Watching mist lift over Eungella

Watching the cloud/mist retreat in the morning, followed by our typical cereal and fruit brekky from our car fridge and grocery bag.

Inland to Eungella, on a tip from Greg

We detoured inland, thanks to a suggestion from Greg Hayden, to Eungella National Park. We managed to spot a couple of platypuses and many turtles at Broken River. Amazing view, delicious pub dinner, quaint accommodation and friendly staff at The Eungella Chalet.

Platypuses at Broken River

Platypuses in Broken River, Eungella National Park.

A picnic-from-the-fridge lunch in Proserpine

Top up charge in Proserpine. We walked around looking for some lunch, but found nothing open within walking distance. So, we had cheese, crackers, quince paste, cherries, nuts from our car fridge and grocery bag, in the delightful cool escape from the blaring heat and humidity.

Caraoke, sheltered from the heat

Sheltered from the heat and the covid cruisers in the cool Tesla, while singing some Caraoke, probably to the amusement of the Airlie Beach visitors and locals.

Tourists ignoring the swim warnings, at Airlie Beach

Our final morning in Airlie Beach, at Airlie Beach Foreshore Markets, along with a cruise boat load of tourists, some of whom ignored or missed the warning signs to take a swim in the ocean. We watched with a mix of envy and fear as they cooled off from the heat.

Erin ferries over for one more night, at The Sebel

We stayed at the The Sebel Whitsundays, using more of my Luxury Escapes credits. Our daughter, Erin, ferried over from her workplace/home in Hamilton Island for one more get together before we head back south. I am dumbfounded by the parking of a couple of drivers (Ford Everest and Mitsubishi something), right up against the line 🙄, leaving no/little room for the next car.

Auld Lang Syne, on the Tesla, in Airlie Beach

Belated Happy New Year with one of our kids, Erin, back in Airlie Beach, with the Auld Lang Syne Tesla light show. This was the first day she had seen the Tesla. In 30 seconds, she went from "what is this?" to selling it to the passers by. They asked many questions, so we fired up the "Carol in the Bells" light show and even tried our first auto summon.

Up Mount Inkerman, knowing we'd recover the charge

The trees and/or birds in the parking on the main street in Ayr had left crap all over the car. Heading south from Ayr towards Bowen, we saw a steep drive up to Mount Inkerman lookout. Knowing that we’d recover the “fuel” on the way back down (thanks to the EV’s regenerative braking), we sidetracked up the mountain to check out the view, and the wallabies, and so I could eat my half of the pineapple cream pie 😋.

A bollard manoeuvre, and meeting Patty

Manoeuvred my way around the bollards with a three point turn again, at the RACQ Chargefox charger. Chatted briefly with Scott (before me in a blue Tesla Model 3 with bikes on a rack) and Patty afterwards. Patty is today moving with his dogs up from The Sunshine Coast to Port Douglas. His wife is driving another Tesla. They are planning to “hippy-fy” their new place with EV chargers for guests.

Mexican lunch at Noodies, Magnetic Island

Drove to the other side of the island for a great Mexican lunch at The Noodies Restaurant in Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island.

Power points spotted on the Magnetic Island ferry

Catching the ferry back to the mainland from Magnetic Island. Found power points on the ferry for 10A, 15A and five pin 32A. We asked the crew if we could charge if needed, to which they said “I don’t see why not”. Good to know for any future emergency. But we were already fully charged from the normal power point at the accommodation last night, and since the ferry is diesel powered, it would reduce the advantage of having an electric car 😉.

Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island, $150 a night

Found this great place, for $150 per night (last minute rates, I think) at Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island. Walked to: - Lunch at Picnic bay hotel. Note my excellent burger halving! - Swimming at Picnic Bay Beach, protected by stinger nets. But the water is so warm, that it’s not really refreshing. - Delicious Italian dinner at Mamma Roma. - Walk along the esplanade with the frogs. Had a chat with our hosts about EVs and took Jeremy for a spin in the Tesla. I think they’re now planning to add an EV charge point in the car port and maybe buying an EV themselves.

Curlews, rock wallabies and tropical fish

Curlew, rock wallabies and tropical fish.

Driving the Tesla onto the Magnetic Island ferry

We drove the Tesla onto the ferry for the 35 minute trip over to Magnetic Island. Staying there for two nights. The AirTags in our gear sent some concerning notifications when we walked from the car to elsewhere in the ferry 😉.

First time on an Evie 10-minute fast charger

10 minute fast charge to 80% at Evie Networks charger next to a Puma Energy petrol station. This was our first time using one of these. Costs twice as much (60c/kWh) as the RACQ Chargefox chargers (30c/kWh) but they are about twice as fast for us (100kW vs 50kW, and theoretical max speed of 350kW). Also the CCS2 charger is on the right instead of left. One of the charging stations was in maintenance, but at least they had two, unlike the competitor. It took four attempts at plugging in for the charger to work. Francis seems to be more successful at this than me. Edit: Note the Tesla message about battery temperature. We don't currently have a way to tell the Tesla car to precondition the battery for a third party fast charger - only for Tesla fast chargers, which don't currently exist up here. Now off to Magnetic Island.

Hotel Grand Chancellor, Townsville

Used some of my Luxury Escapes credits to book a “last minute escape” at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Townsville, which included $25 towards room service and a free buffet breakfast. We had some problems previously booking similar with LE, but it seems to be working now. Fran wanted to take the pancake machine with us. You can see Magnetic Island in the distance. We’re heading there next (today), for a couple of nights, taking the Tesla on the ferry.

Bats over Townsville, from the 17th floor

Bats flying over Townsville, viewed from the 17th floor.

Mango pancakes, again

Yum! Fran says mid photo “but they’ll think that all we do is eat at cafes”.

Crabs at Cardwell Beach

A Cardwell charger chat with Brandon

Stopped to stretch and charge at Cardwell again. Chatted briefly with Brandon and family, returning from Cairns to Sydney in a Tesla Model 3 Long Range. He left their Model X at home, because he said the Model 3 is better suited to a road trip.

Why are Tully and Marlborough still faulted?

Looking at our route for the trip back south, it seems that the chargers at Tully and Marlborough are still faulted, and will have been for weeks! This is at probably the busiest time of the year. How is this acceptable? If another charger at a town either side of these also faults, then that creates a stretch that will be too long for some vehicles. RACQ and Chargefox: It’s great that you’ve put these chargers in place, but you can’t call it the “Queensland Electric Super Highway” unless you guarantee a certain amount of up time and make it feasible for EVs to travel through quickly.

Beautiful (but lethal) beaches near Mission Beach

So many beautiful beaches hidden behind rainforest buffers, such as Narragon Beach, near Mission Beach. The more beautiful the water, the more likely it is that it will kill you, according to the many warning signs for crocodiles and jelly fish.

Anniversary breakfast at Cafe Johalia

Two cassowaries on the Cassowary Coast

A friendly 10 A outlet, near Mission Beach

Staying at a BnB tonight, near Mission Beach, QLD. I tried to book one listed in PlugShare with a 7kW EV charger, but I chose the wrong one in Airbnb. Fortunately the host very kindly allowed us to plug into the normal 10A power outlet in the garage. It’s only 2kW, but it will get us mostly charged up by morning. Unfortunately, I made a bit of a mess when trying to do a three point turn at the top of the sloped loose gravel driveway, to reverse into the garage. Rear wheel drive is great for going forward up a hill, but not so good for reversing up a loose surface slope.

An Audi e-tron meet, with Linda and Louis

We waited for another Tesla Model 3, which was at 99% for ages when we got there, not checked in, in PlugShare. Then had a chat with Linda and Louis who arrived a while later, in their Audi e-tron. They had travelled from Wollongong, passing through Port Douglas. We agreed that we need more than one RACQ Chargefox fast charger in these locations. The layout of this charger is great: easy to park; can charge from either side; near shopping and toilets.

Mossman Gorge in the Daintree

Visitors have to park at the center, then catch a shuttle bus to the gorge, then walk a nice 640m boardwalk to the popular river spot. The centre includes a cafe, toilets, gift shop and ticket counter. It’s pretty but seems to be a large overhead for a fairly standard river view, with room at the gorge for a limited number of visitors. There is a longer 2km walk, but we didn’t try it. They advise not to swim, but half the people do. We found out later that a couple of tourists were swept away by the river, prompting a search.

Made it to Cape Tribulation

We made it to the northernmost point of our road trip: Cape Tribulation. Lush vegetation, lots of wildlife if you look closely. The ocean is eerie – it’s hard to tell where it ends and the sky begins. It’s so very humid in summer. Great little cafe/kiosk where we were staying. But we also cooked our meals in the camp kitchen. There’s no grid power here, north of the Daintree River, so the Safari Lodge and Campground (our accommodation) and other places all run on diesel generators. The generator supplies the electricity for the powered sites, cabins, lights, kiosk, washing machines, everything. A few places have solar panels. There are plans for a micro-grid to get rid of the diesel generators. I'm surprised that they don't have more solar here, but it is coming

Crossing the Daintree River ferry

We crossed the Daintree River on the ferry. Notice on the other side of the river the toddler that seems to be driving a car from the sunroof.

Charging in Cairns, plus an AQUA Lagoon coffee

Charged up for the trip to Daintree. Managed to beat Kylie and Aaron this time, who resorted to the slow 11kW charger next to us, until we finished. Enjoyed a delicious coffee and an ice block with fruit in it at AQUA Cairns Lagoon cafe. Tried to block a photo of me in portrait 🤪.

Queueing at the Cardwell charger

We charged up at Cardwell (south of Cairns). We initially queued behind Aaron and Kylie in their Tesla Model 3 (Mackay to Cairns). While waiting, we drove up the road to buy lunch from a cafe, under “The Big Crab”. When we returned, we queued behind Vijay and his family in their MG (Port Douglas to Brisbane). We ate our lunch the pretty park next to the charger, whilst avoiding swimming and being eaten ourselves by crocodiles.

Mango pancakes at the Frosty Mango

On our way from Townsville to Cairns, along the Bruce Highway, we stumbled across the Frosty Mango. They sell a while range of frozen fruity goodness, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. We cooled down with some mango pancakes and ice cream 🥭 🥞 🍨😋 .

Up Castle Hill (Cutheringa), Townsville

We drove up to the top of Cutheringa (English name "Castle Hill"), for amazing views all around Townsville and over to Magnetic Island. It’s just short of the 300m height required for it to be classed as a mountain. Dozens of people were _walking_ up the hill!

Power-point parking at Oaks Gateway Townsville

We checked in at Oaks Gateway Townsville and discovered that some parking spots have power points. Very convenient for overnight charging. Thank you Oaks!

An awkward Ayr charger, between bollards

We charged the car and our bellies (thanks Ayr Woolworths) in Ayr, just south of Townsville. Really awkwardly positioned Chargefox charger, requiring a wide turn to avoid the bollards, while holding up traffic behind coming through a roundabout. The towns that have chargers, like Ayr, will get a lot more passing visitors as EVs increase in number. Other towns are missing out and need to get sorted.

A rainy electric-buggy island tour

Rainy day – Great time to tour the island in an electric buggy.

Electric buggies everywhere on Hamilton Island

We left our Tesla Model 3 at Airlie Beach, to spend a few days on Hamilton Island. I was pleasantly surprised to see that most vehicles on the island are electric (golf buggies), with charging points at most parking spots and home garages. And no fumes as you walk along next to those vehicles ☺️. It seems so simple and logical when you see a place that has done it right.

Merry Christmas from half our family

Love and miss the rest of you ♥️.

Christmas Eve fireworks

Christmas Eve picnic on Hamilton Island

Christmas Eve: Evening picnic at the beach, with half of Hamilton Island.

Dinner and night lights with Erin

Erin took us out for dinner and to see the night lights.

Animals around Hamilton Island

Spotted some animals at the wildlife park and just roaming around the island.

Finally, a Whitsundays swim that won't kill you

Finally found a place to swim in the ocean in the Whitsundays where the jelly fish are not likely to kill you. Well, there are still warning signs.

Cockatoos eye my breakfast at Bobs Bakery

Found coffee at Bobs Bakery - Hamilton Island. Cockatoos found my breakfast cereal and got very close, but I don't share.

Buggy groceries on Hamilton Island

Driving the electric buggy, with groceries.

Reunited on Hamilton Island

Finally on Hamilton Island, reunited with Erin and Ben.

Ferry to Hamilton Island, for Christmas

We left our car near Airlie Beach and caught a ferry to Hamilton Island for a few days over Christmas. Two of our kids met us on the island. Erin works there and Ben flew in from the NSW Central Coast. We squeezed our bags onto the electric golf buggy and navigated the local traffic.

Past Daydream Island, on the ferry

Passing by Daydream Island and other countless islands.