Opps! These two photos accidentally got deleted from the photo gallery and when I re-entered them landed here and I dare not move them for fear of losing them again! 
Horseshoe Bay Magnetic Island
Double click on photo to enlarge
Horseshoe Bay Magnetic Island
Double click on photo to enlargeand see the 'Saint' 0n the rock face of Castle Hill.
A graffiti rendition of the popular television show's stick figure emblem
Tuesday 6th September 2011: We left Paronella Park on the Mena Creek via the 'Canecutters Way' back to the Bruce Highway on the coast. Calling into Bingil Bay, Mission Beach and driving through Tully, Cardwell and Ingham all of which were severely damaged in the February 2011 'Yasi' cyclone. These coastal beaches and towns had many homes unroofed and many homes completely destroyed. Many trees were uprooted changing the look of these pretty places. Gradually these towns are being repaired. I can't imagine just how terrifying and horrific it would be being in a cyclone.
Onto Ingham and a visit to the Tyco Wetland Centre - not too spectacular at present because ot has been dry and the wetlands have dried considerably. A visit to the information centre about the wetlands was interesting and a considerable amount of money has gone into the boardwalks and landscaping of the wetland precinct. We stayed Tuesday evening at a free camp (very full free camp) on Balgal Beach waterfront..... a very picturesque spot and was very pleasant falling asleep listening to the waves crashing onto the beach.
Wednesday 7th September 2011: Made our way to Townsville and stayed two nights camped on the lawn of a past working friend of Chris's, Peter and his wife Lyn. Thankyou guys - we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and it was great to catch up. Lyn kindly drove us around their home area at Bushland Beach and high on a surrounding hill where had excellent views of a distant Townsville's Castle Hill and Stuart Hill.
Townsville with a population of 165,000 is Australia's largest tropical city. It is the focal point to this region which is bounded by Mission Beach in the north, Charters Towers in the west and Bowen to the south. The focal point of Townsville is the wonderful beachfront "Strand". Strolling along the Strand is a fabulous way to enjoy the area. The Strand incorporates a jetty, recreational park, restaurants, cafes, a free water park, picnic areas and swimming pools. We took advantage of the free gas bar-be-ques and enjoyed a picnic lunch.
Castle Hill sits right in the middle of the city and the views are 360 degrees. The Castle Hill rock face is home to Townsville's iconic 'saint' - a graffiti rendition of the popular television show's stick figure emblem.
A visit across to Magnetic Island a must do if in Townsville. Stay a day, a week or as long as you like! The island was discovered by Captain James Cook and is a very pleasant 8klm, 20 minute fast cat ferry ride. Residential population 2,000, however 100,000 people visit annually. Its rugged natural beauty is a haven for wildlife such as koala, rock wallabies, possums and a wide variety of tropical bird life - we took a guided bus tour of the island visiting its many bays - Picnic Bay, Rocky Bay, Nelly Bay, Geoffrey Bay and to us a very special bay - Horseshoe Bay - is where our future son-in-law Angus proposed to one of our darling daughters, Nicole.......the wedding date Saturday 3rd December 2011.
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Photos along the 'Strand' Waterfront Townsville: ........................
Onto Ingham and a visit to the Tyco Wetland Centre - not too spectacular at present because ot has been dry and the wetlands have dried considerably. A visit to the information centre about the wetlands was interesting and a considerable amount of money has gone into the boardwalks and landscaping of the wetland precinct. We stayed Tuesday evening at a free camp (very full free camp) on Balgal Beach waterfront..... a very picturesque spot and was very pleasant falling asleep listening to the waves crashing onto the beach.
Wednesday 7th September 2011: Made our way to Townsville and stayed two nights camped on the lawn of a past working friend of Chris's, Peter and his wife Lyn. Thankyou guys - we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and it was great to catch up. Lyn kindly drove us around their home area at Bushland Beach and high on a surrounding hill where had excellent views of a distant Townsville's Castle Hill and Stuart Hill.
Townsville with a population of 165,000 is Australia's largest tropical city. It is the focal point to this region which is bounded by Mission Beach in the north, Charters Towers in the west and Bowen to the south. The focal point of Townsville is the wonderful beachfront "Strand". Strolling along the Strand is a fabulous way to enjoy the area. The Strand incorporates a jetty, recreational park, restaurants, cafes, a free water park, picnic areas and swimming pools. We took advantage of the free gas bar-be-ques and enjoyed a picnic lunch.
Castle Hill sits right in the middle of the city and the views are 360 degrees. The Castle Hill rock face is home to Townsville's iconic 'saint' - a graffiti rendition of the popular television show's stick figure emblem.
A visit across to Magnetic Island a must do if in Townsville. Stay a day, a week or as long as you like! The island was discovered by Captain James Cook and is a very pleasant 8klm, 20 minute fast cat ferry ride. Residential population 2,000, however 100,000 people visit annually. Its rugged natural beauty is a haven for wildlife such as koala, rock wallabies, possums and a wide variety of tropical bird life - we took a guided bus tour of the island visiting its many bays - Picnic Bay, Rocky Bay, Nelly Bay, Geoffrey Bay and to us a very special bay - Horseshoe Bay - is where our future son-in-law Angus proposed to one of our darling daughters, Nicole.......the wedding date Saturday 3rd December 2011.
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Photos along the 'Strand' Waterfront Townsville: ........................
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The Marina precinct with Castle Hill in the background
Living on a cliff edge!!........ This home built on the side of Castle Hill
Fast Cat Ferry which ferries passengers across to Magnetic 'Maggie' Island
On the ferry looking towards Magnetic Island
On the ferry looking back to the city of Townsville-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Some of the wildlife on Magnetic Island................
This Koala one of the four found in the trees.......and no it wasn't in captivity! What a find!
Rock Wallaby
Curlew - these birds make the most horrific noise at night....sounds like someone screaming as though they're being attacked
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A pineapple plant
A pineapple plant
A Hoop Pine - often mistaken for a Norfolk Island PineMore photos of Magnetic Island...
Nelly Bay Harbour is where the ferry to Magnetic Island arrives and departs
The Old Ferry Terminal - Jetty - hasn't been used since 2003 and was badly damaged in cyclone Yasi. Apparently the Federal Govt has just promised money to restore the jetty - used by local for fishing and tourist walks 
Rocky Bay
Horseshoe Bay
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