Cairns to the Tip

Lachlan

We arrived in Cains to very hot weather and ever since i have not been cold once. We almost strait away we did at least 450km. and for the next while until Chili beach we did about 300km a day. but it was nice because it was mostly through cane fields mountains and rain forest. i always wanted to go to the rain forest but not so much anymore. Never ever leave your tent door open. i was sleeping with spider, beetles and anything else that crawls. but it was still good because we got to chase bush turkeys and climb coconut trees. Almost. It was good walking along the beach. on the way from chili beach on mums birthday the car broke down. some other people went to get parts for the wheel less trailer. the closest town ways 3 hours away. so that was mums birthday. in the end we did get back to our camp. a few days later we made it to the tip. the was a sign that said " You are standing at the northern most tip of the Australian continent". that was all. i thought there would be a building but there was nothing. in Seshia we did some fisher i caught one fisher and a big one got away. it was actually a big fish it bent the rod and i had it for 5 min. we are know in Port Douglas in a 4 star hotel. it has rained allot here so i am afraid of setting up in the rain as we head south.

Lachlan with his new friend the praying mantis

Pippa

We meet Mum, Lachie and Josh at the airport at 12:30 and went back for lunch. We went in the pool and went down the street. The next day we left for Cooktown. At Cooktown we saw a statue of James Cook. We travelled for many hours til we reached Chilli Beach. Chilli Beach had lots of rubbish on it but also was very pretty. The next day our trailer broke down. Steve took us back to Archer River and we set up in the Dickins camper trailer. The next day we went for a swim in the Archer River. My favourite part of the Archer River was the snatchem strap. We travelled to some falls called Elliott and Twin Falls. My favourite was Elliott but you had to jump into it. Twin was very pretty too because it was split level.

We then went to Loyalty Beach and had dinner on the beach at a restaurant. We went fishing and I caught the only fish. We watched a movie under the stars. We left for the Cape the next day. When we got there we had to walk for 10 minutes and we reached a sign saying "You are at the most Northern point of the continent of Australia".

We headed back down south and went to Fruit Bat Falls. We had a short swim. We travelled through Lakefield National Park and saw pretty lilly ponds. After Lakefield we are staying at Port Douglas. We are staying in a hotel room and we overlook the bay.
Pippa with her big catch

Kathy

Well, what an adventure. Our trip to the Cape was an adventure rather than a holiday. We had a bit of a flying trip which involved lots of time sitting in cars and not so much seeing the sights. The weather hasn't been as great as we would have hoped so it meant we couldn't stay as much where we wanted or see the sights at their best.

There were, though, many highlights including swimming in the Archer River - beautiful white sand and lovely gnarly trees. We had a magnificent meal at the resturant at Loyalty Beach Tourist Park. Lovely meal on the beach front, great company and atmostphere. The day we went to the tip was great weather. From the walk to the tip you look out over beautiful tropical beaches - azure water, white sand and rainforest kissing the beach - magical. We've also had great company in Dad and Joshua and the wonderful Dickins, thanks guys for helping make the trip so special.

The challenges? Hmm where do I start? No, not really. Red dust that gets into everything (EVERYTHING) and then turns to sticky staining mud when it is wet. A birthday sitting beside the road as the trailer did the wheel bearings in both wheels but alls well that ends well Steve saved the day and zoomed to Archer River Roadhouse and back with the necessary spares. We also met a wonderful indigenous local who did all he could to help us.

We're now in Port Douglas doing it very tough in a lovely unit looking over the water. I know, someone's got to do it. We'll now be heading slowly down the coast so Rhys can visit sugar mills and hopefully we can dodge the wet and cold weather. Love to you all.

Kathy on "the tip"

Campbell

We've just been travelling for a long time. We reached Cairns. We met our friends the Dickins and Grandpa and Joshua. We travelled to Cooktown and then Chilli Beach. Chilli Beach was so polluted and I found two cocoanuts which we ate. The wheel bearings failed on our trailer so travelled in Steve's car to Archer River Roadhouse for the night. We went to Elliott Falls but there was actually three falls. We then went to Loyalty Beach near the tip of Australia and then we travelled to the tip. There was a very strong current and I went fishing at the jetty near Loyalty Beach. I caught two big fish.

We have been having a great time.

Campbell & Pippa at the James Cook Statue, Cooktown