Before starting I thought would add onto the Frazer Island Trip about the massive huntsman that was in the girls toilets that big that the guys had to come in and have a look:
The evening we finished Frazer Island all of the group went out for an Italian. It was a great evening with plenty of joking on the Italians behalf, we heard plenty of stories about Mafia and the reason behind the Italians freaking out about the flies on the Island due to being stuck on whitsundays Island they were meant to be camping but managed to get pick up by another boat! (a video has been taken and its hilarious quite alot of swearing so wont put it on)
After saying our goodbyes, we were back on the road again headed to Mon Repos especially to see turtles, we found a campsite right next to the centre practically on the beach.
We went down to the centre that evening, we had to wait a while and had a look at the exhibition and went to the slide show talk. Both of us were feeling rather pessimistic to whether we would see anything. As we waited the centre had volunteers and rangers searching the beach for females coming in to lay there eggs and hatchlings making a run for the beach.
Then the first group were sent down and it wasn't long till we went, we were allowed cameras or light on because the hatchlings follow the horizon to the sea therefore they follow any light. As we walked along the beach we didn't know if it was a female or hatchlings we would be seeing. But as we approached and formed a circle we could see a small mound of sand, it was only a couple of seconds before the first turtle appeared. It was amazing like dude off finding nemo but tiny(2inch), black and moving quite fast for it size. About only another second later they just kept on coming up of this small hole in the sand and in the end there was probably about 100 of them!
They were then put in a holding pen after this we all formed a line either side heading down to the sea and lucky people with a torch (Alex kindly lent me his) got to form a chain of light so that the turtles follow down through to the beach.
We both really enjoyed the experience even if Alex may have been embarrassed by my comments i.e aww they are sooo cute or oh my god they are trying to go under my feet, can they bite! lol
Next we headed off to Mackay the following day but decided to head off to Eungella, after following a normal flat road we suddenly reached a quite steep winding on going up the mountain with several waterfalls along the way. As we reached the top unfortunately it was very foggy so we couldn't see the view which would have been amazing.
Eungella town was very small and old fashion and Alex said "very hillbillyish" but we parked up for the night as it was pouring it down one of the locals thankfully suggested gong to the community centre where they do meals every Friday so that was tea sorted!
The next morning we woke up early at 6.30! voluntarily shocking! and headed up the road to River Creek to see wild platypus's. But unfortunately they did a no show however we did see a large wild terrapin.
After heading to Rockhampton, we decided a good detour would be the Capricorn Cave and lucky they had a campsite as it was too late that evening to do the caves however that night we saw lots of micro bat which were tiny (with wingspans around 25cm) . The following morning we got up and made our way down and book onto the hour long cave tour due to stopping over night we got 10% discount! and Alex decided to be cheeky as we had 10% discount with our hippie van but they could only take one discount.
All paid for and with our guide we headed off into the cave system, the first thing we noticed was how smooth and prefect the floor looked which we were told was actually bat poo! W e were both in flip flop but it wasn't too bad just a bit slippy in bits. Continuing on up some steps going down into the cave then up some rickety steps, Alex got a near miss with a rock called headache rock but I quickly pointed it out to him. We then made our way to the cathedral cave which was naturally shaped similar to a church interior with a few features in the rocks such as pipe organs, bell rope(massive tree roots), choir stand. The acoustics are suppose to be near to Sydney Opera House and the guide put on a piece of music with light show where at one point it was pitch black you couldn't even see you hand in front of your face! lucky that was only for a minute lol.
The evening we finished Frazer Island all of the group went out for an Italian. It was a great evening with plenty of joking on the Italians behalf, we heard plenty of stories about Mafia and the reason behind the Italians freaking out about the flies on the Island due to being stuck on whitsundays Island they were meant to be camping but managed to get pick up by another boat! (a video has been taken and its hilarious quite alot of swearing so wont put it on)
After saying our goodbyes, we were back on the road again headed to Mon Repos especially to see turtles, we found a campsite right next to the centre practically on the beach.
We went down to the centre that evening, we had to wait a while and had a look at the exhibition and went to the slide show talk. Both of us were feeling rather pessimistic to whether we would see anything. As we waited the centre had volunteers and rangers searching the beach for females coming in to lay there eggs and hatchlings making a run for the beach.
Then the first group were sent down and it wasn't long till we went, we were allowed cameras or light on because the hatchlings follow the horizon to the sea therefore they follow any light. As we walked along the beach we didn't know if it was a female or hatchlings we would be seeing. But as we approached and formed a circle we could see a small mound of sand, it was only a couple of seconds before the first turtle appeared. It was amazing like dude off finding nemo but tiny(2inch), black and moving quite fast for it size. About only another second later they just kept on coming up of this small hole in the sand and in the end there was probably about 100 of them!
They were then put in a holding pen after this we all formed a line either side heading down to the sea and lucky people with a torch (Alex kindly lent me his) got to form a chain of light so that the turtles follow down through to the beach.
We both really enjoyed the experience even if Alex may have been embarrassed by my comments i.e aww they are sooo cute or oh my god they are trying to go under my feet, can they bite! lol
Next we headed off to Mackay the following day but decided to head off to Eungella, after following a normal flat road we suddenly reached a quite steep winding on going up the mountain with several waterfalls along the way. As we reached the top unfortunately it was very foggy so we couldn't see the view which would have been amazing.
Eungella town was very small and old fashion and Alex said "very hillbillyish" but we parked up for the night as it was pouring it down one of the locals thankfully suggested gong to the community centre where they do meals every Friday so that was tea sorted!
The next morning we woke up early at 6.30! voluntarily shocking! and headed up the road to River Creek to see wild platypus's. But unfortunately they did a no show however we did see a large wild terrapin.
After heading to Rockhampton, we decided a good detour would be the Capricorn Cave and lucky they had a campsite as it was too late that evening to do the caves however that night we saw lots of micro bat which were tiny (with wingspans around 25cm) . The following morning we got up and made our way down and book onto the hour long cave tour due to stopping over night we got 10% discount! and Alex decided to be cheeky as we had 10% discount with our hippie van but they could only take one discount.
All paid for and with our guide we headed off into the cave system, the first thing we noticed was how smooth and prefect the floor looked which we were told was actually bat poo! W e were both in flip flop but it wasn't too bad just a bit slippy in bits. Continuing on up some steps going down into the cave then up some rickety steps, Alex got a near miss with a rock called headache rock but I quickly pointed it out to him. We then made our way to the cathedral cave which was naturally shaped similar to a church interior with a few features in the rocks such as pipe organs, bell rope(massive tree roots), choir stand. The acoustics are suppose to be near to Sydney Opera House and the guide put on a piece of music with light show where at one point it was pitch black you couldn't even see you hand in front of your face! lucky that was only for a minute lol.
The final part of the caves we got to go through a tight passage then we were back into the daylight and went over several suspended bridges to the finish, it was great fun and a bit of an insight into the adventures you can do in New Zealand. As for wildlife in the cave we only got to see several small frogs and moths there are some carnivorous bats called Ghost bats which are meant to be huge (but unfortunately we didn't spot any).
That night we stayed in Airlie Beach where we are now, we were due to do a 3 day sail of the Whitsunday islands but with the weather that we currently have up here (very wet and windy), the boat has been cancelled and so we are planning the next step.....
P.s added pics and few videos clip to different blogs
That night we stayed in Airlie Beach where we are now, we were due to do a 3 day sail of the Whitsunday islands but with the weather that we currently have up here (very wet and windy), the boat has been cancelled and so we are planning the next step.....
P.s added pics and few videos clip to different blogs
1 comment:
quality stuff! only just got up to date with reading it all tho so will email tomorow!! speak soon guys, Nick
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