Mackay

If you're driving through coastal Queensland, here's another cool spot to remember - the aptly-named Clairview. At the beach there is a place to have a picnic but also, on certain days till 1pm there is a little stall selling coffee, homemade cakes, jams and chutneys as well as second-hand goods. It's run by a group of ladies who raise funds for good causes. The view from the picnic site is very picturesque:

After Clairview we drove to Mackay for the night, or should I say nearby Slade Point. From here you can see islands to the north, one of which is Brampton Island:

We stayed at the Seabreeze Resort Hotel for a very reasonable $100 which included a simple continental breakfast of cereal, toast, juice and coffee:

The balcony view was not great, but the apartment was spacious and had some cooking facilities, if we had been keen to cook.