We woke at 07:30, but dozed till 08:30 as no need to rush on our last day in Cairns. Had toast and coffee for breccie then headed into Cairns around 10:15 to wander around the Botanical Gardens This was after discovering what Yorkey's Knob actually looked like. Picturesque, but full of fish(ermen) and families making barbies - so we left! Our best day yet weather wise at a hot 32 degrees. The soft white sands and azure blue of the sea on Ellis Beach were fabulous. As were the Centenary Lakes with ducks, bobbing turtles, dragon flies fighting to avoid diving kingsfishers. We walked along the customary tropical mangrove swamp and forest boardwalk then wandered to the flower garden. There were butterflies everywhere: the Cairns canary yellow, azure blue and black/white. More huge spiders in the ... read more

Was woken up by heavy shower at 07:30ish then got up to sunshine. The crabs were still scurrying along the beach front when we had breccie - hot cross bunnies - not Bilbies - well it Easter Good Friday. We were on the road for 10:00ish and made our way towards Cairns for a day on the SkyRail and back on the Kuranda Scenic Railway. There were some huuge Golden Orb spiders in the roof of the Barron Falls SkyRail station - glad they were out of reach. Totally stunning scenary - this time the other side of the Barron Gorge opposite the Falls station then back through it on the railway to Freshwater after coffee stop in Kuranda. We were back at the car for 16:30ish then stopped in Palm Cove for a bar meal ... read more

After a humid night of torrential rain interspersed with the sound of surf crashing on the beach, we woke to a partially sunny day at had the traditional Aussie brekkie and decided to go up the coast to Port Douglas. After a quick wander near the restored Old Courthouse, In a hot 30 degrees we wandered up the steep hill to Flagstaff Hill lookout and was dripping by the time we reached it. We were ready for a drink and a snack. We came across the same grill chain Rattle and Hum as in Cairns so shared a pizza and cola. Then wandered round the stunning Four Mile beach with its sand bubbler crab trails and patterns, then back along the Esplanade. By 14:00 it was time for coffee (no cake this time) then a bit ... read more

Alarm went off at 06:00 and was straight in the shower bleary eyed. Tea and remainder of the bananas and on the road for 07:10 Warm Melbourne day even then at 22 degrees and and saw dawn over the M80 airport road just before the queues! Was sweating a bit but the queue didn't last long and had dropped off the car by 08:15. Security was quick so had time for a big brekkie large muffin to share between us with coffee. The flight to Cairns with lunch passed quickly and gained an hour in time difference (Queensland has no Summer Time). As we stepped off the plane the humidity and heat hit us. Was sweating properly when we collected and loaded the hire car - another upgrade - thanks Europcar. The dashboard said 33 degrees ... read more

Got up at 07:30, blogged, had usual tea and raisen bread and got ready. Cool partly cloudy 19 degrees, but wind had dropped thankfully. Brian drove with me navigator down the eastern ocean drive that follows the coast of Port Phillip Bay. Modern glass fronted modern houses with fantastic sea views abound. Stopped briefly in Brighton to watch the vast shoals of small black fish and in Beaumaris to take in the bay views. Then on to Frankston where we came across the Waterfront bicycle holding pens for the Iron Man event the next day. Had to stop for a proper look then! 12:50 Parked up and passed the next 2 hours wandering around and had fantastic pork dinner and garlic bread lunch in Davy's Hotel on the water side. 15:00 I then drove us down ... read more