Cool off at Cardwell's tropical spa pool!

 

Clear and turquoise blue, welcome to Cardwell's tropical spa pool!

Freedom! Discover Magnetic Island on wheels!

Topless Mini Barbie Car

If you want the freedom to explore Magnetic Island in your time, instead of waiting for the bus why not hire a Topless Mini Moke or zip around on one of Road Runner’s Scooters! A fun and easy way to make the most of you day, that won’t break the bank! Scooter hire starts at $40 a day and a topless car only $80 a day. http://www.miwheels.com.au/

Escape to Rollingstone, North Queensland

Rollingstone Beach Front Resort

Tropical Rollingstone, home to the tastiest NQ pineapples and tropical beach front resort Big4 Rollingstone. 

Marinated raw fish salad

This is one of the tastiest ways you can enjoy fresh fish.  The fish is not cooked with heat but in lemon juice which reacts with the raw fish making it appear to be cooked.

World's only underwater Post Office - Hideaway Island, Vanuatu

Want to visit somewhere truly unique!? Well you can at Port Vila's Hideaway Island. Not only is this place a spectacular marine sanctuary alive with brightly coloured fish but it also boasts the world's only underwater Post Office!

Underwater Post Office

Beautiful Lifou - part of the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia

One of my favourite stops on our South Pacific Cruise aboard P&O Pacific Dawn.

Santal Bay
Notre Dame de Lourdes perched on cliff top

Welcome aboard Notorious!

Notorious

"Ahoy me hearties!" What a privilege it was to be welcomed aboard Notorious, a magnificent, full sized replica of a 15th century Spanish or Portuguese Caravel.

Townsville's hidden treasure - The Drill Hall Studio

The Drill Hall Studio Art Gallery, just a stones throw from The Strand esplanade is Townsville's hidden treasure that must not be missed!

Sand dollar

Sand dollar

Curious, what is that?

Rollingstone QLD

Rollingstone pineapple - yum!

Be a pineapple:

Stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside!

Where do you find Australia's sweetest and juiciest pineapples? Far North Queensland of course.

Poem - Reflections

Dawn reflection - Breakwater Marina

Loo with a view - Orchard Rocks

Orchard Rocks

Precariously stacked like a  game of Jenga, Orchard Rocks is a dramatic pile of rocks set against a stunning backdrop of deep blue seas and sky just off Radical Bay, Magnetic Island.

Loo with a view - Ocean Crave

Ocean Crave

Throw the lines, leave the marina behind.

What lay's before you? A wonderful display, nature's way!

I think we've found paradise! - Esk Island

Exploring the Great Palm Island Group in Tropical North Queensland we anchored in the crystal clear waters of Esk Island. Jumping in the tender, we couldn't wait to hit the beach and discover this little piece of paradise!

Loo with a view! - Huntingfield Bay, Magnetic Island

Huntingfield Bay - Eastern end

Huntingfield Bay, located on the northern side of Maggie Island is one of the five golden sand beaches that makes up Five Beach Bay.  

Seas the day! Relax & enjoy a picnic at Picnic Bay!

Picnic Bay Jetty

The perfect place for a picnic? Picnic Bay of course! Just another one of Magnetic Island's pristine beaches with dazzling views over the turquoise waters of Cleveland Bay.

Debbie's devastation

We missed a bullet when Cyclone Debbie crossed the coast of North Queensland further down south than expected. Shute Harbour, located in the turquoise waters of the Whitsundays took the full force of Debbie's fury with destructive 230km/h winds.  

7 reasons to visit beautiful Bowen!

Horseshoe Bay

Picturesque Bowen is a sleepy seaside town located 199km south of Townsville. It maybe small but there is plenty to see and do!

Tent with a view! - Rock camping Magnetic Island

Stunning view from our tent

I want to share a memory of an island camping adventure we went on before we moved onto our boat Too Easy. We used to love launching our Allycraft 535 and zooming off for a weekend of fun on the water.

Seas the day! - Are you a Thalassophile?

Are you a Thalassophile? 

Leave me a comment yes/no

Crystal Creek, nature's wonderland!

 

What will you discover in Townsville? With a lot to offer from thrilling natural water slides to spectacular waterfalls, refreshing water holes and relaxing picnic areas the Townsville region has something for everyone and the best part, it's free!

Seas the day! - Move onto a boat? I could never do that!

People are often surprised when you say you live on a boat. It was always Warwick's dream that one day he would live on a boat, last year the stars aligned and his dream came true. Who said you had to live in a house? I compare our boat to a small, floating apartment but with some added perks.

Loo with a view - Magnetic Island

Island has magnetic appeal - Magnetic Island

Magnetic by name, magnetic by nature just a twenty minute ferry ride from the North Queensland capital of Townsville will get you to a picturesque Island studded with large granite outcrops and palm fringed, sandy beaches.

Loo with a view - Cape Cleveland Lighthouse

Leaving the shelter of Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island we punched our way through the waves to Cape Cleveland. 

Seas the day - Deckie's story of survival

Meet Deckie, Pat’s furry best friend. Deckie lives on board Kathleen II with Pat, she makes a great deckhand and companion but I think she is the captain of the ship more than the deckie. Deckie is much loved by the Breakwater Marina community and is often found strutting her stuff on F pier checking out the comings and goings.

Loo with a view - Liver Point, Magnetic Island

Liver Point - Magnetic Island

Liver point is situated at the west end of majestic Maggie Island.

Magical Mostar, Bosnia

The grand, 16^th century Stari Most stood tall and proud in the heart of Mostar for 427 years. This single span, stone arch bridge stretched 30m across the Neretva river, connecting both sides of Mostar city. Mostar got its name from the bridge keepers called “Mostari” who guarded the bridge. 

Seas the day! - Dream Big, set goals & take action!

Sometimes, (a lot of the time) it feels like we live to work! What kind of a life is that? I want a jobby! What’s a jobby you ask? A job that’s your hobby! As the old saying goes “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”- Confucius

Loo with a view - The aftermath Cyclone Debbie

Too Easy secured for Cyclone Debbie

Seas the day! - Giving

We dodged a bullet with Cyclone Debbie and now we have an opportunity to help our neighbours further down south who were not so fortunate.

Loo with a view - The calm before the cyclone?

Breakwater Marina sunrise - Saturday 25 March

Townsville is now on cyclone watch as a tropical low off the north Queensland Coast slowly moves towards the coastline.  

Road trip - Charming Charters Towers

Why not escape the hustle and bustle of the daily grind?

Take a step back in time and get a taste of the outback right on Townsville's back doorstep. Hit the Flinders Highway south west of Townsville and take the round trip across the Burdekin River, through the enchanting outback town of Charters Towers and meander back home via the scenic Hervey Range.

The first impressive sight to behold is the now decommissioned, heritage listed, mighty Burdekin Railway Bridge also known as Macrossan Bridge. Nestled right next to the bridge is a popular free campground Macrossan Park.

Burdekin Railway Bridge

Seas the day! - Friends

I'm happiest when I'm just 

hanging out with my friends...

it really doesn't matter what we do.

-Kirsten Dunst-

Loo with a view - Bay Rock, North Queensland

Bay Rock, North Queensland

Bay Rock is a small, red granite rock situated west of West Point, 

Magnetic Island.

Magnetic Island koala colony

Koala - Magnetic Island

Tropical Oasis - Queens Gardens Townsville

I absolutely love the delicate and bright hibiscus flower

Seas the day! - It's a dog's life!

Frozen New York

March 2017

Imagine coming home to your house completely encased by ice!  

Hurricane force winds followed by an arctic blast has turned homes along Lake Ontario, Webster, New York into ice palaces! 

Loo with a view - Castle Hill

Castle Hill - view from Ross Creek

The iconic Castle Hill stands tall and proud smack bang in the middle of Townsville City. Set against a backdrop of  striking blue skies, the isolated pink granite monolith highlights Townsville's skyline.

Castle Hill - view from Queens Gardens

Historic tall ship left to ruin

Is this a museum exhibit I wondered? Submerged on her mooring in Ross Creek beside the Museum of Tropical North Queensland, a tall mast and rigging is all I can see of the 115 ft, 121-year old sailing ship Defender.

Defender sunk on her mooring in Ross Creek, Townsville

Seas the day! - Tidal change

Growing up in a coastal town and spending my holidays on my parents boat you would think I would know more about tides.  I wasn't interested back then and took it for granted that the tides came in and out.

Island has magnetic appeal

Magnetic by name, magnetic by nature! Just a short, 25 minute ferry ride from Townsville you will arrive at picturesque Magnetic Island. Studded with large granite outcrops and palm fringed, sandy beaches this tropical paradise is waiting for you.

Maggie Island on the horizon

Loo with a view - Moonrise over Breakwater Marina

Gorgeous moon rise and reflections - Breakwater Marina 13/02/17 8.48pm

Seas the day! - Sweet As!

New Zealand (Kiwis) - "Sweet as" meaning: "no worries" (not a problem).

Loo with a view - Flinders Street, Townsville

Seas the day! - I need vitamin sea!

ESK ISLAND

Halifax Bay, Far North Queensland

Esk Island is part of the Great Palm Island Group.

The day we discovered paradise...

Loo with a view - MS Albatros

MS Albatros ties up in Townsville

Cruise Ship MS Albatros sailed into Townsville Saturday 18th February. The MS Albatros was built for long distance cruising and is one of the small sized ships that operates once a year on an around the world itinerary. She is currently on a 60 night, 61-day leg from Sydney, Australia to Genoa, Italy. 

Fantome Island - A step back in time

Stepping off the tender into the warm tropical waters and walking up the picturesque white, sandy beach through the trees I was not expecting what I saw next. An expansive field of white sand and concrete slabs are all that remains of the basic fibrolite huts built to house an indigenous leper colony that closed its doors for the final time in 1973.