The journey is the destination

Tiring days are ahead of us. We are heading to Airlie Beach. Since the storm has partially devastated our intended route, the Bruce Highway heading north, and the water has caused flooding, we are taking a detour inland. Not entirely willingly, but it's worth it. Seemingly endless expanses lie ahead of us, and we spend most of the day in the car. When we stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere to take a short break, we realize that the vast red sand park seems quite cozy. Since we don't feel like sweating in the car anymore and the place has a toilet (and even two newly renovated free warm showers!), we decide to stay here overnight.

We cook and enjoy the evening in our camping chairs.

The car marathon continues. After breakfast, we get back in the car and start driving. Airlie Beach is waiting for us. The journey takes a while (but thanks to Spotify, it's sweetened with an exciting audiobook). When we finally arrive at our destination in the late afternoon, we can't find a campsite. The storm damage is most evident in this part of the coast. The Whitsundays region was so heavily hit by the cyclone about 2 weeks ago that all campsites in town are still closed today. A campsite owner busy with the cleanup work tells us that a site in Conway Beach, half an hour outside of town, has already reopened. Off we go. We drive past fallen trees, bent or fallen road signs, and rooftops without cover.

However, at the mentioned campsite, we do find accommodation for the next few nights. Since we arrive quite late due to the search for a place, no tours (to the Whitsundays) can be booked for the next day. So we stay for another night.

The sun wakes us up, and we're glad that we can leave the car behind for a day. After spending the morning doing internet research, we have our tour planned for the next day. We have opted for a half-day trip to Whitehaven Beach. Since we found out online that the storm has caused significant damage not only on land but also in the water, snorkeling is not possible. The full-day tours to Whitehaven Beach, including a hike to the famous lookout point, cannot be booked either, as the paths have not yet been cleared of fallen trees. However, since we don't want to miss out on the "whitest beach in the world," we have chosen the half-day trip, as mentioned before.

The rest of the day consists of relaxation by the pool, reading, and a delicious dinner consisting of pumpkin, carrots, onion, green asparagus, and couscous.