Townsville, Queensland
December 20, 2018
We are docked in Townsville, the unofficial capital of North Queensland and home to Australia’s largest military base. Today’s adventure was to the Museum of Tropical Queensland (conserving items from shipwrecks, displays of daily life in area, coral specimens) and to Reef Headquarters. Reef Headquarters is not only the administrative center for reef management but also an aquarium for reef species. Lots of volunteers were available to interpret the exhibits. The highlight was the turtle hospital where we met Teresa, a large green sea turtle who has been there since May and eaten nothing, but is improving. In the picture, she is getting her back rubbed and wriggling around contentedly. Another ill turtle is Avo, a much smaller green sea turtle. Both are likely to survive. Fun fact—six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are found on the Great Barrier Reef. Sad fact—plastic is found in 100% of sea turtles brought in either for research or autopsy.
In 2017 we cruised from Beijing to Bangkok and never saw ocean that did not have debris in it. Not the case on this trip. The water, even in Sydney, was clear and where we are now in Queensland it is turquoise. The Australians are serious caretakers of several World Heritage Sites, including the Reef.
At both stops we have made we have been greeted by a cheerful volunteer army of retirees available to answer questions, give directions, or just chat. They want to be sure we see the best of their country and that we have a really good time! We understand that we will encounter them throughout the country, organized locally. Can’t wait to meet more of them tomorrow in Cairns!
We are docked in Townsville, the unofficial capital of North Queensland and home to Australia’s largest military base. Today’s adventure was to the Museum of Tropical Queensland (conserving items from shipwrecks, displays of daily life in area, coral specimens) and to Reef Headquarters. Reef Headquarters is not only the administrative center for reef management but also an aquarium for reef species. Lots of volunteers were available to interpret the exhibits. The highlight was the turtle hospital where we met Teresa, a large green sea turtle who has been there since May and eaten nothing, but is improving. In the picture, she is getting her back rubbed and wriggling around contentedly. Another ill turtle is Avo, a much smaller green sea turtle. Both are likely to survive. Fun fact—six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world are found on the Great Barrier Reef. Sad fact—plastic is found in 100% of sea turtles brought in either for research or autopsy.
In 2017 we cruised from Beijing to Bangkok and never saw ocean that did not have debris in it. Not the case on this trip. The water, even in Sydney, was clear and where we are now in Queensland it is turquoise. The Australians are serious caretakers of several World Heritage Sites, including the Reef.
At both stops we have made we have been greeted by a cheerful volunteer army of retirees available to answer questions, give directions, or just chat. They want to be sure we see the best of their country and that we have a really good time! We understand that we will encounter them throughout the country, organized locally. Can’t wait to meet more of them tomorrow in Cairns!
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