Our caravan park was right next to the Whitsunday Airport and I had been hearing helicopters and small planes taking off all morning and was curious to what the cost would be to take a scenic flight around the islands. After we had packed up camp I headed to the park office for a brochure or 3. Col and Wendy chose not to go but encouraged Joe and I do to it. The prices to go in a helicopter were absolutely ridiculous so we settled on a 8 seater plane and they had 2 places left at 10.15am that morning which gave us just enough time to walk over to the airport.

We met our pilot and boarded the little plane. I'm not a huge fan of flying but sooo wanted to do this. The take off was fairly straight forward and we were up in the air in no time and headed out over the islands. What can I say??? The views were absolutely sensational!!!

We flew over Nth Molle, Haymen, Hook, Border, Whitsunday, Haselwood and Hamilton Islands. We doubled back over Whitsunday Island and the iconic Whitehaven Beach and the nearby Hill Inlet (described as 7km of fine white sand, impossibly blue water and views so stunning and so very true) It was a bit bumpy as we went between the islands and a bit on the way back so I held on a bit tighter (like that would help!!) We had a bumpy landing but it didn't worry me too much, I was still in awe to what we had just seen. So fantastic and so very lucky to get to do this.

We made our way to Proserpine to meet up with Wendy and Col for a picnic lunch.

The DePells and the Leaches met for lunch at Proserpine. A very rural town with one touro attraction in town, Color Me Crazy, another one of those shops a bloke just doesn't belong in. We spent the next 4 hours, maybe 30 minutes, looking at hippie stuff. Jen and Wen were in their element and of course came the compulsory purchases.

Next destination was the Peter Faust Dam, which is stocked with Sooty Grunter and Barramundi, to check out possible fishing and camping prospects. After looking around we found that the fishing was all about boating, all fishing from the waters edge was restricted, but Joe threw a lure in just in case there were some fish around the picnic area. The decision was made to move onto Eungulla National park 80 kms west of Mackay. This was a journey of approx. 200 kms and HEMA said we would be there at 7:00pm, a little annoying setting up in the dark.

As the sun was setting we came across the town of Finch-Hatton which we had to make a wee stop for Wendy, fifth time in 200kms. The public amenities were right beside the pub so Joe and I thought a beer was in order. The four of us walked into a full bar, you could have heard a pin drop and everybody looking at us, you would think they had never seen a Victorian before. The girls thought it was them that was being checked out, new talent in the pub. After being informed by the raffle lady that the best camping was at The Diggings Campgound we thought it best we try to find it.

The road west climbed this steep hill that seemed to go for ever, or at least 30,000 feet, and you think we could find the road the raffle lady was talking about in the dark. After driving around in circles for a while we decided to camp at the Eungella Lake for the night. When we arrived we picked a spot and set up camp. Well you would have thought we were in South Gippy, blowing a hurricane and freezing cold. On with jumpers and jackets and a quick dinner and straight to bed to watch videos.