Cape Hillsborough

Yesterday the Friends of the Gardens had a day out, visiting Cape Hillsborough, a nature reserve about an hour's drive north of Mackay.

 The weather for the day was just perfect - a pleasant breeze blowing, but not a gale!  I set up the lunch things while the others (about 30) were ferried to another valley where the local ranger, who just happens to be our vice-president, pointed out lots of interesting features about the ecosystem.  By the way, I think ferrying in the sense I have used it, must be an Australian colloquism - I simply meant car pooling as  there was only enough room for five vehicles over there.  One of our American Friends thought we were going on water - she had not visited the area before.

 I took a couple of photos of the beach to show you.  When the tide goes out you can walk from the mainland across to the little island.  I tried to take a photo of the sand to show you all the iron pyrites, but it does not show up.  Our boys used to be very excited when they were little, they were sure they were going to be rich with all the gold on the sand!  Sadly it was only fool's gold.  I am not sure where it comes from, but this is the only beach where I have ever seen it, the whole beach glistens with the specks.

 This friendly kookaburra came very close.  He was sitting in the tree just above the BBQ and was obviously hoping someone would leave it unguarded.  Usually there are quite a few wallabies about, but they had deserted the area yesterday so I can't show you any photos of them.
Foolishly I packed my camera in an accessible place as there were some really good photo opportunities on the way home.  As we were in our Landcruiser, we came home by a back route over a very rough road, but very scenic.  We shall just have to go back again another day.