 2017

Another beautiful day in Far North Qld, so we chose to head back to Port Douglas for lunch and a cruise on the Lady Douglas, which travels up Dixon Inlet which is behind the town.

We have been hearing all about how the winter months are the best for the wildlife, especially birds, which come done south from Cape York as the wetlands dry up.

Sadly, our tally so far, apart from the Jocana on the wetlands in Cairns itself, we have seen: 3x crocodiles, family of Ospreys and Greater Egret. Here's a few shots from todays tour:

Quite a few of these once glorious and idiotically expensive craft left abandoned in the mud. The Skipper was suggesting it's because you can't get full insurance for private craft and when it all goes pear-shaped, it's easier to just cut and run. Port Douglas Qld

Alpha croc - 4m. Resting up after making a meal of a lesser croc - 2.5m the previous day. Port Douglas Qld

Top end of Dixon inlet. Look closely, there's our lone Greater Egret who appears to have the place to himself. Port Douglas Qld

Coming into Port Douglas Qld

We stopped to snap this osprey nest which appeared to have chicks in  residence, when  Mummy Osprey turns up with dinner, a nice big fish. The Daddy Osprey was right behind her, and one of them stayed to tear the fish apart and feed the babies.  Port Douglas Qld

Just north of Cairns, these hundreds of rock piles have appeared. We've seen places with 4 or 5, but this is just crazy! Someone obviously had some time on their hands. Cairns Qld

Kuranda Qld 8 August 2017

What is a stay in Cairns without the obligatory 'tour' to Kuranda?

This is our 4th time (at least) up the hill and even though nothing seems to have changed in either the travel or the markets, it's still a nice day out.

The only thing that seemed different was the Butterfly Sanctuary, currently undergoing some renovations, where the butterfly numbers and varieties seemed to be down on past years. The only Ulysses butterfly to be seen was flying free outside.

Anyhow, you know the drill: train ride up to the top along the railway line build by hand 120 years ago, the rubbish 'markets', the butterfly house, lunch and the trip back down the hill on the Skyrail

Here's a few snaps covering the events:

Kuranda Historic Railway. Freshwater to Kuranda, on the famous 4 chain radius bend. Cairns Qld

Obligatory stop at Barron Falls Station, I snap her, she snaps me, you know how it goes. Kuranda Qld

Out we all get for the 10 minute photo opportunity at Baron Falls Station.  Kuranda Qld

Ha, this is what happens when you take a dog-n-bone instead of a real camera.  Kuranda Qld 

The lovely couple that live here on the Kuranda Station like it so much they've kept coming back for at least 4 years. Mr & Mrs Australian Native Sunbird in residence.  Kuranda Qld

Kuranda Station, main claim to fame is that it's an original pre-cast concrete edifice.

Inside the Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda Qld

Inhabitant of said Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda Qld

Final descent into Cairns on the Skyrail, Cairns Qld

Cairns, Qld. 7 August 2017

We've been here three days already and we've been a bit 'slow', so there's just a few things to comment on.

As Cairns is only 80km from Atherton, we arrived early and took ourselves down town and had a walk along the Esplanade. There are 'artworks' all along of course, but I only snapped this one, a giant conch shell

On the Esplanade.  Cairns Qld

First thing Saturday morning, like 6:10am, I was up and getting ready to go to Parkrun, which starts at 7am down on the Esplanade. What surprised me most was not the 240+ bodies that turned up for the event, but the number of other people out and about all over town: running, walking, riding bikes, chasing dogs etc

Parkrun. Cairns Qld

Later on in the day, after I had taken a recovery break, we headed out to shops or somewhere, but only got as far as the front gate, where we had to stop and watch the Horsey types doing dressage on these magnificent animals

Dressage event. Redlynch Qld

Also, we stopped at the entrance to the Equestrian Centre on the way out and took snaps of these Metallic Starlings, which as you can see prove that old adage, 'birds of a feather stick together'. Sorry, it had to be said, but they build all their nests together in one tree and the noise of them is quite deafening

Metallic Starlings. Redlynch Qld

We also spend most of a day driving up to Port Douglas, where we strolled through yet-another-market and had lunch in the Courthouse Pub.

Today we went out and found the Cattana Wetlands, reclaimed and rejuvenated cane fields and sand quarry, where we wandered around one of the lagoons looking for wildlife. We found a Jacana, Willy wagtail and a bush turkey. Sadly the rafts of exotic birds and snakes did not show themselves.

Cattana wetlands. Cairns Qld

Cattana wetlands. Cairns Qld

Right near the van park is Freshwater Creek, and there are proper walking paths right along it, 3km in either direction. There is also a nice stroll up the road and back down the path, which I did this morning and took a few snaps for you

Metallic Starling nests. Redlynch Qld

Flower and fruit of a Cannonball Tree. Redlynch Qld

The fruit of the Cannonball tree grows out from the bottom of the trunk.  Redlynch Qld

Walking path along the Freshwater Creek.  Redlynch Qld

This afternoon we went for a drive to Trinity Beach, where we spend a delightful week or so with Lauren back in 2004. We took another swim in the ocean and were surprised at how warm it was, seemed about 24 or so, certainly warmer than the van park pool.

Trinity Beach. Cairns Qld

On our way back we took a detour out to Lake Placid and Barron Gorge. At Lake Placid we watched as  eight white-water rafts and occupants made their way up from the lake to the waiting transport. Seems that white-water rafting is popular up this way. 

Lake Placid. Cairns Qld

Lake Placid. Cairns Qld

About 5km up the river from Lake Placid is Barron Gorge, which apart from having a hydroelectric power station, is also the place those intrepid rafting adventurers started from. Speaking of intrepid, or perhaps foolish would be a better word, we watched this girl walk barefoot across the rocks from the beach area, climb up to the pool at the bottom of the falls, and then appear to start the 243metre climb to the top of the falls. One would like to think that she knew what she was doing and made it back safely. I might add that it was nearly 5pm and getting dark quickly.

Downstream from Baron Gorge, where they go white-water rafting. Cairns Qld

Surprise Creek waterfall, where apparently you go climbing, barefoot, alone and at dusk. Cairns Qld