Bustard Head and Cool Bananas (posted Fri p.m. - 3rd March)

Drove up to Agnes Water and Town of 1770 this morning leaving Bundy via the Burnett River Bridge, then crossing rivers and creeks with interesting names: Kolan River, Yandarin Creek, Cockatoo Creek and Captain Creek. I looked for the koala communities (mentioned in tourist brochure) at Avondale, but didn't see any. Drove about 150-160 km, past lots of bush. The only signs of habitation for miles was a postbox and wheelie bin by the roadside and sometimes the glimpse of a distant house and vehicles through the trees, sometimes the sound of a barking dog. Several Utes passed me on the road, one with a fiercely barking Rottweiller. I drove up into Miriam Vale Shire, then Gladstoneshire and back into Miriam Vale Shire. Stopped for lunch in Agnes Water and checked out cruises to Lady Musgrave Island. Then drove on through Town of 1770 (where James Cook landed on Bustard Beach on 24 May 1770 - his second landing in Australia) to Bustard Bay.

Bustard Bay: 360 degree views over the ocean - turquoise, aqua and emerald, fringed with white; the humming of cicadas; large butterflies and dragonflies; breaking waves; a red and black bird flying to perch on the branch of a eucalyptus - so small that I wasn't sure if it was a large dragonfly or a bird, though it moved like a bird; eucalypts forming a tunnel over the cliff-top path; lookout platforms built onto the cliffs.

I've booked into Cool Bananas backpackers hostel (in Agnes Water opposite the bus stop) for tomorrow and Sunday, planning to take the day cruise to Lady Musgrave Island on Sunday (special cheap rate if you stay in the backpackers hostels - about $60 less than usual rate). Not sure whether to take the dive package (having a crisis of confidence!) but will definitely snorkel!

I want to go to Fraser Island too, so am planning to try to book a 3-day trip there with Sand Island Safaris. The tours depart from Hervey Bay every Tuesday and Friday, and a Tuesday departure would fit in with my plans very nicely, giving me Monday to travel down to Hervey Bay for an overnight there.

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