Our mission to Mission

MrL and I like to organise a trip for a night or two on spur of the moment.  My latest example was Friday evening.  Before we knew it we had booked a two night getaway to Mission Beach, a 170 kilometer trek down the Bruce Highway.  We have visited that part of the Cassowary Coast on numerous occasions but have never stayed there.  

We left early on Saturday morning with MrL's car loaded with suitcases.  As you do with two young children.  

You know when you are nearing Mission beach when the signs below are scattered along the road leading into the area....

It was hot there.  Really hot.  A different heat from that of Cairns when we say it is hot and humid.  A different heat from that of the UAE and once again, a different heat from a hot day in Melbourne.  We had parked the car in the main drag of Mission Beach and headed to the beach for a stroll.  By the time we got back from our walk we were all dripping with sweat and the cold water from the local little supermarket went down a treat.

After lunch at a local 'resort' we headed to 'Woolies' and got a few supplies before checking into our cottage along Wongaling Beach.  A reasonable sized two bedroom cottage.

The girls had a swim in the (shared) pool after a play and a relax.  Our dinner was at a bar and grill down the road.

The girls before heading out for dinner

Sunday morning I headed out for a early lone walk along the beach.  The sunrise was beautiful and it was lovely to walk along the beach, sharing with a few other walkers.  The length of Mission Beach runs some 12 kilometres or so, with views over to islands, the main being Dunk which was ravaged in 2011's Cyclone Yasi, which destroyed the beautiful resort we had stayed on about six years previously.

After a lazy morning of driving around and a swim in the pool we headed off for lunch.  We couldn't complain about the view.

Monet took this photo of Lily and I

 The afternoon was spent back in the pool (as you do), a few Sunday arvo sippers (Coronas were of choice), we headed back to the Bar and Grill we had visited the night previously.  (There are not a lot of choices close by at Wongaling Beach.)  It was two Coronas for the price of one so that was nice.  (*heehee*)

And because the meal we had there the night before was delicious and the view was picturesque, we ate there again.

I had the same meal two nights in a row!  Red Emperor on top of a potato croquette, roast pumpkin, spinach, pesto and some lovely sauce.

We left yesterday morning, at around 8:30, which was absolutely perfect timing, as the rains set in from across the sea.  The rain home was unbelievably heavy and slow going, but we got home safe and sound and in one piece.

A Must

A few weeks back MrL took a well deserved break from work and headed down to our home state of Victoria for 4 nights.  It had been close to three years since he had been to see family and friends and so it was a must.  

Monet was on her last few days of school holidays so we went to the cinema to see 'Tinkerbell' which Lily just adored, ate McDonald's, had a picnic party on a rug in the lounge room, had toasted sandwiches for dinner and went shopping along other things.  One thing we did too was drive up to Port Douglas for lunch.  

Both girls insisted on an ice cream from a certain ice cream parlour we hadn't had one from ever.  They certainly won't be our last ice creams from there either - ohh they were delicious and thoroughly enjoyed to say the least.   Can't you tell?

After a walk up and down the main drag and browsing in a few stores, we settled on the Central Pub for lunch.  It ended up being a wise choice as it was enjoyed by the three of us.  I indulged in a serving of Barramundi Spring Rolls with a mandatory schooner of XXXX Gold.

Monet surprised me with her choice for lunch; steamed veggies served with a dollop of mash.  It made a nice change from chicken nuggets and chips which was Miss Lily's typical choice.

No visit (ever) is complete to Port Douglas without visiting The Point.  We always end up there, with good reason - it is picturesque, even if it had been raining on and off.

And there is a playground.  In the girl's book, it is therefore a must to visit.

A Two Night Getaway

A few weeks back it was a 'Cairns' long weekend.  Instead of us going stir crazy in our apartment MrL suggested we go and stay up at Port Douglas (a 45 minute drive north from our place) for a couple of nights.  We found some cheap accommodation (cheap by Port Douglas standards) in a fabulous spot, opposite 4 Mile Beach and just off the main shopping strip.  

We got up to Port a bit too early so I suggested to go up to the 'Lookout'.  The view up there is stunning.  Below is a photo of the 4 Mile Beach....

After lunch and finally being able to check into our apartment, the girls could not wait to get themselves down to the beach.  They had a fun time running about, paddling and playing in the sand.  It was a bit too windy though and the wind did get the better of us so we left after an hour or so...

Saturday morning we took a walk around the main part of Port Douglas.  It is a very photogenic place to visit, if you enjoy taking photos...

This boat is off to the Great Barrier Reef

I think I have mentioned time and time again on this blog, how I love a Marina.  This one is no exception.  

In the afternoon we ventured to the beach again.  It was windy again.

In typical Melody and MrL style, Sunday morning saw us all set and packed to leave early.

It is always pleasant to visit Port Douglas and we are fortunate that it is a short (very scenic) drive from our place.  It was nice to go and stay somewhere else for a couple of nights and the girls had a blast.

Mossman Gorge

A lot had changed since the last time I had visited Mossman Gorge.  I looked at MrL and said "hey, this is new" as the road veered into a newly built vast (but busy) car park and visitor centre.  Last time I was here, the road continued ahead, through a narrow road to an extraordinarily tight, busy car park.  Now we were greeted by a brand spanking building.  

Mossman Gorge is part of the Daintree National Park and it looks like someone has thought of the idea to try and make a buck out of it.  There is a visitor shop with tourist items, from rulers to stubby holders and everything in between.  The cafe was a buzz too.  And to actually get to the Gorge you could walk the two kilometres there, along that dangerous road, or catch one of the Shuttle Buses that blared the local radio station 80's hits.  (We thought that perhaps there should be at least a bit of a commentary about the Gorge on repeat.)  The shuttle bus was $12 return for a family - and considering there were at least 50 families there at the time we were, I am sure that the new facilities will be paid off in no time!

Another change we noticed was that there was no more slippery little narrow tracks.  Now in it's place was newly constructed walk bridges.

The Gorge is still beautiful, though on the day we visited it wasn't bright and sunny and the water looked a little murky than what I remember it.

In all honesty, I felt that some of the magic had disappeared from Mossman Gorge.  I'm not sure if it was because of the feeling of being shuttled via bus to the Gorge or the fact that it wasn't like I remembered.  But the girls enjoyed it and I guess if you are a visitor of the area to the first time, you'd be impressed.

Pretty sure MrL and I were more impressed with the construction of the gutters on the visitor centre...

Go West to head North

After last Sunday's drive south to Mission Beach, we decided yesterday to take a different route up north via the tablelands which lie to the west of where we live.  

The tablelands is a very different landscape to the coast, but rest assured there is still masses of sugar cane!  We even spied out of the car window it being slashed.  

The road and landscape, minus the sugar cane, makes you realise that you honestly could be anywhere along the east coast of Australia.

This roads leads up north to Cooktown and also across the 'Top End' of Australia.  There are road signs on the road warning of 'Road Trains' - trucks carrying in excess of two or more trailers.  We were passed on the other side of the road by two B-Double trucks.

The road heading back down the 'Molloy Range', the scenery changes very dramatically.  It is lush and green and the road recently has been blocked off by many landslides.

I think in the photo below, the lush green covering on the hillside is actually a weed.  Still, I thought it looked lovely.

The road leads you to an intersection between Port Douglas and Mossman.  We headed into Mossman, but I'll blog about that next time... ;-P

Tropical Gardens

On the spur of the moment, whilst driving past the Flecker Botanical Gardens, I pulled into a car park so we could go for a wander around the tropical gardens.  It is truly gorgeous in there with so many tropical plants.  It is soooo green and lush and magical with little paths leading here and there and trying to spot (and unsuccessfully trying to photograph) Ulysses butterflies.  

Since we left Cairns in 2008, there has been built a new fan dangled visitor centre and cafe, located just outside the Gardens themselves.  I remember reading that a lot of people were disappointed with the final building which is totally mirrored on the sides, due to the number of 'kamikaze' birds.  I can see now what they mean, but I like the way it reflects all the colours around it.  

And they make a mean milkshake in the cafe.

If you ever find yourself in Cairns I do highly recommend a visit to the Gardens, especially if you are not from the tropics.

The girls entertained themselves for a good twenty minutes on the storm water drain cover.

There are so many species of plants and trees located in the garden of all shapes and sizes.

Lily was thrilled when she collected a handful of seed pods.

Monet got a bit paranoid when I kept pointing out these wonderful Golden Orb spider webs dotted through out the gardens so when a leaf fell on her head she would've sworn it was a spider.  (Poor girl!)

I love the flower below.  It had 'colour blocking' all sorted before it became a fashion trend.  How lovely is the pink and orange together in the same flower?

Only a handful of days left in the school holidays up here in Queensland.  Not sure what we will get up to tomorrow but I know that Lily and I will return to these Gardens again down the track...

The Advantage of Living in FNQ in Winter

MrL and I had decided on Saturday evening to go for a drive the following day, down to Mission Beach, so the girls could have a paddle and a run around.  

We had forgotten that Mission Beach is a good two hour trek south from our home.  

Last year's cyclone Yasi tore through the area and we had noticed a big change in the canopy.  The road leading to the area was no where as shady and overhanging as we remembered.  But green?  Oh it was green....

And the beach was as delightful as I remember...

The girls had a blast, splishing and splashing.  The shallow water was warm and the waves were small. That's Dunk Island in the middle of that photo below.  We had stayed there before but the resort was wiped out last year, (thanks to the cyclone) which is really sad...

After a good hour enjoying themselves we went and treated ourselves to some fish and chips, but all Lily was after was a 'Rainbow' ice-cream.  (To be honest, it was the lure of the ice-cream to get her out of the water!)  All her dreams came true as she enjoyed one...

The drive home seemed quicker than the road down there, but maybe because I snapped images outside my passenger door window and windscreen.  It is sugarcane slashing time around these parts.  (Once the sugarcane flowers it is time to harvest.)  We have visited the foot of the mountain in the photo below - you can read about it here.

Below is Pyramid Rock, just outside of Cairns which stands at 922 metres.  I love how it looks like it is balancing a cloud on it's pointy tip.  ;)

Both girls napped on the way home (no wonder) so Lily and I had a bit of a late evening, but it was worth it.  Think we're going to go on another beach destination drive next weekend!