We arrived at the Rowes Bay CVP around 10am as we were not very far out of Townsville and set ourselves up for the next week in a nice spot with some shade and met our new neighbours, Alan and Chris and Peter.

The foreshore area around here and on the esplanade is well developed with lots of very interesting artworks and heaps of playgrounds/water parks, exercise areas and monuments for our soldiers.

We drove to Cape Pallarenda conservation park which has lots of wallking tracks and was an old quarantine station in the past, it is now home to many bird species.

We enjoyed the Castle Hill lookout which has an amazing view from the top of all of Townsville and Magnetic Island, it also has several walking tracks to the top one called the Goat Track and others that you can drive you car to a level and walk the rest, the town is on a bit of health kick.

The heart of town has lots of pubs and restuarants.

We put the car on the Fantasea Ferry and head over to Magnetic Island, we did think about camping over there but the weather has been progressively been getting warmer and the humidity is starting to come, so we have found a nice B&B.

Magnetic Island is not just a holiday place but a small town with lots of people living on it in its total 20kms and we were quite suprised. First settlers being there in the late 1800's and it started as a Quarantine station. Many ships and boats have sunk around it and still remain as great diving spots.

We arrived at Nelly Bay and then headed of to our first stop for coffee at Picnic Bay and then onto West Point which is the furtherest point out and 4WD recommended ( not really needed) but we found a lovely quiet spot set up the Fox Wing, put out the chairs, swam in the water and enjoyed a nice cold beer!! spending several hours looking at Palm Island and the Townsville mainland, Ah the life.

We then headed through Arcadia, checking out Geoffrey Bay first and then into Horseshoe Bay to our accomodation. We enjoyed a cool swim in the pool there and the air conditioning in the room was most appreciated as the humidity is building.

Later that night we walked to the foreshore of Horseshoe Bay and enjoyed a nice meal at the Tavern and watched the Red Eclipse of the Moon spectactular.

The next day after a lazy morning we headed off to Horseshoe Bay, enjoyed a nice Gelato and decided to have a go at Jet Sking and what a blast, first time for both Mal and I and after passing the test run we set off, quite exhilarting and a little scary for me anyway a few times.

We then set off to check out Arthur Bay, Florence Bay, Radical and Balding Bay as it is quite tidal morning was best to get a swim in, the bays were incredible with magnificent blue waters and nice beaches. Before having lunch we went to Bright Point which looks like it might have been the original docking area and saw the Rock Wallabies living around this area some now blind due to eating processed foods fed by humans :(

A great time had on Magnetic Island and now it was time to set sail and return to the mainland and get ready for our next destination Airlie Beach.

bye for now from the great outdoors

Alida and Mal