Magnetic Island, Townsville, North Queensland

Trip Start Feb 13, 2008
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Trip End May 12, 2008


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Where I stayed
Foresthaven Resort, ALma bay, Magnetic Island
(Townsville hotels)

Flag of Australia  ,
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Caught a Greyhound coach yesterday heading south down the Queensland coast. Its about 700 kilometres, but with stops etc it is about 6 hours. Greyhound coaches are much better than in the USA I am pleased to say. Have got a Travel Pass which will let me jump on and off Greyhound Coaches along the East coast of Oz from Cairns to Sydney ( which is approximately 2500 miles ) The seats are comfy and recline, and the air conditioning is good, which is essential as it is still about 30 degrees and humid, although when I left Cairns it started to rain again, and the outlook there is not good for the next few days.
Arrive in Townsville at 15.15 to bright sunshine, apparently it should be less wet the further south I go, but should also start to drop by a few dgrees also. The coach station is also the ferry terminal to Magnetic Island. Within half an hour I am on a Ferry to the Island ( about 25 minutes journey only ) I have booked the accommodation at the ferry terminal. it seems very cheap, so will have to see what it is like!! Alma Bay, Magnetic Island
Alma Bay, Magnetic Island
 !

A courtesy car is waiting when I get off the ferry to take me about two miles up the coast to Alma Bay. The sun is shining, but there is a welcome breeze which hides the fact of actually how hot the sun is ( Not taking any chances have been using Factor 30 since arriving here ! ) The place I am staying is like a Motel. I have paid 20 pounds per night for a single room, but end up with a 2 bedroomed self contained flat with Kitchen, TV, etc and is all in good order clean etc.

The main purpose for stopping here is is try and get on a Great Barrier Reef trip, as the weather was not conducive to snorkelling in Cairns the last few days. I try to book a trip for tomorrow ( Friday ) and the trips have been cancelled due to high offshore winds. Have a look about, but the place is so very quiet, beautiful beaches and seas etc, but nothing happening. Get a bus along the coast but there really is not much here at all !!! Lots of tanned wrinklies about!!!! Friday I try and book the Reef trip for Satrurday, but they are not guaranteeing they are running, so decide to gook by Greyhound ticket tomorrow to move about another 400 kilometres down the coast to Airlie Beach which is the gateway to the Whitsunday Isles. Will have to stick it out there to get my Reef trip before I can move any further down the coast. Drink a very nice bottle of wine on th beach on Friday afternoon and watch a very young couple get married on the beach. Mind you I suppose there is not much else to do here to be honest!!!!  Saturday I am back on the coach and leave my very nice little flatlet heading south in search of this elusive Reef trip .................
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