After 5028 km we have now reached Cape Tribulation north of Cairns which marks the end of the coast road or rather the end of the sealed road. After here it’s a 4 X 4 track only for the next 800 Km to Cape York, the most northerly point on the East Coast. As we are not in a 4 X 4 and are not insured for unsealed roads this point marks the end of our journey (also we only have a few more days with the van in this area before dropping it of in Cairns).

Swimming in The Whitsundays

Over the past few days we made it to Airlie Beach which is a jumping off point for the Whitsunday Islands, and spent a day in the islands snorkelling and beach hopping including Whitehaven Beach which is reported to be one of the top ten beaches in the world. Whilst there is no doubt it is a great beach we have seen it equalled and bettered by some of the beaches on the West Coast of Scotland albeit snorkelling and swimming may require a greater commitment there!

Whitehaven Beach

However saying that it is currently stinger season here so swimming in the sea requires the use of a stinger suit comprising of a lightweight tight-fitting lycra all-in-one suit (I have spared you the photos).

Didn’t realise jelly fish were such a pain

We then continued North to the Atherton Tablelands using Mission Beach as a convenient overnight stop. Again it was a full day of driving almost continuously through sugar cane fields interspersed with mango orchards which gave way to banana plantations and finally tea and coffee plantations in the Tablelands. 

Testing the water!

The further North we come the hotter and more humid it gets and the number, size and potential fatality of the wildlife increases. We arrived today at the campsite at Cape Tribulation which is squeezed in between the rain forest and the sea. When we arrived the girl looking after the campsite said she could recommend some “croc free” swimming holes, sounded like she had some good local knowledge, when I ask how long she had been up her she said 3 weeks! A local walk was also suggested to be undertaken at low tide “just keep a look out for crocs when you wade across the creek halfway down the beach”.

Beach at Cape Tribulation