Townsville and Rainforest

Having spent a month or so on the coast it is time to venture inland a little to the rain forest and we have chosen Townsville to be the jumping off place. This was a very pleasant spot and the first image aptly shows the best element of the town.

We found the Casino - Jupiter's, overrated.

The Sunday market was interesting in that it was located in the town mall area with the shire funding the local brass band to perform during the market opening hours.

Needless to say Katherine spent a little time there.

The night previous to the market we sat at a bar overlooking this scene with a glass of red!!

But it was off to the Paluma National Park rain forest area.

This was the first place of interest we came across.

Given the drought state of most places we have visited, the sight of free flowing fresh water was reassuring.

Water pools are refreshing in this climate.

Within the park another large pool.

Now there was a sign saying safe to swim no Crocodiles- Katherine asked - can they read.

So we watched some other "Grey Nomads" venture in!!

The next series of images are pure rain forest floor, the canopy overhead could not be photographed effectively due to the sun position.

The root structure and size were remarkable.

But Mike was able to keep two trees apart.

This was a tree that had snapped off, caught in another tree fork and was still growing via the horizontal connection to the roots.

The following shapes of roots and vines surrounding trees were remarkable.

After the rain forest we felt we had to see some wild life, the Paluma rain forest had very little visiable animal life.

So we chose the only sanctuary near Townsville "The Billabong Sanctuary"

Not one of our best decisions.

But we achieved the objective of sighting Crocodiles , Cassowaries and Koala's.

To achieve this movement the keeper had to prod the Crocodile.

Apparently the low temperature (24 degrees) means that the animals do not normally want to move at all.

Notice how far the keeper stays from the creature.

To be sure to be sure!!

The above image is a male, the female was entice to eat.

We were assured that both could propel themselves their full length vertically out of the water.

This was an interested Cassowary

Big birds and said to be plentiful north of Townsville.




These are two of our best experiences at the "Sanctuary"

A special photograph!!

To end this sequence we must have the natural halo around Katherine in the rain forest.






Well it was time to take stock of schedules, namely the wish to be in Perth for early October.

This being avery special event that we shall not miss.

To go further north would mean another month if Cairns and the northern tip were to be visited.

Therefore with a little reluctance we turned westward at Townsville.


Distance from Perth = 4,826 Kms

Distance Travelled from Perth = 14,622 Kms

Days on the road = 235

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