Judy & Brian Tour Oz

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 out...

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 pa...

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. ...

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 ...

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 B...

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 stoppe...