Position 23 24.17S 150 30.25E

Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia, or so they say.  There are huge stockyards about 35km out of town, we never had time to visit.  If you are in the area they are supposed to be impressive.  Sales take place Monday to Friday so make sure you visit on one of those days. This is the Great Western, a famous pub in Rockhampton. 

In the arena – out the back! – they have rodeo’s.  On a Wednesday and Friday its free, as bull riders come to practice their stuff.

There was a big competition the evening of the day we were here.  All tickets sold, here’s the bulls – specially bred for the ring.

Helicopter hanging from the ceiling demonstrates the size of the ‘back yard’.

A B&B opposite the Great Western.  This is lovely example of the late 1800s early 1900s building.  Usually with very ornate terraces, big windows and doors to capture that breeze.  This one unusual in made of stone, usually wood and on stilts.

View from the city lookout, bit hazy but you can see the river snaking through the lowlands in the LHS picture.  Rockhampton was flooded last wet season.  There’s a big investment in upgrading the Bruce Highway which stretches all along the Queensland coast, as it crosses over lots of low land and is easily flooded.  Last year whole towns were cut off for several days.  Downside lots of roadwork’s from Townsville to Brisbane.

A beautiful bottle brush in flower.

Can’t remember is I have said this, but I’ll say it again.  Kookaburras make their nests in hollows and sometimes in termite mounds.  I watched these two kookaburras take it in turns to punch a hole in this termite mound with their beaks.  After the kookaburras have nested and left the termites repair the damage.

Some action shots.

They flew directly at the hole, in the beginning they had no foot holds, literally hover, peck and away.  Eventually a hollow nest will be fashioned.

A satisfied couple.  These are Blue Winged Kookaburra, lovely turquoise feathers on the wing.  The male also has a dash of blue on its tail feathers.