Mackay QLD

We had coffee overlooking Mackay marina which has a long breakwater you can drive along. We had a yummy seafood lunch at the Lighthouse Café at the Marina.

Big Mango at Bowen

 

Last kerosene Light house in Australia at Mackay Marina

we had the best beachfront caravan site with great ocean views at Blacks Beach Mackay

Enjoying the warm weather and views at Blacks Beach in Mackay

Mackay Marina


 

Townsville QLD



 

We enjoyed bike riding along the sea front at the Strand  for 2.2 kms, in Townsville. The views to Magnetic Island are beautiful. We will go there on our next trip here in a few weeks. We had our first swim at the salt water pool at one end of the Strand. It was a sunny 28 degrees and the water was a lovely 21 degrees. We bought tasty  fish & chips near the pier at Harold's.

 

We strolled along the shady river bank walk  and saw waterlilies, ducks and a number of turtles. we are keen to swim in the lovely pools here next time.

 

 

Bike ride along the Strand

 

Castle Hill from the Strand

Saltwater pool at the Strand



Swimming pool at Riverside , next to Ross River

View of Ross River with water lillies



Coloured snake at Ross River

Rockhampton QLD

We departed Canberra on a cold wet, winter's day and drove 4 days inland to reach some warmer weather in Queensland. We stayed at Wellington Caves, in a quiet caravan park but had a frosty morning, colder than Canberra. Our next night was at Narrabri showgrounds which was quiet but muddy in places. We drove longer days to reach Qld faster & stayed at Miles, a busy mining town, with lots of trucks driving through all night! They mine coal and LNG gas in the area. Possum Park, just  20kms, out of town, we heard was much quieter.

We were pleased to find Rockhampton warmer during the day, but started off cold at night. We are staying at Gracemere, 5 kms from Rocky. Rockhampton, is the Beef cattle capital, with lots of herds of Brahman cattle in the area. We enjoyed walking along the Fitzroy river which covers more than twice the area of Tasmania. Rockhampton is derived from "Rocks in the river"& "town on a river flat".

We visited the free zoo, whose keepers gave interesting talks, & saw endangered cassowaries close up. We didn't see any when we visited the Daintree Rainforest, where they still live, a few years ago.

We also saw chimps, who taught themselves to eat yogurt with a spoon. Two had come from Mogo Zoo. They are also endangered because of deforestation & people hunting them for meat. They encouraged people to recycle mobile phones & computer screens to reduce use of chemicals, cheaply mined in the Congo, which damages their habitat. The botanical gardens were huge & we saw some local birds at the café & lagoon.

We drove about, 30 minutes to Mt Archer National Park, which was over 600 metres elevation so great views of the Beserker ranges & Rockhampton. It has lots of tree ferns & grass trees ( black boys) & we saw some black cockatoos there. Very peaceful & quiet after the business of Rockhampton city.

Fitzroy River at Rockhampton

Bougainvillia on Fitzroy riverbank walk



Fitzroy River,which floods frequently, has crocs too.

Endangered cassowaries in Rockhampton zoo



Visiting parrot   in  Botanical Gardens cafe

Entering the warm weather zone!

View of hills from  Mt Archer National Park. 



View of Rockhampton & Fitzroy River from Mt Archer National Park

Looking forward to visiting Cooktown in Nth QLD

We're looking forward to visiting Cooktown in Nth QLD