Heading South - 26, 27, 28 Oct

Sunday October 26th

Sugar Warf in Townsville

We spend a quiet day walking through the town and to the market. They have a large outdoor market by the harbour. We meet a local girl from the art shop, for a second time. She helped me find a habidasherie in the next town. This store Spotlight is like Bed Bath and Beyond with a giant fabric, arts and crafts section. She had great craft ideas. I loved a purse and she explained that you buy the clasps on Etsy.  I purchased one of her hand printed fabrics.




Free parking by the beach as you
pay to charge your car!

The market seems to go on forever, right from the foot of the town…..down to the sugar wharf and out to the point, and there are lots of people.

We eventually head back towards our accommodation.

The beach.

We try to walk down the beach to home. Since is is 32 in the shade, the sunny beach with no breeze or shade is not an option.

We walk the tree lined shady streets home where we top for a latte on the way. We leave tomorrow!





Monday 27th October

Locomotive for Kurunda Railway.

We drive all the way down the coast stopping at the Rex Lookout to take in the breathtaking view of the bay towards Cairns.


On the way we make a quick detour back to the Freshwater Station so that Alan can take a few more pictures of the Kuranda Train.  The station is empty when we arrive but they are cutting sugar cane across the tracks.



Once done, we carry on into Cairns where we quickly find the Spotlight store but don’t find the right type of wool to finish the rug.


At the Promenade boardwalk, down town Cairns, we walk along the boardwalk overlooking the sea. 

The sea is stirred and there is an Australian war ship heading out to from the harbour.

Cairns has this beautiful infinity pool that is open to everyone right on the beach.  It includes: a change room facility, a beach area for the kids with nice white sand, and a deeper section for the adults looking towards the Coral Sea.  Beautiful Angel fish sculptures spout water providing a cooling effect to those in the sun.



Funny green backed parrots!

Flocks of green parrots are in the trees!


Down the road we make a stop at Innisfail where we buy some fresh bananas. Further on make at stop in Cardwell to walk out the Jetty and have a nice walk stretch then carry on. 


Not far down the road we find the same fellow that was selling the pineapple and watermelon and buy both. Since it is almost closing time, he gives a bag of fresh cut up watermelon and pineapple as he will have to take it home and compost it.

Back burning by the road!

Down the road we see fires in the mountain, lots of smoke and flames. Often they burn the grasses in controlled burns called back burns. Lots are getting out of control!

We spend the night in a cabin in Townsville.

Tuesday 28th October

Anther nice walk early morning walk into Townsville on the boardwalk. Already it is hot.
The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is wonderful. Yes, they have sharks!

The sea turtle hospital display is on and we get to go into the bowels of he aquarium and meet all the recovering sea turtles. Their expressions are incredible. We see 6 green sea turtles that are in rehab, some are doing well, others not so well.



Boardwalk mosaic.

They have been rescued for various reasons, boat impact, ingestion of foreign substances, bloating or for other issues.



Seats on The Strand.

Later in the day we walk the Strand. This is a gorgeous park and promenade along the Coral Sea and into the down town.