Gladstone days

Gayle's Gallery..

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Queensland Days

Where a lot of fun begins..

Lady Musgrave Island

Town of 1770, Agnes Waters, DeepWater National Park

Lady Musgrave Island is situated in the Capricornia Cays National Park and is the southern most of the Bunker Group of islands. It was charted in 1820 by Phillip Parker King and recorded in 1843 during the voyage of the HMS Fly. Guano miners worked on the island in the 1890's. During this period, goats were released drastically disturbing the island's vegetation until they were eradicated in 1974. Half the island was declared a national park in 1938, the remainder in 1967. The island is managed according to the provisions of a management plan released in 2001. The island is surrounded by state marine park. Beyond the tidal zone lies the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Lieutenant James Cook came ashore near Round Hill Head on Wednesday the 24th of May 1770. Accompanied by the Botanist Joseph Banks and Dr Solander, James Cook came ashore with a party of men to examine the local countryside. Cook's ship, The Endeavour, anchored about 2 miles off shore. 'The Endeavour' was 106 feet in length, 29 feet 3 inches wide and weighed 368 tons. Some of the provisions carried were 80 ton of water, 21228 pounds of bread in bags, 1200 gallons of beer in puncheons, 4000 pieces of beef and 2500 pounds of raisins. This was Cook's second landing in Australia and his first in Queensland, hence the Town of 1770 being referred to as the birthplace of Queensland.

Cook and his party found a channel leading into a large creek. "In this place there is room for a few ships to lie in great security, and a small stream of fresh water." Cook wrote. Upon the shore they saw a species of bustard, one of which was shot. It was like a large turkey and weighed seventeen and a half pounds. It was the best bird they had eaten since leaving England, and in honour of it they called the inlet Bustard Bay. Cooks' party did not see any natives during their shore visit, but they did see campsites, fires and artifacts. From the ship however, the crew saw about 20 members of the Meerooni tribe on the beach. At 4.30am on Thursday the 25th of May 1770, Cook made sail out of the Bay.

Cania Gorge National Park

Cania Gorge National Park is a spectacular landscape of prominent sandstone cliffs, caves, eucalypt forest and dry rainforest on sheltered slopes. While side gullies and creeks provide moist, cool conditions for ferns and mosses, (Fern Tree Pool and Dripping Rock), above the cliffs is a dry, rugged expanse of open woodland typical of central Queensland's extensive sandstone belt. The Park's 3000 hectares also provide an important habitat for wildlife. It is a breeding ground for platypii, very elusive to observe but they are there! Fish stocks are replenished in the dam to provide year round good fishing. Barramundi are amongst the popular fish breeds here. The Bettong (kangaroo rat) are fed at the campsite, as are a multitude of birds.

Just south of Cania National Park is Monto, one of Queensland's best kept secrets. A quaint little town, it could almost be set back in the 1900's with the shop fronts, old fashioned service and rich, untouched spectacular backdrop of Cania NP and the Coominglah State Forest. Much camping remains to be done in this region.

Heron Island

What a life, diving, eating, snorkelling, eating, fishing, eating, turtle watching, eating, bird watching, eating, reef walking, eating, fish viewing, eating and sleeping. The pace is definitely to my liking! A resort to play and have fun on. Pristine cool water with coral literally as you step into the water, white beaches and everything laid on! A place to really spoil yourself.

Carnarvon Gorge National Park

Another prime example of adventures waiting to happen. With nearly a dozen designated walks gazetted, it was on with the hiking boots and off into the wilds of Carnarvon National Park.

The tent was set up at Takarakka, located only a couple of kms from the heart of the gorge that comprise towering sandstone cliffs and ranges, slopes, valleys and plains. An overview of the walks was delivered by local guide Simon and, with notes duly taken, plans were discussed over a quiet Bailey's whilst the camp oven was cooking our evening meal. Off to the Moss Gardens, Cathedral Gorge and Big Bend the first day, a total of well over 20 kms and about as far as one can walk along Carnarvon Creek. It did rain the first night, so the waterproofing of the tent was sorely tested (and failed on Anne's side!) but the weather did improve greatly over the next 3 days. Lot of erosion happening so some of the gazetted tracks have been closed to the public.

Second day was an 'easy' walk to the Art Gallery, Wards Canyon and Mickey Creek Gorge and Warrambah Gorge. Bear in mind that the main walking track is intersected some 22 times by Carnarvon Creek, so there are many stepping stones to encounter. All bar one stepping stone was above the water line, so wet socks were not a problem. Sugar gliders are well known in the Carnarvon Gorge area so a night-time spotting tour was on the must do list. Spotted through binoculars was a white female glider, 2 others who were cavorting about the trees, but meanwhile, back at the car-park, almost directly above Pearlie, was another young one who was old enough to be evicted from home. Top stuff..

Next day was an easy walk along to the Rock Pools and Nature trail, with the faint hope of seeing a platypus or two. Very pleasant wander amongst the creek and ferns.

The final day saw us scaling Boolimba Bluff to view the uplifted panoramic ridges of the gorge. What a view! Amazing what nature can do.. These are the views of the travel brochures. None of my photos do it the justice it deserves..

Eungella National Park

How can I keep on thinking of all the superlatives to describe these photos? What an experience! Rainforest wonder happening right in front of us..

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