Its all about location location location

We left Wonga Beach this morning heading towards Palm Cove, 25 km north of Cairns. There is a council owned caravan park run by a private company that is just metres across the road from the water. 

After passing Port Douglas we continued south along the Captain Cook Highway. 

Rex Lookout is the perfect location for hang-gliding and paragliding. On weekends providing the winds are favourable, its always wonderful to sit and watch as they glide above the mountain range behind the lookout. The beach below is used as their landing spot.

 

We first stayed at Palm Cove in the late 1980's, but have not been back since our last visit to Far North Queensland in 1998. Since then the park has had a new amenities block and front office built along with new water and power outlets to each site. 

Unfortunately nothing else has changed with no facility to remove waste water from caravan showers which just runs out across the road. There is very little grass with most sites covered in a mixture of sand and dirt. The majority of sites are not level and there is only one road with bitumen with the remainder being dirt and gravel. When the wind blows as it does quite often at the beach everyone is covered in dirt.

So why would anyone stay here when a powered site is $50.00 per night. Well Palm Cove itself has a lovely atmosphere with many resorts, cafes, restaurants and shops that cater for all budgets. With a beautiful beach metres from the caravan park for swimming and sun-baking. 

The esplanade along the beach has a mixture of coconut palms and the largest paperbark trees you are unlikely to see anywhere else.

We are located on a site 41 which is located along the back fence. Future changes will include the building of a large camp kitchen in the centre of the park where the BBQ's are currently located. 

Campers who have been coming here to escape the winter down south are very upset with changes that have been made. These people who would come for months at a time and book a particular site each time can no longer do so. They can still book in advance but management will now allocate them a site on arrival.

This particular bird is a Bush Stone-curlew. If you have never heard them call out at night with their spine-tingling sound, then your in for a shock. They kept us awake on and off  during our stay here. 

We spent several hours in Cairns on one of our outings. 

 

The lagoon below allows year round access for swimming without the threat of stingers or crocodiles.

On our way back to Palm Cove we stopped in for a beer at Pacific Palms Country Club. I've played golf here on two occasions but unfortunately I didn't have my clubs with me this time. 

With the combination of a Labour Day long weekend and the predicted forecast for Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October of 20 to 30 knot winds and rain, we decided to spend two extra days at Palm Cove, instead of being on the road.

Unfortunately we had to change sites and move from our powered site to one without power. We packed up in the falling rain and moved to site 84 just inside the park entrance with the rear of our van facing the esplanade. The predicted winds blew all day long , with showers on and off.

We donned our Paddy Palin coats and headed down along the esplanade looking at the shops. Ros purchased two 'tigerlily' dresses and I scored a Palm Cove singlet. The remainder of our day was spent reading and we both had our first afternoon nap until it was time for our drinky poos.

Sunday was much the same as yesterdays weather minus any rain. Maria and Paul who have been here for ten weeks invited us to lunch at the Ellis Beach pub. Sunday is oyster day with the oysters flown in from Coffin Bay in South Australia. You can either have them natural or flavoured. For my entree I opted to have one dozen mixed with my favourite being ginger and mirrin. A local band played until 4 pm.

Later that night we watched part of the NRL grand final on a large screen erected at the caravan park. We watched most of the final here until the rain returned and we were forced back to our van to watch the remainder. Great to see the Cowboys win.