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Published: March 1st 2010
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Although we enjoyed our 4 night stay and exploring the surrounding area of Townsville, in the upgraded rental car we had been given, (so complicated with electronic devices, that I had to read the instruction book before we could find anything, and light years away from Rob's much loved ancient old Mercedes at home which is totally manual!), it was probably not my most favourite part of the East Coast.
Townsville, like many Australian towns, (they are all so new, heritage buildings of which they are so proud date from the 1930's) is built on a grid system, so its very easy to find your way around. However, it had a very large industrial hinterland which went on for miles. Sugar Cane seemed to be the biggest crop with acres and acres of it. and because of the rainy season, the fields were flooded and the creeks over flowing the road. Apparently Sugar cane thrives on the weather here.There was also Zinc and Tin minig in the area with the resultant factories and works - all fairly unsightly.
However, Townsville had a pleasnt esplanade with 'The Rockpool' - a man made swimming pool - at one end of it. No
one swam in the sea due to the 'stingers', various species of jellyfish with the Irukanji being the most lethal, which frequent the waters at this time of the year (their summer). There were also a couple of netted areas off the beach, patrolled by lifeguards and it was reasonably safe to swim here but after along chat with a very nice, friendly lifeguard, it was evident that the stingers could even be a problem here. Every few yards along the beach there were canisters of vinegar available to anyone who needed it!!We did not take any chances and swam at the pool at the apartment!
Every day in the local paper there is a report about somebody being airlifted off an east coast beach, to hospital to be treated.
The Irukanji is apparently often fatal for young children, elderly people and people with health problems. On the Whitsunday Magic Rob snorkelled with a stinger suit on although even he was a little concerned about his feet, hands and face being exposed.
We saw some Chinese people in swimming on Whitehaven Beach, wearing all encompassing, plastic siuts in a variety of neon colours, pink, green, yellow and orange! They looked
like colourful giant condoms but at least they were safe!!
Our last stop in Australia has been Cairns which is a much more attractive town and has a fabulous large lagoon with plenty of space to swim easily and safely.
We gave the car back to Europcar after a couple of days in Cairns and then took advantage of the lagoon, Art Galleries, and cafe life that Cairns offered.
We spent the last day with the car, north at Port Douglas, a pretty town on the coast, further up the Captain Cook Highway. It had aparently been a fishing village but had recently become more gentrified (for better or worse?) with shops, restaurants, and beautiful boats in the Marina.
After Port Douglas we headed into the rainforest at Karamba. We had hoped to ride in the Sky rail (cable car which goes high above the rainforest,) but we were too late for the final round trip of the day!! Never mind - we walked through the rainforest to the Barron Falls which were spectacular, as this is the rainy season and they were very full, definitely well worth the walk.
Our last full day in OZ was to be Sunday
and we had arranged to spend it aboard the Ocean Spirit - a beautiful sailing boat which would take us out to the Great Barrier Reef for Snorkelling and viewing the reef from a semi submersible, glass bottomed craft.
However it was not to be!
Due to the Earthquake in Chile, we awoke to Tsunami Warnings all up the east coast of Australia which asked everyone to stay away from the beaches and not to take part in any marine activities! Simon, was, of course, on the phone, early in the morning to check exactly where we were and what we were doing that day. He was in Tighnabruaich for a long weekend with Caroline and had been on his computer and heard all about it! As it was, Cairns was fine and it seems so was the rest of Australia - At least everyone is well warned as the Tsunami Hazard Warning Systems in place now, seem to work and give people plenty of time to get to safety if necessary.
The temperature, here, in the north, is very very hot - usually about 33-35 degrees in the hottest part of the day. We quickly discovered that Cairns is
a night time place - or very early morning - each day of the week there are excercise classes at the lagoon starting at 6am and finishing at 8am!All come with an instructor!
the night markets are famous throughout the region and sell everything- They start at 4.30 and are open till 11.00 and are a great source of food to go of every kind Chinese Thai Vietnamese Sushi fish and chips healthy salad bars, everything!!
If you lived here you would have to have a very different routine to your life ie up early in the morning(when it is still coolish) a siesta between 1.30 and 4pm when the heat is too fierce to do anything, then lots of activity in the evening!
We have a lovely apartment which opens on to a nice private coutyard with direct access to a shared pool.
Rob and I got into the habit of swimming at 6 then showering before eating in or out (mostly out, but sometimes very cheaply at the Night Market!)
Eating out was a problem in OZ at first as the portions are all so huge!! You wouldn't believe them! Now we order just one dish and ask
for 2 plates and just share and that way seems to work! There are many very large Australians and it is not so surprising when you see just how much they eat!!
Australia has been a wonderful experience for us both and we agree that travel really does broaden your horizons and open your eyes to new cultures and ways of life - some we would choose and others not!!
New Zealand is our next stop and the start of a new adventure and we look forward to seeing as much as we can of what we have heard, is a most beautiful country. This time we are camping, so we will see the country, from our newhome - The Campervan!!after a couple of days exploring Auckland . I hope we enjoy living in such close proximity to each other!!
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anonymous
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It all sounds so lovely, keep enjoying the lovely weather, we are still freezing here! Much love Trisha x