Cairns to Airlie Beach

Picked up the VW panel van and headed straight down to Mission Bay, the Beachcomer Coconut Village is a cracking campsite with great facilities. This is camping for softies. So far all the campsites have been great.

Then onto Townsville, which is a city! Well it made me chuckle. Got a feel of the American west about it, not a brilliant place but the trip to Magnetic Island was why we came. Caught the ferry  early and had a lovely day, too windy though for our trip to the outer reef to snorkel. Great walking and a swim in the sea, saw a couple of wild koalas. Sea temperature 28 degrees! This possum came to visit our site on the first night.

Arrived in Airlie Beach, our next stop, in time for a walk into the lovely small town and then a swim in the outdoor pool, before dinner at the Banjo Tavern, full of locals and great fun. Came across loads of ‘schoolies’ in Airlie Beach for the first time, celebrating graduation in the sun. Made us feel a bit old. Well we are a lot old compared to them!

The trip out sailing to the Whitsunday Islands on the S.V. Domino was exciting. I got to helm a bit on the way out, the snorkelling was great and the lunch V good too. Saw turtles but couldn’t get a good photo. These full face Decathlon snorkel masks are brilliant, easy breathing and diving.

On the way back, first it started to rain, then blow up, and then it got a bit hairy for a bit. Deb was sitting on the side at the back and got completely dunked and soaked but hung on. The dingy flipped, and generally a lot of fun was had!

Tomorrow we’re off to find a platypus………