Posted by: Jonathan
Upon returning the camper van to the rental agency, they offered us another relocation of an even bigger more baller camper that needed to go to Melbourne, just where we were headed. The camper had two double beds, toilet, shower with hot water tank, and full kitchen (even had an oven). We were all for it (even the Canadian sisters were down to join for a few more km's) that is until we were told we needed to get to Melbourne in under 14 days, a drive jam packed with sites that we had planned to do in 25-30 days. Even though relocating the camper would save us $1,300 in rental car costs, we didn't want to skip too many stops and leave Australia feeling rushed. So we decided to pass on the relocation and drop the big bucks on a 25 day camper van hire with plans to take it from Cairns to Melbourne.
Upon returning the camper van to the rental agency, they offered us another relocation of an even bigger more baller camper that needed to go to Melbourne, just where we were headed. The camper had two double beds, toilet, shower with hot water tank, and full kitchen (even had an oven). We were all for it (even the Canadian sisters were down to join for a few more km's) that is until we were told we needed to get to Melbourne in under 14 days, a drive jam packed with sites that we had planned to do in 25-30 days. Even though relocating the camper would save us $1,300 in rental car costs, we didn't want to skip too many stops and leave Australia feeling rushed. So we decided to pass on the relocation and drop the big bucks on a 25 day camper van hire with plans to take it from Cairns to Melbourne.
Let me try to familiarize you with what we are working with on this road trip. First off, his name is Hippie and he is proud of it.
He is a brand new (less than 3,000 km) Mitsubishi L300 five speed van. Up front are two captains chairs while the midsection is a bench and table that can be converted into a bed at night.
The rear houses a sink, stove, and mini fridge. There is also a dual battery system (with gauge) that charges as you drive so you can have lights, watch TV/movies, and your fridge stays cold while you sleep in rest stops or on side streets.
The van comes equipped with linens, towels, sleeping bags, pillows, table, chairs, awning, four outlets, safe, bowls, plates, saucers, silverware, cutlery, glasses, mugs, pots, pans, kettle, toaster, strainers, spatulas, stirrers, and several other kitchen utensils I am not even sure how to use. Hippie doesn't exactly leave us wanting. I even have a drawer devoted entirely to pasta.
Now that you and Hippie are acquainted it is time to hit the road. Our first day we got a late start and only logged a few hours before darkness descended on us. We pulled over at a rest stop and Jenn whipped up a tasty pot of spaghetti in between card games.
The next morning we got up, downed a few bowls of cereal, and were on the road by 8 A.M. For those of you who know Jenn know that her biggest weakness, bigger than garlic crust Domino's pizza and large amounts of chocolate combined, is touching a cute cuddly animal. Driving down the highway we passed the below billboard and well, enough said.
We found the Billabong Sanctuary, parked, and paid our entrance fees within minutes of seeing the advertisement. Our timing was impeccable; just as we arrived they were doing a demonstration on wombats (an animal Jenn and I knew nothing about). Once they finished talking we were able to sit next to one and pet it (they are incredibly soft).
Immediately after the wombats came the main attraction, at least for Jenn...the koalas.
When they said you could cuddle the koala and have your photo taken with it for an extra charge, Jenn went wild. She was the biggest six year old kid in the park, "can I please, can I hold it please please please." I was a bit worried since no price was too much (in Jenn's eyes) to have a koala in her arms and she was handing over a credit card with a $10,000 limit without hesitation; turns out $17 was all it took.
After the photo session we were allowed into a koala enclosure for some more up close encounters.
I think this was one of Jenn's top experiences on the entire trip. She has been talking abut it for days and still gets giddy every time she looks at the photo album.
Even though the park had already fulfilled Jenn's expectations, they still had more to offer. Next was the reptile exhibit where we were able to hold lizards, snakes, and a four year old croc.
Even though the park had already fulfilled Jenn's expectations, they still had more to offer. Next was the reptile exhibit where we were able to hold lizards, snakes, and a four year old croc.
We ran out to Hippie and whipped up a lunch of sandwiches and chips before returning in time for an informative speech about dingos, Australia's apex land predator. A few differences between dingos and dogs are that dingos ears are always erect, they can't bark, and their wrists rotate allowing them to open gates and bins when scrounging for food.
Finally came the highlight for me, the croc feeding. The salties (slang for salt water crocodiles) they had were huuuuuuge and hungry.
It was crazy watching them surge out of the water after food. The sound their jaws made when slamming shut was terrifying, especially when they got a piece of meat with bone and you heard it splinter into pieces.
While walking between the exhibits we came upon numerous kangaroos that were free to wander where they pleased in the sanctuary. They were incredibly friendly; even the mums with Joeys in their pouches were fond of a rub down.
Being an unknown and unplanned stop, Billabong Sanctuary blew our expectations away delivering a full day of up close and educational animal encounters.
That evening we drove into Conway National Park and camped with Hippie. The following morning we hiked to coral beach and spent a few hours enjoying the sun before hiking up to a lookout.
That evening we drove into Conway National Park and camped with Hippie. The following morning we hiked to coral beach and spent a few hours enjoying the sun before hiking up to a lookout.
We hiked back from the beach and headed to nearby Airlie Beach where we gathered supplies, found a home for Hippie, and boarded a sail boat. We booked a three day, three night cruise through the Whitsunday Islands and out to the Great Barrier Reef for SCUBA diving. All 98' of our vessel (Anaconda III) gently rocked as its over 4,000 square ft of sails rippled and popped in the wind as we left the harbor behind.
After a good nights rest in our cocoon we awoke to the sound of the breakfast bell and the sight of Whitehaven beach. Easily the best possible way for someone to wake me up, offering me food and a beach paradise. Whitehaven beach is a spectacular 6 km stretch of blindingly white silicon sand with crystal clear water lapping at its edge.
We stayed on the beach until the dingy retrieved us for lunch (all you can eat fully loaded tacos), I like the way this tour is shaping up.
As we ate the boat cruised around the bay to Hill Inlet where we climbed to a lookout. The view of the clear water and semi-submerged shifting sandbars was awesome.
Once I wore my trigger finger raw on Oprah 2.0's shutter button, we hiked down and out onto the exposed sand bars that were succumbing to the rising tide.
The remainder of the day and following two days were spent sailing between uninhabited islands, relaxing on beaches, and eating more than any human should. While this was awesome, it wasn't exactly what we were looking for. The boat was supposed to spend two days and a night diving on the Great Barrier Reef but due to extremely high winds and seas it never left the safety of the Whitsunday Islands. We did do some snorkeling in the islands but since the water was cold (wore a 3 mm wetsuit), the visibility three to five meters (due to the high winds), and the coral not the healthiest we have seen, we struggled to enjoy the underwater world. You can't control the weather or blame anyone for it, but we were a little bummed that in our year plus of traveling around the world, the weather had to blunder the most expensive tour we have purchased.
All in all, we did enjoy the boat, crew, food, and Whitsunday Islands but were really disappointed we were within 20 km of the Great Barrier Reef and never dove on it.
The night we returned to the harbor we went out for pizza and drinks with the captain, crew, and other travelers from our boat.
The night we returned to the harbor we went out for pizza and drinks with the captain, crew, and other travelers from our boat.
From Airlie Beach we pointed Hippie due south looking for another adventure.