We spent a few days in Townsville seeing family and getting back in touch with civilisation.  Townsville has a very pretty area along the river, called The Riverwalk (amazing how they come up with these names).  Lots of turtles, beautiful riverbank and an amazing pool at the info centre.  Well worth a look.

We then moved on through Ayr and onto a free camp at Home Hill.  Lovely little town that really caters for the Nomads.  They actually still burn the sugar cane in the area!!!

We did a day trip out to Groper River and ended up moving there for a week.  Amazing little fishing village with a caravan park run by the local fishing club.  Our site was apparently the PRIME site.  The regular guy was not there this year due to ill health (Yay for us!!!), and it was a lovely relaxing place.  Lots of grey nomads who spend months there every year.  Despite that, we were made very welcome and had a great time.  Lots of comparing of fishing tips and results at the end of each day.  We were told that we would be welcome back anytime as we were much nicer than the 'regular' guy!!

Onto Mackay!!!!  Soon, the 'Loop' will be complete and we will be heading home for a bit.

Lucinda, (lots of sandflies!!!!) very pretty little fishing village

Part of Townsville, looking out to Magnetic Island

Infor Centre at the Riverwalk

Cleaning the tidal pool between tides

Riverwalk

Sugar Cane burning, Home Hill

A big Grunter!!!!!

Local at Groper Creek looking for an easy feed (on the roof of fish cleaning area)

Sunrise, Groper Creek

The Atherton Tablelands is just beautiful.  Everywhere you drive you are surrounded by rainforests, with the occasional dairy farm in between.  We went for a drive to Cooktown, which was much smaller than I expected, pretty, but just a fishing village really.

We moved onto Mossman and spent a few days tripping around to Kuranda and the Daintree.  Again, just beautiful.  I was surprised how 'populated' the Daintree is.  Lots of driveways heading up into the forest and quirky little cafes everywhere.  Bitumen road as far up as Cape Tribulation, where the forest really does meet the sea, so it was a very lovely drive.

Kuranda was also beautiful.  It was pretty overcast on the day we went so we were literally driving in the clouds.  Nice way to spend the day.

Next it was on to Babinda and a great free camp provided by the town.  We went tripping again to Bramston Beach and Josephine Falls.  Lovely days driving through the countryside.

Then it was Paronella Park.  What a truly amazing and beautiful place.

We will now head off to Kurramine Beach for a few lazy days catching up on rest and washing.  This tourist thing in exhausting!!!!!

Cooktown

on the way to Cooktown

Cooktown foreshore

Cape Tribulation

Up in the clouds, Kuranda

weather changing, Mossman

One of the many creek crossings, Daintree

Daintree

Paronella Park

Paronella Park

Paronella Park

Paronella Falls

Paronella Park