Mackay and Airlie Beach

Arrived at Mackay on 27th April, weather overcast and very humid. Booked in to a lovely park and after some confusion settled onto good site. We decided to tackle the big mud crab for dinner and with a beaut salad and chilled white wine we dined like kings.
We were inspired by our next door neighbour for the night, who set up his camper trailer and then assisted his disabled wife into her wheelchair and cooked her dinner and then wheeled her around the park (her exercise for the day). Sometimes we need to see what others cope with to bring perspective to our lives.
Mackay did not really appeal to us, so we decided to move on to Airlie Beach.
Airlie Beach booked into Big 4 at Cannondale, this is the best park we have stayed in so far, a beautiful pool had Judy very happy. We booked in for 7 nights so that we could get our new credit cards sent to us, it was no drama to finish up staying 8, until the cards arrived.
We were pleasantly surprised when Wil and Bec and Lorraine and Dale wandered up (our friends from Moolooba and Woodgate). This led to a very pleasant evening happy hour. The weather forecast for the week was not good, with rain forecast all week. We went to bed trying to plan our week around the weather.
Next day the weather looked OK so we decided to join Wil and Bec on a half day trip to Daydream Island. The boat trip was good but the lunch that was included was the worst service and meal that I have ever had, This day out turned us off tripping to the islands. We found out later that the tour on the boat Camira was all that was promised and not a rip off. We plan on doing a trip out off Cairns or Port Douglas at a later date.
Said goodbye to Wil and Bec next day and then decided to do a walk along the Bicentennial walk and a pleasant swim in the pool.
We also visited the local markets (very good) and saw ANACONDA TWO where it is washed up on the rocks after the recent cyclone Larry. Sad to see a beautiful boat like that on the rocks. We also visited Cedar Creek Falls and Conway Beach and then decided to go onto Dingo Beach. We stopped on this beaut little beach and had a beer at the pub on the beach and sat and had lunch on this great little spot. On the way back we had a look at Hydaway Bay and were surprised to see so many houses for sale in this nice looking beach area (economy not good for holiday homes). Next day we visit Bowen.