Quest Townsville

Day 258-260 Blue Waters Sat 15th – Mon 17th Aug 2009.

Rather than stay in Townsville we opted for another free camp 24km north called Saunders Park. B.N needed assurances that we would be able to save as much money as possible to splash out on the Whitsunday Sailing extravaganza.

Saunders Park was right on the beach and had been recommended to us by the Bond’s from way back in ...

... my goals in Australia. It is really crazy how you can just walk through this area and then spot them in the trees. The wildlife on Magnetic Island is pretty special. In the evening I met two girls from the Ferry and we chilled out at the Horseshoe Bay, had some food and drink and then touched back at base (sorry about the pun!), chatted a while then everyone went off to bed. I look forward to another day here in Magnetic Island.

We love Queensland!

We finally hit the east coast today - and jeez it feels good! although the weather hasnt been kind yet, and ive managed to pick up a headcold cause of the changes in temperature, the heater is back out and the blankets have made a comeback at night, but its still good to be on the same side of the planet as all of you lovely folk back home.

We had a quick ...

... when it got late and i woke up in the morning so we must have got back ok. The following morning me and Jamie had to check out and catch our coach to Townville. I can honestly say i have never felt SO and had such a hang over than i did that morning. I couldnt even speak much and was falling all over the place so was probably still drunk. The only thing i consumed that day until the evening was water as i couldnt face anything else. By time we got to the Coach terminal at 9 AM i was ...

... schnell. Und so lernte ich ganz schnell eine nette Reisegruppe deutscher kennen und einen Brasilianer namens Marcelo, mit dem ich am folgenden Tag eine Erkundungstour durch die Insel startete. Nach stundenlangem Marsch durch Waelder und Buschbewachsene Huegel kamen wir an einem Aussichtspunkt auf der Insel an, von wo aus man einen wunderbaren 360 Grad Blick ueber die Insel geniesen konnte. Nach diesen strapatzen ...

... killed by Marie for suggesting we go on a walk. We caught a bus back to Horseshoe Bay (where we were staying), had yummy fish and chips, and then proceeded to fall asleep on the beach. When then decided that we would go to the other hostel on the island because it was a bit of a party hostel and a couple of our friends were staying over there. On the way back, I caught a taxi. In the evening there is only one taxi that ...

... DVD simply titled "Kenny" which is about an Australian Portaloo operative...fantastic. We also scared ourselves whitless by watching the film "Wolf Creek" which is about three backpackers who disappear on the West Coast of Oz and are tortured by some bloke in the Outback...not such a smart move considering we'll be stuck in a campervan for 4 weeks over there! "Maggie" is a great place and we thoroughly recommend it - just don't watch Wolf Creek!

We catch the 10.30 ferry and it's a very smooth journey across. we arrive in the Arcadia Hotel at 11.30 and are going to head to the north of the island straight away but we miss the bus so we decide to grab lunch as there not another one for an hour. Once we catch the bus we go to Horseshoe Bay and sunbath for awhile, there is a stinger inclosure but we don't bother with it. The guy in our hotels reception had ...

... that we were secure and confident, while educating us about the biology of this amazing area, and also managing to make us laugh with their typical dry Aussie sense of humour.



Cable number 4 was ...