Hervey Bay Humpback Whales

Spent the day onboard the Whalesong looking for Humpback Whales in Hervey Bay, Queensland. The weather looked like it wasn’t going to hold out with a thick fog bank on the horizon,  it made it look like the end of the earth. Fortunately, the whales obliged and gave us a great show.

Initially we heard them singing through a hydrophone, they were miles away. Reminded me of an old Gary Larson cartoon 🙂

Finally they showed themselves. A mother and her calf came right along side the ship.

The calf  swimming above its mother.

Only saw one breach and it was a way off, pretty spectacular though.

A wave goodbye from a male whale!

Etholle captains the boat back to safe harbour.

Just in time for another spectacular sunset.

Etholle’s 9th Birthday on the Barrier Reef

The day we decided to go travelling we put the idea to Etholle and her first response was, “Are we going to Australia? Of so can we go to the Great Barrier Reef for my birthday?” So that was the only line in the sand we had from the outset. It took a bit of planning and hoofing it across the country but we made it!

We spent the day at the Reef Magic pontoon which seemed the best option. It has a semi-submersible, glass bottom boat, underwater viewing station and snorkelling/diving. Turned out to be a great day for everyone!

Yep, we’re on Cairns!

Etholle encounters “Wally” the Humphead Maori Wrasse and was very excited. This is big fish and Etholle just makes him look even bigger!

I look a bit more boggle eyed than usual, I’d just jumped in and the photographer came out of nowhere! Broke my favourite diving mask and was gutted until the guy in the dive shop managed to fix it with a keyring. It’s still holding out, plus I have an extra handy attachment for keys next to my head should I ever need it 🙂

Some great living corals, not the best I have seen but there is certainly more diversity out on the reef.

Thank you Daddy, the best birthday ever!

Time for the birthday cake(s) and presents.

Yes, that’s eco friendly toilet paper used to wrap presents!

We we’re all exhausted after a great day out! Happy Birthday Etholle xxxxxx

Cairns

The journey up to Cairns was pretty uneventful. A long drive and a stop off in Mount Isa, a mining city with very little going for it! We did find an interesting sign, apparently Cheltenham was only 32km away, this warping of space time is a bit confusing!

Stayed one night on the way to Cairns at a siding off the main highway. It was only when the sun came up that we saw this sign beside or camper van!

Finally arrived on Cairns, staying at the Coconut Holiday Resort. Probably the best camp site I’ve ever stayed in, it’s won loads of awards and deservedly so. Clean, friendly and loads of entertainment for small people! The outdoor cinema each night was one of Etholle’s highlights.

Etholle asleep in her “pod”!

Cairns had changed a bit since our last visit 15 years ago. They now have a new esplanade with fake beach and sea. Just the place to chill on a Sunday afternoon.

Etholle testing out the hula hoops at the Cairns Festival.

Into Queensland

Crossing the boarder between Northern Territory and Queensland you’d have thought would be pretty uneventful, especially as there is no town that close by. The two signs face each other, proudly announcing your arrival and respective departure.

Graffiti proof painted poles doesn’t stop some people managing to get up there and make their mark. We subtly placed a couple of Bali Sea Turtle Society stickers on there, in the interest of social awareness 🙂

This is the main road from the middle of the outback to Townsville on the east coast, busy eh?

At the first place to fill your tank after the boarder you see a sign of typical Aussie rivalry between states/territories. QLD being in a different time zone.

Olga’s sunrise

Another early start for sunrise! It was freezing on the walk up to the observation point waiting for the sun to hit the horizon but worth it. We decided to see sunrise from the Olga’s another rock cluster a few miles from Uluru, made for a great view.

A spot of botany. There are some weird and amazing plants in this pretty barren desert.

Wondering around Uluru.

And then the long drive back to Alice Springs! I think we’re accompanying Ed Sheeren!

Uluru Sunset

Another blummin’ long drive but we managed to make sunset at Uluru just in time!

Etholle’s comment “It’s just a big rock in the middle of nowhere!”. I thought she was serious to start with, she has her father’s sense of humour!

The obligatorily idiots abroad shot!

Rounded off the day with a bottle of Curtin Springs’ finest. It tasted bloody awful, I was really looking forward to it. Fell for the crude Aussie advertising, no wonder the guy who sold this to me had a big grin… Sad face 😦

Devil’s Marbles

We remember this vividly from our last trip to Australia, an amazing formation of sandstone rocks just off the main highway. The road no longer passes through the middle of the site, it was moved a few years ago out of respect for the traditional land owners. This doesn’t really capture the scale, the rock in the middle is huge.

Very hot here, we soon realised that we didn’t need our warm clothing.

Hatchlings!

Took a while but we managed to shift it in the end.

We were rewarded with a visit from the local dingo!

Tennent Creek – 10th Wedding Anniversary

We visited Tennant Creek twice, once on the way to Alice and again on the way back up. Both times we stayed in a rather basic camp site but this was easily offset by the evening’s entertainment “Jimmy the bush tucker man” who tells stories, recites his poetry and cooks up some bush classics for you to sample.

Jimmy’s kitchen table ready for some good tucker!

Mmm Witchetty grub on the menu tonight. Before I’d listened to Jimmy and his common sense bush knowledge I’d stuck one in my mouth. Didn’t taste too bad, the worst bit was when he wriggled and his head popped 🙂

Should have let Jimmy finish his introduction on Witchetty grubs, apparently they taste far nicer if cooked in the camp fire for a few seconds! Etholle takes a chance on one.

Mataranka hot springs

Oops! Missed this out 🙂

On our way down to Alice we made a brief but memorable stop at the Mataranka Hot Springs. Crystal clear water, warm and the best bath we’ve had in weeks!

This shows just how clear the water was. Etholle is a bit too buoyant, I had to drag her under.

My first underwater selfie. Trying to look relaxed but can’t quite pull it off!

Alice Springs

After 1000 miles and three days of driving, we finally arrived at Alice Springs. The city was a bit nicer than we remember from our last visit, a little more modern but still a city in the middle of nowhere. This is our jump off point for Uluru but we took a look around before the drive out.

The desert park houses all of the indigenous animals of the area, meaning no bush walking and battles with the local snakes.

Andrew Langford (no relation to Bonnie thank God) was playing his didgeridoo in the same little theatre 14 years ago. He’s a master of the instrument showing just how good it can sound.

The rock wallabies at Heavitree Gap live wild and come down for a feed every evening.