We stayed in Townsville with the Hampton’s. Katrina – a kiwi – and Pete from Cairns, along with their three gorgeous kids. 
Katrina and Daniel have been friends since his Putaruru farming days.
Two kookaburra perched above our picnic table, one of which one swiped Tadhg’s sausage and made off with it!
They are amazingly mad looking birds, with a Spike like headdress. we went for a 5km tramp to Kookaburra creek, so we heard lots of their trademark screeching.
Idyllic days for our kids! Even though locals think it too cold to swim, Ilona and Tadhg are in water every day. Saturday, it was in Alligator Creek (yes, I know, name raises numerous questions, rather than being part of a specific and apt naming regime – pity I don’t know the aboriginal name, as no doubt that would be more telling).
The country seems to be teeming with life! Flora and fauna is so different to me. I have the same appreciation as I had when first arriving in New Zealand. A jaw-opening awe. (I’ve kept my jaw closed here in Australia, as I’d be sure to catch flies). In this creek, there were thousands of tadpoles at the edge of the water.
Pete, being a Queensland Boy assured us there were no “salties” (fresh water crocs) in this creek, that there may be a few “freshies” (endemic Johnston crocs – which may nip you, but harmless). Despite his assurances, Dan and I remained on high croc alert when the kids were in the water. Not sure what we could have done, if a croc were was there (Daniel said he had rocks to hand!).
As crocs are now a protected species, there are more of them, and numbers are increasing as their species regenerates…….so my thinking is that where there were none 20 years ago, they may have recolonised, as they are great explorers and travellers.
Ilona thought my croc angst particularly funny, and said she went out further in the creek to taunt me….hmmmm
I was feeling like the overprotective parent (not trusting local knowledge), but also the foolish one who exposed their kid to undue extreme risk of croc attack!
Spindly black branched trees in the scrubby bush.
