No Cassowary Sightings for Us
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craven morehead
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RB
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We weren’t set up to visit Blencoe Falls but we checked out the spa pools & we were a little underwhelmed (not a lot of water about) but found the walks from the town lookout gave us magical views. We drove around the marina area (Port Hitchinbrook). Some nice houses there but certainly seems to have been a few failed ventures. Troubled Port Hinchinbrook Resort could experience deja vu over court case - ABC News
We also walked north up to the Coral Sea Memorial Park & family playground-another great facility for a small town. We ate at the pub both nights, a good Indian curry one night & pizza the other. The pub has some great info & photos of the destruction caused by Yasi.
Spa Pools
Lookout Views
We also walked north up to the Coral Sea Memorial Park & family playground-another great facility for a small town. We ate at the pub both nights, a good Indian curry one night & pizza the other. The pub has some great info & photos of the destruction caused by Yasi.
Spa Pools
Lookout Views
Cardwell looks good now but Yasi smashed it totally...half the main road you now drive on was eroded away completely and gone...Port Hinchinbrook Marina was smashed to bits nearly every boat destroyed, there is a famous photo of 50 odd boats all piled on top of each other from the storm surge.
They did a good job fixing it up but the marina bit never took off again. Keith Williams went bust and the channel never got dredged, environmental rules changed and then the GFC and lack of International tourists didnt help. Recently they are still arguing over the sewerage pumping bill for the development.
Similar problems killed Rainbow Harbour, Aquis, Magnetic Island and other big resort/marina/canal developments up here...probably forever.
They did a good job fixing it up but the marina bit never took off again. Keith Williams went bust and the channel never got dredged, environmental rules changed and then the GFC and lack of International tourists didnt help. Recently they are still arguing over the sewerage pumping bill for the development.
Similar problems killed Rainbow Harbour, Aquis, Magnetic Island and other big resort/marina/canal developments up here...probably forever.
RB
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Cardwell to Townsville
Final haul in our rental car. We were aware that there were quite a few sections of roadworks in play but we encountered very few delays (at some roadworks I noticed what I thought was a useful sign urging people to put their hazard lights on when stationary & banked up at roadworks). Ingham was a noticeably larger service centre with plenty of sugarcane growing activity.
It was pretty busy on our approach to the Townsville airport area and our vehicle drop-off. Plenty of fuel options (no real bargains) and Mrs RB plotted our arrival back to 1300 Meteor. Their service stayed at a high level - basic checks & balances, prompt & polite service. They had no worries about dropping us back to our Townsville hotel. Both pick-up & drop-off was done with young guys who had worked there for less than a year - good drivers, good conversationalists, and both very happy to be working where they were.
Park Regis Anchorage Townsville
Just a 1 night stay to get us organised to get home. As expected, the room wasn’t ready but our bags were stored & a text sent to us when the room was ready. Less distance down Palmer St than our 1st stay at the Metropole. We had a 56sqm, 1 bedroom apartment at the front of the building so we enjoyed a view over Ross Creek. All staff we encountered were very friendly. Obviously a big room, air con was on when we arrived and things worked as they should BUT in big need of renewal. The bathtub itself, general bathroom, table and general furnishings were in need of a refurbishment. The room had its own hot water tank hidden in a hallway cupboard but the plumbing was noisy and this was the worst shower during our holiday with an impossible juggling of flimsy taps and poor pressure. Wi-fi was fine and access to the city offerings via foot is fine. I guess the price probably reflected the shortcomings.
Final haul in our rental car. We were aware that there were quite a few sections of roadworks in play but we encountered very few delays (at some roadworks I noticed what I thought was a useful sign urging people to put their hazard lights on when stationary & banked up at roadworks). Ingham was a noticeably larger service centre with plenty of sugarcane growing activity.
It was pretty busy on our approach to the Townsville airport area and our vehicle drop-off. Plenty of fuel options (no real bargains) and Mrs RB plotted our arrival back to 1300 Meteor. Their service stayed at a high level - basic checks & balances, prompt & polite service. They had no worries about dropping us back to our Townsville hotel. Both pick-up & drop-off was done with young guys who had worked there for less than a year - good drivers, good conversationalists, and both very happy to be working where they were.
Park Regis Anchorage Townsville
Just a 1 night stay to get us organised to get home. As expected, the room wasn’t ready but our bags were stored & a text sent to us when the room was ready. Less distance down Palmer St than our 1st stay at the Metropole. We had a 56sqm, 1 bedroom apartment at the front of the building so we enjoyed a view over Ross Creek. All staff we encountered were very friendly. Obviously a big room, air con was on when we arrived and things worked as they should BUT in big need of renewal. The bathtub itself, general bathroom, table and general furnishings were in need of a refurbishment. The room had its own hot water tank hidden in a hallway cupboard but the plumbing was noisy and this was the worst shower during our holiday with an impossible juggling of flimsy taps and poor pressure. Wi-fi was fine and access to the city offerings via foot is fine. I guess the price probably reflected the shortcomings.
RB
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- Nov 17, 2004
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Around Townsville
We had no set plans for this overnight stay as we were originally due to fly out mid morning the next day (this became a late afternoon flight). The remainder of the day we just wandered the inner city to check areas we didn’t see during our original stay.
I stumbled across this video when I was reading a little of the background of the city Brief History of Townsville - 1770 to 1900 - YouTube
We settled for a counter lunch at the Australian Hotel - OK but nothing special. For dinner we went back to the Cowboys Club - numbers were down from the busy sporting weekend when we were there previously but obviously a bit of a hub for many locals. The next day was more wandering, watching the Olympics on TV and then a Uber out to the airport.
Beautiful Collection outside our hotel
We had no set plans for this overnight stay as we were originally due to fly out mid morning the next day (this became a late afternoon flight). The remainder of the day we just wandered the inner city to check areas we didn’t see during our original stay.
I stumbled across this video when I was reading a little of the background of the city Brief History of Townsville - 1770 to 1900 - YouTube
We settled for a counter lunch at the Australian Hotel - OK but nothing special. For dinner we went back to the Cowboys Club - numbers were down from the busy sporting weekend when we were there previously but obviously a bit of a hub for many locals. The next day was more wandering, watching the Olympics on TV and then a Uber out to the airport.
Beautiful Collection outside our hotel
RB
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Townsville to Brisbane VA 382
It seemed that Covid had an impact on most flight schedules. Our midday arrival into Brisbane was no more, the Brisbane lockdown impacted our plans to get to our car & the new timing meant it was physically impossible to drive all the way home to Port Macquarie after arriving into Brisbane - all small considerations compared to what many other Aussies were facing. We received good support from the Qld Health hotline. Our new plan became the flight, Uber to Geebung, rescue our car keys from the front yard and then spend the night in Brisbane.
Townsville airport was quiet with even fewer flights. The flight itself was pretty well on time & uneventful (full as a result of 3 flights collapsed into 1). Our bags were in the first dozen and we eventually found the Uber pick-up (could be better signposted). Our driver noted we were his 3rd trip of his 10hr stint.
It seemed that Covid had an impact on most flight schedules. Our midday arrival into Brisbane was no more, the Brisbane lockdown impacted our plans to get to our car & the new timing meant it was physically impossible to drive all the way home to Port Macquarie after arriving into Brisbane - all small considerations compared to what many other Aussies were facing. We received good support from the Qld Health hotline. Our new plan became the flight, Uber to Geebung, rescue our car keys from the front yard and then spend the night in Brisbane.
Townsville airport was quiet with even fewer flights. The flight itself was pretty well on time & uneventful (full as a result of 3 flights collapsed into 1). Our bags were in the first dozen and we eventually found the Uber pick-up (could be better signposted). Our driver noted we were his 3rd trip of his 10hr stint.
RB
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- Nov 17, 2004
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Essence Apartments Chermside Brisbane
Chosen mainly for convenience due to our 7pm arrival at the airport. The studio room itself was fine, comfortable and well equipped. The location is excellent for people needing to access the nearby hospitals but out room suffered badly from traffic noise that started early as it does in all cities. We found the processes rather odd - we refuse to email a property a form that requires written details of a credit card. Even arriving before 8pm we had to enter via a keybox drop and the office doesn’t reopen until 9am.
So in summary an Ok stay at short notice but not for us in the future.
Brisbane to Port Macquarie
Traffic volumes between Brisbane & the Gold Coast were well down but obviously there are still a lot of tradies, deliveries & others that are regarded as essential. We followed our health obligations and only had the one necessary stop. It was quite eerie to see the lack of traffic on the Pacific Highway. We arrived home mid afternoon with the house still standing and no hassles so we considered ourselves fortunate. Given that our local area was relatively “free” and the Brisbane measures were revoked 2 days after we got home, we weren’t particularly impacted by covid regulations.
The Harwood Bridge over the Clarence River-opened in 2019 1.5km long
Many kms when there was no traffic in sight
We managed 2 interstate holidays in the period May to Aug 2021 with very few hiccups. We were pretty conservative with our bookings ( good cancellation policies required) but to have taken flights, hired 2 vehicles and stayed at many different locations, we consider ourselves fortunate. There are many great spots and experiences in Australia and we appreciated the opportunity to visit.
Chosen mainly for convenience due to our 7pm arrival at the airport. The studio room itself was fine, comfortable and well equipped. The location is excellent for people needing to access the nearby hospitals but out room suffered badly from traffic noise that started early as it does in all cities. We found the processes rather odd - we refuse to email a property a form that requires written details of a credit card. Even arriving before 8pm we had to enter via a keybox drop and the office doesn’t reopen until 9am.
So in summary an Ok stay at short notice but not for us in the future.
Brisbane to Port Macquarie
Traffic volumes between Brisbane & the Gold Coast were well down but obviously there are still a lot of tradies, deliveries & others that are regarded as essential. We followed our health obligations and only had the one necessary stop. It was quite eerie to see the lack of traffic on the Pacific Highway. We arrived home mid afternoon with the house still standing and no hassles so we considered ourselves fortunate. Given that our local area was relatively “free” and the Brisbane measures were revoked 2 days after we got home, we weren’t particularly impacted by covid regulations.
The Harwood Bridge over the Clarence River-opened in 2019 1.5km long
Many kms when there was no traffic in sight
We managed 2 interstate holidays in the period May to Aug 2021 with very few hiccups. We were pretty conservative with our bookings ( good cancellation policies required) but to have taken flights, hired 2 vehicles and stayed at many different locations, we consider ourselves fortunate. There are many great spots and experiences in Australia and we appreciated the opportunity to visit.
The hazard light thing is a recent idea for DTMR...mind you I have seen it overseas before.
A few months ago there was a head on between TSV and ING, 1 dead police closed the road etc, 2kms of traffic stopped all queued up at midnight when a Landcruiser driver who was on drugs ploughed into and over the last two cars in line and killed two more. One guy was standing outside his car as he had been there for a while.
It is pretty much a weekly event a head on between CNS and TSV and half a days road closure.
Lack of overtaking lanes, convoys of caravans doing 30kmh under the speed limits, roadworks bunching everyone up again and again and impatient car drivers are all causes.
If I am driving I usually leave at 3am and take my chances with skippy...
A few months ago there was a head on between TSV and ING, 1 dead police closed the road etc, 2kms of traffic stopped all queued up at midnight when a Landcruiser driver who was on drugs ploughed into and over the last two cars in line and killed two more. One guy was standing outside his car as he had been there for a while.
It is pretty much a weekly event a head on between CNS and TSV and half a days road closure.
Lack of overtaking lanes, convoys of caravans doing 30kmh under the speed limits, roadworks bunching everyone up again and again and impatient car drivers are all causes.
If I am driving I usually leave at 3am and take my chances with skippy...
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