We had a slower start this morning which was nice. We wanted to visit Reef HQ and learn lots about the Great Barrier Reef, the coral and the sea creatures etc. This aquarium is new since I lived here, and boasts as being a living coral reef on dry ground. The tanks are open to the weather and they have wave making technology to mimic the affect the waves have on the coral formation and so on. We got there about 10am and spent about 3 hrs there. I really enjoyed it – I always learn interesting new things at those places. We participated in 4 different talks or tours during our time there: 1) Predator Dive show – a scuba diver in the tank with some of the types of reef sharks and large fish joined in a live conversation with the guide in the theatre. We learnt there are about 130 different species of sharks, but only 3 of them are considered dangerous to humans – tiger, great white and ?(I forgot). We saw specimens of shark’s jaws, of which the kids had photos of their heads inside. 2) Creatures of the shallow reef – this was a talk at the tank where there were stingray, starfish, young leopard sharks and a few others. We learnt to do the stingray shuffle when walking in shallow areas of the reef – in case any stingrays are resting and hidden under the sand – shuffling feet disturbs them in a way they will swim away, but stepping feet might stomp on them and they might react with a sting of their tail. The children got to touch a starfish and a leopard shark. 3) Coral talk – we learnt that coral is an animal, not a plant, and learnt how each coral animal had both male and female parts, and they release the egg and sperm at a certain time of the lunar calendar, which float to the surface and ‘spawn’ – and polyps are formed. Once they are attached to something, they grow by cloning themselves – interesting. 4) A Visit to the turtle hospital – 3 yrs located here in Townsville and they retrieve sick/injured turtles which have been reported and nurse them back to health. We saw some of the current ‘patients’ and learnt about their treatment. The kids seemed to find all these talks quite interesting, but eventually Hannah and Beth (who were very tired today) had had enough. We came across a play areas for kids at the last section we were looking at – and they loved it – finally they could release some energy and not just have to look and listen.

We’d taken our own morning tea which we’d had during the morning, but had decided to have lunch out today. I wanted to have a look at Flinders Street Mall, so we decided to walk down there from Reef HQ and find a cafe to eat at. We walked a few blocks and I was saying “we should be there soon – there is a pedestrian only section”. Finally we looked up the map and found we had walked the length of the mall – it was now drive through, not just pedestrian. We were now on the corner of Stanley Street and Flinders Street, and there was a cafe on the corner called Stanley Cafe with a nice tables and chairs indoors out of the wind. We had a very nice and very filling lunch. We then walked back to the car and looked up the route to drive up Castle Hill.

We drove through ‘the cutting’ on Stanley Street and the road up the hill started on Stanley Street West. The view from the top was great. You could see 360 degrees if you walked up different summits. We could see the jetty at Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island to the east, and the Townsville Port and then the Strand. Off to the north we could see Rowes Bay and Pallerenda, Belgian Gardens Cemetery and industrial areas. Out to the west and south-west were most of the suburbs. I could make out the 3 ways and then Ross River Road continuing down south, all the way to the Harvey Ranges. Hannah remarked that “Townsville is very big” – I guess in comparison to other towns/cities we’ve been to lately it is. Out to the south-east was the city centre, Railway Estate and then mangroves.

We drove back down the hill and headed towards Ross River Road to go exploring my childhood suburbs and school. Even just driving south along Ross River Road brought back certain memories – I used to ride my bike along here many days when I was in high school. We went past St Anne’s school where I went to preschool. When we came to the intersection at Stocklands Shopping Centre was where I noticed the most difference – it was very developed. We continued along Ross River Road past this intersection and went past Ignatius Park school and then Holy Spirit Church where my family attended church as I was growing up – not too much change there. We then turned left into Hatchett Street to go past Holy Spirit Primary School which I attended for my primary years. It looked completely different. Instead of a large dirt u-shaped carpark out the front and large undeveloped fields, there was building almost to the road side, with a main administrative building and then a small concrete carpark. The ‘paddocks’ off to the right which I used to walk along to go home were all developed fields and playground areas and there was a tall see-through fence all around these areas. We drove further along Hatchett Street and came to North West Cres which is the street where I used to live (since I was about 4 anyway). We drove along to number 6. It didn’t look very different at all, which was kind of nice. I took a photo of course. We drove around the crescent and most of the houses still had the same feel about them as I remembered. We drove past my friend Lisa’s house just one street away. I then decided I’d put the kids through enough driving around (although they hadn’t complained to date – but I didn’t want to push it). It was late afternoon by then anyway, so we drove back to the caravan park. It was fish wrapped in alfoil and cooked on the BarB tonight.

Even though it was overcast, it hadn’t rained for our 2 days in Townsville. But it started to rain tonight, just after dinner which was good timing. It rained continuously most of the night and quite hard at times, making for puddles on the road when we woke up in the morning.