All stitched up

Stocked up, fuelled up and filled up after lunch in Mackay, we set off on a short drive north to Cape Hillsborough. Plans to spend only one night there changed at first glance and in the evening, we booked a second. On the second, we booked a third! What a place. Kangaroos and wallabies that come to the beach at dawn, stunning scenery with views to the Whitsunday islands, bushwalking, early morning kayaking, butterflies, countless birds (including the strange bush stone curlews) and an encounter with a snake that was far too close for comfort. I discovered a love for collecting sand dollars and the girls had a great belly-laugh at hundreds of blue soldier crabs scurrying across the sand as we made our way back from a low-tide walk to Wedge Island.
Reluctantly, on the third morning, we left for somewhere north and ended up at Bowen in time for lunch. We weren't all that impressed with Bowen, but decided to stay on anyway and found a caravan park on our second attempt (the first time on the trip we had been told a park was completely booked out).
After collecting some sand (as we have done at every place we have stayed) we were in the car again and heading to Townsville. We tried the Botanic gardens for lunch, but found the entrance closed, so attempted to find another park... eventually ending up close to the city and thankfully stumbling across 'the Strand' with its beautiful waterfall and water park for the kids. We loved Townsville, with its beautiful beaches, manicured gardens and historical buildings and decided to stay. Our plan was to make the most of the next day with a visit to the aquarium, before heading only an hour or two north, but as usual, our plans changed. After a fantastic morning learning about coral reefs, all the amazing fish and other marine life at the aquarium, we lunched on the lawn by the waterfall again and were about to make one last toilet stop before getting in the car, when Matilda fell from a ledge onto the concrete path. By the time Ben carried her to the car, blood covered his arm and Matilda's head, so we decided a trip to the hospital was required. The first aid kit got its first real work out and we spent the afternoon at the Townsville hospital emergency department. Thankfully the cut wasn't as bad as it first looked and a bit of 'superglue', rather than stitches, was all that was required. Matilda was a fantastic patient and lapped up all the attention. She got a sticker for best sense of humour when the lovely young doctor (about to do some neuro obs) said "now Matilda, I'm going to ask you to do some silly things for me..." and before she could finish the rest of her sentence, Matilda had pulled the biggest, silliest face she could think of! "Nothing wrong with her head then", the doctor commented.
By the time we had finished, it was early evening and, after much discussion, we thought we might try our first bit of night-time driving... all the way to Cairns. We figured the girls would sleep and it would be easier than setting up camp somewhere in the dark... well, that's what we thought... but my timed internet session is coming to an end, so you'll have to wait for the next instalment!