Still on The List

If I made a list of my favourite places in Australia, Fraser Island would be so near the top. To me, it epitomises so much of what I love....sunshine, freedom, splendid scenery, beach living, 4 wheel driving, swimming, simple living, camping and adventure.

We've just spent 3 nights on the island with our parents...both sets!!...and Kirsty's sister, husband and 3 of our nieces and nephews. Perfect weather - sunshine and cooling breeze. Well-timed early afternoon low tides. 2 cars bogged....not the Nav (of course!) The worms were biting and the pippys were almost jumping into the bucket. Dolphins were playing in the south and sea eagles spread their majestic wings in the north. And the best bits - Lake McKenzie, Central Station, Eli Creek, Ocean Lake, the Maheno and all the beaches - were showing themselves off to full advantage.

Sadly, we couldn't get all the way up to Sandy Cape as they've closed a couple of tracks due to severe beach erosion, but there was still plenty to see and do to the south.

I absolutely love camping on the beachfront...despite the south easterly winds and sand blowing every which way....so it was great to have 2 nights camped on the dunes. And it was fun building sand cars and damming the creeks and playing tennis ball golf and all the other fun bits that go along with camping with kids.

Thanks everyone for a great time....and cheers! to the Tenacious Terracan, the Dominating Defender and the Courageous Colorado. You gave the Mighty Navara good competition but just weren't quite up to the mark. Maybe next time!

Travelin' South

Since leaving the awesome Cape York Peninsula, we have ventured south....way south. Here's a few of the sights and delights we have enjoyed over the past 2000 km.

Big Crystal Creek swimming hole is about 1/2 an hour north of Townsville. It offered a welcome cool down on a hot day and despite the dust haze and a nearby bushfire billowing smoke, we had a great dip and picnic lunch here.

Jon's new best friends. Actually there were four cute kookaburras who swooped in and stole half of his sandwich straight out of his hand near Finch Hatton Gorge (an hour from Mackay). As you can probably guess, Kirsty was the only one who thought they were cute.

We really liked the two swimming holes in the gorge, especially Wheel of Fire at the end of the walking track. But this place does rate as 'winner' for having the coldest water we have swum in during the whole of our trip. FREEZING! It was fun to sit on the warm rocks after our quick plunge and watch everyone else's face as they either tentatively dipped their toe in the water or unsuspectingly, dove straight in...only to surface spluttering and sprinting back to the edge to make a quick exit.

Eungella National Park.....home of the elusive platypus. Sadly, they were so elusive you'll just have to enjoy these little critters instead. Plenty of turtles, lizards, birds and goannas....but NOT even a ripple in the platypus pond. Which has done absolutely nothing to help me in my quest to prove to Jon that Ornithorincus anatinus are not just a figment of peoples' imaginations.....they DO exist. Really!

That dust haze was becoming a real bore after 5 days traveling in it. But this view down through the Pioneer Valley from the campground at the top of the Eungella range was still pretty special. For an even better one make sure you check out www.eungella.com.au You'll even find a platypus pic there too.

You just gotta love Queensland!

A Little Gem

Halfway between Cardwell and Tully and just 20kms off the Bruce Highway we discovered Murray Falls National Park. Tropical rainforest, cascading waterfall, invigoratingly fresh water...perfect! And a bargain at $5/person/night. We hiked, swam and relaxed...oh and ate Jon's delicious pancakes for dinner. So the question I asked in NT as we swam in crystal clear freshwater rivers and rockpools: "Do we have anything like this in QLD?" has been answered: "YES WE DO!"