Back up the same road past Port Douglas. This time with them all loaded up on travacalm. Crossed the Daintree ferry and up through the rainforest.

Narrow roads up and down hills, so just as well they all had anti-sickness. Stopped for ice-cream at Daintree ice cream. Really tasty and what was even better was that they grew all their own fruit and had signs next to all the plants, which was interesting.

On to Cape Tribulation where we had a nice campsite on the fringe of the rainforest with brush turkeys and even wild pigs. Weather not too bad and got to walk on the beach and kids had a swim in the pool.

That night however rain arrived and woke to overcast and rain so given forecast not great decided to leave. Just as well as subsequently learnt a possible cyclone was expected.

On to Cairns we go. Only a couple of hours and we stop first at Mamu treetops Skywalk. Very similar to Denmark, but tropical rainforest and better view.

After this went to Josephine Falls. Very pretty, but slightly touristy. Water off the mountain was cold.

Onwards to Cairns Coconut Resort caravan park. Kids really excited as more waterslides, jumping pillows and 3 swimming pools. Also playground, table tennis and tennis.

Trip into Cairns to vote next morning. What a challenge to decide who to vote for. Miserably poor selection of candidates for lower house, but relatively interesting compared to the depressingly poor upper house. Really politicians have got to be able to do better than this. Edwina overheard people next to her discussing voting for United Australia party, but then this is Queensland .

Also went to the free public swimming area at the wharf. Really good facility although rather full of backpackers. Aren’t I turning into a snob.

Went on reef tour, but unfortunately weather has turned and overcast and windy. A bit of a swell also developed. 2 hours out to the pontoon and miraculously only Vivienne vomited. Travacalm worked beautifully and amazingly Edwina and Robbie managed to keep their breakfast down. Booked in a guided tour for the family when we arrived and a marine biologist towed the kids around, pointing out things to see. They got to see loads of fish, including “Nemo”, giant clams, a huge wrasse and a turtle.

Kids enjoyed, but had enough as pretty cold in the wind.

Rest day in Cairns was a relaxing day in pool and playing about.

Decided to stay one more night so we could stay for Mother’s day. We went up the coast to Port Douglas. Really busy road which follows the coast. Very pretty, but very bendy and only got halfway before the vomiting started. First Estella and then Robbie. Luckily we had restocked the plastic bags. Of course as it’s Mother’s day, Edwina had the bright idea that dad got to sort out the vomit bags.

Port Douglas had a Sunday Market which was good for the kids. The girls got bracelets and Robbie an elastic band gun (we may live to regret that). Also got to try sugar cane juice at last, and definitely worth the wait. Delicious straight or mixed with lime or ginger. Mother’s day lunch in pub and then ice cream before trip back (travacalm assisted this time).

Luckily this was not far so we stopped for a few hours at Big Crystal Cascades on the way. Bit of a narrow road to get the caravan up there, but well worth it. Nice deep pools, with a rock slide into the water. Everyone really enjoyed and a great place.

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Stopped at fruit stall on way past and picked up all sorts to try.

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On way into mission beach there was also a banana stall at the gate of banana farm so picked up some fresh bananas. Really tasty.

Mission Beach was nice spot, but unfortunately first night we were camping next to a group of 30 backpackers trying to fit onto 2 campsites. To be honest they were quiet by 10pm, but bit of bad language, especially from the Scottish bloke!!! Edwina says ladies toilets not very pleasant next morning either.

Once they left however it wasn’t so bad. Toilets still bit rubbish, but right on beach. Kids enjoyed boogie boards, sand castles and riding bikes on lovely wide beach.

Off to the coast! Finally arrive at the Pacific coast for the Queensland long weekend. The caravan park was busy, but really well laid out so it didn’t feel busy at all. The kids loved the tall trees with creeper that were easy to climb and they even had Vivienne 8ft up the tree.

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First trip was to the zoo/sanctuary. Lots of koalas, kangaroos, wombats, turtles and crocs. Very informative and could see them feeding. You could also get your photo with a koala (had to be over 140cm, which unfortunately our kids aren’t), wombat, snake or baby croc.

Cassowary bit of a dinosaur bird, but very amusing watching it eat a tomato whole and seeing the bulge progress down its neck.

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Vivienne was desperate for a photo with a wombat, an animal she has seemingly fallen in love with this trip… trouble is they are about the size of a medium dog and 35 to 40 kg, so I had to help hold, but she looks so happy.

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Mum also had a hold of a wombat and we had a family photo with the koala and all the kids had to have a photo with a baby croc which thankfully had its mouth taped up!

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Robbie then also got the chance to feed a croc.

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Afternoon messing about in the park and quick swim at the main beach area called the Strand along with a fish and chip dinner.

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Arrived without hitting a cow which was a relief considering they are all over the road. Nice site in national park, with official fire pits which made kids excited.

Next morning about a 45 minute walk down to the gorge which was fantastic. Clear fresh water, not too cold and mostly shallow except for a deeper pool which the kids could jump off the cliff, about 8ft.

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Spent most of the day there before trek back for dinner and fire, with marshmallows of course.

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5 hours to Winton over proper flat cattle country.

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When we got there we went round the Waltzing Matilda museum as Banjo Paterson wrote it in Winton. There is a new museum that had only just opened and was really interesting.

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Checked into the pub caravan site and went for pub evening meal. Great steaks as would be expected.

Water from Winton is from Artesian basin. Tastes normal, but by heck it smells.

The reason why you come here though are dinosaurs. Interestingly only discovered in 2006, Winton is the dinosaur centre of Australia and they are gradually building a museum at the top of a hill with a great view of surrounding area. Good interesting tour, which was judged just right for families.

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Stayed till lunchtime then trip onwards to porcupine gorge, 80km the other side of Hughenden.

Headed north from Alice through nothing but flies and the occasional road house, one of which claimed to be the UFO centre of Australia. Crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and went to see the Devils Marbles.

Once at Tennants Creek stopped for Red Rooster dinner and managed to get bit further on to just past three ways, so now heading East. Stopped in a parking area which was really remote and had a predigious number of flies (still don’t understand what they all do when I am not there). Beautiful sunrise however.

Next day another long drive. Saw a wrecked car and caravan which was a sobering sight.

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Crossed the border in to Queensland. We were recommended a free camp site at Corella dam, the other side of Mount Isa. Once past Mount Isa the countryside much improved with flowers and trees which was lovely. The campsite was great. We did our first water crossing, saw our first small crocodile and had a campfire.

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Caravan park is amazing. First of all we have our own ensuite toilet/shower (makes everyone very happy after King’s Canyon park). Then there are 3 pools, a water slide, bmx track, jumping pillows, trampoline and even it’s own petrol station.

Dropped car tyre in for repair and Robbie’s bike. Amazingly they have it working and available for pick up next morning on ANZAC day. We therefore make the most of it and go out for a family breakfast. No kids sizes so they get enormous adult portions which make them happy. Luckily the ANZAC parade then goes right past us.

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Afternoon messing about. Water slide really good, however pool not warm!

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Went out to buy me an Akubra. Kids think it looks great. Good enough for me! Robbie also bought a boomerang, Estella some music sticks and Vivienne a cuddly wombat. Edwina and I also found painting we both liked so arranged for it to be shipped to Perth.

Off to desert park in the afternoon, going on guided tour of nocturnal house and a bush plant tour, before the best bird show I have seen.

The guide identified our snake as a Western Brown. Definitely one to avoid.

Dinner was a foodstall in the caravan park. Portuguese bbq. Really good.

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Trip out to Ormiston Gorge next morning. Bit further than expected (90 mins) and very undulating. Estella car sick at 80 mins. Gorge pretty, but Robbie gets what we assume to be a spider bite on finger whilst doing boy things (throwing rocks). Whole arm becomes really sore so we go to kiosk to see if they can help. Lovely couple run it, who give him ice, Soov cream and lemonade.

Decide it is best to cut short trips to other gorges and get back towards a bigger centre if things get worse. Arm improves but then Robbie starts vomiting: car sick or the bite?? (so much vomiting we start to run out of plastic bags). Luckily by the time we are back he is slightly better so ED not needed.

Rest of evening spent packing up for hopefully early start. Didn’t do too badly and ready for 8.30, but had to wait for the free pancake breakfast before we go.

Sorry for the delay no internet/phone in King’s Canyon. 4 hour drive to get here and luckily got here just before the rush so we could drive the caravan in forwards. Thank heavens for that as the site was between 2 trees and it would have taken the rest of my afternoon to manoeuvre it in. Not a bad site with a pool (really cold given the 30 degrees), but the toliet blocks were pretty grim.

Next day we get to the canyon itself and even though Vivienne has a bit of a cold, we decide they will manage the rim walk of 3 to 4 hours. They all do really well, with only a small percentage of carrying required. It is only Edwina who struggles, having sprained her ankle about 2 km in (trying to stop her hat blowing off and standing still!), but soldiers on, hobbling to the finish, with a snake bandage in-situ. Robbie disappointed we did not use any of the emergency telephones and helipads along the way to medivac her out!

The canyon had great rock formations and the trek great exercise. Luckily it was not too hot and all got back safely. Well done Vivienne, she did most of it herself.

Relaxed afternoon, but realise there is a slow puncture in rear car tyre due to nail in it, so I get my first practice at changing the beast’s tyre.

Decide that it would not be sensible to take the Merenie loop as a bit of an unknown quantity and therefore have to drive back the long way. Decide to go to Alice Springs as need tyre repaired and Robbie’s bike needs new derailleur. 5 hour drive goes pretty well with multiple DVD’s.

We left Coober Pedy bemused that people actually choose to live here in a real life Mad Max set. We drove all the way to the SA/NT border (4 hours) where we stopped for the night and got going early the next morning to arrive at Ayers rock for lunch time.

Nadia and Rupert (Edwina’s friend from uni) were here. They are at the end of their 4 month caravan trip round the Southern Part of Australia and we crossover for one night at Ayers rock.

Edwina and the kids rush off for a reptile talk and get to handle snakes and then we have a good afternoon chat whilst our kids all play together.

In the late afternoon we went for the sunset viewing at Ayers rock although unfortunately a little cloudy so not the best sunset, but great moon.

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On the Saturday we went for a walk around Ayers rock; not all the way as 10km and Viv not up for that, but got 2 2km walks with a bit of bribery. I now see why my parents always had sweets on a long trip. The rock is really beautiful and well worth a visit. It is a really amazing colour and looked fantastic with the gum trees.

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Onwards to the Olgas on the next day, but only after kids wake up at 5.50 on Easter Sunday and have a chocolate egg hunt, followed rapidly by a feasting on their plunder and then no breakfast and complaints of sore tummies.

The Olgas were also great, especially the second gorge walk where the rock colour was an amazing orange and even better the flies reduced in the gorge!!!

Afternoon 10min camel ride had Estella really happy, especially when it did a wee with her on it.

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Tomorrow King’s Canyon.