AIRLIE BEACH AND TOWNSVILLE 23RD - 26TH FEBRUARY

AIRLIE BEACH AND TOWNSVILLE 23RD - 26TH FEBRUARY

After the long day yesterday out on the boat we have a leisurely day reading and dozing and catching up with our diarys.  In the evening we eat at a lovely fish restaurant Fish D'vine that also has a rum bar, we have Thai fish curry and the I succumb to a dessert of banana fritters with a spiced rum maple syrup and ice cream all very delicious.

It's 24th Feb and our last whole day at Airlie beach I have loved staying here and could easily have had a couple more days. Unfortunately my little excursion to the shops is hindered by the rain and eventually I head off for Woolworths which are supermarkets over here and pick up food for lunch and dinner, and by the time Jim arrives I am more or less finished which saves us both deciding what to eat.

Have Italian salad for lunch and stir fry in the evening really enjoyed cooking again what's going on!!

25th February we say our goodbyes to Mandy on reception and thank her again for the upgrade we are now on our way back to Townsville not booked anything but have a motel on the front in mind.

Stop on the way to eat our lunch but have to stay in car because of large birds with pointy beaks, we finally arrive at Townsville at about 2 and then cannot decide what accommodation to choose but in the end go for our original choice.  It's ok, clean and has fridge etc but when Jim goes to get the car I cannot suppress a little chuckle as it's so far removed from Martinique in Airlie beach. Have a walk to ferry as we are going out tomorrow and then go back as it's so hot and the one thing this room has is great air con.  Eat out tonight don't want to start that habit of cooking anyway not even a microwave here!!

Have to drag Jim out of bed this morning at 7.30 as we have to leave at 8 to catch the ferry to Magnetic Island.  It is so hot  we visit Horseshoe bay and then head to Picnic Bay where we have some lunch.  The idea was to do some snorkelling but we are advised that it will be bad visibility because of the rain so end up walking to see the Rock Wallabies where Jim feeds them some apple and then heading back to the ferry.

We get back to our super cold room and stay there only popping out for a quick bite to eat.

WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS 22ND FEBRUARY

WITSUNDAY ISLAND TRIP 22ND FEBRUARY

Up early this morning at the unearthly hour of 5.50am as we are being picked up for our sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands at 7, quick breakfast-luckily I prepared fruit last night and some fruit toast and just make it downstairs for 6.55 after packing bags and applying liberal amounts of factor 50.

The Providence is owned by a couple:

 Lindsay and Grant bought Providence V in 2005, having discovered her in the Whitsundays, while they were on their honeymoon in 2003. 

Providence V is an 62 ft American bluenose, a replica and half the size of a Grand Banks fishing boat which plied the waters off Maine in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1992 she starred in a Hollywood movie called "Survive the Savage Seas" after being spotted overhead by a Hollywood scout in a chopper. 

Our 2 crew members today are Grant the Skipper and Joe. We sail for about 2 hours then stop for hot

 drinks and cake, serving coffee and tea whilst sailing is no easy task this is all left to Joe who does a great job and also talks about the Whitsundays and the fish we will see. We arrive at the Whitsundays and walk to the viewing point oh my it is amazing that picture postcard view of the ocean and the ever changing canvas of colours. Jim has a quick swim of course but I am saving the whole palaver of getting into a stinger suit for later. The sand here at Whitehaven beach is 98% silica it is incredibly soft and squeaks when you walk on it.

We see a huge spider and a lizard eating a snake which is enough wildlife for me then we head back to our boat for lunch and sail to where we can snorkel:

First we have to get into the stinger suits which is challenging and second we have to get into the dinghy which just involves a bit of dexterity - all good and Joe takes us to a good spot to snorkel.  Jim rolls off the boat like he is in episode of Jacques Cousteau leaving me to try and get in gracefully which obviously didn't happen - I surface spluttering trying to grab my snorkel!! 

Snorkelling  went fairly well not like at Port Douglas as it was a bit murky in places and then I panicked a bit about what might be hiding.  One lady has already been hauled back into the boat so I shout to Joe that I want to get back in and this is when my worst fears are realised when due to lack of upper arm strength I have to be hauled back into the boat - note to oneself do not ever do this again unless it is from a big boat with a platform!!

All in all a lovely day apart from the fact that for the rest of the evening I appear to be swaying everywhere it's such a weird feeling I feel like I am back on the boat.

AIRLIE BEACH 20TH - 25TH FEBRUARY

AIRLIE BEACH 20TH - 25TH FEBRUARY

We have a long drive today to Airlie Beach which is the link to the Whitsunday Islands so after three hours of driving on very straight roads we stop off at Townsville which despite its name is very large. Pop into the I centre and they help us with a trip we are hoping to do  on our return and then suggest we eat in Cowboys which is a club to do with the rugby players.  Have a lovely meal and then start second half of our journey.

We finally arrive at Airlie beach at about 7 and check in to Colonial apartments, it is ok has aircon and fridge and all clean and right next to the lagoon.  At 8pm we have a swim in the lagoon so weird the water is reallyo warm probably about 36 degrees and it is dark already.  As you cannot swim in the sea the lagoon is a welcome addition to the area.

We only have one night here still not booked for next 4 we are not sure whether to have a walk around tomorrow or use Booking .com again.

21st Feb while we have our breakfast I have a look on the iPad and there is a hotel for $510 (£300) for 4 nights that looks lovely so we book it up.

Have swim  in the lagoon but it's pretty hot in and out so after a walk we drive up to hotel.

Once again the lady says you have been upgraded and we say thank you and she gives us the key:

Wow wow wow we are speechless we booked a one bedroom apartment and have been upgraded to a one bedroom penthouse with separate lounge, huge kitchen with table for 6, large outside area with table for 6, laundry room, lovely bathroom and stunning bedroom.  We have amazing views of the sea I feel so lucky.

Have a swim in the beautiful infinity pool and have a doze this is the life.  As we have such a beautiful outside area we eat in tonight in fact after our day out sailing around the island tomorrow I will be happy to just stay here for the next 4 days.

A COUPLE OF DAYS AT MISSION BEACH 18TH- 20TH FEBRUARY

A couple of days at Mission Beach 18th - 20th February

Sad to leave Port Douglas today we have had a wonderful time but it is time to move on to our next stop  Mission Beach.  After a quick stop for lunch and getting a bit lost we finally arrive at our hotel Mission Beach Resort just after 2 and once again we are told we have had an upgrade.  We arrive at our room which has patio doors onto the pool and there is nobody else there.  The pool is wonderful just the right temperature .  As the day progresses we realise that the upgrade has probably put us in an area where none of the other rooms are being used which is over 30  We cannot believe our luck and spend the afternoon by the pool.

We eat at a little Italian restaurant just opposite our hotel and the food is absolutely delicious.  The restaurant is run by Gill and Woody, Gill makes most of the meals and Woody the pizzas and also the most delicious ice cream I have ever tasted.  I have carbonara and Jim has a spicy prawn pasta and then I order ice cream which comes in one of those 70's style stainless steel coupe dishes, but that is where any link to the 70's stops. Oh my this ice cream is incredible I have mango, passion fruit and coconut and make the mistake of asking Jim if he wants some!!

We speak to Gill and Woody and they have run the restaurant for about 20 years and grow vegetables salad herbs etc and mangos and passion fruit for their ice cream.

Get up early today 7am and do some FaceTime and have a swim in the pool "still nobody here". Quick visit to the market but it is so hot we decide against our planned walk and head back to the luxury of our pool for the afternoon, not a soul to be seen.

Eat at Italian again have pizza and the most beautiful salad that look like it is growing out of the bowl and then share homemade chocolate cake studded with almonds dates and chocolate and of course ice cream, oh my it's amazing.

REEF TRIP 17TH FEBRUARY PORT DOUGLAS

WONDERFUL TRIP WITH WAVELENGTH

CAIRNS AND PORT DOUGLAS 14TH - 18TH FEBRAURY

Cairns and Port Douglas 14th-18th February

We  picked the car up in Cairns at about 10pm and it was only a short drive to the hotel - it's on a pretty busy road and it's not looking that good and I'm only looking at it from the car.  My assumptions were correct and it doesn't look great, few people hanging around and for some reason I feel like I am in an episode of Miami Vice!!  We pick up our keys and head for the room bedding all ok towels etc but the sign saying please put chain across the door for added security adds to my nervousness.  I finally drift off to sleep after I have turned off the aircon that sound like a runaway train. Ahh well all adds to the experience.

Set off early the next morning no need to visit the restaurant.

Oh my Port Douglas is beautiful we have been upgraded to a wonderful room with 2 balconys including a Webber bar b que,   Beside the Sea at Port Douglas is perfect. After settling in we have a quick swim in the pool and then book our snorkelling trip.  As everybody knows I am not the best person with animals and the thought of being in the sea with the possibility of seeing a 1 metre long reef shark is filling me with dread. 🐋🐠🦀🐙

After lunch today we go to the beach loaded up with cool box chairs etc and about five minutes later it starts to rain but being British we sit it out and the sun comes back out again.  As it is jelly fish season there is a net in the sea making a big square pool for people to swim in.  We go in but I cannot relax as keep thinking they could slip over the edge when no one was looking.  Have a lovely bar b que  tonight cook huge prawns and steak makes a nice change to going out.

17th February up early at 6.45 for our trip with Wavelength to three different areas of the outer reef and the nerves are starting to kick in.  On board we meet the crew and  Christina helps to alleviate my fears about jelly fish and sharks.  As it's the stinger time of year we have full Lycra suits with hoods and our feet and hands are also covered so once you have the mask on you may look pretty funny but I do feel more confident.

I am a bit slow with the fins but suddenly a knight in shining armour pops up in the sea and offers help and suddenly I feel a lot better. I found out later that John owns the company.  After a few minutes I had got the hang of swimming with the fins and John was pointing out giant clams, amazing fish and even Nemo it was amazing and gave me the confidence to then swim with Jim and later on in the day I was. happy to drift around on my own. 

It was a fantastic experience on a lovely boat, amazing staff and great food.

http://www.wavelength.com.au

LAST DAY IN SYDNEY BONDAI BEACH 14TH FEBRUARY

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AUSTRALIA 12TH -13TH FEBRUARY

LAST FEW DAYS IN AUSTRALIA

More from Roseville

An afternoon at Manly beach  today lucky to get the last umbrella and.sunbeds as it is so hot,  Jim has a swim and then we head off to Darling harbour for dinner.  The harbour is beautiful with lots of restaurants and we finally decide on Italian.

Travel to the blue mountains today a 2 hour trip on the train which is air conditioned - wonderful.  Book in at Motel which is really lovely with big white fluffy towels and a free bottle of fizz, perfect.  We take the sightseeing bus to the three sisters mountains and walk to Leura Falls by which time we are so hot that we head off back to the motel and end up getting a takeaway pizza and watch a film - sometimes you just got to chill out!!  Blue mountains the next day 13th February is perfect as it's a much cooler day and we enjoy walking from Katoomba Falls to Echo Falls which have amazing scenery and on the way back we stop off at the Gingerbread house for tea and cake - delicious.  Back home we have a dip in the pool such a luxury after a lot of travelling.

It is our last day today and  Zena has plans for us which sound great, she is going to drop us at Bronte beach and we are going to walk 4 kilometres to Bondai beach so that Jim can have a swim and then we can get the train back.  Bronte beach has a beautiful pool set above the beach and Jim has quick swim and then we start walking. The sky quickly darkens and then it starts to pour with rain and eventually we have to shelter under a cliff, after the rain eases off Jim gets his final swim at an amazing  pool by Bondai beach with the waves crashing in.  We have a lovely Italian meal overlooking the beach then catch the train back home and Zena takes us to the airport.

Zena and her family have been so kind to us and Zena has been like a personal travel advisor meaning we have packed so much into our week we have been so lucky x

ROSEVILLE IN AUSTRALIA FROM 9TH FEBRUARY

Roseville 9th February

We are really lucky to be staying with a friends sister Zena and her family in Roseville.  The whole family are lovely and the house is absolutely stunning and also has a swimming pool which has been wonderful in this searing heat of 40 degrees.

Zena helped us with things to do on our first day and we head off back to the train station to go back into Sydney,  We walk over the bridge and also go into the museum just before you reach the end of the bridge, this also includes a walk to a lookout point which is amazing.  We then catch the ferry to Manly beach and walk round to Shelly beach which is a lovely little bay. I finally go in the sea it's beautiful and lovely to cool off and I even swim with Jim to look at the fish.  Have a lovely meal in an Asian bar and head over to the ferry about 8. Amazing views of the bridge on the way back and we finally get home at almost 10pm.

Today 10th February was so hot we decided against the beach and visited the opera house, art gallery and Botanical gardens.  The Opera house is incredible and the art gallery lovely and cool as well as some very modern installations  a blue pained skate board smashed up comes to mind- it did say don't touch but I wondered if anyone had been tempted to push it across a bit whilst nobody was watching!!

I cannot believe how hot it is and just keep wanting to sit down it is exhausting and unusual for this time of year. We go home at about 6 cool off in the pool and have a bar b que which is a lovely treat.