A Week of Big Things, Bigger Views & Laid-Back Vibes in Townsville
We left Airlie Beach on Sunday and made our way to our next work stint in Townsville. Slowly working our way up the coast, we stopped at all the Big Things we could find — including the Big Mango in Bowen, the Big Cane Cutters and Big Sardine Tin in Home Hill, and the Big Python in Ayr. A full day of “big” adventures! Much to our niece Shaye’s enjoyment, she received Big Things photo spam all day!
The BIG Mango, Bowen
Another highlight of the drive was the farm shops. We love pulling up to a roadside stall to see what’s on offer, and this time we scored big — pineapple, potatoes, eggs, capsicums, and tomatoes. Fresh produce straight from the farmer… you really can’t beat that! We also stopped at a place called The Prawn Stop in Home Hill. What a find! Delicious Prawn Rolls, Garlic Prawn Pies, Scallop Pies and so much more. We will definitely be nipping back in there again on our way back down.
Then it was on to Townsville — another place people had told us to skip. We were curious to see it for ourselves. We pulled into the Tasman Holiday Park at Rowes Bay and were instantly impressed. Friendly staff, tidy park, and right across the road from the water — what more could you ask for?
We pulled into our site and started to unhitch, but Ryan had that gut feeling something wasn’t quite right. The site was under a large shady tree — lovely for keeping cool, but from past experience, we know that usually means one thing… bat mess. As luck would have it, our neighbours arrived back just as we finished setting up and mentioned that bats roosted in the trees above. That was enough for Ryan! He wasn’t spending three weeks under bat droppings. We popped back into the office and asked to move one site over — still shady, just not directly under the tree. The staff were more than happy to help, and once we’d moved, we had a much happier Ryan.
We settled in, relaxed under the awning, and watched Bathurst for the rest of the afternoon — what a great race it was this year!
Monday rolled around and it was back to work. With Ryan leaving early, Rachael decided to explore the area on foot. She walked from the park to the Jezzine Barracks, Kissing Point Fort, and along The Strand — about 8 km return. It quickly became her morning routine for the rest of the week.
The Strand is a fantastic walking spot, running alongside the beach with cafés, restaurants, artwork, and even a rockpool for swimming. It’s always buzzing with people and their dogs doing their morning exercise. Some mornings were humid and still, while others brought a lovely cool breeze. Rachael got caught in a few downpours too — but they were a welcome way to cool off after the sticky heat!
Throughout the week we we caught up with some fellow Albany (WA) and Port Hedland friends for dinner and drinks, some who live here and others travelling through — a great few evenings of chats and laughter.
When the weekend rolled around, it was time for more exploring. We visited the Museum of Tropical Queensland for the special exhibit “James Cameron: Challenging the Deep.” This incredible exhibition dove into Cameron’s work with submersibles and his iconic film achievements, featuring real props from Titanic and Avatar. He’s a truly fascinating man — the exhibit was well worth a visit!
Such a great exhibit!
Afterward, we drove around Townsville, did a bit of shopping, then headed back to the caravan park — fully intending to go for a bike ride… but the warm weather a few cold beers and some cheeky espresso martinis with our neighbour quickly changed those plans!
Sunday morning, we finally jumped on the bikes and headed for The Strand, stopping for a delicious iced coffee before heading back to the park so Ryan could get the beef short ribs into the smoker. We spent the afternoon swimming in the pool, relaxing with a few beverages, and catching up with friends.
All in all, it was a great, laid-back week in Townsville — sunshine, good food, and even better company.
Hit the road 🎵 — we’ve got places to be. – R&R
