First sightseeing stop had to be Castle Hill. We've both been here before, I about 10 years ago, Chris 52 years ago. Both of us noticed the changes!
The weather was perfect, the view magnificent, even the tide was in (North Qld has big tides so low tide is not pretty to see). It was going out as we watched, noticeably so. There are a number of little walks up the top to different viewpoints so we were probably there for over half an hour. I almost stood on this little guy as I walked back along one path- I think it's a baby eastern brown snake- very venomous when he grows up. He was only about six inches long and not as thick as my little finger.
Castle Hill is another of those rocky outcrops I've mentioned, popping up close to the CBD in an otherwise flat landscape. It's very high, missing out on being a mountain by only a few metres. Its sheer cliffside faces the bay and forms a backdrop to the city and The Strand area.
Townsville seems to have more than its fair share of mad people. There we were, driving almost 3 kilometres up a very steep road, and having to avoid at least 30 people, men and women, who were either walking or RUNNING up it! One guy we saw, having reached the carpark near the top, continued punishing himself by running up and down the steep steps to the very summit not once, but 10 times! Other people make it harder by going up the Goat Track rather than the easier (!) route by road. And this was at 3 o'clock on a Thursday, why aren't all these people at work???
The Strand is a delightful park foreshore area with pleasant sandy beaches and children's playgrounds, lots of shade, cafes etc- everything you could ask for, including stingers in the water and possibly even crocs. There is a pool for those who value their lives.
This is a large, spread-out town with lots of shopping malls, and a diversity of industry. After seeing so many towns dependent on mining, it's refreshing to see large industries like a copper refinery, a port, and a huge military establishment.
Having arrived on a Thursday and discovered that there are free tours of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (some 50kms south) on Fridays, we jumped at the chance. It proved to be a bit disappointing, as we didn't see what we expected to see- instead we learned a lot about coral (including seeing a core sample which dates back to before Magellan sailed round the world), saw the workshops where they make all their equipment inhouse (eg waterproof covers for the cameras), and we saw the tanks where they are trying to breed rock lobsters. Then we went to the wharf where we watched fish swarming to feed on the bread the volunteer guide was throwing them. We also saw a huge coral trout grab a smaller fish for lunch- he wasn't interested in bread! The men were all wishing they'd brought their fishing gear but apparently these fish are almost pets. The photo was taken from the wharf above them.
A nine kilometre drive up Mt Stuart gave us a different perspective on the whole area, fantastic views of bays and islands as far north as Hinchinbrook. Magnetic Island is just across the bay here- we will visit it tomorrow. We could also see Palm Island, site of the infamous court case a few years ago when an aboriginal died after being beaten up by police.
Tomorrow, Magnetic Island. The forecast is for sunny weather though it is cool for rTownsville, only about 21 degrees so the locals are all wearing jumpers. It gets cool overnight, but not nearly as bad as it was a few days ago in Charters Towers and Ravenswood, it's always double figures here.
No comments:
Post a Comment