Bingil Bay and Townsville

The people next to us at Paronella Park told us about a little camping spot at Bingil Bay, just south of Innisfail and right on the coast. It is a council park with a limited three night stay. $20 a night for an unpowered site right on the beach with access to hot showers, toilets and washing machine. We got there at 11.30am and got one of the last spots (theres only 10 sites), so you need to be quick if you want to stay here! Our spot was perfect. Right on the beach with this view.......

View from the camper at our site in Bingil Bay council park 

We camped next to a family with two little boys so the next two days were spent playing in the sand, flying kites, walking on the beach and heading into nearby Mission Beach for a hot chocolate. 

Then in the middle of our second night the heavens opened and it rained. And rained. And rained. With worse weather predicted for the coming day in the area we decided the next morning to put the kids in the car and Craig and I stood in the pouring rain in our raincoats and packed up the wet camper so we could get outta there!! We made it to Tully bakery for breakfast and we all enjoyed a hot pie before heading the two hours south to nearby Townsville. Luckily the sun was out when we arrived and the camper was set up and dry before lunch. 

The next day we went to the Townsville Aquarium in the centre of town. 

We spent the following two days enjoying the free water playground and lagoon in Townsville, having ice-cream by the beach, going to Adam Brands restaurant, and checking out the lookout.

icecreams 

This place was soooooo good

view from the Strand, looking across the ocean to Magnetic Island

The kids scooting down the strand

View of Magnetic Island from the lookout 

the best pic I could get of all three of them!

Townsville rock pool

laying back in the sun while the kids played

Charlotte enjoying pizza at Brandys 

the water feature in Anzac park

We sure packed a lot into our four days in Townsville. We loved every minute of it and apart from Broome this is the only place so far I have liked enough to maybe want to live one day. 

Charlotte was so worn out from our townsville adventures that she put herself to bed one afternoon!