After two days in Airlie Beach it was back in the motor bright and early for our 700 kms drive, well early but not so bright. In fact it poured with tropical rain all day until about 5pm just before we arrived in Port Douglas. Luckily the A1, the only road north was not flooded but it was certainly very wet. Once again miles and miles of sugar plantations but no harvesting until June onwards as believe it or not it is the rainy season. Coffee to go from a shopping mall outside Townsville, quite good actually. The shops are very American and couldn't believe how many people were having lunch at 11.30am though I guess they start early because of the short daylight hours. 
Lunch stop in Tully by a small museum and info centre though too wet to venture far . Once again a lovely lady on the desk telling me how she moved from Sydney as it was too cold! Also nobody seems to think we are from the UK. I know we don't have broad accents but didn't realise we had picked up the NZ/Aussie twang.
Last hour of the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas was more reminiscent of driving in NZ with views of the coastline but still cannot get enthusiastic about rainforest. Nice apartment within walking distance of town centre and will check out the beach walk tomorrow, if rain eases.