5. The one when COVID caught back up

Current weather: 20/13°C
Total distance travelled: 2003km (+207km)

The weather forecast for our week in Beerwah suggested increasing amounts of rain, so we chose to make the most of the sunshine by visiting Australia Zoo on Monday.

The komodo dragons and venomous snakes were a hit with Josh, while the kangaroos were Acacia's favourite. Like Healesville Sanctuary back in the 1990's, you could still walk through the kangaroo enclosures and feed and pat the animals... I guess they're considered harmless by comparison to the wide array of crocodiles

for which this park became famous?

Regardless, it's an impressive facility, immaculately maintained, but the bittersweet legend of Steve Irwin is hard to ignore.

News of mandatory masks being reintroduced soon changed to reports of a snap 3-day lockdown being called for many parts of Queensland, which at best would mean our move further north would be delayed by a day. Despite our best efforts, COVID had caught-up with us once more - who would have thought that Victoria would now be the least locked-down state in Australia?!

And just like that, we settled into a familiar rhythm, albeit in unfamiliar territory. Our gracious hosts were only too happy to accommodate us longer than expected.

Lockdown days in Beerwah were filled with swimming in the pool, colouring with Kristi's markers, watching old Disney movies, bike rides to the local parks, library and shops, and visits to local lookouts, waterfalls and beaches. Kristi's lesson in forming clay bowls on the pottery wheel was a highlight also.

Despite the extra day, our time in Doug & Kristi's slice of paradise came to an end all too soon. The enjoyment of their company, and of finally meeting their wider family now shifting towards the excitement of revisiting Airlie Beach, almost 13.5 years after our honeymoon there.