Fruit and food everywhere! The lush ground of the wet tropics is apparently pretty good at creating some amazing produce.

From the cane farms to the south, we were now seeing bananas, pineapples, mangos, papayas, mandarins, passionfruit, oranges, peanuts, and even coffee on the highlands.

The sad loss of Bern's uncle David changed our plans slightly as we tried to align our travels to allow Bern to fly back for the funeral. We skipped over Townsville to spend a few days around Paluma National Park and Hinchinbrook Island National Park, to return later in the week.

Paluma, at over 1000 m altitude is a quaint little isolated village located at the end of a very twisty and windy road crossing the crisp Little Crystal Creek. We left the lowlands on a tropical 27 degree day and arrived 30 minutes later in the crisp 17 degree mountain day, a refreshing change to the thick humidity of the coast. We explored the area including a walk to Birthday Creek Falls, and a view over the coast from Witts Lookout. We also got excited about the opportunity to sight an endangered cassowary, being on the Cassowary Coast and all, but alas, the mythical beast alluded us. Sunset fish and chips at Balgal Beach at the most 'crocodiley' creek yet was also an introduction into crocodile territory. No sightings yet, but a fair few serious bites from their neighbours, the sand flies.

Our to-do list of best long walks was continuing to increase and the 5-day Hinchinbrook Island Walk was near the top. The Island is the largest Island National Park in Australia, and has untouched rugged peaks and isolated beaches, a spectacular sight from the sunset bar at the Cardwell Caravan Park.

We opted for the half day boat tour to the eastern side of the island, slightly more achievable with our two gorgeous boys. An early boat trip blew out any morning sleep from our eyes as we skipped over the waves towards the remote island. Rounding the northern tip, the mountain and swampy lowlands came into view and we wound our way slowly through the mangrove channels before disembarking at a small private jetty and boardwalk.

A wander along a golden sand beach and through the rainforest to another secluded beach, we discovered 60,000 year old crab fossils, volcanic pumice floating on dune lakes, and baby sail fish. Theo also discovered that he is able to eat three snack size Milky Way bars from our packed lunch leaving none for mum and dad.

Cardwells local crocodiles also eluded us as we searched the full length of their shared paths on one of our regular runs. It was time to leave and head south back to Townsville.

Townsville really impressed with the long and well developed foreshore, the fort and baths, playgrounds scattered everywhere, and one of the best free water play parks, which we utilised in lieu of swimming in the stinger and croc infested ocean. Townsville also put on a wonderful 'country style' fair for the kids with tractor rides, pony rides, a giant slippery slide and games scattered throughout the grounds.

Our regular Saturday Parkrun was a visit to the Riverway area and a run around the Ross River, with an extensive play at the nearby skate park to fill in the morning. Castle Hill in the middle of the city had been looming over us for our whole stay, so on the morning of our departure, I took the challenge and leaving a 5am - headlamp on, I ran to the peak and back watching the sunrise on my run back along the esplanade.

We now had a plan to get to Cairns in two days so Bern and Archie could fly south. So we packed up and headed north to a lovely free camp in Babinda with excellent facilities and nomads a plenty, with a smattering of European camper-vaners thrown in for good measure. A broken hand brake on arrival almost dinted our spirits, but a well located and very helpful mechanic got us back on the road to enjoy a swim and a slide in the gorgeous Josephine Falls. A record breaking pack up the following morning got us back on the road by 7.15 am and we glided up the highway with ample time to catch the flight, assisted in part by the freshly brewed suspension roasted coffee.