So, what is our plan.
We leave the UK on Tuesday 20th May heading for Stockholm, Sweden where we board a Lufthansa flight to Singapore. Overnight in Singapore and then on to Perth in Western Australia to visit an old friend of Merle's - Pauline. We are staying in Perth for 5 days then taking another flight back up north to Darwin.
Jan is flying over from Cairns and we are going to spend some time exploring the National Parks in the area for another 5 days.
We then all catch yet another flight to Cairns and then on to the farm in Mutchilba. We will then spend the next 5 or 6 weeks in Queensland, on the farm are around the region, plus the obligatory trips to the coast and a further trip down to The Sunshine Coast.
This is a summary of our itinerary:
20th May: Birmingham to Stockholm
20th May: Stockholm to Singapore Changi Airport
22nd May: Singapore to Perth (Western Australia)
26th May: Perth to Darwin
31st May: Darwin to Cairns
23rd July: Cairns to Singapore on
24th July: Singapore to Stockholm
25th July: Stockholm to Birmingham
We arrive back in the UK on 25th July.
So, look out for hopefully lots of photos and videos.
We are now in Perth, and have been to see Merle's friend Pauline for a quick visit. Meeting up again for lunch tomorrow. It has not been a very nice day today - cold and the occasional drop of rain. Let's hope tomorrow is better.
Friday 23rd May
We are now in Mandurah which is south of Perth. Sadly, the weather is not too brilliant - infact it has been raining. We had a pretty un-eventual journey from Birmingham to Singapore via Stockholm and Munich. Our stay in Singapore was interesting to say the least.
Changi Airport in Singapore is something quite extroardinary, with a surprise around every corner. First of all it is enormous and secondly it is absolutely 'out of this world' including an indoor Foerst with nature trails and an indoor 60 metres high multi-coloured waterfall and a 17 metres wide screen constantly projecting another massive waterfall. There are also lots of garbage bin sized robotic machines wandering around the terminals sweeping the floor and amazingly avoiding bumping into passengers.
You could quite easily spend a week in the airport. We stayed overnight in a very strange and compact in airport hotel called Yotelair. As I say, it was very compact ( even small!!), but also very comfortable and clean and very modern. It was also very convenient for our onwards journey to Perth.
Thursday 29th May
So, a bit of catching up to do, especially as we had no wifi for a couple of days. Apologies.
We left Singapore on a Scoot Airlines plane for Perth. The flight we really comfortable, and all arrived safely. Headed off to the car hire place and got our Chinese MG - small but OK. Had a few problems getting tohe SatNav sorted, but they were very helpful. Headed off to Mandurah which is about 40km south of Perth City. We arrived at our accommodation ony to find it all locked up. Luckliy thee was a very helpful local couple there as well and they managed to rase the management. We got in went to bed! Not a brilliant night as Merle had developed a nasty cough.
Next morning we went over to see Merle's longstanding friend Pauline , but only stayed for coffee. We were both feeling a bit knackered - so we went back to the apartment. It was raining and COLD. We spent a couple of days with Pauline in and around Mandurah - it was lovely for Merle to see her again.
We had a very pleasant, and very English Sunday Roast lunch at a harbour-side restaurant in Mandurah Marina before heading north again to stay overnight near Perth Airport for an earlyish flight up to Darwin. The flight was a long one - 4 hours (equivalent to flying from the UK to the Canary islands). The seats were blxxdy uncomfortable! Luckily Jan and Neve were already there to greet us - it was lovely to see them both again. Headed into Darwin City which is the most northerly of all of the Australian cities - and very humid!!!. We went out for a nice evening meal - Australian style = large portions.
Tuesday 27th May
Merle went off - with the help from Robert (the cleaner in the hotel) to do a bit of washing. Jan and Neve arrived and we had a nice walk around part of the city, then took an open top bus ride right the easy round and saw pretty much most of what there is to see. It is not a vert large city - population about 120,000, but boosted by a lot of tourists. We did the complete circular trip and then went part way round again to visit the Museum.
In the early evening we went off to a special place, where at high tide thousands of fish seek safety from other sea creatures and there is a ritual feeding - basically everybody throwing chunks of bread into the sea and watching the fish go crazy. There were mullet, catfish, barramundi and a flat fish.
We then took a short ride out to the Darwin Yacht Club to watch the sun go down, had a nice G&T and something to eat - very pleasant way the end the day.
Wednesday 28th May
Exciting time - 4.00am in the morning and suddenly we are all awake in the hotel - the fire alarm had gone off - possibly due to water getting into the electrics. lots of prople wandering around, but no panic. 15 minutes later we were a told you can go back to bed.
So, after breakfast, Jan and Neve arrived and we headed off to the Lichfield National Park which was about an hour or so south of Darwin. It is an amazing place - the pictures will tell the story. Late morning we stopped for a coffee at a place called Batchelor - very much a one horse town - had a coffee and meet some amazing 'oldies' playing guitars and singing country and western songs (not exactly Dolly Parton or Kenny Roberts), but really nice.
We headed on to Florence Falls and had a swim in the 'pool' below the fantastic waterfall. really nice. Even I enjoyed it and I don't do a lot of water things.
We then head off to another lovely spot for a picnic. So, then we thought we better head for home (Darwin) and took off back- it is really unbelievable that we drove for over an hour and a half and never saw another vehicle - in either direction. A really lovely day out - but tiring, especially for Jan as she did all the driving. Merle and I then went out and found a lovely Italian Restaurant and indulged in an authentic pizza ( cooked in a wood fire oven on the premises) accompanied by the obligatory glass of wine. Very nice, very filling - end of a good day. Having a bit of an issue with photos - will attach when I have sorted it.
The Florence Falls in the Lichfield National Park, Northern Territory.
Thursday 29th May
we had a reasonably quiet day, late in the morning Jan picked us up and took us back to Pam's house 9 her friend who lives up here), then in the afternoon we went out to the mangrove swamp area and walked out on the boardwalk as the tide as coming in - you could see all the crabs coming out of their sand-holes, didn't see any crocs. Later in the afternoon, early evening we all went down to the 'market' where you can buy locally made gifts, trinkets etc as well as a huge selection of all sorts of 'street food' - which obviously we indulged in. Later on - headed for the beach to sit and watch the sun go down again - this time with a Gin & Soda!
Friday 30th May.
Merle, Jan and Neve all went off to Berry springs for some more swimming, I decided to stay in Darwin and catch up on some admin jobs. In the evening we went back to the Italian Restaurant for another really good pizza. To bed early as we have to be up and away to catch our flights from Darwin to Cairns at 06.30 hrs.
Saturday 31st May
up very early - 4.15 am and headed off to the airport. We arrived at Cairns airport at about 09.30am and had to wait for Jan & Neve ( on a later flight). Then headed for the family farm im Mutchilba, west of Mareeba, Queensland. Early night again.
Arrived safely on the farm and had a wander round - just to check everything out. Early to bed.
Photos below are a selection taken whilst walking around the farm.
Sunday 1st June
Restful day today, just catching up. We went fora bit of an 'off-road' drive to seee some of the other cattle on a neighbours farm. Interesting drive !!!!
Tuesday 3rd June.
Not a busy day today - well not too busy. We went to Dimbullah - about 5 kms away to get some fuel, few provisions and a coffee. Nice drive. Merle has been looking a doing a bit of sewing for Hannah and I have started to clean or replace the mosquito screens on the windows. Most seem OK, but all could do with a good clean - so out with the jetwash machine.
Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th June
Past couple of days not been to busy, more mossy screens, and a shopping trip to Mareeba which is about 20 minutes drive away. Days are still nice and hot, but the evenings and overnight gets really cold. The early evenings are really fantastic. We stood out the back of the house and filmed this panorama video - see below and notice the 'outdoor bathroom!!
Monday 9th June
We have hd a busy few days - hence the delay in posting. so, let's start. We have had a couple of shopping trips to Mareeba and Dimbulah, nothing much interesting to report on that front. However, we did watch Graham, Jan, Jordan and Neve set to work branding some of the cattle - very interesting to watch and were not keen to participate as you will see from the video.
We also did a bit of an off road journey looking for some of the cattle who are up on a neighbours land - eventually found the cattle but lost Jan's dog - luckily he turned up an hour or so later. Saturday we had an excursion to Atherton and found a lovely place (old converted railway carriages) for lunch.
On Sunday afternoon we went over to a lovely town called Yungaburra to see an open air 'Sunday afternoon concert' played by local musicians including one of Graham's uncles ( there does seem to be an awful lot of Godfrey's in the area.
I have been busy also, apart from cleaning the mossy screens with cleaning and re-oiling a couple of bench shelves out on the verandah. Almst compleed. Then I am going to set ount a couple of tables. Merle has been busy helping grand-daughter Neve with her scarves project.
Apart from the cattle and the limes that they grow on the farm, they also grow a crop of a plant called "rosella" which is most commonly referred to the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant, which is a tropical fruit. The flower heads are picked and the seed pod ejected. The petals are then frozen and eventually sent in bulk to be processed for use in the cosmetics industry. The seeds themselves are fed to the cattle.
Saturday 14th June
This week has been pretty much a restful week on the farm, with the odd shopping trips. I have been renovating a large table -- one of two on the verandah. It is almost finished, then ready to set about the next one. Merle has been helping Neve with some extra sewing and ironing on her ;Scarves; project as she has a large show comimg up very sortly and needs a good deal of stock.
Today we were up nice and early and headed off to the monthly Mareeba Market. Very nice market selling all sorts of things - fruit, veg, drinks, trinkets etc, etc
Below are a few more photos and video of yet another beautiful sunset over the farm. They just keep coming!!!
Thursday 26th June 2025
So, a lot has happened since the last entry on the blog.
We are now back in Cairns and staying in one of the holiday resorts until Sunday when we head back to the farm.
What have we been doing? Well, from the last entry until we went off to the Sunshine Coast (21st June) both of us have been hard at work. Merle was very busy (still) helping Neve get even more scarves and ties sorted for he upcoming stall at the Rodeo at Laura. In the meantime I ( Pete) have been sanding down the main table on the verandah redAy for oiling as well as making a 'reception desk' for Neve for her stall. We managed to construct one out of two redundant timber pallets - still a bit of a challenge, but we got there in the end. In the evening of Monday 16th we went over to Atherton in the evening to watch Neve playing in a local netball tournament - she is in a very good team. Unfortunately, the weather has turned and it was a bit cold and wet. The rest of the week was just 'work', Grandson - Jordan - came up to the farm on Friday with his girlfriend Georgia and we had a lovely steak dinner. lots of pix including some more of the cattle including Daryyl the Bull.
On Saturday 21st June Jan drove us down to Cairns where we took a flight down south to an area called The Sunshine Coast. It is only a 2 hour flight - so nice and easy.
The Sunshine Coast is north of Brisbane and is spectacular with its beaches and surf. The beaches seem to go on for miles and miles and the surf is quite amazing - no wonder it is a mecca for surfers.
We arrived in Maroochydore Airport ( the main airport ) mid afternoon and were greeted by our grand-daughter Hannah and her partner Kye. It was lovely to see Hannah again and to eventually meet up with Kye. They have only been down on the coast for the last month - as they both have new jobs down here. They took us off to our accommodation, dropped the bags, and then went for a tou and a bit of sightseeing. Maroochydore is a really lovely place. Very clean, super beaches and has a very comfortable feeling about it. We did have a little bit of a problem - when we got back to our accommodation, entry was via a 'keypad. We entered the 'correct' number for the main door and nothing happened - repeadely. By this time it was getting darker and had begun to rian slightly.We eventually managed to raise one of the other residents who very kindly came down and opened the main door for us. We then discovered that WE were entering the wrong number - it was not the fault of the accommodation.
Sunday 22nd June
Next morning (Sunday) we got up and headed off for a really nice breakfast in a local cafe, then met up with Hannah and Kye and went to the Maroochydore Surf Club for lunch. We then did a lovely drive down to some of the other towns and beaches (all fantastic).
Monday 23rd June
Monday morning, met up with Hannah and after breakfast we did some window shopping for things for their new apartment. We headed north and had lunch in Noosa (which is very posh) and visited some other beaches - Kings Beach, The Shelley Headland - all are amazing, beautiful and lovely beaches and sea. We then went on to the Everglades - there are only two Everglades in the World - one in Florida USA and the other here in Australia., We had a two and a half hour boat trio across a lake and through the 'everglades'. The lake - which is huge is very confusing as it is only one and a half metres deep. The Everglades were truly something else - we were just drifting slowly through the rivers and channles listeninig to the wildlife (although we didn't see much) , but nonetheless the scenery and the sonds were magic, especially when we got to an area where the reflections were just completlely 'mirror-like'. Back at the base camp we did however see a few kookaburra birds and a metre long iguana. All in all a lovely lovely day - finished off by dinner with Hannah & Kye back at the Surf Club.
A selection of photos of us all on the Sunshine Coast - there are many more - too many to show here
A selection of many photos taken on the boat trip through the Everglades near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast
Tuesday 24th June.
Met up with Hannah and did some 'OP Shop' vieiwing for second hand furniture for their new apartment - didn't find anything, but and interesting morning. It concluded with us having a light lunch of YO-CHI ( which is actually frozen yoghurt in a number of different flavours. You basically help yourself to a quantity of whchever flavours you fancy, and you pay by the total weight of what you selected. Really Nice!!!
Hannah then drove us up to the airport for our flight back to Cairns. We arrived just after 5.00pm and heade straight to our accommodation at The Lakes Resort.
Wednesday 25th June
We went down into Cairns and did a lot of 'window shopping' as well as a nice walk around to pier harbour area - such a shame to see so many shops and restaurants closed. Did a food shop and headed back to The Lakes.
Thursday 26th June
Chilled out at the resort!
Friday 27th June
Went for a lovely walk around the Cairns botanical Gardens - amazing plants, especially when you consider the size of the same plants in the UK. Had a really nice Thai meal in the evening.
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Since we got back from Cairns life has been reasonably quite. Merle is again helping with some sewing and I have almost completed the renovation of another table top - this time a big long one from the verandah. This morning we were up very early and went into Mareeba to the cattle sales - very interesting, especially as Neve's partner Jack had some for sale - added a few photos of the cattle for sale and the table. Hope you are all still enjoying the heat. It is in the mid 20's here and very comfortable.
tomorrow Merle and I are having a day out, we plan to visit a mango wine distillery, near Mareeba then head off to the Atherton Tablelands to d a bit of sightseeing, lunch etc (such a tiring day!!!!).
Thursday 3rd July 2025
Woke up this morning, and would you believe it - there was FROST on the ground, buy it soon disappears.
Yesterday, Merle and I had a day out. We drove over to Atherton andin the Atherton Tablelands region, where there is very virile did a little shopping plus the obligatory coffee break where the soil is very rich and a deep reddish colour - it is the perfect growing region and also very pretty. We did a bit of shopping and had the obligatory coffee break. We then headed over to Lake Tinaroo. The lake is a man-made fresh water lake ( built in the 1950's) to supply all the surrounding region with fresh water which is distributed by a massive network of ground level and above ground prefabricated water channels, with each rual property having a take off point where the volume is measured. It is a lovely location, so we parked up and ahd a lovely walk along the lake side.
Having had a lovely walk along the lake we decided to then to go to the town of Yungaburra for lunch. It is a very pretty and quaint 'tablelands' township, where the town council have very strict rules on how shop front should look, so no Big M signs. After lunch we had a leisurely drive to a couple of wine distilleries - and bought a bottle or two, then headed back to the farm. A very pleasant day out.
Thursday 3rd July 2025
today we went on a trip with Graham and Jan to have a look at some possible new additional cattle for the farm. It was a lomngish trip south through the Atherton tablelands to a place called Ravenshoe. The countryside is beautiful - green rolling hills, a bit like some parts of the UK. We visited three cattle breeders during the trip and Graham ended up purchasing a total of 9 animals (all for Neve). These will be delivered next Monday. Long day and quite a bit tired when we arrived back at the farm. Included below a number of photos of the day. Click on each to see a larger version.
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Merle and I decided to have a day out, so borrowed the family car and headed off. We drove to Mareeba, then headed north to Mount Molloy. then headed for Julettan - where there is a fantastic view over the countryside as you come down the Rex Range ( see photo below)).
From there we headed for the coast, but made a bit of a navigational error when we got to the Highway. We were intending to go to Port Douglas, but managed to turn left onto the Highway and realised that we were actually heading in the opposite direction towards Mossman and Daintree - did it matter - No. We we went up to the Daintree Village right on the Daintree River which is the furthest north you can get before entering the Rainforest area at Cape Tribulation and on to Cooktown. Stopped here and had a coffee and raison toast, before turning round and making our way down to Port Douglas - as intended. We arrived, parked up and had a good old wander around the town, it is so nice to come back to Port Douglas - always a pleasure. We did some shopping - a birthday present shirt for Jordan and a new hat for Pete.
From Port Douglas e took the coastal road south towards Cairns. It is one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world. It literally hugs the coastline all the way. Parts of it were very badly affected and even destroyed in the cyclone of last year and there is still a considerable amount of repair and re-instatement work going on and it will probably last for a good time yet. On the way, we stopped at a very well known and much liked beach - Ellis beach were they do put out the stinger nets so that they can provide an area of beach and sea which is protected against the 'box jelly fish' and the crocs. It is such a shame that you have miles and miles of beautiful sea and beaches and you cannot use them - it is just too dangerous. We stopped for a coffee and a bite to eat at the renowned Ellis Beach Bar & Grill as we hadn't really had much since breakfast apart from the raison toast. Merle had a plateful of delicious chilled prawns and Pete a plate of pork belly pieces deep fried rogether with onion rings. Both were delicious. We then continued our journey south to just north of Cairns and headed back up the Kuranda Range road and onwards to Mutchilba. We got back to the farm around 6.00pm A lovely day out.
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Hi Peter and Merle. What an amazing trip you're having. Love the sunsets and that oiled table - looks great! Disappointed you didn't get involved with the cattle branding though 🤣🤪
Lovely to hear all your news and pictures of places visited. Circuits now in Abbeyfields, cooler and no changes for exams. Look forward to seeing you later in the month. Travel safely xx
Pretty country around Atherton. Hope new cattle are settling in
wow you have been busy travelling and "working"
Tables look great Pete
Neve obviously takes after grandma
What a trip. Stay well. xx
Looks lovely and green unlike my lawn which is brown now! Still waiting for rain here in Brum.
Your table looks good
Oiled table looks really good
You have been busy. Lots of food too. Does this mean diets and back to the gym when you're back in Blighty?
Love the dog. That's how I've been feeling during this heatwave 😂
Wow fabulous pics and it is so lovely to get an idea of the sights / vistas you are both seeing etc. Nice for you to meet up with Hannah too. Lots of culinary delights you are sampling.
Hello both! Lovely to hear all about your adventures.. Stay well and keep away from snakes and spiders Yuk!! Much love from a very warm Winchcombe xx
Glad all going well