Far North Queensland

Far North Queensland

Day 14 - Wednesday 19th September - Airlie Beach to Mission Beach - "by Ryan"

When we woke up we quickly packed up the camper so us kids could go for another swim in the pool. Mum cut Dad's hair while they waited for us to swim and have a shower then we were on the road again. We stopped in the town of Bowen to have a closer look at some sugar cane on a train then continued on to Townsville. I was amazed by the tall, brown hill in the middle of Townsville. We had a look around the city then got McDonalds for lunch. Walking back to the car I accidentally stepped in a mud puddle and flicked mud on my clothes! We kept on driving so that we could get to Mission Beach to meet up with our friends from Adelaide. It was interesting driving past the Cardwell area and seeing heaps of tree's on the lean and broken from all of the damage done by 2 cyclones in the past 6 years. We arrived at South Mission Beach just after 5pm and found our friends the Hanna's at the caravan park. We quickly set up the camper trailer then us kids went to play in the games room. We enjoyed hamburgers for tea and chatted for a long time before bed.

Leaving the Airlie Beach caravan park that we loved

Checking out the sugar cane

The unique hill in the middle of Townsville

Our set up in the South Mission Beach caravan park

Day 15 - Thurs 20th Sept - My Birthday at Mission Beach - "by Trudy"

It was lovely to be woken up with a "Happy Birthday" from the family! I enjoyed going for a peaceful run along Mission Beach before breakfast. The girls went swimming in the pool as soon as it opened at 8am while Chris, Ryan and I set up our inflatable boat at the beach and went for a cruise across to Dunk Island. Leigh, Emma and Harry Hanna took their inflatable boat too which was so much fun travelling together. Dunk Island is now closed to tourists after the damage from cyclone Yasi so were able to pull up to a secluded beach to go for a swim. The water was so clear, blue and warm and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my 43rd birthday! After lunch we relaxed all afternoon (with a nice glass of bubbles) while the kids spent the whole day in the pool. Topped off the day by all going out for a delicious dinner at Scotty's restaurant. What an awesome day!

A perfect day for a boat ride

Loving our inflatable boat ride to Dunk island! Hanna's in the background

Chris and Ryan enjoying cruising around

Trudy chilling out on Dunk Island

Our two boats at Dunk Island

The Hanna and the Schrapel kids spent most of the day in the pool

Leigh, Trudy, Emma and Chris at Scotty's restaurant

A great night out

Day 16 - Friday 21st Sept - Mission Beach to Port Douglas - "by Chris"

We all packed up to leave Mission Beach and continue driving north. We stopped near Babinda to go to the Josephine Falls. It was a short walk through the rain forest to get to a beautiful swimming hole where we had to swim across the clear, cool water to the other side in order to climb the rock and slide down the gentle waterfall. We all tried it and had a great time sliding into the water, first in the gentle side and then in the white water "fast lane". We drove on to Cairns where we did some shopping and had a look around. The coastal drive to Port Douglas was great and we had a look around Port Douglas before setting up our camper trailer in a caravan park. We had a very relaxing night and all watched our holiday photo's on the TV screen after dinner.

The rainforest walk to Josephine Falls

Josephine Falls - Ryan and Mikayla about to swim across to the rock slide

Leigh and Chris sliding down the smooth rock with Jock and Amy waiting their turn

Trudy enjoying the ride

Mikayla, Amy and Ryan infront of the waterfall

Our serene camp spot in a Port Douglas caravan park

Day 17 - Saturday 22nd Sept - A day in the water - "by Amy"

When we woke up I decided to cook some eggs and bacon for breakfast and had to learn how to plug the gas bottle in to use the cooker. After breakfast us kids got our bathers on and went to the pool. We swam and went down the water slide and played chasey. The dad's even joined our game. After lunch we went shopping and then to the beach at Port Douglas. The water was so warm it was like you were hopping into a spa. The dad's hired a stand up paddle board and we all had a go trying to catch a wave. It was alot of fun! When we finished playing with the stand up board we swapped it for a big tube which was also lots of fun. When we had finished at the beach we sat outside a pub and had a raspberry drink. There was a cute litttle church across the road that had 3 weddings on that day.

The kids played chasey in the pool with the dad's

Amy trying out a stand-up board at the beach

Fun with friends at Port Douglas beach

A gorgeous little church by the sea, Port Douglas

Take care and stay warm !

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