Tropical Queensland

You know you are in the tropics of Queensland when the mournful cry of the Bush Stone-Curlew wakes you in the small hours. Each time I woke up, at least I knew what the noise was: those not in the know would think a baby was being tortured. A morning visit to the ablutions block and I was momentarily startled by a plump Green Tree Frog snuggling under the rim of the toilet bowl. Yes, we are definitely in Queensland.

After a leisurely breakfast by the Burdekin River, we ventured into Townsville for the day. Parking near the museum we wandered around the city shopping precinct, noting any changes since our last visit some ten years ago. Apart from the mall now allowing traffic through and a few new buildings, everything is much the same: plenty of boats tied up alongside the river banks, the Sugar Shaker is still standing proud, and Castle Hill dominates the skyline. Some shopping for items that one can only get in a city, then it was time to leave town.

 

Driving south the untamed Bougainvillea screamed with a mixture of vibrant colours: hot pink, post office box red, flame orange. There were hibiscus, frangipanis, enormous old mango trees and fields and fields of sugarcane. Yes, this is the Queensland I remember.

We stopped to buy the cheapest fuel so far ($148.7 cents a litre), some fresh fish from the fish van man and some farm gate vegies and bananas on our way to the Home Hill Comfort Stop. It was hard to get a spot in the long line of caravans and RV's running parallel to the railway line behind the main street. It's not surprising as this free 48 hour rest stop has a camp kitchen with BBQ's, five minute hot showers (they should be three minutes), toilets of course, a fresh water tap and a dump point. And it's all immaculate.

We liked it so much we stayed another night. That meant a whole day without travel. Wow. We have been on the move for two weeks since we left Coral Bay in WA. We started the day with a bike ride around the town, followed by browsing the shops, lunch at one of the grand pubs and book reading in the afternoon. The trains provided the rest area with plenty of atmosphere at all times of the day and night, but that's what freedom camping is all about. It was our last night on the road for awhile so we enjoyed the moment.

 

Onto beautiful Bowen the next morning, a town we have always loved. We checked out all our favourite haunts: a stroll along Queens Beach; a pie at the award winning Jochheim's Bakery; a mango smoothie at Flagstaff Hill admiring the superb views; and, a swim in Horseshoe Bay. A short visit but we'll be back soon as it is only up the road.

Queen's Beach

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, female

Bowen

Horseshoe Bay

 

Now we are in Cannonvale/Airlie Beach for awhile, gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, looking to start another chapter. What that will be is anyone's guess, but I am sure there will still be Delvy adventures of some sort. Stay tuned!

Delvy getting a wash down

  

Whitsunday Islands from Mt Rooper