Day 18 – We had a short drive to Mackay ahead of us so made a stop at Cape Hillsborough National Park on the way. We enjoyed a short boardwalk and checked out the beach. We started up the trail to a lookout, but it was a bit ‘snake-y’ (and also super hot) so that was aborted.
We checked into the hotel in Mackay and headed straight out to Eungella National Park. It was another steep winding drive up to the park, and we saw a camper mini-van smashed in the ditch. Police were already on the scene so they didn’t need our help, but we had a lot of sympathy as their vacation is now surely ruined (although we couldn’t figure out how they managed to get in there). Our timing was spot on for platypus viewing (3-6pm). There are 3 viewing platforms overlooking the pools in the river. Our first platform only had hints of platypus, but no confirmed visual. However the next 2 had great encounters with at least 4 separate platypuses swimming around. They are much smaller than we expected (we’d pictured beaver size, but they were a fraction of that).
One came quite close to the platform and we could see it digging around in the clear water under some logs. It was good! As we were leaving a couple ladies were looking at a snake on the path, wondering what kind it was. We just detoured around and gave it lots of space. So unfortunately for Brent, after a good couple week run with no snakes (despite many bush walks), today was a 2 snake day.
Day 19 – Drive to Emu Park
There wasn’t much to see the whole way! We saw a sign for Dugong Sanctuary (like a manatee) so pulled in to take a look. They are pretty rare and stay under the water so unsurprisingly we didn’t see any. We pulled into Marlborough thinking we might find a mall to get Brent a haircut and have a food court lunch – it was on the distance sign for 200km so we figured it was big. Ha! Joke was on us – it was a teeny tiny place. There was a general store and a closed café, along with a nice picnic area. We improvised with a cheese, pickle, and crackers lunch with a side of mandarins – handily using up most of our remaining food. We got to Yepoon and stocked up at Woolworths for our cabin stay (a full kitchen! Yay!). We took a quick walk about the beach and Emu Park town before making dinner. Great (empty) beach and a well done boardwalk commemorating veterans. Brent enjoyed reading all the sign boards.
Day 20 – Around Yepoon area
Started the morning with a coffee on the beach – we planned to do this all the time but I think it was our first one we accomplished! Next up was a walk called Bluff Point. Bron had read about it being the place to spot turtles and dolphins. She enjoyed the walk a lot, but Brent was feeling a bit dehydrated and found it VERY hot. None the less we made it up and did see lots of turtles (but no dugongs or dolphins). We also saw several balls of bait fish and then large fish attacking. Seeing that was pretty awesome!
Brent need a reward for completing the hot walk so we got some gelato. Then it was time for lunch at the lagoon – in Yepoon it is an amazing infinity pool with palm trees directly overlooking the ocean. If it wasn’t free and full of children, we’d have thought we were at an expensive resort. After lunch and a swim we went off to Cooberrie Park which is an animal sanctuary. The main attraction was hand feeding kangaroos and wallabies, and seeing koalas. There were lots of joeys as well. They said to feed the emu as well and their beaks were firm but wouldn’t hurt – – lies! Bron still has an emu beak mark on her hand hours later (and Brent didn’t try after seeing Bron’s attempt).
Homemade burritos for dinner and a long walk on the beach rounded out the day. We could have enjoyed a few more days here for sure!
Day 21 – Drive to Hervey Bay
Another fairly boring drive through fields with a quick picnic lunch of left over burritos at a roadside stop. We got to Hervey Bay early afternoon. We were staying in a holiday park where our cabin had a full kitchen so we headed out to pick up some groceries. As soon as it had cooled off enough (about 4pm) we walked along the beach to the pier. It’s one of the longest around at >800m, and was once >1100m during coal and sugar shipping days. The beaches were soooo beautiful, we already knew we didn’t have enough time here! Our walk with out and back on the pier was about 9km and included a great sunset and bold pelican.
Day 22 – Down day and Mon Repo
Travelling longer term we’ve found we sometimes need a day to catch up ‘adulting’ type things. We did some laundry, paid bills, and Brent got a hair cut in the morning. After lunch we drove to Bundaberg to visit the famous Bundaberg rum distillery. Rock paper scissor for who had to drive after? No – Brent is more of a rum connoisseur so Bron was the driver. We’d missed the last full tour of the day, but they had a museum with quite a bit of wittiness which we enjoyed. The museum entry came with 2 drinks each (so 4 drinks for Brent). We tried 4 rum blends and liquors and it was quite good. The best was of course the most expensive one at $180 for 700ml or something.
We had a quick dinner near the coast and a short beach walk before going to Mon Repo to try and see the turtles nesting. From the car park they shuttle bus everyone to a visitors center with few lights around (the turtles are disrupted by light). Then you wait until the turtles come (or not). We waited about 3 hours and finally there was a call that a turtle had come up the beach. A group of about 40 at a time went out in the dark (no flashlights or anything light emitting allowed) which was a bit disconcerting. Our eyes did eventually adjust, but the first little bit was quite literally stumbling around in the dark bumping into people. We were herded around and asked to wait on the beach a few times, eventually all lining up behind the turtle while she was digging her nest. It was way better than I expected! We were allowed to be quite close and we had a great view. The ranger put a small light by her legs/bum so we could see what was happening (they can’t see behind themselves so it’s ok). We saw each determined scoop of sand as she made a deep nest hole in the sand. After the turtles start laying, they won’t quit if disturbed so we were allowed to move around the front and the rangers put on more flashlights. It was so cool!!! They do a bunch of measurements and data recording while she keeps laying. The ranger even grabbed a couple eggs and brought them around for us to feel (apparently it doesn’t hurt them – he put them back after). She eventually fills in the nest and goes back to the ocean. Seeing the whole thing up close was a peak experience for sure. As we were staying a couple hours drive away (poor planning on our part), we didn’t get home until 2am.
Brent And Bron Abroad 