Townsville – August 3rd

After the problems we had last time we packed up the camper when it was covered in dew we filled in some time before leaving this morning. We checked out the kangaroos on the beach and had a hot drink when the Office opened.

There was no great excitement today, we drove through acres of sugarcane fields, tomatoes and capsicums. There were the usual big models today they were mango, watermelon and pumpkin. Each town had plenty of backpacker accommodation and some advertised that they found jobs too. The area relies on backpackers and grey nomads to bring in the harvest. In Bowen we looked for the amazing shop we visited last time but we think it has now been divided into two, one with mens’ clothes and the other womens’. Each one was chock a block with stock but we weren’t tempted to make any purchases. The town now has lots of murals depicting its past.

Because we’d heard of people not being able to get a place in a park we decided to book a place for the night but the first two places Alex tried had no vacancies. The third one sounded great, “The Bush Oasis” and advertised an animal sanctuary. The reality is a bit different, I feel our last campsite was a bush oasis but this one is beside the Bruce Highway! We haven’t had any visiting Brush Turkeys, Kangaroos or Kookaburras, maybe tomorrow morning we’ll get a nice surprise.

The car is getting the bolt tension check tomorrow morning – the guy was booked out until he heard who had sent us there. We’re staying here for at least 2 nights, probably three. Magnetic Island has lots to offer so we’re hoping to go there on Wednesday.

Queenslanders seem to like their dogs BIG!

Roo tracks on the beach

Bowen mural

A Big Mango

Cape Hillsborough – August 2nd

Astonishingly I was up before Alex this morning and went down to the beach to see the sunrise but also to watch the kangaroos. I don’t know what they eat but whatever it is they find it by scratching up the sand. There were also Bush Turkeys scrabbling about the campground, there is no rubbish about for them to access.

We went into Seaforth market hoping to find some nice baked goods and Mango Smoothies but Slushies seem to be the thing of the moment and the only baked goods were not for us. There were some great stalls though, woodwork, scrap metal art, rustic chairs, astonishing crochet goods as well as the usual jewellery, T shirts etc. When we walked back to the car we were met by a couple of young hippies who wanted to know where I bought my bag. The joints they were smoking probably made it look as if the little birds were soaring out of the bag! They well on their way down the giggle gangplank.

On our way back from Seaforth we stopped at a tearoom utilizing an old railway station, very like the one at Strathpeffer but they were so busy we didn’t stay. Instead we spent about an hour walking along a Mangrove Trail which actually went through at least 3 different environments. The butterflies were astonishing. Once before we went into a “Butterfly Gorge” and I don’t think we saw a single butterfly but on the Mangrove Trail they were there in their hundreds.

After lunch we walked up to the lookouts above the campsite, there were interesting caves along the way and fantastic views from the lookouts. There were a few butterflies, a Bush Turkey that refused to cooperate for the photographer and other things we only heard scrambling about in the undergrowth. After we came down from the lookouts we walked across the tidal causeway to Wedge Island. The rocks are almost all black volcanic. As we walked back the tide was still receding so we had no need to try and hurry across the rough rocks.

In the Camp Kitchen we were talking with a couple who have just arrived for a 7 week stay, it’s a lovely environment but I can’t imagine being here all that time. Tomorrow we’re going to Townsville where we’ll get the Jeep’s new shockers etc checked to see that nothing has worked loose. We’re not sure how much further north we’ll go but I’m certainly not ready to leave this nice warm weather yet.

Kangaroos feeding on the beach at sunrise.

Finding food under the sand.

Wireless, the dial flicked and we could hear the radio which was inside.

Unfamiliar duck at Seaforth.

The tearooms

Butteflies feeding on Bottlebrush.

Closeup of a lizard, about 1 metre long.

Alex amongst the grass trees.

View from one of the caves.

Looking across to the tidal causeway to Wedge Island from a lookout.

In amongst the volcanic rocks, Wedge Island

Rock formed from bubbling lava.