East of Rockhampton lay the tropical Keppel islands. Since I'm the owner of a brand spanking new car, we chose to drive down to Rockie, it a 9 hour drive. By the way, driving 700km is more expensive than taking the plane.

The islands are deserted (and it's Easter!) the only resort on the Island is in shambles, the construction site of a new resort is abandoned. If these Islands were in the Caribbean region, each square meter would be worth thousands of dollars and a beer would cost you serious money. Here the prices are low (complete brekkie 14 bucks) the beaches abandoned and the Island unconstructed (no Meridians, Hiltons or Novotels).

We sit on the sand and see a couple of lorikeets fly by, they are beautiful. Suddenly the veer right and fly straight at my head. Judging by the noise they're making they want something. They stay with us for a couple of minutes and fly off again.

The fishing is great and a bit frustrating: there is a giant school of sardine-like fish and larger fish (I'm guessing trevalies) are attacking the fish from all sides. I'm standing in the middle of the school and try to throw my bait in the general direction of the action. No luck today though.We walk up and down the pristine beach and pass a very lazy day.