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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.

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