Townsville to Wunjunga 3-10-12

Had a nice slow departure from Townsville, we decided to eat breakfast on the way to our new destination – as yet undecided.  We are in the lucky position of being able to travel and stop when we see something we like.  We pulled up to a Coles in Ayr that had a Coffee Club cafe – breakfast!  We were ready for it by now although we are ‘over’ eating out, it seems that almost everything comes with chips and salad. We chatted to the waitress in the Cafe who told us that a place called Wunjunga was wonderful. Sounds like this is our next stop. We did our shopping for provisions for 4 days since we have no idea what facilities will be at our next stop.

We drive out to the Ayr information centre (just outside of town) for some more details on the area.  This is where I took the photo of Gubulla Munda, the giant snake. Two hours later we are still in Ayr so decide to have lunch.  I order a chicken and salad sandwich and they try to give me chips with that.  Oh dear.

Wunjunga was not hard to find, the camping ground (named “Funny Dunny Park) is basic, but the toilet (drop box) is clean and doesn’t smell, the overnight fee is $5, so far so good. But….Oh boy, the WIND!!!  nonstop all afternoon, Michael is eaten alive by midges, no-one else seems to be bitten.  

We went for a walk along the beach, turtles come here to lay their eggs, but according to the volunteer caretaker, we are too early to see them.  Wunjunga was the place where about 79 turtles came up onto the beach and died this year.  I understand that they still do not know what killed them. 

There are a lot of bush turkeys running around the camp ground, hoping that we drop something for them to eat.  We are mean and not prepared to  encourage them. The birdlife is really interesting, I wish I knew more.  I have bought a book, but it seems you have to have an idea as to what you are looking at before you can find it in the book.

By evening the wind had dropped a bit, but cooking on our little butane stove was not very efficient, the wind blew the flames every which way.  We hear that his wind will keep up until the weekend, so we decide to head off in the morning.