Day 29 Sunday 22nd July Cairns - Laura (Cape York day1)

Today we woke at 6.45am and showered with the daunting task of trying to fit two weeks of clothes,food and camping equipment into the car for our Cape York off road adventure in front of us! We left caravan in Cairns in storage once finally packed at 11am and headed for Cape York, with Margie & Keith. We arrived at Laura (end of bitumen part of Peninsula Development Road) to a very primitive and barren camping area. Had hamburgers for dinner after setting up the tents and realised the reality for the next fortnight. We have been advised that we will have limited to no internet access while in Cape York so the blog will not be updated for the next fortnight.

Day 26 Thursday 19th July. Cairns

Pancake breakfast courtesy of  Caravan Park for breakfast this am J Cruisy day around the pool today, followed by open air movie night with the whole family!

Day 25 Wednesday 18th July. Cairns

Woke to beautiful sunshine and basked in it whilst eating breakfast. Jason dropped car off at Auto Air Conditioning Specialists as we discovered a problem with our Air on the way from South Mission Beach to here. Leanne got excited about hanging washing on the line for the first time in  3 Weeks !   ( Well you would be excited too if you didn’t have to pay $ 8.00  to dry a load of clothes !!)  Caught the courtesy bus into Cairns CBD with Margie and Keith where we had a nice lunch overlooking the Marina. Girls and Jason had a swim in the Lagoon, then headed home in the bus to pick up car and another swim. Warmest day yet on our trip 27 deg.

 Cairns Lagoon

 Cairns Marina

Some wildlife in the park at Coconut Beach

Day 24 Tuesday 17th July. South Mission Beach – Cairns

Nice easy morning packing up, left Caravan Park after another visit from the resident Cassowary! Were told by some long term campers the  Cassowary was orphaned as a small chick when  Cyclone Yassi  came through last year and was nurtured by the park.It was  released back into national park next door but returns most days for a visit!!! 1/5 D class completed just as we arrived in Cairns at our pre booked site at Coconut Resort (recommended to us by our friends, thanks Seals !!) , best park ever!!!! Children Friendly ++++ 5 Star facilities, on arrival we were taken in a buggy with Nemo on top and given a complete tour of the park !!!! http://www.coconut.com.au/ Girls stated “Can we stay here for the rest of our trip !!”  After set up we all enjoyed a swim in all three pools!! Finally we saw some sunshine and it was nice to think we would not be moving from this site for 5 nights….

Day 23 Monday 16th July. Townsville – South Mission Beach (Known by locals as the home of the Cassowary)

Packed up camp in Townsville while the girls hired a go cart in the caravan park with their new friends. We arrived at Mission Beach in time for lunch. http://beachcomber-coconut-caravan-village.qld.big4.com.au/

 Much excitement then when we saw a Cassowary right here in the caravan Park!!! Amazing birds, although we were a little cautious we later learnt this bird is a frequent visitor to the park!   After set up the girls went for a swim then we did a tour around Mission Beach and South Mission Beach which included the “Big Cassowary”  Lovely town “ Where the Rainforest meets the Reef” First night  in a while  since we have been able to sit outside after dinner.

Cassowary walking through the caravan park.

The girls having some fun at the park, after some dismal weather.

 The Big Cassowary in Mission Beach

Dunk Island from the caravan park

Day 22 Sunday 15th July Townsville

Late out of bed this morning as overnight it was extremely windy and Jason and Leanne were up at different times rescuing the annexe, awning, washing…etc. as such we did not get much sleep !!  Still windy in the morning and some light rain L We took off around lunchtime to do some sights of Townsville, including Castle Hill Lookout, Rowes Bay, Palmer  Street café precinct, The Port of Townsville and The Strand where we had some lunch and the girls played in the foreshore park. Back to caravan park for some more washing and drying  and dinner inside as a cool night.

Rowes Bay Townsville from Castle Hill Lookout

Townsville Warf from Castle Hill Lookout

Another View from Castle Hill Lookout

Townsville Lagoon (promoted as the safer swimming option than beach swimming. We have come across similar features in Mackay - Airlie Beach and now Townsville.

Another play feature on the strand 2 minutes from the town center.

Day 21 Saturday 14th July. Airlie Beach – Townsville

Nanna and the girls fed the rainbow lorikeets in the park this morning  while Jason and Leanne packed up the van and moved it to storage. We then all headed down to the main town centre and had a leisurely walk along the foreshore market. Girls had a short paddle in the lagoon on the foreshore, then we headed back to pick up our van and make our way to Townsville. Finally got a booking at the Big 4, spaces very limited at all of the parks, so booked the last 2 ensuite sites which is all they had (such luxury!!) After set up Leanne went with Keith and Margie while Jason completed the last of set up and took girls for a much needed swim. Humidity +++++

Airley Beach

Airley Beach Lagoon

Girls ready for the trip to Townsville with DVD's on the ready!

Day 20 Friday 13th July Airlie Beach

Up early as bus to take us to Marina for  our Whitsundays’  Boat trip collected us at 7am!! We managed to look around Daydream Island and enjoy some of the activities without it raining before we sat down to our delicious lunch at at Mermaids Restaurant on the Island. Girls then found the only heated spa on the island and had a quick dip!!!! We departed Daydream Island at 1pm and headed over the Whitesands Island where we disembarked the boat for 1 ½ hours on the “whitesand” which is as fine and smooth as powder. Just beautiful… Despite the fine mist which blanketed the Islands, we all managed a nice swim and some fun on the beach. We arrived back at our caravan park at 6.45pm where Margie and Keith (aka Nanna and Pa !) where all set up in our park ready for dinner, what a nice way to end a lovely day!!!

One of the fleet from Cruise Whitsunday's 

Just arrived at Daydream Island

 A couple of the many fish in the Aquariums on Daydream Island. 

    

  

On the way to Whitehaven Beach where the girl were captain and unfortunately it rained for the full time when we were on the beach.

Day 19 Thursday 12th July. Mackay – Airlie Beach

Rain started again last night, so we packed up in the rain with difficulty and left Mackay hoping for some dry weather…. Rain continued for the whole day so we set up in Airlie Beach at our park http://www.airliecove.com.au/    and the  girls and Jason pretended it was sunny and had a swim in the pool and enjoyed the facilities at the park. (At least it’s not cold! ) Dryers at the park were in high demand… We decided to book a cruise around the Whitsunday Islands with a buffet lunch tomorrow as the weather is looking the same way for the next few days LLLLL

Day 18 Wednesday 11th July. Rockhampton - Mackay

Left Rockhampton 7.30am,  headed to Mackay where  we arrived at 12.30pm, at our pre booked caravan park. http://www.bucasiabeach.com.au/

After set up we were off to do some touristy things as this was only an overnight stay. Unfortunately the Bluewater Lagoon Qauy  on the river was closed as of today for 3 months over winter!!! ( could not believe our luck and felt like the Griswalds from National Lampoons Vacation !) We made our way along the river into the main part of town and enjoyed a coffee, then visited the Mackay Marina.

Day 17 Tuesday 10th July Rockhampton

Rain stated after we set up last night  and continued throughout the day without relief, so we took the opportunity to have a lazy morning until cabin fever set in around 11am and we took off in the car to Yeppoon.!!

Looked around the foreshore and sights, and walked up to the lookout overlooking Great Keppel Island( no chance of seeing it due to low visibility with the rain and mist) and Rosslyn Bay. Treated ourselves to lunch at Keppel Bay Marina , then headed to the  Capricorn Caves for a   tour. Girls loved the “Cathedral Cave” that hosts weddings sometimes, decked out with church pews, etc.. Just gorgeous!!. Back to van for an  early night as heading to Mackay tomorrow.

Yeppoon Harbour

Sometimes not the easiest to get the girls out of the car in this weather, however all are dealing with it well.

 Lookout over Yeppoon (This is the Sunshine State!!)

The Alter in the Catherdral Cave

 The caves can accomadate a wedding of upto 80 people.

Just out side the caves

Day 16 Monday 9th July. 1770 - Rockhampton

Left 1770 and after a very difficult 1/5 D class  (very bumpy road!) we arrived for lunch in Gladstone. Visited the Information centre on the marina, then took in a few of the sights of a predominantly   mining town. We then headed for Rockhampton, where Jason set up the van in  our park http://tropical-wanderer-resort.qld.big4.com.au/  and  Leanne stocked our groceries. 

 

 Gladstone Marina

Queensland Alumina Smelter

Day 15 Sunday 8th July. Bundaberg - Seventeen Seventy

Packed up early and left Bundaberg heading for Seventeen Seventy (1770).

Class of 1/5 D was in session once again after a break whilst off road on Fraser.!! Council run caravan park on foreshore was fully booked, which is the first time we have not been able to get into a park where we had planned, so we got into the other one just out of town. http://www.1770holidayvillage.com.au/

Have been told by other campers it’s a good idea to book ahead from here on as weather gets warmer and so does popularity of parks. After setting up  we ventured into town. What we found was a lovely quaint beach village with lots of history (was Captain Cooks 2^nd  landing in Australia – or 1^st in Queensland) and character perched on top and below a cliff face. After a nice afternoon drink at the local pub we had an early night. Jason had no luck with fishing tonight!