globetrotters2009

The scenery as we have been driving south has blown us away. As we head out of Townsville we are flanked on either side of the road with row after row of banana trees and what looks like sugar cane fields. Every so often we happen across roadside stalls selling the freshest and juiciest fruit imaginable and it would be rude not to try some wouldn’t it? As we arrive at Airlie Beach we are both feeling a little “beached out” and don’t really feel the vibe here. Its a place very much geared to the young, and most are here to sail out to the Whitsundays. Maybe 20 years ago we would have appreciated it more here but now to us it just felt like another beach resort with loads of youngsters hanging around getting ... read more

Arriving in Port Douglas we were pleasantly surprised as to how much of a seaside town it was.Ok it wasn't quite Clacton but definately was a man made town full of beach shops and shops for the tourists. More annoying for us was the fact that there was no free camping anywhere in or around the outskirts of Port Douglas so we had to book into a caravan park. After strolling down to the beach we had a gorgeous sunset and, as we watched a couple getting married we both started to toy with the idea ourselves (we will leave you guessing!!!) Both were feeling stir crazy from cooking in the van so decided to treat ourselves to a fish and chip supper in town tonight-gorgeous and so nice for someone else to be cooking for ... read more

Having returned our campervan in Alice Springs and sold all of our camping stuff (tent, sleeping bag, chairs etc) we had taken an internal flight over to Cairns. We booked into a hostel and instantly regretted it!! Not sure if we were just missing the freedom and privacy of our campervan or whether we just didn’t like being kept awake until 3am in the morning by the group of young people playing drinking games below our window. Was this what we had in store on the east coast? Ever get the feeling you’re 20 years too late for something?? As we stolled along the esplanade in Cairns we were struck by what a young town this was- the people that is! The average age must have been 22!! The crocodile warnings along the esplanade were a ... read more

After taking a detour and stopping off at the Douglas Hot Springs (John’s first driving off road experience) we eventually reach another part of the Nitmiluk National park - Edith Falls. It lies on the western boundary of the park and in theory we could have walked here from Katherine Gorge (but we didn’t!) We head up the steep hill to the Leliyn lookout before heading to the upper pool. It was a bit of a scramble over the rocks to get there but once there we are in for a surprise. First there is a stunning waterfall but also a couple of naturist who obviously thought they had the place to themselves! Not really sure where to put our eyes as we discreetly pass by and head to the pool on the other side of ... read more

Katherine is another one of those towns with very strict drinking laws. Like the rest of Australia you cannot buy alcohol in the supermarkets - you have to go to a liquor store or bottle shop, they are only open between 2-6pm and you are limited to what you can buy e.g one bottle of wine per person per day!! As we approach Katherine we stop at the Hot Springs, a lovely shaded spring fed creek that has crystal clear thermal waters at constant temperature of 32º. Its a lovely way to wake up, wallowing in the waters and getting to feel really refreshed and kick starting the day. One of the first weird things that strikes us as we drive into Katherine is that for the first time in what seems like absolute ages we ... read more