A quiet – wet New Years day, the kids played Lego in the camp kitchen for most of the day and the rain didn’t stop! We had a very windy night – and our beloved Marque collapsed during the night. Gaz tried his best to resurrect it but we think we may have to replace it with a new one when we return to the main land. It was a curbside find back home before the trip – and an item we wouldn’t of thought of packing – but now we love its many uses, rain hail & shine it has protected us, and it makes a great washing line too.

Enough of sitting around the camp site – we head for the Kelly Caves nearby, something we can do without getting wet.

From here we drive north thru the centre of the island, and stumble across a pub in Parndana – we had a most memorable lunch here, local Marron was YUM! Now our truck is covered in red mud, the islands non major roads are red dirt and very corrugated or white dirt with pot holes, and with all this rain – very muddy.

After our delicious lunch and pub ping pong, its off to Stokes Beach on the northern coast line, what first looks like a rocky beach it hides a jem of a beach a short walk thru the tunnel of towering rocks

This beautiful beach had one end full of washed up sea sponges &  puffer fish but otherwise this pristine beach was so clean like no other we have seen. The cliffs had interesting rocky caves although it was a cold, grey afternoon, it was still fun to explore. A short drive west along the coast we found Snelling Beach, where we pulled up for Latte’s and cookies, the beach was full of 4wd’s and boat trailers dotted along the sand. Even hatchbacks get on these beaches.