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Cassowaries stole the cheese and the show, but the real suspense came from a 37-degree towing day that finally put our LandCruiser 300 to the test. We headed to a tiny tropical gem—Ettie Bay—where rainforest brushes the sand, nippers train under the red and yellow, and a modest fish and chip shop serves Spanish mackerel good enough to plan lunch around. It’s the kind of place that feels untouched: tight beachfront sites, a fenced playground in view of your awning, and day visitors swinging in hammocks between the palms. It’s also the kind of place that demands respect—stinger nets, seasonal jellyfish, croc sightings, and cassowaries that will happily admire their reflection in your shiny 4WD.

Between swims and sunset patrols, we built our favourite warm-weather ritual: Facos. Think soft tortillas, crisp salsa, pickled heat, and a burst of local mango folded around fresh crumbed Spanish Mackerel. Stocking up at a roadside stall outside Innisfail turned lunch into a celebration of pineapple-sweet air and sticky mango fingers. It’s fast, fresh, kid-friendly, and exactly what beach camping calls for after a morning of sand and salt.

Then we turned to the data everyone keeps asking for. After six months and nearly 20,000 kilometres towing a 3.6-tonne family bunk van, we share temps, gearing, and upgrades that matter. With Just Autos tuning onboard, a ScanGauge watching coolant and transmission temps (and a plan to add EGT), we saw 85–87°C on regular days, 92–94°C in the heat, and 102°C on steep climbs in a lower gear—no alarms, no fade, no drama. Seventh gear for a 1:1 ratio keeps the transmission happy; dropping gears on hills manages load and heat. We also cover weight balance, stability, and the importance of booking services ahead with trusted partners like Cutler Diesel Performance in Townsville.

All of this ties back to a simple truth: choose curiosity over comfort. Wild places reward the prepared traveller, good food elevates simple nights, and real-world data beats internet hot takes every time. If you’re weighing up the Geelong Caravan and Adventure Leisure Fest, we explain why a $15 ticket can be the most efficient way to compare rigs, tech, and trends in one hit.

Love the show? Follow, share with a mate planning their lap, and leave a review with your best beach meal tip or towing question—we’ll feature our favourites next week.

As a massive thank you to our podcast listeners we’re offering a 50% discount on RV First Aid! Use discount code FEELGOOD to take advantage of this awesome offer - https://www.rvfirstaid.com.au/

Be sure to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and join us for all of the road trip adventures! Check out the footage from our latest episode on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily

Check out the Gear we love on our website - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/gear-and-discounts/

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Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Tuesday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com

Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].

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A tropical creek you can actually drink from, a camp kitchen by the water, and paddocks lined with rambutan and mangosteen trees—Paradise Camps lived up to its name and then some. We set up under the palms, met the hosts who made it feel like home, and used this Hipcamp haven as a launchpad for Babinda’s best: the legendary bakery, a small but rich community museum, and short drives to Josephine Falls and the dramatic, cautionary beauty of Babinda Boulders. No crocs in the creek, just cold, clear water that wakes you up and reminds you why Far North Queensland is a bucket-list region.

Between swims and bakery runs, we opened a bigger conversation: should towing large caravans in Australia require a licence or endorsement? With more people on the road and heavier rigs than ever, the accident data is moving in the wrong direction. We break down the pros and cons—safety gains, clearer standards, insurer incentives versus added costs, complexity, and the risk of red tape. Our view leans toward education first: short, practical towing courses that demystify weights, turning geometry, braking distances, and tyre management. Know your GVM, GCM, and tow ball weight. Get weighed in combination. Slow down. These habits build confidence and save lives, whether you’re cruising the Bruce Highway or easing down a slim cane-field road.

We also talk family on the move. Jasper picked up the Barefoot Investor kids’ book again and it clicked—goals, saving, and small business ideas to fund the bigger dreams we won’t buy for him. Pair that with the daily lessons of full-time travel and you get a practical education that most classrooms never touch: money sense, planning, and reading the road for real. If you love the idea of a hipcamp that blends paradise with easy access to hikes, swims, and classic country-town eats, this one should top your list.

If this story brightened your day or made you rethink how you tow, tap follow, share it with a mate, and leave a quick review. Your note helps other travellers find safer roads and better campsites across Australia.

📍 Watch on YouTube: - https://youtu.be/bUuvpGQtytk?si=SQGBEfStQei4bFtX

As a massive thank you to our podcast listeners we’re offering a 50% discount on RV First Aid! Use discount code FEELGOOD to take advantage of this awesome offer - https://www.rvfirstaid.com.au/

Be sure to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and join us for all of the road trip adventures! Check out the footage from our latest episode on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily Check out the Gear we love on our website - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/gear-and-discounts/

Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Thursday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com

Our Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on

Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw

Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Tuesday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com

Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].

Send us a text

Planning a Tropical North Queensland escape that actually delivers on wonder, value, and ease? We’ve mapped a five-stop itinerary that blends wild rainforest, oceanfront camping, family-friendly resort energy, and a bucket-list day on the Great Barrier Reef. From a humble farm stay near cane fields to a manicured palm-lined village with a world-class pier, we share what to book, what it costs, and how to make every hour count.

We kick off at Newell Beach Farm Stay, a low-cost, pet friendly gem minutes from a classic palm-framed shoreline and an easy launch point for the Daintree. Think boardwalks, butterflies, cassowary sightings at a safe distance, and simple treats like Daintree Ice Cream. Then it’s Ellis Beach, where you can camp on the sand and drive the spectacular Captain Cook Highway to Hook-A-Barra for accessible, catch-and-release barramundi thrills that work for newcomers and keen anglers alike.

If “set and forget” is your style, Cairns Coconut brings resort-level fun to a caravan park: pools, splash zones, mini golf, movies, and more, with tour bookings at reception. For a quieter reset, Creek’s Edge Park at Mossman offers minimal sites, a clear-swimming creek, friendly hosts, and a true jungle trek to a private waterfall that feels like a secret chapter in your travel story. We wrap at NRMA Palm Cove Holiday Park—big sites, a fresh resort pool, and that iconic foreshore—then head offshore with Reef Magic to Moore Reef. Expect five hours on the outer reef, semi-submersible views, guided snorkelling, all gear provided, and marine biologists who turn curiosity into new favourites.

We’ve also included a practical RV summer checklist so your aircon, fridge ventilation, batteries, tyres, and spare keys are ready before peak holiday chaos. Fewer breakdowns mean more reef time, more rainforest hush, and more chances to watch the kids light up when the fish hits the line.

Love the journey and want more like this? Follow the show, share it with a mate planning a Queensland road trip, and leave a quick review so others can find us. What’s your must-do in Tropical North Queensland? We’d love to hear it.

Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw

Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Tuesday night at 7.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com

Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].