Favourites.....

Favourite Places :

Vin - Punsand Bay, Great Barrier Reef, Carnarvon Gorge
Robyn - Paronella Park, Reef HQ, Daintree
Jordan - Coffee Experience, Carnarvon Gorge walk, Great Barrier Reef
Adam - Undara Lava Tubes, Reef HQ, Punsand Bay pizza
Ben - Feeding turtles at Paronella Park, Reef HQ, Undarra
Jasmine - Reef HQ, Great Barrier Reef, Daintree

Favourite Sayings :

Vin - "Just want to stop and check the bolts"
Robyn - "Slow down!"  "!!"
Jordan - "Whats there to eat?"  "Oh no - my computer is on 89% charge!"
Adam - What would you do...." (Adam's conundrums)
Ben - "What?"
Jasmine - "I've just got to clean out the back of the car"

Things we have missed :

Our warm beds (not our cold house); hot water to wash up in; Netflix (Jordan); electricity; internet connection to kids' devices; friends; maths (Adam :)

Home and back again

The sprint home passed through Brisbane and Coffs Harbour staying with old friends and visiting a few tourist sites. We were all looking forward to the comfort of home, to wipe the dust away and start planning for our next great adventure.

You know who and the iconic Big Pineapple

A lunch stop at the Macadamia Castle - the Big Knight

Ben and the big macadamia ice-cream cone

Adam and the Big Ferrera Roche ice-cream cone

Jordan and the Big Stack of Pancakes with caramel sauce and macadamias

Jasmine and the Big Stack of Pancakes with mango syrup and macadamias

And last but not least - Biggle and the Big Rock

Driving South on Bruce Highway - 7th Aug

We've decided too give the exclamation mark and Robyn a break so I'm back making a quick entry. We set a world record for getting up and packing - up by 8am and 700km from near Bowen to a busy free camp just outside Gladston.

We quickly ate through the km's with the temperature starting to go down, passing a number of country towns with a fetish for big things... I'm just saying...

Big Cane Toad at Sarina, South of Mackay

Big Bull at Rockhampton

Townsville - August 6

Best pack up to date in my opinion. Having dry grass to pack up on helps! We were heading into Townsville CBD by 8am!!. Walked along The Strand (beach front) before heading to Reef HQ - the world's largest reef aquarium. I really wanted to take the time out to 'consolidate' our reef experience, and to understand more about coral and sea life in the tropics. It was great! Learnt about sea stars (not starfish), sea cucumbers, black tipped sharks (their babies look like zebra sharks)', coral (they are a form of animal btw - I see a project in the future...) and even visited the turtle hospital. Jasmine has had an increasing interest in turtles on this trip and she loved learning more about them. A quick lunch and shop in the souvenir store, then a walk back through town to the car. 

Walking along Strand

Reef HQ in Townsville

Lion Fish

Looks fake?

Painted Crayfish

No fish were injured in the making of this photo

Turtle Hospital for Izzy

Saving Izzy after boat-strike

Stingray

Giant Spider at Townsville

Another 200kms south and we stopped at a farm stay caravan park just south of Bowen (the Big Mango). Vin is happily cooking a chicken curry in the rustic camp kitchen and talking to fellow travellers sitting by the group fire.

Big Mango at Bowen

Morning at Farm Campstay

The Trip To Townsville - August 5

Up and out as quickly as we could (it had stopped raining so we only had to pack up a half soggy tent) and on the road to eat up some serious 'k's heading south. Down through Innisfail, then a quick side trip to Mission Beach (not so glamorous in the rain), then through Cardwell and Ingham.

Mission Beach

Cardwell

Tyto Wetlands

Big Cassowary at Mission Beach

Big Crab at Cardwell

Turtles at Tyto Wetlands

Stopped at a cheap but roomy caravan site on the out skirts of Townsville with just enough time to set up and change into cozzies and head down to the Riverview lagoon. What an amazing combination of nature and man made with open, free pools and playgrounds set along a walking track following the river. Various playing fields were also scattered around. There were active people everywhere! Back to the tent for Jordan's and my (Robyn's) spag bol. Very relaxing evening.

Riverview Lagoon at Townsville

Getting rid of the dust with an evening swim

The Great Barrier Reef - August 4 Michaelmas Cay

Finally what we have all been waiting and wanting to do on the trip home - a trip to THE Great Barrier Reef! Had to get up by 6am to get to the Cairns Mariner in plenty of time. It was raining but looked like it was clearing. Swallowed the motion sickness tablets as we climbed aboard the smaller but more intimate "Sea Star". One hour later (only Adam was a sea sick victim unfortunately-he should have had 2 tablets-my bad) we were bobbing around at Michaelmas Cay - light blue waters, a white sandy beach and many nesting birds. A few of us donned a wet suit, then we all headed out to snorkel the 'soft' coral reef. Enjoyed the colourful fish and spagetti waving coral. After lunch on board we moved over to Hastings Reef - in the middle of nowhere! Although it was choppy we got to see an amazing shelf of coral and sea life. Afternoon tea whilst drying off then back to Cairns (Adam's two tablets worked this time although he was challenged as whales were sighted and the boat bobbed BIG time as we watched - good work Adam!)  What an experience!!

Getting on the Sea Star

No big waves yet

Saying hello from Michaelmas Cay

Swimsuit models?

Time to put on the snorkel and flippers

Don't scare the fish!

Unidentified tropical creature

Floating along

Giant Clam

Clown fish

Hastings Reef

Weary travellers heading back