Rockhampton to Bargara (Bundaberg)

Rockhampton, not the best place we have seen but it does have one modern claim to frame, Rod Laver was born there.
From Rockhampton to the coastal village of Seventeen Seventy, where Captain Cook landed on 24th May 1770. Very scenic location with a huge bay. Lunch over looking the bay.
From there to Bargara which is on the coast east of Bundaberg. Settled into superb beach front accommodation but unfortunately wind and tides still strong so no swimming.
We had been advised to go to the sea turtle research centre at Mon Repos. What an experience! You had to book in advance with no guarantee of what you would see re the turtles. You have to arrive by 18.45 and be allocated to a group and wait to be called. We were group 3. After a presentation groups 1 & 2 were called to go off onto the beach. We had to still wait but were given a further presentation by one of the senior researchers. During this we received our call. What this meant was there was turtle activity on the beach for us to see. So off we trekked in complete darkness into the unknown. On the way to our target area we passed one of the other groups who were watching newly hatched turtles heading for the sea. They were so small and amusing racing for the surf.
We were just about at our location and had to stop because a second, then a third, fully grown turtle was coming ashore. As we waited one went back into the sea and the second decided to follow but not before we were able the see it. Fantastic.
For us though one was ashore and digging a hole in which to lay her eggs. At this point we were able to go right up to her, just arms length away and watch until she had finished laying her eggs in a deep hole, covered them up and gone back to sea.
Once she had gone the researchers excavated all the eggs, 127, 10 were taken for examination and returned so all could be safely re-buried.
What an experience! Two hours passed in a flash.