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McDermotts Travel Oz
McDermotts Travel Oz

McDermotts Travel Oz

We haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on our list. Read more🇦🇺Sydney
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  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Number Crunching

    July 26 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    7,568 total kms
    129 driving hours

    Big things:
    *Pineapple, Sunshine Coast
    *Rum bottle, Bundaberg
    *Crab, Miriamvale
    *Whale, Rockhampton
    *Mango, Bowen
    *Meat Ant, Augathella

    New club memberships: Great Keppel Sailing Club, Yeppoon; Tin Shed, Port Douglas

    Best caravan park: Cairns Coconut Resort
    Worst site: Paronella Park

    Best dining experience: Hot and cold seafood platter at the Tin Shed, Port Douglas
    Best value meal: $20 steak and schnitzels at the Seaview Hotel, Townsville

    Best coffee: One 23 Cafe, Narrabri
    Worst coffee: Discovery Resort, Undara

    Highlights:
    Anthony - Great Barrier Reef; Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures; Winton
    Fiona - Port Douglas; Charlotte Plains (hot bore baths)
    Josh - #
    Ryan - Great Barrier Reef; Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
    Lachlan - Great Barrier Reef    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Home Sweet Home

    July 25 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    We woke to a very chilly 2° in Narrabri this morning, with frost covering everything – a stark reminder that we're well and truly back to winter. 🥶

    From there, we headed home through the picturesque Hunter Valley, passing through the towns of Scone, Muswellbrook and Singleton before joining the M1 for the final stretch back into Sydney.

    As we rolled into suburbia, we certainly looked the part after our adventure, having collected a thick layer of mud and dust over the past few weeks.

    Thankfully, concerns about fuel supply before we started never became an issue on the road. Despite the uncertainty created by Trump's ongoing conflict with Iran and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, every fuel stop along the way was well stocked and operating as normal.

    The adventure may be over, but the photos, stories and memories will keep the experience alive for a long time yet.

    They say you start planning your next trip as soon as you return from the one you’re on, and they're not wrong. In fact, we've already started the countdown to our next big adventure.

    Bring on Central Australia 2027!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler
    1

    Narrabri NSW

    July 24 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Finally we’ve crossed back into NSW - it’s both happy and sad to be nearing home.

    We’ve now added sheep and goat to the roadkill count (along with kangaroos and cows) - not our personal tally, which thankfully still sits at zero, unless you count the unfortunate cane toad at Winton!

    After leaving Charlotte Plains, we travelled through cotton-growing country before stopping for brunch at St George where we used the opportunity to Google search our next destination: Narrabri it is.

    We rolled into Narrabri around 4 pm and checked into possibly the best caravan park ever. Our spacious drive-through ensuite site comes complete with courtesy soap and shampoo and, best of all, fluffy fresh towels - so luxurious after nearly four weeks of travelling.

    To celebrate our final night on the road, we walked to dinner at the RSL next door to the caravan park where we enjoyed a delicious backside of the road side creatures we’ve been dodging the past few days: Moo 🐄 😆    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Charlotte Plains QLD

    July 23 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Some days you just have to ‘soak it up’ 😁🥰

    Today’s drive took us from Charleville through Cunnamulla, where of course we stopped for a photo with the iconic Cunnamulla Fella. I’m pleased to report that at least four of us successfully resisted the urge to burst into song 🤦🏽‍♀️ I can also confirm it looks exactly the same as it did on our last visit in 2021!

    Our destination, Charlotte Plains is a working sheep station best known for its artesian hot baths, where naturally heated bore water direct from the Great Artesian Basin bubbles out at a constant 42°.

    After settling into camp and partially cooking ourselves in what is effectively Australia’s biggest sous vide 😆 we treated ourselves to the private baths just before sunset. Sitting in steaming artesian water against the backdrop of an endless outback sky was about as relaxing (and romantic) as it gets... but for three teenage boys 😜

    As darkness fell, everyone gravitated to the communal fire pit for happy hour, complete with live music. The boys kept us in good spirits (literally) by proving their talent on the infamous barrel-riding competition, winning us a few rounds of free drinks by making it across without falling🍷

    After one of the best sleeps I’ve had in ages with every muscle in my body completely relaxed, we woke to a chilly 7° and a spectacular sight: steam rising off the hot bore baths in the crisp morning air.

    Charlotte Plains had been on my list of places to visit for a while and it absolutely didn’t disappoint. In spite of it being off-road and off-grid, I can highly recommend staying a night.

    Hot tip (pardon the pun): Definitely recommend booking the private bath experience - it’s set a about 10km from the main bore site and hence the water comes out at a pleasantly warm 30°-ish. We happily soaked it up for the best part of 2 hours 🥰    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler
    Love a fuel stop literally on the side of the road
    Love a fuel stop literally on the side of the road

    Charleville QLD

    July 22 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Another day, another few hundred kilometres…

    Today we officially left the tropics, crossing back south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

    Our first stop on route was Barcaldine (pronounced Bar-call-din), home of the famous Tree of Knowledge. It was beneath this tree that a meeting was held in 1891 which ultimately led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party.

    From there, we continued along a surprisingly busy highway, sharing the road with an endless convoy of caravans and road trains - big ones - and at least one with a pretty scary tail end swagger 😬

    Somewhere between Blackall and Tambo we crossed the Wild Dog Barrier Fence - better known as the Dingo Fence - which stretches more than 5,500 kms to the Eyre Peninsula in SA. It was built in the 1880s to protect sheep from dingoes and wild dog and remains one of the longest man-made structures on Earth.

    Further down the road, we stopped in Augathella for a happy snap with the town’s giant meat ant - the six legged variety that is 😆

    By late afternoon, we rolled into Charleville - home of stars, secrets (so they claim) and some of Australia’s darkest night skies. We checked into the Cobb & Co Caravan Park before joining the grey nomads around the communal fire pit for happy hour, where I’m pretty sure Anth and I lowered the average age by at least a decade 😊 We now have a new wealth of travel knowledge and a thousand more places to explore on future road trips.

    P.S. It seems every town out this way is keen to claim a piece of the Qantas story. Even Tambo proudly declares itself the site of the airline’s first crash!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Longreach QLD

    July 21 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Blue skies, warm winter sunshine and an easy travel day – perfect 👌

    After a relatively short (200 km) drive from Winton, we rolled into Longreach Tourist Park by mid morning under yet another picture-perfect Queensland winter sky.

    Along the way, we passed a sign announcing that we'd entered the Lake Eyre Basin. Who even knew it extends this far north and east?!

    After a quick dash into town for essential supplies we headed to the QANTAS Founders Museum for a guided tour. Longreach has such an important place in Australia's aviation history and the museum does a fantastic job of bringing that story to life. Walking through the exhibits and hearing the stories behind the people, aircraft and pioneering spirit that helped create our national airline was both fascinating and inspiring.

    Our guide Ryan’s mix of knowledge, storytelling, humour and quirky aviation trivia made the whole tour thoroughly engaging from start to finish. Easily one of the highlights of the trip and well worth a visit.

    We also discovered a friendly rivalry over the true home of QANTAS: Winton claims the idea, Cloncurry the first registered address and Longreach the place where the airline really took flight, with the original hangar and workshop established here. I give Longreach the win 😊

    We returned to the museum after dark for the Luminescent Longreach Light Show - a spectacular retelling of the history of QANTAS projected onto the side of a retired Boeing 747. Watching Australia’s aviation story unfold across the nose and fuselage of an actual Jumbo Jet was a pretty unique way to end the day. Again, highly recommend.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Dinosaurs QLD

    July 20 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Like a day on the set of Jurassic Park…

    This morning we visited the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum located just outside of Winton. Perched on what’s known as The Jump-Up this aspirational museum is home to the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world.

    Our visit began with a guided tour through the Fossil Preparation Laboratory, where we learned how they painstakingly excavate, preserve and reconstruct individual bones. We then moved through the Collection Centre, where we saw the almost-complete skeletons of ‘Banjo’ and ‘Matilda’. These discoveries are particularly special because skulls and tails are rarely found. It makes sense when you think about it - they’re the bits that remained sticking out of the mud when a dinosaur came to grief and were therefore often the first to be picked apart by scavengers long before the remaining bones had a chance to fossilise.

    Next we caught a glorified golf cart train to the Dinosaur Canyon site where we were shown reconstructed footprints and explored the ‘March of the Titanosaurs’ exhibit. For someone who can take or leave dinosaurs I admit it was all very well done.

    We then made the 130km dash out to the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, where more than 3,300 footprints left by around 150 long-extinct dinosaurs are preserved in rock. This snapshot of a few terrifying moments has been frozen in time, immortalising the event and making Winton home to the only known dinosaur stampede in the world. Very cool.

    For me, this was the highlight of the day, seeing the actual dinosaur footprints in situ on the rock bed along with the fascinating story they tell. That said, it was a 260 km round trip for a 45 minute talk in a big tin shed. #archeaologistnerds🤓🦖🧐

    We ended an epic day with dinner at the Tattersals Hotel (eventually after an hour+ long wait for food) before sitting back in an old school canvas sling chair for a nostalgic screening in the historic open air cinema - one of only two of its kind left operating in Australia. A fun experience.

    P.S We also did our bit for the greater good on the way home ensuring there’s two fewer cane toads terrorising the land 😆    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Winton QLD

    July 19 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Whoever coined the phrase “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” clearly never drove from Undara to Winton. Queensland highways leave a lot to be desired.

    Our longest travel day so far began early, sharing the highway with free range cows who seemed completely unconcerned with self-preservation as evidenced by the big bovine roadkill 😳 And we thought dawn was kangaroo hour. “Out of the way dopey” 😆

    After refuelling at the Oasis Roadhouse - also claiming the title of Australia’s smallest bar - we proceeded along the Kennedy Developmental Road towards Hughenden. The road itself was an adventure with multiple creek crossings before the bitumen abruptly ended 😳 Somehow they managed to seal 300 km on either side but left a random 20 km gravel section in the middle. Why?!

    We stopped for lunch in Hughenden beside a weathered dinosaur marking the start of Australia’s Dinosaur Trail - a sign of what’s to come.

    The final stretch of developmental road into Winton, although technically sealed, was among the worst roads we've driven anywhere in Australia - rough, potholed and relentlessly bumpy - so bad that someone had actually taken a spray can and written “slow down” in big letters across the road 😆 Honestly, I preferred the dirt section and that says a lot coming from me!

    We finally rolled into Winton around 4:30 pm and checked into the Winton Wanderers Caravan Park (memorable for its pleasant but stinky bore water showers) before heading back into town to the North Gregory Hotel for dinner, where we were treated to classic live Aussie music by Matt Scullion. He was actually pretty entertaining 😁

    Fun facts: On April 6, 1895, “Waltzing Matilda”- Australia’s beloved unofficial anthem - was played in public for the very first time at the North Gregory Hotel. Furthermore, during the 1920s, quiet yet pivotal meetings were held within the Hotel as Winton locals laid the foundations for what would ultimately become QANTAS, the world-renowned airline.    Read more

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    Lava Tubes QLD

    July 18 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    This morning we enjoyed a campfire bush breakfast with billy tea hosted by the resort, under the watchful eyes of the resident kookaburras who didn’t mind stealing a sausage or two if you weren’t paying attention 😆

    As the day warmed up, we joined a tour of Undara’s incredible lava tubes. Our guide, Kenneth, was fantastic, super informative and full of fascinating facts. Formed by a series of volcanic eruptions 190,000 years ago, the Undara lava tubes are essentially nature's longest underground pipelines. Remarkably, the combined lava flows from the five nearby volcanoes stretch some 116 kms, all formed over a period of just 20 years - a mere weekend in geological terms!

    Our first stop was the iconic Archway Cave - the postcard image everyone associates with Undara - before heading into Stephenson’s Cave. Thanks to this year’s unusually long wet season the cave was still flooded meaning we spent much of the tour wading through crotch-deep water. To our surprise, the crystal clear water was beautifully tempered rather than icy cold. Apparently it’s the very same water served throughout the resort - reassuringly filtered of the otherwise distinctive taste of bat you know what! 🦇

    The rest of the afternoon was spent soaking up the sunshine and scavenging firewood to justify another campfire tonight.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Undara QLD

    July 17 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today we left the lush rainforest behind and headed south-west crossing the Atherton Tablelands and joining the legendary Savannah Way into the dusty outback that Far North Queensland hides beyond its coastline.

    Our first stop on route was Mareeba and the famous Coffee Works (purely for research purposes, of course 😉) where coffee and chocolate collide in what can only be described as my kind of factory. Actually it was a bit overrated, but I admit the coffee was good.

    We also passed through Ravenshoe, proudly holding the title of Queensland’s highest town at around 930m above sea level. The difference in temperature was noticeable at a refreshing 21 degrees.

    Unfortunately, a relaxing soak at the nearby Innot Hot Springs wasn’t possible as the campsite was fully booked. From what we could see (and judging by the tourist brochure), it looked worth a visit. Definitely one for the list if we ever make it back this way.

    As we headed further inland, I was surprised to see so many termite mounds. I hadn’t associated them with North Queensland, but as it turns out termites thrive across almost the entire state 😐

    After making it to Undara and checking in at the Discovery Resort, we headed back out to explore Kalkani Crater, an extinct volcanic cone within the Undara Volcanic National Park. Apparently it dates back approximately 190,000 years.

    We completed part of the crater rim walk before returning in time for happy hour and sunset drinks at the resort – enjoyed from the relative comfort of a refurbished railway carriage! Feeling adventurous, we also tried an Iron Pot cocktail (an ode to the construction crew who in 1870 built the local telegraph line) described as being “born where fire meets dust and stories linger in the air – for long nights under the outback sky”. Bring it on I say!    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Daintree Rainforest QLD

    July 16 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    Today we made it to the furthest north any of us have ever travelled in Australia – Cape Tribulation, where two World Heritage icons meet: the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

    Our pre-booked early morning Daintree River crocodile cruise was cancelled after the boat apparently still hadn’t been repaired following it being washed out to sea earlier this year in the floods. In hindsight, it was probably a blessing in disguise. We'd already had a great crocodile experience at Hartley’s, so we happily accepted the refund and moved on.

    We crossed the mighty Daintree River on the cable ferry before stopping at the Daintree Discovery Centre for a peaceful wander through one of the world’s oldest surviving rainforests. At around 180 million years old, the Daintree predates both the Amazon and the dinosaurs.

    Next came the obligatory stop at the famous Daintree Ice Cream Company, where every flavour is made from exotic tropical fruit grown on the property. Our tasting platter was educational:
    * Durian – smells terrible, tastes terrible (never again)
    * Coconut & Lemon Myrtle – tastes good but smells like expensive hand soap
    * Yellow Sapote – delicious, like creamy vanilla custard
    * Black Sapote – remarkably similar to chocolate pudding
    * Soursop – creamy lemonade and easily our favourite
    * Plus the more conventional mango, coconut and wattleseed, the latter tasting like a bush tucker latte. 😋

    From there we followed the spectacular coastal road winding through dense rainforest, with signs every few kilometres reminding us to be "Casso-wary".

    At Cape Tribulation we dipped our toes into the Coral Sea. Although beautiful the beach wasn't quite what I’d imagined with its dark sand and surprisingly murky water, not to mention the crocodile and jellyfish warning signs everywhere.

    After soaking up the view, we officially began the long journey south, when suddenly we spotted a real life cassowary casually wandering beside the road. Very cool.

    And as if that wasn't enough wildlife for one day, a missed turn on our way home had the fortunate benefit of spotting a real wild crocodile lounging on the banks of the Mowbray River - which we subsequently learned runs alongside our caravan park 😳    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Great Barrier Reef QLD

    July 15 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    We came, we saw, we snorkelled and it was great - pun intended. Another bucket list ✅

    We were very fortunate with the weather, scoring a perfect blue-sky day for our Great Barrier Reef adventure aboard Wavelength 6.

    The tour was perfect for us - snorkellers only (no scuba divers competing for space), mostly adults (Lachie was almost the youngest onboard) and blessedly free of incompetent tourists.

    Even better, the crew were actual marine biologists who clearly loved what they do. As we explored three different sites on Opal Reef - namely RayBan, Mojo and Bashful Bommie - they explained the reef’s ecology and pointed out marine life we would have otherwise swum straight past.

    The snorkelling itself was spectacular, with something new to discover at each site, including vivid corals, enormous giant clams, clownfish (Nemo) and other colourful tropical fish - even a turtle!

    By the time we reached Bashful Bommie, the tide had dropped enough for parts of the reef to emerge above the water, like a flooded lunar landscape with coral stretching as far as the eye could see.

    A special mention also goes to the environmentally friendly rice-paper seasick bags, which dissolve in water, so if needed you simply toss them overboard - instant fish food bombs. Just don’t hang onto one after using it unless you enjoy the sensation of a ticking time bomb dissolving in your hands.

    Thankfully, us McDermotts once again proved our sea legs. Despite warnings of a rough crossing, it was little more than a gentle rock - nothing compared to our infamous 2025 shark boat adventure.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Port Douglas QLD

    July 14 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    My new happy place and the northernmost destination of our trip (day trips excepted)! ☀️🌴

    A very short drive this morning had us arriving in Port Douglas and checking into the BIG 4 Glengarry Holiday Park by late morning.

    The drive up the Captain Cook Highway had Great Ocean Road vibes, but with palm trees and much warmer weather!

    After an early lunch, we all made the most of what the boys have declared to be the best caravan park pool and waterslides ever. Tall, fast and best of all no queues. The pool itself was a very pleasant 28°. Perfect 👌

    Walking along Port Douglas' main street later in the day we stumbled across a Coffin Bay Oyster vending machine. What’s more, the lady stacking it was the original owner of Oysters HQ in Coffin Bay SA itself and was the creator of the first amazing seafood platter we had there in 2025. She was as disappointed as we were to hear that our return visit earlier this year hadn't quite lived up to the memory.

    We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the heart of Port Douglas before finishing the day with a spectacular hot and cold seafood platter at the Tin Shed overlooking Trinity Bay, watching all the incoming reef tour boats trying to spot the one we’ll be heading out on tomorrow.

    Positive vibes for another beautiful day 🥰    Read more

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    Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures QLD

    July 13 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today we followed the Captain Cook Highway north to Wangetti to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, largely for Anth to relive memories from his previous visit here… sometime last century!

    Some things haven’t changed – the crocs are still massive and very up close, although the safety standards have apparently improved. We’re all pleased to report the day more than lived up to expectations.

    The action shows were great. The presenters had real personality, were funny without trying too hard and really knew their stuff. I was even genuinely engaged in the snake talk, which is saying something.

    The signature ‘Crocodile Attack’ show was the standout. The feature crocs weren’t there by accident, they’d been chosen especially as they were deemed too aggressive for communal living after attacking other crocs in the pond. Hence they were banished to solo pens and turned into performance stars instead. They genuinely seemed intent on killing the presenters 😆

    The famous lagoon boat ride was also a highlight, getting right up close watching chickens being fed to the crocs.

    Compared to Australia Zoo, at half the price Hartley’s was easily twice the value. If I could only choose one croc‑based experience, this would be it.    Read more

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    Kuranda QLD

    July 12 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today we ticked off Cairns’ No. 1 attraction, combining the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a day in quirky Kuranda.

    We arrived early at Freshwater Station only to find the train was delayed an hour due to a rail union strike in Brisbane! Once on board, we enjoyed the scenery as we slowly chugged up the mountain.

    Built over 130 years ago following the discovery of gold in the region, the train winds its way through rainforest, tunnels and across towering bridges. We disembarked briefly for a photo at Barron Falls, before arriving in the eclectic, hippie rainforest outpost of Kuranda Village.

    The village and original Rainforest Markets are an experience - most politely described as ‘bohemian’ with a mix of stalls offering everything from dreamcatchers to incense, tie-die t-shirts, crocheted hats, assorted dead animal products, potential food poisoning and someone who promised to read my aura 😳 We politely declined all of it and instead opted for lunch at the Kuranda Hotel, where we embraced the tourist experience with crocodile and kangaroo spring rolls. Surprisingly delicious - at least on the way down.

    We mixed it up for the downhill journey aboard the Skyrail, gliding above the ancient rainforest. We stopped at Red Peak for a short boardwalk among the towering trees, all part of an ecosystem estimated to be up to 180 million years old. Apparently we were among the last passengers to ride the original 1995 gondolas, which will be replaced in the coming months with brand new glass bottomed ones. Missed it by that much 🤏

    Back in Cairns, the boys detoured for a quick hit at the driving range while I braved the local Woolworths - easily the most intimidating experience of the day. I’m proud to say I don’t look like a West Cairns local!

    As if the driving range wasn’t enough competition, the boys finished the day with a fiercely contested mini-golf championship back at the caravan park.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Cairns QLD

    July 11 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We wasted no time leaving our mud pit at Mena Creek this morning. In fact, I reckon it was our fastest pack-up ever - a record time from waking up to rolling out in under 15 minutes. From there, we weaved our way through the sugar cane and banana plantations towards Innisfail, criss-crossing the cane train rail lines that are such a defining feature of north Queensland.

    We stopped for breakfast at the Babinda Bakery (credit to their pies) before making an impromptu detour to the Babinda Boulders. Turned out to be well worth it. The crystal-clear freshwater swimming spot was stunning and the boys had a great time trying to dam the creek with the smaller rocks.

    By midday, we arrived in Cairns to a magical hot, sunny afternoon. We quickly checked into Cairns Coconut Resort on a fabulous ensuite site. The resort facilities are excellent, hence we spent the afternoon cooling off in the pool and water slides. Anth and I also enjoyed some relaxation time in the adults-only spa!

    Later in the afternoon, we took a drive into town to explore Cairns, starting along the Esplanade. While the lagoon pool is beautifully done and clearly the hub of activity, the rest of the city felt a little tired, dirty and not altogether welcoming.    Read more

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    Paronella Park QLD

    July 10 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Everyone has a dream… today was not mine 🙃

    We set off from Townsville under blue skies and sunshine, stopping at the Frosty Mango for a delicious mango soft serve (highly recommend). However, by the time we reached Tully it was living up to its reputation as one of Australia’s wettest towns. Then we arrived at Paronella Park…

    After a check-in process that took way longer than necessary, I think the old lady at reception sensed my fear and deliberately assigned us the muddiest site in the entire campground – aka the paddock behind the Mena Creek Hotel. It’s so boggy we’ve had to leave the car attached to the caravan just so the jockey wheel doesn’t disappear into ankle-deep mud. Needless to say, I’m not impressed.

    Once I’d embraced the situation, we joined a guided tour of Paronella Park. The park itself is fascinating. A beautiful rainforest setting wrapped around the extraordinary dreams of José Paronella, who transformed a patch of tropical Queensland into a whimsical collection of castles, bridges and gardens. Time, floods and cyclones have all left their mark, creating a wonderfully atmospheric, almost lost-world feel.

    After an average dinner at the Mena Creek Hotel, we returned to the Park for the evening experience, which consisted of a light display set to a handful of musical pieces. It was pretty enough, but didn’t quite live up to the hype.

    Paronella Park is absolutely worth visiting for its quirky history and rainforest beauty, but if I’m being honest, the daytime tour was the highlight and we probably (definitely) wouldn’t recommend staying overnight.

    On the plus side, the publican who clearly had no idea (or teeth), mistakenly served us an expensive bottle of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon without charging us. Joke’s on her 😁🍷    Read more

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    Cudtheringa QLD

    July 9 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    This ‘second summer’ business is starting to wear a bit thin. Where’s the sunny dry season we signed up for? C’mon Kwee-lan… do better.

    Undeterred, we set off this morning to explore Townsville, beginning with the iconic Castle Hill Lookout. Rising almost 300 m above the city, this enormous pink granite monolith right in the heart of town provides spectacular 360° views across the city, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island.

    Next stop was The Strand, Townsville’s stunning waterfront promenade. With palm lined beaches, a water park and swimming lagoon, it’s easy to see why it’s regarded as one of Australia’s best urban foreshore precincts. Had it not been blowing an absolute gale, we would have gone for a swim. Instead, we took turns on one of the hire e-scooters - once we’d finally worked out the app 🙃

    From there we did a drive-by of the marina before checking out Queensland Country Bank Stadium, home of the North Queensland Cowboys. Sadly (for the boys), there was nowhere to safely pull over for a photo with JT - the statue that is, not the man himself.

    In the spirit of embracing cowboy country, we browsed through the local western wear stores including Ringers Western, Ariat and Donohues. We briefly entertained the idea of dressing the part until we discovered a shirt from Donohues was $450!

    Honourable mentions for the day go to the constant Chinooks doing laps overhead from the nearby RAAF base and the pit crews busily transforming the city streets for this weekend’s Townsville 500. Nothing quite says “tropical Queensland” like helicopters overhead and race cars warming up around the corner.

    P.S. Cudtheringa is the traditional Aboriginal name for Castle Hill.    Read more

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    Townsville QLD

    July 8 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we epitomised bravery – wearing NSW Blues fan gear deep inside enemy territory, north of the Tropic of Capricorn, on Origin decider night no less!

    We departed Airlie Beach at a respectable time this morning under yet another sun shower. Honestly, Queensland’s weather seems incapable of committing to a single season for more than about 20 minutes.

    It was a relatively short drive today, with a detour for coffee and brunch in Bowen. Naturally, no visit would be complete without stopping for a happy snap at the Big Mango. At around 10m tall and modelled on the iconic Kensington Pride variety, it’s a fitting tribute to Australia’s biggest mango-growing region.

    We rolled into Townsville around lunchtime to a gloriously sunny 27° afternoon. After checking into our lake view ensuite site at Townsville Lakes Holiday Park, the boys headed straight for the pool while Anthony tackled the day’s most important task – fixing the caravan TV aerial to ensure reception for tonight’s State of Origin decider!

    Come game time however, we followed a hot tip from a local (potentially risky move in itself) and ventured to the Seaview Hotel on the Townsville waterfront. Apart from us, just about every person in the place is wearing Queensland colours. Wish us luck! If this is my last post, it’s been a pleasure 😆

    P.S. Final score 30-12, go the blues! Our local team curse prevails - wherever we go the local team loses!    Read more

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    Whitsundays QLD

    July 7 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Today we boarded the SeaLink Reef Quest III for a day cruising through the spectacular Whitsundays. The itinerary included a full circumnavigation of Whitsunday Island before dropping anchor at the iconic Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet Lookout.

    After an entertaining shuttle bus ride from our accommodation, on which the driver took great delight in convincing the international guests that almost every creature in Australia is out to get you, we departed the marina at Shute Harbour and motored out past Daydream Island and South Molle Island via the rather ominously named Unsafe Passage - somewhat fitting given the weather at the time. Queensland is currently experiencing what's being dubbed a ‘second summer’ delaying the arrival of the dry season. As a result, the morning wasn't exactly inspiring confidence.

    By lunchtime we’d arrived at the famous Whitehaven Beach beneath a blanket of cloud. However, by the time the tender dropped us ashore - albeit after an almost hour-long delay due to a mechanical issue - the sun had burst through, revealing the beach's famous white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water.

    From the beach, we completed a short uphill walk to the Whitsunday Lookout where sweeping views stretched along Whitehaven Beach and across to Hamilton Island. Back down on the beach, the boys enjoyed a refreshing swim and a game of ball in the shallows.

    Back aboard the boat, as we set off for Hill Inlet, the heavens opened. However, no sooner had we dropped anchor and made our way across to the island the rain eased. By the time we'd completed the short rainforest walk to the lookout, the clouds parted once again and we were blessed with sunshine just as we stepped onto the viewing platform. Positive vibes for the win!

    On the way back down, we were fortunate to sample green ants. Surprisingly citrusy, with a lingering tingle on the tongue. Who knew they made their nests in trees and one colony can take over up to 100 trees! We'll have to try the gin they make from them one day 😋

    We ended with dinner at the Airlie Beach Hotel, reflecting on a day that somehow delivered all four seasons without ever really getting in the way.

    Fun Fact: The Whitsundays were named by Captain James Cook as he sailed through the islands on 3 June 1770, the day on which Christians celebrated the Festival of Whit Sunday that year. However, he forgot to allow for the International Date Line, so technically they should probably be called the Whitmondays 🙃    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Airlie Beach QLD

    July 6 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Argh Queensland - beautiful one day, cyclonic the next!

    A long travel day today, made even longer by slow roadworks zones along the Bruce Highway and an unscheduled stop at Jayco Mackay to resolve an issue with the caravan’s hot water system - fortunately a quick and simple one button fix.

    What started as a beautiful sunny morning soon gave way to drizzle and grey skies. Along the way I had plenty of time to perfect the fine art of windscreen photography from a moving vehicle at 100 km/h. Hardly award-winning material, but it did keep me entertained for at least a few minutes 😂

    We finally rolled into Discovery Parks Airlie Beach around 3:30 pm under sunny skies, only for the rain to return just in time for us to unhitch the van and set up camp. The weather clearly has a sense of humour 😐

    Channeling positive vibes for tomorrow’s Whitsundays boat cruise 🤞🏼    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Yeppoon QLD

    July 5 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today’s drive took us from Bargara to Yeppoon, with a small detour for lunch in the historic town of 1770 (or Seventeen Seventy). This was the site of Captain James Cook’s second landing on the Australian mainland in May 1770, giving it the distinction of being regarded as the birthplace of Queensland.

    It was actually quite charming and far more impressive than I remembered from my previous visit in 1990, with funky cafes and some fancy new developments.

    The rest of the drive was a mixed bag as we ticked off a couple more entries from Australia’s “Big Things” collection: the Big Crab at Miriam Vale and the Big Whale at Rockhampton - both worth exactly the amount of time it takes to pull over, “take a photo Fi” and keep moving.

    The highway featured some of the roughest surfaces we’ve encountered so far, up there with NSW standards 😆, while the Great Dividing Range provided a constant backdrop to our left.

    At Rockhampton we officially crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and entered the tropics. We celebrated by promptly turning the air conditioning up a notch to counter the balmy 27° outside.

    By late afternoon we rolled into Yeppoon and checked into the NRMA Capricorn Yeppoon Holiday Park on a spacious ensuite site before making a beeline for the town centre. We were genuinely impressed - the beachfront foreshore has been beautifully done, with landscaped parklands, wide walking paths and a fantastic free lagoon pool overlooking Keppel Bay. Unfortunately, a howling wind ruled out any thoughts of a swim.

    Instead, we sought refuge over dinner at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club (where we’re now its newest members), enjoying great food and an even better position overlooking the beach.    Read more

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    Bundaberg QLD

    July 4 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    An early 4 am start this morning to watch Australia crash out of the knockout round of the Football World Cup in an agonising penalty shootout. A heartbreaking way to go, but on the plus side it meant we were all awake, packed and on the road bright and early for our next destination: Bundaberg.

    We enjoyed the Bruce Highway fatigue-zone trivia signs as we headed further north - a great initiative and fun until one of the question signs had been knocked over (#ironic). The answer board a few kms down the road proudly declared “tie-row”, but without the question we’re still trying to reverse-engineer it like some bizarre road trip version of Jeopardy! So far we’ve got absolutely nothing - any ideas?

    We rolled into Bundaberg just before midday and headed straight for the Bundaberg Rum Distillery where we perused the museum. It turns out the Bundy story started with ten minutes in the Royal Hotel where a room full of sugar growers agreed that pouring molasses down the drain was madness. Over 130 years later, Australians are still reaping the benefits of what may well be the nation’s most successful pub meeting.

    A few tastings and a bunch of merch later, we headed for the other notable attraction in town - Bundaberg Brewed Drinks - where we’re now immortalised on our own ginger beer bottle 😁

    From there, a quick drive through the main street was uninspiring so we promptly headed for our campsite for the night at the Discovery Park Bargara in the ‘fancy’ part of town.

    This is definitely the place to be. It’s got a great relaxed vibe with spacious shady sites immediately opposite the Surf Club and beach. And even better, the host remembered my name from check in and personally wished me a lovely evening as she rode home along the beachfront. You don’t get that every day.

    We enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the beachfront before joining fellow campers for dinner the camp kitchen.    Read more

  • McDermotts Travel OzQLD Road Trip 2026Traveler

    Australia Zoo QLD

    July 3 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Crikey, what a day! Can you even call yourself an Aussie if you don’t visit Australia Zoo at least once in your lifetime?

    By the time we arrived just after 10 am, the place was already heaving with people. We headed straight for the reptile exhibits, then made our way to the Asian precinct, where we managed to score seats in the small amphitheatre and patiently waited for the tiger presentation.

    It was a bit of an anti climax. Despite an elaborate setup featuring meat suspended from bamboo poles and another piece temptingly placed in the middle of a pool, accessible only via a log bridge, the tiger they brought out was blind and consequently didn’t discover any of it. Instead, it wandered around while the presenter fumbled through what felt more like a conservation fundraising pitch than an animal demonstration. We all walked away a little underwhelmed.

    Things picked up in the African precinct with giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs and meerkats - always crowd-pleasers. We snapped a few photos before making tracks back to the Crocoseum to secure good seats for the famous Wildlife Warriors show.

    It was slow to get started but once the crocodiles came out it did get entertaining. We were genuinely impressed to see actual Terri, Bindi and Chandler Irwin all presenting the show in person. We certainly weren’t expecting that, and it was a nice surprise.

    By day’s end (close to 15,000 steps later), I think we’d covered the entire park at least twice. I have to say the animal enclosures were all well thought out, the grounds were immaculate, and the whole place was incredibly well organised. I think we just expected a little more spectacle in the spirit of ‘Crikey’.

    To cap off a top day we cashed in our trivia winnings for happy hour drinks by pool. Thanks Sunshine Coast, it’s been great.    Read more

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    Noosa QLD

    July 2 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Now this is my kind of winter! ☀️

    Today we headed to the northern end of the Sunshine Coast to beautiful Noosa. Having never been before, I have mixed feelings.

    The beach was absolutely stunning – crystal clear water, rolling waves and wide stretches of golden sand. But Hastings Street - OMG, hectic! To be fair, it was vibrant and buzzing with cafés, restaurants and boutiques, but definitely a bit too busy and fancy for our style.

    We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the surf before settling in for lunch at the Surf Club (much more our vibe), where we scored a prime table overlooking the beach.

    While wandering along Hastings Street afterwards, the boys suddenly spotted “Catman” and insisted on getting a selfie. I had absolutely no idea who he was, but apparently he's a Japanese cyclist who became an internet sensation after riding across Australia dressed as a cat 🙄 Of course, we have social media to thank for this brief brush with a celebrity 🤦🏽‍♀️

    To top off a great day, the ‘McSmart Meals’ (aka us - team named by the boys) dominated caravan park trivia, taking out the win by a single point! 🏆

    Not a bad way to spend a winter's day.    Read more

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    Glass House Mountains QLD

    July 1 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we packed in Australia’s biggest art and craft market, a 1 kg doughnut, an unexpected back-road adventure, a giant pineapple and a beach sunset!

    First up, we headed to the Eumundi Markets where we wandered the hundreds of stalls selling everything from coffee, handmade jewellery, hot chilli sauces, t-shirts, bratwursts and the “I definitely don’t need this but I’m buying it anyway” purchases! We got them all, almost… Fortunately my sanity was saved by the old bloke selling bird whistles who could only operate in cash, which we “didn’t have” 😉

    The markets were impressive, though I challenge the claim to Australia’s biggest - I’d say the Salamanca Markets in Hobart would give them a good run for money. Mind you, by the time we made it back to the car around 10:30 am, the traffic queue waiting to get in stretched for what looked like at least a kilometre. Glad we arrived early!

    Next stop on our Sunshine hinterland adventure was the Kenilworth Bakery for their famous 1 kg doughnut. We (all 5 of us) devoured the custard and cream creation effortlessly. That said, we have a new respect for the current record holder who somehow demolished the entire thing solo in under two minutes 😳

    From there we headed to the Glass House Mountains Lookout at the mercy of our GPS, which clearly decided adventure was in order as we quickly found ourselves on increasingly questionable back roads, culminating in what can only be described as a goat track with a gradient pushing 10%. I was very happy to engage 4WD for that one.

    Ironically, some of the best views of the Glass House Mountains came from that random back road. When we finally reached the official lookout it was actually a bit underwhelming, you couldn’t even see all of the peaks! Surely they could have found a more inspiring vantage point.

    A few quick photos later we moved on to the Big Pineapple, reliving a childhood memory from decades ago. Suffice to say it’s still just a giant pineapple - a now a very expensive one - that definitely doesn’t need revisiting again for at least another 40 years 🍍😂

    We wound our way home along the Sunshine Coast, beach hopping before returning to the caravan in time for happy hour and dinner.    Read more

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