Year 2, Weeks 15 & 16 – From Mackay to Airlie: Sea Breezes, Slow Days & Sunset Sails
Our final week in Mackay for work was quite uneventful. The caravan park cleared out quickly after the weekend, and we regularly found ourselves camped all by ourselves with no neighbours.
Rachael’s workload was light this week, so she took the opportunity to go on some longer walks and take it all in — walking to the Marina from the caravan park on multiple days, cup of tea in hand for hydration. The Southern Breakwater is a great spot for a walk, taking in views of the Mackay Marina and the Port of Mackay.
The Breakwater Trail is a great walk!
Eagerly hoping for a glimpse of whales on their annual migration, there was no luck this time — a little too late in the season! Overall, it was about an 8km return walk from the caravan park. Great to get out and about before the warmer parts of the day hit. Fresh air and ocean views — what more could you ask for?
Ryan kept busy at work throughout the week, pulling in long hours and very much earning a beer at the end of each day. We started to prep for another week of travel, which meant cleaning the very dusty solar panels — ready for a few days off-grid and maximum power!
As the week progressed, it was clear Ryan wasn’t feeling 100%, and by the time Saturday rolled around, he wasn’t feeling great at all. The cold had got him! We left Mackay on Saturday and made our way north to Seaforth, a quiet little coastal town. The camping reserve is right near the beach, with very friendly caretakers — $31 a night, unpowered, with access to fresh water.
The weather was heating up, so we were a little worried about not having power for the air conditioning. Opening up all the windows and letting in that lovely sea breeze was delightful though — and probably what saved Rachael from catching the dreaded cold.
Sunday came around, and so did the Mega Market — located just down the road under the mango trees. These markets had a wide range of stalls: fresh produce, honey, artisan gifts, food, and more. We left with a bag full of goodies!
The rest of our time in Seaforth was pretty chilled. Ryan rested and recovered, while Rachael set up the hammock for lazy days swinging in the shade. A stop at the bowls club for the NRL Grand Final was a must, even if we still don’t understand the rules of the game!
Our next stop was Airlie Beach — a place Ryan has always wanted to visit, and one Rachael loved the idea of too! Tropical palms, white sandy beaches, and that main street that gave us Thailand (but slightly less hectic) vibes. We soaked it all in.
We stayed at the Discovery Parks Caravan Park — a quiet park just a little out of town. They feed the rainbow lorikeets every morning at 8am, and you can get in on the action too! These pretty birds are certainly not shy and are very happy to come and sit on you — whether that’s your hand, arm, or even your head!
Rachael in her element!
A stop at the Airlie Beach sign was a must of course, as was a swim in the lagoon next door. After a few days in Airlie, Ryan started to feel a little better, so we decided to book a sunset boat cruise.
Hopping on with Wings Sailing Charters, we loved being back on a catamaran — sitting back, relaxing, chatting with fellow holidaymakers, and watching the hardcore social media lovers take photos until they lost the light.
We caught up with Liza from King’s Roaming for breakfast — a delicious feed with great chats! We also headed over to Northerlies upon many people’s recommendations for dinner. Sitting at a high table, cocktail in hand, looking out at the ocean and palm trees really made us feel like we were on holiday. What a great spot for dinner and drinks!
As Ryan was feeling a bit better, and we weren’t sure where to stay on our way to Townsville for our next work stint, we decided to extend an extra day in Airlie. It gave us the perfect opportunity to hop on our bikes and ride into town.
To our surprise (and Rachael’s delight), there were markets on! So, a quick wander around to find some Christmas presents before continuing to pedal down the path, around the coastal boardwalk, and up to the top of the hill for a quick photo in front of the Airlie Beach sign.
By that time, it was getting pretty warm, so we made our way back down into town, stopped for sushi by the beach, then rode back to the caravan park. A well-needed dip in the pool followed, before chilling out in the air con and getting ready for our next work stint in Townsville.
With Ryan still not feeling 100%, we didn’t get to do as much as we’d hoped this week — but that’s okay. It just means we’ll have to come back! Airlie Beach definitely had a great vibe to it.
Until next time, Airlie! 🌴
Hit the road 🎵 — we’ve got places to be. – R&R
