Escape - travelling with Covid.

[Pushka]

Second to last day, Saturday. We decided to take a quick trip to the Mossman Gorge and maybe Daintree. Started with our usual "on the sides" order of bacon, eggs and toast with large coffee and tea. And it was even cheaper today. The attendants seem to realise that there was an issue with the menu for those who just wanted good ole bacon and eggs without the extras.





Then it was an early trip up Captain Cook Highway. I'm guessing someone in Vic Health would be angry about the name.

Into the Mossman Gorge visitors centre where every adult had to take the OCR code and sign in. It had to show green or they wouldnt let you in.


and on exit you had to check out.

The weather was pleasantly warm and not crowded at all at 10.30am. A strict limit of 10 on the first bus.

The boardwalk is exceptional. Lots of things to see but sadly no wildlife other than fish.

 

[Pushka]

More views along the walk.






It did look really dry in the grassed area.

 

[Pushka]

More



Just for a moment this had me worried.

 

[Pushka]

By now it was getting warm to hot and the insects got stickier so we ended the trail having climbed into slippery places. We walked back to the shuttle bus and there were a lot of people now coming into the trails. Wouldnt have been so nice as what we had just done.

And we checked out again.

 

[Pushka]

We then drove a little further north to check out another beach. We think that it is Port Douglas you can see on the other side of the bay, with the Marina being the white dot.



We decided by then that the pool was beckoning so we returned to Port Douglas, but first visiting the lookout suggested by @kevrosmith and it was exceptional.





And these homes have the view over the harbour.



We drove back down the main street and it was like Port Douglas people have emerged. People everywhere and shops that had been closed were now open. Lets hope the covidiots dont create the second wave here.

Going to the pool and it was really busy. And a guest singer by the pool who was very good.

We hope to go to the Tin Shed for sunset drinks but fear it might be much too busy.

As you can see the weather is sublime.

 

[Pushka]

We made it to the Tin Shed. For 30 minutes. Sunset went AWOL

 

[Adelew]

So lovely to read about your adventure. As a Vic serving our prison sentence, it’s great to revisit FNQ with your words and pics. We were there with our family 2 years ago.

 

[Pushka]

We are on our way home now. I don’t know if SA will again soft close the border to Qld. Their fingers must be twitching on that button. Our trip back to Adelaide airport will tell us more info about that in about five hours.

 

[bPeteb]

We are on our way home now. I don’t know if SA will again soft close the border to Qld. Their fingers must be twitching on that button. Our trip back to Adelaide airport will tell us more info about that in about five hours.

yes, I can see it closing to us very soon unless we get it under control asap. Maybe no Kangaroo Island for us early October. I went and had my first nasal probe (aka COVID test) last night at the prompting of our health minister who said get one with even the slightest of symptoms. Royal Brisbane is a few hundred metres away from our place so I heeded his advice and now I'm wfh until the results come back. It sure made my eyes water!

 

[Julesmac]

Fab TR thanks - in freezing Melbourne it's rather nice to see some sun. Actually in lockdown Melbourne it's even nicer to see snaps from outside our borders! These remind me of a marvellous holiday we had in Port Douglas; we stayed in a very economical apartment & did a daytrip up to Cape Trib and befriended a single woman who, it turned out was a TA on a "fact funding" mission, staying at Silky Oaks Lodge and then moving on to Mirage. A few days later we ran into her whilst having a snoop at Mirage which was very fresh and new. She offered to see if she could get us in at a special rate which we jumped at. The next four days in luxury was marvellous. But my strongest memory was of the swim up bar at the edge of the lagoon. Their slogan was "Too good to be True" and they'd made a house coughtail of the same name. (There should be a hint somewhere about holiday drinks, fruit juice, bright colours and deadly amounts of alcohol) There were a few nights when swimming back to our lagoon-side room was difficult. I believe on the back nine at the golf course is a sign instructing people not to go into the bushes in search of errant balls lest the errant crocs are lurking! It was a glorious place to stay that's for sure.

 

[Pushka]

Arrived into Brisbane airport and a quick first look at the QP. Flying back I’d say less than half wearing masks. We had expensive vouchers from cancelled flights so used these for J cabin. Where we were the only ones wearing a mask. The “older than us” people on the plane were not wearing them and one much older man refused to sit and wait for people ahead of him to disembark. He left his wife trailing behind. Just a rude old codger.

 

[AIRwin]

Arrived into Brisbane airport and a quick first look at the QP.

Was it the business lounge instead?

 

[Pushka]

Was it the business lounge instead?

I think so. The first lounge you walk past on the left was closed. We can go in either but presume only the J lounge was operating.

 

[Pushka]

Well, we made it back home. Quite the kerfuffle getting into SA.

Domestic arrivals are now herded through to the international arrivals area. Commonwealth Police waving us through then on to a line up of tables of about 30 police lined up.


You are asked for your border approvals number then ID checked with DL. Of course my address is different to where I currently live so licence is whisked away. Multiple questions on what I’d been doing and for how long. Was given a pathology test form (although I’m not required to get one) and told not to visit any aged care homes for 14 days nor old people nor hospital. Unless sick of course. Not required to self iso.

But there was no social distancing of the people checking at all. And it should be a requirement that every passenger wears a mask because we were very crowded, everyone was talking and it was hard to hear the officer. Although my person was designated a police aide. Honestly thought he was at an age risk.

So we arrive back to cold Adelaide but so very very grateful to be lucky enough to have a break. My wish for everyone is to get some joy back into their lives through travel.

Bring on that vaccination now!

 

[Anna]

You got your trip in just in time! SA Health now says:

'SA Health is encouraging travelers to rethink their travel plans to Queensland where possible as quarantine requirements may change depending on the situation'.

 

[Pushka]

You got your trip in just in time! SA Health now says:

'SA Health is encouraging travelers to rethink their travel plans to Queensland where possible as quarantine requirements may change depending on the situation'.

I checked every single day I was there to be honest. I think Prof Spurrier wants this but that would kill off the AFL. Bit of a cognitive tussle methinks.

 

[drron]

Glad you got your few days in paradise.And a good TR.May entice a few more to visit.

 

[Port Power]

I really enjoyed your report. I hope to visit up that way with a Queensland girlfriend once all borders are open. With WA borders still closed, there is no way I would leave now. But.....I’ve just booked a 5-night Abrolhos Islands cruise from Geraldton for next month. No single supplemen either! This week of sunshine and warmth has awoken the urge to travel.

 

[klm597]

Thanks for your fascinating trip report - very timely for me as I'm considering a FNQ trip later in the year.

But there was no social distancing of the people checking at all. And it should be a requirement that every passenger wears a mask because we were very crowded, everyone was talking and it was hard to hear the officer.

Interesting thoughts regarding SA immigration. I went through the same process nearly two weeks ago entering SA as a Qlder, and thought it was much more organised then entering Qld in Brisbane. I do agree some of the desks where you talk to the police officers were a bit close. It seemed nearly everyone on my flight was wearing masks and distancing appropriately during the queuing process so I was never too concerned however.

 

[Pushka]

It seemed nearly everyone on my flight was wearing masks and distancing appropriately during the queuing process so I was never too concerned however.

That’s good to hear. SA was starting to panic with the WACOL cluster so I’d expect everyone to be masked but was disappointed. I’ve never been so crowded in as I was yesterday since Covid erupted.