CARDWELL - Bowling Green NP -Airlie Beach.

Cardwell, a beautiful, tropical town was devasted by cyclone Yasi but the re-built waterfront is absolutely stunning. It Looks out beyond the long jetty, to Hinchinbrook Island. It is small and serene and Ken has fond memories of fishing trips in this area, in his younger days.

We arrived in time for the Saturday market and had bacon and egg sandwiches and coffee. We all bought fruit and I bought a female choko with detailed instructions on how to successfully grow it ...AND protect it form the possums.

The scenery was lush as we headed south along the coast.

We by-passed Rockhampton, a big sprawling place and ended up in The Alligator Creek campground in the Bowling Green NAtional Park...an intimate and lovely place designed for small vehicles. So small in fact that we had trouble squeezing our vans onto the sites. Last time Qld. National Parks said 'small sites' we could have parked a road train in the space!!

We had an exceptional night being entertained by Phil and Trudy Edgeley, a couple who have featured at Lizottes in Kincumber and Newcastle just to name a few venues and played at many music festivals.Their music was beautiful to listen too and both of them have terrific voices and amazing guitar skills.

It was a special night with the possums coming to listen as well. Wildlife abounds here and we have seen the pretty face wallabies and Rufous Bettong which are tiny wallaby like creatures with long dark floppy tails. The creek runs along the side of the campground and there is a canopy of leafy trees, cold showers and loos. Just beautiful.

AND .. There are brush turkeys and, those of you who know of my long-running campaign to rid my garden of these creatures, will be surprised to see one featured here.

We moved on the next day and shared the bridge at Ayr with a sugar train.

Wide rivers, irrigation channels and flat country were the order of the day as we continued south towards Airlie Beach. At Bowen we saw the Big Mango. Amazing .. or Not?

 

AIRLIE BEACH

What met our eyes was beautiful waterfront with curving walkways following the beach, a stunning swimming pool, free and open to all, and extensive views out into the Whitsunday islands. We stayed in the pleasant Flametree caravan park for two nights but windy weather and then rain put paid to our snorkelling plans again.

Dugong sculptures on the waterfront.

This sand creature was created as an entry in the Reef Festival in Airlie beach. He was a fire-breathing dragon.

The creeks were full of water as we drove south to Mackay. Some of the truckies hassled us because we slowed them down and their language was pretty ordinary. We told them that the ignorant few were giving the rest a bad name and thought that if their work place conditions stressed them, they might consider changing jobs, a move that would probably make the roads safer for all of us!

Our overnight stop was a free one at the Retreat Hotel. We had a great pub dinner (rissoles with mash, gravy and very good veggies) and a few wines as we sat around the roaring fireplaces with about forty others. Some were travellers, others miners and a few locals, all enjoying the ambience. The nights are cooler as we move inland and south. Next stop the gem fields of Sapphire, Rubyvale and Emerald, which we approach with high expectations.