28/09/2026
Day 36 — 293 km
Pulled in for the night at a free camping spot just outside the Rollingstone Hotel (photo).
The drive from Cairns felt familiar — a road I’ve travelled by car, bus and train — yet the scenery still catches me. Queensland’s green spine rises and falls beside the highway, never dull, never tired.
Passed Walsh’s Pyramid, sharp and commanding right on the side of the highway, then the two great mountains near Babinda — Queensland’s tallest and second‑tallest, standing like old guardians over the road
Then came Cardwell, where the highway runs right beside the sea. Caravaners lined the edge of the road, staring out at that long, endless stretch of blue. Hard to blame them.
Stopped at Tully to top up fuel, under the shadow of its giant gumboot. Australia’s wettest town — and it wears the title proudly.
Some things never change — the mountains, the sea, the rainforest light. Some things always do — McDonald’s, Woolies, servos popping up like weeds. I’ll probably see them all the way down to Brisbane.
