Mixin' it with the army!

Townsville, and more of Queensland's perfect weather!

We've decided we like this mild, sunny and calm weather - it can stay like this for the next few months, if it likes!

The Army were out 'on manouvers',when I went for a walk this morning. A troop of them, in fatigues, fully kitted out with backpacks and carrying guns,were walking the same beach front walkway that I was. I guess their load was a bit of a disadvantage, but they were going a bit slow for me! I had to detour via the beach so I could get past them. That, and the odd Chinook helicopter and F-18 flying over head, are a bit of a giveaway that there is an army base in town.

If you look carefully you can see a 'Chinook' helicopter on runway, RHS

Townsville, with is an interesting mix of swampy/estaurine coast line and rocky outcrops. The central one being Castle Hill, which is a real landmark in the centre of  town, and then the city is surrounded by ranges coated with granite outcrops.

Magnetic Island, as ssen from Castle Hill

 Sunset, viewed at from the lookouts at the top of Castle Hill sounded like a good idea. What an amazing sight - the sunset, and... the sheer amount of Townsville-ites who at the end of the work day were walking, jogging, bikeriding and pushing strollers up the steep 3 km incline to the top! Needless to say, we drove, and didn't partake in the healthy option! Jon had to keep his 'eyes peeled' to avoid 'skittling' anybody! Absolutely amazing.!! The panoramic views of Townsville and surrounding coastline, islands, ranges and estuary were pretty 'speccy'. We also decided to go back and have another look by day, as the sunset viewing was a bit affected by smoke from burning off.

Off the coast, to the east, is Magnetic Island. So named by Captain Cook as he passed through as he thought there was something magnetic about the island that was interfering with his compass. This was later proven to be incorrect, but the name 'stuck'!

Magnetic Island is a suburb of Townsville and has approx hourly ferry rides to and from the island, and a bus service that you can hop 'on and off' of throughout the day. What greater encouragement did we need to go 'exploring' on an island?? We had a great day:

Coffee time!

• ferry ride in beautiful weather, with great scenery, to Nelly Bay
• coffee at Picnic Bay



A gun site, on Magnetic Island. during WWII



Great views from top oif Magnetic Island

• walk up to the top of the "Forts" walk, which was a strategic army site in WWII, allowing them (and us today) a great view towards where the enemy forces may have launched an attack)
• 'not great', was missing the next bus from the Forts to Horseshoe Bay. This meant more walking! Another 2 or 3 kms, on top of what we had already done! Worth it however, to avoid a long bus wait!

 

• lunch, swimming, exploring and a spot of 'snoozing', at the beach at Horseshoe Bay
• then it was time to catch the bus back to ferry terminal for the trip back to Townsville

We also spent a couple of hours at the Museum of Tropical Queensland (obviously a good educational thing for the kids to participate in!!). This was very well organised and set up for all ages, with lots of interactive stuff for the kids to look at (including a reenactment of how a cannon was shot, from a boat!), and activities about shipwrecks, marine archeology, rainforests, coral environments etc., and we could have spent a lot more time too.



Replica of the "Pandora", ship sent to recover
mutineers from William Bligh and the "Bounty",
but in the process, was shipwrecked!



Reenactment of the firing of the cannon


The Townsville Council have spent a lot on developing the foreshore for safe swimming - for both locals and tourists. The Strand goes between the Marina and city area and along the main beach to a manmade lagoon, filled daily with fresh seawater. Also along the front is a children's 'waterpark' and the swimming pool linked by walkways and lovely gardens. As well as a strong 'flavour' of war memorials to those who had fought in the protection of Australia from the Japanese in World War 2.


I hadn't realised, how strategic Townsville was during the time of  WWII. It was to be one of the main landings of the Japanese, on Australia, had they not been defeated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Makes you think a bit...what sort of world would we be living in if things had turned out differently!?

Townsville, an interesting place, with a good 'feel' to it!