Nov 11, 2009 - Life's a Beach

Tuesday November 10, 2009 – Daydream Island, Whitsundays Wednesday November 11, 2009 Here are the important 3 “s” words necessary for island life in the tropics: Swim, Snorkel, Snooze.Tuesday November 10, 2009 – Daydream Island, Whitsundays Wednesday November 11, 2009 Here are the important 3 “s” words necessary for island life in the tropics: Swim, Snorkel, Snooze....

Nov 9, 2009 - Welcome to Fantasy Island

Monday November 9, 2009 – Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands Welcome to Fantasy Island There is a good chance that my wife has been abducted by aliens and replaced by a replica. North and south of Townsville there is one sugarcane plantation after another, with lots of mango and banana plantations just to add variety. ... About an hour south of Townsville you come to Ayr and just when you think that Ayr is going to be a dud, WHAM – you are face to face with a major size snake. ... His name is Gubulla Munda.Monday November 9, 2009 – Daydream Island, Whitsunday Islands Welcome to Fantasy Island There is a good chance that my wife has been abducted by aliens and replaced by a replica. North and south of Townsville there is one sugarcane plantation after another, with lots of mango and banana plantations just to add variety. ... About an hour south of Townsville you come to Ayr and just when you think that Ayr is going to be a dud, WHAM – you are face to face with a major size snake. ... His name is Gubulla Munda....

Nov 8, 2009 - Robert Eli & Big Things of Australia

Sunday November 8, 2009 – Townsville Robert Eli & Big Things of Australia Just south of Cairns you pass through the suburb of … Edmonton. ... Our stopping point for the night is a non-descript motel on The Strand in Townsville. ... I’ll forgive that in this instance, for sure, because Townsville is actually a very pretty place. ... I found it very helpful that the Townsville Town Council (is that redundant – wouldn’t Townsville Council be sufficient?) erects signs at regular spots along the beachfront displaying pictures and names of the various jellyfish that, collectively, are referred to as ‘stingers’. ...

Oct 20, 2009 - Townsville Days 95-100

What a relief to finally feel the sea breeze again after so much dry country and humid heat. Bravo Townsville. ... After the obligatory visit to Reef HQ and the Museum, and the free water park we give Townsville the big tick, and have hired a car and will do Cairns while Kenny gets a new liver. ... Actually a little travel tip - Get RACV "total care" roadside assistance.What a relief to finally feel the sea breeze again after so much dry country and humid heat. Bravo Townsville. ... After the obligatory visit to Reef HQ and the Museum, and the free water park we give Townsville the big tick, and have hired a car and will do Cairns while Kenny gets a new liver. ... Actually a little travel tip - Get RACV "total care" roadside assistance....

Oct 13, 2009 - The Billabong

We came to Townsville yesterday to hang out with Annie's cousin, Leah, who plays professional basketball here. ... Leah is living with a family here, who was gracious enough to let us stay at their place for the night.We came to Townsville yesterday to hang out with Annie's cousin, Leah, who plays professional basketball here. ... Leah is living with a family here, who was gracious enough to let us stay at their place for the night....

Sep 26, 2009 - Townsville

We arrived in Townsville to spend a night with John's sister Helen. ... As we arrived we coulod hear this ear splitting noise and saw all these planes in the sky, it looked as if Townsville was being attacked. ... Townsville is one of the largest airforce bases in Australia and as the F1. ... 11s our main fighter planes for the past 30 years are to be decommisioned and as a thank you to the people of Townsville the RAF decided to put on a spectacular air display. ...

Aug 12, 2009 - Day 21 & 22 – Bowen to Townsville (and around).

After the mandatory set up on arriving we headed down to the waterfront of Townsville and spent some time at Reef HQ which is basically a man made coral reef, in a2. ... 5 million litre tank, on land, in downtown Townsville. ... We took the road up to Castle Hill (the Townsville version) for the lookout. ...

Aug 10, 2009 - On the way to Townsville

And now for the first of the long drive south and its off to Mission Beach which everyone seems to rave about and I wasn't disappointed. Next up was the long drive to Townsville where I hoped to sort out a dive to the Yongala wreck, supposedly Australia's best dive. ... The drive took me through sugarcane country, in fact they seem to grow little else from Port Douglas down before arriving at Townsville. ... The trips out to the dive site were fully booked so I've found that I have 2 days to kill in the meantime which I spent at Saunders Beach, an excellent little spot to park up the campervan.And now for the first of the long drive south and its off to Mission Beach which everyone seems to rave about and I wasn't disappointed. Next up was the long drive to Townsville where I hoped to sort out a dive to the Yongala wreck, supposedly Australia's best dive. ... The drive took me through sugarcane country, in fact they seem to grow little else from Port Douglas down before arriving at Townsville. ... The trips out to the dive site were fully booked so I've found that I have 2 days to kill in the meantime which I spent at Saunders Beach, an excellent little spot to park up the campervan....

Jun 28, 2009 - Whitsunday Coast to Townsville

22nd and 23rd June Gary: A couple of lazy days lounging around the camp, preparing for our trip to the Whitsunday Islands and general camp chores. The drive from Airlie Beach to Townsville is not the most interesting route for tourists and it certainly was a slog sitting in the car with the sun pounding down and 28 degrees C outside but the passing of field after field of sugar cane became somewhat mesmerising after a while and the kilometres were chewed up with us arriving at our campsite at Rowes Bay in Townsville in plenty of time to set up and sit back with a cold tinnie and watch the sun set on golden hour. ...

Jun 14, 2009 - Townsville

Well - after a vary enjoyable stay at Charters Towers we arrived in Townsville last Monday. ... This is the foreshore of Townsville and is just gorgeous - lovely green lawns, awesome trees and of course, the ocean. ... I sent mine off to about a dozen temp agencies and Ken sent about 8 off to all the caravan parks in and around Townsville. ... Townsville is a nice place but it is in the middle, I mean not super tropical but semi-tropical. ...

May 28, 2009 - Townsville and Cardwell not Caldwell...

I woke early and went into the truckstop for a coffee after showering etc. We then drove to Castle Hill lookout and were impressed by the size and layout of Townsville. ... We then drove to the Strand and sadly the Rock Pool is closed on Thursdays for maintenance and cleaning so we drove to the water park where there was a mini Bucaneer Bay setup.I woke early and went into the truckstop for a coffee after showering etc. We then drove to Castle Hill lookout and were impressed by the size and layout of Townsville. ... We then drove to the Strand and sadly the Rock Pool is closed on Thursdays for maintenance and cleaning so we drove to the water park where there was a mini Bucaneer Bay setup....

May 27, 2009 - Leaving Airlie Beach and another truck stop outside of Townsville

Whilst Sean and I packed the kids conned us into allowing them to play mini golf. A tour guide grabbed these pods that had fallen from the palm trees and we asked what he was going to do with it and he informed us that they are coconuts!!!! So the kids all grabbed one each and we grabbed a ripe one and went on our way through Ayr and to a BP truck/caravan stop just out of Townsville. ... We had a disgusting truckie dinner, Sean a truckie burger(roll was stale and it was greasy), the kids had cold pasta and fried rice and I had gluggy beef egg noodles.Whilst Sean and I packed the kids conned us into allowing them to play mini golf. A tour guide grabbed these pods that had fallen from the palm trees and we asked what he was going to do with it and he informed us that they are coconuts!!!! So the kids all grabbed one each and we grabbed a ripe one and went on our way through Ayr and to a BP truck/caravan stop just out of Townsville. ... We had a disgusting truckie dinner, Sean a truckie burger(roll was stale and it was greasy), the kids had cold pasta and fried rice and I had gluggy beef egg noodles....