LiaoningTourist.com: A Scenic Drive and Camping at Wonga Beach

Thứ Bảy, 19 tháng 11, 2011

A Scenic Drive and Camping at Wonga Beach

ROAD TRIP DIARIES # 28

It was way past midnight but I was still wide-awake inside our camper van listening to unusual sounds and getting a bit anxious every time a car drove past us. We were illegally camping at Trinity Beach, a residential beach just north of Cairns, and were expecting any moment for a police officer to knock on our door and fine us.

Goodbye Trinity Beach

Trinity Beach has a long stretch of sheltered sand with a selection of restaurants, small shops and hotels lining the waterfront. The campgrounds nearby were all booked out and it was rather late to head back to Cairns so we decided to spend the night by the side of the road. It was a mistake not booking a spot in the caravan park in advance. After a full day of adventures at the Great Barrier Reef, driving around the northern beaches to find a place to crash for the night was the last thing we wanted to worry about.

All we wanted was a patch of sand beneath the palm trees to set up our campervan, a stroll along the beach and then to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the lapping waves. Instead, neither of us had a good night sleep. We were too paranoid about getting caught camping illegally on the waterfront roadside. There were signs all around warning of heavy fines for campers found illegally camped by the roadside.

It was the most unpleasant free accommodation we ever had and it wasn’t worth all the worry. Good thing we made it through the night without any drama. In fact another campervan also parked near us later in the night. We woke up at the crack of dawn, drove to a picnic table to have breakfast and hit the road again to Port Douglas.

A common sight along the east coast

We stopped at some lookouts and stunning deserted beaches along the way. The east coast of North Queensland never seemed to run out of lengthy shorelines with amazing views of the wild Pacific Ocean. Weaving our way along the scenic road flanked by rugged coastline and dense forest was even more rewarding than the destination itself.

A gray nomad sun bathing on a gloomy day

We headed straight to the lookout upon reaching Port Douglas and drove down the beach for lunch. The water was a bit rough and too windy to even have picnic outside but the beach was still bustling. After lunch we explored the small shops and market stalls around the town and chanced upon a wedding in this rather intimate small church.

Around Port Douglas Town Center

Port Douglas is the tamer but more sophisticated sister of Cairns. It has a smaller backpacker culture and offers the same tours and activities available in Cairns as well as all the comforts of a true holiday town. But it was the access to a white sand beach that gives it an edge over its more gregarious sister.

Port Douglas from the lookout

Still weary from lack of decent sleep the previous night, we gladly left the modern comforts of the flashy town and drove up north to Wonga Beach. This time we drove past acres of cane fields passing through the laid-back little town of Mossman before making our way to our camping ground.

Horseback riding at Wonga Beach

For 27 bucks, we got our own patch of grass in a vast campground with pool, game room and common lounge room. After setting up our camper van and preparing an early dinner of chicken adobo and stir-fry vegetables, we spent the rest of our time lazing on the beach. Horse-back riding is a popular activity at Wonga Beach but we were just as happy being able to enjoy the scenery in peace.

Cheers mate!

We ended fulfilling our wish after all – our own patch of grass fronting 7km of wind swept beach and getting lulled to sleep by swaying palms and lapping waves. This time however, it was the thought of seeing salt-water crocs in the wild the next day that kept me awake – the opportunist one that doesn’t mind adding human in its diet if given a chance icon smile A Scenic Drive and Camping at Wonga Beach review

(This is part of our 6-week North Queensland Road Trip Series in 2010)

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