- Part 1: The Universe Gives Me A Nudge
- Part 2: Bangkok & Rest & Realisation In Koh Lanta
- Part 3: Singapore Slings & Bali Tranquility
- Part 4: A Trip To The Place Where Oceans Collide
- Part 5: Geraldton, Woodchopping & Kalbarri Majesty
- Part 6: Monkey Mia, Ningaloo Reef & A Deep Sense Of Dread
- Part 7: The Tent & The Bull
- Part 8: The Sky Turns Red & The Earth Glows Orange
- Part 9: The Overwhelming Power Of Untamed Nature
- Part 10: The Universe Brings Us Together At Purnululu
- Part 11: Life In Glorious Technicolour
- Part 12: Kakadu, Crocs & The Stuart Highway
- Part 13: Outback Queensland, Savannah Way & East Coast Arrival
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I headed south on the Pacific Coast Highway, not really knowing where I was headed but barrelling on and on through hundreds of kilometres.
I passed by sugar cane fields and through tropical lands where the rainforest meets the reef, the Great Barrier Reef in this case.
It was in stark contrast to Western Australia and the Northern Territory where I’d see a handful of cars every hour at the most. Now there were more cars, more towns, more everything. It was just very different.
Again, I didn’t have anywhere to stay but I decided upon Cape Hillsborough. I turned off the main highway and drove through absolutely beautiful country which was green, lush and hilly. I meandered my way through and when I arrived I was greeted by a kangaroo lounging around by the reception. I knew instantly I was in the right place where the sea meets the rainforest.
I chose to stay in a cabin rather than camp and sat outside with a glass of Coke as the sun set. Kangaroos hopped about and sprawled on the ground, metres from my cabin.
I walked along the beach although there was no dip in the sea because of crocs. Although there’s nothing like the croc density that there is in the NT, the fact there’s been sightings over the years is enough for me.
I took a walk through the national park forest and drove to a nearby village to get some provisions, tempted for a second by to go in the sea where the crocodile nets had been strung.
Mount Tamborine
My next stop was Agnes Water where I swam in the sea and took a pizza back to the campsite.
On I travelled to Noosa where I stayed with a friend, hanging out on the beach and drinking some wine.
I said goodbye to my car there, my RAV 4 which had served me so well. I’d clocked up over 13,000 kms and hated to just park up, post the keys through the Hertz letterbox and leave it. It had been a part of my life for more than two months as I made my way through the glorious Australia.
I eventually ended up hiring another one for a few days, settling on Mount Tamborine for a base in the hills around an hour from Brisbane.
It was a beautiful drive, up and up through the forest, winding my way through the dense greenery. I loved it there: I went walking, hung out where I was staying and watched a cookery competition on Netflix in its entirety and had coffee and cake at the local café.
I ate well and slept even better, all the time in the knowledge that my time in Australia was on the brink of ending.
I’d booked a flight to Kuala Lumpur but I couldn’t even comprehend it so didn’t try to.
Instead, I soaked in my time at Mount Tamborine which was peaceful and serene. Having said that, on my final day I took my torn tent with its broken pole and inflatable mattress for recycling. I felt a real surge of sadness but told myself I’d be back soon, on the road again.
Mel’s Positive Energy
But I had to leave there and headed to Gold Coast to meet a friend Mel who’d relocated there from Britain after being appointed as head swim coach at Griffith University.
If I was feeling any sadness at leaving Australia, it evaporated there even if just for a few short hours. Mel is all about positive energy and we caught up over breakfast although I felt a little emotional as we spoke about my road trip. Things were starting to converge – my road trip was over and I only had one day left before leaving Australia: what’d I’d seen and experienced, everywhere I’d been and all the people I’d met. I wanted that again and I wanted to be in that bubble.
I’d learned at Wangi Falls that you could live in the moment – no looking back and no looking ahead. No regrets and no plans. Just there at that moment in time, anchored in wonder and happiness and emotion. That had taken my breath away. And now I was trying to cling on to something that had already gone, as if I could relive it and experience that intensity once more. It hadn’t slipped through my fingers, it had been and gone. It was as if I feared that I could never again experience anything like that, that those moments happen once in a lifetime and I wanted to hold on to it.
I gave Mel my bright pink sleeping bag and mallet and drove off in search of a place to stay for my final two nights.
The Road Trip Ends In Brisbane
I drove away from Brisbane for an hour before realising that it wasn’t a great move so I drove back, stopping for coffee and booking a hotel online. I eventually found it. It was fine: I went for a walk and sat down amid the hustle and bustle with an ice-cream, my mind millions of miles away from Brisbane.
I returned the car the following morning and after a long breakfast, I took myself down to the waterfront. I didn’t really look around Brisbane and intend to return there at some point as I’ve heard so many good things about it.
And then it was time to go. I headed to the airport for my flight, feeling very tired and a little bit numb but intrigued by what awaited in Malaysia.
I was sure I’d soon be back, that my return would be in a matter of weeks. We taxied down the runway and as the plane took off, I shut my eyes and stopped thinking.