We stayed near Warrnambool for a few days rest and explored the Shipwreck Coast before driving across the third largest volcanic plain in the world to spend our last couple of days in Australia exploring Melbourne.
The first half of our week on the Great Ocean Road and around Melbourne, starting with a delayed flight down stranding us in the airport until morning, but also fern filled rainforests, spectacular coastlines and some close encounters with snakes!
A final few hundred km up the coast to our northernmost point on this trip; Townsville, calling at Airlie Beach on the way to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef.
Three days from Rockhampton doing some caving and then up into the hills behind Mackay, in the Eungella National park hunting for Platypus.
Five sunny days which started with a family reunion on Stradbroke Island where we enjoyed lots of beaches and watersports. Then up past the Sunshine Coast to Rockhampton, with a couple of stops for whale watching.
Less travel for this part, with three nights near Byron Bay and another three south of Brisbane. We still explored some stunning forests, but also got out on the golden beaches, swum in a tea tree lake, saw whales and kayaked with dolphins.