Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Fifteen - 2nd May, 2025

Cairns to Lake Tinaroo Pinnarendi Station

Showering this morning when we woke up, think it had been most of the night.  Not ideal to pack up in the rain, but 🤷‍♀️ it is what it is.

A little blue staffy who missed his Dad

We are not travelling terribly far today, up to Lake Tinaroo in the Atherton Tablelands, we've never been there before.  Plan is to stay at the campground in Yungaburra.  After turning off the highway onto Gillies Range Road heading up to the Tablelands it has rained most of the way.  Pretty drive even in the rain, almost eerie or haunting as you drive through the clouds and under the enormous towering wind farms.  We've travelled through Atherton Tablelands twice and both times it has been raining.

Arriving before lunch at Yangaburra, unfortunately we drove straight into the local schools cross country event, which was baed out of the day use area next to the campgrounds and there were thousands of kids, teachers, parents, cars, police everywhere, it's like our worst nightmare!  Bloody hell it was busy and noisey.  The lake itself looked beautiful and the campground would have been lovely to stay in, but Craig was not happy with so many kiddies and people and noise around, so that was it we were heading out of there and pointing the noise of the Hilux south.  So in need of finding somewhere to stay, I requested that Sir Grumpalot pull over and give me a minute to find somewhere for us to park our moving house for the coming evening and perhaps he could take the dog for a walk and chill out. 😮‍💨  We ended up pulling over at a new estate over looking Lake Tinaroo, so Craig took Barney for a walk and checked out the best blocks to buy.

After persuing through Wikicamps, I couldn't find any free camps near us (let me know in the comments if I was blind), eventually I settled on Pinnarendi Station Stay, we haven't done a Station Stay for a long time.  Changing our plans due to weather or unforeseen events doesn't really bother us, it's getting Craig to stop and give ya a minute to find another spot to go to, rather then keep driving and getting asked every 2 seconds, so where am I going while the Optus coverage drops in and out🤦‍♀️

Onwards edging further south to our new overnight stop, arriving at Pinnarendi Station Stay around 1.30pm.  We could only get an unpowered site, as their powered sites were fully booked for the long weekend.  $26.00/night for unpowered and you just pick a spot in the paddock.  I grabbed Craig a homemade Raspberry Slice to stop the hangries.  They have a bistro where you can get breakfast, lunch and some nights dinner which is either pizza, Laagne or Barrimundi.  Everything is handmade here at the station from Slices, Cakes, Desserts, Hollandaise Sauce for the breakfat menu, Turkish Bread, Sourdough, Pizza Bases, you get the drift and the items I saw all look delicious.

We found a nice spot right in the top corner away from everyone else, parked and then went back to the cafe for lunch - Rueben Toasted Sandwich on Sourdough for Craig, Ham, Tomato, Red Onion, Cheese, Lettuce, Relish on Sourdough for me - Oh my, they were absolutley delicious and huge!

The most awesome table in the Bistro Alfesco area

and check out the pizza oven

Back to set up camp now.  Rather then looking into all the other campers, we parked looking out over the driveway and looking across into the bush.  Now, there is heaps of space in the unpowered paddock and we honestly couldn't believe our eyes when old mate in a big van pulled in right next to us - we were like WTF are you kidding!  Thankfully we were set up in the opposite direction and didn't have to look at them 🤦‍♀️

Some details on the place for you, Unpowered $26/night for 2, Power $36/night for 2. Drinkable water from a 30m deep bore, toilets, showers, laundry, pet friendly, the Cafe of course and walking trails.  It is actually a really nice place to stay and the owner Naidine is really lovely and bubbley and very welcoming.

We took Barney for a very long walk along the driveway back out toward the entrance on his long rope, then back past the Cafe and along one of the walking tracks and still didn't tucker him out 😃  but the walk was lovely. 

It's been drizzling all day on and off, had our showers before dark, a simple dinner, no campfire because of the rain so we headed to bed.  We were hoping we might have gone past the rainy weather after leaving the Atherton Tablelands but I guess not.

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Fourteen - 1st May, 2025

We picked up Craig about 6pm last night from Yorkey's Knob, he looked shagged.  Apparently the bunk that Craig got, had a cupboard on the side which he had to sleep with his arm in so his shoulders fitted on the bunk and the mattresses were paper thin, so not particularly comfortable.  He was glad to be back and looking forward to sleeping in the van.

This morning I have some work to do, while Craig goes back to the boat to collect his fish and drop Dave off at the airport.  Craig was back by 9.30am, packed his fish away into the other fridge, which was now running as a freezer and apparently it is chok o block full!  

Craig was on washing duty again, while I finished work, then we are off to Hemingway's Brewery again for lunch, then onto re-stocking from Dan Murphy's, Pet Stock, Coles and the butcher for the journey home.

Back at camp we packed all the shopping away and restocked the drinks fridge in my car.  Tomorrow is leaving day, and we are expecting rain to come in tonight.  So with that in mind we packed up the shade walls while they were dry and then there's less to do in the morning, we then had to put the one back up behind the galley because the showers have already started.

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Seven - Thirteen - 24th - 30th April, 2025

Big day today,  Charter Boat day!  

Early morning rise thanks to the Barney alarm being early.  Craig has turned the other fridge on (we bought a secondhand Evakool 85lt fibreglass fridge/freezer off marketplace to transport the fish home that will be caught on the Charter), we lost all our bread, crumpets, rolls on the way up here going mouldy in the cupboard, so now it's all gone into the other fridge for safe keeping in this heat and humidity.

A visit to Pet Stock on the way to the marina this morning to upgrade Barney's lead to a chain one (couldn't get a chain one the other day) and a giant packet of pigs ears because they are gold for quiet time.  We've also got to pick up some ear plugs as requested by Dave for the boat, apparently the engines can keep you awake at night.  Now it's time to head up to Yorkey's Knob to the marina to meet up with the rest of the intrepid fishing punters.  Had to grab a sausage roll and vanilla slice from Yorkey's Knob bakery on the way through.

We were the first to arrive which was fine, we sat and scoffed our sausage rolls down admiring the view over the water.  It was hilarious watching everyone pile out of the maxi cab they caught from the Airport.  All 7 of them along with baggage , fishing poles, tackle bags/boxes and an absolute shit load of alcohol 🤣  Before they loaded all the gear onto the boat, I took opportunity to take a photo of them all with their gear - looking at them all there, it reminded me of a show about an ill fated 3hr cruise..... 🏝️😆 

 Once they loaded all the gear onto the boat, they were all heading into the Boat Club for lunch and a couple of drinks as the Charter Boat was quite ready for them.  That was Barney and my cue to leave, as sadly the Boat Club is not dog friendly.

From the videos that Craig and Dave sent, it looks like they headed out to sea about 3pm and they all sounded very jovial and excited with anticipation for the days to come.  Back at our camp, Barney settled in for an afternoon nap while I started work.

There is not much happening for the next six days, so I won't bore you with these days. I have work to do remotely each day and we be taking walks around the park (Barney is not great on the lead still, so it's really not pleasant walking him), playing in the dog park, hiding in the van in the air con and for me, relaxing and watching some shows I like.  Barney's week consisted of collecting palm tree leaves and tearing them up, sleeping in the air con, sunbaking in the sun,

Check out the awesome golden crunchy wedges I made!

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

  Day Six - 23rd April, 2025.

Cairns

Good Morning Barney, it's 6.15am thanks for the wake up mate!

Today is all about getting organised for Craig leaving on the fishing charter and making sure Barney and I are comfortable for our week alone.  First things first, I have a bit of work to do this morning, so Craig has volunteered to do the washing, bless him this will be a new experience for him.  He came back quite quickly saying he needed his credit card, apparently some laundries are not coin operated anymore and electronic.  Kept Craig busy working it all out and I think there was a little pride in his achievement and HE ALSO FOLDED IT!! 😍

Also on the list today was fixing a couple of niggley things on the van (unfortunately he did forget to fix the toilet pump in the van - it keeps sticking and stops working).

Now that the work and things are completed, it's time for our lunch date at Hemingway's Brewery, plus we had to stop at Pet Barn due to Barney chewing through the rope lead Craig made over 25 years ago, it's been through 2 other Staffies but didn't make it through Barney!  Also picked up some pig's ears, which we thought might entertain him during lunch - he's not had one, so we'll see how that goes.  What a great venue Hemingway's Brewery is, right on the water, such a cool building and food was great, dog friendly in the outdoor dining area.

After lunch it was onto Anaconda, so Craig could buy a new fishing rod 🤔, line, lures etc....  then onto Dan's for his charter lubrication and Coles for groceries for Barney and I.  With such a big lunch at the Brewery, we decided on fresh cooked prawns on a roll for dinner plus it's sooooo humid and hot.

Back at camp and Craig got his fishing gear and clothes organised for the Charter and then packed the car ready for his drop off tomorrow at the marina.

Relatively early night again after our prawns for dinner, due to the himidity - it's way nicer inside the van in the air con!  We figured out how to log the TV onto the park's Wi-Fi, so we can watch Netflix Yah!

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Five - 22nd April, 2025.

Kurrimine Beach - Cairns

The one thing Barney seems to have figured out so far this trip,is he needs to wake us up about 6.30am and go to the loo and a sticky beak, then he seems to think that we can all go back to sleep afterwards - well that aint happening.

No need for breakfast this morning, just coffee and pack up.  We're headed into Cairns today, so a massive day 1 1/2 hours driving today 😆  Arriving around 9.30am it was too early to book into the Ingenia Coconut Caravan Park in Woree, where we are setting up for 10 days, while Craig goes out on his 6 night Fishing Charter.  We went for a drive up to Yorkey's Knob, haven't been there since 2004.  Got dog and Craig out of the car and took them for a walk along the beach, beautiful and fine today but rather hot - 34degrees in the shade, so didnt walk for too long at the beach.

Time to head back to the caravan park.  Got there about 11am, booked in, found our site and got the van all set up - not a lot of room lengthways, with a little step up gutter, so hooking up may be interesting.    Got ourselves an ensuite site, so that I don't need to empty the toilet cassette by myself with Barney in tow - what could possibly go wrong trying to do that!!  This will be something completely new for us, setting up in a caravan park for such a long period of time.  It is dreadfully hot, and setting up in the heat made us feel physically sick, so we had to have a little sit down in the shade for a couple of hours until it started to cool down. Had a video call with Craig's sister during this time and then we took Barney to the Dog Agility Park inside the Caravan Park which is a bonus, once it cooled down.  Don't really think Barney gets the point of the agility equipment 😄 It's a great little off leash park for the dogs, gets the sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, water tap and bowls, poo bags, seat for humans to sit on and the agility equipment, plus lovely and grassy.  We can walk Barney around about half of the park, the other half is off limits to dogs which is where the water park, gym, swimming pools and up market cabins are located.  The Bistro however is dog friendly.  We went for a walk around the park later to check things out and Barney got lots of pats.

Did sausage rolls in the camp oven on the stove top with wedges in the frypan and salad, was a great success. It's so humid tonight, we cleaned up, had showers and retreated inside to the air con and watched TV.  Not a very exciting day.

Nice big corner site with ensuite

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Four - 21st April, 2025.

Alva Beach - Kurrimine Beach

Up new and early today, we've had 32mm of rain overnight 😮  Had a coffee and decided we didn't need to be here any longer, too busy and too noisey.  Unfortunately sometimes when you get a large group of people staying together somewhere, they can sort of think they own the place and just do whatever they like, this was the case.

Barney the sticky beak

A bit of gossip for you all, last night on my way back from the showers, the police were talking with a couple of people in the breezeway at the amenities - no idea what about, but had to excuse myself to a very friendly police officer as I passed by due to the pathway going right past them.

On the road by 8.30am this morning, no breakfast we'll grab something along the way.  Today's destination is King Reef Resort and Caravan Park at Kurrimine Beach, which I booked about a month or so ago.  They have a bistro, so we might head there for lunch once we're set up.

The roads have finally gotten better between Townsville and Kurrimine Beach today.

The weather did not get any better though, overcast and drizzling all day.  Driving into Kurrimine Beach reminded us of driving into Poona or Boonooroo between Tin Can Bay and Maryborough on the Sandy Straits.  Quiet, quaint and small.  Found our way to the park and booked in.  The gentleman at reception was lovely, very friendly and happy to help.  He showed us to our site and explained that our site was long and we could stayed hooked up.  The site was long enough we could set up lengthways, with the back side of the van to the road and still have heaps of space around us - what a great site!

Headed off to the bistro after setting up for some lunch - we're starving!  Dog friendly on the veranda and grassed seating area, which both look out toward the ocean.  Must be the local pub and bistro for the town, because it was very busy.  A very relaxing and friendly atmosphere (well except for the family at the end that everyone had to squeeze past)  even though it is overcast, it's still a lovely outlook, it would be spectular on a fine and sunny day.

Lunch was absolutely delicious - Craig had Calamari, Salad and Chips and I had a Parmy (which there was enough to feed 2) and we partook in a drink or two, while enjoying the lovely outlook.  

Sorry,  he ate his calamari quickly 😄

With our bellies full and leftovers packed into a takeaway container, finished talking to some friendly locals and the dogs stopped smelling each others butts, we took Barney down to the beach for a run around on his long rope.    This is Barney's first beach experience and we can honestly say it was a overall huge successful for him.  He had a fat time, playing in the sand, running around, in and out of the water, saying hello to absolutely everyone and he was plum tuckered out afterwards.

After a nice relaxing afternoon and after such a big lunch, we just made squeak and bubble for dinner out of the leftover Parmy, chips and knackwurst sausage.  It's quite muggy, so we cleaned up, had showers and retreated inside the van in the Air Con and watched the Formula Ones.  The humidity, the roads and Barney are making us quite exhausted and testy each day, not how we have travelled on previous trips.  Barney has not travelled brilliantly thus far.  He's still whining and whinging, it gets very bad when it should be his nap time.  Eventually he sort of goes to sleep, it looks like we need to stop about every 2 hours and let him out for a wander and it's probably good for all of us.

Barney certainly travels completely different to Boris and we are all still getting used to it.

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Three - 20th April, 2025.

Brandybottle Caravan Park & Golf Course - Alva Beach

Lets just say this morning was a late rising for all concerned, we'll leave it at that shall we 😉  Coffee was notably required as soon as one arose to greet the world this morning, I would not say there was any elegant swaning as one arose from the caravan, rather a plea to Husband of "is my coffee ready yet my loving Husband" 😎  

Breakfast this morning, will not be consumed at camp prior to hitting the road. let me explain.....  back in 2004 on our first trip up to Cape York, we stayed at Carmila Beach overnight and stopped at the BP Servo in Carmila for fuel, where I grabbed a couple of Sausage Rolls for smoko or breakfast or just because they looked awesome!!  Anyways,  the memory of that delicious morsal that we ate back in 2004 has always stayed with us, SO, of course we had to partake in these little morsals once more since we were just down the road (🤞they are just as delicious). 

However, first things first - it bucketed down rain overnight and Craig left his tool bag out and the tray of the Hilux open, so we both jumped up (yep I know what you're thinking, ya just do it regardless of the amount of alcohol you have consumed 😵‍💫)  So inside the van looked like a tool shop, with tools and power tool batteries drying out for the remainder of the night.  We also dropped the corner of the awning so the water ran off and we did not suffer the same fate we did in Stanthorpe!  Mate it poured down and I did not see this coming on the radar.

After cleaning up all the tools and putting them back away in the usual spot, we got away around 10am this morning, then stopping the get fuel and the sauages rolls and pies (couldn't help myself) our arrival at Alva Beach is going to be a bit later then originally planned.  Decided due to it being school holidays still, it might be worth ringing and making sure we can get a site - all good.  Upon arriving at Alva Beach Caravan Park, we found out that there was a group of fishing people with Quad Bikes and ATV's (park owner rolling eyes and smiling, while saying they were leaving tomorrow),  if we had of been told that when I called we probably would have  gone somewhere else.

Got settled in our site, we've had rain while travelling today and it was still overcast and muggy.  Very thankful that we have Air Con in the van, had it running every night.  It was really busy with all the Quad Bikes and ATV's and people moving around, not the tranquil park we remembered from 2004, but it is Easter and we stayed off season in 2004.  We had an early dinner of fish tacos, cleaned up, showers and then retreated inside the van to the air con where it was much more pleasant, and watched the Formula One qualifying.   We were intending on taking Barney for a walk down to the beach, but with so much quad bike and ATV traffic, decided against it.  Barney's still not settling well moving every day

Alva Beach Caravan Park is a lovely little park, quanit with all the facilities and pet friendly.  Powered sites $45.00/night and unpowered $35.00/night.

Cairns Fishing Charter Trip - April/May 2025

 Day Two - 19th April, 2025.

Miriam Vale - Carmila Hotel Brandybottle Caravan Park & Golf Course

Today's plan is to move on to Carmila Hotel and camp there tonight.  Also meeting up with Craig's brother Donny and his partner Francis for the night.

So quick easy breakfast this morning, pack up and we're on the road.  Barney is still getting used to camping and moving each day is new for him.  We've only done weekend camps with him so far, where we set up at a spot for 2 nights, so not much changes for the 2 nights.  He doesn't have his routine, so his little life is out of sorts which creates whinging and whining at the campsite, however he has been travelling better in the car.

Road conditions on the Bruce Highway again today are crap, poor Barney looks like he is having head tremors constantly when he's sitting up in the back seat 😄

We finally arrived at the Carmila Hotel around 1pm I think.  I went in to ask about camping and unfortunately I was told no camping this weekend, due to them setting up for the rodeo next weekend 😞  We have camped at the Carmila Beach area many years ago and I have read they have upgraded the camping area there and being it's Easter we figured it would be pretty crowded.  We had seen a sign between Clareview and Carmila for a place called Brandybottle Camping which Craig did remember seeing on Wikicamps, and I had saved it.  Gave them a call to see if we could get 2 campsites for the night and thankfully they had space.  We couldn't reach Donny, so left a message about what we were doing and we headed off south 12klms back to Brandybottle Camping.

Well, what an absolute pleasure it was to arrive at Brandybottle Camping.  From the moment you turned into the driveway, you just relaxed and is was just pleasant.  Following the instructions I was given on the phone, we proceeded to the reception and waited.  We were greeted by Storm the Owner and her daughter (I truely hope I have that correct).  She showed us to our site that we'll share with Donny and Francis and Storm said just to come up once they've arrived and pay. 

There is a golf course to use which is free, along with the golf bats, if that's what you like doing.  You also have toilets, showers, power and water available and you camp on lovely green grass.  Another bonus is they serve meals and alcohol at the Clubhouse and there is a huge communal firepit that Storm's Dad lights every night to sit around, if you choose.

Once Donny and Francis arrived, we had a couple of drinks and a chat, then wandered over to pay our camping fees - $35.00/night powered.  Had a lovely chat with Storm and another team member, the Donny announced they wanted to pre-order dinner, so we thought oh well, we may as well also.  For a small establishment, it's a really good menu.  Donny and Francis ordered a pizza, Craig ordered Lamb Shanks and of course I had the Hawaiian Parmy.  While talking with Storm she mention that we could let Barney off the lead for a run around if nobody was playing on the course beside us or we could go to the other area over the road.  So, bonus time for Barney off the lead chasing the ball around next to where we camped, that is until Barney heard some kids laughing in a tent just up from where we were camped and that was it, he was off like a rocket (Barney loves kids) to their tent, followed somewhat at a distance by Craig, running, which in his words " I don't need to run again, there were bits giggling that never used to giggle, it was rather un-nerving"  😂  Anyway, Barney barrelled into the kids tent jumping on them, giving them lots of kisses, much to the kids delight.  Craig said when he got to the tent the kids were laughing and squealing.  Barney looked rather proud of himself when Craig brought him back, yes Barney still needs work on his recall when kids are around.

We'd booked our table for dinner for 7pm, at that time Storm mentioned there was only one other booking.  We headed over about 6pm to sit around the communal campfire that Storm's Dad had collected timber for in the afternoon and lite for someone to enjoy - that was us! 

 The Bistro was starting to fill up, while we ordered some drinks at the bar and had a chat with Storm's Mum and Dad who were bartending.  They were both very engaging, entertaining and certainly friendly!  We took our drinks over to the fire and relaxed for a bit. 

 I think Storm will have her hands full tonight, the tables were chock-o-block now.   It's  a lovely area to seat and eat dinner, with a couple of options.

Our meals were huge and delicious.  We had a very enjoyable evening eating at the Bistro and chatting to Mum, Dad and Storm.  

I must admit in full disclosure, because I feel I need to share with you all 😃, I may have slightly over indulged in the partaking of alcoholic beverages over the afternoon/evening period 😆  I headed off to bed before the others and may have tipped out not long after 😶probably for the best, otherwise I would have felt very average in the morning.

Brandybottle Caravan Park is a great campground, if we're up this way again we will definitely stay and would definitely recommend it to y'all.