Townsville

We arrived in Townsville the day before yesterday (Monday) to find that the Caravan Park that we had selected was "full".  So we booked for the next night (Tuesday and Wednesday) and set about finding another caravan park for the night.  We found one, it only had ensuite sites left (no powered or unpowered sites available for $50 a night.  A bit steep!  So off we went abot 500 metres up the road, behind a servo.  Very average caravan park, but "shelter for the night.  We thought very carefully about doing a free camp out of town, but decided against it.  The pics of our first stop in Townsville:

We went for a "look around" in Townsville, after we had moved to the "new" park.  Townsville is noice, but different.  It has its own character and, dare I say it, ambience.  Townsville is just Townsville.  It has it's own........charisma.  I kinda like it.  We drove in to town and parked near The Strand. Across the road was Anzac Park and up the road was the casino and entertainment centre and the port.

Trees like this in the park

Memorial fountain

Battle of the Coral Sea memorial (the US Navy was headquartered in Townsville)

Red-tailed black cockatoo in the park

Float plane in Townsville ($350-$475 rides anyone?)

Waterfall on The Strand





We also went up Castle Hill for a look at the view - and what a view.  The last time I was in Townsville (that I recall) I flew in a Canberra bomber from Amberley.  We flashed around Castle Hill at about 500 feet and landed at the RAAF base for lunch on our way to Darwin (that's another story for another day). That was 1969. I thought that Castle Hill was kinda cool at 250 knots and 500 feet, but it's kinda cool at ground level too.  It consists of several peaks, each with a different view of Townsville:

Rebuilding after the cyclone - replacing an emergency services mast, riggers get the best views!

The Queensland Police Service temporary mast. Their comms building was blown off this site and down the hill (see bits of the building below pic).

Our "new" caravan site at a "new" park.....

M and I went for a little drive today through some of the burbs.  We passed Lavarack Barracks, the large Australian Army base here.  It's very large, but, of course, very neat and well maintained, as it should be.

We liked Townsville, but would not stay at either of the parks we stayed at again.  Neither of them was worth the money nor were they up to speed with amenity cleanliness or customer service or efficiency.

Off to Airlie Beach tomorrow for two nights, then who knows??  Just kidding, we havn't worked out where to stay yet, maybe a free camp at a noice spot along the way to............................

Hoo roo.