Motel Palms Townsville

... br>The TravelPod Team
www.travelpod.com

Now usually I take all the photographs on this blog, but on this occasion, I set Jo up in every sense of the word. I told her where to stand, I set the camera settings for her and then told her when to press the button and to continue taking photographs whilst I paddled into the sunset. Now she's big noting herself that she took the photograph and not me and claiming the accolade - what do you ...

... on camera!

We had planned to go for an explore of the island after this but it was incredibly hot so we chilled out in the shade by and in the swimming pool. When it got a bit cooler, though it was still hot enough for us to pour with sweat on our walk, we set off to explore the nearby bays. Unfortunately to get to any of these, you have to walk up to the top of the headland and down again over lots of rocks and through the bush. Sounds easy but in that heat it’ ...

... as we detoured around the military museum (which occupies the headland and refuses access to the seafront) to join The Strand. This seafront area, as usual, was a hive of activity in the early evening. Although it is warm well into the evening it always becomes dark, very suddenly, at 6.30 pm in Oz and we still find it quite strange, but very appealing, that people are out picnicking and BBQ-ing in the dark by the seafront!

Fish and chips eaten, we headed back for ...

An action packed day today as It was my last day on Maggie Island. First off I headed to Geoffrey Bay to spot the Wild Wallabies. I went to the large rocky area where I saw several wallabies. They are such funny creatures, they hop around like Kangaroos and are really curious animals. I held out my hand with the feed I bought from the shop and they came up to me and at out my hand!!! It was amazing how tame they were, I was able to feed several ...

... ever seen with one of the most gorgeous backdrops ever which looks like it's been painted in the background! We also stopped off at Cardwell which is a tiny town right on the coast with a beautifully inviting beach.....until you read the signs about not even paddling in the ocean because of saltwater crocs!!!!

Last night we visited a night market down by the beach, which is miles long - there were ...

... home. The rest of the day was pretty laid back - Jeremy, Denzel and Ethan went for a bike ride while Elijah and I went for a stroll along the beach and to the park. The kids had fun playing with a few others that have turned up over the past couple of days and Denzel was being chased and patted on the head by 2 little girls - make Dad proud!

... and EATING!!! The most fabulous food we had ever had. After the cruise we made our way further north along the coast to Townsville where we left our car and took a ferry to Magnetic Island to spend three nights. A very tropical island with almost 80% being national park. On one hike we saw three koalas!! Attended ...

... the new adventures to be had!

Simon & Bridgette arrived home from the Whitsundays, so out for dinner and drinks and festivals alllll round!! Ended up in the Townsville equivalent of the Outback before finishing up at the Casino... and the standard pizza stop on the taxi home.

Friday we all took the ferry over to ...

... the last country I expected to see racism with everyone coming from various cultures really..... but the relationship between aboriginals and white people is unreal... I heard so many chocking comments (I won't go in the detail now but will write about it one day)... because the girl who robbed me was of aboroginal origine... I have since learned a fair amount behind both cultues and it is actually quite sad. I do wish for re-integration there. And I am sure most people do deep down...

... br>


...and off we set on foot through the 'jungle'.



Jungle Surfing is essentially an activity which involves sliding from tree station to tree station via a series of "zip lines", which are ...