School holidays - Townville, Queensland.

Where we stayed - 34 Estate Street, West End, Qld. Lovely.

We went to Townsville for the school holidays.

Our Canadian exchange student Paul is happy to leave behind the Sydney funnel web, but less happy with deadly stingers, and salt water crocs. (He's still alive).

On arrival, my first task is to find some takeaway dinner at 8pm. Luckily there is a spare bike where we're staying. Setting off towards a few dots on Google maps that say restaurant. I find one but it's shut. After asking directions, shortly I'm approaching the golden arches. These are so big they could be seen at 100kmh, let alone 60k. A second stroke of luck puts a great Asian restaurant just prior to those arches ("tastes like happy": what?).

The verandah out the front - Paul's preferred place for reading .

The home we're staying in is a large 3 bedroom home. A Queenslander raised off the ground for flooding, a big verandah to keep things cool, and nice breezy ventilation.

The boys are excited.

The living room - great collection of books.

Francis Street - this way for Cutheringa Bowls Club and the bus stop.