Carnarvon Gorge did not disappoint. When we arrived we went to the Visitor Centre where most of the walks begin. After coming up with a plan for the next day, we went down the road towards the caravan park and did a short hike to Mickeys Creek. Time then to check in to Takarraka Caravan Park for a few nights stay. We stayed near the platypus pool where you can catch a glimpse of them at dusk and dawn. The Park has happy hour at 4 pm each day around the Taka Bar and a couple of times a week they do a delicious baked dinner. It’s $25 pp but so worth it! It was yum! We set off manned with water, snacks and a map the next morning and tackled the Gorge walks. We went up 5km to The Art Gallery. It is possible to do another 5km to Cathedral Cave and Big Bend but we decided to just go the 5km then visit all the side tracks (Art Gallery, Wards Canyon, The Ampitheatre and The Moss Garden) on the return walk. All were just lovely and very different. The Ampitheatre was my favourite but when you consider the history of the aboriginal art works and carvings at Art Gallery, it really blows your mind. It was about 15km all up that day. After having a rest day, we then talked Boolimbah Bluff. About 6.5 km with it all uphill on the way out and downhill on the return. About 900 steps - straight up. We left early thankfully and passed a lot of hikers on our way out as they were heading up. It was getting warm then.

After leaving Carnarvon we drove 332 km to Bedford Weir just outside of Blackwater. A lovely camp (fee was donation only) with fire pits and plenty of grey nomads. Much better than the original showground I had chosen. That place was a little creepy.

The next morning we visited the Blackwater Coal Museum. It’s a huge coal mine which has about 20 trains a day, up to 2km long each and a payload of up to a million dollars each chugging out to the coast. A very high percentage is exported. There was a couple of photo opportunities standing in one of the huge dragline buckets and parking Suncatcher next to a truck, which made it look like a matchbox car.

Another 192 km of fairly flat, uninspiring road to Rockhampton. We free camped at Kershaw Gardens - must be totally self contained - and then walked 4km into town for therapy (David massage on shoulder and Kerry bottle wine, water view and kindle). Both happy campers!!

The next morning it was a 40 minute drive to Yeppoon via Emu Park. Here the RSL has done a great job making a landscaped walk around the coast dedicated to the ANZACs. It leads to The Singing Ship monument to Captain Cook. When the wind blows through the pipes it plays an eerie melody.

Another few km on is Yeppoon. A beachside town across the bay to Great Keppel Island. We took a day trip there - return $49 each - and had a snorkel off Shelving Beach. It’s a sad little place there now. The resort has been long forgotten and is being demolished now. Apparently they are trying to obtain approval to built a casino there. Yeppoon has a lovely water park for the kids and just a 5-10 minute walk further on is the newly opened Yeppoon Lagoon. A magnificent place which is free to enter. Situated without fences in a lovely park. It has multiple pools including a large infinity pool.

When we left Yeppoon we did a huge drive - for us - 507 km to Airlie Beach. We skirted through Mackay to check it out and had to miss some lovely coastal areas on the way because we were on a time limit. We will just have to go back there! Stayed at Tropical Seabreeze Park at Airlie which was convenient to the boardwalk into town. On Thursday 28th June we left Airlie on a 2 night cruise on Whitsunday Blue. We were able to park the motorhome at the marina for $16 for the two day duration. Amazing. The cruise was wonderful and we met some lovely people - Aaron the skipper, Rachael his right hand woman who did the catering, checked sails, dropped anchor etc, Sinead and Mike from Limerick Ireland, Lucy from Bristol and Molly and Jamie from Melbourne. We were the oldest - by far - and had a wonderful time. Snorkelled and visited Hill Inlet on Whitsunday Island overlooking Whitehaven Beach. It did rain while we were there for a bit, but we still had lovely views of the swirling tides from the lookout and we swam. Hill Inlet is the second most photographed place in Australia after the Harbour Bridge apparently. After dinner on the last night we had dolphins scooting around the boat chasing garfish for dinner. So cool!

Once we disembarked at lunchtime on the Saturday we drove to Dingo Beach for a beer and burger then headed north to Bowen. An unusual town - home of mangoes and tomatoes and not too much else. We drove around the place and didn’t see a soul. Plenty of homes but no one out and about. Quite strange. Once we got to the coastal part of the town, we saw some people there. We were only able to stay one night at Tropical Caravan Park - all the Victorians have the place well booked.

About 70 km north was Molongle Beach - or Midgey Hell. We had two nights there and Kerry feed those blighters well. Argh. Great fishing spot though and is run by the fishing club.

Farewell biteys- off to Ayr for two nights. Less bugs but still found a few. The Burdekin Cascades Park is a short walk from town and the perfect place to refill the fridge and pantry.

Next stop is Townsville - V8s and family time!! Can’t wait to see Dylan, Ruth and Bones. We have three nights of enjoyment planned.