We arrived early afternoon at Rainbow beach. It seemed like we drove forever today. The caravan park is really nice and NO sand which is nice after 1770. The van is full of grey sand!!

After set up we went for a walk along the surf beach, the first surf beach we have seen on our trip and it is beautiful. Holly went for a swim but too cold for the rest of us.
Early night tonight lots of exploring to do tomorrow.

Today when we woke up dad and I went fishing in the inlet. When the tide was in and when we got our bait in the water, my dad caught the first fish which was a small bream, undersize.

After we caught a few fish we all went for a walk into town and then to a place called the Tree bar to have lunch. On the way back we saw a lot of butterflys at the caravan park.

After lunch we all went fishing again and Sam and Holly also had a swim, we caught bream, whiting and some reef fish. We have to be careful swimming here because there are alot of stone fish.

We watched the sunset the weather was perfect today.

Max

Today was an easy day, none of us were tired by the end. We woke up very early to pack up because we wanted to get to 1770 early to spend the day.
On the way we stopped at Woolworths to stock up on food. We saw wallabies on the drive, it was a boring drive.
When we arrived it reminded me of Mallacotta but not as good. But still nice. Our camp site was right on the water. Max and Sam’s bed looks right over the water and they will see the sunrise in the morning.
We walked along the beach to the point and saw the memorial plaque of Captain Cook who landed here 24th May 1770, and that is why this place is called 1770. After the walk we went and had a shower for the first time in three days because there has been no showers where we have been. It was so nice.

After our shower we had a look at the beach with the sunset it looked fabdolodolous ( really really awesome ). For dinner we had tacos they were awesome it was yummy but I wanted to eat up because we got to toast marshmellows after (they were even better ).

While I was writing this blog a possom came 2 steps away from us on the fence and the people next site to us came up and said you can feed it if you put a piece of bread a couple of cm in front because it has sharp claw’s then we realized it had a baby in its pouch.

Holly

Before we left Carmila we decided to have a fish. We saw a few turtles in the water which was very cool, they were tricky to photograph ducking down before we had a chance to snap them. We caught 3 fish all under size but it was a bit of fun.
We drove to Yeppon today, the town was so busy because they had the local town fair on, we checked out a few caravan parks but nothing really appealed to us so we decided (after procrastinating for an hour) to drive 30km out of town to Byfield National Park. So glad we did. So pretty here and peaceful. We definitely prefer the quiet life. We find National Parks have been the best value for money and so much quieter than the caravan parks. When we drove into the national park there was a sign about keeping the park peaceful. We gave the kids a lecture before we entered and a few during the evening. It’s never quiet toasting marshmallows and listening to Holly’s stories.
Off to 1770 tomorrow can’t wait. Hope it’s as good as we imagine it to be.

Today we left Airlie Beach on our way to 1770 but because of distance we are having to make a few stops along the way. We have arrived at a free camp site at Carmila Beach south of Mackay. We feel like we are getting closer to Victoria with temperatures of 23 degrees today and in the bush not as many palm tree’s around. The beach is lovely although the tide is right out. Adam’s waking early to try some fishing. We did a walk along the beach and tonight having a fire and toasting marshmallows. It’s a thrill beating the oldies to the FREE camps !! It’s not so fun having to go to the stinky drop toilets ! 😷😫💩

Had a fantastic day today. Caught a big bus from our caravan park (Island getaway) at 6:10am. It took us to the Abel Point Marina and we hoped on the Whitsunday Island Cruiser. The waters were calm and sun shining thankfully a beautiful day. Our first stop was dropping people off at Daydream island for breakfast. We then continued to Hamilton Island. While dropping people off at the Marina here, we spotted two famous yachts the Ragggamuffin and Wild Oats getting ready for the Hamilton Island yacht race this Saturday. Hamilton island looked quite big and busy from the marina.
On our way to White haven beach we passed a couple of whales in the water which was super exciting. Our photos not great but best we could do.
Arriving at White Haven was magic, the beach is as spectacular as you see it on postcards and brochures. Just like Uluru it is a must see in your lifetime.
You get on a tender boat to the island, the cruise supplied activities for the kids, sandcastle building, wahu balls, beach volleyball. Swimming in the water was bazaar it feels really soft on your skin unlike being in a normal salty beach and the water crystal clear. They say the beach is made up of 93% quartz sand. It feels like corn flour in your feet. So fine. The sand mixed with the water actually cleans all your jewelry. We stayed there for 1.5 hours then boarded back on the boat and off to Daydream Island for the day.
Max LOVED daydream with its living reef that surrounded the resort. It had coral, sharks, rays, nemo’s and Dory. We meet Daniel who runs the lagoon/reef and he was giving Max heaps of advice and information on how to get involved in this industry. We did a fish feeding tour which we got to hold and feed fish, sharks, sting rays, barramundi and even had a star fish sitting on our heads.
We had lunch at the Boathouse bakery which was included in our cruise fare and we ate heaps!!!! Cakes, vanilla slices, custard tarts and chicken wraps all yumo!!!
We did some swimming in the pools (so many pools here). Just as Adam took kids to another area a Lace monitor lizard about 1 metre strolled passed me beside the pool. I couldn’t believe my eyes. By the time I awkwardly got up and ran to get Max it had disappeared 😔.
At 5:10 our cruise came to collect us and take us home. It was an amazing day getting back to the park at 6:00.
As we were walking back to van Holly was talking to me telling me how great the day had been and all of a sudden we heard EMILY !!!!! The Mollards setting up there van in the same park. Holly day became the “Best Ever !!!! “. We had a great night catching up on all our traveling adventures. So good to see their happy faces.
Everyone slept very well, off to a new destination today…..

Sadly we left Bowen this morning a place that we would love to visit again sometime with a boat!! We meet some lovely people in our park. Quite a few of them (grey nomads) stay at Bowen 3 months of every year, they are all mates. One man was 91 and has been staying there every winter for over 30 years. He drinks beer and red wine every night with the rest of them and still gets up every morning for a fish.
They think they have found their piece of paradise. 🌴🍹
We arrived at Airlie Beach before lunchtime. We weren’t expecting much as we haven’t heard great things about it, but we were pleasantly surprised. A Shoppers paradise, Ripcurl, Billabong, Seafolly just to name a few shops on the foreshore (Tam and Darlene you would love it!!!). I can see why it’s not a favorite spot for the older travelers, there seems to be a lot of young people, night clubs and busy bars. Alot different to quiet Bowen but we are enjoying the changed.
After lunch we checked out the Harbor and all the amazing boats/yachts. The water yet again aqua blue just beautiful. We went back to do some shopping on the esplanade and to the kids surprise came across the biggest lagoon pool we have seen yet. It makes the Cairns lagoon look tiny. Kids spent the afternoon swimming around while I shopped. Kids in bed asleep by 7:00pm tonight exhausted. Super early start in the morning don’t know how we will go getting up 😴😴😴

Today was a fun day, dad got up early and we went fishing mum stayed back and did the washing we did not catch anything. Once we came back to the van and mum finished washing we went to the information center, next to it there was a mini water park we went in Sam loved it so much.
We went back to the caravan for lunch and after lunch we went to the beach Horse Shoe Bay. It was nice and blue, the sun was out and it was nice to just sit on the sand and sun bake. There was a swing there and Sam wanted to go on it so I was pushing him while Dad and Max went snorkeling. Mum went to get her purse and she brought us ice creams from the cafe on the beach.
On our way back we stopped at the pool to wash the salt and sand off us. Sam just straight in the deep end. He loves the water.
In the evening dad and Max went fishing again and still caught nothing….

We meet them and watched the sunset over Grey’s Bay.

Today we did a big drive to Bowen. We arrived in late afternoon so haven’t seen the town yet but we are staying at the caravan park at Horse shoe bay. The beach is beautiful, white soft sand and the bluest water. Only here for 2 nights but feel like we could stay a week. Not enough time !!!! So pretty. It has 3 award winning beaches. At a couple of the beaches, one being ‘Horse shoe bay’ there is a reef of soft and hard coral as well as lots of fish too just off the shore so we will be getting snorkeling gear out. Some bush walks here to 360 degree lookouts and a water park supposedly in town on the foreshore. Tomorrow is going to be a huge day soaking in the sun and swimming. Can’t wait.

Today was a long day we woke up early and went to the marina to get on the Sea Star boat and go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. It was awesome. We first went to Michaelmas Cay. We caught a glass bottom boat out to the beach and we got into our snorkeling groups and swam around the reef. We saw lots of fish like clown fish and parrot fish and hard and soft coral.
Our tour instructors told us all about the coral and sea creatures and also took photos for us and of us.
Than we swam back to the boat and had some lunch it was very nice. After lunch we went to Hastings Outer Reef it was the main part of our day. We jumped off the back of the boat and got into snorkel groups. Sam went in a ring attached by rope to mum and he floated around while mum snorkeled he loved it and had no idea how deep it was below him and all the fish he was swimming with.
Then we saw a big Spanish mackerel about 1.5 meters, it was underneath the sea star boat. Then we swam out and dad went even further and he saw a white tip reef shark.
After we snorkeled for a while we then had a glass bottom boat tour. We saw all very nice different kinds of fish big and small and pretty colored coral. We saw lots of giant clams in lots of pretty colors. We then all saw the white tip shark that dad had seen earlier it was swimming beneath the glass bottom boat. Sam loved the glass bottom boat and seeing all the fish and shark.
We ended the day with yummy cake and coffee.
It was an 1 hour 15 mins back to the marina Sam slept the whole way because he was so tired from all the swimming.
It was the best day on our whole holiday.
Holly 😃🐠🐟☀️