Fingal, Part One. - In My Happy Place

 21 March - 24 March

During the past 3 weeks, we have had the joy of having our son Matthew home from Austria. Last week, he spent his time with his Aunt at Tweed Heads. Fingal is a small seaside village just ten minutes from Tweed Heads. It was a perfect opportunity for me to camp and to enjoy more of Matthew's company.

The weather was hot and humid, with a storm coming through the first night. 

When I wasn't with Matthew or Mags, I was to be found on the headland, in total awe of the ever-changing theatrics of the ocean.

Wonderful to have a son to bang in the tent pegs. 

We started setting up the van after midday. The temperature was 30C and the humidity had sweat running down my face, constantly. After taking Matthew back to Tweed, I headed for the beach for a swim and walk. I was just so exhausted all I could do was collapse on my towel.

Finally, after a refreshing swim, the headland beckoned me. The effort brought untold joy.

Day Two

Early to bed, early to rise. Not quite so. The sky was yet to clear at 6am, but I wasn't to be deterred.

Looking to Kingscliff, on the northern side of the headland.

I really didn't know where to stand and watch!

A favourite picnic spot of the Hungry Hikers.

Retracing my steps back to breakfast.

Day 2 - my 10 am coffee on the headland, brought the excitement of a large pod of dolphins swimming north.

At midday, I collected Matthew and accompanied him on an 18-hole round of golf, on a very pretty local course.

Guess where I was headed at 4 pm that afternoon?

Special, special times!

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Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Park - Kangaroos and Koalas

 16 November 2022 - 7.45am start.

As soon as we drove into the Conservation Park, we were startled by the white 'fluff' covering every inch of the ground and hanging off all the greenery. It was the blossom of one of the varieties of trees, but google hasn't been able to give me a name for the tree.

Within minutes, we spotted the first wallaby / kangaroo. Alas, I'm not able to definitively say which. Usually, the smaller animal is the wallaby.

You may like to learn how to distinguish the differences, here.

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/wallaby-vs-kangaroo-more-than-just-different-types-of-kangaroos/

Definitely kangaroo.

Not sure. Wallaby?

Further on, the ground wasn't covered in white, but the blue flower of the Billy Goat Weed.

We then entered a swampland of stately paperbark trees. [Melaleucas]

Other habitats that we walked through.

At the northern end of the reserve, we exited and followed the Coombabah River around a housing estate, before reentering the reserve via a wonderful boardwalk.

It was our lucky day. One is assured of seeing kangaroos and wallabies as their numbers are quite high. Sighting koalas is not a given. On this visit, we spotted six! They are mostly high in the Eucalpyts, so my zoom lens comes in very handy.

No 1

No 2

Our viewing of the koala was interrupted by the antics and screeching of two Channel Billed Cuckoos and soon after, by a very scruffy Nankeen Night Heron.

No 3

No 4

No 5

No 6

Bottom left is the scratching of an elusive Echidna.

Several hours had been happily spent wandering through this exceptional reserve. The Hungry Hikers needed sustenance. Leanne quickly came to our rescue!

We are so very fortunate to have Coombabah so close.

I would love to read your comment.