Author: Catherine Murray

Some places where I can’t imagine myself being able to rest easy! (A Townsville Terror)

Before having kids I was never enamored by the idea of visiting animals in enclosures. I like to spot fauna in their natural habitats, be outdoors and see what I can see see see. Take time in selfish silence to try to spot flickers in the grass, gentle rustlings or catch the flit of a wing in flight.
NOT HERE IN AUSTRALIA
Was happy to view some venomous and dangerous fauna (and flora) from the safe confines of Hartley’s Croc and Wildlife Park!

Now I am more open to the concept of learning about animals in a safe enclosed environment, and rather than freaking out at the unknown, learning a little, and respecting these magnificent creatures and plants, big and small and understanding how to tread carefully with them in the bush. We were on a walk in the Ma:Mu National Park and a snake slithered behind us. Apparently it was a red bellied black (or something dangerous); we were surprised and impressed that: a) we didn’t freak; b) nothing sinister happened and c) all of us went on our merry way!This is what a crocodile farm looks like. These are hundreds of 2 year old males. They will be ready for “harvesting” in another year! Presumably male, as the sex is determined by the temperature at incubation. They are farmed for their skin and meat.

Enjoy the pictures (from wildlife park – rainforest walk pics to follow).

A beautiful python – not venomous but a constrictor.

Not for flossing!

(((((edit: can’t seem to load more than 5 photos per post…..hmmmm)))))

Cairns, could potentially rhyme with “Nairn’s” beach; (where the Murray family spent Summer holidays between 1983 and 1985, in West Donegal)….but the similarity ends there! Beaches are empty up here, despite the tropical heat. Crocodiles patrol the waterways and inshore areas, frightening off all but those filled with folly (and suicidal tendencies!).

Cairns also rhymes with “bairns” and the two Findon kids (Scottish ancestry the Findons originally came from a small eponymous town, south of Aberdeen) are having a grand adventurous start to their four month expedition. Fire players, street theatre, amazing birds/birdsong, colour, culture, flair, friendliness, gelato, jandals, nellipots, and that holiday feeling you get when hippies and backpackers converge.

Day 1: sampled fabulous food in both the daytime fresh produce markets and the (famous) night-time Cairns market, which was bustling, with fire eaters, buskers, street miners, street statues (who became Elvis when money dropped in their hat).

We struck gold, as we landed here on the weekend of the Aboriginal Arts Festival.

Day 2: morning spent at the Aboriginal Arts Festival. Ilona and Tadhg thoroughly enjoyed the kids art tables, where they sampled making indigenous designed masks and bandanas.

The afternoon we spent at a crocodile park! Man!!! Much respect to crocodiles! Amazing creatures (except we can’t get the song “never smile at a crocodile” out of our heads!).

First impression: tropical Australia is HOT! It’s Winter here, and around 28 degrees, high humidity! Second impression: it’s lush! Cairns is flanked by the Pacific on one side (the Great Barrier Reef shields the coast from any surf) and enveloped by the Great a Dividing Range of tropical rainforest on the other.