Townsville & Murray Falls

Another stop on our journey was Townsville. We chose the city purely based on its geographical location and didn't really research it beforehand. Unfortunately, all the campsites were either right next to a highway or alcohol-free (we preferred the highway). However, we were finally able to find one (still next to the highway) and went for a walk into the city in the evening. On a Thursday evening at 6 PM, the city was deserted, and since swimming wasn't possible due to jellyfish, there was nobody at the beach either. We were a bit late for the sunset, but we still drove up Castle Hill. The view was really nice, but that was pretty much all Townsville had to offer.

Following the recommendation of Lou and Celine, the Australian/Dutch couple we spent the afternoon with in Hervey Bay, we then headed to Murray Falls. In the national park, there was a basic campground without electricity, only a cold shower and toilets - exactly what we were looking for. When we arrived, we realized that we needed to obtain a permit online or by phone in advance since there was no reception or staff on-site. So, we had to drive back 20 minutes to get the permit (yes, there are still many places in Australia without phone or, let alone, internet reception). However, fate had it that on our way back, we saw a rare cassowary disappearing into the bush. The cassowary is the fourth-largest bird species in the world and is endangered. It only exists in certain parts of Australia and plays a crucial role in the local flora and fauna. When we returned to the campground, we realized that we were the only ones there. Later in the evening, three more people arrived, but it didn't bother us at all given the large area.