May 21, Bowen, Eungella NP, Mackay

Bowen was close to the campsite, so we got into town early and walked around. There were murals about the history of the town and some dedicated to special people. We stopped at Joacham's Bakery (award winning) and bought scrolls to eat on the walk. The movie, "The Australians", with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, was made in Bowen.

At nearby Queens Beach there was an old movie house, built in the 1920s to resemble those in Southern California. It's still a cinema.

We stopped at Bowen's info center, next to the Big Mango. This area grows lots of mangoes, but they don't have them until Dec.

From there we drove south and stopped at the information center in Marian. It was housed in the home of Nellie Melba. She was a singer who was famous worldwide in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her name is also associated with Melba toast and Peach Melba.

Then we went west to Eungella NP and walked up Finch Hatton Gorge to the falls. From the main road to the falls parking lot was paved road part of the way, then small dirt road that forded about 5 streams. So it seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere, but when we got to the parking lot there were 2 motorhomes and 4 cars there. It was a good hike to the falls, an uphill dirt track over rocks. So I was surprised to see 2 couples with small babies there. One had a stroller.

This is still sugar cane country and they're going to be harvesting soon. We passed 3 sugar mills today and there was a lot of activity. We also saw workers getting the railroad tracks ready for the cane cars. In this area, they still burn the sugar cane before they cut it.

We drove east to Mackay. It was about 4 in the afternoon, so we checked in with the visitors center and found a laundromat. We hadn't done laundry since Darwin, so now we're feeling pretty fresh. We drove downtown to find City Hall. We're planning to take a city tour there in the morning and wanted to get the lay of the land.

Now we're back at the visitors center. It's an unofficial camping spot. There's a motorhome and a couple of camper vans and a few cars here, too.

Pictures - Mural in Bowen, Summergarden Theatre in Queen's Beach, Samson & the Big Mango, Nellie Melba's home, Fording a stream, Finch Hatton Gorge Falls