Townsville, Alligator Creek camp

We have decided to do a proper job of Townsville, and take our tourist duties seriously, seeing as much as we can. So, are you sitting comfortably?  Then let us begin. Alligator Creek is a campground about 20K's South of Townsville, so we all decided to go there.  All? Me, David, and eleventy hundred red ants from Mackay that bailed out of the flood and into anything that was touching the ground.  We found nests of them in the outdoor furniture and the awning uprights and we are still firmly inviting them to leave the van, four days later. But at least they were red ants and not these ones, here feasting on possum poo on the picnic table:

Alligator Creek was a delight, despite the green ants. Beautiful swimming hole nearby,

The surrounding bush had Kapok trees in flower, big yellow blooms and large seed pods. They used to make mattresses out of Kapok fluff. Apparently I slept on this as a baby.

 Lots of critters, these agile wallabies, and also some pretty little rock wallabies, not to mention Krefft's turtles, lots of birds including the amusingly self-important brush turkeys, and some dear little peaceful doves.  Even saw a cane toad, not so good.

What else? Beautiful dragonflys and butterflys

Gorgeous place to retreat to after days of big busy Townsville. This is a view over the port and CBD, with the shadow of Castle Hill a stunning granite hill plonked right in the middle of the city. We drove up there on our first day, and passed scores of walkers and runners. Doing Castle Hill must be an institution in Townsville. It's a steep 3Km climb to the top.