Natalie thought about the vehicles they’d seen. He was right, not many towed anything and if they did it had been camper trailers, with only the odd caravan crawling along.

“It’s called progress,” Gabe said. “I work in the tourism industry but I’m not sure if people are ready for how big it will get once the new road is complete. At the moment they manage the small number of tourists who come but once the road is finished it will mean almost all-year access and a lot more people wanting to visit. It could mean more jobs for our community but I’m not sure we’ve got the infrastructure to cope with a big increase. And there are those who don’t like the visitors we have now.”

Natalie thought about what he’d said as she stared out at the passing landscape. All she could see were trees and red dirt, different to home and yet not. She wasn’t sure what the attraction was for tourists but she kept that to herself.

The road changed from red dirt back to bitumen but there was still little to be seen other than the bush and trees that hugged the edges. At last, just as Natalie was beginning to think they surely couldn’t go much further or they’d end up driving off the end of the peninsula, Gabe slowed and turned off the highway. Then once again the bitumen ran out and they sliced through a soft dirt track. Up ahead a roofline appeared through a gap in the trees, and then another and then a clearing with houses and sheds, workman-style huts and a couple of camper trailers set up on grass. Every structure was coated in red dust. They came to a stop in front of a building that had Office marked on the door.

“Gabe.” A young woman rushed forward and drew him into a hug as soon as he got out. “Great to see you.”

“Hey, Tika,” he said.

Natalie stepped out, stretched, looked around. There was red dirt as far as she could see and no sign of the beach Gabe had promised.

“Natalie, this is my cousin, Tika. She works here in the office.”

Tika shook her hand. “Not usually at this time on a Sunday.” She gave Gabe a playful pat. “I’ve been waiting for you and Natalie. Come in and fix up for your room, Natalie, then Gabe can take you down there. All the cabins are booked but you can have the lodge to yourself. It’s got an outside bathroom and a camp kitchen.”

“Thanks, that’ll be fine,” Natalie said with more enthusiasm than she felt. Tika seemed friendly enough but was keeping her distance. Was she one of the locals who didn’t want strangers visiting her community?