Townsville, Magnetic island etc

In Feb, drove up to Townsville. I enjoy living in the tropics, with huge beaches a stone's throw away, Maggie island one of my favourite Aus places , Mission beach and all the waterfalls and intense jungle walks between Townsville and Cairns.

Went around Magnetic with my Kayak - 1.5 days, sleeping on the beach at horseshoe bay. More adventures planned with this kayak... ideal way to travel with everything in the hatches, no roads, only cost is food.
(click on a photo for a larger version)

Quick summary Dec 2011-Feb 2012

Dec met up with le grand frere and stayed in Warrumbungles nat park for 5 days, doing most of the peaks and walks. Good weather. Also visited the Anglo-Australian observatory which has the biggest mirror in Aus and has had several first observations.

Then Bega to visit my friend Bernard in the house of character Heinola, then Blue mnts , then up to the Qld border to visit nat parks I've never been to: Bald rock and Giraween Nat park.  The last is a big one, with many wildflowers, creek to swim in and 2 huge granite boulders called the Pyramids. Great Australian camping with creek swims, kangaroos, campfires with sausages, bush campsites. Was great to renew with my hippie side and travel for a month in the van without any real schedule, after a fairly busy year in the Army  and being online last summer - limiting my travel options.