Platypus, Beaches and Pies on the Whitsunday Coast

RB · Jul 10, 2022

Can't say we have a local group but a google search shows quite a few groups in Qld

The Central Hotel was our choice for a counter lunch-good food. Think the pricing explanation was a bit of a gimmick. Prices would need to change every day you would think

Part of Catalina display-plenty of information boards

Don River estuary

Had dinner at the Cafe Horseshoe Bay on our last night. Thought it was one of our better meals and they had an excellent entertainer-Alisa Q, a great versatile voice.

It is a small world- our rental company has only has 2 Konas available out of Townsville. The people staying next door in the resort have the other one.

RB · Jul 11, 2022

Bowen to Townsvile
Heaps of roadwork on our trip down so we left early to ensure we got the rental car back on-time. Amazing to see the hectares of tomatoes growing right up to the highway on the outskirts of Bowen. Plenty of traffic & massive number of max speed changes. Generally not a lot to be seen on this section of our trip. An easy top-up of fuel across the road from 1300Meteor and very quick service on our return. No hassle with the condition of the vehicle and within10 minutes we are being driven to our hotel at no charge-same service attitude we received last year.

Grand Chancellor Townsville & Around Townsville
We opted to use our Amex annual travel credit for our 1 night stay. Booked a King Suite and at an effective $20 a night over the Waters Edge on the Strand, this was a far superior room. Early check-in was available and the level 6 room facing Flinders St was fine despite the building showing it’s age. All room facilities worked although the lighting was pretty dismal. Thought the shower was the best we experienced during our holiday & the included Wi-Fi worked well.
We didn’t have any plans for the day in Townsville- just popped across the road to the Cowboys Club for a few drinks & lunch & dinner. The club was much quieter than the 1st night of our trip. Both meals were very good club food & the schooners at $4 during happy hour were excellent value.
Check-out was seamless & they ordered a cab for us. Sun morning markets meant pick-up was from Ogden St-had to wait 20 min for a cab to arrive (Uber was on surge pricing and around 2X cab fare with several flights leaving around the same time)
Miracles happen & we had no hassles using the Qantas app to print our bag tags. Only 3 groups in the line in front of us for the drop off. No wait through security and no need for laptop removal from carry-on with the “new” scanners in use. The airport was much busier than our 2021 experience.

Burdekin River Bridge

One arm of water visible in this shot

Grand Chancellor

Room view

Mornay dish for lunch

I am not usually a pork belly person but this dish was tasty for night meal

RB · Jul 11, 2022

Townsville Airport-much different to last year-more people & a few updates

Still no delay at security at this time of a Sunday morning

Our chariot to Brisbane

RB · Jul 11, 2022

QF753-TSV-BNE 16B&C
A full flight after the previous days flight was apparently cancelled. Push back was only a couple of minutes late. A bit of turbulence during the flight but not enough to stop the “meal” service. The Smoked Ham & EggHollandaise on Ciabatta was hot & edible (not sure what role the chook played). Plenty of reinforcement of mask wearing requirements during the flight- seemed more attention than VA paid on the way up. Landed a couple of minutes area & left via the back stairs before a bit of a walk to carousel 1 ( accurately announced before we deplanned). First bags appeared about 30 min after we landed. Our pick-up worked well will the traffic flow being remarkably civil compared to times we have experienced in Syd.
We drove from Brisbane to Port Macquarie with an overnight stop near Casino to stay with family of Mrs RB- had a good night of beers, pizza & an easy victory for NSW in Origin 2. Traffic was certainly heavier than our similar trip in 2021.