I have a bit of an aversion to large 4WDs and was not hugely looking forward to driving across to the gulf in the ugliest vehicle on earth, a Pajero Sport. I wonder how many big 4WDs ever get near dirt or tow anything? Their drivers, especially the drivers of Toyota Prados, appear to only drive in the right lane of multi-lane roads and have special authority to drive at least 10kmh over the speed limit, everywhere. So it was perfect irony to be handed the keys to a near new Prado with only 5000km on the clock for our holiday. I had renamed it the ‘magic carpet’ by the end of our second day :)

We have wonderful friends in Cairns who generously offered us an esky and other bits and pieces. After picking up some supplies (milk, cereal, beer, cider) from Smithfield and calling in to Trinity Beach to have lunch, get the esky, a humongous first aid kit, bowls, spoons, and some windscreen chip patches we headed west to Mount Garnet.

We stopped at Jaques Australian Coffee for afternoon tea. Despite everyone in Cairns and surrounds pronouncing it zsarcs like Jacque-s Cousteau and Zsa Zsa Gabor, it’s actually pronounced jakes. We buy their coffee via subscription.