Australia - Wednesday 12 March, Journey's End

Sunny morning for our last in Sydney.

Sarah drove us out to Manly again, this time allowing us to see the view across the Heads towards the city.

Parked  between Manly and Shelly Cove and walked along to the latter.  Couldn't resist a last dip, among lots of other people.  Had refreshments at the cafe and headed back to the house for toasted sandwiches and final packing.

Sarah dropped us off at the airport at 2.30 and we were quickly through check-in and into the departure area.  Plane away on time at about 5 pm, this time with several empty seats in our area.  Settled down to watch films, including The Butler, American Hustle (again to understand it) and The Book Thief.

Slept with the aid of wine and Tamazepam, making the hours pass acceptably quickly to Dubai.  Had to do four big loops in a holding pattern because of congestion at the airport but told we would make up the half hour on the leg to London.

The time again passed fairly comfortably and the formalities at Heathrow were quick and easy.  Jamie was there to meet us in the arrivals hall and we arrived home in less than an hour despite the fog and traffic.

Australia - Tuesday 11 March, back to Sydney

Fond farewells to Penny and Jim at the motel and off back to Cairns. Easy drive and check-in, and flight away on time at 12 noon.
Watched The Railway Man on the Qantas iPad, excellent film but hard to hear against the general background enoise and screaming child.
Sarah at the airport to collect us and soon back to the house. She went off to a squash meeting and we went for a walk down Arabella Street, taking in views over the river and city.

PS. Finally decided this tree is Tibouchina.

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Australia - Sunday 9 March, Mossman Gorge and Daintree

The cyclone continues to maintain a respectful distance, in fact a lovely day. Dare I say, the first without any rain!

Drove to Mossman Gorge for another close encounter with the rain forest. Parked at the visitor centre and took the bus up to the starting point for the walks. Gave the guides the slip and headed off on the longer route, starting with a boardwalk but lapsing into a windy footpath. Stunningly big trees, closely spaced, many with colossal buttress roots. The occasional lizard and invisible piping birds but not much else ... except for mosquitos. Did frequent sprays to keep them away.

Nice swimming area on the way back, keeping in from the strong currents in the middle of the river.

Had lunch at the visitor centre before heading a bit further north to Daintree. Expected to just stroll around but met a local character and got chatting to him. He turned out to be one of the river cruise people so could hardly refuse a trip. Just the two of us on the big boat, entertained by his anecdotes and wildlife descriptions when we could understand his fast patter.

Saw some crocs and. Python, and loads of birds. Well worth the 20 dollars. Back to base for a wash and brush-up before the evening meal.

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Australia - Saturday 8 March - Kuranda

Great day!

Awoke to the alarm at 7am cos of early start required for drive back almost to Cairns for the Kuranda excursion.

Train up to the top, taking 90 mins, some glorious views of the rain forest but mainly of the cuttings needed to carve a way up around the sides of mountains. Big long train full of happy camera snappers.

Walked through the ran forest / jungle seeing lots of enormous trees and one whopping big spider.
Nice river, sporting tadpoles and helicopter dragon flies, let alone trippers.

Lunch at Kuranda itself, teeming with knick-knack shops and eager buyers. Resisted.

Visited the bird sanctuary to see a whole array of exotic species. This bloke seemed to have a knack with the parrots, ungenerously responding by crapping on his shoulder.

Took the Sky Train back down, really just mis-located ski gondolas but alarmingly high above alarmingly tall trees. Stopped for a very entertaining mini boardwalk tour by a Djabugay ranger, combining facts about the trees with local anecdotes and a fair bit of kidology.

Back to Port Douglas for the fastest ever meal. Ordered barramundi, served up within minutes, out within the hour, back to the Lazy Lizard for coffee and choc. Early to bed.

Oh, and the weather. Hot and humid, with several showers and one downpour at lunchtime. Tend to forget the aircon is on everywhere and think it's getting a bit parky. Then step back out into the sauna heat.

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Australia - Friday 7 March, North to Port Douglas

Sunny start and usual 6am waking. Breakfast stuff nicely timed to run out this morning and did.
Walked to the beach where there were loads of people swimming and surfing despite being 8am. Continued along the boardwalk round the headland, going as far as time allowed.

On the road back to Brisbane at 10 and an easy 150 km drive to the airport. Delightfully easy drop-off for the car and quickly into check-in and fond farewells to T & R.

Watched the film Philomena on the way, nice comfy sort of film when the crappy headphones and engine noise allowed us to hear what was going on.

Yet another laid-back attendant at the car hire place and on the road again, this time in a Kia Rio.

About an hour to Port Douglas, where the motel was easy to find and well equipped. Arranged tomorrow's trip to Karunda and set off for the Coles supermarket to stock up on provisions. Tasty ready-meal to staunch the appetite then early to bed.

Very warm and close, but overcast with promise of force 1 cyclone coming soon.

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Australia - Thursday 6 March - Sunshine Beach

Up early as usual. Went down Hastings and parked for the walk to the end of Main Beach. Seemed to be continuous car parks in the trees but nice walking paths too.

Amused at Doggy Beach where right enough there were several people with their faithful friends. The people in the tourist office said the Everglades boat trip was fully booked. Instead took details of the hop-on-hop-off ferry down the estuary and found where it went from but big thumbs down from T & R. So left them to do what they wanted and followed advice from a friendly lady who directed us to Sunshine Beach and the strenuous walk to Alexandra Bay.

Found the Surf Club near where we'd parked and had nice refreshing drinks on the terrace.

Flags now up to say bathing okay so couldn't resist a dip in the waves, continuous frothy ones like yesterday's.

Back to collect T & R, suggesting the same Surf Club as a good place for lunch, which it turned out to be. Breaded Whiting for me, smoked salmon salad for H. Delicious, with huge view over the immense beach.

Parked in usual car park for a stroll along Hastings Street then collected the swimmers for a last dip on the local beach. Much less rough and fewer waves but still refreshing.

Reserved for posh dinner to celebrate Tony's 70th a few days in advance.

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Australia - Wednesday 5 March - Hinterland Drive

Started the day with a walk through the park on the other side of the road then set off for Eumundi and its famous market.

 Loads of little stalls selling all sorts of knickknacks, and people milling around. Nice trees like this everywhere, consensus view is that they're jacaranda.

Drove on to Maleni for a welcome pit stop and BLT lunch. Back via Mapleton and Montville, the latter being the pick of the bunch, nice Main Street high up with splendid views on the access road, over the undulating strip down towards Maroochydore.

Easier drive back, in time for a short relax and shower before going out to eat.

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Australia - Tuesday 4 March, Drive to Maroochydore

Went for lovely walk first thing before the others emerged. Climbed up along road through dense forest, ending at Laguna lookout. Huge view along the coast and the estuary.

Back to saddle up for drive south, stopping first at Coolum where there was a very long beach and constant supply of breakers. Different from the 'dumping waves' at Noosa as they were frothy and not so big. Couldn't resist having a dip - on my own this time.

Continued south to Maroochydore where we mooched around wondering what to do next. Told about the Surf Club as a place with good views over the beach, yet again huge. Joined the pensioners in the restaurant and had very adequate and inexpensive dory and chips.

Drove back to Noosa and drove up to the Laguna lookout place.

Deposited T & R at the apartment before going for a very invigorating dip. Waves seemed bigger than yesterday's, and the undertow as fierce. Can see how people quickly get into difficulties.

Hilary did the evening meal, chicken satays and veg, choc puddings and rather a lot of wine.

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Australia - Monday 3 March, Around Noosa

Sounded like rain overnight, was. Sunshine Coast my a**e. At least it was dry but overcast and warm enough for a swim in the pool before breakfast.

Did the walk around the top end of Noosa Heads but we were much faster than T & R so went ahead and then rejoined them.

On to a restaurant on Noosaville, sitting half outside and trying to do justice to the enormous portions.

H and I then went to the beach for a glorious dip in among the huge waves. Strong side current and quite hard work swimming against it. Great fun being bowled over by the waves, not that apparent beyond the bathing belle.

Barbie by the pool to end the day.

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Australia - Sunday 2 March - On to Noosa

And so we say farewell to Sydney and journey on.

Up late, quick walk to accompaniment of kookaburras then off to airport for flight to Maroochydore, aka Sunshine Coast.

Pow, what a change, suddenly hot again as we arrived. Picked up hire car and set off after grapple with handbrake on the Camry.

Easy drive to Noosa where Tony & Row were already installed.

Had quick provisions trip before Hilary and I set off on a walk to the beach and beyond.

Back for quick tip in pool before collecting a Thai take away to eat beside the pool.

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Australia - Saturday 1 March - Botanical Garden and Central Sydney

Guess what, nice shower of rain in the early hours, just not quite remembering to stop all day.

Sarah dropped us off at Circular Quay just in time to catch the ferry trip round the harbour but not quite in time for Hilary's deliberations. So waited for the next one.

Two hour circumnavigation of the Harbour, up as far as Manly and back in a brief lull in the drizzle.

The enormous cruise liner had been replaced by the even more enormous Cunard Queen Elizabeth bringing Mardi Gras revellers from New Zealand. By all account this is a congregation time for gays and right enough there were some odd looking folk touring the streets.

Took in the Botanical Gardens after lunch, nice free facility with lots of stuff to interest Hilary. Plagued by myna birds when we had a cuppa and cake, with the Ibises keeping much more considerate distance.

Walked from there to the QVB, aka Queen Victoria Building, home of very chic and very expensive boutiques, on three flours. The middle bit had two enormous dangling clocks, one going through a mini history of GB including Henry VIII and Canute, the other a 1.5 million dollar monstrosity with scenes of past and present Australia. Waited for its performance at what we thought was the appointed time but no show.

Caught bus back to the house and had a pleasant evening in with Sarah. Simon had gone to watch the rugby match that we watched on TV, Wararahs vs Reds.

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