Wednesday July 8th. First full day in Port Hinchinbrook (Cardwell)
Well here we are in The Tropics, the sky is a mournful shade of grey and it is about to rain. Despite this it is a pleasant 25c and we are off to Mission Beach for the day, a drive of some 90kms.
Mission Beach turned out to be a really nice laid back resort with Cassowaries (like small emus) everywhere according to the warning signs. Perhaps they don’t like the rain, because we did not see any.
And they call this place Daydream Island!
Tuesday July 7th. On the road to Port Hinchinbrook.
A lazy start for today’s drive. Via the A1 – Bruce Highway, 442 kms to Port Hinchinbrook, some 2 hours south of Cairns. Stopped in Townsville for lunch down by the Strand Water Park. Townsville was busy getting ready for the Dunlop 200 V8’s racing at the weekend. Arrived at PH for our 4 night stay in what is a beautiful modern 2 bed condo. Nothing around here except sea, boats and mountains, not a bad combo!
Monday July 6th. Day Three at Airlee Beach.
An early start today, boarding the catamaran for a full day cruise around the Whitsunday Islands at 8am. Stopped off at Hook Island (snorkelling ), Whitsunday Island for the iconic Whitehaven Beach (5kms of pristine white sand) and then on to Daydream Island, a day resort destination. In between a great buffet lunch was served on board, followed by afternoon tea. Came off at the end of the trip tired but happy. Tomorrow we hit the road again heading north of Townsville for Port Hinchinbrook for a 4 night stay.
View across Bowen Heads to Whitsunday Island
Sunday June 5th. Day two at Airlee Beach.
Another lazy day with a trip out to Bowen where the epic film “Australia” was made. Location was chosen to mimic Darwin, hope they got that wrong as the town was pretty dull, some nice beaches though.
Saturday July 4th. First day at Airlie Beach.
At leisure, walked around to Abel Point Marina and booked a day out on a 23 metre catamaran for Monday. A trip to 3 of the Whitsunday Islands where on Whit Monday, June 3rd 1770 Captain Cook was heard to cry out “ who the f!!k is swinging the lead today” as his ship went aground on the reef.
Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands
Friday July 3rd. Rockhampton to Airlie Beach.
Today’s drive was 527 kms and was through an almost totally empty landscape. The only towns of any size were, Sarina, Mackay and Proserpine. Stopped for lunch at North Mackay harbour before reaching Airlie Beach where we are stopping for the next 4 nights at the Shingley Beach Resort. Dinner at home tonight so no loss to the pokies to record. Had a bottle of half Mile Creek Cab Sauv, very soporific after a day’s drive. Tomorrow we shall start to explore the lovely surroundings of the harbour and beaches.
Thursday, July 2nd. Noosaville to Rockhampton.
A similar drive to yesterday, 535 kms. We stopped for lunch in Childers a beautiful town but always remembered for the wrong reason, the disastrous fire at the Backpacker Hostel in 2000 which killed 15 people including a pair of twin English sisters. Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia and we must have passed at least 6 full size statues of Bulls on the short journey into town and the Fitzroy Motel. Dinner at the Leagues club and a loss to the pokies of $10.
Wednesday July 1st. Clarenza to Noosaville
A pleasant drive of 478 kms with a stop for lunch in Mullimbimby. Arrived at Sun Motel in Noosaville at 5.10 pm to find Reception closed and an afterhours entry system u/s. Fortunately manger was driving by and saw us struggling. That’s Queensland for you. Dinner in the Noosaville Yacht Club across the road and a loss to the pokies of $5.
