Skennars Head (Byron Bay) & Urunga

With only a few days left on our holiday, we called into Skennars Head to catch up with Tory and DB. Tors had organised for Reggie and the kids and another old friend from school, Brett Jackson and his family, for a BBQ.

"Boodee" getting all the attention

We visited Tory and DB's new block of land in Bangalow and they plan to build here in the next couple of months. It's a huge property and the views are amazing.

After a bite to eat of Yum Cha in Bangalow it was into Byron for a look around. Byron is getting bigger and bigger every time we see it, and there we more back packers than ever.

After a not so good night (Will & Georgie were both sick), we spent the next morning cleaning everything in the van before packing up and heading off to Urunga. As everything was clean and the weather not so good, we decided that tonight would be our last before driving back into Sydney, and booked a cabin so we didn't have to muck around with the caravan.

Urunga cabin for the last night... look at the tight reverse park!

Final dinner at Urunga Bowling Club

We had a nice walk along the jetty/board walk in the morning before leaving for home. Arrived back in Sydney at 3.30pm, unpacked and then went to pick up Coco - it was great to see her!

So after 28,000 km's, 4 months on the road, 1 flat tyre and zero trips to McDonalds, we are back - what a trip!

Weyba Downs (near Eumundi) & Tamborine Mountain

After leaving Bundaberg, we had lunch in Maryborough and went for a drive into Tin Can Bay. From there we made our way to Weyba Downs to catch up with Lizie & Andy.

We went to world famous Eumundi Markets on Saturday morning, and then headed to Tamborine Mountain where we stayed the night. Next morning we were up bright and early for some Laser Tag - it was great!!!

Laser Tag briefing

Team SWAGG

Georgie with her semi-automatic

The park also had a tree walking experience, however we ran out of time to do this... maybe next time!

Cape Hillsborough & Rockhampton

Our next stop was Cape Hillsborough, however on the way we dropped into Horseshoe Bay in Bowen. This is a beautiful little spot where we were able to have lunch and a run on the beach (well the kids anyway!).

Horseshoe Bay, Bowen

The Big Mango, Bowen

As soon as we arrived at Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, Will was on the beach trying to catch another fish.

Smalleys Beach

5am start to watch the final of the World Cup... Germany 1 beat Argentina 0. It was also great to see the Dutchies beat Brazil for third place yesterday.

We also had to do a couple of repairs, a flat tyre on the caravan (first for the tour), and unblock drain in the caravan which was full of rice.

Our next stop was Rockhampton where we were able to catch up with a good friend of Graeme from his 1994 Contiki Trip in Europe. George was a fellow "coach packer" and we were able to catch up with him and Catherine, and their two daughters Charlotte and Eliza.

After a rough night in the camp site (Gus was sick and we were 10 meters from the busy train line) it was a trip to Rockhampton Zoo the next day before heading off again...

We stopped in at Agness Waters and the Town of Seventeen Seventy, had a fish and then made our way into Bundaberg.

Surf lessons at Agnus Waters

Sumo Wrestling

Lunch at Seventeen Seventy

We had a great camp site just out of Bundaberg, complete with fire and marsh mellows.

When leaving Bundaberg the next morning we ran into what appeared to be an Aboriginal protest. It turned out to be some sort of celebration (NAIDOC Week).

Balgal Beach (Townsville)

After watching Brazil get beaten 7-1 by the Germans, it was time to leave Cairns and start the long journey south back to Sydney... only two weeks to go!

First stop was "The Boulders" at Babinda.

Our next stop was Tully. We tried to find a farm where Graeme stayed 30 years ago on his family holiday to Cairns, however no luck. We think we found the property but the farm house was gone!

Was this the Tully farm from 30 years ago?

We stopped in at Hinchinbrook lookout before finding a caravan park in Ingham for the night.

Hitchinbrook Lookout (16 km north of Ingham)

We were all up early the next morning to watch the second Soccer World Cup semi-final between Nederlands and Argentina. After 120 minutes and no score Argentina won on penalties.

We packed up and left the caravan at the park and then headed up to Wallaman Falls. The main drop is 268 meters, making this Australia's tallest single-drop waterfall.

We then made our way to Little Crystal creek and Big Crystal creek... these were both beautiful and gave us another chance for a swim!

Big Crystal Creek

Little Crystal Creek

Bridge over Little Crystal Creek

We then moved onto one of our favourite camp site of the whole trip, Balgal Beach. This is a tiny free camping site approx 40 km north of Townsville, and is located between the beach and the river. The river had a jetty and boat ramp for easy fishing, and the beach was great for a walk at low tide.

We also took a day trip down to Townsville and had lunch on the new $40M board walk. We also ran into Jonathan Thurston a couple of days after Origin 3.

We ran into a grey nomad who was going up and down the beach with a metal detector. So what do we do - offer to help! We found 2 x $2 coins and a number of old soft drink cans.

Balgal Beach was an overnight stay which turned into a 4 days... a great place to stay.

Cairns & Cooktown (5th - 9th July)

Arrived in Cairns and set up camp at Reggie's (and Zach & Ella's) place in Kewarra Beach. During dinner we firmed up our plans for the next few days... a trip up to Cooktown via Mossman Gorge & Cape Tribulation, and then a day out on Reggie's boat to Michaelmas Cay.

Mossman Gorge

It was a rough old ride through Cape Tribulation

ABS, Grassy Hill, Cooktown

We arrived in Cooktown late and as we left the caravan in Cairns we needed to find a couple of rooms... everything was booked out however we were lucky to get the last 2 rooms at "The Top Pub".

A room with a view - "The Top Pub", Cooktown

Once we arrived back in Cairns, we jumped aboard the "Ocean Spirit" for a trip out to Michaelmas Cay in the Great Barrier Reef.

The "Ocean Spirit" (the white one, not the orange one!)

Giant Clam

Semi-Submersible reef viewing