Cardwell's enchanted forest - Cardwell, North Queensland

Cardwell Forest Drive

Driving through sugar cane country and a stunning backdrop of mountainous terrain, Cardwell is an easy, two-hour drive north of Townsville and is the start of an adventure through an enchanting pine forest packed full of natural wonders and attractions. 

Colour's of a Kiwi summer!

Pohutukawa blooming bright

L&P World Famous in New Zealand

World's largest L&P bottle - Paeroa, NZ

Have you ever had the chance to visit your homeland and experience it through tourist eyes? We headed back to Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud for the festive season and did exactly that!

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.