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We crossed into Western Australia today, presenting for a Quarantine Inspection before venturing onto our next Roadhouse destination, Madura Pass Oasis. The trip of 378 kilometres had has drive along side the Bight admiring from various angles the Bunda Cliffs and stopping regularly to take photos at the designated lookouts. Once in Western Australia the treeless Nullarbor Plain gave way to the Hampton Tablelands and Roe Plains. By night after a posh dinner at the Roadhouse of Roast Beef and Sparkling Water served in wine glasses on a linen tablecloth we ventured on foot to the top of the hill to watch the sunset together over the plains. It was a really special experience.
 Waking up in the morning at Beachmere was a pleasant experience after witnessing the “real life zombie apocalypse wasteland under the bridge caravan park” at Caboolture. Even more pleasant was the day we had planned so we’re excited to fill you in about it. We set off at a good time in the morning to go for a run around some of the tracks at the Glasshouse Mountains, which is nestled up in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland 64 kilometres north of Brisbane. The Glasshouse Mountains are plugged volcanic peaks that have been inactive for approximately 25 million years. Named by James Cook, he described them as Glass factory buildings with their close proximity to each other and impressive elevation. The rich resources in the area made it sustainable for Aboriginal people over thousands of years, it also has very spiritual significance, which made for large ceremonial gatherings that are still happening presently. We lapped around Mount Tibrogargan on a track and run along the Trachtyte circuit. The circuit took us up to the Jack Ferris lookout and gave us great views of five of the surrounding peaks. Stoked with the views we ran ourselves back to the car park and thought we would go and find a beach.  Glass House Mountains National Park
We decided to make our way to Caloundra, a tidy popular beach town that is the most southern beach of the Sunshine Coast. Ever since 1875, it’s been a destination for tourists to soak up beach and sunshine. After an epic smoothie bowl at the Greenhouse Café, we strolled down to the beach and threw ourselves into the water. The beach was amazing to swim at; the waves were pleasant, no harsh rips and clear water that we could just sit in all day. Refreshed with an early afternoon swim we made our way over to Bribie Island for dinner.
 Bribie Island Surf Beach Driving on a bridge that takes us over the Pumice Stone River, it landed us on the island. With some time to spare before dinner, we went and had a look at Woorim beach, which had good views over towards Moreton Island. Watching endless waves of water took us to dinner at the Kai Restaurant. The views here were just as good, we got to watch the sun drop over the horizon and see the glare of the city lights rise. A beautiful storm made its way over and gave us a decent light show too. After nature’s performance, dinner made its way out with a garlic bread entrée and a pair of lamb shanks resting on top of a flavoursome risotto, finished with a brownie for desert. We certainly didn’t go home hungry.
The day was action packed but amazingly relaxed. It was filled with everything from running on dirt tracks between mountains to drifting between waves on the beach. Graciously eating acai bowls to devouring the shanks of a lamb. Highways to gravel roads and then parked back at Florence to hit the hay. What an awesome day! 
 
 Named after one of Captain Cook’s crew, Carlo, Carlo Sand Blow is one of the main attractions of Rainbow Beach. A short walk brings you out to a great big opening of some of nature’s finest work. This natural engineering project is thousands of years of work and some of the tallest in the world. We walked a lap around the Sand Blow and caught every view you could possibly soak up there. Sunset brought out the gold in the sand and the orange in the clouds leaving us with a wonderful afternoon. We even caught a view of a whale in the distance! Carlos Sand Blow is a great place to see out the end of the day, whether it's just taking in the views, body boarding down the dunes or raising your heart rate running up them.
It’s Rodeo weekend in Mount Isa so we decided to get away from Rodeo flu and all the people and hit the road to Karumba up in Gulf Country. We spent the weekend relaxing and enjoyed a sunset cruise, where we were entertained by feeding birds of prey, jabirus and a few small salt water crocodiles.
Telstra Hill, about 10kms out of Mount Isa that showcases magnificent 360 degree views of The Isa and surrounding areas. The hill is a popular exercise track for locals with morning and evenings being the busiest times.
Originally a rail line was proposed from Normanton to Cloncurry to transport the mined copper up to the Gulf, but upon the discovery of gold, with a higher market value, the proposed rail line was abandoned and built instead from Normanton to Croydon 🚂   
Croydon was one of the many towns that thrived well in the 1880’s gold mining boom. The town once had a population of 7000 people during that era, being the fourth largest town in Queensland. Now the town is down to the hundreds, but is still well worth a visit. It has a lovely old convenience store with antique items used through Croydon’s heyday, Lake Belmore, the Gulflander Rail line (the other end of which is at Normanton, 155 kilometres north west of Croydon) and plenty of mining history in the surrounds with discontinued equipment and mine sites. We encountered a massive bull, with big horns that looked fierce, but later found out that it was friendly. 🐂🐃🐮 We loved this area as it felt like a ghost town post tourist season, the locals were friendly and there's loads of history to experience.
About 70 kilometres drive north of Normanton, this town sits on the mouth of the Norman River, which was named by William Landsborough whilst searching for Burke and Wills in the early 1860s after W.H. Norman, captain of the The Victoria, a ship searching for Burke and Wills along the coast line. The town was originally known as the “Norman Mouth” and “Kimberly” but changed to the name Karumba in the 1880s, it was the aboriginal word to describe the area. It’s industries are fishing and servicing the Century Zinc Mine. The region boasts beautiful sunsets, plenty of fishing and the rare sights of the morning glory clouds. Unfortunately no crocodiles or morning glory clouds seen, but Shovel was recognisable by the owner of a local fish and chip shop, he’s a bit of a celebrity round these parts 😜🎬🎥
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