The Advantage of Living in FNQ in Winter

MrL and I had decided on Saturday evening to go for a drive the following day, down to Mission Beach, so the girls could have a paddle and a run around.  

We had forgotten that Mission Beach is a good two hour trek south from our home.  

Last year's cyclone Yasi tore through the area and we had noticed a big change in the canopy.  The road leading to the area was no where as shady and overhanging as we remembered.  But green?  Oh it was green....

And the beach was as delightful as I remember...

The girls had a blast, splishing and splashing.  The shallow water was warm and the waves were small. That's Dunk Island in the middle of that photo below.  We had stayed there before but the resort was wiped out last year, (thanks to the cyclone) which is really sad...

After a good hour enjoying themselves we went and treated ourselves to some fish and chips, but all Lily was after was a 'Rainbow' ice-cream.  (To be honest, it was the lure of the ice-cream to get her out of the water!)  All her dreams came true as she enjoyed one...

The drive home seemed quicker than the road down there, but maybe because I snapped images outside my passenger door window and windscreen.  It is sugarcane slashing time around these parts.  (Once the sugarcane flowers it is time to harvest.)  We have visited the foot of the mountain in the photo below - you can read about it here.

Below is Pyramid Rock, just outside of Cairns which stands at 922 metres.  I love how it looks like it is balancing a cloud on it's pointy tip.  ;)

Both girls napped on the way home (no wonder) so Lily and I had a bit of a late evening, but it was worth it.  Think we're going to go on another beach destination drive next weekend!