file= AirlieBch22.htm Jun 2022
Introduction
My new friend, Pam and I, decided to do a trip
to Airlie Beach in Jun-22, and take in some of
the delights on the way there and back.
We wanted to do the INLAND tracks North of
Noosa, and the Seaside track from Baffle Ck.
to Agnes Water. However, the recent heavy
rains prevented this on the way up. So we took
the good roads to Agnes Water/1770 and
stayed the nite. Then did the short hop to
Yeppoon, and stayed at the magnificent 
Bayview Towers, on the TOP floor, with great 
views. This was our base for 2 nites while we 
did the trip into the Byfield National Park, which
included some serious 4WD'g….Big SANDY
which was more difficult than BIG RED in 
Birdsville, and other difficult tracks to beach.
From Yeppoon, we trundled off to Airlie Beach
and stayed at a local convenient motel, in the
middle of the town. Looked all around Airlie Bch
my (Parj's) old home town, and did the 
mandatory cruise around the Islands and spent
some time on Whitehaven Beach. Now let the
photos tell the tale :-
Packing and dropping MUTT off to Pam's kids.
Pam had TWICE as much gear as Parj !! Loading JEEP in front of Parj's place.
Mutt dropped off with Pams kids. Jeep was View from 1770, near Agnes Water 1st stop.
un-loaded to fit MUTT in back ! Need bigger CAR.
Pam & Parj at 1770 lookout. Good  The "Serving Wench" bringing drinks to Lady PAM @ 1770
short walk from carpark. hotel. Life is TOUGH, for serving wenches ! ---------------->
After a good rest at Mango Tree motel, Agnes Water, we headed North to Yeppoon, via Emu Park and 
the Singing Sail. This has long thick steel cables that vibrate and "sing" in the wind. At Yeppoon, stayed at
the magnificent Bay Towers, overlooking the Bay, and had a day trip to Byfield national Park. This included
some "serious 4WD tracks, including "Big Sandy" which was more difficult than BIG RED in Birdsville.
Can HIGHLY recommend the BAYVIEW TOWERS, new owners are improving services, Wi-Fi, TV etc.
Pam & Parj at Emu Park, near singing Sail. The steel rods vibrate in tune, in the wind
The "Magnificent Bayview Towers", hotel. We View from TOP floor, not a bad leg & can Eh ?
were on the TOP floor, overlooking the bay. Then, headed off to Byfield Nat Park.
Parj letting tyres down to 18 psi. (126 kpa) Going down BIG Sandy. Too steep to take
Down to 15 psi or less, if needed, not today. photos going UP, too much bouncing around !
Use UHF to advise others where you going.
On top of Big Sandy, approaching 5 Rocks Bch. Going down to 5 Rocks Beach, Byfield Nat Pk.
Pity we didn't have a TALL Camera tripod, for selfies.
On 5 Rocks Beach, Byfield Nat Park…WOW. Packing up at Yeppoon, then off to Airlie beach.
I was surprised and impressed how well Pam took these ROUGH and CHALLENGING sand tracks !
Leaving Bayview Towers, YEPOON, in a very GOOD and satisfied mood, we headed off to Airlie beach,
Parj's old Home Town, of many years ago. He was looking forward to seeing his old house, and doing
some sightseeing and Cruises around the beautiful Whitsunday area. Hasn't this place GROWN some ?
Booked into the Whitsunday on the Beach motel, in the middle of town, then drove around the area looking
at what had changed. Still a GREAT place to visit, perhaps a good place for younger people to live in.
Pam & Parj  "swanning it up" on Whitehaven Beach. Used to "motor" my tinny to here & back, 25 years ago.
Parj & Pam at Shute Harbour…nearly deserted now. View inside Airlie Sailing Club. Good views,
Abel Pt and Airlie Marina, new in Muddy bay, taken over. good meals, and private launch ramp.
The Lagoon behind our Airlie Motel…nice swimming. Telstra tower from on top of the hill.
Now the CRUISE photos begin. We chose a half day cruise to Hamilton Island and Whitehaven beach,
which ended up taking 8+ hours. Brought back MANY memories when I used to motor my boat, a 14 ft.
tinny with a 50 hp Merc behind it. Was light enough for me to launch and recover, by myself, and in good
weather, could go out to the OUTER REEF ! After 8 years, I had enough and moved to the Sunny Coast.
In the NEW Airlie Beach Marina waiting room. In the VERY comfortable CAT, heading out to 
Whitsunday Passage, Hamilton Island and,
off course, the mighty WHITEHAVEN Beach.
Approaching Whitehaven Beach. Memories !  Boats, Planes, Beer ++, people, good beach.
Beer tent did GOOD business. Plus wine (ugh) A happy couple on Whitehaven Beach. 
We said our HAPPY goodbyes to Airlie Beach and started heading back, via Yeppoon and Agnes Water
again. This time, from Agnes Water, the Coastal track via Wreck Rock was open, so we took it. This was
quite a challenging 4WD track from Agnes to Wreck Rock, and we had to go bush to pass a stranded 4WD
stuck on a steep slope. I could not pull him out, but reported his plight to Baffle Creek. Wreck Rock is a
pleasant old camping ground, often used on my way north.(when camping was still an option, NOT now)
Track from Agnes to Wreck Rock, difficult ! Wreck Rock and beach, old camping ground.
We got to Parj's place after Wreck Rock, for a rest before we went to pick up Pam's  MUTT from her
daughters place, and headed off home to Pams place, in safety and without incident.
Picking  MUTT up at Pams daughters place. Pam MUTT had plenty of company, dogs, horses
is NOT fond of my nick-name "MUTT" for her dog ! and KIND humans ! (and FOOD occasionally)
Conclusions and summary It was a VERY pleasant trip, even though Parj had done most of it
previously. Pam enjoyed it thoroughly, and was KEEN enough to do MORE similar travelling in future.
We had NO incidents, apart from having to BUSH BASH past a stuck motorist on the Wreck Rock track.
Pam was keen to do Cape York in July, and Simpson Desert to Alice to Broome and return via Gibb River
road, next year, after the Prado GXL 2.8 turbo diesel gets delivered. That will be travelling in luxury !
We both learnt (again) what to, and what NOT to, pack, for such trips. Accommodations are getting VERY
much in demand, by the GREY NOMADS and people forced to travel in OZ. (like US !) It has become
mandatory to book accommodations well ahead, to ensure NOT sleeping in a tent under the stars. This was
OK many years ago, but only in EMERGENCECIES now. I will carry emergency camping gear always, in
case ANY comfortable bed is not available. Even WEEKS ahead now, one cannot get one's 1st choice !
I suppose we are practicing how to become GENUINE GREY NOMADS, adding to the thousands already
cluttering up the roads and accommodations in Australia. They say, see Australia 1st. Now both Pam and I
have both travelled extensively overseas in the past. So we guess its now our duty to THOROUGHLY 
travel and see Australia, and help our damaged Tourist/Accommodation industry. AMEN.
============================================================================== ===END==