Beth's Oz Adventure

Here are pics from my trip to the barrier reef, some a little blurry but you get the idea! Nearly completed 3 weeks in the rainforest, getting warmer now and have had no rain for a week. Latest creatures spotted have been a monitor lizard and a pademelon (like a very tiny kangaroo) Both camera shy tho so no pics! Also found lots of starfish at the beach yesterday.

This week marks the six month anniversary of the start of my trip too, can hardly believe it!

Check out my newest friend! Green tree frog rescued this morning trapped inside one of the cabins. Now I just have to wait for him to turn into a prince!

Survived my first week in the jungle! Been meeting some of the wierd and wonderful creatures here, lots of giant spiders and a few snakes, although there are a lot less creatures around than before the cyclone, which completely destroyed the rainforest canopy. Is now 4 Months since it happened and lots is starting to regrow now.

There are also a couple of cassowaries here - giant birds a bit like emus which are as tall as a grown man! They are endangered and there are only around 1000 left in Oz so is v cool get so close. Not too close though - they can be aggressive so don't take kindly to being stroked! The ones here are used to people though & we have a feeding station set up here as the cyclone destroyed their food sources so get to see them strolling around every day.

The repairs continue and this week have been doing some decking painting and lots of cooking too. Six weeks until the reopening so the countdown is on!

a very green grasshopper

a monster moth!


The cassowary

mission beach

4 Months after cyclone - the rainforest canopy starting to regrow


In the jungle!

View over the rainforest to the sea

Decking painting action

After leaving Mackay spent a week on beautiful Magnetic Island, about 10k off the coast from Townsville. Much of the island is national park so did lots of bushwalking as well as swimming in the crystal clear tropical waters (it's a hard life out here ;-) The highlight though was definately my trip out to the Barrier Reef, which was absoulutely incredible, like being in another world. We went to Wheeler Reef, which is still in pretty good condition (much of the reef elsewhere has been damaged). Was a 50 mile journey out there when I discovered I definately do not have sea legs (i won't go into the details!. All the queasyness was worth it when I got out there though, there was an amazing diversity of fish and even saw a shark (the non man eating variety!). Hopefully underwater pics to follow!

Now in Mission Beach doing some wwoofing at The Sanctuary - an eco lodge in the rainforest (http://www.sanctuaryretreat.com.au/). The place was badly affected by cyclone Larry earlier in the year so helping out with the repairs and planting lots of trees. Has rained pretty much the whole time so far, yep it's not called the rainforest for nothing! Pics to follow...

Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island

View of the island from Hawkings point

Alma Bay

A lone skink

Wheeler reef

Still in Mackay and this week have been potting lots of plants and also enjoying abundance of chocolate pudding fruit (aka black sapoty) :-) Have also been trying to avoid the attention of the resident guinea fowls who seem to be stalking me! They are there at every turn, am starting to get suspicious now, I think they may be plotting something..

Am here for a few more days and then am heading a few hours north to magnetic island, just off the Barrier Reef.

Plants in nursery

The chocolate pudding fruit in all its glory!

Resident guinea fowl