15 Aug, we are at Paronella Park, an old castle and grounds built in the 1930's and surrounded by tropical gardens. In its hay day, back in the mid 1930's it was beyond its times, with the only private hydro electric facility, and 20 years before electricity came to those around them. Jose` built the castle on a love of stories he was told as a child, but developed it into a thriving business with many opportunities for visitors to visit and spend. It was very popular during WW2 times by the American Soldiers as a place for R&R. They offered tennis, swimming and change rooms that people could use for a fee. Music and theatre / movie functions were held, there was a grand ballroom that was burnt down in the 1970's. Their electricity enabled them to sell ice cream.

Unfortunately today the buildings have significantly deteriorated with concrete cancer and the use of incorrect building sands and insufficient cover of concrete over the steel. Everything is heritage listed. Buildings are propped up and almost all areas are fenced off. The cost of repair deemed too high.

Also, today, swimming is not possible due to the Crocs or Actung (Aboriginal word for croc).

In the evening, we attended the night tour, where at the end, the String Family (Mum, Dad and their teenage kids) play their string instruments. Their music compositions are tied to the dramatic lighting on the castle behind them. We all enjoyed this very much.

Our park entry fee included a night in their caravan park. The next morning before we departed we did the Hydro Tour, were we learnt about the Hydro Generator System and how it works. The mechanics appear to be very simple, it's surprising there's not more around up north with the large number of water falls there are.

We are told by a number of people that Etty Bay is a place where Cassowaries can be found. We are yet to find these in all of our travels, we make a special trip in hope of finding one. On the way in we spot what we believe to be a baby Cassowarie. On the edge of the beach is another, but no sign of Mum or Dad. On our way out, we have to pull up quickly as there's someone else ahead giving way to a full sized Cassowarie crossing the road. There's no one else around, se were are able to stop a bit and get some photos's. Just as we are about to head off, I turn to my left, there's another one less than a meter from the car beside my door, just emerging from the rainforest . Their colour and size are amazing. Thankfully my window is up, they evidently can be very aggressive.

We continue south to the Paluma Range National Park, just North of Townsville and camp at Big Crystal Creek camping area. A couple of hundred meters from our camp is the crystal clear creek with a deep swimming hole. Like everywhere, there are warnings about the possibility of Actung. As it's the weekend, it's very popular, there are lots of others swimming here. It looks safe, but just in case, we don't venture too far from the edge. The water is very refreshing on this nice warm sunny day.

As we walk back to camp, we run into a couple who live in a close suburb to home and know my Aunt Karen, again such a small world, the second person who knows someone we know.