Rum, Islands, and Hospitals! - Capricorn Coast and Whitsunday Coast, QLD

Bundaberg
After an eventful visit to the Sunshine Coast, it was time to move on for a stay with our neighbours from the early Hedland days, Chris & Hayley, in Bundaberg. Bundaberg lies 280kms north from the Sunshine Coast by road, and is most famous for its sugar cane and the by-product of sugar production, Bundaberg Rum.

This grand old indian style bungalow (1890) was originally a plantation home situated on the Fairymead sugar plantation and mill. Owned by the Young family, the plantation eventually became property of the Bundaberg Sugar Company. The home was then gifted to the city of Bundaberg in 1984 as a bicentennial gift, and relocated to the Botanic Gardens. It now houses the sugar industry museum, with memorabilia exploring the local sugar industry from its earliest days - Fairymead House, Bundaberg, QLD

Would loved to have shown you some of the things we saw on the tour of the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, however seeing as rum is incredibly flammable, anything at all that could create a spark (lighters, cameras, watches, mobile phones etc) had to be left at the front gate before entry. You'll just have to go to Bundaberg and have a tour for yourself!
(from left) Damien, Alison, Hayley and Chris enjoying our free samples after the tour - Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg, QLD

Playing Bartenders - Chris, Bundy Bear, and Damien - Bundaberg Rum Distillery, Bundaberg, QLD

We first met Hayley and Chris not long after we arrived in Port Hedland. They lived two doors down and helped us pass the hot summer weekends away with bbq's and staying in the air-conditioning playing Wii. Back then Dylan was only four and Telulah was a baby. So surprised on seeing how much the kids had grown up. Hayley was lovely enough to let me take a few photos of her gorgeous family above (from left) Dylan, Hayley, Chris and Talulah. Rest of the pics are in the post for you Hayley! :)

Gladstone - via Town of Seventeen Seventy (1770)

Seventeen Seventy is a town built on the site of the second landing by Captain James Cook and the crew of the Hm Bark Endeavour during May 1770. If you were paying attention to the Sydney post, you will have seen the first landing was actually in Botany Bay. Keep your eyes peeled for Captain Cook on our journey north... - Town of Seventeen Seventy, QLD

Gladstone was a quick trip overnight for a check up on the little man's arm. One week after the break, and the doctors decided there was too much risk for growing bones to be in a sling, so after a long day at the Gladstone Hospital, Cooper's arm was finally put in a cast - Gladstone Hospital, Gladstone QLD

Cooper, not too sure about his new cast - Gladstone Hospital, Gladstone QLD

Yeppoon 
Yeppoon is situated 40kms north of Rockhampton and 150kms north from Gladstone. A beautiful place to relax and visit with tropical gardens and temperate weather, it is also a popular launchpad for travel to Great Keppel Island. Even better that our chance to visit this beautiful place fell on Damien's birthday!

On the drive out to Yeppoon on the outskirts of Rockhampton, are endless weathered old queenslanders I couldn't help taking snaps of. Much to Damien's bewilderment - Rockhampton, QLD

Damien chatting with the captain from the top deck - En route to Great Keppel Island, Yeppoon, QLD

Pelicans sunning themselves in the marina as we cruise past on our way out of the harbour - Yeppoon, QLD

The kids hanging out the window to enjoy the wind in their faces. Great Keppel Island in the distance - en route to Great Keppel Island, QLD

Family portrait while everyone is still clean, happy, not sunburnt and not asleep! - Great Keppel Island, QLD

This is a "Gwong" first discovered on Great Keppel and re-named by our junior biologist Miss Blaire. Its more common name is the Bush Stone Curlew and it is native to Australia, more commonly in the North. Apart from their odd appearance if you have never seen one (long skinny legs, huge owl eyes), they have the funny defence of freezing in whatever position they are in when threatened - Great Keppel Island, QLD 

Once very popular with Contiki tours, Great Keppel resort closed several years ago and came under media attention in 2009 when plans for a multi million dollar makeover eco-resort were rejected by the then environment minister Peter Garret. Now mainly a place for day-trippers and backpackers, the island does not feel over commercialised, and we thoroughly enjoyed walking the waters edge having the beach virtually to ourselves - Great Keppel Island, QLD

Reluctantly time to get back on the catamaran to go back to Yeppoon - Great Keppel Island, QLD

Cape Hillsborough

Not much more required to be said really... on the road to Mackay 

Sugar Cane, not limited to the Bundaberg region, grows from south of Bundaberg as far north as Cooktown on the Cape York Peninsula - National Highway, near Mackay, QLD
Sugar Facts: Nearly 95% of all sugar grown in Australia is produced in QLD, and Australia is one of the lowest cost producers of sugar cane in the world! 

Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, not to be confused with a "naturist" resort (although I was a little unsure on the drive exactly what we were about to find), is situated on private land surrounded by the Cape Hillsborough National Park. The caravan park has a private beach overlooking some small islands off shore, and welcomes wallabies and kangaroos on the shoreline at dusk and dawn - Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, QLD

Wallaby on the beach at dawn - Cape Hillsborough Nature Reserve, QLD

Rising sun - Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, QLD

Peaceful morning - Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, QLD

Sun on the beach - Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, QLD 

An early morning selfie - Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort, QLD

Abandoned house full of character on the road out of Cape Hillsborough heading to Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach & Whitsunday Islands
On the road again another 130kms north, is the magical location of Airlie Beach. Normally by April the dry season has well and true settled in, however North Queensland has been unseasonably wet in April (cyclone) and May this year. However, in Airlie Beach the sun was out! 
I know the sunshine definitely sways my opinion of places, but I have to say Airlie Beach is up there on the list of best places we have visited so far. On the doorstep are the magical Whitsunday Islands (all 74 of them), and Airlie Beach itself is rolling rainforest that breaks out into a trendy and vibrant city on the waterfront, catering for all types of holiday makers including young families.

Airlie beach lagoon right at the heart of the city centre has become a focal point for cafe's, shops, restaurants and bars catering to the grey nomads, backpackers and young families visiting the area. Blaire splashing in the shallows - Airlie Beach Lagoon, Airlie Beach, QLD 

The recently completed $500m Abel Point marina servicing the busiest passenger ferry terminal in Australia - Airlie Beach, QLD

Airlie Beach from the water on our way out to Daydream Island. On the right is Abel Point marina, on the left is Airlie Beach itself - Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Daydream Island - think island music, warm sunshine, and tropical fruit and you're a little bit closer - Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Chillaxing, Island style - Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Only thing I can think of that is missing here is a good book and a cocktail or two.... - Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD 

Hanging with the kids - Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

This is what you use for garden mulch on Daydream Island. Coral and shells.
- Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

By the end of the day we were so tired out from all the fresh air, sunshine and relaxing, we needed to have a rest and take the shuttle ride around the island - Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands, QLD

Back at the caravan park we spotted a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo enjoying the palm seeds as they ripen - Big4 Adventure Whitsunday, Airlie Beach, QLD

"Gwongs" (Bush Stone Curlews) are solitary and nocturnal by nature.... not these dudes. At Ailrie Beach, they like to hang out in groups, in the day time. There's adaptation for you! - Big4 Adventure Whitsunday, Airlie Beach, QLD

Cooper and his new friend Amy. They spent loads of time playing together the few days we were there. It was nice to see Cooper able to play with other kids around his age and Amy was a gorgeous little girl. Surprisingly, we haven't seen that many young families on our travels believe it or not!

Next instalment coming soon: the Tropics - Townsville to Cooktown....

Sunny QLD! Gold Coast, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast

There is something about southern Queensland for me that feels like home. Most likely this has to do with the fact that I loved visiting my Aunty, Uncle, and cousins here quite regularly as a young child with my Mum and sister. The other part for me is the tropics, the lush green tropical vegetation and impossible hills, and that distinctive rainforest smell. I thought that when I grew up I would move here, so I could live in a beautiful old Queenslander home on stilts and live in the middle of the rainforest! Although that is unlikely to ever happen, it is still a beautiful and very fun place to visit.

Gold Coast

What is a trip to the Gold Coast without visiting a theme park or two! First stop - Movieworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Blaire snuck in for a photo with the 'ducky' and 'pussy-cat' (middle front)... a bit of a generation gap with the Warner Bros characters for my young kids, but they enjoyed them nonetheless. 

Damien smiling and Cooper stunned on the Roadrunner kids roller coaster - Movieworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Batman in his pretty awesome Batmobile - Movieworld, Gold Coast, QLD 

Batman being subdued by the bad guys...but not for long! Theatre in the main street - Movieworld, Gold Coast, QLD

'Super Blaire' and 'Cooperman' saying hi to the Justice League in the parade - Movieworld, Gold Coast, QLD

The next day, still donning our super hero alter egos, we headed to Seaworld for the day. First up was a visit to see Dora. Couldn't believe how much both of their faces lit up to see Dora in person! Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD 

Such amazing creatures. I lined up for 45 min for first row seats at the dophin show, and we weren't disappointed - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Blaire mesmerised by the dolphins leaping out of the water - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD 

Spinning in circles at the dolphin show - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Amazing finale to the dolphin show - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Snow-cone anyone? Cooper is not so sure - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD

Jet ski action and tricks - Seaworld, Gold Coast, QLD 

This was the amazing pool AND water slide at our caravan park. Kids could have spent the two days in here and been happy. The heated spa in the back got a lot of use too - Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, Gold Coast, QLD

Our last night before leaving, the kids making the most of the heated pool - Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, Gold Coast, QLD

Brisbane

We only had one full day in Brisbane and wanted to make sure we made the most of it. A view of the Brisbane CBD from Mount Coot-tha - Brisbane, QLD 

After a day trip around the city we met up with professional photographer John Elliot for a tour of the Brisbane River on a River Cat. I first met John in Port Hedland when he mentored a photography workshop run by the local art gallery. John was more than happy to catch up with us for some photos and dinner in the city - Brisbane, QLD

Cheeky Miss up to her usual cheekiness 

The Story Bridge, one of the many bridges that cross the Brisbane river, is actually the longest cantilever bridge in the world. It also looks pretty good around sunset time too - Story Bridge, Brisbane CBD, QLD

A rare family portrait, thanks John! - Brisbane River, Brisbane, QLD

Mentoring the next generation of photographers (from left) Cooper, & John Elliot

Southbank at night - Brisbane River, Brisbane, QLD

John Elliot, a brilliant photographer, is also very well known for his writing and social documentary of the Australian country music scene.

Brisbane CBD and Story Bridge - Brisbane, QLD

Sunshine Coast

On our way into the Sunshine Coast we stopped in at the iconic Big Pineapple and met up with one of our dear Port Hedland friends, Wendy & Reilly, and their two gorgeous kids, Zara and Flynn. Damien and Wendy and the kids can be seen at the lookout at the top - Big Pineapple, Woombye, QLD

Did you know it takes approximately 3 pineapples to make 1x 450 tin of sliced pineapple?
Pictured are some of the pineapple plants overlooking the animal farm at the bottom of the hill - Big Pineapple, Woombye, QLD

Taking the pineapple train through the rainforest at - The Big Pineapple, Woombye, QLD

We took a drive around the the mountain ridge via Maleny on our way to visit Australia Zoo. A quick stop for a beautiful view over Mount Coolum, the Maroochy River, and Buderim, and Blaire and I took the opportunity to 'work it' for the camera - 

A huge image of Steve Irwin greets you as you approach Australia Zoo.  There is a large memorial area inside the park for Steve, with photos and news articles that commemorate what he achieved for animal conservation as well as for Australian tourism. Although I was never a huge croc hunter fan, you feel a lot of respect and admiration for the guy when you see how the park respects and looks after its animals so well.

A big croc - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD

Did you know Australia is the only country where wild Dromedary Camels exist. Australia exports them to Saudi Arabia (their country of origin)! - Australia Zoo

Quick someone save my baby girl from that dinosaur eating crocodile!!!!

The elusive and extremely dangerous drop bear. We made sure to put a good smear of vegemite behind our ears to repell these viscous killers.

This is actually the world's most venomous snake, the Fierce Snake. A single bite from this guy has enough venom to kill 100 men. Crikey!

A kookaburra - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD

Torres Straight Pigeon - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD 

They are all warm and soft and furry, it's actually really nice patting a koala

Ok so tigers are NOT native to Australia, however there is an Asian animals section at Australia Zoo. This guy was just amazing.

Tiger leaping - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD

This lovely spotty lady lives in the Africa section. I love Giraffe's :)

Had to do the obligatory posing of the kids on the giant crocodiles of course - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD 

Nope, not a statue. You do NOT want to try and sit on this guy - Fang 1 - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD 

 Ok so you may have noticed in the above photo (and below photos for the next few weeks) that Cooper is wearing a sling... not to harp on, but basically he fell off a trampoline and broke his elbow. Poor little dude is coping well but will be very sad to be missing out on all the jumping pillows, water slides and swimming for the next few weeks.

Waiting for the verdict on his arm - Nambour Hospital, QLD

Our last evening saw us take a drive out to Mooloolooba Beach for a last play, and meal with Wendy and the kids. Cooper and Zara having fun - Mooloolooba foreshore, QLD

Zara and Flynn racing on the slide - Mooloolooba foreshore, QLD

Mooloolooba foreshore, QLD

We headed to the Mooloolooba surf club for dinner, and they happened to have a face painter there for the kids. Blaire's very first chance at having her face painted, and does she ask for a butterfly or a love heart? Nope, she asks for a crocodile! Hilarious as she shows me her crocodile growl.